-Lumir-

Before my eyes even opened, before the pain registered, I remembered. Mindy, the train, Xander and what I really was. I wasn’t Human- the town I had grown up in was actually full of Supernaturals. This was my first day seeing my home like ths.

I jumped the blare of my alarm shocking me out of my thoughts. Sighing I rolled onto my side to turn it off making pain shoot through me, against my will my body immediately curled up on it’s side with a groan. My head was killing me, the cuts on my hands and knees throbbed painfully.

Slowly I got out of bed on weak shaky legs and made my way downstairs and out into the garden. Maybe Mom had something for it. And maybe I could skip meditation today and do it twice as long tomorrow? Yeah that seemed like a plan.

Mom looked surprised when I pushed open the door.

She was in her true form, her eyes illuminated in the semi darkness.

I gasped falling back against the door frame, then groaned as my head met the wall.

She rushed to my side but I flinched away.

Her eyes wide as she stopped dead in her tracks, quickly starting to change back.

Her hands lifted. “Sorry, sorry-”

I took her hand. “Mom stop, it's fine. You just surprised me.” I said straightening. “See no harm done. You don't have to change back.”

She sat next to me and returned to normal. Hmm, when did I think this new form of hers as normal?

“What are you doing up sweetling?”

“Uh meditations and maybe something for this pain?”

She blinked then gasped. “I didn't tell you both did I?”

“Tell us what-”

Ellie walked out the door crashing into my back with a sleepy grumble.

“Lumir? Why are you standing in front of the door?”

“Ellie, Lumir come sit I have something to discuss with you.”

That woke Ellie a bit more as she saw Mom then she shook her head and we took our spots.

“So yesterday with everything that happened I forgot to tell you why we do this every morning.”

“I thought it was for exercise?” Ellie stated confused.

“It was and it wasn't. But it was mainly to keep your powers dormant till we knew more about them. Till you both could be told and understand what our family was.”

“Wait we do have powers?” I looked down to my hands.

“Well yes, we told you- your Supernatural and most if not all races have powers and abilities.”

“What kind do we have?” Ellie asked.

Mom sighed. “That's the thing we don't really know.”

“Well it's been seventeen years you have to have guesses at least?”

Mom nodded. “Of course I’ve been keeping tabs. Let’s see, when you both were younger barely out of diapers, your father and I saw the first signs of your powers. You both were crying and wouldn't stop no matter what we did, so I tried the one thing that my parents did for me. I laid you both in a freshly grown flowerbed, and the second I put you down your crying stopped but that wasn't the end of it. You took each other's hand and the plants all over the shop and a good block down the road in every direction bloomed like crazy and didn't stop till we separated you both. Though occasionally you still have moments when individually you’d tap into your power, it hasn't happened since we started to do this every day.”

It took a second for my words to reach my mouth before they were tumbling out.

“So we have powers to make plants grow?”

Mom shook her head. “There's more then that, you both can use water as well-”

“That doesn't sound bad.” Ellie interrupted.

“It's not. But you both have more. Because of your father you have other abilities.”

“And those are?”

“Well as a Hunter he can disable any Supernatural from using their power as long as you figure out how, since each Hunter is different.” She closed her eyes in thought. “Your father has to have eye contact or be able to see them for his ability to work.”

“Can we do that?” I whispered not liking the idea of accidentally turning off my friends powers.

“We don't know. Each Hunter is different we'll just have to wait and see. That does bring me to what I wanted to talk about.” She looked up at us with the most serious expression. “This is your call, your powers, your life. If we keep doing the meditations your powers will stay dormant. Or we can stop and you both can learn how they work. What do you want to do?”

A heavy weight landed on my shoulders at her words. Fifteen years we've woken up and did this thinking it was a weird family quirk yet it was to hold our powers in check. Did I even want this power?

Well yeah I was curious by nature and had questions about myself that maybe this could solve.

“Mom if we just stop this will there be any you know drawbacks? Or side effects?” I asked.

“Oh I don't think so…. Maybe the most that will happen will be a few reactions from other Naturals and maybe a deeper connection with your power besides that you should be fine. But if anything happens just call me or your father and we'll help.”

“What if we change our minds later?” Ellie whispered.

Mom smiled. “Then I'll help you then too.”

Ellie grinned. “Okay then I'd like to try it out.”

“Me too. But we don't have to stop these mornings, we can just do them without the magic, right?” I wondered.

The water that coursed under Mom's vines changed color to a light hue of pink with little white flowers which began to bloom.

“Of course we don't have to stop.” Her phone started buzzing. “Oh look at the time you two go get ready and I'll start breakfast! And I'll get you something for the pain, Lumir.”

I didn't give much thought to Mom's warnings much thought till we were picking up Kamila and Jamie. Their reactions were… odd.

When Jamie entered the car he asked if Ellie had used a new shampoo and Kamila swore I made some baked goods.

But it was Xander's reaction that worried me the most.

When we stepped out of the car it dawned on me that Xander and I never talked after the… not kiss kiss. I mean how could we, he ran off. Would he deny it happened? Avoid me? Say he had feelings for me? Stop being my friend? The thoughts were endless.

Yet the second our eyes met I saw his cheeks darken. Was that a good sign?

He greeted us at the main doors like normal but stayed at my side as everyone else talked about last night's homework, trying to keep everything normal to give Ellie and me time to get used to this like we all agreed on.

“Lumir?”

I jumped. How'd he get so close without me knowing.

I blushed looking up at him. “Y-y-yes?”

He looked me over. “Did you help with the shop this morning?”

I looked down at my clothes, not seeing anything different. “Um no.”

He frowned, walking around me. “Did you guys get a new shipment of plants then?”

“We- don't get shipments.” Huh weird how I only now realize how odd that was. But not too weird when you think about the fact your Mom can just grow things.

He stepped even closer making me look up again at his face. Something was off. His face seemed flushed, eyes hooded but his pupils were blown. Was he sick?

“Then why do you smell so sweet? So intoxicating?”

I- intoxicating? My body grew hot. Yup, something was definitely off. I cast a glance to everyone else.

They stared baffled with growing grins. Ellie giggled as she pulled Jamie and Kamila with her.

“See you boys in class.” She called to us smugly.

“Wait Ellie-”

Xander stepped closer still with a sniff at my hair, I suppressed a shiver.

“Are you feeling alright?” I whispered.

He hummed sounding dreamly. “Fine… you just smell really nice.”

I watched him concerned. This wasn't how he normally acted. “Xander did something happen at home?”

He hummed again not answering.

I placed the back of my hand to his head and immediately recoiled. He was burning. “Xander your burning up!”

He frowned lifting his own hand up. “No I'm not. You are. I'm normal. Are you sick?”

“Wha- no I'm not.”

Behind him something caught my attention. Without meaning to I hid behind Xander at the sight of Debbie and Amy staring at me. 

Xander's hand came to my shoulder pulling me to his side, a low threatening growl vibrating in his chest. I jumped. That's new.

We watched as they glared at me or at least Amy was since Debbie’s gaze was hidden behind her shades.

“I think it's for the best if you avoid them today.” Xander cautioned his growl growing louder.

With a huff he turned me around to face him instead of them and I watched his eyes change and his fangs poke free from his upper lip.

Acting fast I shoved the book I was holding in his face hiding him.

He stumbled back. “Lumir-”

“Y-your showing?” I whispered urgently.

“Showing?”

Not to be weird but finally he sounded normal again. He stiffened suddenly grabbing hold of my book then my hand towing me behind him.

“X-Xander? Is everything alright?” I asked having trouble keeping up with him and my hand sparked in pain at his rough touch.

“I don’t know- is the library open?”

“Yes I think. Why?”

He didn't respond as he quickened his pace causing me to jog to keep up, now my knees were throbbing with each step.

Once inside the library he let go and ran to the restroom.

“Xander?” The door shut.

“Morning boys.”

I looked over seeing Steven and Lars wave at me.

“Morning.” I whispered.

“Everything okay?” Steven asked staking books.

I looked towards the restrooms. “I think so…”

“Might be something he ate?” Lars suggested handing Steven another book. “So everything okay with you after yesterday?”

“Y-yeah.”

They shared a look then motioned me over after looking around. With a final glance at the restroom I carefully sat next to them on the floor.

“Your father notified the school that you and your sister know your Naturals now and are off the Protected List.”

“Wait you know about that?” I quickly scanned the library again before going on. “Are you guys Naturals?”

Lars and Steven grinned nodding excitedly.

“It's so nice to tell finally you. I'm a Paper Mage.” Lars explained.

“And I'm a Moth Fae- a type of Fairy.” Steven added.

My worry melted into curiosity. “That's so cool. What are those? What can you guys do?”

“I have power of paper, it talks to me.” Lars explained lifted a new book from the box an odd symbol showing up around his hand on the cover, his eyes glowing a pale yellow. The book fell open as it flipped through it’s pages itselves- the letters glowing like Lars’ eyes.

Lars laughed closing the book. “That's an interesting story, we should put that one on display at the front desk.” He said handing it to Steven.

I watched the interaction confused. “Wait you read the whole thing?”

“Yes, the book told me. The whole story is right up here.” He said tapping his head.

“That's really neat.” I said thinking of how fast my studying would be if I could do that.

“You think that but it's so hard buying new books that don't want to just tell me everything. But eh it's not that big of a deal anymore.” He nudged Steven. “More time to hang with this guy.”

Steven sighed a bright blush coloring his cheeks. “My power isn't as cool. My race can always find light and heat sources no matter how faint or how hard they're magically hidden.”

“Mr. Rean, that actually sounds awesome. If you can sense heat and light you could lead travelers that are lost. You have a cool gift.”

“See Stevy he gets it.” Lars said with a smile. “When I first met Steven I was trying to outrun these fire Mages- long story- I bumped into him and Stevy here could feel their fire magic and we avoided them easily. Now he also helps warn me when there's a danger to the library.”

“Like fires.” Steven mumbled embarrassed.

Lars leaned over kissing his cheek making Steven blush harder and hide his face behind the book he held.

Smiling at them. “You guys are so cool.”

They turned to me. “You are too.” Steven stated.

“I guess but this is all still a lot to take in, wrap my head around.”

“There isn't a rush. Take your time, ask questions, learn and when your ready I'm sure it'll make sense to you.” Lars said patting my back.

“He's right. And if you have questions we're here to help.”

I stood. “I will, thanks.”

Leaving them to talk I walked back towards the restrooms.