Revelations (Blood Bound Book 1)

by L. L. Wright

  She made her way to the courtyard, settling in at a picnic table shaded by a dogwood tree. She took out her algebra notes, a pen, and her phone, and quickly read the text from her mother.

  Mom: How is your first day going?

  It’s going fine. Emmie typed, erasing the words as soon as she saw them. So far so good. She tried, frowning and deleting the text again.

  Emmie: Everything is great.

  She settled on that, hitting send, before taking a deep breath and opening her other two messages.

  Lisa: Hey, is everything ok?

  Lisa: What happened to you this morning?

  Emmie groaned and closed her eyes for a second. I definitely do not feel like getting into this with Lisa, not through text, and not on the first day of school, she told herself. Honestly, I don’t even know why I'm so upset. She’s allowed to have other friends. This whole thing is silly, she thought. This doesn’t have to be a big deal.

  Emmie: Everything’s fine, I just didn’t want to be late.

  She replied, hoping the damage control text would smooth things over. Lisa had a tendency to want to talk about things. She was deeply caring and invested in their friendship, both qualities that Emmie loved. But talking made it impossible to bury the things she didn’t want to deal with. Things Lisa could never understand, not really.

  After the final bell rang Emmie stopped at her locker to assess the damage and come up with a game plan for the work she had accumulated on her first day. 5 textbooks, over 15 pages of notes to review and at least an hour of actual homework. She breathed deeply, running an anxious hand through her hair. West Creek's schools weren't the best for no reason, the classes and teachers pushed the students to excel in all areas. The academics were challenging and the teachers were always trying to get students involved in more sports and other extracurricular activities. Emmie double-checked her bag before climbing the stairs of the bus and taking one of the first empty seats. Let’s find an extracurricular. She opened the school's pamphlet and mentally checked off the activities that definitely weren’t a good fit for her. Volleyball-no, field hockey-no, basketball-no. Emmie thought back to the disastrous three months she spent taking gymnastics classes as a kid, to say she lacked coordination was an understatement. I could barely tumble in a straight line, she recalled. Basically, all sports are out of the question, maybe the arts and culture section will have something to offer me, she told herself, unfolding the pamphlet once more in her search.

  “Emmie! What are you doing all the way up there? Come join us!” Lisa shouted from the back of the bus. Jenny sat beside her, wearing a shy smile and offering a small wave.

  Emmie turned forward in her seat and sighed, squeezing her eyes together and pressing her lips into a tight line. Well, it's now or never, she thought. If I'm going to smooth things over this is a good place to start, she told herself as she grabbed her bag and headed towards the back to claim the seat beside Jenny. As Emmie approached she could hear the two girls chattering excitedly.

  “Your going, right Emmie?” Jenny asked abruptly, turning her attention away from Lisa. Her green eyes sparkled expectantly as she waited for a response.

  “I obviously have no idea what you’re talking about. Am I going where?” Emmie replied, a little bit colder than she intended. I don’t think I could survive a powwow with this girl, honestly, the bus ride home is still up in the air. There’s just something about her that bugs me, she thought to herself. Her heart tightened, and she felt a chill crawl up her back as she remembered all of the nights she and Lisa had filled with movies, trips to the mall and late-night sleepovers, it’s always been just the two of us.

  “There’s a huge party next Friday after the homecoming game!” Jenny exclaimed, leaning across Lisa excitedly. “Everyone's talking about it! It's in the woods, down by the creek.”

  "It's our first high school party! The three of us HAVE to go together” Lisa continued, enthusiastically rambling on where Jenny left off.

  Lisa’s voice faded out, becoming barely audible and distant as Emmie’s mind began to wander. My first highschool party, what am I going to wear? Will Leo be there? She let her thoughts run wild, imagining herself at the kind of the party she had seen on TV. Casually talking with her friends, confident and casual. She would catch Leo's eye and he would come over. They would talk, getting to know each other, until he finally leaned in for a kiss, her first kiss, with the perfect guy…

  “Emmie? Hello,” Lisa said, snapping her perfectly polished fingers in Emmie’s face. “This is our stop, you have to get up,” Lisa insisted with a hint of irritation.

  “Oh! sorry! I must have zoned out,” Emmie apologized, fumbling, as she hurried to collect her things.

  “So, what do you say?” Lisa asked when they were all standing on the sidewalk.

  “Uh, I think I’ll pass. Parties aren’t really my thing,” she said. Too many people, too much noise, who knows how my powers would react to that kind of sensory overload.

  “Em,” Lisa said, reading between the lines.

  “I have a ton of homework, I should get started now or I’ll be up all night,” Emmie said, pretending to absent-mindedly search her bag for her house key.

  “Ok,” the girls replied in unison, Lisa paused, staring at Emmie with a concerned look before Jenny grabbed her hand, tugging her in the direction of their street.

  5

  Leo

  Leo stood on the front lawn of the school, leaning against a sturdy oak tree. He watched as Emmie boarded the school bus. She took a seat by herself at the front, far from the noise and commotion. Taking a deep breath, he rubbed his face with both palms. Emmeline Clark, he puzzled looking around at the other girls walking in and out of the school. Short shorts, crop tops, half of Sephora covering their faces, he knew the type well. They drive their parents BMW’s and swipe their plastic like it means nothing. But she couldn't be more different. Yet here I stand, turning her name over in my mind, again and again. Repeating it like an addictive new song I can’t wait to hear again, Emmeline Clark. Simple, plain, and somehow even her name makes me smile. He noticed. Why is that?

  “You coming?” a familiar voice called from behind, crashing through his thoughts like a wrecking ball. Leo released a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding in as he turned to see his oldest friend Collin standing a few feet away in the jersey he’d worn all day, gym bag in hand, way too ready to hit the field.

  “Dude, you know you’re second string right, and none of this actually matters anyway,” Leo said without moving.

  “Don’t care, man, you’re the one who drug me here, remember? This was part of the deal, classes, sports, socializing. We signed up for all of it, but, I’m mostly here for the sports. Now hurry up, we’re going to miss warmup. C’mon,” Collin nagged.

  “Yeah, yeah, I’m coming,” Leo said. Reaching down to grab the duffle bag at his feet. He looked up, stealing one more glance at the bus as it pulled away from the school. Then he turned and headed toward the field for practice.

  6

  Emmeline

  Emmie dropped her bag just inside the door and made her way into the kitchen. She tossed her keys into the ceramic bowl on the counter before pulling the cell phone out of her pocket and dialing her mother's office.

  “Melody Clark,” her mother's voice answered on the second ring.

  “Hey mom, I’m home,” she replied, grabbing a bottle of water from the refrigerator and leaning against the counter.

  “How was your day?” her mother asked enthusiastically, though Emmie could hear the tap, tap, tap, of her mother typing on her keyboard.

  “It was really good,” Emmie began, going into detail about her teachers and coursework, and hoping to omit the magical drama, Mom has enough on her plate without having to worry about me witching-out.

  “I need to find an extracurricular activity to do or colleges won't take my application seriously,” she explained. “The school offers a lot of sports, but we both know how that w
ould turn out,” she continued. “And I just don't see myself wearing a smock for hours after school or joining the chess club,” she finished, slightly out of breath.

  “Hello? Mom,” Emmie called into the line, which had remained silent since she last spoke.

  “I’m so sorry Em, I have to go, I have a lot of work to get through here. I’ll be pretty late so just order takeout and I’ll see you when I get home,” her mother said hurriedly.

  “Ok. I will,” Emmie replied as the line cut out.

  Some things will never change. Emmie sighed, taking a sip of water and reflecting on the routine she and her mother had become so accustomed to over the years. She knew her mom worked hard so that she could live a normal life in a nice town with good schools. It was all part of the plan. But she rarely left the office before 8 o'clock, which meant Emmie was used to spending her evenings alone. She ordered take out often and filled her time with homework, and reading, chipping in around the house whenever she ran out of other things to do. Laundry, dusting, and vacuuming had all become part of her weeknight routine by choice. She knew her mother didn't expect her to help with housework, but after watching her work so hard around the clock Emmie felt like it was her small way of lightening the load her mother carried every day, besides, being busy and doing chores is normal.

  Emmie sat at the kitchen table, proofreading the pages she had just written for her creative writing class. She tapped her pen on the edge of the weathered, wooden tabletop and thought about her teacher's instructions.

  “This is an honors level creative writing class. I have no intentions of holding any hands throughout the semester,” Mrs. Gabriel announced as she entered the classroom. “You can do the work and earn the credits this class is worth, or you can drop the ball and take English 101 next semester,” she said raising both arms at her side as if weighing out the options in her hands. “That being said, for those of you with a love of reading and writing, this class should be quite enjoyable. I do things a little differently than most teachers…. you’ll have homework assignments Monday, Wednesday and Friday nights, but nothing will be turned in or graded until the last day of class. I suggest completing your work according to the syllabus,” she paused, handing each row of students a stack of papers to pass back. “But, if you would prefer to wait until the weekend before to write all 54 assignments, that’s your business.”

  Emmie watched as a hand shot up in the front of the room, the teacher pointed at a dark-haired boy with the last name “Patrick” printed on the back of his jersey. That’s the boy Leo was talking to in the hallway, Emmie thought, recognizing his shaggy hair.

  “Uh, this syllabus is just dates with one word printed in the assignment column.” His confused statement was clearly intended as a question.

  “Yes Mr. Patrick, that is correct,” Mrs. Gabriel smiled before sitting on the edge of her oversized desk. “These assignments are not as structured as you are probably used to. The words listed on the syllabus are prompt words, what you choose to do with them is up to you. There is no right or wrong way to approach this, just let the prompts guide you to create your best work,” she explained. “Journals, poetry, song lyrics, and short stories are all submissions that I have received and loved. Good luck, and happy writing,” she finished with a smile, taking her seat behind the desk.

  “Pride” Emmie whispered to herself, reading the prompt from the top of her notebook page.

  Pride

  Pride is a complex emotion. It can leave you feeling like you're on top of the world, able and ready to accomplish anything. It can also leave you arrogant and conceited, justifying moral compromises as a means to victory. Pride fills us with a sense of worth and happiness whenever we accomplish something, we, ourselves deem to be important. With each achievement our sense of self-worth and self-respect grow exponentially, leaving us with an insatiable craving. No one grows tired of success. One's quest for triumph and the natural high that pride supplies can lead us astray, far from the path laid out by an otherwise humble moral compass.

  The book of proverbs says "pride comes before the fall." I'm sure there are several differences of opinion and interpretations of this, as with all things biblical. As for myself, I choose the most conspicuous conclusion; the pursuit of pride simply for the sake of pride will culminate in one's own downfall. The degree of damage from that fall, most likely being determined by the height from which they fell, their final prideful act.

  Emmie sighed, closing the notebook and pushing her hair back with both hands. Pride is one feeling I don’t have to worry about overtaking my life, she thought to herself, momentarily letting self-doubt take the reigns before reclaiming her thoughts, pushing the darkness away.

  “Knock knock,” Lisa said as she peeked her head through the kitchen door.

  “What are you doing here?, Where's Jenny?” Emmie asked.

  Lisa sighed as she walked into the kitchen and dropped her own set of keys, including one to the Clark residence on the counter.

  “I’m sorry,” Lisa said, shaking her head. “I didn’t even think about how meeting Jenny like that would make you feel. I should have mentioned her on the phone and carved out time for us to talk before school started.”

  “It’s fine, Lisa. You're allowed to have other friends, and it’s not your job to think about how your every move will impact me and my fragile psyche.”

  “Em, don’t do that. Don’t shut me out. You’re my best friend, and I care about you. I never want to do anything that will hurt you or make everything you’re going through harder,” Lisa said, pulling out the chair and plopping herself down beside Emmie. “We’ve been best friends for ten years. You’re the only sister I’ve ever had, and I know you feel the same way. That’s why we look out for each other,” she said as she leaned over and bumped her shoulder against Emmie’s, playfully.

  “I missed you,” Emmie said, feeling a wave of relief at having her best friend back at her side. “Summer wasn’t the same without you. I think I became a hermit.” Emmie laughed at herself.

  “Tell me everything,” Lisa said, getting up from the table and grabbing bags of chocolate chips and mini marshmallows from the pantry before returning to the table and pouring them out onto the surface. “But first, do the thing.”

  They exchange crooked smiles and Emmie scrunched up her nose.

  “Really?” she asked.

  “Really really,” Lisa giggled, straightening up in her seat.

  Emmie sighed and closed her eyes, reaching into her mind. She found her powers quickly, they never seemed to be further than the edges of her conscious mind. No matter how long she ignored them for or how hard she pushed them away, they were always close by. Once she found them she opened her eyes and focused on the pile of candy on the table. The connection felt magnetic, her powers locked on their target and from there she could control their movement with her eyes. Emmie pulled the candy off the table and instantly felt a weight lift from her chest. A smile spread across her face as the chocolate and marshmallows danced above their heads and Lisa's laughter filled the kitchen.

  For the next hour Emmie filled Lisa in on her less than perfect summer break and Lisa shared stories of her parent’s awkward arguments and repeated threats to divorce one another as they traveled the California coast.

  “What about today, after the whole glowing hands ordeal how was the rest of the day?”

  “Oh. My. God. You saw that?” Emmie shrieked, hiding her face in her palms.

  “Barely, and only because I know you and I could tell you were freaking out,” Lisa said. “Did I mention how sorry I am?”

  “It’s not your fault. I need to learn to control it better. I can’t live like this forever,” Emmie huffed, deciding to change the subject. “I met a boy today. Well he hit me with a door and then I bumped into him, but then he asked me to get coffee with him.”

  “No way! What’s his name? What did you say?” Lisa asked nearly jumping out of her seat.

  “Uh, his name
is Leo, and I said no,” Emmie said scrunching her nose again and sinking into her chair.

  “Leo Anderson? The gorgeous blue-eyed football hunk that every girl is whispering about and hanging all over? He asked you out and you turned him down? Emmie!”

  He is gorgeous, of course, every girl at West Creek is dying to catch those intense blues.

  “What was I supposed to say? I’m a total mess, I spent the summer hiding from unnecessary social interaction and this morning my fingers were glowing with magic that I couldn't control. I mean, let’s be real Lisa. My mom and I are the only witches left, there has to be a reason for that, right? Maybe people like me don’t get happy endings,” Emmie said through pleading eyes.

  “I don’t know, maybe she's wrong, maybe there are more somewhere and they just keep a low profile like you guys do? But, regardless, you’re fifteen, you can’t just close yourself off to the possibility of finding love. That’s crazy martyr stuff, Em.”

  Emmie dropped her forehead onto the cold kitchen table.

  “I know, but I don’t know what to do. What if I let someone else in and I hurt them?”

  “You’ve never hurt me,” Lisa said with a shrug as she pulled her phone out of her pocket. "My mom wants me to come home, I gotta go. Do you want to come with?"

  "Nah, I have some homework and chores to finish up here," Emmie said, walking Lisa to the door. They hugged and Emmie watched her best friend walk down the sidewalk and out of view before she locked the door.