Hedgesville, West Virginia

Caspian Residence

Saturday, August 10, 1996

7:40 PM

Following behind Nick as he headed toward a small door to the left of the building, Jennie tried again to keep in step with him. Once she entered the other room, she found herself in a very spacious kitchen.

“Is that her?!”

The shout alarmed Jennie. She peered around Nick in time to notice a young woman rushing at her with her arms stretched out. Fear set in.

“Jennifer, right? So cute!”

Arms wrapped around her tightly as Jennie felt her breath escape. Never in her life had someone squeezed her so forcefully.

Can’t breath~!

“Rach, you’re choking her,” Nick said with an amused chuckle.

“Ah~! So sorry,” the woman announced as she backed away while pressing her hands against her chest.

It was apparent that Nick was speaking the truth about his children when he said they had the same pigment disorder. The female in front of her had the same green hair and yellow eyes.

Wow, and she’s really beautiful, too.

“It’s okay,” Jennie replied with a fake smile while trying to regain her breath, “and it’s okay to just call me Jennie.”

“Call you Jennie?” Nick questioned with a troubled expression, “You didn‘t tell me that.”

“Guess I forgot to mention that earlier,” Jennie whispered as she looked away. “But I’m used to older people calling me Jennifer anyway.”

“Old?” Nick said as his voice cracked.

A small laugh escaped Rachael as she placed hand over her mouth. “She‘s going to fit in around here,” she said, but quickly poised herself. “I’m Rachael, but everyone just calls me Rach. It‘s really great to finally get to meet you.”

“Yeah,” Jennie whispered, edging her way past the smiling woman and heading toward Nick who was motioning her to follow.

“Let’s go meet my sons,” Nick responded.

“Be careful around my little brother!” Rachel called out, waving spastically at Jennie.

Watching as Nick turned out of the kitchen then headed toward a set of stairs, Jennie trailed after. She had to take the steps two at a time to keep up.

On the second floor, he turned and pointed to the first door on the left. “That will be your room.”

“Okay,” she answered, staring at the door. My room...

“Across the hall is my youngest son,” he stated, “but I want you to meet my eldest first.”

“Sure,” Jennie whispered, looking to the room that held the youngest. She could faintly hear music, but she couldn’t tell what was being played.

Turning her attention back to Nick she found he had already walked away. She swiftly caught up and found him stopping again at another set of doors.

“This is where my eldest sleeps,” he said, pointing to the right, “While Rach stays there.” He made a quick motion to the left door.

“Girls on one side and boys on the other,” Jennie promptly stated.

“Yeah,” Nick whispered, “never really noticed that.”

“I told you I notice things,” she said, pointing to her right eye.

Plus you seem a bit slow.

“Well,” he said while his eyebrow twitched with irritation, “shall we introduce you to my sons?”

“Sure,” she replied. What’s with the face? It’s not like he can read my thoughts.

It wasn’t too long after knocking on the eldest son’s door that it opened. Jennie felt her chest tighten at the sight she beheld; a tall man with medium-length, green hair that fell into his honey-yellow eyes. She had never met someone with such a provocative glow to them before.

How can someone be so…sexy? Jennie couldn’t take her eyes off the man as he chuckled lightly. He wore nothing more than a pair of loose, cotton pants that hung off his hips, showing off his slim and toned body.

“This is Riley,” Nick said with a beaming smile, “my oldest son.”

“Oldest son,” Jennie said in a low voice as Nick nodded.

“I‘ve heard quite a bit about you,” stated Riley as he held out his hand to her, “it’s a pleasure to finally meet you.”

“Uh-huh,” Jennie breathed out while staring at his hand for a moment. Such smooth and delicate looking skin. What the hell...?

Taking his hand in her own, she felt awkward as he gave her a firm handshake. Her whole body turned hot at his touch as she quickly withdrew her hand from his.

“I’m sorry about your parents,” Riley said, “If you ever want to talk, feel free to stop by my room or store. I’ll lend you my ear anytime.”

“S...sure,” she loudly stuttered as she looked away quickly, feeling her heart continue its hammering. I would never talk to someone like this normally.

“I was kind of expecting someone more...feminine,” Riley said as he drew a hand to lips, “but you’re pretty cute none-the-less.”

“Tha...thanks,” she blurted out as her face went red.

Riley’s smile widened as he looked to Nick. “Definitely cute, isn’t she?”

“Yep,” Nick said with a chuckle.

“Has she met Rem yet?” Riley questioned, leaning against the doorway while peering down at Jennie as she gazed up at him.

“Nope,” Nick replied, “figured it would be better if she met you first.”

“Really?” Riley questioned, “Afraid he’ll be his usual pissy self?”

“Something like that,” Nick stated, “but also to tell you that this little lady knows about you and Rach already.”

“Seriously?” Riley whispered, eyeing Jennie carefully as she felt her body heat up more under his gaze. “Smart girl.”

“Not really,” Jennie choked out, “I just said that Nick would’ve been fourteen when he had you. Then he told me everything.”

“Ah....” Riley whispered, “yeah, he’s really my uncle, but I call him ‘Dad‘.”

“What about Rach?” Jennie questioned.

“Same with her,” Riley said, “she knows the truth and just calls Nick ‘Dad’.”

“For Rem’s sake,” Nick whispered.

“Is this ‘Rem’ that stupid not to know?” Jennie mumbled.

Nick and Riley stared at Jennie for a moment then glanced at each other before laughing loudly. Her mouth dropped open as she gazed at the two.

“No,” Nick whispered, “he just doesn’t care to look at the details. Unlike you. So how about we go meet him?”

“I’ll leave you to that,” Riley said with a smug voice, “I’m sure I’ll hear him perfectly fine from inside my room.”

Riley disappeared back in his room as Jennie found herself following Nick back to the room that was opposite her own. Again she could hear the sound of music from the other side.

Jennie felt uneasy as she stood beside the green-haired man while Nick rapped his knuckles against the door loudly. “Remington Caspian, turn your music down and come out here!”

At the sound of Nick’s strict voice Jennie flinched. He peered at her and smiled. “He likes his music. Loud music.”

“I can hear that,” Jennie said with a weak smile.

“Remington!” Nick shouted again as he knocked once more.

“What the fuck do you want?!”

The door swung open wildly as the music continued blaring. Jennie finally recognized the band playing, The Offspring, while she eyed the boy. He wasn’t nearly as tall as Riley, but matched height with his father.

“This is Rem,” Nick said as he motioned toward the hothead.

Jennie nodded while continuing her inspection. Noting that he was fully dressed unlike Riley, she quickly established that the boy lacked any of the sexuality that his brother had. His forest-green hair was cut short while the fringe barely hid his amber-colored eyes.

“WELL?!” Rem shouted again.

Nick quickly grabbed Jennie, interrupting her examination. “This is Jennie. Remember I told you in the car that she would be staying with us?”

Swiftly the boy’s attention went to her as his irritated eyes darkened. Neither of them spoke while Rem seemed to be studying her.

“Hi, I‘m...”

“Shut the fuck up!” Rem yelled suddenly while Jennie’s mouth dropped open in awe. No one had ever spoken to her in such a manner.

“Remington Michael Caspian, you know better than to mouth off like that,” Nick reprimanded as he looked quickly to Jennie, “Just ignore his stupidity.”

“Fugly bitch,” Rem snapped as Jennie looked back at the boy who had crossed his arms over his chest. “Fat and freckled, who would ever get their dick wet in you? Or maybe you swing the other way...”

She could sense her mind slipping at his words as she clenched her fists tightly. Red was all she could see.

“Excuse me?” she asked in a stern voice. “What the hell does that suppose to mean?!”

“I’m sorry...” Nick tried to touch Jennie’s shoulder while apologizing for his son‘s rudeness, but she turned abruptly and smacked his hand away before heading downstairs, fuming.

“That jackass!” Jennie screamed when she reached the first floor.

“Met Rem, right?”

Peering to the side, Jennie found Rach smiling at her kindly as she wiped her hands dry on a dishtowel. “He can be a bit of an ass, but he’s just not used to you. He’s...not good with strangers.”

“I can see that,” Jennie seethed.

Rach giggled lightly and waved a hand back and forth in front of her face. “Dad is really hoping you and Rem fall in love with each other. So am I.”

“Keep dreaming,” Jennie cursed.

“How about I heat you up some dinner?” Rach questioned.

Taking a deep breath as she tried to calm herself down, Jennie nodded. After all she went through that day, something warm would be welcomed.

“Okay,” Rach replied as she turned to head back into the kitchen.

Walking into the room behind the older woman, Jennie watched as Rach searched the shelves until she pulled out a can of soup. “Chicken noodle, okay?”

“That’s fine,” Jennie responded.

“It’s really nice to have another girl in the house,” Rach said as the whirr of the can opener droned through Jennie’s head. “How about telling me a little about yourself.”

“Like what?” Jennie asked, taking a seat at the table.

“Hmm...” Rach began dumping the contents of the can into a saucepan and looked back at Jennie. “Do you have a boyfriend?”

“Boyfriend?” Jennie repeated, staring down at the table. “No...”

“Have you had boyfriend before?” Rach questioned as Jennie nodded, “What was he like?”

“My last boyfriend was...” Jennie paused as she tried to remember him. “He was a nice guy, I suppose. A bit clueless, always smiling...kind of reminded me of a puppy.”

“A puppy?” Rach laughed, “Why did you break up?”

“He was...cheating me on,” she whispered, “with one of my friends. I...decided to stay away from guys for a while.”

“Oh,” Rach whispered, “Guess that happens to everyone. But I’m sure you’ll find someone nice at the academy.”

“Academy?” Jennie questioned.

“Didn’t Dad mention that you’ll be going to Harbinger Academy?” Rach asked, eyeing her while stirring the soup.

“He said I would be going to a private school,” Jennie whispered.

“That’s Harbinger,” Rach said as her cheerful voice seemed to disappear, “I’m just a little worried about you going there. Outsiders aren‘t always welcomed.”

“Why?” Jennie asked while Rach stopped stirring and looked back at her with a forced smile.

“It’s a school that starts kids off at preschool. So to jump straight into high school could cause you some problems,” Rach replied as Jennie nodded.

“I’m sure I can manage,” Jennie replied.

“As long as you have Rem around,” Rach softly spoke, “I’m sure things will be fine.”

Jennie felt her brow twitch at the mention of the boy’s name. “Why would I be hanging with him? Are you that desperate to hook me up with him?”

“What?” Rach questioned. “No! Of course not. But you’ll need someone to show you around. Then again...if you have so much of a problem with Rem, you could have Uncle Morey’s kids show you around.”

Morey was that cop, right? They can’t be too bad, I hope. Then again…

“They’re not like that jackass...are they?”

“Hardly,” chuckled Rach as she began ladling soup into a bowl, sitting it down in front of Jennie. “For your sandwich, is ham okay?”

“Ham,” Jennie said with a look of displeasure, “sure.”

“What do you prefer?” Rach questioned, turning away and heading toward the refrigerator.

“Turkey.” Jennie stared down into the yellowish broth in the bowl and saw her own miserable reflection. A heavy sigh escaped her.

I look like shit.

“After I finish making the sandwich, I’ll go upstairs and borrow some clothes from he-who-shall-not-be-named,” Rach mused as Jennie cracked a small smile. “So you can smile.”

“Sure,” Jennie laughed, “when I have something to smile about.”

Sitting in silence while sipping on the hot liquid, Jennie would watch Rach as she diligently finished creating a sandwich. As the sandwich was placed down on the table, the older girl smiled earnestly.

“I’ll be back,” she said, “going to grab you some night clothes. If you hear yelling...”

“It means that the he-who-shall-not-be-named is raging?” Jennie mused as Rach nodded.

When Rach disappeared out of the kitchen, Jennie was left with the remainder of her soup and the sandwich. Lifting up the top piece of bread, she noted that there was no mustard or mayonnaise. What kind of person eats a sandwich without one or the other? Too dry otherwise.

I’d choke to death. Well, that’s one way to go.

Standing up and making her way to the fridge with sandwich in hand, she stopped at the sight of a photograph that clung to the freezer door with a single magnet.

Mom and Dad…? With that Nick guy.

She was quick to take the photo off and stare down at the persons in the image. Never had she seen her parents so young before. And Nick appeared to be in his early teens.

“You’re in my way,” growled a low voice as Jennie turned abruptly to find that Rem had walked in behind her.

Sidestepping swiftly, she watched the boy open the door to the fridge and grab a container that held tea. Immediately pouring some into a glass he found in a nearby cabinet, he took a long drink then turned his attention to her.

“Thanks to you,” he grumbled, “I got another lecture from Dad.”

Jennie backed away at his tone, bumping into the table while clutching her sandwich tightly. Her eyes darted from one side of the room to the other, trying to find a way to escape.

The yellow of his eyes were frightening her. Just like the dreams...

“Whatever” she hastily mumbled while trying to ignore his temperament.

“Don’t get lippy with me, bitch!” he shouted, slamming his hand down beside her on the table.

Too close...! Too damn close!

“Get out of my face!” she screamed, flinging out her hand and connecting her sandwich to his face. Fear built up inside her while her mouth dropped open in shock.

Did I just sandwich slap him?

Rem stood silent while the fallen sandwich fell to the ground. His eyes were glued to Jennie as she looked away, trying to hide from his gaze.

“What do you think you’re doing?” he said as he grabbed her shoulder and yanked her back, “the old man says I should treat you with respect. Keep an eye on you. But I rather donkey punch you in the back of your head.”

Pushing away from her, Rem walked away, but stopped in the door of the kitchen. “You’re nothing more than a cheap slut for my dad to ogle at.”

Staring at the ground after hearing his harsh words, Jennie stood silent while tears began spilling from her eyes. Bastard...