Chapter 40: Chapter 40

"Father, heal him." Nicklaus says and his Father nods. He glances at me. "I promise back that I'll tell you everything I am when it's time. Just don't worry." He tells me, calming me and at the same time, assuring me that once and for all, I will soon know all his secrets. Well, that's if he doesn't lie. I just nod in agreement.

Nicklaus Father lays his palm on my Dad, and closes his eyes briefly. When he opens them, he says, looking at me.

"His spinal cord has been disassembled. His ribs are broken. The metal caused that. This will take a few minutes." He says, while I've got myself open-mouthed, my jaw on the floor with an imaginary figure of my subconscious laughing off her ass at me.

How could he know that all by a touch?

"Okay, um, carry on?" Is all I can ask. I am beyond stunned.

He smirks and faces Dad comatose figure again. Nicklaus watches his Father intently as he does his work. I do the same as well.

Nicklaus Father puts his hand close to Dad in a way that he's almost touching his skin. The metal at Dad's ribs slip out slowly and falls onto the ground. On opening his eyes, a taint colour of light copper red glitters in 0lhis eyes, as his hands releases a type of wave, like a glow as well that flourish onto Dad's skin like a light is being flashed onto his body. The emerald green light blossom and as he moves his hand up to down, continuously, the light follows. Soon, he's rotating his hand atop Dad's body like a magician does in the movies I've watched. But no, this isn't a movie. This is reality.

Quickly, he raises his hand upwards, causing Dad's frame to follow him up like he's been jolted, then falls back into the bed. A gasp leaves his body. All of sudden, Nicklaus Father somehow changes the position of Dad's body so that his back is now facing us. He trace his fingers in line with Dad's vertebral column and getting to a part, he stops and cracks the bone. Remembering what that same sound did when Nicklaus beat those guys, I rush to stop his Father, but he's so fast that he holds me back.

"I swear to you, that's part of the healing." He tells me. I can't even wiggle out of his man-handling grip.

His Father doesn't stop, another bone crack, close to Dad's behind. He uses his "powers" to turn Dad again, and begin to sew up the wound with just his fingers dancing rhymytically close to Dad's ribs.

"It is done." His father says. I look at my own father, his ribs without any mark, nor a scar. Then, down to the metal.

Nicklaus' Father picks it up and near me. "Give your Father twenty minutes, he'd awake."

Not knowing what to say that's best fit, I give him a thanks look, and understanding it, he gives my shoulder a pat, and moves to the door. Realization is just dawning on me.

Nicklaus moves to the door as well. "We'll excuse you."

"Wait..." I trial, stopping him right on his track as a thought merges into my mind. "My mother, won't she notice. I mean, there should be a scar, what am I even saying; Dad shouldn't have healed at all."

"Nah. Though I get what you mean, but there's more to us, so she can't know." Nicklaus sounds somewhat boasting.

"What did you do?"

"I only made her not to reason there as you have. Like, she wouldn't even think of it at all. It's not a compelling power, or such. I didn't erase her memory." He is fast to say, raising up his hand to compliment his words as truth.

"Oh."

"And you can go call her." He says, and leaves the room. Doctor Aaron, his Father has already left.

I emerge from the room, and find Mom at the waiting room, where I told her to stay. She's still wearing that expression of fear.

I walk over to her. "He's fine. Come on." Her eyes flare, her mood brightening up as a small scoff, followed by a smile leaves her. She cools down a little.

In the same room, Mom walks towards Dad, to sit by his side. And for a reason, I did not feel scared that she might know things are off, I actually believed Nicklaus that she wouldn't know.

A low whimpers of sobs emit from her, and when I look at her, I feel pity for her. I never knew Mom and Dad could sustain a relationship as theirs. They look so much in love. Even with the distance that's mainly around them, with their work and such, they only love each other more, and more.

While Mom sit next to Dad, on the stool, I walk over to the window, where a chair is placed, and look out of the window. I only see another woods outside, there's a metal placard of bold letters "Forestry" near the woods. It seems like Murrysville was once a forest-filled place, because there seem to be plenty of woods here.

Twenty minutes tick on dot, and Dad wakes, his eyes opening sharply just to close back again. Again, he opens his eyes, but slowly and steady.

"Wifey." Dad calls Mom, who's bending her head, resting it onto the edge of the bed.

She raises her head with a wide smile, laughing. "You know I hate that nickname, husbandry." She teases him back and they both laugh. I, on the other side, is still sitting, but also laughing along.

"And I hate that nickname too." He says back.

"How are you feeling?"

"Better. I can't even remember what really happened." He says, with an unknowing look. There's someone's handiwork— Mr. Nicklaus damn handsome Originals does cover a lot of secrets.

"You should be happy that you don't get to remember any of those bad events. I think that's luck." There's my voice, interrupting and supporting the effect of whatever Nicklaus has done to Dad.

"Rayne." He acknowledges me. With his hands outstretched, I take it and sit right next to him as well, on the other side from Mom.

"I'm so sorry for scaring you." He begins to state. "I've never been that current in your life and I guess that's why luck brings me back. Please accept my apology. I...I don't know if it's a dream, or something else, but I recall that I was being rammed by some vehicle of such, and all I could think about is you...and your mother, of course. I realize that's I made many mistakes."

I sniff, for a reason, tears stays at the hem of my lower eyelash. "Accepted. But I have a revelation that you'd apologize more than hundred more times in the future."

"For sure. I will always offend you." He says, chuckling with ease. I chortle.

"True." He'd always go on business trips, so I can't expect him not to leave someday and not spend almost a week or more there. Businessmen don't stay in one place, especially one with a company he's running, shares he has with other companies and knows a lot of mortals.

He releases my hand, and faces Mom. I take that as should-go-back-to-sit gesture and allow them to talk. I check the window the moment I sit again to find Nicklaus there, walking into the woods, and passing by the sign, his fingers trailing the line of the thing. And then, he glances at my direction just before he enters and get blocked by the tall trees.

As I bolt up, I tell Mom and Dad. "I need to go. Be back soon."

I pass the elevator down to the outside, the warm air of the sunny day, pressing in to my skin that it hurts a little. I squint my eyes and make way to the woods, following after his trail.

Inside the woods, the air is so different, so less dense, seeping into my nostrils fine, and its feeling is cool against my body, not harsh. Steps from behind me makes me turn my back to see Nicklaus, just maintaining a firm stance. I think he runs here. Perhaps he didn't want me to come, and now, I've made him come back. I say nothing, hoping he'd start.

"How is your Father?" His accent resembles his father's too, except less antique that his.

"He's fine." I sigh. "He woke up exactly twenty minutes."

He half smile, half frown. "That's good to hear. I made him forget some things too, hope you don't mind me, not telling you?"

"No. I figured out already. And if I was, I'd be lashing out on you." That brings up a small chuckle from him. I smile as well. He looks at the ground, before he faces me, wearing a neutral face.

"You want me to tell you sooner, don't you?" He's right, so I do what I do best when not want to talk; I nod. He did too.

"How about—" he halts. I figured there's something not right with his changed face, then, following the trail of a tall tree behind him, I see... his sister? She's swooning down the tree, her hands not capturing the whole circular shape, but enough hanging on to fixate her.

She gets down, releasing a light thud with her boots. Her hair momentarily jumps, wildly covering her face, so she uses her hand to sweep them off to the sides.

Nicklaus turns back to me, the moment she sight me and moves to stand beside him. She has his same stance— somewhat terrifying in some sense, and for sure, it makes them look like they're ready to fight anytime, or as if they are already at the battle field.

"So, she isn't food after all."

"No one called her that."

"I did after the cricket practice." She responds to her brother. She smiles at me, a such smile that can terrify a ghost to awake, and run for its dear lifeless body. I just don't know why the life full me hasn't ran.

"I know I don't need to introduce myself since you know my name...and might possibly know me, which I doubt since brother keeps secret a lot..." She trails off just to look him in the eye from behind her since as she talks, she takes a step towards me. And damn, she talks too fast. She could have been the human version of Azula in The Last Air Bender, Avatar series.

"However, my name's Adeline. And you are Rayne, no need to tell me. Am I being rude, nah. I don't even know since I don't talk to a lot of humans. Well, I am here to borrow my brother. So, if you would please grant me the access to see him, actually I don't think I need access, well, I might since you're a favourite to him. Plus, um, can you guys stop eye-fucking." Thank goodness she manages to finish the last sentence with no rush.

And I hadn't known that I was staring at Nicklaus too much since I almost have no idea of what she's saying. So guess that's why I'm looking at him, to give me the slightest clue. He even seems out of any. My face is sure loss of blood right this hour.

"Now, can I borrow him?" She repeats. "And I know what's in your head, that's why I slowed down. I don't usually since the people I've been with always understand me that way. No, were they people, no... they are..."

"I think you've said enough blabbering girl. The seventeen years old title for you actually pays well. Fits you good-ly." Says Nicklaus, shunning his sister. Inwardly, I'm grateful.

She doesn't look offended, but fakes it anyway. I am here, looking like a lost puppy since I know not what to say.

"Rayne, I'll be back, okay?"

"Okay." I say. He nears me, and kisses my forehead, and sniffles my head as well. I swat him when he releases me, causing him to laugh, while I fake being offended.

"Just checking if you did bath this morning before you came to the hospital."

I laugh sarcastically. "I didn't, yet you still didn't find out." But I bath last night before changing into that pajamas.

"I know. I just wanted you to say it."

"Bird lovers, or lover birds, whichever it's called... Nicklaus can we go now?" His sister, Adeline interrupts bluntly.

Even not knowing her so well, I feel attracted to her. Her ways of doing things makes her friendly. She's like the opposite of Nicklaus. I'm sure there was a vital information there that she'd have told me if Nicklaus hadn't stopped her. He's not fair at all.

I make my way back to the hospital, stay with Mom and Dad till it's night. Dad has slept off by the time Mom tells to leave and have a bath, and also eat something good apart from the donuts we bought...and pizza as well. I greet her bye before I take my car back home.

After eating, I enter the shower to have a slow and nice and happy shower, memories of today's event — the healing of Dad's figure which no one knows except me flashes across my eyes that's closed, allowing the sensation of the water cascading down to elope me into a blissful moment. I smile to myself in a oh-so-misceivous way. The way I got to talk to Nicklaus and have nice chats with him, him letting me see how his father healed mine. He must trust me then. His sister too, talking to me in such a way that if feels like I've known her before. It's so fun and scary at the same time.

I take long in the shower than I think I have ever, and wrap myself with a plain blue towel. Getting into the room, I pick my phone from the cabinet and check the time, it's now late; 8:46 PM. Dropping the phone, a thought comes to me, making me hastily grab the phone again. God, Carl! How could I forget to call him later back in the day? He'd be so mad at me. Like so mad!

"Hi." I say in a small voice into the speaker when he picks up on the second ring. Since he's called me before, I already saved his number.

"Hey."

"I'm so sorry." I plead.

"Don't worry. I came to your place during the day, thought maybe your car has problem, or so, but didn't see you. Shade said she hasn't seen you too when I met her at school. I was pretty much worried, than angry." He says to me in the coolest tone I've ever heard his gentleman-self talk.

"That's a relief." I say and sigh. "What about your Dad?"

"He wasn't offended much, but didn't like it. I already assured him that you'd came."

"Yeah. I know I fucked up. Something came up, very urgent. My dad..." The next happening before my eyes stops me.

"Nicklaus!" I shout in fear as suddenly there's a ball of air, twisting the handle of my window, and opening it, Nicklaus slides inside, jumping into my bed. He bounces back, and almost falls onto my frame, that's covered with only a towel. Now, that's recall, explains my sudden panic.

I hang the call mistakenly, as my phone falls to the ground, or so I had thought before seeing Nicklaus bends the air so that his palm is open wide, and with the bent air, brings back my phone into his grip.

"In all my years of watching fiction movies, the guy always throws a stone, better still, knocks at the window so the girl can open it for him. I'm in a towel for Jesus Christ sake." I practically yell.

"That meant nothing. It's not like I want to strip you." He says. What effontery?

I brush it off. "What do you want?"

"To tell you what I wanted to tell you in the woods." He says, looking neutral. He climbs off the bed from his sleeping face-up position, and pass me my was-saved phone.

"Thanks." I mutter to him, referring to only the phone. "Now, turn your back." I raise my voice authoritatively. He nods and does, his hands raise in surrender.

As quickly possible, I slip into a short gown stopping just below my knees, and wear my flip-flops back.

"Turn." He did, and accesses me.

"You look beautiful."

"I know." I vote for nonchalant, but my failed to comply since I feel the blood enough for blushing to occur rush to my face.

"So...you're starting now?"

"Yeah, but not here. I might need to practicalize it, so if you love your dear room, better come with me." He says and go for the window. No, I'm not taking that path. There's the front door if I don't lose my memory.

"There's a front door to every house." I say as he's climbed the bed already.

"I'm aware." Is all he says, before in a blur, he's scooping me up from the floor and carrying me out with him that before I can even make a scream, we are in the woods at the back of the house.

My heart thuds crazily, but breathing out, it start to calm. "Why would you do that?" Is my first attack at him.

"Does it matter?" He respond.

"Watch this." I'd have vouch that he's boasting, but the way he says the two words makes them sound different.

He bends, sweeping his left leg as he twirls his body round, close to the dusty floor, letting out a crack from the opposite tall tree, caused from the effect of water, swooshing out from a tree from which Nicklaus had bent it and used it against the opposite tree. It fell down, causing me to take few steps back with a low yelp and Nicklaus beckons me to take a seat, after flashily getting himself to sit first.

I do so, and look at his face, which is turned to look at the floor, requiring answers instantly. This is beyond what I thought he was two months ago when we first arrive here.

"My family and I are very different, along with the others, but I'll only base on us for now. Not only different, but very unlike the species called humans. We are like...immortals, inhumans, barbaric..." He laughs so humourously. "If you've seen my barbaric side, I'm sure you'd hate me that moment you did. I'm pretty certain you'd soon. I can't begin to tell you all my life, but I can tell what I am."