The next week was very eventful. Too much so, if you ask me. I really could have done without Zoe getting into fight after fight after fight, and then punching a professor in the nose, getting herself thrown into detention for a week. But that was my sister for you. Hardly a day went by when she wasn't getting herself into trouble. While her anger was understandable, she really didn't need to be taking it out on everyone around her, including me.

     Tonight, she did not want me talking to her in the least. She barely even wanted me around. I had no idea what had her so upset, but she really seemed to be angry about something. Perhaps it was something at school. Maybe it was getting detention again. Or maybe Seth had got under her skin, as he so often did.

     Zoe didn't like Seth, and she made no secret of that. She was frequently getting into arguments with him over some of the smallest things, and he didn't make it any better himself. Sometimes I wondered if he was antagonising her on purpose. I didn't know what reason he would have for doing so. But the hostility from both of them toward one another was really starting to get to me. I really didn't want to go through life that way, so I really hoped to find ways to reconcile things between them and bring a harmony to this home. We had to live together. It was better to make the most of it.

     I was in the kitchen when Zoe suddenly burst through the door and marched past me and into the hallway that led to her room. A moment later, a slammed door shook the entire apartment as I sighed and shook my head. I sensed she was not happy about something. I would have gone to ask her what it was, but I knew better than that. Thankfully, being a psion had its perks. It's just that this was a gift I preferred not to use and tried my hardest to avoid using it as much as possible. Sometimes it wasn't easy. I was still learning to control my powers, but this was one that I had learned to control somewhat. Though sometimes, when I lost control of my emotions, I would lose control of my powers. It was all a balancing act.

     I finished brewing my tea and walked out of the kitchen and to the left into the hallway where Zoe had just gone. Stepping right past the door to my room, I stopped right outside hers, and then simply leaned against the wall there. Focusing with my mind, I shut my eyes as I reached out to hers.

     He is such an asshole! I had a feeling this had something to do with Seth again. I sighed as I listened some more.

     Who does he think he is?! He's our godfather and the only parent we had. Like it or not, he was the only family we had.

     I am not her keeper! What? Was this about me? I listened some more, more intently now.

     If he wants to ask her out, he should just do it already and leave me the Undergrave out of it! Such colourful language, but now I was wondering if this was more about David than Seth. As far as I was aware, Seth wasn't seeing anyone. At least I hadn't seen him dating anyone or even show much of an interest in anyone, though I admit I wasn't really paying a lot of attention.

     While Seth and Zoe were hostile toward one another, my relationship with him was quite different. From the very beginning, it was rather cold. I didn't trust him, to put it bluntly. There was just something about him I didn't trust, but I simply avoided him. Zoe, on the other hand, seemed to go out of her way to start something with him almost every week. Or even every day. That wasn't me. That wasn't who I was. I was calmer and more thoughtful. Zoe was rash, aggressive, and angry. I understood her anger, but it didn't mean I supported her fighting everyone. I just thought that there had to be another way for her to express herself and to relieve all of that pent up stress. But did she ever listen to my advice? Not on your life.

     I sighed as I walked into my room and shut the door, more gently than Zoe had closed hers. I was almost certain that Zoe had been talking to David and that he was trying to get her to spy on me or something. So all of this had to do with him. I walked over to my bed and sat down as I picked up a smooth white stone from my bedside table. Looking around the room, I smirked. My room was well organised. There was a place for everything. On the other hand, Zoe's was a complete disaster. There was a reason I tried not to go in there as much as possible. It gave me a migraine just looking at her room.

     I exhaled as I focused on the stone in my hand. A moment later, a cerulean blue, translucent figure appeared before me, looking back at me. "Well, if it isn't Kairine. Miss me already?" said David, with a smirk on his face.

     I shook my head. "David, you really must stop antagonising my sister. I am not, nor have I ever been, interested in dating you. Nor anyone, for that matter. Leave it alone and drop it. Leave my sister alone," I told him bluntly. 

     He was silent for a moment before saying, "I don't know what you heard, but I have not been speaking with Zoe. Honestly, I avoid her. She hates me, and I don't much care for her, leave it at that," as he straightened his back. "On the other hand, I'm not going to lie and say I don't have a crush on you. I absolutely do, and I suppose I always will. But you have made it clear where you stand, and I respect that."

     I pursed my lips and narrowed my eyes as I looked back at the wall I shared with Zoe. If it wasn't him who had got under her skin, then who was? Once again, I was back with Seth. But that didn't make any sense, given everything I heard in her mind. Though everything was out of context. I sighed. This was just one of many reasons why I didn't like to use that gift. The ability to read a person's mind was indeed a powerful gift. But if used incorrectly and without regard for a person's privacy, it could be incredibly dangerous. Such is why I tried to exercise caution when using it at any time.

     I shook my head. "Then what is she so mad about?" I asked. "I read her mind, and she said something about, 'If he wants to ask her out, he should just do it already and leave me the Undergrave out of it.' That's what I heard. If it wasn't about you, then who do you suppose it was about?"

     He was intrigued. "So you're reading people's minds now? I thought you told me that was something you didn't like to do? Something about it being out of context and privacy concerns? Wasn't that what you told me?" he said, using my own words against me. Touche. He had a point. It was out of context, so I couldn't be sure what it was about.

     I sighed. "You've got a point, I guess. I could just ask her, but that will only make her angry."

     "Could she maybe referring to your godfather? Who, last I checked, hated me?"

     I rolled my eyes. "Seth doesn't hate you. Just doesn't trust you too much. And I doubt she would be referring to him. As far as I know, Seth's not interested in anyone, and the only 'she' she could be referring to in this context would have to be me. She also said, 'I'm not her keeper'. I can't think of anyone else that would be other than me."

     "Are you sure it has to be you she's referring to? Are you positive it couldn't just be someone else? Isn't it possible, unlikely for sure, but possible that somehow your sister may have friends? And she could be referring to one of them in that case?"

     Once again, he had a good point. I had never considered that possibility. Primarily because, as he eluded to, the chances of Zoe having friends was incredibly unlikely. She pissed off just about everyone. But I supposed the whole thing could be referring to friends. However unlikely that seemed.

     "Guess I'll just let it go then. Maybe it's none of my business. I'm sorry to have bothered you," I said, conceding to his point.

     He shook his head. "Nonsense. I love playing devil's advocate with you. Reminds me of old times. Don't hesitate to call again any time, Kairine."

     I smiled as I nodded. "It was nice. Thanks."

     As he clicked off, I set the comm stone back down on my bedside table and laid back on the bed, staring up at the ceiling, as I sighed heavily. It really was none of my business what she was so mad about. But she was also my sister, and I cared about her. If she was in trouble, I wanted to help her.

     I pulled myself out of bed and made my way to the door. I was determined to try talking to her, to see if maybe there was some way I could help her. But as I cracked open my door, just then, I glimpsed something moving out of the corner of my eye, to my right. I turned my head toward the living area. But I couldn't see anything there, only darkness. It was late at night, around ten o'clock, I figured. Seth still wasn't back yet, but that wasn't anything unusual, he usually wouldn't be back until as late as midnight some nights, leaving us alone and to fend for ourselves. We were used to it by now.

     Slowly, I turned and stepped in that direction, moving as quietly as I could. Suddenly, I heard a sound. It was slight, but unmistakable. There was something in the home. It sounded like rustling of papers, or something like that. I started moving again, keeping my ears open and my eyes trained on the pitch black living area before me.

     Then I stopped, as this time there was a louder noise, as there came a loud crash coming from that direction. Zoe burst out of her room, startling me, as she screamed, "What the Undergrave are you doing, Kairine?!" at me.

     "That wasn't me. . ." I said in a hushed tone, trying to be as quiet as I could. "I think there's something in here," I pointed toward the living area. That got her attention, as she now came out and stepped in front of me.

     "You stay back. You'll only get in my way," she muttered as she charged a fire spell in her left hand. Fair enough. She could take point. There was no telling what this was, and she was the one with the magic.

     She led the way forth toward the living area, as she held her hand out to keep me from passing her, though I was perfectly content with her leading. She was being my overly protective sister once again, and I appreciated that in this case. We made it the corner and peered around, looking for any sign of what could have made that noise. For a moment, there was nothing, as she grew frustrated and impatient, looking back at me with angry eyes. It was almost like she was itching for a fight.

     Just then, suddenly, there was a movement in the darkness. I pointed it out, and just as she turned to face it and unleashed her spell, the shadow emerged from the black and came charging straight at us. The fire spell seemed to slip right through it as it came right for us.

     Stepping in front of her, I focused with all my energy as a barrier of violet energy appeared before me, just as the shadow struck it, sparks flying as a screeching sound rang through the night. Then, as quickly as it began, it was all over. Zoe and I looked at one another, with the same question on both our minds.

     What was that???