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⚔️A X E L POV

"Alessandro you're stupid!" I smack him around the head with a loaf of seeded bread.

"Oh Axel shut up, I've had enough of you!" He throws his hands in the air.

"I'm not sure if you're aware of this but our sister is up there frightened while you're worried about not getting the meth in time!"

"I suggest you lower your voice unless you want her to hear." He grinds his teeth together.

"Did you even contemplate getting her help? No, you didn't because you're too busy getting stock other than helping your own sister help. What do you think, Elijah?!" I turn my face to look at Elijah who was tapping his nails repeatedly on the mug of tea.

I was worried about Emilia, what saddens me more is that I was the one who had to recommend her help when in fact it should've been Alessandro who saw the signs of needed help. He cares more for work than his own sister.

Speaking of work, we had enough drugs and sellers all around the country, so why is he bothered over one stupid dealer? Right now Emilia should be the priority, with all of the crap she's been through in her life I want to make her feel welcome and make it seem more like a home rather that a museum.

"I mean, she does need some professional advice, I have to agree with Axel." Elijah replies.

"Thank you, it's not just me who has noticed, forgive me if your head is too caught up in your fûcking ass all day that you can't even spare a few minutes to check in with your own sister." My voice was stronger and sterner.

"What're you suggesting, that I'm neglecting her?! I have enough shît to deal with like working to put a roof over your head." He quickly bends down pulling the bread up by the plastic wrapper.

"Oh shut up about your money for one second! You've got enough for a life time, in fact you have enough money to feed an entire country- if not more!! Stop being selfish."

"I hope this isn't a bad time but I wanted to say I invited our friends over. Thanks bye!" Diego rushes out leaving me little to no time to react, this wasn't the time to be prancing around.

"What're you gonna do now? Just forget tonight happened? I suggest you speak to her and explain a few things without saying the entire truth." I suggest to him with the dirtiest look on my face.

"You want to talk truth? How about you tell her about the tracker that you requested to be put in her phone? Let's see how she'll react to that," he sniggers.

"I did that to benefit her and her safety, I'm the only one making an effort to keep her safe because somehow when ever she's around the rest of you she always gets hurt." How dare they, I would never hurt her, she's my dear sister that I love to death, I could never hurt her.

"Hey, Axel!" Josh shouts at the entrance way, his face was painted like a pumpkin while the others looked normal. You wouldn't think he's a teenager.

I ignore him and walk into the living room where I see Jaws started into the tv. Great, I don't need anymore sharks in my life when I have Alessandro already. What a dîck.

_-_-_-_-_-_-_

✨Emilia POV

Watching as the heavenly bodies become more noticeable as the sky got deeper and darker, the rain also got heavier and more colder, that was my alarm telling me to retreat back inside.

My stomach felt like it was bubbling and popping every few seconds, my nerves were reaching moon they were that high.

I was stuck in a ditch of bewilderment, what do I do now? There was no way I could face them tonight...or tomorrow...or the day after that.

I couldn't face them ever again.

I think I should just sleep it off, all of this but thinking held a cloud of misery above my head which gave me a major headache.

Sleep sounded like music to my ears, it's a way for me to escape reality and into a world of fantasy only one could ever imagine. Sometimes I wish I could jump into a movie and never come out.

Rushing into my room, I pull open the stiff, wooden draws and pull out my non-matching jammies. The top was a huge shirt with Mulan's face on and the bottoms were patterned with green frogs from Princess and the Frog.

Tiana, Mulan and Merida will remain superior, you can't change my mind, I love these princesses so much.

I tug on the bottoms to pull them up my legs as fast as I can and rush out of the room gasping for air, that must be a record. Just standing in the room made me feel like someone was watching me. I'm just paranoid.

Creeping down the hall to the top of the staircase, I listen in to the conversation between my three eldest brothers.

"Axel, don't expect us back tonight, we need to find a stock supplier so we'll be a while, make sure Emilia gets to bed okay. Call me if you need anything," Alessandro commands Axel, I watch as Elijah and Alessandro button up their coats and shut the door behind them hearing the lock click.

"You okay?" Blades voice from behind me startles me making me jolt from my crouched position. I had my fists clenched tightly until I heard my thumb crack, it was in the crevice of my fist.

"I'm not gonna hurt you, and either way you could even make me flinch with that fist. You're holding it wrong. The thumb is supposed to be on the outside, wrapped around your four finger, not trapped inside." He unwraps my fingers from my fist and shows me the 'real' way to do it.

"Do it like that more often, the other way can brake your knuckles."

"Thanks, Rex." I mumble under my breath and practise the motions. It felt strange like this, my thumb felt warmer in the other position.

Blade walks past me patting my head before taking two steps at a time walking down the steps. How did he even do that? In the name of Draco Malfoy what is this wizardry?!

"You coming?" He waits for me with a tired expression. Hesitantly I bite my lips contemplating going down there, it still feels like a war zone; Alessandro and Elijah we're gone so I guess I was safe from them.

I briefly nod sliding my soft, pale palms down the railing remembering how the wood feels under my touch; so cold and silky.

"Stop frowning, it's not a good look on you." He palms my cold cheeks and pulls the up so my face is scrunched.

"I-I-I...never mind." I shut myself up this time which surprises me, I just didn't feel like stretching my vocals out.

"I'm sorry, you shouldn't have seen what you what you saw. We're not... like that. Please don't think any less of us." How couldn't I think any different of them, I had seen my loving brother shoot someone in the leg all because of me. I'm just as pathetic as the low life that's on trial for drugs.

I can't imagine what drugs feel like, or taste like. Maybe even smell like. What about your sight? All the thing you could hear, what if you couldn't hear anything? It must feel great, like an immense amount of adrenaline pumping through your veins while your mind becomes an utter blur with your eyes seeing things that aren't even humanly possible. Like blood pushing to your brain. Drugs must be great, so I've read. Who knows, I'm quite the curious child. I might just sniff some flour and call it cocainė.

"We're not violent." He tells me in a cold tone, almost like he thought I didn't believe him. This was hard to believe though, the amount of times I've seen them in their most powerful and destructive form is uncanny.

Freshly pricked tears stabbed my eyes and rolled off my chin onto my clothes. I tired to stop it but it was too painful.

"Why're you crying?"

"I don't know," I tell him with my lips trembling. Why was I crying? Not because I was in pain, but because there's this emotional strain on my mind that's keeping it captive, and sometimes, I just need to cry.

"Well stop, I'm not good with crying girls." He jokes around but it makes me even more sad, it's okay for him, he has stayed here his entire life where as me? I thought I got away from the violence and now I moving closer with every minute I stay here.

"Would it make you feel better if I told you Cassidy was here? I know it's the only thing to make you feel better." My ears perk at the sound of his name and a small smile works its way to my lips. I nod 'yes' and rub the tears from my eyes, I wasn't ugly crying, it was just a few hot tears that needed to come out. Think if your tears like the waterfall in your soul.

"Stop crying, okay?" He pokes his finger into my side, that felt like a freaking knife!

Blade opens the living room door to a brightly lit room with Jayden and Josh frolicked on the floor playing with each other, more like fighting but it's the same thing. Cassidy was talking to Aspen which looked like he was very invested into the conversation.

No Kelsey.

No Kelsey.

I repeat: NO KELSEY!

I've never been so happy in my entire life! The witch was finally gone and I was free! I'm surprised her brothers didn't bring her along with them, they must've left her at home.

"Hey, pip!" Cassidy greets me with a dazzling smile which can brighten up even the darkest of rooms.

He stands up and gives me a long, cosy hug and tells me he missed me. He's like another brother to me, just more caring. He and Axel are the ones who have been the nicest to me and I'm grateful for that.

"Hey, slut," Aspen punches Blade in his chest and I hear a loud grunt from Blade who rubs his chest.

"Stop punching me with rings, it's hurts." He frowns and pulls his shirt away from his chest and looks down the shirt to inspect the damage.

I always thought it was weird how she called him a slut, it funny actually, that kind of terminology is used with women when they greet each other. Never have I seen a man and a woman greet each other like that.

"Why do you call him that?" I smile cheekily at her, I also found it fascinating how he didn't take it personal.

"Because he's got a new girl in his bed every weekend." Josh sniggers while pinching Jayden's ear hard. Blade's eyes were bulging from their sockets and he started coughing like crazy.

"Josh, not around her please," oh right Axel, I forgot he was in the room with us.

"Go to bed you old man," Josh hysterically cries and Axel's broody face.

"Yes actually I will, I need to make some calls so if you could, be sensible around, Em please she's just a child." Axel kisses me on the head before making a quiet exit.

"How do know if he does?" I ask Josh in a curious tone, unless there in cameras in his room it's a little creepy he knows that.

"Because he gives us the full details, everyone in our group has to listen to his sex stor-" he's cut off by a pillow being launched at his head.

"And that's why I call him a slut, not to mention the countless girls he's smashed when he was supposed to be in love with me," Aspen laughs at Blade's embarrassing, his cheeks were rosy and he used his forearm to cover his eyes. That's not going to do anything, dîpshit.

My ears were screaming, what was I hearing?

How did she get over him so fast? Were they ever in a loving relationship? Not only that, they also managed to stay friends after- most ex relationships turn out south and never contact each other again. Their past 'relationship' sounds more like a fling to me.

This enrages me, how he can get away with such disgusting behaviour. If a woman was to cheat on a man the same amount of times Blade did she would be shamed and degraded, but Blade gets let off with a joke about 'being a slut.' Just a small thought. Sure Aspen cheated but if we're talking about a random woman and not someone specific, it's a little weird to me.

I decide to keep my mouth shut and enjoy the night, there has been enough drama for one night we don't need anymore adding to the fire.

"Blade is a hoe! Blade is a hoe! Blade is a hoe! Blade is a hoe! Blade is a hoe! Blade is a hoe!" Luca chants over and over again until Blade throws another pillow at Luca this time.

"How does he pull so many girls though? I try and fail almost every time." Josh whines as he sits on Jayden's back who was struggling to move.

"Children are in the room, sir." Cassidy points a finger between Josh and Blade. But instead they just smirk which looks rather ugly on them. They look like a chihuahua trying to smirk, smirking is a very ugly colour on boys, it makes them seem egocentric.

"He uses a sad story to pull them into bed that's why." Aspen adds on, what is this 'story' I want to know.

"Aspen don't you dare!" Blade speaks in a warning tone.

"My dog just died and I really want the company, can you give me it? I'd hate to be alone right now." Aspen mocks and Blade turns into a bright red, his entire face is blushing so hard he might pop a vein. Or it may be his anger reaching the roof.

"Hey I'd like to remind you again there is children in the room." Cassidy says again in a more serious tone.

"Cassidy when was the last time you pulled a girl? Stop being such a dad," Josh rolls his eyes at him.

"Yet again, my sex life is not going to be spread out into a room with a thirteen year old, innocent girl in. And besides I wouldn't tell any of you, I'm not like you guys." He replies calmly.

"She's gonna find out sooner or later, the jay-jay and p-p shall collide!" Luca screams with his arms flying everywhere.

Oh.

"I apologise for their rude and insensitive behaviour, don't listen to a word they say because they've never attended a science lesson in their life, they'd rather smoke w- cigarettes instead of learning something useful." Cassidy tells me with a tired tone, almost like he has to deal with this in a daily basis.

"Oh."

"Wait until she finds out what pôrn is," Josh laughs but Blade pushes him off of Jayden's back as an attempt to shut him up. Jayden on the other hand crawled away and plopped onto the sofa next to me.

"Huh?" That's a new word, remind me to search it up later.

"It's fine! Don't worry about that, it's just a word that rhymes with 'corn'. It doesn't mean anything, it's a synonym for 'corn'." Cassidy speaks over the loud volume of the boys and Aspen.

"Cass, don't fool the girl, she'll learn about this at school. And Josh, don't spoil her innocence, it's adorable." Aspen pokes Josh with her sharp, deep red nail.

The next twenty minutes went by and the conversation developed into what movie to choose and random stuff like girls... then a spelling test on each other which is weird and now Diego is getting his hair braided by Aspen. His hair wasn't exactly short but it wasn't very long either, just to his jaw.

"Is it done yet? You're hurting my scalp." Diego whines balling his hands into fists.

"Grow some balls, it seems like you lost them." She slaps his cheek hard making his whine and groan even more.

"You're so violent," Blade mumbles as his fingers dance on his lap, it's very fun when you try and make them do the splits.

"Done," she lays his head gently this time.

"Do I look good?" He poses with hands on his hips tilting his head down for everyone to see. Two French braids which were neatly done, what was cuter was was that they were so short and thick too.

"You look hot," she winks at him blowing her nails. Weird technique there.

Diego continues to pose for us by pouting his lips and walking fiercely. At one point he even laid on the floor as an attempt to look sexy.

"You'd look great in a skirt, don't you think, Aspen?" I ask her, it takes her a while to pull her attention to me but she smiles and nods widely.

"Ew no." Blade laughs at my comment.

"Why not? Luca looks incredible in a dress, if I remember correctly you were twirling around in a dress too, and it looked great." It was true, when Luca walked out in the dress I was stunned, he pulled it off so well.

"Thank you, I must say red is my colour don't you think? Aspen I'm coming for your company." Luca peers down at himself in amazement.

"Sure." Aspen tugs the ends of my hair threading it through her fingers..

"You should let me dress you all up one time. Especially Emilia, her skin doesn't have a blemish, I'd kill for no acne." If only she could see I was filled with blemishes and imperfections.

"She hasn't been through puberty probably." Blade grumbles, "I cant wait for her to grow up."

It feels as though my body took a great pause for puberty, maybe one day my hormones said 'okay we don't like her, let's stop her period to teach this rat a lesson.'

Rubbing my eyes, I look at the tiny clock on the tv screen to see it was pretty late, late enough for me to brake a yawn.

"You should sleep," Cassidy nudges my side, I'd forgotten he was here, he had been quietly observing.

"It's past twelve, we should all hit hay... ew I'm never saying that again." Jayden stands up stretching his arms wide, he drags himself across the floor with his shoulders slumped low.

************

They had left me here standing in the middle of my pitch dark room and I feel so out of place and uncomfortable. The nippy air pinched my skin like needles; my hair in the back of my neck stood up straight almost like I felt a presence behind me.

Why was I so afraid to stay in my own room? It was like I needed a boost of confidence to stay here the entire night. It still felt like a murder scene but it was all in my head.

"You know I love to see you writhe under me," he sneers.

No, I'm not spending another moment in here, especially when I don't feel like I'm alone. I could still feel Tate in the room with me.

Making my way to the exist, I'm surrounded my darkness, I was never scared of the dark, I was always scared about what was hiding in it. What monsters and abominations lurked in the darkest corners.

I'd never been so ecstatic about being alone, like very alone standing in a narrow hall surrounded by the unknown. The air in my room felt dirty and contaminated almost.

I find myself staring at the small amount of light emitted from underneath Diego's door, it sounded like he was playing a game. I knock thrice and the hard wooden door.

Not long after Diego pulls his door open and I immediately look inside, Luca was laid on his bed with a console pad in his hands. But looking around the small area I could see, I saw many pictures of anime's stuck to his wall, sure I had watched a few but when you have a wall full wall dedicated to anime you know it's serious.

He even had cute Kaonashi up there too. So cute when he eats his cheesecake, even when he was sat on the train with Chihiro he looked adorable.

"Can I help you?" He says politely holding the door with his hand while the other one was pressed against the door frame.

"Hurry up! You're missing it!" Luca shouts loudly drawing his attention back to the game, instead of telling him I wanted his company I assured him I was fine and then left.

Huffing loudly, I slide my feet across the floor to reduce the noisiness of my steps. It was a technique I had picked up while moving around my old house, it was a way for me to move without getting caught.

Knocking slightly one Blade's door, he opens it quick and fast with a confused expression on his face.

"What's up? Why aren't you sleeping?"

"Can I stay in here please? I-I don't want to stay on my room. Please, don't leave me alone in there." I beg him with my voice sputtery.

"Why? Is your bed broke or something?"