Chapter 5

Once again silence and stillness of the room. "So are you going to stand there or tell me what services you need of me?" Zeek laughed at the sudden silence Venith caused seeing he found it funny how dramatic she tended to be. "Oh, hush Zeek, anyway we need some info on a man named Victor Steel, he's been sending his goons after me I know it's a very enormous bounty on my head, but he's a rich man what could he want from me if he is already wealthy?" Salem nodded going over to one of his computers quickly typing things into his keyboard, the clicking could be heard around the room same as the whirring of the other devices in the room.

"You know this could just be out of greed, the bounty on your head is drastically high for someone who is of your age. What are you wanted for again? Also, take off your raincoats, it stopped raining an hour ago."

Venith rolled her eyes walking over to Salem while Zeek was inconspicuously touching Salem's gadgets around the lab. "As far as I know everyone thinks I'm a mass murderer... well I guess you should get to your research ", Venith walked over to a chair near a small window sat in it, and closed her eyes, and took a deep breath remembering the events leading to her run.

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~Venith~

It was autumn the leaves on the trees were different kinds of browns and yellows, any of them barely hanging on to their trees.

I was halfway home my feet hitting the pavement at a steady pace yet behind those steps I was buzzing with excitement with the news I had heard that day. Just thinking about it made me speed up my stride smelling the wind as I broke into a run with a smile on my face.

I ran off the sidewalk into the greenery of the forest, hopping over fallen tree trunks as I felt the brown and yellow leaves crunching under my sneaker. After strolling a while longer and pushing through branches I stumbled into the clearing of my dwelling. I could have taken the long way instead of the woods, but I found the scenery of the trees and small animals of the forest quite comforting. The house wasn't too small or big, a two-story house had a forestry vibe mostly made of wood, the architecture was gorgeous the windows wide giving off a spacious impression. Though there were many trees around the sun still peeked through the house mostly made of brick, stone, and vinyl.

I walked up the pine stairs onto the clean wooden porch decorated with small potted plants and colored wind chimes clicking as the breeze raked through the property. Opening the door of the house and stepping through the threshold I could hear clanging coming from the kitchen, I took off my shoes and backpack putting the bag on the small black bench near the door.

I headed to the kitchen smelling something amazing in the air as I walked past the living room into the dining room, then through the entry of the kitchen noticing my aunt taking something out of the oven.

She turned around spotting, a grin appeared on her face as I saw her sit what seemed to be a huge baked chicken on the granite counter.

" Hey Venny how did school go today, I see you been cutting through the woods again too, don't think I didn't notice," she said her voice sounding much mature than me. I smiled nodding my head. "Of course I did its sooo far trying to take a long way so I just made a detour." She looked at me with a playful scolding face walked towards me and plucked something from my hair. "Well you might need to find a less messy detour, can't keep pulling twigs out your hair."

I shrugged my shoulders as she went to go stir something on the stove. "Well, I have some news they did power testing today, the school said I was doing great with controlling the surrounding darknesses. You should have seen it Aunty Nia it was awesome, I was warping through the shadows everything but that's not what I'm most excited about. The school board said we can have a huge school sleepover! " I said very quickly, I almost forgot to breathe, trying to get all my words out of my mouth. I bet my eyes were practically shining at the moment from how happy I was.

Aunt Nia had made plates as I was rambling on to her. "I'm proud of you Venny I am, and I'm glad your powers are progressing... but a school sleepover doesn't seem remotely safe, and since when does that kinda thing ever happen I don't think you should go."

I sighed, not seeing her point of the matter. Everyone at school had worked so hard for both the academic tests and the power tests, I think it would make sense to give the students a break.

"Please aunty, Everyone has worked so hard for this including me don't you think I could catch a bit of a break?" I knew guilt-tripping wasn't necessarily a good thing, but I was such a great opportunity for some fun and maybe a couple of new friends.

She gave off a look that said that guilt-tripping wasn't going to work. "No your not going, something is off definitely off about it." Aunty Nia mumbled. I did a small disappointed sigh while nodding my head as if I was agreeing with her words. At that time I really should have just gone with her word but I didn't instead I was stubborn

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After eating lunch we sat and did a movie marathon eating many different kinds of junk foods. I guess it was her way of saying sorry to me. We did this till the stars were starting to shine in the night atmosphere, I decided to retire to my room, I headed up the maroon carpeted stairs, past the bathroom, and down the end of the hall where I opened the door to my room.

I sauntered over to the closet, taking off my day clothes and putting on silky forest green matching pajama pants and shirt. I got into bed, pulling the puffy softcover over me, staring at the ceiling before drifting off into a deep sleep I had decided had to go.

I don't know why I was so determined to go but doing so was going to change my life from then on.

~Orenda~

A mystical force present in all people that empowers them to affect the world, or to effect change in their own lives.