A Night of Flame and Blood

by Elisabeth Huerta

  When I finished with my hair, I stuffed the new book into my bag and ditched the other—I wasn’t going to carry both, they were really heavy—and made my way down the stairs, hoping Daston hadn’t arrived yet. I had not heard the door, but Daston was sneaky when he wanted to be.

  I stood in the living room, unaware if I should wait by the door, or settle the hunger in my stomach. I settled for the latter and poked my head into the kitchen.

  The kitchen table had six chairs, being a family of four, two were always left unfilled. My dad pitches fork fights to prevent anyone from sitting in his chair at the head of the table. My mother follows dad’s suit and sits on the other end. Leaving Rebecca and I to pick the seats in the middle. Even having a selection of four chairs we always sat in the same ones. Rebecca sat on the one closest to my mom on the right side. And I sat on the one in the left side closest to my dad. But this time when I saw the table, one of the unfilled chairs had someone in it. It also happened to be the chair next to mine. Daston had come in, who knows how long after he climbed out of my window and was talking to my family like if it was the most normal thing in the world. He was with a plate of food in front of him, chatting them up like they were all best friends. It was a rare sight to see them all together eating breakfast, we usually could never time it right. My family was laughing in perfect union to a joke Daston was dishing out. They all looked so happy. Rebecca was laughing so hard she was supporting herself on the table so that she would not fall off of her chair. My mom next to her had tears in her blue eyes from the laughter, and my dad—the one who supposedly went hard on his daughter’s boyfriend—was looking at Daston with a genuine smile on his face.

  I’d never seen my family look so happy over breakfast. They were laughing, and I wasn’t there. I felt slightly inadequate, I tried to shake the feeling away. I quickly slipped out of the kitchen before they noticed me. I had a knack for wiping the smiles out of people’s faces. I did not get far into the living room when someone stopped me.

  “What do you think you’re doing, Brianna?” Daston asked. I did not hear him come up behind me. He was a sneaky bastard sometimes.

  “Nothing, just wanted to get something.” I lied.

  “Really.” He looked at me, his gaze saying yeah right. “You should have stayed. I was waiting for you. Why’d you run out like that?” So Daston saw me leave. I did not think he noticed.

  “I didn’t want to interrupt. You guys were having fun in there. I didn’t want to ruin it.” I smiled meekly.

  He looked confused. “Why would you ruin it? The best part of the kitchen was when I saw you enter, well somewhat enter.”

  I did not have time to tell him that I would not be ruining it for him. I would be ruining it for my family since they always get a little tenser when I enter. My mother chose that time to enter the living room. Her eyes lighting up when she spotted Daston and I.

  “There you are Brianna.” She said, before turning her full attention to Daston. “And where do you think you’re running off to. I think I’m going to have to adopt you as my son to keep you here, you’re just so charming.” She laughed. “Brianna, why didn’t you bring your friend here sooner?” She scolded before turning her bright smile back on.

  So now Daston was just my friend. Before she was convinced that he was my boyfriend.

  Daston and I followed her back into the kitchen. At first, I felt guilty that I was going to ruin their breakfast, but I didn’t. It was kind of fun being able to hear the family goof around. I even joined in a couple of times. Daston told us stories about his old school that had even me laughing at full volume. I noticed one thing though, Daston was respectful when he wanted to be. I could tell my family loved him.

  Daston had told them he was taking me to school because of a student teacher meeting we both had to attend. Seeing how respectful, witty, and charming he was my parents—well my mom mostly—agreed.

  Daston was the first out the door when we left. I lagged a little behind and managed to catch some of the conversation my mother was having with Rebecca. I was closing the front door but caught it before it closed, leaving a little crack open to hear from.

  “You should try to go out with Daston. He’s a real catch. Delightful, really, I wouldn’t mind him coming over for dinners.” My mother sighed wistfully.

  “But he doesn’t like me.”

  “Nonsense.” My mom waved off. “He was acting perfectly fine with you today. I don’t think he doesn’t like you. Who wouldn’t like you anyways?”

  “Apparently him.” She had a sour tone in her voice. Did she still like Daston? “But why are you asking me to get with him. Brianna is clearly the object of his affection?”

  “Because, sweetie,” She had a sad tone in her voice, “This boy has a certain aurora to him which makes him well liked. The second he opens his mouth to speak, or when he just smiles and laughs, that boy will have no trouble making friends. Brianna isn’t the type of person who could socialize. You’ve seen what happens with her. People are afraid of her. If she ever assumes a relationship with this boy, it would only lead to her heartbreak. He doesn’t have many friends right now, but how do you think Brianna’s going to feel when he’s surrounded with friends. How do you think he’s going to feel when his friends call his girlfriend a freak.” She took a deep breath. “I hate it when they call her that. I hate to think how much that name will get to her if he breaks up with her because of it. You have to make sure that Daston doesn’t assume a relationship with her. Friends they could be, but anything else would end up hurting her.”

  I closed the door, not wanting to eavesdrop anymore. My mom wanted Rebecca to be with Daston, not me. She was the big catch after all. And apparently Daston was too high for my standards.

  “Brianna.” Daston waved at me from his car. “Going to get in anytime soon?” His dark hair hung messily around his face and I could not stop looking at him. He was too perfect. He was funny, had a natural charisma when unleashed, and his looks were perfection. He could never be meant for me, even my own mother knew that. I did not dwell on that fact too much. I still was not sure if I even liked Daston. My automatic answer was no. Handsome boy plus me just did not add well together. If I was meant for someone it would be one of those overly tattooed guys that have the split tongue and metal implants. Those guys could actually be seen with a girl like me and not be ridiculed. They would see us together and think, “well that makes sense.”

  I hurried over to his car and climbed in. The scent of lemon hit me strong. I gave him a questioning glance. “I had a lot of time yesterday after I dropped you off. Figured I’d give this baby a good cleaning.”

  “So, you driving us to school?” I had thought of something he clearly didn’t pay mind to.

  “Sure, “school”.” He said cryptically.

  “No really, school. Or have you forgotten we have Rebecca for first period.” We needed to at least go to that class so that Rebecca does not get suspicious.

  “Crap.” He hit his forehead with the palm of his hand. “I forgot that Rebecca was that annoying girl in our class.”

  I hid my smile behind my hand. “So, I say we go to first period, then ditch afterwards like yesterday.”

  “About that.” He gave me a tight smile. “We should be more careful. People might be watching us.” People? “We can’t be acting too chummy in class. We should make a meeting spot. After class, I’ll go out first. I’ll meet you beside the school. Is that ok?”

  “Ok, I could do that.”

  “You got the book?”

  I tapped my hand against my bag. “Of course.”

  We drove to school in comfortable silence. Neither one of us had anything to say, but it wasn’t awkward. We were comfortable just being near each other. I used that time to pull out my phone and text Robert to warn him that I would not be at school again. Even though I was still mad at him for keeping the book from me, I didn’t want to completely ignore him. Once I texted him, I shut off my phone. I did not h
ave time to explain to him why I wasn’t going to be there. Also, I figured he would be paranoid over the fact that he woke up without the book. I doubted he would ask me about it, but just in case, I did not know if I would be able to lie to him.

  When we arrived at school, we made sure not to be too close to each other. We walked together to class, but we had a no contact gap between us. I would have made a joke about him taking this whole people watching us too seriously, but after creepy Derik, I was starting to take as much caution as he did.

  We did not talk the whole way to class. From the outside we looked like two students walking in the same direction. There was no sign of friendliness between us. But what people could not see was that from the corner of his eye, he kept a constant watch over me. I could feel his gaze radiating over me.

  In class, we sat next to each other, but we did not talk or make jesters. We listened to what Mr. Hanna was lecturing about—which was something about limits—and later did the problems he assigned on the board.

  The students made slight speculations about Daston and I’s falling out. Agreeing that the past two days were a fluke and that the normal hostility had settled between us.

  Aside from that, no one really paid us much attention. The class was still buzzing about Michelle, but it wasn’t as heavy as yesterday. They all talked in quiet tones so that Mr. Hanna would not hear them. He was currently, nose deep in a magazine, and even if he did hear them, he paid them no attention.

  The students were trying to dissect who the last person to talk to Michelle was.

  “She was talking to Jackie, remember, before she left home.” One of the students was saying.

  “No, she talked to Laura after she talked to Jackie.”

  “Yeah, but then her mom came to pick her up.”

  “No, after she talked to Laura she talked to this other girl right when her mom came.”

  “Who was it?”

  “I don’t know who. I only saw her briefly from the back, she had wild brown hair tied in a bun I think.”

  I snapped out of the eaves dropping. I knew who the girl they were talking about was, but apparently no one else did. No one saw the girl’s face when Michelle approached her—or maybe they didn’t care enough to figure out who it was at the time. Nobody knew it was me who Michelle approached last.

  That day, I never expected her to come up to me. We hadn’t talked since we were eleven. Michelle had ignored me completely these past couple of years. She acted like we were never friends. But that day she came up to me. And she was happy.

  “Brianna, I am so glad you’re here. I’ve been looking everywhere for you.” Michelle smiled at me genuinely. Her deep brown eyes alive with mirth.

  “Why are you talking to me?” I asked confused. I had been waiting outside of the school for Rebecca, she was taking long.

  “Because, silly, I have a secret.” She bounced up with excitement. Her sandy brown hair bobbing in her ponytail. “I was asked not to tell anyone.” She whispered. “But you’re not going to tell anyone, right, Brianna. You were always good at that, keeping a secret. I miss that about you. My friends now are big blabbers, I can’t tell them anything.” She shook her head. “Anyways. I have a date tonight. It’s in this secret place. He hasn’t told me where, but he’s going to lead me there tonight.” She smiled in thought. “I really like him. I wish I could tell my friends about him, but he told me to wait until he meets them.”

  “So, you’re going on a date.” And I care why?

  “Yep, I can’t believe it. I have to bust a mission impossible just to get out of my house, but it’s worth it. Anyways I have to go.” She pointed at a brown minivan that had pulled up next to the school.

  Michelle snuck out to go with some guy. Later, when she disappeared, I felt guilty for not asking her for his name. I should have asked questions. I could have fond out who her killer was. Now it was too late, but I will find him, that I swear.

  I felt the prickle sensation that alerted me that someone was watching. I always felt those tingles when Daston sat behind me, but Daston was sitting next to me, diligently doing his work. Someone else was watching me, and I had a clue as to who that was.

  I turned my head slightly and met the beady eyes of Derik. He smirked and turned his eyes towards Daston before returning them back to me. He shook his head no, warning me.

  I snapped my head back to my assignment, but the illusion was ruined. Derik knew there was something going on between Daston and I. No amount of pretend was going to change that.

  As soon as the bell rang Daston sped out of the room, paying me no mind. I made sure to take my time putting my supplies away. I did not want to be tempted to run after him.

  “What’s with you and Daston?” Rebecca asked as she skipped to my table. “You guys looked all serious in your work. I didn’t even see you talk once.”

  “Don’t worry,” I looked around, almost everyone had left the classroom. “Now you can have a shot with Daston. It’ll be just what mom wants.”

  She sighed. “So, you heard that. Listen, I told her I wasn’t going to do it because Daston doesn’t like me. I’m not such a fool to go after a guy who’s clearly not interested.” She ran her fingers through her long glossy brown hair. “Besides, it’s about time I help my little sis get the guy.”

  She looked at me with the determination of a warrior. I could not help but laugh. This would surely mean a make-over.

  “No, no make-overs.”

  “I wasn’t going to suggest a make-over. He seems to like you just the way you are—as crazy as that seems.”

  “Is it really that crazy for a guy to like me, for being just me?” She gave me a look that said of course it was.

  “Thanks for all the moral support.” I replied sarcastically.

  “Don’t make it sound like that. I am supporting you.”

  “Could have fooled me.” I walked out of the classroom, Rebecca trailing behind me. “Anyways, there’s no need to help me out with Daston. There is nothing going on between us.”

  She gave me a skeptical look but changed the subject. “Ok then, how are you and Robert doing?”

  Was she serious? “Are you actually attempting to make small talk with me, in front of the school population.”

  “Don’t look at me like that. I am just trying to right some wrongs. Start a fresh new pallet so to speak.” We had reached the endpoint of the hallway. I would either have to go left into the other connected hallway or keep going straight to exit outside.

  “Robert and I are doing fine.” And another thing, please leave. I can’t go outside if you’re watching me.

  “Yeah, you guys are really creating quite a stir. First you and Daston start being friends, and now Robert and Jackie.”

  Wait what? “What do you mean Robert and Jackie?”

  “Nothing, it’s just that I saw them going into a classroom alone during lunch yesterday. They stayed in there for the whole half-hour.” Robert and Jackie, Jackie the girl who constantly calls us losers and freaks. Robert was talking to her? “Didn’t Robert tell you?” Rebecca looked at me apologetically.

  “No, but I guess it’s because I didn’t see him yesterday. I’ll talk to him today and ask him about it.”

  “Oh, ok then. I better go.” She turned around and walked the opposite way from me. I saw her walk until she disappeared from my view. I knew I had to go, but I was frozen. Even when the bell rang, I stayed thinking. Why would Robert be talking to Jackie? How did it even happen? Jackie had a strict no freaks rule.

  A creaking door broke through my thoughts. I looked towards the heavy front doors and found Dastons head peeking through.

  “What are you still doing in here? We have to go, remember.” The reminder of the book was the only thing that got me to leave. I had to learn what was inside it. I would deal with Robert later.

  Chapter 15

  Half an hour later I found myself sitting down with Daston in the woods. The book was in our laps. The surrounding enve
lopment of trees were our only companions. Well, besides the bears that roam around the woods, but I tried not to think of that.

  The book was weird, only the beginning sections of it were filled, the rest of the book was all blank pages. Daston exhaled ruffly. “I didn’t think it would matter. Usually, your guide allows the rest of the pages of the book to be seen. But seeing as you don’t have a guide, I didn’t think it would matter.”

  “So, what do I do now?”

  “I guess just read the parts it does show and the rest we’ll just play it by the ear.”

  I nodded. The book might not have much, but it did explain some crucial parts. “Look,” I pointed out the section to Daston, “It describes the seer and the guide.”

  It all started with the guide. Guides are humans who have been granted the power to make seer’s. They harness a huge amount of information. The older the guide, the more they know. And since young guides don’t know as much as the older guides, they never get to guard a seer on their own. They have to learn their information first hand, and from the book. Young guides work along side an older one and learn at the same pace as the seer does.

  The guide paves the way and helps a seer believe in the world of the other. They are also their protectors. A guide’s sole purpose—aside from teaching the seer—is to keep the seer alive. They hide them somehow. It didn’t exactly say how they hid them, but I guess that’s only information a guide could have.

  It was all very interesting but what really got my attention was the part about the seer. Some of the parts were like Daston said, how they see the past and the future to act on the present, but it explained how a seer’s power is more powerful when a demon is close by. Usually, a seer has to concentrate hard to get a vision. But when the demon is near the vision comes instantaneously.

  The role of the seer is to stop demons from infesting the Earth. It showed many different traps a seer could set for the demon, like the blood trap which was exactly how it sounded. You draw a circle on the floor, that’s at least five feet wide in all directions, and write the demons name all in blood. The demon would get trapped inside the circle as long as he was within thirty feet of the circle. Whoever’s blood you get does not matter, it just has to be human. There were many other traps described and I felt overjoyed to realize that I knew several of them from the research I did with Robert.