Balance of Light and Shadow

Eve POV

The next few days in the house are so tense it feels like walking through electric storms and just waiting for loud crack to disrupt land. I’ve started doing extra hours at the vet clinic just to avoid being in the house which they noticed instantly.

I come home and I’m greeted with Kimberly waiting for me on the stairs. She instantly runs up to me, jumps in my arms and starts hysterically sobbing.

I do my best to console her. “What’s wrong Kimmy”.

“Are you angry at us. Is that why you are avoiding coming home. We’re sorry that guy was there on girls’ night. We need you to talk to us about this. We don’t want you to disappear”. She breaks out in more sobs as she buries her head in my shoulder.

I don’t even know what to say. I can’t have the hunters or werewolves coming for my friends. They could be caught in the crossfire. What if I can’t protect them. What if they think they are the enemy. I can’t risk it.

Kimberly cry’s have brought my other two girls into the hug and we all head into the living room as all squeeze onto the couch as Kimberly refuses to let me go.

Willow being every practical starts planning. “We need a solution. None of us want to lose our best friend of over five years so you’re not running away. You have a life here and you shouldn’t be bullied out of it”.

“You have no idea what you’re asking”. I just look down at the ground. They will never understand.

“Then tell us. I have known you the longest and I know nothing about you before the day we met. Why don’t you trust us” Michelle says very firmly. She is clearly frustrated that she is still cut off from my life.

I start pleading with them. “It’s not that I don’t trust you. You’ll be in danger if I let you know. Everything I do is to protect you so please just drop it and let me work it out”.

“Well, you’re going to have to start telling us something because since Connor showed up, we have become involved. If we are going to develop a safety plan and be strategic, we need to know something even if that is just knowing how much danger we are in”. Willow always states things matter of fact which is annoying because I know she is right.

Maybe if I tell them, it will be easier for them to let me go.

“I’m not exactly human”. All three girls suddenly sit up right. Even Kimberly instantly stops crying and stares at me with wide eyes.

“Of all things you could have said, I was not expecting that”, Willow states with a shocked expression.

Michelle starts laughing “I had a bunch of theories involving government conspiracy theories but that was not on my list”.

Kimberly looks terrified. She looks to me with a trembling voice. “What are you”.

“Honestly, that’s not important. I left that life to live as a human and have done since I was 13. To them, I’m considered a deserter”.

Kimberly starts shaking, “are they going to hurt us”.

“I don’t know. That’s why I need to leave. To protect you”.

Willow stating very matter of fact again. “Do we know what they want. Connor only said Mr Strongheart wants to talk to you. Maybe he does mean you no harm and wants to something else”.

Michelle agrees “I didn’t get any weird vibes from Connor. He seemed to be almost gentle when talking to you and said he would follow you if you refused to talk to Mr Strongheart anyway. Wait, is he not human either”.

“Connor. No he is. He’s just a …… gifted one. Mr Strongheart is like me though”.

I can practically see the wheels turning in Willows head. “Well the most logical thing is to talk to Mr Strongheart and work out what he wants and then decide from there. No point running in the meantime if he is planning to track you any way”.

“He’s already told me what he wants. He wants me to go back to that life”. This has always been my biggest fear, and the girls can tell from how my voice shakes.

With a fierce determination in her eyes Michelle proclaims, “Then all of us will create hell to keep you here”.