Tension between the siblings

When we landed back home, I was not sure how to feel. Not about the spring air which clung to my skin. Not about the embalmed body of Loren awaiting collection at the cargo terminal. In fact, I was sure that at this point, I was too numb to actually process anything. We all were. That was evident by the flight during which none of us spoke a word to one another, anticipating what was to come after burying Loren.
We all decided to bury her immediately when we arrived and, I had already overheard Damon on a call, making sure all the preparations were taking place back at his pack grounds.
It was only when we actually entered the airport, that Yuki began to speak. "Did you prepare any transportation, Damon?"
"I did, yes. My sister has arranged everything. There is probably someone already here for the collection of Loren's body, and then my sister, her girlfriend and a few of my drivers have come to fetch us."
London. It had been such a long time since I had seen her, and the thought of seeing a familiar face gave me a sense of solace and peace of mind.
We decided to stop off at one of the stores for some food quickly before meeting London at the front of the airport. No one had bothered eating any of the airplane food and they were clearly all suffering from the consequences.
"Jasmine, would you like anything?" Damon asked, holding a bottle of water. I shook my head no and, after receiving a few skew side-glances, sighed and took a bottle of water from the fridge too. I placed it at the till, ready to pay when Damon handed his own money to the cashier instead.
"You don't have to-"
But he cut me off with a smirk and a wink and then gently took my hand in his after he passed me my water bottle.
I had the right mind to smack him at that moment and probably tell him not to touch me. But I was too tired and emotionally exhausted to even try to pretend that I didn't appreciate the little gesture.
The moment we made it to the front, I immediately picked out London from the bustling crowd, with her long, black hair and her beautiful, gorgeous body hugged well in a black pants-suit. Next to her stood Amber who, I had noticed had cut her blonde hair extremely short and tousled most of it to the side. It suited her though and made her pretty face stand out even more.
"London!" Damon yelled. Her eyes flashed towards us and I saw a deep, beautiful smile appear on her face. But it completely fell, and her face pulled into a look of utter surprise when she saw me.
"You didn't tell her I was coming with?" I whispered to Damon. He scratched the back of his neck and said nervously, "... I forgot. Damn it, she's going to kill me."
London handed her black handbag to Amber, removed her heels and began running towards me. I was about ready to bolt away from her when Damon gripped my hand firmly.
"Damon!" I said panicked.
"Jasmine!" he responded mockingly.
"Let me go you idiot!"
“No, I’m trying to redeem myself here.”
I tried to shove him off of me, now already foreseeing how painful it was going to be when London’s body collided with mine. But it was too late. London tackled me, sending both of us falling flat onto the floor. "I am not imagining this, right?"
"If I say no, will you get off of me?"
She brought her hands to either side of my head and then pushed against the floor, allowing her to lift her body off of me. She held out a hand and then Damon smacked it, replacing it with his own. I stared at it, shook my head and then helped myself up, took Damon’s hand and placed it in his pocket for him. "There's no need to fight."
London stared at us flabbergasted with her red lips now in an 'o' shape.
"Am I missing something here? No wait, it's clear by the hundreds of people here and the funeral you had me planning that there is definitely lots that I am missing."
It was at the mention of the word ‘funeral’ that the entire mood of the group just plummeted, mine included. "Sorry, sensitive topic," London said blushing and then squeezing my hand reassuringly. She then turned around, finally acknowledging the other people with us.
"Hello everyone. My name is London Jasper. I'm Damon's... sister." She said that last part almost under her breath, almost as though she were ashamed, and it was then that I finally picked up the slight hostility between the siblings, not only in her tone, but in the way she named herself. London Jasper, the name I knew her by before I knew she and he were related. Perhaps it was their mother’s maiden name. I made no effort to question it though.
The group greeted London one by one and Cody gave her a flirtatious greeting to which she replied, "I'm sorry, but I have a girlfriend." She then pointed to Amber whom I now realised was also a werewolf by her distinct smell. She awkwardly stood and waved from the corner. But Cody just did not know when to stop and continued irritating the life out of poor London as we began making our way to the cars waiting for us outside. It was refreshing though, to have Cody make a fool of himself. It cleared the air just a little bit, and made that agonizingly painful feeling each of us were plagued with just a little lighter, and I allowed myself to be swept up by it, because I knew it would all be temporary. Yes, all this humour and lightheartedness would all run out the moment we got back to Damon’s pack grounds.
After a while, London began walking away frustrated and started leading us all outside. That was when Amber decided to finally join us. I smiled at her and said, “Hey Amber, how are you?”
"Alright thanks! It's been quite a while. I like the hair," she said touching at a strand. I smiled and thanked her in response. "By the way, I think Cody is trying to steal your girlfriend. I'd be careful with him. He has a way of trying to crawl into underwear." I gave her a wink.
"Noted!" She said, before stomping towards Cody and London.
"I know I should not say it, but better London and not me. I really do not want to hear him comment about seeing me naked." I said to Damon. He chuckled and shook his head in response. "Yeah, I think it's safer for Cody too. Moon Goddess knows what the hell I would do to the little perv if he made a single little pervy comment about your body."
"Hey!" London yelled out to me. I looked up and she motioned for me to come towards her. "You'll ride with us."
I nodded and said okay, pulling Damon by the hand. London shook her head. "Just you."
I looked at our intertwined hands, then back at London. "No, I'm going with him. And that's final."
London looked taken aback, probably still used to me being Jasmine 'floormat' Spectra. But, after a quick glance at Amber who shook her head at her, she sighed and agreed.
"What are you doing, Jasmine?" Damon whispered against my ear. I honestly did not know myself. I just wanted to be near him. Perhaps it was because out of all the people here, Damon and I were closest to Loren, and the thought made me feel comfortable enough to feel heartbroken around him. But, I did not feel like explaining all of this to him, and so I just uttered, "What does it look like? I'm getting into the car."
Damon rolled his eyes at me and then shook his head before going around, to the other side of the car and then sliding in. We occupied the two back seats and, London and Amber occupied the two front seats. Tailing behind us in a long string of black cars were the rest of the team, with Loren's body being carried along in one of them. It was then that I began to recall just how rich Damon and his family was, and the thought made me feel slightly self-conscious of my own modest little life. But I brushed the thought away, labelling it as petty.
"So, what have you been up to all these years." London asked, breaking the tense air which seemed to float around the two siblings. I wondered if their relationship had always been so bad.
"Um... well... How do I say this-?”
"Jasmine has been travelling."
"And... Loren?"
"London could you please develop some sensitivity. Jasmine and I just lost a good friend of ours. Could you save such questions for another time, please?" His formality was strikingly hostile, and it was matched by London.
"Fine. Whatever, Alpha Damon."
I glanced over at Amber and she glanced back at me. Both of us clearly wished we had never even entered this car with these two raging siblings. And so, to relieve the tension I said, "I worked as a... type of vigilante. So did Loren and the rest of the people here. But, as Damon said, I think it would be better to discuss this later."
London's eyes were widened, but she said nothing and concentrated on the road. I leaned over to Damon, and whispered, "What's up with the two of you?"
He shrugged, "It's nothing new. Just some 'friendly' sibling tension."
But I sensed it ran deeper than just that.
----
So, I decided on an extra chapter today! It is quite a bit more light-hearted than my usual chapters to provide for some relief after the last couple of serious and sad chapters. Nonetheless, I hope you all enjoyed it and are emotionally prepared for the chapter which is to follow!
Sending you all my love, and remember to stay healthy and safe!