Chapter 5

                                    

                                          
Ever since that mini adventure in Avalon over a week ago, everything has been insanely awkward with Noah and Sarah. I've been avoiding them purposely, so that I wouldn't start any arguments but that's easier said than done when we all live together and go to the same school. Especially seeing as Noah has attempted to sneak out to see Avalon about a dozen times in the past week and when I stop him, I lose my temper and start another argument whilst he tells me how much he hates me. And I have to pretend that those words don't tear my heart in half. So yeah, fun times.
I'm on my way back to my room after catching Noah trying to sneak out of the kitchen to
Avalon, even from upstairs I can feel Noah's glare burning into my back.
"You promised, Dad," John says loudly as I near Isaac's office, the tremble in John's voice
makes me freeze. Is he crying? "You said the other day that today we'll play footie in the
garden."
"I know John but it's a work emergency. We'll have that game tomorrow," Isaac replies, and
I'm grinding my teeth at the lack of guilt in his voice. That's his son and my brother, even if
he is a dick, for fucksake – he should show a bit of remorse at least!
"You always say that!" John shouts, slamming the door as he leaves the office. 
He storms into me before I can dodge to the side and at the impact, an achy jab shoots up my
forehead. When he stumbles from rushing into me, I hold him upright with a frown.
"Woah, take it easy," I say softly, pulling him away from the corridor and closer to my room.
Tears are gleaming in his eyes and he's cupping his mouth, body trembling. Those instincts,
the same ones that react when I see Noah in tears, rush over me and I'm pulling John into a
hug. He snuggles into my dark green hoodie, hands gripping my sides, muffled sobs escaping
him. "It's okay, it's okay. Take it easy."
As if realising who he's hugging, John shoves me back with a sneer and storms past me, smacking my shoulder on the way. Really? I'm starting to get whiplash at his constant mood swings, can't he make up his mind whether he can stand me or hate me. 
That should give me a hint, really, to back off and give him some space but fuck that. I'm trying here to be a good sister for John, seeing as we're goanna be stuck with each other for the foreseeable future, but when I promised Granny Cassandra that I'll look after my siblings, that means all my siblings. Including him, as he's my little brother.
With a huff, I'm after him. I'm ignoring Isaac's shouts as I thud past his office, rushing down
the stairs and out the front door. Hell, this is an insane amount of dejavu. I'm following him
throughout the woods, dodging trees and jumping over branches and plants. He falls over a
few times but quickly climbs onto his feet and is running again. Bloody hell, he's fast.
After chasing him for what seems like forever, we stop in the meadow. I'm really getting sick
as hell with this damn meadow. Why is it always here? 
John stumbles to his knees, curling
up as he sobs. His cries...he's so young. Around Henry's age almost, and I keep forgetting
that. He's a spoilt shit, there's no denying that but he's still just a kid at the end of the day.
I'm about to approach him, when warm air brushes against my face, filling me up with that
familiar sensation. Almost like I've just had a huge static shock and ate a squirrel and it's disagreeing with me.
Magic.
No.
Wind swirls around John, a gold glint to them, before it floats a few steps away from him
and the wind – turning to particles, forms into a door. That bloody door with the bad paint
job, encrusted with runes and gems. Again. I choke at the sight of it, feet paralysed, hands
sweating a bucket load.