Walking Among the Shadows: Awakening: Revised Edition (36 page)

We sat under the tree so long
we forgot to check our cell phones and when I did I had over seven missed calls
and messages. They were all from my mom pleading me to come home as soon as
possible. I teleported us back to the school parking lot and drove Jasmine
home. I wanted to come in with her but she advised I wait till she told them
everything and then they would meet me. It made sense so I decided to go home
and spill the beans as well. I was tired of hiding my love for this girl. I
just wanted to feel free to love her anywhere. She climbed on my lap and gave me
the most passionate kiss she’d ever given me, hugged me, and walked into her
house. I smiled while reminiscing about the time I got shot at trying to escape
their house the night of my birthday party. Soon I hoped I would be invited
inside without being run out at gunpoint. It was a farfetched dream but I was
willing to believe in it. Jasmine was worth it.

Driving home, I reflected on
everything that lead me to this point in my life and wondered how things would
be going forward. From a regular introvert to a suspected serial killer to a
Baraqu warrior and now the boyfriend of the second-most powerful Shadow on this
planet. All in less than a year. Amazing how life can change and how drastic
that change can be. But what is more incredible is how we can adapt and manage
to survive and find happiness in the worst places. Find love where there once
was hate. Find peace in a time of war. I found love right when I was about to
take a girl’s life on prom night. If I could find love in such a dark place,
then others can do a lot better.

When I got home there were
more cars out front than usual. My mom’s car and four rental cars. I wondered
who was here but I knew there wasn’t much danger because Sarah would have
handled it. Jasmine had been helping her strengthen her ability and she’d
gotten very powerful. Sarah could handle herself now and I had all the
confidence in her that any threat that came to our door she could neutralize. I
opened the front door to a living room full of people. Some I recognized from
the night at the hospital and some I had never seen before. It seemed Manny and
his team were here, but why?

Manny came out from the
kitchen drinking a cup of coffee accompanied by a very beautiful woman dressed
in an all-black special forces suit.

“Hey, Manny, what are you
doing here?”

“Have a seat Aiden, we have
something to discuss.”

At that moment I became afraid
that they had found out about Jasmine and were here to question me about  her.
I was planning on coming home to tell my mom about Jasmine, but I wasn’t going
to do it now in a room full of strangers. I didn’t know what they would do or
think. Plus, having a kid brother in love with a Shadow would seriously
compromise his team’s confidence in Manny and after hearing about my dad being
betrayed I didn’t want to take any chances with Manny’s life. He was already a
hothead. I slowly sat down looking around the room at everyone. My mom and
Sarah were there with worried looks on their faces.

Oh no, they must know about
Jasmine.

I wanted to get my side of the
story out before anything else happened so I began to talk but Manny cut me off
midsentence.

“Aiden listen, I don’t know
what you are trying to say but whatever personal bullshit you have going on
doesn’t concern me right now. What concerns me is what we need from you.”

“What is that?”

“My team and I are going on an
important mission to the Middle East and we need your help.”

“Why would I go to the Middle
East? I made it clear before that I don’t want any part of this war you guys
are fighting.”

“Yeah, I heard about that but
you are going to want to go on this mission.”

“Why is that? What could
possibly change my mind that I would be willing to go to the most war-torn part
of the planet with you to fight a war I want no part of?”

“Because it’s not just about
this war, this is about family.”

“Manny, my family is all here
besides Granny and Grandpa. Did they move to the Middle East or something? I
don’t think so. So who is over there that will make me want to leave with you?”

“Aiden, we found Dad, he’s in
the Middle East and he’s alive…”

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