Chapter 1

Purple Creek, June 2004

She felt as if she was flowing through the air, traversing the dense, impenetrable blackness of the space. Despite closed eyes she could notice that it brightened around her. It was as if she emerged from the darkness. She felt delicate, slightly collapsing ground underfoot. She slowly raised her heavy eyelids, looked around, and she knew that she was dreaming.

She stood in the middle of a shady clearing in the forest, through the foliage of which pierced the afternoon rays of the summer sun. She heard the sound of the wind in the treetops, woodpecker tapping, who was painstakingly building a new house, and the chirping of birds. She closed her eyes and soak up all the smells and sounds of the forest's life. She wanted to enjoy this lazy afternoon, this moment full of peace and proximity to nature.

She loved it. Nobody had to inculcate in her the respect for the natural world. She loved animals and plants, and felt unbreakable bond with them. Of course she did not feel contempt and disgust for the city and all the technology. She was able to use all the modern amenities, but never used them against the Mother Nature. City life was different, more difficult. Devoid of harmony and proper rhythm, which she so desperately needed. That is why she still lived in Purple Creek. Here she felt better. Almost like home.

Her thinking was interrupted by a sudden sound. The crack of a branch broke the silence of the forest like a rumble of thunder. She opened her eyes. Forest, which just a moment before seemed to be a refuge, went dark. She felt that the day is coming to an end, and menacing shadows are lurking in thickets. The sun sank behind the horizon, almost plunging the forest in the darkness of incoming night.

She was not standing on the clearing anymore, but on the path which looked like a beautiful, but very dark alley. She recognized it straight away. The road writhing between the trees, on which she so often was jogging with her mother. They went through it countless times, multiplying kilometers, extending distances, fighting against their own weaknesses and limitations. Then she thought that Isabo, as a happy mother of seven children, cared about the condition and slim figure. They were wrong! How could they not see what played out almost before their eyes?!

She felt the presence of someone behind her. Energy wave, crawling on her skin like an army of ants, caused that she shivered involuntarily. Clad only in shorts and short loose T-shirt, she felt on her skin shrill cold flowing from the creature standing behind her back. She sensed that his power increased. Before the wave of energy soaked up with unspeakable anger and hatred reached her back, she started to run. She was fast and she knew this forest as her own hand, so she knew which way to run.

For a moment she was wading blindly through the thickets, she stumbled several times on the protruding roots injuring her skin with sharp, tangled branches. But soon it brightened in front of her, so she could clearly see the way, and where it is going. In the mad rush that seemed to have no end, she saw a clearance. Glade. She perfectly knew what she will see in a moment and wanted to turn back, so she won’t be forced to watch this nightmare again, but she was inexorably guiding her steps in that direction. Due to the fear lurking in her heart, she closed her eyes with a firm commitment not to open them no matter what would happen.

Pictures from the past were sliding under her closed eyelids. Mother's smiling face. Her tears when Mark got lost in funfair. Her empty, bottomless eyes as she was lying dead on a forest glade covered with soft, blood-soaked moss. A werewolf leaning over her. His jaws tearing Isabo's throat apart. Satisfied smile of the vampire face, who watched that murderous scene with a blissful look in his eyes.

She squeezed her eyes tighter so she could see nothing more. It got dark before her eyes, and after a while white specks appeared there. Branches hit her in the face, but she still didn’t have the courage to open her eyes for fear that the nightmare of the past will turn into a macabre reality. She stumbled and fell forward. Driven by self-preservation she held her hands out to the front wanting to cushion the fall and opened her eyes, ready to contact the forest plating.

But in front of her there was a black abyss into which she was falling with increasing speed.

***

Jay woke up from a nightmare. Her heart was pounding and sweat was shining on her skin. It was dark around, and gusts of chilly June night flew through the open window. Her throat was dry and sore as if she screamed for a very long time. She found the bedside lamp switch in the dark. She waited until her eyes accustomed to the light, then glanced at the watch standing on the table. Half past four in the morning. She looked down on the bed, where sheets were in disarray. Few pillows were lying on the floor. She rubbed her face with her hands and stood up, knowing that she won't be able to fall asleep again.

She went straight to the bathroom, which was adjacent to her room. As the only woman among her siblings she had the privilege of having a separate bathroom. Her brothers had to share. Once she shared a bathroom with Isabo. She looked sadly at the opposite door that led into her mother's bedroom. She didn't want to sink into depressing memories so she directed her steps toward the sink. She glanced at her reflection in the mirror and found that she had slightly dark circles under eyes. 'The effect of lack of sleep.' She thought. Lately, it happens very often to her to wake up in the middle of the night. She knew that her brothers are also tormented by nightmares sometimes. And she felt guilty, because she gave them every fucking detail of their mother’s death. But she couldn't have done otherwise. They had the right to know, and because they always stuck together, and used to tell each other everything, Jay actually had no choice.

She turned the tap on, splashed her face with cool water, and then wiped it with a soft, lavender scented towel. She stated that the slightly shaking hands, which didn't leave her from the moment of awakening, stopped. She didn't have soft knees anymore and stood firmly on the ground. Again she looked at her reflection. She had long, dark blond hair that curled up in soft waves around an oval face. The ideal eyebrows arches were often moving up in the expression of boundless contempt for the world around her. She was a typical rebel and troublemaker.

But her eyes, with their unusual color, were full of sorrow and unparalleled knowledge, which nobody could expect after seventeen-year-old girl. The irises' color changed depending on the mood Jay was currently in, as well as on lighting - from the color of calm, green sea depths of the lake, to the dark blue grayness of rough ocean waves. People who have good knowledge on colors might tell that her iris are turquoise, as the border between green and blue was too fluid, to assign them to one particular color.

'Jess has the same eyes.' She thought, doing the routine daily cosmetic stuff. 'He enchants girls, who fall for him and to his feet. But it doesn't protect him from having a broken heart, because unfortunately he falls in love as easily as he seduces.' She thought bitterly. The shape of the mouth and smile, with a small dimple in the left corner, they had the same too. 'A fall from our mother' - she added silently. As if on cue the scene from the nightmare returned.

- Damn it! - She almost growled through gritted teeth and slammed the wall with her fist.

She felt a sharp pain and wetness. The blow was so strong that her knuckles were wounded, and between her fingers the blood was leaking. 'Another one,' - she thought, looking at the broken tiles - 'Sean will fucking kill me! It's the third one this month. Well, at least I know that my strength is growing.' She added with the flow of good humor. For five years they had been trained by Sean - a werewolf, who was the partner of their mother, and who after her death took care of their upbringing. They started from martial arts and gradually moved to cold steel.

She rinsed her hand, drained it, sprinkled with an antiseptic powder and put a dressing on it. Without breaking the internal monologue, she went to the bedroom where she grabbed fresh underwear and a favorite shorts and tank top. She dressed quickly, pinned up her hair in a sloppy ponytail and went on tiptoe to the kitchen. She grabbed a bottle of water, went to the hall where she put on a pair of worn off sneakers and quietly slipped out of the house. She whistled softly. Right next to her a Husky appeared.

The daylight was still dim, but the day was slowly taking control over the night. Although it was the second half of June, the mornings were still brisk and nights pretty chilly. However, clear, cloudless sky foretold another scorching day. ‘The school will end soon.’ She smiled to herself. ‘Thank God! I’m sick of it!’She added defiantly. Since two years her elder brothers were in college, and now it was her and Jess’s turn. Carter and Christian finished the academic year a little bit earlier and now they were staying home while their siblings had to spend those beautiful days in hot, stuffy classrooms of high school.

It was only few days to graduation. As well to her and Jason’s seventeenth birthday. Mel appeared to be implacable and said that there’s no such an option for Jay to avoid the party, she prepared to celebrate this day. Jay had no choice. She had to accept all the proposals of her friend, as she was outvoted by her own brothers! The eldest twins had already announced that together with Mel’s brother, Bryan, they’ll keep an eye on everything, so they won’t do anything stupid. She knew that her brothers like to have fun, which assured that the party will be good. And college boys presence was a guarantee that parents won’t panic that their kids want to spend the night in the woods!

       ‘The night of summer solstice,’ she thought. ‘It must mean something. Carter and Christian celebrated nineteenth birthday on last spring equinox, Mark and Michael will turn sixteen on autumn equinox. And Danny, born on winter solstice, exactly in the morning, will be fifteen this year.’ She was meditating while jogging towards home after she ran ix miles. ‘And fifth anniversary of mum’s death.’ She shook her head quickly as if it could help to chase away bad thoughts.

       After coming back she went straight to the home gym – fast run increased her appetite for another physical effort. While staying in the open air, Jay liked listen to the sound of nature, in the gym she put the headphones and closed herself in the world of music. She chose the repertoire according to her mood – rock, hip-hop, sometimes even tearful ballads – with those she was mainly infected by her friend. Because since she woke up, she couldn’t get rid of the overwhelming anger; Jay’s ears were attacked by furious, sharp sounds of electric guitar and rhythmic beating of the drums. In her case, Prodigy was an ideal way to ease nerves.

       The shock they experienced when Sean revealed the truth, passed quickly. Somewhere, in the depths of their souls, they were aware of the fact that they aren’t just normal kids from small town in Montana. The news, that their mother was a born hunter of supernatural creatures, one of the best in the world, filled them with pride. And when Isabela broke down her resistance and told her grandchildren the family history, their self-esteem even increased.

       However, they had to swallow the bitter disappointment. Their grandma claimed that although they inherited abilities and have power, Isabo did everything to keep their energy asleep. All that remained to them was training, a constant struggle with themselves, to become, even to a small extent, the person their mother was. Because that was what they really desired. It didn’t matter that Isabo wanted a normal life for them. They didn’t want it. It was an honor for them to follow the same paths the past generations had chosen.

       That was the reason Jay woke up before the sunrise every day. Last few years were marked by sacrifice and constant fight with own weaknesses. She ran each day, generally alone or with Hunter, and then she spent another hour in the gym. In the afternoons and on days off she was trained by Sean. The werewolf never treated her leniently, so Jay very quickly experienced his speed and strength. When he was spending time with her brothers, she was practicing on her own. She usually went to the woods, to the same clearing where Isabo died almost five years ago. Strangely, right there she’s overwhelmed by peace and certainty, that she follows the right way.

       Of them all, it was Jay who applied utmost importance to trainings. She spent all her free time on exercises. She put aside meetings with friends and parties, while her brothers tried to live something that looked like a normal life. She didn’t think that their attitude is dismissive. They were just coping with the situation in different way. Besides, Jay valued her autonomy. She wanted to prove, that despite being short and slightly built, she can be as strong and durable as her brothers.

       About half an hour passed, when Christian and Carter entered the gym. When classes at college have ended, they decided to come home and annoy the younger siblings with their freedom. Jay was always wondering how it’s possible, that monozygotic twins can differ so much. Carter has brown hair and intense blue eyes, as cloudless spring sky, where one could find seriousness as well as contempt. His hair was cut shortly, about three – four centimeters on the top and shaved on the sides to about five millimeters. Always eager to quarrel and fight.

       Christian, on the other hand, had dark, almost black hair falling in soft waves nearly to his shoulders. ‘They definitely need cutting.’ She thought fleetingly. But it was his eyes that attracted attention – dark blue iris, often adhering shade of navy, like the sky after the sunset. Seemingly gentle, he could fall into frenzy and hit well, but in the end he always tried to alleviate the conflict.

       Both were tall, well built and handsome. Extremely alluring with their impish smiles, which showed even white teeth. And dimples that appeared on Christian’s cheeks simply knocked off feet, not girls only. All women loved him – starting from newborns, ending on old Mrs. Gibbons, the pastry shop’s owner. Christian never left her shop empty-handed. ‘Gourmand!’ As the rest of the siblings, they had golden-tanned skin. 

       Jay put two-pound dumbbells aside and took off the headphones.

-       Hi! – She smiled at brothers.

-       Hey! So early on your feet? – Christian smiled her back and took a look on sister. A strange look in her eyes didn’t escape his attention. – Is everything okay? You couldn’t sleep? – He asked with care.

-       Let’s say that something pulled me out of Morpheus’ embrace and I didn’t want to go back there. – She answered calmly.

-       Another nightmare? – Carter seemed to be upset. Although, they also used to have unpleasant dreams, Jay nightmares were the most scary and realistic. – They usually foretell something bad to come.

-       Split it out! – Christian gave his twin a punch to the side. – Maybe it’s nothing special? Just a dream.

       Still they all thought the same. From time to time one of them has a nightmare foretelling some misfortune – a fire, fatal accident, murder. But Jay’s dreams were the most frightening as they predicted disaster that was going to hit into someone of her relatives. Unfortunately, her dreams weren’t clear and based only on symbols and premonitions. This is why she couldn’t tell what, who, when and where.

-       I don’t say that it has to mean something. – Jay broke of her reverie. – I was in the forest. – She started at ease. – It was so quiet, calm. But suddenly, I felt that I’m not alone. Something made me run, so I speeded ahead, blindly. And though I tried hard to choose other way, I kept coming back to the one that leads to the clearing. – Her voice quavered. She didn’t have to explain which clearing she was talking about. – And then I was falling into a black abyss. That’s when I woke up. – She ended in calm voice.

-       I wonder, what does it mean for us? – Carter decided to analyze all information.

-       And does it have to?! – She growled suddenly and regretted it immediately. – I’m sorry! – She said with guilt. She knew that her brothers only want to help. They always could count on each other, regardless the situation they supported one another. – Get tired and burn down yesterday junk food. – Jay gave them a playful smile and left.

       She burst into the kitchen, caught another bottle of water and went upstairs. On the way to her room she passed by other four brothers going to the daily struggle with the sweat-wringer. Jess – always optimistic about life – greeted her with a fraternal kiss on the cheek. Jay felt the bond between them as something physical. It terrified her, but gave her more strength as well. They were able to read each other’s moods faultlessly. They even literally read one another’s minds few times. In a similar way she felt the rest of her brothers, but with Jason, her twin, she was bonded by something special. Something inseparable.

       Suddenly, from their rooms came out younger twins. Mark whirled with her and speeded down the stairs. He has dark brown hair, eyes like forest wilderness and rakish smile. A scar in the left corner of his mouth gave them an expression of slight ridicule, but when he smiled he was just charming. ‘He’ll break many hearts!’ Jay thought, happy of the fact, that events from two years ago hadn’t changed his joyful nature. She imagined herself all those poor girls, who will cry because of her younger brother and she started to be sorry for them.

       However, her mercy vanished rapidly, when she saw Michael. Mark’s twin was his total opposite. Dark blonde hair framed his face of gentle features, and in his bright, almost pastel, green eyes one could see reflection of his soul. As for his age he was too serious. A sensitive romantic and dreamer. But Jay had to admit, that these features didn’t diminish his fortitude and strength of character. He smiled gently and followed his twin.

       And Daniel. The youngest of the whole pack. In expression of rebellion he let his brown hair grow long, and now it reaches into mid-back. Braided into thin braids, rarely fall bulk – he usually wore it tide on his nape in a thick knot with a strap. There were twinkles in his honey-colored eyes, and his lips were prone to laughter. Especially lately, after Sean decided, that Daniel can start weapons training. He winked at her and kissed her cheek while passing by. She was pleased, that, although, the youngest of her brothers was at difficult age, he didn’t push anyone of his siblings away.

       With a sigh of satisfaction Jay went to her bedroom. It was early, so she could allow herself for a long, hot shower to relax the muscles. She went to the bathroom, took off sweaty clothes and entered the glass shower cubicle. Jay pricked adequately strong and hot water stream and allowed herself for a moment of reflection. She came back involuntarily to the last night’s nightmare. The dream was very realistic. She had similar impressions and feelings before. It’s true, that the day of their mother’s death often appeared in her dreams, but it rarely happened, that everything was so clear. So tangible.

       Every time it had place, something bad happened to her brothers. Four years ago she had similar dream twice. After the first one Jess fell off the ladder and broke his arm in three places. After the second, Carter was beaten by a group of school macho. He laid in coma for two weeks and doctors didn’t give him much chance to wake up – cerebral edema was too large. It turned out, that Jason’s bones grown together extremely quickly, and Carter returned to form by leaps and bounds.

       After that she didn’t have dreams for a long time. They appeared only after a year. Then Michael was hit by a drunk driver, who lost control over the wheel and drove into the sidewalk. A lot of blood and stitches, but fortunately no fractures. Two years ago it fell for Mark. He was caught up by Betty Monroe’s brother and his buddies, and Mark only wanted to flirt with the sweet blonde. He liked to come back home through the woods and he always passed the lake. They lurked for him, tied him up and threw into a wooden chest, which they put on a leaky boat and pushed from the shore. They didn’t take into consideration that flimsy husk will start to take water rapidly under the weight, and the box also was not a rain-tight.

       Mark was saved because one of the bullies panicked and ran for help. They made it just in time, although Mark was resuscitated for fifteen minutes, which for Jay seemed to last forever. He’s claustrophobic after that. She could hear his scream again, such as when the basement door shut after him. Maria couldn’t forgive herself that she sent him for that damn jam.

       The last dream she had almost two years ago. Carter and Christian were starting college. They went to decorate the flat before moving in. They also checked the pub, where they found a job. It was late when they were coming back, but the streets were crowded. A woman, who was walking in front of them, was stolen a bag. Because the thief was running into their direction, they decided to catch him. They didn’t see the gun, as the guy held it in his left hand. It ended with non-serious gunshot wound, but it was close and Christian could be shot in the liver.

       ‘Five dreams, five accidents.’ A picture tried to enter her mind, but she kept it away using all her will. ‘Not Daniel!’ She thought frantically. ‘Just not him! Nothing can happen to him!’ She lifted her head and looked at the white ceiling as if she was expecting to see her mother’s face there. ‘Watch over him! Don’t let anyone to harm him!’ She was praying, strongly believing that she’ll be heard. Jay turned off the water and took fluffy towel. She made necessary cosmetic procedures, went to the bedroom and took favorite clothes out of the closet. Black, ragged on the edges shorts perfectly fit blue imprinted T-shirt. “Bite me!” It said. She combed still wet hair, wore simple long earrings, took a bag she packed yesterday and headed downstairs.