Shadows Of Deceit

Aurora's POV

"I'm worried about my brother," I confess to myself, I was watching him when he stormed out of the house. His anger and determination were obvious and I can't shake the feeling of unease that settles in my chest. 

He's always been headstrong, but this feels different. There's something about Samantha's family that sets my instincts on edge, and I fear for what might happen if Aurian doesn't tread carefully. 

As much as I want to support him, I can't shake the feeling that he's walking into a dangerous situation, and I pray that he'll come out of it unscathed.

I call his phone, my heart pounding with worry, but it rings unanswered. The silence on the other end only heightens my anxiety, and I can't shake the feeling of dread that settles in the pit of my stomach. 

"Please, Aurian, pick up," I whisper to myself, clutching the phone tightly in my hand. With each unanswered ring, my concern grows, and I'm left wondering what trouble he might have gotten himself into.

Remembering the tracking app Dad had us install, I quickly pull up the app on my phone and start scanning for Aurian's car. 

Relief floods through me when I see his location pop up on the screen. Without hesitation, I grab my keys and rush out the door, my mind racing with worry and determination. I have to find him and make sure he's okay, no matter what it takes.

As I pull up in front of the gigantic house, I can feel the weight of the security detail's presence, strong and intimidating. Gathering my courage, I roll down my window and address one of the guards.

"Excuse me," I say, trying to keep my voice steady despite the nerves coursing through me. "I'm here to see my brother. He came here earlier, and I need to make sure he's okay."

The guard eyes me skeptically, his expression unreadable behind his sunglasses. "And who are you?" he asks, his tone firm.

"I'm Aurora, his sister," I reply, hoping my name will carry some weight. "He stormed out earlier, and I'm worried about him. Please, I just need to make sure he's safe."

Aurian's POV

Relief floods through me as I hear a knock on the door, signaling the presence of one of the guards. The pressure on my neck eases as Mr Whitaker's grip loosens, allowing me to catch my breath. 

My heart skips a beat when I hear my sister's name mentioned, and my eyes widen in surprise as the guard explains that she's outside.

"Aurora?" I mutter to myself, my mind racing with a mix of confusion and hope. What is she doing here? I push myself up from the ground, my limbs still trembling from the encounter, and hurry to the door, eager to see her and find out what's going on.

My steps falter as Samantha's dad grabs my arm, his grip tight and unyielding, and shoves me against the wall. Fear courses through me as he leans in close, his voice low and menacing. 

"I warned you once," he hisses, his eyes flashing with malice. "But it seems you're too stubborn to listen. If you don't stay away from my daughter, I won't hesitate to not only kill you but your sister as well. Do you understand?"

My heart pounds in my chest as his words sink in, and I nod frantically, my breaths coming in short gasps. "Y-yes, I understand," I stammer, my voice barely above a whisper.

I don't have any feeling of agreeing with him. I'm just trying to cooperate right now so that he'll let us go.

He releases his grip on my arm, and I stumble backward, my head spinning with fear, anger and disbelief. As I watch him stalk away, the weight of his threat hangs heavy in the air, leaving me a bit shaken.

Aurora and I drive away, her car closely following mine. I head straight to the downtown pub, parking quickly and heading inside. 

The dim, smoky atmosphere does little to calm my nerves, and I find a secluded table in the corner. 

Moments later, Aurora bursts through the door, her face red with a mixture of anger and relief. She spots me and strides over, practically radiating fury as she sits down across from me.

"Aurian, what the hell were you thinking?" she demands, her voice low but intense. "I was worried sick about you. You can't just storm off like that without telling anyone. Especially not to Samantha's house."

I run a hand through my hair, feeling the weight of her concern. "I know, I know," I sigh, my own frustration bubbling to the surface. "But I had to see her. Things are getting out of control, and I needed answers."

My sister's eyes narrow, her worry still evident. "And did you get any? Or did you just make things worse?"

I shake my head, feeling the tension between us. "It's complicated. Her dad... he threatened me. He threatened to kill both of us if I don't stay away from her."

Aurora's expression softens slightly, her anger giving way to concern. "We need to figure this out together, Aurian. Running off like this isn't going to solve anything. We're in this as a family, remember?"

I nod, grateful for her support despite the fear gnawing at my gut. "I know. Thanks, Aurora. I just... I don't know what to do anymore."

"We'll figure it out," she assures me, her hand reaching across the table to squeeze mine. "But no more running off on your own, okay?"

"Okay," I agree, feeling a bit of the weight lift off my shoulders. "Let's figure this out together."

"We need to tell Mom and Dad, Aurian. They need to know what's going on. They can help."

I bristle at the suggestion, my frustration flaring again. "No, we can't. You know how Dad will react. He'll try to control everything and probably make it worse."

"But we can't handle this alone," Aurora insists, her voice rising. "It's too dangerous. Dad's past is catching up to us, and we need all the help we can get."

"I said no!" I snap, leaning forward. "I'm not dragging them into this. Especially not Dad. This is my mess, and I'll deal with it."

She looks at me, her eyes filled with worry and frustration. "Aurian, this isn't just about you. This affects all of us. You need to stop being so stubborn and let them in. They deserve to know."

"I can't," I say, my voice dropping to a whisper. "Not yet. Let me figure out what to do first. Then, if I have to, I'll tell them. But not now."

Aurora sighs, her shoulders slumping in defeat. "Fine. But promise me you won't do anything stupid. We need to stick together."

I nod, feeling a mixture of guilt and relief. "I promise. We'll figure this out, just you and me."

"Okay," she says, squeezing my hand. "But remember, we're in this together, no matter what."

As we sit in the dimly lit corner of the pub, the only thing I need right now is for this awkward moment to pass.

The waiter arrives with our drinks. He sets down the two cold beers I had ordered earlier, the condensation dripping down the sides of the bottles, a refreshing sight in the midst of our heated discussion. 

Alongside the beers, he places a basket of hot, crispy fries, the savory aroma wafting up and mingling with the smoky air of the pub. 

I glance up at the waiter, offering a brief nod of thanks before he retreats, leaving us alone once more. 

The clinking of glasses and murmured conversations of other patrons provide a backdrop to our intense conversation, a momentary distraction from the weight of our worries. 

Taking a deep breath, I reach for one of the cold beers, the cool glass soothing against my fingertips. I hold it up to Aurora in a silent toast, a wordless acknowledgment of our unspoken agreement to stick together through whatever challenges lie ahead. 

She meets my gaze, a flicker of understanding passing between us before she reaches for her own drink, the condensation leaving tiny droplets on the table as she lifts it to her lips. 

For a moment, we sit in companionable silence, the clatter of cutlery and hum of conversation surrounding us like a protective barrier. 

Despite the uncertainty of our situation, there's a sense of solidarity between us, a shared determination to face whatever comes our way, together.

"How long have you known about your girlfriend's father and our Dad?"

Her question hangs in the air, her gaze searching mine for any hint of deception. I feel a knot form in my stomach as I muster a casual shrug, attempting to mask the guilt creeping into my expression.

"Oh, you know, just recently," I reply, forcing a nonchalant tone. "I didn't realize until Samantha's dad mentioned it during our... encounter."

Aurora's brow furrows slightly, a flicker of skepticism crossing her features before she nods, seemingly accepting my answer. I exhale a silent sigh of relief, grateful that she doesn't press the issue further.

"Right," she says, her tone cautious. "Well, just be careful, okay? We don't need any more surprises."

I nod, offering her a tight-lipped smile. "Don't worry, I will. Thanks, Rori"

As we both take sips of our drinks, I can't shake the unease gnawing at the back of my mind. 

Despite my attempt to conceal the truth, I know that Aurora is far from convinced. The weight of my deception hangs heavy on me.