Chapter 24. Wait a Minute


    Legaxy


    "Hailey!"


    "Flower!"


    Both Howard and Axel yell upon seeing me. Then, without another word, they started racing towards


    me.


    Frozen on my seat, I just watched them boyspete their way towards me. Until, it was Howard


    Martin Dyme, the big and muscr brother of mine, that got to me first.


    He quickly picked me up from the chair I was sitting in with one swift of his broad, firm arms and started


    spinning me around.


    "Oh my goodness! I have missed you so much, Hailey bear." He shrieked gleefully, still spinning


    around.


    "I miss you too, Howie," I muttered, a giggle came out of my throat.


    As he put me down and was about to greet me, Axel David Dyme - my tall and lean brother - popped in


    front of me and engulfed me into a long, bone-crushing hug.


    "Hey! I was here first!" I heard Howardin but Axel ignored him as he tightened his embrace


    around me.


    "I miss you, my little Flower. Haven''t you bloom so well and," he sniffed my hair, making me blush on


    his arms, "you still smell sweet... very, very sweet." He continued in a gentle, quiet tone.


    Why the nickname now?


    Since Axel sees me as a fragile and delicate sister, apart from the reason Mum calling me Lily, he


    thought it would be suitable to nickname me as ''Flower''.


    I know, too cute... Let those eyes roll.


    "I mi - miss you too Ax - Axel," I stuttered, trying to cool down my burning cheeks.


    Though, it wasn''t fast enough. Axel, after freeing himself from the embrace, chuckled when he caught


    sight of it.


    "Still hating thepliments, Flower?" He asked while gently caressing my redden cheeks.


    I swatted his hand away from my face.


    "No. Ju-just the sniffing," I replied shyly, my eyes averting his delicate stare.


    "Oh, just old habits." He chuckled again, "My apologies though." He''s now scratching the back of his


    neck.


    I smile upon seeing that.


    "It''s okay Ax. Just don''t do it again, please."


    He smirked.


    "I''ll try, Flower, I''ll try." He promised and gave me a quick kiss on the forehead.


    And there goes my blushing again.


    "Dude, stop! She''s getting red again." Howardughed while grabbing Axel on his cor, pulling him


    away from me. Then, in Axel''s ce, Howard stand and gave me a formal hug.


    "So, how''s my Hailey be - oh wow, you look cute in pigtails. Did Mum do this?" Howard asked, feeling


    him touching the braid.


    "Nope, I did," I respond casually.


    "Oh, and where did you learn that?" He inquired after releasing me from the hug. His eyes currently


    studying my face.


    The question, for some reason, caught me off guard, making my forehead wrinkled in question.


    "Actually, I don''t know. I just... well, I felt like I could do it. So, I did it and here it is." I slowly exined


    while touching my braided head.


    Listening to this, I noticed Howard giving Axel a bothered look which Axel returned with a concerned


    gaze.


    Then, both of them, at the exact same time, stared at me weirdly.


    "What?" I blurted out.


    "Hailey, don''t you think that unconscious act is part of your memory?" Howard cautiously spoke the


    words and when my silver-gray eyesnded on his cyan ones, I saw he was ufortable.


    "I''m" - I licked my lips - "unsure... I only felt it. Does that count?" I sounded uneasy now and my


    brothers noticed that.


    Axel, with one swift motion, pulled me into another hug.


    "Yes Flower, but don''t think too much about it." Axel whispered, "We just wanted to know if it''s still


    happening... the shbacks. Any episodes this past few days?" He asks, feeling his lips moved on top


    of my head.


    "Only one... happened today actually. But it''s the ''normal'' case." I told.


    "What about the not-so-normal ones?" I heard Howard queried.


    I lift my head from Axel''s chest to nce at Howard. He looks far more serious at the second, that if


    you took one look at him, you may think he was angry.


    "Nothing, for this month." I quietly replied, "Thest one transpired a month ago, with the same voice,


    the same scene in the woods... The same" - I gulped - "screams of pain." I added.


    They didn''t respond after that, increasing the tension I was feeling...


    Apart from the ''episode'' I had undergone a moment ago, there are others that I have no idea about.


    Others that I, honestly, don''t like recollecting.


    Not that it hurts to remember, it''s just unfamiliar memories to me. I can''t even tell if it''s mine or not...


    To make matters worse, I don''t even recall the time on how or the reason why I have this amnesia in


    the first ce.


    I just woke up one day and it''s there; I just have it.


    Odd?


    Very...


    "We are very sorry, Flower." Axel cooed, his blue-green eyes were apologetic. "We were just a bit...


    disturbed, that''s all. We mean you no harm." He added while tightening the hug.


    I only nodded my response and from there, Mum called the boys for help in setting the table.


    I didn''t miss Mum''s wink once the boys came to her side. As if saying she tricked them into doing the


    job and that I needed a break.


    Finally.


    I let out a sigh, feeling relieved since I didn''t just get away from the blushing andst-minute table set


    up, but also from the serious atmosphere, my brothers created from interviewing me about my


    unnerving shbacks.


    Mum knew how I felt for those recalls and as quickly as she can, she tries to avoid me from any


    conversation pertaining to that.


    And thank Goddess for that...


    All of a sudden, out of the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of Seth with Dad - both having a


    serious conversation while standing on the threshold of the room. Then from serious, Dad became


    upset while Seth became wary, which made my mind suspect something was wrong.


    Though I don''t know what it was - or if it was rted to me, because somehow their demeanor still


    looked calm and collected as their discussion continued.


    ''Must be a casual talk,'' I assumed.


    Shortly after, Seth caught my staring and shed me his signature full smile - the one that sparkles, like


    a diamond ring under a bright light. He then excused himself from Dad and approached me.


    Unlike the two boys, Seth only greeted me and we made small talks about our day - no, I didn''t tell him


    about the invitation being misced. It was my fault in the first ce, so - to redeem myself, I will be


    the one to search for it.


    Hopefully, I could find it...


    Then, when I was about to ask regarding the n on how to announce the truth to everybody, Mum


    called us for dinner.


    As expected, everyone talked to everybody during the meal. Allughing and chit-chatting to update


    each other about the missed time.


    I was barely participating in the conversations because one, I was more of a listener than a talker, and


    two, I just love watching everybody enjoying themselves.


    The boys didn''t give up on me though...


    They kept on asking me some random questions to make me talk until they came upon topics


    regarding my work. They were truly pleased with the sess of their attempt because I, eventually,


    opened up about my hotel industry life.


    "Hotel work sounds hard Hailey," Howardmented after a long discussion about the overall work I


    do at the resort.


    Not to mention the errands I fulfill for Ms. Dawn.


    "And brain wrecking too," Axel gently interjected. "Though, Flower, it never really urred to me that


    you have that kind of job; one that requires you to be a follower."


    I frowned at that.


    "Well, what did you expect a Personal Secretary does, Ax?"


    "Don''t take my words as a mock, Flower. Though, if it does sound like one, then I am sorry." He paused


    and sighed, "Yet, I did expect you in a higher position. One that allows you to lead and lets you make


    your own decision." He admitted.


    "I''m actually doing that, you know. It''s part of the responsibilities." I reasoned.


    "Still, you work under supervision," Axel argued.


    My frown deepened and was about to defy him when Mum interrupted us.


    "Okay, stop. You two" - she red at me, then Axel - "quit it. Not in front of grace." She stated sternly.


    Both of us instantly shut our mouths.


    "Still Ax, you should be d." Howard started after the short pause, "Hailey''s work sounds better,


    SAFER than the other jobs she has mentioned a while ago." He pointed out.


    "Howard''s right, Axel." Dad seconded, "You don''t want your sister to go through that task of getting into


    argument after argument with guests. Mainly, with them werewolf guests... pure headache son." He


    ended with a scoff.


    I eyed Dad after his deration and he made a fake innocent face as if asking me the ''what did I do''


    question - I could even hear it in Dad''s childish tone.


    Axel, on the other hand, was convinced and didn''t further question me.


    Even so, I got annoyed.


    "You guys are unbelievable." I finally muttered and they all startedughing at my sour face.


    Well, not all.


    I shifted my gaze at a troubled Seth.


    His absence in the conversation, let alone his anticipatedughter to my funny reaction, made me tilted


    my head in wonder. I was about to ask what was bothering him when Mum got to him first.


    "Seth, sweetheart, is something wrong?" Mum inquired, causing everybody else to quit theirughing


    and turned their puzzled gazes at Seth.


    My big brother didn''t say a word at first and me realizing it might be rted to the secret he was


    holding up to himself, I swallowed hard.


    Oh god, he''s gonna dere it... Though, would he truly?


    Particrly, in full details?


    Knowing Seth, he''s not really good at rying a whole message towards us. Most especially, one that


    is dangerous and involves the whole family or one of its members.


    He kinda has this quality that wants to keep the danger part to himself and tries to solve it quietly on his


    own. So, when you finally heard about the problem, it was already fixed.


    I know, and as I said before, he was bing selfish...


    Or just scared?


    With all eyes on him, he finally let out a heavy sigh and started speaking.


    Still thinking that he may be spilling the truth on the spot, I held my breath and listen attentively.


    "I''m sorry to say this but canine aggression is the least of our worries right now." Seth stated in a rough,


    husky voice, "We have rogue vampires and ck witches to address to."


    Oh.


    That was it.


    ''Okay, not the one I was expecting to hear,'' I thought to myself as I slowly exhale the held breath.


    Nheless, the air in the room became heavy as I caught a glimpse of Dad bing dead serious.


    He was always the cheerful one in the family and seeing him like this made me believe that the subject


    was far more important yet dangerous to ignore.


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    I gulped, while everyone else around me tenses up.


    "Is there anything that we can do at the moment, to stop them?" Dad consulted Seth; sounds like he


    knew already about the matter.


    ''Must be the casual talk I saw earlier,'' I thought once more.


    Seth, who was very uneasy at the second, shook his head in a NO.


    Dad sighed heavily.


    "The Vampire King and Witch Queen will not gonna like this news," Dad mumbled while pinching the


    bridge of his nose, a sign he was stressed out.


    Well, for a family like ours that solemnly swore to protect themunity in any way we can, who


    wouldn''t be stressed out about this?


    Especially when the issue was causing disarray on the Coexistence Law - aw that keeps the peace


    between mankind and supernatural beings.


    (The same rule being regted at the Mallow Hotel).


    So, if this continues, them rogue vampires and ck witches running around freely - causing mayhem,


    I will not be shocked if another wares out of this.


    I''m not a negative here, but seeing Seth and Dad''s reaction, there can be a possibility...


    Not to mention, with another war means another ticket for extinction for the mixed-race - a total


    ANNIHILATION.


    I swallowed hard at the idea.


    "I heard their numbers are adding up, making the neighborhood unsafe for everybody," Howard


    announced, making me cringe.


    "Stupid creatures. When will they ever stop?" Mum snarled.


    "I just don''t understand," Axel''s forehead wrinkled, "from all the time in the world, why now make a


    scene?" He throws the question directly at Seth, eyeing him.


    Seth stared back at him.


    "They heard about the Ball." He answered our brother, looking pretty upset. "They will be hunting at the


    asion and because it''s their season, expect a massacre to happen." His aura grew dark from here.


    "What?" I asked, rmed now. "No Seth, that''s not right. It can''t be... Does this mean will have to


    cancel the ball then?"


    Dad took my left hand, encouraging me a smile. "Afraid so princess. We can''t afford any casualties to


    take ce at the event."


    So from bad to worst...


    I bit my lip hard.


    Everyone around me became silent after hearing that, especially my brothers.


    In my head, I know it was for the best because we wouldn''t want anyone to be hurt but in return, my


    brothers - and all the REDless out there - will have to suffer. They will have to wait for the next ball to


    ur, which will be next year.


    Poor them.


    My eyes move around the table and one by one, I looked at my brothers'' faces. Just looking how the


    HOPE in their eyes faded, especially in Seth''s, shatters my heart.


    All I could think of then was them and how to help them...


    Though, how exactly am I going to do that since I don''t know anything about the RED matching?


    I don''t even know how it works.


    "The important thing we should focus on right now is how to keep things manageable and low key to


    avoid panic upon the residents. Not to mention, and the most important one is, how to stop this once


    and for all." Seth dered, sounding his signature Vampire husky, dark leader tone.


    Everyone nodded, except me.


    I was currently on a deep level of thought; busy pondering on the intensity of how serious this mess


    was, to the disappointment of the Ball being canceled, and to the point of finding solutions for each


    case.


    I know it is not my battle to fight, but I am thoughtful enough to offer my help because that''s how I am.


    That''s how I function as a human and the family knows that, that''s why they didn''t question my silence.


    So, I kept on deliberating with myself.


    I know there must be some kind of a way to address all of this.


    I just know...


    "Wait, " Axel announced, breaking the silence that engulfed us.


    All our attention snapped at him.


    He looks baffled as he nced at Seth, asking, "Why will they hunt at the Red Moon Ball when all the


    attendees there are Vampires and Witches? Do they meant suicide brother?"


    Upon hearing this, I noticed Seth''s jaw ticked, while the others looked dumbfounded.


    As for me, Ipletely wondered at the question.


    Axel has a point.


    If they want to hunt for food or a ritual sacrifice, they should rather go to a ce or event where


    HUMANS exist. They basically can''t do any of the feeding or rituals to their own kind, even if it means


    for survival -


    Wait a minute...