"It doesn't matter why Nyx is here, what matters is getting her back to the Underworld. Our two worlds don't belong together anymore," Mr Gabe says. "Young lady, you owe Amber a better apology if you intend on staying. This is my home, and these are my son's friends and they will be respected. Is that understood?" His stature and delivery demand attention.

"Thanks dad. He's right, if anyone else has snide comments, please leave. We don't have time for cattiness. Nyx is extremely powerful if what the internet says is true. We're powerful too, and tonight we'll show you how to harness your light." Caleb and I are standing together, hand in hand watching everyone.

I pretend to smooth out my top when I'm actually wiping off the sweat. Caleb and I face each other, and he holds his hands out, palms down. I hold my hands under his with the palms up. "Watch what we can do." I breathe in and focus on my inner light, I sense Caleb is too. A few of the people in the back stand up to see better. My hands begin to tingle, and my heart beats so hard I'm certain I'm going to die, right now, right here.

"You're kidding! Look at the light, very cool." Someone whispers from the group.

I look over at Amber, she is standing perfectly still. "Are you ready," I say to her. She nods and holds out both of her hands, at the same time, Caleb, and I hold our hands out towards her. Caleb has one hand facing mine, I have my other hand to Amber, and she has her other hand to Caleb, a triangle of light beams. The light is soft and billowing from our hands, it feels good to have it radiating to each other. "Pull the light in." The three of us inhale, filling our lungs with air.

"That's a great party trick, but what will it do?" Carmen says and swishes her hair over her shoulder.

"We're showing you how you can draw light from everywhere and use it. The way it was explained to me, is when we're able to control our own emotions and light, our power will grow. Obviously we can't cure everyone or everything, but we can help as many as we can." I see several people look skeptical, but the others look intrigued.

"Why don't we start out practicing, from there, we can figure out what we can do with the light," Amber says with confidence. "I'm not trying to be a b.i.t.c.h or anything, but if you sit around doubting everything and not give it a try...well, you suck."

Let the good times roll.

One Hour Later Earlier we practiced drawing in the light. Thorne had conveniently avoided practicing without drawing any attention. Amber didn't seem to mind interacting with people, which made playing with others easier. Obviously she enjoyed being in charge by the way she ordered everyone around. Thankfully, Caleb and I were the only bound Tamers. We learned that when more than four couples practiced together, the lights would surge. Mr Gabe checked the backup batteries for his emergency lighting, in case we blew the circuits. He thinks of everything.

Jess, are you feeling okay? You've been at this for over an hour. We practiced before everyone arrived, remember?

Yes, I remember. Maybe I am a little tired. It doesn't appear that I'm the only one, everyone is looking somewhat ragged. We should probably call it a night.

I concur my beautiful Light Tamer.

My pulse fluttered and my cheeks hurt from smiling so big. I'm going in the kitchen to help them clean up. I'll leave you to clear everyone out. I heard Rob tell Amber he'd give her a ride home. I think Jersey will have a field-day with him. He's so...so flamboyant, and she's so...Jersey-Girl. Which reminds me, she has a thing for old cemeteries, and we happen to have Cedar Grove. With it being the Fall Solstice, do you mind if we go there before the dance? She's exploring her religious options, and right now she is considering Wicca. I know they honestly don't have anything to do with each other, but she wants to get a picture in front of the gate. She looked up on the web of things to do while in New Bern.

No, I don't mind at all. It's fascinating to walk around and see the graves. The Spanish moss hanging from the trees and the gothic tombs will make a cool backdrop. She sounds cool. She's such a large part of your life, and you make a excellent friend to have. He turns me around to face him, meeting eye to eye. His pupils are lost in the darkness of his eyes. I've never known anyone with eyes so brown. One of my mom's best friends is Wiccan, she came out and cleansed our house of negativity. Honestly, I've no idea if it worked...I ' know it didn't hurt.

She must have been a great mom to have. Thank you for being so awesome, I'm lucky to have someone like you in my life.

Yeah, you are lucky...I'm a fox. He laughed and squirmed away from my sucker punch to his arm.

I round the corner into the kitchen in time to catch grandma and Caleb's dad popping each other with a dishtowel. I stand in the doorway watching them play. She might be 55, but yoga has done her figure good. Mr Gabe and Caleb go to the gym every morning at five and by the size of their guns, it is obvious. It's cute to watch them having fun together, they both deserve to be happy.

I back up and cough out loud to give them a heads up. "Do you need any help in here? Caleb is about to send everyone home." I smile to myself when I see they're standing on the opposite ends of the room. "If you have a dishtowel, I'll dry the dishes," I glance over and wink at Grandma. "Let's turn on the music and finish cleaning this mess." I scroll my lists and find exactly what a moment like this calls for...The Imagine Dragons song Its Time blares through the room. Grandma loves a catchy beat because she is obsessed with a dance move she calls The b.u.mp. The only thing I know about The b.u.mp, is every time she b.u.mps my hip with hers, I get a bruise. Caleb's dad decided that he would b.u.mp my other hip making me the center to a giant bruise sandwich dance.

"What on earth is going on in here?" Amber asks as she runs over to where we're dancing. "Oh, I love this song. Look at you go Miss Gayle, show me how to do that groovy move!"

Grandma grabs Amber's hand and pulls us both into the middle of the room. We b.u.mp our hips in the front, in the back, side to side. She tells us to put our arms above our head and let the groove run through our body. We start laughing so hard my sides begin to cramp. We were caught dancing by a few of the stragglers that were looking for a way to help out. Rob runs over and b.u.mps Amber on every off beat. The next thing you know the kitchen is full of laughter and dancing Light Tamers. Grandma semi-gracefully escapes our line of teens. She keeps saying she's going to need a hip replacement if she doesn't stop. I glance up to see Thorne brooding in the corner.

"Smile b.i.t.c.hes!" Rob yells out and snaps a picture with his phone.

We posed, we laughed, and we lost the tension that filled the room earlier.

Has anyone told you how hot you are when you dance?

No, but I've never danced in front of anyone, with the exception of my mom. I think back to Caleb. Where were you? I haven't seen you get your dance on.

I'm saving it all up for the dance, I can't afford to have anyone steal my moves.

Riiiiight.

You doubt me? You'll have to beat the girls off me...

I already do!

Come on, let's close up shop. I need time alone with my hot tamale dancer.

You did not just call me a hot tamale. You're a dork.

Caleb walks over and turns off the music. "Hey everyone, we've got everything under control. Go have some fun before your curfew. I want to spend some time with my girlfriend...alone."

Grandma clears her throat.

"Alone as in sitting two feet apart and keeping our hands and lips to ourselves. Right Miss Gayle?" Caleb says innocently.

"Exactly right, except you should sit six feet apart," she teases. Everyone laughs and the sounds of car keys jingle throughout the room.

"Hey, do you and Caleb want to meet us at the bonfire? Rob and I are going. The kids from the area high schools will be there too." Amber whispers in my ear, "He has cherry vodka and said it's really good in 7-Up."

I pull away from her to search her face. "Amber, you're kidding right? You need to be careful. Don't set your drink down or let anyone else pour it and give it to you. I don't want you to be roofied. Stop looking at me like that, I'm serious. Is Rob drinking? Don't get in the car with someone that's been drinking. If you want, Caleb and I can come get you. Text me and let me know, I promise we'll get you."

"Oh. My. G.o.d. Suffer from paranoia much? I'm not going to be roofied mom. You're such a downer. Rob said he doesn't drink and drive, so stop worrying." She digs frantically in her purse and pulls out her lip gloss. "Stop looking at me like that. I'll be fine."

"Okay, you'll be fine. I just worry about you. Promise you'll text." What happened to Miss Antisocial? She's becoming quite the social b.u.t.terfly.

She smacks her lips together to spread around her lip gloss. "I promise. Go make out with Caleb or something. You're so the worry wart. Bye." She leans in and fake kisses over my shoulder.

"Bye b.i.t.c.hes. Oh girl your lips are fierce," Rob says and holds his arm out for Amber. She loops hers through his and heads to the front door.

"Don't forget!" I yell out to her. She's going to forget.

"Bye Jessie."

Caleb pulls me into a hug. "Don't worry, she may be fierce, but she's smart. She knows what happened to her brother, and she won't follow in his footsteps."

"I hope you're right."

"Eh, hem, I don't mean to interrupt, but someone's BMW is blocking my car," Thorne says.

Caleb shoots him the evil eye and says he'll go move it and walks away.

"You did a terrific job tonight. You're doing the right thing by embracing your gift and sharing your knowledge. They'll never be as strong as you, although a few of them are powerful. The more will give you a run for your money. I'm going to the beach and make sure things don't get out of hand. I don't have a radar for Amber like I do for you."

"Awe, you like her."

He grinned and pulled his key from his front pocket. "Maybe, maybe not. Go straight home. I'll pick you up at three tomorrow afternoon. Wear long pants and a tight fitting shirt with tennis shoes. You might want to bring another set of clothes too."

"Tight fitting shirt? Really?" I say disgusted.

"It's a lot easier to spar in fitted clothing. I'm not a barbarian. There's a box in your mother's closet, you'll know it when you see it, bring it. Gotta go, see you tomorrow."

"Ah, what? Box what box? Ohhhhh...how did you - never mind, I know."

I step out on the porch and wait for Caleb to finish moving the car. I'd swear I heard Thorne say something under his breath. Caleb bounces up onto the steps and pulls me in tight, proclaiming we're finally alone...minus one dad and one grandma.

Do you mind if we forego the ice-cream and watch a movie instead? I place my hands behind his neck and pull him in for a kiss.

Sounds good to me.

Two hours later AMB, CALEB IS TAKING ME HOME, DO YOU NEED A RIDE?.

No reply.

Chapter 16. s.e.x.

5:56 a.m.

Ugh, why do I wake up before the alarm goes off? How I ended up with a morning person for a boyfriend, is beyond me. My weekends pre-Caleb were filled with blissful sleep. My father was either sleeping one off or painting in the studio (the third bedroom in our rental row house), and mom studied day and night. Since we're a bound couple, our need to be with one another every waking moment is hard for my mom to understand. Soon, I'm going to tell her what we are, she deserves the truth that her daughter is a freak of nature. I don't get how so many of us live in a house with mere humans, and no one figures it out. I never caught my dad being a Dark One and mom never realized I chazzle. I burst out laughing at the thought of her seeing me moving stuff around with my mind. - I reach over to grab my phone, no texts or missed calls.

CALL ME WHEN U GET UP! SLACKER <>

So far I'm running on time. I literally woke up, showered, stood in front of the mirror for two hundred and fifty two minutes (which translates to too long), changed work-out clothes five times and pulled my braid so tight I'll be mistaken for a tall Asian girl. Not that there's anything wrong with being Asian, but I'm pretty sure I'll have a headache by noon if I keep my hair taut.

A tapping on the door and mom peeked in, "I didn't realize you're already awake, did you have fun last night?"

"I had fun. Mr Gabe was awesome letting us have a back to school shindig at his house. There were more kids than expected."

She smiles at me and pulls the belt on her silk robe tighter. "Would you like to go have breakfast before I head out to the hospital?"

My heart stops for a minute as guilt runs through me. Life has been complicated over this past year. Mom finished her master's in nursing and thought she'd be able to get an administrative position at the hospital. So many other nurses were vying for the same job, she couldn't find one with a salary to stay afloat. We were living off of my dad's art sales...until he moved to Greece. In New York, every other person was some type of artist, painter, musician or actor. The market was over saturated, and it was impossible to count on a steady income. Mom worked part time for a local clinic, but we needed health insurance and they didn't offer any coverage. When dad left at the beginning of summer, her heart unmistakably broke. I've been so wrapped up in my own issues; I haven't considered what pain she must be in right now.

"I'm sorry; Caleb and I are going to a workout boot-camp at the park. Why don't we have a girls day tomorrow? You...me...plus some chocolate and retail therapy. Sound good?" For a brief second, I see the look of disappointment on her face.

She plasters on a smile and pretends she isn't bothered. "Tomorrow sounds good. We'll go to Greenville and hit the mall. We'll get you shoes for the dance next month. I'm happy you've made friends so fast...I just wish you and Caleb would take it a little slower. I'll schedule you an appointment..." She better not say birth control. "We'll figure out what type of birth control is best for you."

She said it...why does she put me through a B.C. talk at six in the morning! "Mom, stop. I don't need birth control. We're NOT having s.e.x. Oh Mylanta!"

"Don't Mylanta me. Jessica, I know you've promised you're going to wait, and I pray you do...BUT, and there is always a but...things can get out of control quickly. I know, I've been there."

I put my hand on her shoulder to give her a.s.surance that I'm telling her the truth. "AHHHHH! LA! LA! LA! Don't talk to me about your s.e.x life, I don't want to know." I shake my head back and forth, trying to clear out her *been there, done that' talk. "If and when we decide to go to the next level, you'll be the first to know. I promise you. Now, if you don't mind, I need to get my stuff together to leave. Caleb will be here at seven, and he's never late." I take her shoulders and turn her around and pretend to push her to the door. "I love you, and don't forget tomorrow is mother/daughter day."

Chapter 17. Horseplay.

2:57 p.m. The same day.

AMBER, ARE YOU SO HUNGOVER YOU CAN'T REPLY!

I call my cell from the house phone to make sure the ringer is on. "Grandma, I'm not sure if my phone is working. Will you send me a text?"

YOU'RE A STRANGE KID THANKS, I GET IT FROM MY GRANDMA!.

I creep down the hall trying to sneak up on her. She's always deep in thought when she bakes. The sound of her electric mixer covers the noise I'm trying hard to avoid. Her back is to me as she is pouring an egg mixture into the bowl. After what feels like forever, I put my hands on her waist and yell, "RAAAA" in her ear.

Honestly, I almost c.r.a.pped myself when she screamed. I've never seen her jump so high, or scream so loud. Fortunately she was finished mixing up the treat. Unfortunately for me, she had a giant wooden spoon in her hand. She turned around, before she registers it's me, she whacks me with the unsuspected weapon. Somehow she has grabbed my arm and is pulling it up behind my back.

"GRANDMA! You're killing me, let me go!" I half yell and half laugh.

"What's so funny? You think you can just sneak up on someone my age? I'm fragile," she says and lets go.

The doorbell chimes, I look at the clock...3:15.

"I'll get it."

"Are you expecting company?" She tosses the spoon into the sink and grabs another one out of the rooster utensil holder.

"Yeah, that guy Thorne. He's training me on self-defense. I have to protect myself from you're your beatings with wood spoons," I say trying to keep a straight face.

She wipes her hands on a dishtowel and pulls her ap.r.o.n over her head. "Does Caleb know about your private lesson?"

"Weeeeeell, not exactly. Please, please, please don't tell Mr Gabe. I promise, nothing is going on with us. I can't tell you, but you have to trust me." The doorbell rings again.

"Hmmmm."

He's coughing as I open the door. Removing his hand from in front of his mouth and absently wipes it on his pants. He would be able to pa.s.s for a younger version of Ian Somerhalder. His eyes always look as if he's piercing a hole into your soul. His hair is longer than Caleb's short preppy hair...not long enough to put it up in a ponytail. Simply dressed in a fitted black t-shirt and running pants, he looks like a model. "Sorry, I had something caught in my throat. Are you ready to go?"

"Yeah, let me get my bag." Before leaving with Caleb this morning, I grabbed the box out my mom's room. I hope I'll find some answers hidden inside. It's too bulky to carry in my backpack, so I throw it in my old tennis bag. "Bye grandma," I yell as I run out the door.

"Did you steal this car, or did it come with your imaginary house?" I buckle my seatbelt and pull the strap trying to keep it from making my b.o.o.bs look strange. "You don't really live in the house do you?"

"I live there, and no, I didn't steal the car. It doesn't work if your guardian is in jail for grand theft auto. I get an allowance to take care of my needs, so I bought a car."

I wipe my hand across the dashboard. "Must be a good allowance to afford a car like this. Do you have a boss? Is there a guardian headquarters and someone sits outside waiting to see the guardian symbol in the sky, and rushes away to save the world?"

He pulls out of the driveway like a little old lady. I wave to grandma standing at the doorway watching us leave. Being alone with him doesn't bother me like I thought it would. My brain knows he's off limits for various reasons...Caleb is one of them and Amber the other.