Unraveling Soren by Marisa Maichel (books under 200 pages txt) 📕

out for you. But if I catch anyone touching you inappropriately, I will most likely kill them.”

“Reese! Not okay! Besides, Chris is always there! She can defend me if it gets out of hand. Anyway, I have to go. Sabine wants to go to the bookstore.”

“All right. I love you, beautiful.”

“I love you too, handsome.”

I turned to my books and studied for a couple of hours. I was interrupted when I started hearing shouting. It sounded like Uncle Soren and Louis. I rolled my eyes and went downstairs. My cousin and uncle were indeed shouting at each other. My father saw me, and hugged me.

“Have you eaten yet?” he asked. “We just got a new batch in from France.”

France. Where Beckett Cresley was from. Sarah had once mentioned that his side of the family owned a farm there. With cows, sheep, chickens, and goats, and a few pigs. Cats, too.

“What are they arguing about?” I asked, forcing myself to focus on the present.

“About last night. Soren blames Louis for you finding out about his kiss with Sarah.”

“But he’s not the one who told me. Kieran did.”

“Yes, but who do you think told Kieran?”

“I assumed Kieran had seen it himself. And I didn’t know that Kieran and Louis were buddies.”

“I didn’t, either, but they were together when it happened.”

I sighed. “SHUT UP!” I shouted.

They stopped bickering immediately and looked at me.

“It doesn’t matter who saw it or who told who what. It happened, and I’m not happy with you, Uncle Soren. I talked to Sarah and got her side of the story. Now I know both sides, and I’ve made a decision. I’m having Toby follow Sarah to see if she’s being honest about telling off guys who hit on her. I’m having Louis look up her ancestry to see what else I can find.”

“You’re smart, Reese,” Louis said, grinning like an idiot. “You’re smarter than Dad is, that’s for sure.”

“Shut up, Louis,” Uncle Soren snapped.

“DON’T TELL ME TO SHUT UP ONE MORE TIME! THAT’S ALL YOU DO! NOTHING I DO IS GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU! I WENT TO LAW SCHOOL! I WENT TO MEDICAL SCHOOL SEVEN TIMES! I WAS TRAINED IN MARTIAL ARTS AND SELF-DEFENSE! YOU DON’T LIKE ME AT ALL!”

Louis finished his rant and stomped off. I heard his door slam seconds later.

“Soren, we need to talk,” Father said. He turned to me. “Reese, go out. Ask one of your friends to grab a drink or something.”

He was going to start yelling. I grabbed my keys, wallet, and phone, and headed out to my GT-R. I rubbed the sleek black paint, then got in and started driving. I didn’t know where I would go, until I passed the library. I parked and went in.

I loved the smell of the library. Old and new books, coffee, fruity smoothies. I went to my favorite section, horror, and went through the books. I already owned every single Stephen King novel. I searched through more authors, found a few that I liked, and put them in my arms. I went to the music section next. I picked out a book about Stevie Nicks, a book written by Nikki Sixx, and a book about Nirvana.

I went to the check-out, and got away with no problems. It was when I got to the bookstore that we had problems. My card was rejected.

“Sorry, hon,” said the cute blonde, popping her gum. “It didn’t go through.”

“I’ll come back later,” I said. I quickly left the shop, embarrassed even though there was no one around, and I knew I had money in that account. Still, I checked on my phone. I definitely had money in that account. Over a hundred thousand, if I’m being honest.

It must have been the card reader, I thought. How embarrassing. I’d talk to Father about it. Maybe he had the answers.

When I got back home, Father was finished shouting at Uncle Soren. Uncle Soren looked guilty and terrified.

“Hey, Dad,” I said.

“Hey, son. What did you buy?”

“Nothing. My card was rejected.”

“That’s weird. I know there’s money. I’ll check a few things.”

He typed away on his phone. Uncle Soren snuck away and ran upstairs at human speed.

“Huh,” Father said. “All of our cards were canceled. I’ll call your grandfather.”

He found his name on speed dial, and hit it.

“Hello, Dad,” Father said. “We have a problem. All of our cards were canceled. Debit and credit. I noticed it after Reese had some problems buying something. I checked his account, and it was canceled without my or his authorization. There’s definitely money in it. He’s not a big spender, either, unless he’s taking Sarah shopping. I know, just please check it. Yeah, mine, Soren’s, and Louis’ too. Yours, too. No, I haven’t told him yet. He and I just got into a fight. I know, I know, but he kissed Sarah. Yes, Reese knows. They shouted at each other last night. I’ll send a private investigator to do some research.”

He answered a few more questions, and then hung up.

“I have to make some calls,” he said.

I noticed Louis hanging around. His eyes were red, as if he’d been crying.

“How much did you hear?” I asked him.

“All of it. It’s definitely weird. Mine, too?” I nodded. “Huh. Well, I am going to go see Mitra now.”

“Mitra?”

“Hey, she’s single again. Dad called her and told her the truth. She dropped him like a hot potato. She’s single and legal and I’m going in.”

“It will hurt Uncle Soren,” I said.

“Hey, he’s hurt you, he hurt Sarah, and he hurt Mitra. I think he deserves a little heartbreak.”

“Louis, don’t do anything stupid.”

“Comforting a friend? I swear, that’s all I’m going to do. Comfort a friend. And she needs comfort. They just found Ellis’ ashes. He was her best friend. She needs a friend right now. She’s been walled up too long.”

“Just don’t hurt her.”

“I won’t, I promise. I won’t even kiss her. Pinky swear.” He held up his pinky.

“Okay, I’m trusting you,” I told him. He smiled at me.

“Of course you can trust me. I’m your cousin. If you can’t trust family, who can you trust?”

I sent Toby a text, checking up on the progress.

Toby: I was spotted by Christie. She asked me what I was doing. I told her the truth, and she warned me to stay away or she would tell Sarah. What do you want me to do?

Reese: Backtrack. Retreat. Abort the mission.

It was stupid to send him after her anyway. I had made a big mistake.

Toby: I did see a strange male hanging around. He’s about six foot, wears glasses, has green eyes and brown hair, and wears button-up shirts and black slacks.

That sounded like Becket Cresley again. Was it his ghost, coming back to check on the girls? I wondered.

I needed to see Sarah. I got into my car and headed over. I barely got a block, though, before my car stopped.

“What the fuck?” I checked the battery light. It was fine. I checked the gas. Empty. “Double what the fuck? I had a full tank of gas!”

I sent Father another text. He said he’d send one of the guys to pick up my car. I told him I was walking to Mother’s house.

I ran to the house instead. I normally didn’t run, in case a human spotted me, but I wanted to get there fast. I climbed up the ivy to Sarah’s room. What I saw broke my heart. Caden Cartwright was in her room. I jumped down, then opened the front door. I stomped upstairs, throwing her door open.

“Hello, Reese,” Sarah said.

“Don’t give me that. How long has this been going on?”

“What are you talking about?” she asked.

“Dude, you’re tripping,” Caden said.

“Caden’s only here to donate to the cheer squad,” she said. “Really, Reese. I’m not having sex with him.”

“Why was your door closed, then?”

“Because this house is full of snoops,” she said.

I grabbed her wrists and pulled her up.

“Reese, you’re hurting me!”

I glared at Caden. “Get out. Before I rip out your intestines.”

“Freak,” Caden muttered, leaving quickly.

“How many boys have you been seeing behind my back?” I asked. “Just him? What about Elliot? Glen Crow? What about Dante? He’s not bad-looking.”

“Reese, stop. Let go of me!”

She kicked my leg, then I dropped her wrists. She frowned and rubbed her foot. “First of all, Caden and I did have something going on when we were broken up, but that’s over. I don’t talk to Elliot or Glen Crow anymore. Dante is just a friend. I can have guy friends if I want.”

“She’s right,” said Alexander, surprising me. “It’s her choice whether or not to have male friends just like it’s your choice to have female friends. I can assure you right now, she is having sex with no one but you. Christine has informed me that you sent Toby over to spy on Sarah.”

“What? You had Toby…” Sarah was stunned. “Okay, I can’t take anymore. Reese, I will not go out with you again until you take care of your jealousy. Goodbye.”

Stunned and hurt, I left, tears stinging my eyes. This was all my fault. I acted like an idiot just because I was insecure. And I hurt Sarah in the process. I glanced back to see Alexander looking at her wrists. Embarrassed, I left quickly.

Mother watched me leave without stopping me. So did Selena. I’d disappointed them. I’d hurt Mother’s favorite child. I walked back home.

I ignored Father as I got back into the house.

“Reese, what happened?” he asked. I turned and hid my face. “Son, is everything okay? Tell me!”

“You’ve got enough on your mind,” he said.

“Prince Mordecai,” Spencer said, handing Father a piece of plastic.

“What is that?”

“It is the gas line. Someone also cut the brake line. This was deliberate. Someone was hoping that Prince Reese would crash.”

I went upstairs. Now someone wanted me dead. I picked up my acoustic guitar, and strummed a few chords. I stopped, briefly. I started forming a new song in my head. I wrote down what I’d thought so far, and then wrote down the lyrics.

I sang to myself. I was amazed at my own voice. I knew I was a good singer. I listened for my family’s reactions.

“Reese is singing,” said Louis.

“He’s pretty good,” added Toby. “What do you think, lover?”

“He’s great,” growled Spencer. “I like it when he sings.”

“You know, if he and Sarah did a duet…” Toby began.

“They’d be unstoppable,” said Louis.

I stopped singing momentarily, then started singing “Lonely No More” by Rob Thomas. Then I sang “Ice” by Sarah McLachlan. Slower and sadder, but still good. Then I sang my new song.

What does it take to say I’m sorry?

My vision is blurry

Please tell me you still want to marry

There’s no hurry

Let me take you a ride in my Ferrari

Your lips taste like berries

Please forgive me

I’m not myself

I love you more than anything

That was as far as I got before I paused. I thought and thought. I glanced outside, and noticed two ravens.

“Hello, Thought. Hello, Memory,” I said. She turned her head and looked at me. Thought fluffed his feathers, then cawed.

“Are you trying to tell me something?” I asked them. “Am I chosen for something?” I blinked when Memory nodded. “For what? Am I special? Is my girlfriend special? Well, I know she’s special. Am I supposed to know something or do something?”

I looked down and saw Shadowfang, in cat form, watching the birds, his tail twitching. He crouched, then bounded across the room. The birds took off.

“Nice going, cat,” I said.

“Don’t call me cat,” he snapped, frowning where the birds had been seconds ago.

“Why not? It’s what you are.”

“How would you feel if I called you vampire?”

“It’s what I am. It’s no different than calling Toby black, or Spencer fat.”

“Except calling someone fat is kind of an insult,” he said. “Your uncle can relate. Mordecai calls him fat on a daily basis.”

“My father and uncle don’t exactly get along,” I reminded