10

I came home that afternoon with a lot on my mind.

I had been debating throughout the entire drive on going to Michael's office to talk, but in the end, I just couldn't do it. This felt a little too heavy for me to share with anyone else yet, even my dad.

Once I reached home, I parked my car and sat there for a moment to collect myself. I felt so confused now. I'd been that way since my conversation with Sean, with questions buzzing through my mind nonstop. What did it really mean to break someone's mind? Was I really going to end up using him?

It was really bothering me now. I didn't want to use anybody or make them like me, and this worried me that I might end up doing that to others throughout my life without realizing it.

I was so lost in thought that I didn't even notice the other car in the driveway at first. But when I finally got out, I realized that I had parked right beside it. Great. It was the Lexus. Raziel was there.

I did my best to pull myself together before heading inside. Raziel was laid out on the couch in the den as I stepped in from the foyer, playing a video game. I walked over and bent over the back of the couch to look at him.

"What do you think you're doing?" I teased.

"What does it look like? I'm playing a game." Raziel replied, pausing it to face me.

"So you let yourself into Michael's house to play a game that you could've just taken to your own home?" I asked as I set my bag down by the arm chair.

Raziel smiled, "No. I was actually getting bored waiting for you all this time, so I started playing this. Why'd you decide to take a whole day anyway? You could've skipped too." he said as he sat up.

"I'm not skipping school Raziel. Besides, I happen to like it, thank you very much." I informed him, crossing my arms as I walked over to sit beside him.

Raziel shrugged, "I guess. I just thought it would be boring on the first day back from break."

"By the way, have you heard anything from Anna yet? I was wondering if she was feeling better." I inquired.

"Not yet, but she usually calls me when her parents aren't around." Raziel answered, resuming his game.

His words surprise me a little, "Why?"

"Her dad doesn't like me, so it's easier that way."

Now this I did not know. Neither of them had ever mentioned that little bit of information before.

"What'd you do? You must have done something for him not to like you." I assumed.

"No!" Raziel retorted, "That guy's just a jack ass. He's never even met me and he hates me, all because I just happen to be Raphael Renaldi's son."

"Just because you're Raphael's son?"

"Yep. Calvin Smith hates my dad for whatever reason. I think it all started because he drove his business down or something like that. I can't remember. Anyway, he didn't want Anna to have anything to do with me after we first met, but it's not like she listened. We just meet at school and away from her house. The old man will have to get over it eventually." Raziel explained.

This was something that I had not been even remotely aware of. But maybe I should have expected something like this somewhere down the lines. After all, people with a lot of money often had people who didn't like them for no reason, and given the shrewd businessman that Raphael was, it was possible that he'd caused trouble for someone else's business if he found it unethical or impractical.

The rest of my evening would pass with Raziel as a guest. The two of us hung out for most of it just doing whatever. Raphael was with Michael when he returned home. I supposed that he must have known that Raziel was going to be there. I was lucky enough to hear his thoughts to Raziel about him skipping school that day too.

It was funny how Raphael never had to raise his voice to get his point across. He simply told him how irresponsible such actions were, and that he wasn't bailing him out if he let his grades slip. Raziel seemed a bit remorseful after that one, although he'd never have admitted it out loud. When it really came down to it, Raziel carried a very deep respect for his father. Him and Raphael were actually very close, even if they tended to disagree a lot.

After they left, I spent the next two hours with Michael before calling it a night. I didn't bother mentioning my conversation with Sean to him. I really didn't see the sense in doing so. It wasn't like Michael could really give me that much insight as to what Sean may have been thinking now.

As I took my shower later, I considered that much as I thought back to everything, and once again, the worry swam through my mind that I'd end up using Sean for my own benefit. It was an unsavory thought, and one I desperately kept trying to push aside.

After getting out, I dried off and went back to my room, where I sat on my bed and tried to read for another hour before finally deciding to call it a night. I was able to drift off to sleep as I laid there under my covers and let myself get comfortable.

I heard my door open a few hours later in my haze of being half asleep, but I instinctively knew that it was only Michael. I heard him walk over as quietly as he could and felt him gently stroke my hair back from my face.

"Goodnight, Mia." I heard him whisper.

Then he gently kissed the side of my head and left. I let out a contented sigh as I turned over after the door was closed. I loved being here with him now.

It was nearly one in the morning when I woke again. I had the distinct feeling that something was looking at me from the window over my bed. I slowly sat up and rubbed my eyes, turning my head to look at the window. I immediately snapped to attention as I realized that there was something out there.

A giant fox was sitting on the outside window sill.

The fox was glowing silver in the bright moonlight, and their golden eyes were regarding me with quiet expectation. Those eyes; I recognized them. It was Sean.

Though he had startled me, I didn't feel threatened at all as I looked we looked at each other. After a few minutes of this, I moved to the window and unlocked it, opening it for him. As long as it was opened from the inside, I knew that the alarm wouldn't go off.

The fox hopped down onto the bed with me.

"I guess you wanted to visit now?" I surmised as I sat back against the headboard.

Sean quickly transformed back into a human form and pulled the piled blanket over his waist to keep himself covered.

"I didn't think you'd mind, and you did let me in." he responded.

"And give me one good reason why I shouldn't start screaming now." I challenged. No, he was not going to act haughty about this.

"You can if you want, but I'll just run away. Besides, it's not like I really care much about what Michael does to me now. I rather enjoy pushing my luck as it is." Sean responded.

I let out an exhausted sigh, "Fine, but seriously Sean, couldn't you have brought some clothes with you? This feels a little weird." I admitted.

I couldn't believe I was being so calm about all of this. Maybe I wasn't letting myself freak out because I feared my father actually killing him for coming there like he had.

Sean shrugged it off, "Normally I would have, but I was in a hurry tonight, and to be completely honest, I needed a place to crash for a few hours. A dog's been running around out there, and I'm not one to take it on."

"A dog?" I said flatly. Surely, he wasn't scared of someone's dog. As a fox, he was bigger than any dog I'd ever seen.

Sean easily caught onto my thoughts.

"I don't mean an ordinary dog. I mean a demon dog. They come around the mortal realm from time to time, and it's best to avoid them when they do. Besides, dogs and foxes aren't exactly the types to get along. I'm sure you'd realize that." he explained.

"Okay, seriously, I'm not even going to ask anymore. I never knew that there was this much weird stuff in the world, and I think I would've preferred not to know half of it now." I stated.

"I'll take it that you had no idea of your heritage after all. How strange. I never would've thought that Michael would be one to keep his own daughter in the dark about such things."

"We've already been through this. Michael just wanted to protect me. It's not like I came from the best place you know."

"Yes. I do recall some of it." Sean relented, "Don't get me wrong. I respect your father very much. After all, if it wasn't for him, my mother certainly wouldn't have the normal life that she does now. Honestly, if it wasn't for me, she'd probably be much better off."

He looked pretty remorseful as he sat there with his chin rested against his hand. It was obvious that this had been bothering him for a long time.

"Sean, you know that's not true. She really loves you." I reminded him.

"No. I'm sure it is. I was born an abomination. The ones like me always are. That's why we're so rare. We're ostracized from both worlds, and never quite fit in no matter how hard we try." Sean responded.

"But that doesn't change that you're her son or how much she loves you. If she didn't, I don't think that she would've been so desperate to save you after what happened with me." I reasoned.

I could recall Sara very well from that day, and the night afterwards when she came over to talk to me and Michael. She'd been so scared and desperate. All she wanted to do was save Sean and make sure that he'd be okay.

Sean looked thoughtful, "You really think so?"

"Of course I do." I replied, "Trust me, I know about real love when it comes to a parent. I see it whenever I see my dad, especially after living with my mom."

I looked down as I said that, unable to face him. I knew how much Michael loved me. He'd been so good to me through all of this. My mother may not have been able to anymore because of her illness, but he did. He loved me so much.

I could sense Sean looking at me, and glanced at him. He looked puzzled.

"If you don't mind my asking, why exactly did you move up here so quickly with him? I had heard through the grape vine around town that you only spent summers here before, yet you came here on Christmas Eve. There must have been a reason for you to do such so suddenly." he noted.

I knew that it would just be better to tell him the truth. There was really no way around it.

"I lived with my mother and grandmother in Miami up until then. That was the day that my grandmother suddenly made me come up here to live with Michael. She packed my stuff up and gave me a plane ticket all at once, and wouldn't tell me why." I explained.

"I see now." Sean moved closer and brushed some of my hair over my shoulder, "So you are damaged as well."

"Very funny." I muttered, pushing his hand away.

It didn't stop him, "I wouldn't joke about such a thing. After all, I can understand what it feels like to think that you don't belong anywhere. Besides, I didn't come here to argue with you. I simply came because I wanted to be close, as I've done for quite a while now; and also, I wanted to keep the promise I will be making tonight."

"Promise?" I repeated, making myself look at him.

Sean moved closer to me, resting his forehead against mine. I have no idea of why I didn't push him away. Guess I was just memorized by the closeness.

"I know you don't believe me, but I do care about you. I will never let any harm come to you, and I will do anything in this world and all of the others to protect you and keep you happy with me." he whispered.

I blushed, but I still couldn't make myself pull away.

"Sean?" I heard myself whisper.

But he just smiled as he pulled back and faced me, "I promise that I will remain with you for as long as I am able. I know my truth and why I've been so drawn to you ever since the night that I first saw you. I'm in love with you Mia Renaldi, and I will do anything to prove that to you."

Now one would've thought that this would completely freak me out, or that I'd doubt him. But the only thing I felt in that moment was a sense of relief. For whatever reason, I believed him.

Maybe it was my wanting to get over my first love so badly, or maybe it was something more, something that told me deep inside that he wasn't lying about any of this. Either way, I accepted all of this without hesitation.

"All right. I believe you, but I do have one request."

"Yes?" Sean replied, sounding a bit expectant now.

"Will you stay by me for the night and keep my company while I sleep?"

Sean chuckled, "Of course, but we'll have to be careful about all of this for now. I may have to leave quickly."

"That's okay. You can stay in fox form if you want. It doesn't bother me." I assured him.

Sean nodded and transformed back into full fox. As he laid down beside me, I curled up against him. His fur was really soft, and the gentle movement of his breathing lulled me into a comfortable sleep. I'd end up sleeping against him for the rest of the night.

And it was one of the most comfortable sleeps I'd ever had.