Short Stories

Burning Brighter Part 2: Burning from Within

"Nothing in the news still. Either the police haven't released information or they did a good job clearing out the party and taking care of that guy.

"Did I kill him?"

Both Josiah's and father's head snap in our direction. "Oh hunny, you are awake again. You are probably starving." He obviously tries to avoid the question as he scrambles to make me food. "What all do yo-"

"Did I kill him?"

Father's eyes meet mine and a sad look crosses over his face. He looks to my mom with pleading eyes. She sighs and gets in the fridge. When it is clear that he has to answer my question, he places his hand on my shoulder giving it a small squeeze. His face is etched with sadness and worry. "You might want to sit down. I will begin to explain everything."

I immediately drop into the chair watching my father as I do so, "Talk."

When he doesn't say anything right away, I plead. "Please..."

With a sigh he begins making an omelet for me, "What that man did to you Edna is beyond disgusting. Your body reacted out of fear and anger."

"So I killed him?" I can feel Josiah's eyes watching how this plays out.

"Yes. Your powers killed him." He glances at me as mom sits besides me.

"Powers?"

She takes ahold of my trembling hand that clenches my thigh. "We should've told you before the transition started." She pauses taking a gulp of her juice. "I thought maybe your powers would stay dormant like mine did for the longest time. I thought we could avoid it, but we couldn't."

I must've had an odd expression on my face because she gives a reassuring smile, "You see your father and I are part what is called the Sapphire Isle. It is a dimension that allows us to live freely with our powers but it isn't as heavenly as it seems. Some have chosen to cross over and live here permanently. The crossover is extremely dangerous and many Vigilantes kill those who try to cross. We have lost close friends trying to cross. The permanent cross over affects our powers which is why you don't develop yours until you are about eighteen. It is said the powers come much more quickly as generations stay here. When I became pregnant with you, I decided I wanted you to grow up as a normal child. I didn't want you to learn how to kill men with your powers before you were even five."

I start at my hands trying to process everything.

"Your mother and I fled where we met Yvan and Dia." ( pronounced: Die-uh)

"Wait!" I look up, pointing at Josiah. "Are you talking about Josiah's parents?"

Josiah chews on his lips glancing from me to each of my parents. Dad slides my omelet infront of me and I begin to poke at the food as we talk.

Dad nods as he fills a glass of orange juice for me, "Yes, Yvan and Diamunda were both a part of Sapphire Isle as well but fled out of the real em when Diamunda became pregnant with Josiah. You see even through we all lived freely with our powers, we had the counsels for each area and then a voted in Counsel that ruled over everyone. Dia was a part of a high class family. Dia had a rough childhood. Not only was she the only female with three brothers. She was the only one to develop the ability to shape shift where as both her parents and the rest of her siblings had the ability heal faster than normal humans, faster than your mother and I even. There are several different powers and not everyone got along.Your mother has the ability to conjure and control fire. I work with electricity."

"When my mother married my father" Josiah adds, "Her parents we ashamed and angry. Different abilities were becoming more common but her family believed in purity of the family due to their higher class status. They had held her captive and were abusive."

Josiah pauses as if struggling with his words before continuing, "It wasn't until my father mastered the ability of manipulation or mind control that he was able to set her free and together they fled to the countryside where they lived together. Months later my mom got pregnant but somehow her family found out and sent out to kill both of my parents. Luckily they were able to escape but not without consequences. My mother had been stabbed in the abdomen with a poisoned knife. She nearly would've died if it weren't for a gentleman named Raphael. He healed my mother and helped them try to cross over. Then they came across your parents and the man helped all of them cross over which was successful obviously. "

It takes me a moment to comprehend everything. Basically my parents were from a different dimension where everyone had powers. My mother had the ability to conjure and control flames and my father could control electricity. Yvan could manipulate people and Dia could shape shift. They both fled to come live here which is dangerous and they could've been kill. This sounds straight out of a fantasy book.

"What's your power then?" I look towards Josiah. A small smile dances on his face. " Hand me your necklace?"

My hand reaches up and clasps my necklace skeptical, "Why?"

"Just give it to me." Reluctantly, I reach up and unclasp my necklace. It is a necklace that I had gotten when I was about 16 after volunteering at a nursing home for the summer. One of the patients named Marie had given me a ring after her and I had become extremely close. I even met her children and grandchildren and attended her funeral that following September when she passed away.

I carefully give it to him, " If you destroy it, I will kick your as-"

He chuckles and takes it from my hand, "Oh shut up." He closes his fist around the necklace closing his eye for a few seconds before opening them up and handing it back to me. As I put back around my neck, he starts explaining.

"That necklace was given to you by an older woman named Marie. Fluffy white hair, purple painted nails and bright red lipstick because according to her, it was how to get men. She lived in a nursing home where you volunteered. When she gave it to you, she said it was because she saw a spark in you that reminded her of her younger days and she wanted you to cherish your youth."

I'm completely in shock, staring at Josiah was a dropped jaw completely flabbergasted, "H-How do you know that?"

"Psychometry. I have the ability to learn things about the past of an object by touching it."

"Wow. That's awesome!" I am completely fascinated. Despite how crazy everything seemed, it made sense at to why my parents and Josiah's parents had always been crazy close and they also would get together and would not allow us to join them sometimes.

"So that's how the fire  in the shed a few years ago stopped? Mom stopped it."

Dad nods, " I had accidently gotten a little to frustrated while trying fix an old telegram and it went up in flames. Started to consume the shelving of the shed and quickly grew. Luckily your mother had just gotten home from work when she smelt it immediately and rushed to the shed and put it out while I tried with a fire extinguisher. "

Suddenly there is a rapid pounding on the front door. Everyone looks at each other. Mom looks to dad confused.

"Are we expecting anyone?"

He shakes his head in confusion, "Stay here." Suddenly, I can hear humming of electricity. A quick look at dad's hands and I can almost see waves radiating off  of them.

When he reaches the front door he cautiously opens the door only to expose Yvan and Dia standing there. Dia is still in her scrubs from work as tears stream down her face.

"Yvan. Dia. What's going on are you okay?"

"Mom? Dad?" Josiah jumps up worried.

Yvan still holding onto a crying Dia, looks from my father to the rest of us before landing on Josiah. "We got a letter from Walters. There were pictures. Dia's father crossed over into our realm in search of Josiah."