Post by Jacelynne on Mar 4, 2009 9:44:44 GMT -5
Not sure if this is the right genre but it matches ;]
(Note: It might not be that short, but I'm wondering basically if I should continue it or not, or do a whole rewrite or not right now, so...) [PG-Has some minor language]
Prologue
I knew who he was immediately when I saw the ring, glinting in the sun light. He sat in the chair behind me, forcing me to turn around. After all I couldn't afford to take my eyes off him for a second; I was the Protector. No one had succeeded before me, in coming this far, to be able to touch the center, to see what heaven could really be like for us, and I was the second person, after my father, to become a protector, basically the second in my family. Not that I had much of one anymore. Now it was just me and my two siblings, both of whom wouldn't give me the time of day if they could avoid it. I felt the same way, pushed away by their animosity towards me. Even though my brother was my guardian, he did only what was needed.Basically, I keep to myself and they keep to themselves, and we all got what we wanted.
But my secret as the protector is safe with you. Right?
____________________
Stacy R-Raymond-The Protector
Chapter One
“Hey Stacy! Wait up!” Carley Sanchez waved a red nailed finger at me and grabbed my arm. Crap. I was just about to fly off. I put on a smile and pulled a sucker out of my purse as I turned to her.
“Hey, are you still having a birthday party in December?” she smiled at me. How pathetic.
“Actually, I’m thinking about not having a party at all. Just spend my time with a friend for Christmas.”
“I still thinks it’s cool that your birthday is on Christmas.”
“Whatever Carley.” I brushed back my long black hair, and stared hard at her. My eyes, a bright orange color, must have been very intimidating right then, because I was being awfully cold to her. I’m sure she knew why. I didn’t care much either. Carley Sanchez was a skank and she was never worth my time, nor would she ever be worth my time. She had more than worn out her welcome in my case. I see why even her closest of friend hated her. But nobody hated her more than I did. But who forgives someone for sleeping with their (ex) boyfriend? No one, exactly.
“Hey Stacy, want a smoke? You seem tense.” Nicholas Oscar, my friend, offered me a cigarette as he pulled one and lit it. I took the cigarette pack from him and then pulled the one from his mouth. I dipped it in the fountain for a few seconds, and then threw it away. I pointed at him.
“No smoking on school premises.” I looked back to Carley and hoped she got the point that she was no longer wanted. She did.
“Well,” she giggled nervously. “I’ll be going now, gotta go to the spa and re-tan. See you in December, Stacy!” she ran off with a wave and climbed into the black limo that waited for her at the schools gates. Nick smirked at me. He was the only one who actually knew how much I hated Carley.
“What’s in December?”
“My birthday, which only you are invited to.”
“Really? That’s great. We can spend it alone.”
“That was the whole point Nicholas. Come on, we have to get home. I don’t like the feeling I’m getting here, like somebody’s watching us.” He and I walked to a campus vender and bought a bag of chips and a soda for the both of us.
“So what are we doing today?” I shrugged.
“Go home, sleep the rest of today?” I suggested hopefully. I was really tired. He held a hand out against my chest and I felt a presence other than our own. My internal sense was telling me that somebody was watching us. And from the smell that suddenly invaded the air, I knew exactly who. I turned just in time to hear the slow laughing sound. It was Dorian, Darla, and Darius, the triplet Mutes. They were grinning, baring their fangs to me and Nick. Mutes had both vampire genes and wolf genes in the, so they could change to a wolf whenever they pleased, but they were vampires for life. Imagine what they could do with my partially royal blood, which is what they wanted. Me and Nick. But what did you expect me to do? Stand there and be scared, then try and fend them off with a stick while the police came? No. My family knew better than that. It would be an all time low to do something like that, which was always what happened in the movies.
Instead, I was gonna fight back.
“Watching you two is like watching Beevus and Butthead. It’s funny, but it gets boring after a while.”
"Well," I retorted "Who asked you to spy on us anyway?" They began to change into wolves, so I reluctantly did the same. It felt better now, but when I first did this, on the full moon, I was with my dad, but it was awfully painful. It was better now, but imagine your first time turning into a wolf. I was freaked out. Of course, I was much calmer the next time I did it. I’d just have to stay in my room for the full moon, which was coming next week.
They were like puppies compared to my size, but that didn’t mean they weren’t still a challenge, of course, I’d be done with them in a few moments. I reared on my hind legs and shot forward taking a snap at Dorian’s neck and missing. I twisted around and this time, we crashed into each other. He flew into a tree and was down for the count. I snap at Darla’s hind legs but she moved quickly, that was her advantage. But instead, I crushed her paw by jumping. She howled and I felt myself smile. Darius was standing watching us. He was the oldest and strongest of them all, and he hated me more than they did. I didn’t care though. I put some extra force behind myself as I began trying to snap at his neck. Darla had changed back to her vampire form, and she was trying to inch her way to Nick. Darius grabbed a hold of my leg and I screamed (it came out as a howl), I scratched his face then jumped on him.
“Stacy!” Nick yelled. I looked and saw her trying to pull him to the silver Porsche that was sitting at the gates. I quickly jumped on Darius again and bit his neck. I jerked hard and winced as I heard a snap .his neck was broken. He howled in pain and I then focused on Darla’. She looked weak, and blood was streaming from an open cut on her arm. I jumped on her back and growled at her. He understood what I was saying. I bit her leg until she began to writhe, and then I let go. They all ran back to the Porsche, Darius looking at me intently. I changed back and fell to the ground. Nick walked over to me and helped me up.
“Are you alright?”
“Other than my paw – I mean wrist, being sprained or broke, I’m fine.” I spread out my wings and he held onto my shoulder.
“You wanna get out of here?” I asked him. Heath Davis, my boyfriend, chose that moment to show up. He took one look at Nick, his hands on my shoulders, and ran forward, with a look of kill on his face. I spread my wings out the entire length and let out a fierce snarl at Heath who stopped and backed away. I took my job as the Protector very seriously.
“Heath, don’t start this.”
“What the hell?” he took a look at my wings and I grimaced to myself.
“Heath, its not-”
“You means to tell me that I’ve been dating a chick with wings? Oh my god!”
“I don’t think that necessary!”
“You’re a freak. I went out with you!” I looked away as he hurled on the grass. Were my wings really that bad? Carley came and wrapped her arms around his chest.
“There, there baby.” She whispered. My mouth fell open and I raised my hand. Nick stopped me and shook his hand.
“Stacy, I think we should see other people.” Heath said.
“What?”
“You heard him. He’s going out with me now Stacy, and there is nothing you can do. Consider yourself, officially dumped.” They walked away together and Nick pushed my jaw up. I felt numb, as if the world had dropped a few degrees. Nick squeezed my shoulders and I flew up into the sky. Once flying horizontally, Nick eased himself onto my back and I began to cry. He’d done it before, but the last time, he fell off trying to stand up on me. Idiot.
“Come on Stacy, it’s not like Heath was worth your time in the first place.”
“All those years of being best friends, then actually together, and he dumps me because I have wings.” Nick sighed and I turned. He grabbed my shirt and held on until we were straight again.
“Look, he obviously doesn’t see what he lost and what I gained. Not that we’re together or anything, just a figure of speech.” I knew he was right, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t still pissed off.
Next time I saw Carley, I was going to savor raking her face with my claws. I landed softly on the balcony of my room and walked through the doors. My room was decorated in black and white. My bedroom door (on the outside too) had a gold sun and a silver moon on it, and was painted black with white dots. My room was the best room in the house because it was huge, it was clean, and it also has a view of the front gate. The walls and ceiling looked like outer space. The stars actually sparkled as if they were real, and there was the solar system on the ceiling. The sun and moon were there as well. I had a vanity, a canopy bed with a nightstand on both sides, a desk, a desktop computer (and laptop, which was charging), a wide screen TV placed on the wall, very soft, lush black carpet which had the planets and galaxy’s written on it, a nightstand on both side of my bed, and a dresser. All of which were painted black and white.
“I’m gonna take a shower.” Nick said. I waved him away and sat at my computer. I couldn’t think of anything to do, so I just sat at my desk working on some new signature examples on Paint Shop Pro. I got bored after nearly half an hour of doing that, just as the shower cut off, so I climbed into my bed without bothering to take my shoes off and I went to sleep.
When I woke up, my head was against Nick’s chest, and he was sleeping. His arms were wrapped around me. I sat up and stared at him for a moment. He had shoulder length black hair, and dark eyes. He was tall too. He reminded me of someone I knew, but I didn’t care. I got up and stepped into my closet, trying not to wake him up as I pulled on my nightgown and my robe. I walked to the balcony and stood looking at the lights of the city. They were nice as this time of night. My hand, which was bare, showed the inky black swirls that ran down my back, along my arms, legs, shoulders, chest, and my stomach. Soon they’d appear on my face and neck as well, probably within the next two or three days.
“They make you look gorgeous you know,” Nick came up from behind me and gave a smile. “They sort of give you a dark look. Like you’re divine and mysterious, and there’s a lot more to you.” I forgot that he could read minds. I turned to him.
“Would I be different to you?” he shook his head.
“Of course not, Anastasia.” I looked down. We walked back in and I pulled on a pair of jeans and a blue sweater. We walked down to the kitchen where I looked in the fridge.
“Do you want dinner?” I asked him .he nodded.
“Sure. We can make tacos salad if Shannon hasn’t eaten all the Doritos.” I laughed.
“There’s two bags left. Oh and there’s some pre-made taco meat on the second shelf.” I nodded, good thing Daniel had gone shopping yesterday.
I pulled out the bowl of meat and scooped some out then putting in a smaller bowl to be warmed up. I watched him crush chips and add stuff to two bowls. Luckily, neither of us liked onions or garlic, so that was out. I took the meat out of the microwave and inhaled.
“Mmm,” I said. He laughed and I threw a small piece at him. He dodged it and it hit the wall with a soft thump, and then landed in the trash can.
“Score!” I yelled. We both sat down to eat. Just as we started, my brother Daniel walked through the back door in the kitchen and took off his suit jacket, draping it over a chair. I fixed him a bowl. He sat at the table rubbing his eyes. Daniel was sleepy, as he always was. My dad and I usually were only tired at the full moon. He could control it, which helped me because he knew what he was doing.
“Long day?” I asked. He glared at me and said, “Shut up.” I held up my hands and Nick was looking back and forth between us. I knew he was hoping that we weren’t going to fight. He hated it when my brother and I fought because then he’d have to intervene and he hated getting into stuff that had nothing to do with him. Especially family matters. I guess I should give you a fairly good description of him, so here goes. To sum it up, he’s a workaholic, sleepy, important guy, 6’7, tan, perfect teeth and face, green eyes, brown hair, a gold cross on his neck, and he had a (quite big) nice muscular build. Good enough? M’kay.
He began to eat, and we continued. Our security intercom beeped and Daniel went to get it. He came back a second later.
“Anastasia, were you expecting someone?”
“No, why?”
“Because there are three kids outside saying you invited them.”
“I’ll go take care of it.” I said. Hopefully it wasn’t Heath, Carley, and one of their friends; otherwise, I’d be kicking butt all night. Of course, it was just about the same, only a little worse, it was Dorian, Darius, and Darla. They were a little bandaged and I started laughing. Nick brought the bat with him, and I took it. I began smashing out their windows. They drove away just as I started on the back window.
“That should teach them not to stake me out.” Nick chuckled while he ran back up the driveway to get the broom and dustpan for me to sweep up the glass. We walked back in and I saw that Dan had cleared away the dishes. I shrugged to myself and walked upstairs. I dozed off quickly, ignoring the fact that Heath had sent a box full of the stuff I gave him to my house. Who gave a crap, since were over anyway? As I watched a car pass my window, I fell asleep.
“Mommy! Look at the stars!” Skylar screamed. He had his thumb in his moth, so it sounded more like: “Momby, Vook at the stars!” I giggled and my dad smiled.
“I see them Skylar, they look so beautiful tonight don’t they?”
“Yes mommy.”
“Stacy, you alright back there? You’re being awfully quiet.” My father, John, looked in the mirror at me and I smile.
“I’m fine dad. Just tired. It was still the best hiking trip though.”
“Yes, it truly was.” My advanced hearing picked up on the sound of a speeding car, but I didn’t see it anywhere. I peered forward and my heart began to pound. The sound was coming closer.
“Um, dad? Maybe we should pull over, there’s a-” before I could finish that sentence, a car plowed straight into us. I heard the sound of metal on metal crushing together, and then I felt our car spinning. I grabbed Skylar’s hand and held his head against my stomach, but he kept screaming. Then it felt the car was floating for a second. More series of crashes. By then I felt like my whole body had been ripped apart. I looked to Skylar, who was no longer screaming. I began to cry, trying to take off my seat belt. The car ceiling was caved in, so there was no way out from the top. I looked at my dad and my mom, both who were laying there.
“Daddy? Daddy? Wake up!” I breathed again as he reached up and pulled the necklace off his chest. He held it out, as if for me, but I took his hand instead. I heard another slam, and then the car began to rock sideways. It was teetering on the edge of a cliff. It tilted sideways more and I screamed, clasping my dads hand tighter as the car fell again. It crashed sideways, knocking my head into the window, which knocked me out.
I opened my eyes at the sound of grinding, which hurt my head. I looked around and saw a bunch of faces surrounding me. They tugged on my arms and I screamed louder than ever as waves of horrible pain shot through them. The pain was more than overwhelming as I tried looking around for my dad. The necklace, his necklace, the crystal one with the blue center, was inside my hand. I let darkness sweep over me, despite them telling me to stay awake.
“Anastasia? Are you alright?” I moaned, still feeling I was in pain.
“Stacy? I saw a tall woman standing in front of me. She had long dark brown hair and bright green eyes. I reached out to her.
“Hayden…” I whispered. I reached for her, and just as our hands brushed, I heard another scream.
“Stacy!” I jolted up in my bed and looked around, shaking. Nobody was in my room, but I smelled something. It was a soft, flowery smell, mixed with blood, dirt, and sweat. A growl rose in my chest as I peered outside.
“Stacy!” I herd a chocked scream and I ran to Nick’s room. He wasn’t there. I began top get frantic.
“Stacy!” I ran to the window, where I saw the silver Porsche (window’s repaired), speeding away.
Chapter two
I jumped out the window, and landed softly in the grass. I pondered for a spilt second whether or not to change into my wolf form first, but that’d take too long and by then I wouldn’t be able to follow them, so I just flew away. I spotted the car in no time, sitting at a gas station. Darius and Darla went side, leaving Dorian to sniff around the building. He thought I’d be coming by wolf form, ha! When I wasn’t in wolf form, I was scentless, which was good, but if in wolf form, I smelled specifically like lilies. a scent Darius could easily pick up on because of how much time he’d spent torturing me about stuff when we younger. I guess you could say that Dorian and I had history. I tiptoed up to the door and opened it. Nick was lying on his side in the back seat with a bloody lump swelling on his head. I saw that his hand was cuffed to the door handle. I tried to touch it, but the cuff went red and burned me. I hissed. Time to see what this necklace can do.
I held it close to the handcuffs and after a second, they clicked open. I smiled and grabbed Nick’s waist. I pulled him out of the car. And looked around. Dorian was sniffing by the bathroom. He made a coughing noise and I almost laughed. I held onto Nick as I made my way to the trees. I flew off once there was good distance between me and that car and I flew him to the one safe place I knew of right then. There was an old tree house at my families old summer house that we owned. It was just like our other house, except the coloring and décor wasn’t the same. I made some French fries and hamburgers, which I ate ravenously, even though it was morning. I was tired, and I’m sure I looked it too. I was almost dozing off when I heard Nick let out a groan. Or a moan, I dunno.
“What’s happened?”
“They pulled an all-time low, and tried to sneak you at of the house. Hungry?” I passed the plate to hum and he sat up.
“You look like seven years worth of hell.”
“I feel it too. Eat up, we need to get to school.”
“Stacy? Why are we in a tree house?”
“I had nowhere else to take you. Finish eating and climb down, call me if there’s any trouble. I’m gonna run in the house and get you something to wear.” I wasn’t really in the mood to talk.
“Stacy?” he whispered. I looked back at him as he started on his fries.
“I heard you. In your sleep.” I waved it away, not having the lightest clue right then about what he was talking about. I found him a pair of my dad’s old pants and a shirt of my dads. My eye caught a framed photo on the wall of my dad and my family standing behind a ranch. My dad and I were both on horses, and my mom was holding Skylar and standing by the fence. For a moment, I just stood there, my eyes welling up with tears as I remembered the scene.
“Come on mom!” I yelled as my stallion, Chance slowed to a walk. I stopped her by the fence and my dad rode up next to me. My mom hurried next to us and we all smiled. My trainer, Angie, handed my mom the picture and then took the camera. I looked at my dad, who slid off the horse just to give my mom a kiss on the cheek. She giggled and I grimaced, even though I was glad they were still as in love as two high schoolers.
“Come on Stace, I’ll race you back to the stables.” We quickly rode off and I waved at my mom.
“Stacy?” I jumped, forgetting that I was supposed to be giving him a shirt and pants. I wiped my eyes and handed them to him, then started for the door. He grabbed my arm and stopped me.
“Hey, what’s wrong with you?” he asked. I plopped down on the bed with a wail and I began to cry hysterically. “Stacy?” He said tentatively after my long breakdown.
“Sorry. Just needed to get that out of my system.” His cheek twitched and I stood up.
“Tell me what is wrong.” he said. I sighed.
“You never know what you had until you lost it.”
“Not good enough.”
“All those years of pretending I wasn’t that sad is finally coming back to me.” I began to tell him everything. The crash, the coma, the pain, and everything else there was left to tell.
“Wow.” He breathed. I nodded, knowing what he meant.
“We should get to school. Come on.” I pulled him up and he held me for a second, just staring at me.
“Stacy, I-” I guess he couldn’t get the words out because he reached up and hesitated. A strand of my hair fell into my eye and he pulled it back. I don’t have to tell you how it felt like the room dropped a few degrees. I swallowed quickly and grabbed our bags, which I had taken the liberty of grabbing from the house before we left.
“From now on, you don’t leave my side Nicholas. I don’t care if you have to sleep in the same room or not. I don’t want to lose you. If I lose you, then I lose my life as well. I’ve been living for this. I speak for myself when I say you don’t know how many times I’ve wanted to out myself just to be with my dad okay? So don’t leave my sight. Period.” He nodded and took his own bag, and I flew him back to my house. I left a message on the machine for my brother to call me when he got home, and that Nick and I were fine if he was wondering, and then I hopped into the black corvette. Nick drove this time, staying well under the speed limit but going at a fairly fast rate. When we got to school, as soon as I walked through the doors, everyone staring staring and whispering, and hording me with questions. I gritted my teeth and punched one girl in the stomach after she asked to see my wings. One girl asked to see me as a wolf and I had the urge to crush her jaw. I punched her and broke it instead.
“Anybody else want some? Or can I make it to class without an effing scene?” they all backed away and we walked to class.
As Mr. Waldorf began his lecture on the battles of King Arthur (we had been studying about King Arthur for some time), I sat up a little straighter as I took note. I knew almost everything there was to know about King Arthur, but who resist a little more information on the things they love to do or talk about?
“Miss Ralph-Raymond?” I got so caught up in taking notes that I didn’t realize anyone had called me. I zoned again.
“Yes?”
“Would you mind giving Charlotte here some insight as to what we’ve gone over so far?”
I looked up and saw a tall girl standing there. Her eyes were dark brown, but they flashed knowingly, as if they could see into my heart. She moved her chair next to mine (we all sat in paired desks), but I was apparently going to be the only one with three people. She was quite little, and she had the looks of a woman older than me.
“Hi, I’m Charlotte. You can call me Lottie. Wow, I just love King Arthur. I think that it’s just so sad how things turned out. I really do believe he’ll go back to Britain.”
“Well, hey. I’m Anastasia, but you can call me Stacy.”
“I love your name, it means resurrection. Mine means little and womanly. You must be Nicholas. I’m Charlotte.” I stared at her for a second, and I saw a flash in her eyes. A yellow flash.
“Like my ring? My dad gave it to me.” As my father had told me, in the world of the Lupine Superus (Superior Wolf), when the first daughter becomes of age she supposed to receive a scepter and her fathers ring. I got my necklace, but my scepter had yet to be found. It will be diamond, with a colored center inside. Blue with diamond meant you were either royal, or you were High Wolf in Council. This girl’s diamond was clear, and her center was yellow. I looked at Nick, who was looking at me.
“Yeah it’s um…very nice.”
“Oh cool, you have one too! My dad says these belonged to great wolves that could change into humans. Or humans that could change into wolves, I dunno. But I still thinks it’s cool.” Let her believe what she wants.
“That’s cool. Um, Lottie? We should get to work.” Heath and Carley walked in, both smiling at each other. I looked away and gripped my pencil.
“Is that your ex?” Charlotte whispered. I stared at her.
“Aren’t you new? How would you know that?”
“I know everything about you Anastasia. You and Nicholas both. That’s my power. To know things. And sometimes, I get premonitions, like, what’ll happen in the future and stuff.”
“Do you have wings?”
“Yes, but they took away my wolf form because I didn’t bond soon enough and I killed someone. A council member. Stacy, you have to come with me this afternoon, I need to speak with the-” she stopped short of staring at my necklace.
“You’re her. Oh my gosh, you could give me my form back Stacy! Please! I need it! I’m supposed to help you, but this guy, his name was John he was the former HWIC, and he took it away.”
“And I’m sure my father had a good reason for doing it.”
“Please Stacy!”
“No Charlotte. Get to work.”
“But I can’t-”
“Charlotte? Should I send you back to your classroom early?” Mr. Waldorf cut into our argument and looked at Charlotte warily. She looked sad and shrunken.
“No sir.”
“It’d be a violation f code to do something like that.”
“But your high wolf! You make all the rules!”
“And that doesn’t give me right to break them.”
“But-”
“Charlotte, drop it!” she huffed and then looked away. I felt a tug and my head went up to sniff the air. Danger, that was more than just close. Either it was sitting next to me, or behind me.
“Stacy!” Nick jumped up as did I, my wings flaring out. Dorian and Darla were by the door. I saw that Carley and Charlotte were staring at me with intent. They too stood slowly and began to smile and laugh slowly. They were Mutes. They bared their fangs and I moved back.
“Mr. Waldorf, you might wanna move the class out of the room and turn off the lights.” Nick advised. The class began to pour out, and then turned off the lights and shut the door. Nick began to glow with great glittering lights and I kept my eyes on the vampire.
“You got your wings?” I knew they’d be coming soon enough and now was as a good a time as anyway. He nodded.
“Hey Dorian, wanna go for a ride?” Nick asked. Dorian hissed in reply, his eye glittering with glee as he grinned.
“Good, eat our dust Vampire!” Nicholas flew out the window first, so he could get into another, and I followed. We flew spirally up to the third floor, and into another window. The art class was closed today, so we ran through the room and to another level of the school. We ended up on the roof, which was perfect for take-off. The vampires were right after us, and not surprisingly, Dorian was using his wings this time. I smiled and Nick and I both spread our arm and steered right. I don’t know how long it took, but we ended up over water. I stopped, knowing that Dorian and the others couldn’t swim. I brought my fist crashing into his face and he took it like a man, giving a groan then swinging back. I punched him in the back, which (from the nasty crack I heard) might’ve broken his spine, and he went crashing into the water. Darla too dropped after Nick sent a nice blow to her kneecap. Carley grinned at me, and I smiled at her before I flew behind her and slapped both hands on her ears, which busted her ear drums, she slipped down, but didn’t fall, so I stomped on her shoulder until she did fall.
I sighed and returned back to the school. Everyone was backed against the wall as we flew in. I smiled and waved good bye. They’d never see me again.
When we got home, I logged onto my IM since I hadn’t been on in a while. Nobody was online. I sent an e-mail to my brother telling him about switching schools to PFI academy for Gifted Children (I know, lame school name), and then took a quick nap. Nick had retired to his room. At least now he had his powers. Then I wouldn’t have to haul his butt around everywhere. I’d have to teach him a few things though.
“Goodnight daddy.” I whispered to the stars. I imagined (or maybe not) a large black wolf, with bright orange eyes, lying at the foot of my bed as I slept.
“Stacy? Do you have any of those cookies?” I sat up in my bed and stared ay Nick, hoping he’d get the point that I was sleeping.
“What?”
“Those cookies. You know, the ones you said your grandmother made?” we had a whole freezer full of those cookies. I sighed and got up to pull on a pair of shorts and a sleeveless shirt and walked outside. It might’ve been freezing to him, but not to me. I walked down into the woods. We kept a small house there, which we didn’t use for much except storing food and stuff. I went inside and flipped on a light. I hit my toe on the edge of the freezer and let out a stream of profanities. Nick winced every time I shouted one.
“Wow. You sure do have a light vocabulary.” He said sarcastically. I handed him the cookies and locked the freezer back, then used the trail to walk back to the house. He warmed the cookies up a little and pulled out the gallon of milk. I walked upstairs and to the bathroom, and then splashed some water on my face. I stood there for a minute trying to stop my racing heart. I dried my hands and started for my brother’s room. I knew he wasn’t even home, so I just turned around and went back to mine. Nick walked in chewing a mouthful of cookies and milk and I plopped down on my bed and sighed. He put the plate down and stared at me, a half smirk forming on his face.
“I know that look. What’s wrong?” I laid back and he did too, putting his head against mine.
“Don’t you wish we could just fly away? Just get out of here and not have to worry about a single thing?”
“Sometimes. It’s never that easy though.”
“I wish it were. I wish everything were.”
“We all do. Everyone does. But life wouldn’t mean so much, and it wouldn’t be so much fun if we had it so easy, Stace.” I knew he was right. He was always right. Well, not always but most of the time he was.
“Come on, I want to show you something.” H hopped up and I perched on the ledge for a while. I didn’t even bother worrying about my shoes. We flew to the BridgeWood Bridge and he stared for a moment.
“This is where it happened. The other guy walked away without a scratch.”
He stared over the bridge and I turned away. I’d seen it too many times already.
“Come on. We should get back home.” I looked at my bare feet as I took off; making sure Nick was following me before I sped up. He was close behind when I got back home.
It was nearly ten o’clock at night, and as Nick cooked downstairs, I sat lying in my bed, trying to meditate. It worked a little. I felt better at least. Nick came up after he finished his dinner, and I was quite sure he didn’t have to look to know I was on the balcony. I walked back in and sat at my computer. He worked on his laptop, typing some sort of book or blog or something with a B, while I signed onto my IM. I had a message from Lisanna Hayes as soon as I signed on.
HayeLissie: Hi Stacy.
FlyHard92: Hi. How’d you get my IM?
HayeLissie: From Heath, a while ago. You know, I don’t think he’s even that into Carley if it helps.
FlyHard92: It doesn’t.
I was about to type something else, but I got another message from Carley’s IM, inviting me to a three way chat with she and Charlotte. I joined it, and then sent an invite to Lisanna and Nick.
PopgirlIn321: Glad you could join us, ho.
FlyHard92: sleeper bag, nose jobbing beeyosh!
HayeLissie: Now, now, Children, play nicely.
OnYourShoes08: Stacy, seriously?
CarleySanchez: We need to talk Stacy.
FlyHard92: No effing way am I talking to you dirt bag.
CarleySanchez: That or I give your sister to the Mutes. And your brother.
That got me interested for sure.
CarleySanchez: Stacy?
FlyHard92: You wouldn’t dare.
CarleySanchez: They’re both sitting I front of me, tied up. I will give them up. You know there’s a reward for you know? 30, 000 dollars. That’s enough to get me a new car. You know I will give them up to the Mutes, and the Mutes only want them because they know you'll come running, which is the perfect way to get you. You always were so gullible, Anastacia.
_________
Nicholas watched it all unfold. He could see Stacy tensing up, her hand gripping the table harder and harder until it turned dead white. She was pale, which made him think she was sort of worried. He could tell she was thinking up a plan.
“Stacy?” she looked at him, and nodded.
“We’re going, right now. We’ll get my brother and sister and they can stay here, and I’ll see what I can do about getting us the hell out of here.”
“What do you mean?”
“If they can’t find us, they’ll give up and leave it alone.”
“But-”
“Now is not a good time to argue.” Nick nodded and stood on the rail of the balcony. He dived off then flew upward. It wasn’t but five minutes worth of flying that they reached Carley’s house.
She opened the door and walked into the living room. The house wasn’t very nice looking with all its greens and browns, but it was spacey. Nick took a deep breath and Stacy opened another door. Carley was sitting there facing her, with Dan and Shannon tied up to a chair.
“Ah, you came.”
“Give me my brother and sister.” She smiled at me, and I stepped forward. Her arm jerked to their heads and I stopped.
“One more move and I’ll rot theirs brains.”
“That’s impossible. Only something with highest power can do that.”
“Imagine what the world would be like with him at the grasp of my hands. With his power, we could move planets; we could do just about anything. Hell, we could create ships that could leave this galaxy and go to others. All that stuff they do on those TVs shows, Like, Eureka and Doctor Who, and even Stargate Atlantis and Stargate SG1 would just be a simple beginning for the power of earth. We could rule the universe Stacy. All with a simple, small bit of his power.”
“You won’t get him!” Stacy yelled. She stomped her foot on the ground and held her hands at her sides, then let out a fierce howl and a gust of air whipped everyone back. Nick flew back against the wall and groaned in pain.
“What the hell was that?” he asked. Stacy was untying her brother and sister, but Carley too was getting up. Nick held out his hand and ran his nail across his wrist. Vampires could never resist the smell of blood, and their hunger was larger than anyone else’s.
“What’s this?” she asked. She attacked quickly, and hew grabbed the lamp and brought it crashing over the back of her head.
“Come on!” he spread his wings and took Shannon’s hand.
“Grab my shoulders as tight as you can and hold on.” He told her. She nodded fearfully, and he took off through the blown ceiling. Stacy shot into the sky faster than he did like a bullet, and Nick could see her and her brother both talking rapidly. Nick sped up so he could hear.
“Look, it’s the only way they won’t be able to come after you two Daniel! I can’t handle keeping him safe and keeping you safe! They’ll try and use you as a decoy every time. And it’s not like it’s a hassle for you, you can just change departments with someone else. It’s your company now Dan, do whatever you want with it. And Shannon’s always been good at being the center of attention so she wouldn’t be giving up much either! Nick and I need this. It’s good for all of us!”
“Look, I can’t just-”
“Yes you can!”
“Aright fine. I’ll see if I can’t get you enrolled and if I do, you better make do of it cause that’s the last school I’m gonna be sending you too for a very long time Anastasia.” She smiled and veered left quickly, then dived.
“Hang on.” Nick told Shannon. He dived as well. Stacy was faster than he was, naturally, so she arrived back at their house first.
“Time for bed everyone!” Dan said as he walked to his own bedroom.
“You better sleep well because we’re getting up early to do some shopping.” Stacy told him.
“Shopping for what?”
“For you. You need a whole new wardrobe, new looks, the works.”
“Oh like your gorgeous yourself.” Her lips tightened at that and he smiled stepping to her. She turned away from him and he pulled her back.
“Come on Stacy, I was joking.”
“Well, that wasn’t funny.”
“I was kidding Stace. You’re hot! Gorgeous, beautiful, whatever word you prefer.”
“I prefer to get some sleep.”
“I’ll see you in the morning.” Nick nodded, feeling that Stacy wasn’t so convinced.
When morning came, nick wasted no time tgetting up and getting dressed. Stacy was happiest while she was sleeping, and the quicker he moved, the more likely she was to still be sleeping. He walked into the hall and saw Dan by the door.
“Stacy in there?”
“Yes. She’s sleeping though.”
“Alright.” Dan seemed distant, almost as if he were in another world. Nick walked into her room quietly. She had the air conditioner and the fan blowing, making it very cold in her room, but she was sleeping with the covers on. She looked kinda cute holding the blue bear (from off her toy shelf) so tightly, her face peaceful and worriless.
“Stacy?” he whispered. He stood over her and whispered again. Her eyes opened the slightest bit and focused on him, and she jumped up.
“What’s wrong? Are they back? Are you hurt?” she said quickly. Nick smiled.
“No, everything’s fine.” She relaxed and sank back onto her bed, her black hair floating around her almost like water.
“I was wondering…if we could go to the fair today.”
“The what?”
“Its downtown, near the lake. There’s a fair down there.”
“I guess we can go if you want.” She sighed and sat up, telling him to cut off the fan and A/C. She yawned and I saw her teeth. They were very sharp (she’d bitten me once), but much sharper than usual. More like fangs.
“What’s up with your teeth?”
“What do you mean?”
“They’re sharp. Like, fangs, sharp.” She frowned, then jumped up and ran to the mirror.
“Oh man…” she whispered to herself. She looked on her shoulder, hissing.
“What?” she said angrily. A few seconds passed of Nick staring at her and then she said,
“Yes, I am. And don’t some here disrupting me from doing my job just to ask me simple questions such as the ones you just did. All the previous matters will be taken care of when I return.”
“Um, Stacy? Who are you talking to?” Nick asked her curiously. Maybe she’s finally losing it. He thought half wittingly.
“Those darn Pixies. Can’t keep their mouths shut worth anything. Just keeping bugging me and bugging m. can’t wait until I come back to-”
“Stacy?” Nick said loudly. Stacy seemed to be talking to herself, not realizing he was still sitting there.
“What Nicholas?” she yelled. She looked at him, her orange eyes glowing almost with an unseen fire. Nick backed away from her, making sure he was out of firing range in case she unknowingly made something fly of it’s placing. Once, she’d unknowingly made a vase fly off the table by their couch and hit him in the face. The eye, to be more exact. It cracked on his head, and the force behind it, which was directed at him, sent him reeling through the wall and out the house.
“Are you alright? You seem a little agitated. Maybe we could just go to the fair tomorrow?”
“No, we’ll go today.” Nick turned away as she pulled on a pair of blue shorts and a dark blue tank top. She pulled on some sandals, grabbed her sunglasses and her keys. She had her keys painted, all for the different colors of her different cars. They weren’t exactly her cars, but the ones she was most likely to drive, and her brother and sister weren’t. She took a hot second choosing which car to drive, that would be most subtle for today’s weather, and to drive away–no pun intended–any suspicion. She chose the dark blue corvette, though she still had that frustrated look on her face when they hit the freeway. Nick almost touched her arm, but realized she was driving, and that she would scream for him not to touch her.
He sighed and sank down a bit to relax in his seat.
“I could drive for a little while you-”
“They’re following us, Nicholas, so unless you want to be brought back to them, torn apart soulfully a bodily wise, I suggest you keep all your stupid and non-helping words to yourself, and hang on so I can lose them.” He looked behind them and saw the silver Porsche speeding along, clearly trying to get beside them. They just never gave up.
“Your reflexes aren’t fast enough, so you wouldn’t be able to do stuff like this. You have to get used to it first.” She explained. She pressed on the gas and they sped up more than enough for Stacy to lose sight of them. She then made a sharp turn and they slowed down. Nick breathed again and she stared at him, pulling the car to a stop. Nick got out of the car and she locked it, then walked away to buy ice cream. The fair wasn’t crowded, since they were early, but it had a fair amount of people there. There were karaoke stands, different types of foods, most of which Nick was sure to try by then end of the day. While he watched Stacy pedaling on a double bike in the small space of the lot, he noticed a glint of silver in his eyes. He looked, and saw his ex-girlfriend Maria, waving to him. The ring he had given her glinted on her finger, which explained the silver glint.
“Oh my gosh! I’ve been chasing you forever Nicky!” she hugged him, and Stacy looked up for the briefest moment from laughing on the bike. She looked happiest right then, as if she had nothing to worry about. Like the normal 16-year-old girl. Maria’s cyrly, glossy blonde hair got into his mouth from the wind, and she pulled it away. She had big, round blue eyes, and a summer tan, like always. Although now, she looked healthy. When he’d last seen her, he had been sure she was on the verge of being anorexic, or something close. Maria wasted no time in getting to the point of being there.
“I saw you leave that girls house, and so I followed you. I came to give you your ring, because, as you know, I’m leaving with my new boyfriend’s band to go on tour. I’m the lead singer, you know. You should check us out sometime.” She handed him a CD, and pulled the ring off her finger. She thrust that into his hands then looked back and a group of guys that were calling her name. They all looked like complete idiots. Whish was really a few steps down from when he wanted to call them all out loud.
“Well, I gotta go. No hard feelings right Nicky? I’ll see you around the fair!” and she was a complete idiot. She walked off and took the wad of cotton candy being held to her. Then she ran back.
“Oh, I forgot to give you this.” She gave him a peck on the cheek, which obviously meant to be for purposely bad timing, since that’s when Stacy walked up to him. She gave Maria the once over, then put on a falsely friendly face.
“Oh you must be Stacy! Nicky’s told me so much about you! Hey, do you to wanna hang with us at the fair? We’ve got a few hours before we go on, so we can play around for a while.” Stacy agreed, obviously seeing something good or interesting in Maria. That didn’t help that he got a whiff of a Lavender scent. He looked around him, trying to see if he could find the triplets, but it was coming off Maria.
“Stacy,” he grabbed her arm, but she pulled away.
“I smell it, Nick, but she’s not dangerous.” Stacy said quietly. He let it go at that. It was getting fairly crowded, so he made sure to stay with her.
A few hours later, Nick founds himself sitting in a chair waiting for Maria to come on the stage so he could then leave. Stacy seemed to already know the words to the song, surprisingly, having only glanced at the lyrics sheet.
“Everyone, we’d like to thank you all for coming out to support the Third Annual Pacific Falls Island Courtview Save Our Lakes Fair! Saving the lakes is very important to Twistyd, but for now, give up a big hand for them!” she clapped loudly, and so did everyone else. A chord was struck, and then everyone else started singing along as best they could, but Stacy was the only one in sync.
“If it seems your down and out, then get up on the floor, shake your groove thang out, and shake it babe some more. Don’t never let them tell you, that your not good enough, cause you know on the inside, your cookie is tough.
Get up on the floor baby you’re really asking for some more. If she tells you to dance baby, then dance like there’s no tomorrow…
When she moves it like this, you gotta move it like that baby, shake it like this, and she’ll shake it like that. If she touches like this, then you touch her right back, get up on the floor baby, the party’s where it’s at.”
The song was pretty good, and it’s wasn’t sexually related, as he had slightly expected. Maria used to be obsessed with anything to do with sex. She wanted to even go into studying it, writing articles and doing reports. Back when she and Stacy had only met each other once before, Maria kept trying to figure out whether or not Stacy was depressed, and whether it was due to anything sexual. She always got on Nick’s nerves with it, but he was glad to see she was doing something worth while. He clapped along, and cheered for her as the band got ready to play their next song, ‘Jet’.
Maria came up to them, and she looked at Stacy.
“Wanna play with us?” she asked. Stacy looked taken aback for a moment, but Maria re-worded it for her.
“I mean, do you wanna sing with us. Jake’s the guitarist and he’s got cold feet because he can’t get the bridge right when he practices, so in order for me to play for him, we need someone to sing for us, and Nick’s tells me you have a voice that’s better than mine.”
“I never told you that.” Nick said.
“Yeah you did.” She stuck out her tongue and dragged Stacy up by her arms. He smirked at her, and she looked a little shocked. While everyone was waited for them to get ready, he got another smell of lavender, but this one was much stronger, and happened to be mixed with blood and sweat. The smell of a wolf/vampire. He let out an unintentional growl and looked around and sure enough Dorian and his gang were sitting in the front row, staring back at him.
And Stacy was on stage, not seeing any of this. Oh. Crap.
____
I watched from the crowd as Nick’s expression changed frequently. He seemed almost to be worried. His stance was that he was ready to leap at a moments notice. I couldn’t understand why, but maybe it was because Maria w standing in front of me telling me something. I heard loud cheering and walked onto the stage, standing in front of them. My heart pounded, but from joy.
Ohh yeahh! Do you feel that?
Ooh, you gotta know when it’s time to roll, you’ve gotta know when it’s time to jet. You’ve gotta know when it’s time to get your butt moving on the floor. Gotta know when it’s time to move, gotta know when it’s time groove. Gotta know when it’s time to JET BABY JET!!
We can take it higher and higher, through the sky. We can go as far as you want, where you want, at anytime baby. You’ve gotta Jet baby Jet! Jet, jet, jet-
Before I could finish the song though, a body was thrown over mine. From the smell of Irish springs, which I had smelled all night, weirdly enough, I knew it was Nick.
“What are you doing?” I asked him.
“Speaking of jet, Stacy, we gotta fly.” I looked and saw three familiar faces and I spread my wings, as nick spread his.
“Nicky?” Maria came up to us and I sniffed her again, then sank my fist into her face.
“Traitor!”” I screamed. Nick looked angry and I looked piteously at her, sniffling. I flapped my wings, Dorian smiling at me. I’d get him soon.
I sort of flew off without making sure Nick was behind me, so I had to double back and drag him along. When I got home, I stopped. There was something odd. I smelled small hint of lavender, but it was so faint I almost passed it. This smelled more like lavender covered up with strawberries. And blood.
“Do you-”
“Someone’s here. Stay low, and be very, very quiet.” But we took one step through the door and the next thing I knew, I was being yanked up and knocked out with something on my head.
(Note: It might not be that short, but I'm wondering basically if I should continue it or not, or do a whole rewrite or not right now, so...) [PG-Has some minor language]
Prologue
I knew who he was immediately when I saw the ring, glinting in the sun light. He sat in the chair behind me, forcing me to turn around. After all I couldn't afford to take my eyes off him for a second; I was the Protector. No one had succeeded before me, in coming this far, to be able to touch the center, to see what heaven could really be like for us, and I was the second person, after my father, to become a protector, basically the second in my family. Not that I had much of one anymore. Now it was just me and my two siblings, both of whom wouldn't give me the time of day if they could avoid it. I felt the same way, pushed away by their animosity towards me. Even though my brother was my guardian, he did only what was needed.Basically, I keep to myself and they keep to themselves, and we all got what we wanted.
But my secret as the protector is safe with you. Right?
____________________
Stacy R-Raymond-The Protector
Chapter One
“Hey Stacy! Wait up!” Carley Sanchez waved a red nailed finger at me and grabbed my arm. Crap. I was just about to fly off. I put on a smile and pulled a sucker out of my purse as I turned to her.
“Hey, are you still having a birthday party in December?” she smiled at me. How pathetic.
“Actually, I’m thinking about not having a party at all. Just spend my time with a friend for Christmas.”
“I still thinks it’s cool that your birthday is on Christmas.”
“Whatever Carley.” I brushed back my long black hair, and stared hard at her. My eyes, a bright orange color, must have been very intimidating right then, because I was being awfully cold to her. I’m sure she knew why. I didn’t care much either. Carley Sanchez was a skank and she was never worth my time, nor would she ever be worth my time. She had more than worn out her welcome in my case. I see why even her closest of friend hated her. But nobody hated her more than I did. But who forgives someone for sleeping with their (ex) boyfriend? No one, exactly.
“Hey Stacy, want a smoke? You seem tense.” Nicholas Oscar, my friend, offered me a cigarette as he pulled one and lit it. I took the cigarette pack from him and then pulled the one from his mouth. I dipped it in the fountain for a few seconds, and then threw it away. I pointed at him.
“No smoking on school premises.” I looked back to Carley and hoped she got the point that she was no longer wanted. She did.
“Well,” she giggled nervously. “I’ll be going now, gotta go to the spa and re-tan. See you in December, Stacy!” she ran off with a wave and climbed into the black limo that waited for her at the schools gates. Nick smirked at me. He was the only one who actually knew how much I hated Carley.
“What’s in December?”
“My birthday, which only you are invited to.”
“Really? That’s great. We can spend it alone.”
“That was the whole point Nicholas. Come on, we have to get home. I don’t like the feeling I’m getting here, like somebody’s watching us.” He and I walked to a campus vender and bought a bag of chips and a soda for the both of us.
“So what are we doing today?” I shrugged.
“Go home, sleep the rest of today?” I suggested hopefully. I was really tired. He held a hand out against my chest and I felt a presence other than our own. My internal sense was telling me that somebody was watching us. And from the smell that suddenly invaded the air, I knew exactly who. I turned just in time to hear the slow laughing sound. It was Dorian, Darla, and Darius, the triplet Mutes. They were grinning, baring their fangs to me and Nick. Mutes had both vampire genes and wolf genes in the, so they could change to a wolf whenever they pleased, but they were vampires for life. Imagine what they could do with my partially royal blood, which is what they wanted. Me and Nick. But what did you expect me to do? Stand there and be scared, then try and fend them off with a stick while the police came? No. My family knew better than that. It would be an all time low to do something like that, which was always what happened in the movies.
Instead, I was gonna fight back.
“Watching you two is like watching Beevus and Butthead. It’s funny, but it gets boring after a while.”
"Well," I retorted "Who asked you to spy on us anyway?" They began to change into wolves, so I reluctantly did the same. It felt better now, but when I first did this, on the full moon, I was with my dad, but it was awfully painful. It was better now, but imagine your first time turning into a wolf. I was freaked out. Of course, I was much calmer the next time I did it. I’d just have to stay in my room for the full moon, which was coming next week.
They were like puppies compared to my size, but that didn’t mean they weren’t still a challenge, of course, I’d be done with them in a few moments. I reared on my hind legs and shot forward taking a snap at Dorian’s neck and missing. I twisted around and this time, we crashed into each other. He flew into a tree and was down for the count. I snap at Darla’s hind legs but she moved quickly, that was her advantage. But instead, I crushed her paw by jumping. She howled and I felt myself smile. Darius was standing watching us. He was the oldest and strongest of them all, and he hated me more than they did. I didn’t care though. I put some extra force behind myself as I began trying to snap at his neck. Darla had changed back to her vampire form, and she was trying to inch her way to Nick. Darius grabbed a hold of my leg and I screamed (it came out as a howl), I scratched his face then jumped on him.
“Stacy!” Nick yelled. I looked and saw her trying to pull him to the silver Porsche that was sitting at the gates. I quickly jumped on Darius again and bit his neck. I jerked hard and winced as I heard a snap .his neck was broken. He howled in pain and I then focused on Darla’. She looked weak, and blood was streaming from an open cut on her arm. I jumped on her back and growled at her. He understood what I was saying. I bit her leg until she began to writhe, and then I let go. They all ran back to the Porsche, Darius looking at me intently. I changed back and fell to the ground. Nick walked over to me and helped me up.
“Are you alright?”
“Other than my paw – I mean wrist, being sprained or broke, I’m fine.” I spread out my wings and he held onto my shoulder.
“You wanna get out of here?” I asked him. Heath Davis, my boyfriend, chose that moment to show up. He took one look at Nick, his hands on my shoulders, and ran forward, with a look of kill on his face. I spread my wings out the entire length and let out a fierce snarl at Heath who stopped and backed away. I took my job as the Protector very seriously.
“Heath, don’t start this.”
“What the hell?” he took a look at my wings and I grimaced to myself.
“Heath, its not-”
“You means to tell me that I’ve been dating a chick with wings? Oh my god!”
“I don’t think that necessary!”
“You’re a freak. I went out with you!” I looked away as he hurled on the grass. Were my wings really that bad? Carley came and wrapped her arms around his chest.
“There, there baby.” She whispered. My mouth fell open and I raised my hand. Nick stopped me and shook his hand.
“Stacy, I think we should see other people.” Heath said.
“What?”
“You heard him. He’s going out with me now Stacy, and there is nothing you can do. Consider yourself, officially dumped.” They walked away together and Nick pushed my jaw up. I felt numb, as if the world had dropped a few degrees. Nick squeezed my shoulders and I flew up into the sky. Once flying horizontally, Nick eased himself onto my back and I began to cry. He’d done it before, but the last time, he fell off trying to stand up on me. Idiot.
“Come on Stacy, it’s not like Heath was worth your time in the first place.”
“All those years of being best friends, then actually together, and he dumps me because I have wings.” Nick sighed and I turned. He grabbed my shirt and held on until we were straight again.
“Look, he obviously doesn’t see what he lost and what I gained. Not that we’re together or anything, just a figure of speech.” I knew he was right, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t still pissed off.
Next time I saw Carley, I was going to savor raking her face with my claws. I landed softly on the balcony of my room and walked through the doors. My room was decorated in black and white. My bedroom door (on the outside too) had a gold sun and a silver moon on it, and was painted black with white dots. My room was the best room in the house because it was huge, it was clean, and it also has a view of the front gate. The walls and ceiling looked like outer space. The stars actually sparkled as if they were real, and there was the solar system on the ceiling. The sun and moon were there as well. I had a vanity, a canopy bed with a nightstand on both sides, a desk, a desktop computer (and laptop, which was charging), a wide screen TV placed on the wall, very soft, lush black carpet which had the planets and galaxy’s written on it, a nightstand on both side of my bed, and a dresser. All of which were painted black and white.
“I’m gonna take a shower.” Nick said. I waved him away and sat at my computer. I couldn’t think of anything to do, so I just sat at my desk working on some new signature examples on Paint Shop Pro. I got bored after nearly half an hour of doing that, just as the shower cut off, so I climbed into my bed without bothering to take my shoes off and I went to sleep.
When I woke up, my head was against Nick’s chest, and he was sleeping. His arms were wrapped around me. I sat up and stared at him for a moment. He had shoulder length black hair, and dark eyes. He was tall too. He reminded me of someone I knew, but I didn’t care. I got up and stepped into my closet, trying not to wake him up as I pulled on my nightgown and my robe. I walked to the balcony and stood looking at the lights of the city. They were nice as this time of night. My hand, which was bare, showed the inky black swirls that ran down my back, along my arms, legs, shoulders, chest, and my stomach. Soon they’d appear on my face and neck as well, probably within the next two or three days.
“They make you look gorgeous you know,” Nick came up from behind me and gave a smile. “They sort of give you a dark look. Like you’re divine and mysterious, and there’s a lot more to you.” I forgot that he could read minds. I turned to him.
“Would I be different to you?” he shook his head.
“Of course not, Anastasia.” I looked down. We walked back in and I pulled on a pair of jeans and a blue sweater. We walked down to the kitchen where I looked in the fridge.
“Do you want dinner?” I asked him .he nodded.
“Sure. We can make tacos salad if Shannon hasn’t eaten all the Doritos.” I laughed.
“There’s two bags left. Oh and there’s some pre-made taco meat on the second shelf.” I nodded, good thing Daniel had gone shopping yesterday.
I pulled out the bowl of meat and scooped some out then putting in a smaller bowl to be warmed up. I watched him crush chips and add stuff to two bowls. Luckily, neither of us liked onions or garlic, so that was out. I took the meat out of the microwave and inhaled.
“Mmm,” I said. He laughed and I threw a small piece at him. He dodged it and it hit the wall with a soft thump, and then landed in the trash can.
“Score!” I yelled. We both sat down to eat. Just as we started, my brother Daniel walked through the back door in the kitchen and took off his suit jacket, draping it over a chair. I fixed him a bowl. He sat at the table rubbing his eyes. Daniel was sleepy, as he always was. My dad and I usually were only tired at the full moon. He could control it, which helped me because he knew what he was doing.
“Long day?” I asked. He glared at me and said, “Shut up.” I held up my hands and Nick was looking back and forth between us. I knew he was hoping that we weren’t going to fight. He hated it when my brother and I fought because then he’d have to intervene and he hated getting into stuff that had nothing to do with him. Especially family matters. I guess I should give you a fairly good description of him, so here goes. To sum it up, he’s a workaholic, sleepy, important guy, 6’7, tan, perfect teeth and face, green eyes, brown hair, a gold cross on his neck, and he had a (quite big) nice muscular build. Good enough? M’kay.
He began to eat, and we continued. Our security intercom beeped and Daniel went to get it. He came back a second later.
“Anastasia, were you expecting someone?”
“No, why?”
“Because there are three kids outside saying you invited them.”
“I’ll go take care of it.” I said. Hopefully it wasn’t Heath, Carley, and one of their friends; otherwise, I’d be kicking butt all night. Of course, it was just about the same, only a little worse, it was Dorian, Darius, and Darla. They were a little bandaged and I started laughing. Nick brought the bat with him, and I took it. I began smashing out their windows. They drove away just as I started on the back window.
“That should teach them not to stake me out.” Nick chuckled while he ran back up the driveway to get the broom and dustpan for me to sweep up the glass. We walked back in and I saw that Dan had cleared away the dishes. I shrugged to myself and walked upstairs. I dozed off quickly, ignoring the fact that Heath had sent a box full of the stuff I gave him to my house. Who gave a crap, since were over anyway? As I watched a car pass my window, I fell asleep.
“Mommy! Look at the stars!” Skylar screamed. He had his thumb in his moth, so it sounded more like: “Momby, Vook at the stars!” I giggled and my dad smiled.
“I see them Skylar, they look so beautiful tonight don’t they?”
“Yes mommy.”
“Stacy, you alright back there? You’re being awfully quiet.” My father, John, looked in the mirror at me and I smile.
“I’m fine dad. Just tired. It was still the best hiking trip though.”
“Yes, it truly was.” My advanced hearing picked up on the sound of a speeding car, but I didn’t see it anywhere. I peered forward and my heart began to pound. The sound was coming closer.
“Um, dad? Maybe we should pull over, there’s a-” before I could finish that sentence, a car plowed straight into us. I heard the sound of metal on metal crushing together, and then I felt our car spinning. I grabbed Skylar’s hand and held his head against my stomach, but he kept screaming. Then it felt the car was floating for a second. More series of crashes. By then I felt like my whole body had been ripped apart. I looked to Skylar, who was no longer screaming. I began to cry, trying to take off my seat belt. The car ceiling was caved in, so there was no way out from the top. I looked at my dad and my mom, both who were laying there.
“Daddy? Daddy? Wake up!” I breathed again as he reached up and pulled the necklace off his chest. He held it out, as if for me, but I took his hand instead. I heard another slam, and then the car began to rock sideways. It was teetering on the edge of a cliff. It tilted sideways more and I screamed, clasping my dads hand tighter as the car fell again. It crashed sideways, knocking my head into the window, which knocked me out.
I opened my eyes at the sound of grinding, which hurt my head. I looked around and saw a bunch of faces surrounding me. They tugged on my arms and I screamed louder than ever as waves of horrible pain shot through them. The pain was more than overwhelming as I tried looking around for my dad. The necklace, his necklace, the crystal one with the blue center, was inside my hand. I let darkness sweep over me, despite them telling me to stay awake.
“Anastasia? Are you alright?” I moaned, still feeling I was in pain.
“Stacy? I saw a tall woman standing in front of me. She had long dark brown hair and bright green eyes. I reached out to her.
“Hayden…” I whispered. I reached for her, and just as our hands brushed, I heard another scream.
“Stacy!” I jolted up in my bed and looked around, shaking. Nobody was in my room, but I smelled something. It was a soft, flowery smell, mixed with blood, dirt, and sweat. A growl rose in my chest as I peered outside.
“Stacy!” I herd a chocked scream and I ran to Nick’s room. He wasn’t there. I began top get frantic.
“Stacy!” I ran to the window, where I saw the silver Porsche (window’s repaired), speeding away.
Chapter two
I jumped out the window, and landed softly in the grass. I pondered for a spilt second whether or not to change into my wolf form first, but that’d take too long and by then I wouldn’t be able to follow them, so I just flew away. I spotted the car in no time, sitting at a gas station. Darius and Darla went side, leaving Dorian to sniff around the building. He thought I’d be coming by wolf form, ha! When I wasn’t in wolf form, I was scentless, which was good, but if in wolf form, I smelled specifically like lilies. a scent Darius could easily pick up on because of how much time he’d spent torturing me about stuff when we younger. I guess you could say that Dorian and I had history. I tiptoed up to the door and opened it. Nick was lying on his side in the back seat with a bloody lump swelling on his head. I saw that his hand was cuffed to the door handle. I tried to touch it, but the cuff went red and burned me. I hissed. Time to see what this necklace can do.
I held it close to the handcuffs and after a second, they clicked open. I smiled and grabbed Nick’s waist. I pulled him out of the car. And looked around. Dorian was sniffing by the bathroom. He made a coughing noise and I almost laughed. I held onto Nick as I made my way to the trees. I flew off once there was good distance between me and that car and I flew him to the one safe place I knew of right then. There was an old tree house at my families old summer house that we owned. It was just like our other house, except the coloring and décor wasn’t the same. I made some French fries and hamburgers, which I ate ravenously, even though it was morning. I was tired, and I’m sure I looked it too. I was almost dozing off when I heard Nick let out a groan. Or a moan, I dunno.
“What’s happened?”
“They pulled an all-time low, and tried to sneak you at of the house. Hungry?” I passed the plate to hum and he sat up.
“You look like seven years worth of hell.”
“I feel it too. Eat up, we need to get to school.”
“Stacy? Why are we in a tree house?”
“I had nowhere else to take you. Finish eating and climb down, call me if there’s any trouble. I’m gonna run in the house and get you something to wear.” I wasn’t really in the mood to talk.
“Stacy?” he whispered. I looked back at him as he started on his fries.
“I heard you. In your sleep.” I waved it away, not having the lightest clue right then about what he was talking about. I found him a pair of my dad’s old pants and a shirt of my dads. My eye caught a framed photo on the wall of my dad and my family standing behind a ranch. My dad and I were both on horses, and my mom was holding Skylar and standing by the fence. For a moment, I just stood there, my eyes welling up with tears as I remembered the scene.
“Come on mom!” I yelled as my stallion, Chance slowed to a walk. I stopped her by the fence and my dad rode up next to me. My mom hurried next to us and we all smiled. My trainer, Angie, handed my mom the picture and then took the camera. I looked at my dad, who slid off the horse just to give my mom a kiss on the cheek. She giggled and I grimaced, even though I was glad they were still as in love as two high schoolers.
“Come on Stace, I’ll race you back to the stables.” We quickly rode off and I waved at my mom.
“Stacy?” I jumped, forgetting that I was supposed to be giving him a shirt and pants. I wiped my eyes and handed them to him, then started for the door. He grabbed my arm and stopped me.
“Hey, what’s wrong with you?” he asked. I plopped down on the bed with a wail and I began to cry hysterically. “Stacy?” He said tentatively after my long breakdown.
“Sorry. Just needed to get that out of my system.” His cheek twitched and I stood up.
“Tell me what is wrong.” he said. I sighed.
“You never know what you had until you lost it.”
“Not good enough.”
“All those years of pretending I wasn’t that sad is finally coming back to me.” I began to tell him everything. The crash, the coma, the pain, and everything else there was left to tell.
“Wow.” He breathed. I nodded, knowing what he meant.
“We should get to school. Come on.” I pulled him up and he held me for a second, just staring at me.
“Stacy, I-” I guess he couldn’t get the words out because he reached up and hesitated. A strand of my hair fell into my eye and he pulled it back. I don’t have to tell you how it felt like the room dropped a few degrees. I swallowed quickly and grabbed our bags, which I had taken the liberty of grabbing from the house before we left.
“From now on, you don’t leave my side Nicholas. I don’t care if you have to sleep in the same room or not. I don’t want to lose you. If I lose you, then I lose my life as well. I’ve been living for this. I speak for myself when I say you don’t know how many times I’ve wanted to out myself just to be with my dad okay? So don’t leave my sight. Period.” He nodded and took his own bag, and I flew him back to my house. I left a message on the machine for my brother to call me when he got home, and that Nick and I were fine if he was wondering, and then I hopped into the black corvette. Nick drove this time, staying well under the speed limit but going at a fairly fast rate. When we got to school, as soon as I walked through the doors, everyone staring staring and whispering, and hording me with questions. I gritted my teeth and punched one girl in the stomach after she asked to see my wings. One girl asked to see me as a wolf and I had the urge to crush her jaw. I punched her and broke it instead.
“Anybody else want some? Or can I make it to class without an effing scene?” they all backed away and we walked to class.
As Mr. Waldorf began his lecture on the battles of King Arthur (we had been studying about King Arthur for some time), I sat up a little straighter as I took note. I knew almost everything there was to know about King Arthur, but who resist a little more information on the things they love to do or talk about?
“Miss Ralph-Raymond?” I got so caught up in taking notes that I didn’t realize anyone had called me. I zoned again.
“Yes?”
“Would you mind giving Charlotte here some insight as to what we’ve gone over so far?”
I looked up and saw a tall girl standing there. Her eyes were dark brown, but they flashed knowingly, as if they could see into my heart. She moved her chair next to mine (we all sat in paired desks), but I was apparently going to be the only one with three people. She was quite little, and she had the looks of a woman older than me.
“Hi, I’m Charlotte. You can call me Lottie. Wow, I just love King Arthur. I think that it’s just so sad how things turned out. I really do believe he’ll go back to Britain.”
“Well, hey. I’m Anastasia, but you can call me Stacy.”
“I love your name, it means resurrection. Mine means little and womanly. You must be Nicholas. I’m Charlotte.” I stared at her for a second, and I saw a flash in her eyes. A yellow flash.
“Like my ring? My dad gave it to me.” As my father had told me, in the world of the Lupine Superus (Superior Wolf), when the first daughter becomes of age she supposed to receive a scepter and her fathers ring. I got my necklace, but my scepter had yet to be found. It will be diamond, with a colored center inside. Blue with diamond meant you were either royal, or you were High Wolf in Council. This girl’s diamond was clear, and her center was yellow. I looked at Nick, who was looking at me.
“Yeah it’s um…very nice.”
“Oh cool, you have one too! My dad says these belonged to great wolves that could change into humans. Or humans that could change into wolves, I dunno. But I still thinks it’s cool.” Let her believe what she wants.
“That’s cool. Um, Lottie? We should get to work.” Heath and Carley walked in, both smiling at each other. I looked away and gripped my pencil.
“Is that your ex?” Charlotte whispered. I stared at her.
“Aren’t you new? How would you know that?”
“I know everything about you Anastasia. You and Nicholas both. That’s my power. To know things. And sometimes, I get premonitions, like, what’ll happen in the future and stuff.”
“Do you have wings?”
“Yes, but they took away my wolf form because I didn’t bond soon enough and I killed someone. A council member. Stacy, you have to come with me this afternoon, I need to speak with the-” she stopped short of staring at my necklace.
“You’re her. Oh my gosh, you could give me my form back Stacy! Please! I need it! I’m supposed to help you, but this guy, his name was John he was the former HWIC, and he took it away.”
“And I’m sure my father had a good reason for doing it.”
“Please Stacy!”
“No Charlotte. Get to work.”
“But I can’t-”
“Charlotte? Should I send you back to your classroom early?” Mr. Waldorf cut into our argument and looked at Charlotte warily. She looked sad and shrunken.
“No sir.”
“It’d be a violation f code to do something like that.”
“But your high wolf! You make all the rules!”
“And that doesn’t give me right to break them.”
“But-”
“Charlotte, drop it!” she huffed and then looked away. I felt a tug and my head went up to sniff the air. Danger, that was more than just close. Either it was sitting next to me, or behind me.
“Stacy!” Nick jumped up as did I, my wings flaring out. Dorian and Darla were by the door. I saw that Carley and Charlotte were staring at me with intent. They too stood slowly and began to smile and laugh slowly. They were Mutes. They bared their fangs and I moved back.
“Mr. Waldorf, you might wanna move the class out of the room and turn off the lights.” Nick advised. The class began to pour out, and then turned off the lights and shut the door. Nick began to glow with great glittering lights and I kept my eyes on the vampire.
“You got your wings?” I knew they’d be coming soon enough and now was as a good a time as anyway. He nodded.
“Hey Dorian, wanna go for a ride?” Nick asked. Dorian hissed in reply, his eye glittering with glee as he grinned.
“Good, eat our dust Vampire!” Nicholas flew out the window first, so he could get into another, and I followed. We flew spirally up to the third floor, and into another window. The art class was closed today, so we ran through the room and to another level of the school. We ended up on the roof, which was perfect for take-off. The vampires were right after us, and not surprisingly, Dorian was using his wings this time. I smiled and Nick and I both spread our arm and steered right. I don’t know how long it took, but we ended up over water. I stopped, knowing that Dorian and the others couldn’t swim. I brought my fist crashing into his face and he took it like a man, giving a groan then swinging back. I punched him in the back, which (from the nasty crack I heard) might’ve broken his spine, and he went crashing into the water. Darla too dropped after Nick sent a nice blow to her kneecap. Carley grinned at me, and I smiled at her before I flew behind her and slapped both hands on her ears, which busted her ear drums, she slipped down, but didn’t fall, so I stomped on her shoulder until she did fall.
I sighed and returned back to the school. Everyone was backed against the wall as we flew in. I smiled and waved good bye. They’d never see me again.
When we got home, I logged onto my IM since I hadn’t been on in a while. Nobody was online. I sent an e-mail to my brother telling him about switching schools to PFI academy for Gifted Children (I know, lame school name), and then took a quick nap. Nick had retired to his room. At least now he had his powers. Then I wouldn’t have to haul his butt around everywhere. I’d have to teach him a few things though.
“Goodnight daddy.” I whispered to the stars. I imagined (or maybe not) a large black wolf, with bright orange eyes, lying at the foot of my bed as I slept.
“Stacy? Do you have any of those cookies?” I sat up in my bed and stared ay Nick, hoping he’d get the point that I was sleeping.
“What?”
“Those cookies. You know, the ones you said your grandmother made?” we had a whole freezer full of those cookies. I sighed and got up to pull on a pair of shorts and a sleeveless shirt and walked outside. It might’ve been freezing to him, but not to me. I walked down into the woods. We kept a small house there, which we didn’t use for much except storing food and stuff. I went inside and flipped on a light. I hit my toe on the edge of the freezer and let out a stream of profanities. Nick winced every time I shouted one.
“Wow. You sure do have a light vocabulary.” He said sarcastically. I handed him the cookies and locked the freezer back, then used the trail to walk back to the house. He warmed the cookies up a little and pulled out the gallon of milk. I walked upstairs and to the bathroom, and then splashed some water on my face. I stood there for a minute trying to stop my racing heart. I dried my hands and started for my brother’s room. I knew he wasn’t even home, so I just turned around and went back to mine. Nick walked in chewing a mouthful of cookies and milk and I plopped down on my bed and sighed. He put the plate down and stared at me, a half smirk forming on his face.
“I know that look. What’s wrong?” I laid back and he did too, putting his head against mine.
“Don’t you wish we could just fly away? Just get out of here and not have to worry about a single thing?”
“Sometimes. It’s never that easy though.”
“I wish it were. I wish everything were.”
“We all do. Everyone does. But life wouldn’t mean so much, and it wouldn’t be so much fun if we had it so easy, Stace.” I knew he was right. He was always right. Well, not always but most of the time he was.
“Come on, I want to show you something.” H hopped up and I perched on the ledge for a while. I didn’t even bother worrying about my shoes. We flew to the BridgeWood Bridge and he stared for a moment.
“This is where it happened. The other guy walked away without a scratch.”
He stared over the bridge and I turned away. I’d seen it too many times already.
“Come on. We should get back home.” I looked at my bare feet as I took off; making sure Nick was following me before I sped up. He was close behind when I got back home.
It was nearly ten o’clock at night, and as Nick cooked downstairs, I sat lying in my bed, trying to meditate. It worked a little. I felt better at least. Nick came up after he finished his dinner, and I was quite sure he didn’t have to look to know I was on the balcony. I walked back in and sat at my computer. He worked on his laptop, typing some sort of book or blog or something with a B, while I signed onto my IM. I had a message from Lisanna Hayes as soon as I signed on.
HayeLissie: Hi Stacy.
FlyHard92: Hi. How’d you get my IM?
HayeLissie: From Heath, a while ago. You know, I don’t think he’s even that into Carley if it helps.
FlyHard92: It doesn’t.
I was about to type something else, but I got another message from Carley’s IM, inviting me to a three way chat with she and Charlotte. I joined it, and then sent an invite to Lisanna and Nick.
PopgirlIn321: Glad you could join us, ho.
FlyHard92: sleeper bag, nose jobbing beeyosh!
HayeLissie: Now, now, Children, play nicely.
OnYourShoes08: Stacy, seriously?
CarleySanchez: We need to talk Stacy.
FlyHard92: No effing way am I talking to you dirt bag.
CarleySanchez: That or I give your sister to the Mutes. And your brother.
That got me interested for sure.
CarleySanchez: Stacy?
FlyHard92: You wouldn’t dare.
CarleySanchez: They’re both sitting I front of me, tied up. I will give them up. You know there’s a reward for you know? 30, 000 dollars. That’s enough to get me a new car. You know I will give them up to the Mutes, and the Mutes only want them because they know you'll come running, which is the perfect way to get you. You always were so gullible, Anastacia.
_________
Nicholas watched it all unfold. He could see Stacy tensing up, her hand gripping the table harder and harder until it turned dead white. She was pale, which made him think she was sort of worried. He could tell she was thinking up a plan.
“Stacy?” she looked at him, and nodded.
“We’re going, right now. We’ll get my brother and sister and they can stay here, and I’ll see what I can do about getting us the hell out of here.”
“What do you mean?”
“If they can’t find us, they’ll give up and leave it alone.”
“But-”
“Now is not a good time to argue.” Nick nodded and stood on the rail of the balcony. He dived off then flew upward. It wasn’t but five minutes worth of flying that they reached Carley’s house.
She opened the door and walked into the living room. The house wasn’t very nice looking with all its greens and browns, but it was spacey. Nick took a deep breath and Stacy opened another door. Carley was sitting there facing her, with Dan and Shannon tied up to a chair.
“Ah, you came.”
“Give me my brother and sister.” She smiled at me, and I stepped forward. Her arm jerked to their heads and I stopped.
“One more move and I’ll rot theirs brains.”
“That’s impossible. Only something with highest power can do that.”
“Imagine what the world would be like with him at the grasp of my hands. With his power, we could move planets; we could do just about anything. Hell, we could create ships that could leave this galaxy and go to others. All that stuff they do on those TVs shows, Like, Eureka and Doctor Who, and even Stargate Atlantis and Stargate SG1 would just be a simple beginning for the power of earth. We could rule the universe Stacy. All with a simple, small bit of his power.”
“You won’t get him!” Stacy yelled. She stomped her foot on the ground and held her hands at her sides, then let out a fierce howl and a gust of air whipped everyone back. Nick flew back against the wall and groaned in pain.
“What the hell was that?” he asked. Stacy was untying her brother and sister, but Carley too was getting up. Nick held out his hand and ran his nail across his wrist. Vampires could never resist the smell of blood, and their hunger was larger than anyone else’s.
“What’s this?” she asked. She attacked quickly, and hew grabbed the lamp and brought it crashing over the back of her head.
“Come on!” he spread his wings and took Shannon’s hand.
“Grab my shoulders as tight as you can and hold on.” He told her. She nodded fearfully, and he took off through the blown ceiling. Stacy shot into the sky faster than he did like a bullet, and Nick could see her and her brother both talking rapidly. Nick sped up so he could hear.
“Look, it’s the only way they won’t be able to come after you two Daniel! I can’t handle keeping him safe and keeping you safe! They’ll try and use you as a decoy every time. And it’s not like it’s a hassle for you, you can just change departments with someone else. It’s your company now Dan, do whatever you want with it. And Shannon’s always been good at being the center of attention so she wouldn’t be giving up much either! Nick and I need this. It’s good for all of us!”
“Look, I can’t just-”
“Yes you can!”
“Aright fine. I’ll see if I can’t get you enrolled and if I do, you better make do of it cause that’s the last school I’m gonna be sending you too for a very long time Anastasia.” She smiled and veered left quickly, then dived.
“Hang on.” Nick told Shannon. He dived as well. Stacy was faster than he was, naturally, so she arrived back at their house first.
“Time for bed everyone!” Dan said as he walked to his own bedroom.
“You better sleep well because we’re getting up early to do some shopping.” Stacy told him.
“Shopping for what?”
“For you. You need a whole new wardrobe, new looks, the works.”
“Oh like your gorgeous yourself.” Her lips tightened at that and he smiled stepping to her. She turned away from him and he pulled her back.
“Come on Stacy, I was joking.”
“Well, that wasn’t funny.”
“I was kidding Stace. You’re hot! Gorgeous, beautiful, whatever word you prefer.”
“I prefer to get some sleep.”
“I’ll see you in the morning.” Nick nodded, feeling that Stacy wasn’t so convinced.
When morning came, nick wasted no time tgetting up and getting dressed. Stacy was happiest while she was sleeping, and the quicker he moved, the more likely she was to still be sleeping. He walked into the hall and saw Dan by the door.
“Stacy in there?”
“Yes. She’s sleeping though.”
“Alright.” Dan seemed distant, almost as if he were in another world. Nick walked into her room quietly. She had the air conditioner and the fan blowing, making it very cold in her room, but she was sleeping with the covers on. She looked kinda cute holding the blue bear (from off her toy shelf) so tightly, her face peaceful and worriless.
“Stacy?” he whispered. He stood over her and whispered again. Her eyes opened the slightest bit and focused on him, and she jumped up.
“What’s wrong? Are they back? Are you hurt?” she said quickly. Nick smiled.
“No, everything’s fine.” She relaxed and sank back onto her bed, her black hair floating around her almost like water.
“I was wondering…if we could go to the fair today.”
“The what?”
“Its downtown, near the lake. There’s a fair down there.”
“I guess we can go if you want.” She sighed and sat up, telling him to cut off the fan and A/C. She yawned and I saw her teeth. They were very sharp (she’d bitten me once), but much sharper than usual. More like fangs.
“What’s up with your teeth?”
“What do you mean?”
“They’re sharp. Like, fangs, sharp.” She frowned, then jumped up and ran to the mirror.
“Oh man…” she whispered to herself. She looked on her shoulder, hissing.
“What?” she said angrily. A few seconds passed of Nick staring at her and then she said,
“Yes, I am. And don’t some here disrupting me from doing my job just to ask me simple questions such as the ones you just did. All the previous matters will be taken care of when I return.”
“Um, Stacy? Who are you talking to?” Nick asked her curiously. Maybe she’s finally losing it. He thought half wittingly.
“Those darn Pixies. Can’t keep their mouths shut worth anything. Just keeping bugging me and bugging m. can’t wait until I come back to-”
“Stacy?” Nick said loudly. Stacy seemed to be talking to herself, not realizing he was still sitting there.
“What Nicholas?” she yelled. She looked at him, her orange eyes glowing almost with an unseen fire. Nick backed away from her, making sure he was out of firing range in case she unknowingly made something fly of it’s placing. Once, she’d unknowingly made a vase fly off the table by their couch and hit him in the face. The eye, to be more exact. It cracked on his head, and the force behind it, which was directed at him, sent him reeling through the wall and out the house.
“Are you alright? You seem a little agitated. Maybe we could just go to the fair tomorrow?”
“No, we’ll go today.” Nick turned away as she pulled on a pair of blue shorts and a dark blue tank top. She pulled on some sandals, grabbed her sunglasses and her keys. She had her keys painted, all for the different colors of her different cars. They weren’t exactly her cars, but the ones she was most likely to drive, and her brother and sister weren’t. She took a hot second choosing which car to drive, that would be most subtle for today’s weather, and to drive away–no pun intended–any suspicion. She chose the dark blue corvette, though she still had that frustrated look on her face when they hit the freeway. Nick almost touched her arm, but realized she was driving, and that she would scream for him not to touch her.
He sighed and sank down a bit to relax in his seat.
“I could drive for a little while you-”
“They’re following us, Nicholas, so unless you want to be brought back to them, torn apart soulfully a bodily wise, I suggest you keep all your stupid and non-helping words to yourself, and hang on so I can lose them.” He looked behind them and saw the silver Porsche speeding along, clearly trying to get beside them. They just never gave up.
“Your reflexes aren’t fast enough, so you wouldn’t be able to do stuff like this. You have to get used to it first.” She explained. She pressed on the gas and they sped up more than enough for Stacy to lose sight of them. She then made a sharp turn and they slowed down. Nick breathed again and she stared at him, pulling the car to a stop. Nick got out of the car and she locked it, then walked away to buy ice cream. The fair wasn’t crowded, since they were early, but it had a fair amount of people there. There were karaoke stands, different types of foods, most of which Nick was sure to try by then end of the day. While he watched Stacy pedaling on a double bike in the small space of the lot, he noticed a glint of silver in his eyes. He looked, and saw his ex-girlfriend Maria, waving to him. The ring he had given her glinted on her finger, which explained the silver glint.
“Oh my gosh! I’ve been chasing you forever Nicky!” she hugged him, and Stacy looked up for the briefest moment from laughing on the bike. She looked happiest right then, as if she had nothing to worry about. Like the normal 16-year-old girl. Maria’s cyrly, glossy blonde hair got into his mouth from the wind, and she pulled it away. She had big, round blue eyes, and a summer tan, like always. Although now, she looked healthy. When he’d last seen her, he had been sure she was on the verge of being anorexic, or something close. Maria wasted no time in getting to the point of being there.
“I saw you leave that girls house, and so I followed you. I came to give you your ring, because, as you know, I’m leaving with my new boyfriend’s band to go on tour. I’m the lead singer, you know. You should check us out sometime.” She handed him a CD, and pulled the ring off her finger. She thrust that into his hands then looked back and a group of guys that were calling her name. They all looked like complete idiots. Whish was really a few steps down from when he wanted to call them all out loud.
“Well, I gotta go. No hard feelings right Nicky? I’ll see you around the fair!” and she was a complete idiot. She walked off and took the wad of cotton candy being held to her. Then she ran back.
“Oh, I forgot to give you this.” She gave him a peck on the cheek, which obviously meant to be for purposely bad timing, since that’s when Stacy walked up to him. She gave Maria the once over, then put on a falsely friendly face.
“Oh you must be Stacy! Nicky’s told me so much about you! Hey, do you to wanna hang with us at the fair? We’ve got a few hours before we go on, so we can play around for a while.” Stacy agreed, obviously seeing something good or interesting in Maria. That didn’t help that he got a whiff of a Lavender scent. He looked around him, trying to see if he could find the triplets, but it was coming off Maria.
“Stacy,” he grabbed her arm, but she pulled away.
“I smell it, Nick, but she’s not dangerous.” Stacy said quietly. He let it go at that. It was getting fairly crowded, so he made sure to stay with her.
A few hours later, Nick founds himself sitting in a chair waiting for Maria to come on the stage so he could then leave. Stacy seemed to already know the words to the song, surprisingly, having only glanced at the lyrics sheet.
“Everyone, we’d like to thank you all for coming out to support the Third Annual Pacific Falls Island Courtview Save Our Lakes Fair! Saving the lakes is very important to Twistyd, but for now, give up a big hand for them!” she clapped loudly, and so did everyone else. A chord was struck, and then everyone else started singing along as best they could, but Stacy was the only one in sync.
“If it seems your down and out, then get up on the floor, shake your groove thang out, and shake it babe some more. Don’t never let them tell you, that your not good enough, cause you know on the inside, your cookie is tough.
Get up on the floor baby you’re really asking for some more. If she tells you to dance baby, then dance like there’s no tomorrow…
When she moves it like this, you gotta move it like that baby, shake it like this, and she’ll shake it like that. If she touches like this, then you touch her right back, get up on the floor baby, the party’s where it’s at.”
The song was pretty good, and it’s wasn’t sexually related, as he had slightly expected. Maria used to be obsessed with anything to do with sex. She wanted to even go into studying it, writing articles and doing reports. Back when she and Stacy had only met each other once before, Maria kept trying to figure out whether or not Stacy was depressed, and whether it was due to anything sexual. She always got on Nick’s nerves with it, but he was glad to see she was doing something worth while. He clapped along, and cheered for her as the band got ready to play their next song, ‘Jet’.
Maria came up to them, and she looked at Stacy.
“Wanna play with us?” she asked. Stacy looked taken aback for a moment, but Maria re-worded it for her.
“I mean, do you wanna sing with us. Jake’s the guitarist and he’s got cold feet because he can’t get the bridge right when he practices, so in order for me to play for him, we need someone to sing for us, and Nick’s tells me you have a voice that’s better than mine.”
“I never told you that.” Nick said.
“Yeah you did.” She stuck out her tongue and dragged Stacy up by her arms. He smirked at her, and she looked a little shocked. While everyone was waited for them to get ready, he got another smell of lavender, but this one was much stronger, and happened to be mixed with blood and sweat. The smell of a wolf/vampire. He let out an unintentional growl and looked around and sure enough Dorian and his gang were sitting in the front row, staring back at him.
And Stacy was on stage, not seeing any of this. Oh. Crap.
____
I watched from the crowd as Nick’s expression changed frequently. He seemed almost to be worried. His stance was that he was ready to leap at a moments notice. I couldn’t understand why, but maybe it was because Maria w standing in front of me telling me something. I heard loud cheering and walked onto the stage, standing in front of them. My heart pounded, but from joy.
Ohh yeahh! Do you feel that?
Ooh, you gotta know when it’s time to roll, you’ve gotta know when it’s time to jet. You’ve gotta know when it’s time to get your butt moving on the floor. Gotta know when it’s time to move, gotta know when it’s time groove. Gotta know when it’s time to JET BABY JET!!
We can take it higher and higher, through the sky. We can go as far as you want, where you want, at anytime baby. You’ve gotta Jet baby Jet! Jet, jet, jet-
Before I could finish the song though, a body was thrown over mine. From the smell of Irish springs, which I had smelled all night, weirdly enough, I knew it was Nick.
“What are you doing?” I asked him.
“Speaking of jet, Stacy, we gotta fly.” I looked and saw three familiar faces and I spread my wings, as nick spread his.
“Nicky?” Maria came up to us and I sniffed her again, then sank my fist into her face.
“Traitor!”” I screamed. Nick looked angry and I looked piteously at her, sniffling. I flapped my wings, Dorian smiling at me. I’d get him soon.
I sort of flew off without making sure Nick was behind me, so I had to double back and drag him along. When I got home, I stopped. There was something odd. I smelled small hint of lavender, but it was so faint I almost passed it. This smelled more like lavender covered up with strawberries. And blood.
“Do you-”
“Someone’s here. Stay low, and be very, very quiet.” But we took one step through the door and the next thing I knew, I was being yanked up and knocked out with something on my head.
