by Rue Volley
“We all have to feed at twenty-one Rue.” she said, just as easy as saying, “We all brush our hair”.
“Feed on what?” I asked. Sam looked at me.
“Well… humans of course. We feed off of their energy. We all do it Rue. It's how we survive.”
“There are more? Wait… on humans? Yea… ummm… no thanks Sam!” I said as reality set in.
Sam looked at me and smiled. “What do you think Grace and William are Rue?”
“They... they are my parents. That's all,” I stammered.
“Uh-huh… yea, okay, right. Listen, there hasn't been a protector born in one-hundred and fifty years.”
She came over to me. “Josh was the last one. Well, until you two came along.”
“But here you kids are Grace and William knew it was forbidden to breed. We were all bound by the council after the war. Guess they decided we should just stick with the one's we had so memory was swept clean amongst all of us. How to create, ya know?” She looked at me, I was pale I'm sure.
“But it seems your ‘parents’ thought they would just ignore the law. We don't know how they broke the binding spell but trust me, Sophia will figure it out soon enough,” she said as she raised her hands.
“Sophia?” I asked.
“Sophia Graph of course, protector royalty. She is head of the council. She above all sets law and enforces it. Her bloodline leads back to the creator of protectors himself. Her family holds the power of will.”
“How will she?” My head was spinning with this crazy information “Get information?” I said.
“Oh William will tell her, I'm sure,” Sam said, calm as ever.
I jumped up. “William...? My dad?” I yelled out.
“If that's what you want to call him. I guess for all intense purposes he is your Father in a way.”
I didn't have time right now for her to explain ‘in a way’. “Where is my dad?” I said.
“Well he's in Valon with Sophia, I'm sure. Either he has told her what she wants to know or he’s held up in the tower,” Sam said as she inspected her nail again.
“Valon? What tower?” I said, as I leaned toward her again.
“Valon is our home Rue. Beautiful really, much better than this crap you call a home.” She glanced around her. I didn't have time to argue the quality of our home with her right now.
“You said he's in a tower?” I said.
“Yes… the tower. It doesn't get used very often, only in extreme cases. Which I am sure Sophia will find this to be. Trust me, after all this time, do you think she won't be a little sore with her old flame? William broke her heart when he left with Grace.”
I stood up, my head spinning. I swear to god it was like the world had tilted on its axis.
“We have to go to Valon,” I said, as I shook my head.
“Noooo... you will not be going there Rue. You cannot, you haven't fully matured yet and you can't survive the protection spell. Entering Valon would kill you, unless they allow you in, and they won't,” she said, with the first spark of emotion I had heard from her this entire conversation.
We heard a car door and Kai running up the steps. I looked back to Sam.
“Oh shit.” I said as I looked at the door.
“Don't worry Rue. I look like Grace to your brother,” Sam said as she smiled at me.
Kai came running into the house. He blew right past me. He looked at me, holding his stomach and ran into the bathroom, slamming the door behind him. Sam and I exchanged looks.
“What the hell?” I said as I looked at her.
I went to the bathroom door, knocking on it.
“Kai?” I said.
Nothing, I could hear the water running and what sounded like splashing.
“Kai... are you okay?” I asked.
He opened the door… his face white, the front of his shirt wet with water. He looked at me.
“Kai?”
“I'm... I'm good. Just felt sick as hell... I... oh god…” He looked awful.
He slammed the door in my face… and hurled.
“Ewww” Sam said.
I turned and pointed a finger at her.
“Take it off of him; he’s having some sort of reaction to it.” I said, as angry as I could.
She laughed, “That's ridiculous.”
“No, I’m serious Samantha. He's in there sick as hell. He never gets sick... ever!”
Samantha took a seat on the couch and looked at me crossing her legs and arms at the same time.
“Listen Rue, I have enough to deal with here. You, somehow busted through a very strong glamor spell I whipped up, and I have no intention of letting your brother just run around here with...”
I got pissed. Light welled up in my hands and air began to swirl my hair up around my head.
“I said take it off of him now!” I yelled at her.
Samantha stood up and muttered, “OH crap.” She put her hand out in front of her.
“Now listen here,” Sam started to steady herself, “I am NOT going to do this with you. I'll tell you what, I Will release him if, and only if I have your word that one, you will knock all this ‘I'm a bad ass’ crap off and two, you babysit your brother,” she said.
It sounded like a fair enough trade. The air slowly stopped blowing my hair around, and the light faded from my hands. I smiled at her...
“See, we can be friends,” I said as I grinned at her.
Samantha sat back down. “You are a tricky little bitch, aren't you?”
She waved her hand towards the door. “Now retrieve your pussy of a brother.”
I shot her a ‘Bitch’ glance and ran to the door.
“Kai?... Kai listen I know you don't feel good, but I need you come out here... please.”
Kai opened the door. “Really Rue? Whatever it is it can wait… I think somebody poisoned me.”
I reached in and took his arm. “Nobody poisoned you. Listen it's really important that you come out here.” I pulled him out and stared at Sam.
Kai looked at me puzzled, then to Samantha. She was blurred to him, her image shifting and fading in and out.
“I think I’m gonna throw up again.” He tried to pull away from me. I looked to Sam. She came to us in a blur. Just as fast, she grabbed him and slammed him, to the middle of the floor.
“What the hell are you doing?” I screamed.
Kai tried to get up, but she pushed him back down.
“A little help here?” Sam asked me.
I ran over to him and grabbed him. Kai struggled with me.
“What the hell, Rue?” Kai yelled.
I looked to Samantha, and she frantically started etching symbols all around him.
“Back up Rue,” she said.
As she got to the last symbol, I jumped out of the way. Sam leaned down and said, “Bind.”
Kai just looked back and forth, to both of us.
Sam turned to me… “If you want to leave the room… now would be the time.”
I stood my ground. Sam started chanting and calling upon the energy she had summoned with me. Kai started to rise up, and I realized I was watching exactly what had happened to me. Blue and white light was flashing everywhere. I shielded my eyes. I heard Kai scream out and I heard him slam to the floor. It was eerily silent.
I went running towards him, and he started to move, then he sat up. He looked at me, then to Sam.
“Huh, that was new,” he said as he smiled at me.
“Kai are you... Okay?” I asked him.
“Okay? I… I am going to get sooo much ass now!” he said and grinned even wider.
Samantha looked at me, “I do not think it worked Rue.”
I looked at her and then to him.
“No... no… trust me, it did,” I said, relieved.
Kai stood up and ran his hands through his hair. He looked at me and then focused his gaze on Sam.
“Well, hello to you,” he said, smiling his best smile at Sam.
Sam let out a si
gh of disgust. Kai came walking over to her, like he was a stud in a bar.
“I'm Kai Volley. Ya know I like long walks on the beach at midnight.” he said.
Samantha rolled her eyes. “Oh just awesome,” she muttered.
“No really, I think we should spend some time together. That... whatever you did was just freakin awesome! And I figure since we've already shared some energy, we could, ya know…”
“Great, you two are freakin amazing! You…” she pointed a finger at me, “try to kick my ass every three minutes and your brother just wants it, great!” She spun around and threw her hands into the air.
“I bind this house!” she yelled out.
She turned back around and looked at both of us.
“Both of you will stay here. I will be back, I am getting my brother. I will return by nightfall, so try to behave for one damn minute!” she said to both of us.
Kai and I looked at each other, she walked out the door.
“Oh that's just great, Kai!” I said as I through my hands up.
“Jeezus I'm starving. Are you starving?” he asked me.
“Really? You just find out we aren't even human and you want to eat?” I said.
He went into the kitchen and started rummaging through the fridge. I followed him.
“Listen Kai, we have some serious stuff we are dealing with here. Did you see the war? I asked.
“Yep,” he said, as he threw stuff on the table behind him.
“And that mom and dad led a revolt against ya know… that vampire thing?” I added.
“Sure did,” he said as he put a roll in his mouth.
“Why the hell are you so calm?” I yelled out.
“That chick... Samantha was her name right? Well, she's a hottie,” he said as he chewed.
I just sat down.
“You seem to be accepting this very well,” I said as I put my hand on my head.
Kai was shoveling food into his mouth.
“Listen Rue, I'm not gonna freak out... I won't…” he said.
“And why?” I asked him with my hand out.
“Because,” he started to laugh “I think it's the coolest shit I've ever seen.”
“This isn't some movie Kai; we are in this shit for real.”
“You’re getting a lot better with the cussin',” he said as he laughed.
“I swear to god...” I muttered. “Okay... okay, listen Kai, when Sam gets back, we are going to come up with a plan. We have to get dad, and figure out if mom is okay. Deal?” I said, hoping he heard me.
Kai looked up at me. “I'm in,” he said with a wink.
***
Samantha raced to Valon. She picked up her phone and started to dial. “Pick up... pick UP. Theodore, come on.” She got his voice mail. Sam threw her phone down on her passenger seat. Knowing she had no other alternative, she reached over and dialed again, this time getting an answer.
“What Sammy?” the voice said, not too excited.
“Listen Josh, Theodore isn't answering his phone,” Sam said sounding worried.
“Well it seems he's with the council,” Josh said as he grinned.
“Is he Okay?” Sam asked him.
“I'm sure he is, always able to talk his way through anything,” Josh said, losing interest obviously.
Samantha paused. “Josh I need you to help me.”
“I don't know why?” Josh said as he sighed.
“Please, you’re my brother. I have this situation with two very young protectors. Younger than you Josh. I can't babysit alone.”
“I'm not good at babysitting. Not interested in it either,” Josh said as he shrugged his shoulders.
“Josh please...”
Josh paused and let out a sigh.
“Fine, come and get me, but you owe me.”
“Thanks. Josh... I,” Sam started to say and Josh interrupted her.
“When will you be here?” he said.
“About an hour,” Sam replied. The line clicked. He’d hung up on her.
Sam hung up the phone. “Theodore, swear to god I'm gonna beat the crap out of you.” She threw her phone back down on the seat.
Samantha pulled up to Josh’s house. It didn't take as long to get there, if one thing was true, Sam was excellent at speeding.
Josh Barrington was the last Protector created, that was until Rue and Kai Volley. In fact the Barrington family had been the only family in the history of their race that had successfully created three ‘children’. Normally they survived in two's, not that anyone had ever figured out why. Josh had spent his early years being trained as a warrior, and prepared himself to become part of the guard. At the age of twenty-one Josh's genetic code had shifted allowing him to possess his full power as a protector. Sophia was so pleased that not only had he survived as a third, but that he seemed to be completely dedicated to serving her. Josh only had one problem; he refused to feed on the humans that inhabited Valon. Sophia and the rest of the council had no idea that he snuck out to feed on nature, which to her, and many other protectors, was beneath them. Josh continued to let his host family remain free of his will and eventually rumors began to spread of other protectors who were doing the same thing. Josh and others, such as William and Grace, decided to try to free all the humans who were bound to protectors as host families. One by one, they smuggled them out, and released them of their spell.
When the council discovered that the rumors were true, they were furious. They had captured and bound a protector by the name of Clark Noble and tortured him until he gave them a night and location of the release of some of the host families. Josh, Grace, William, and Josh's father, Thomas, were there that night. They were successfully smuggling humans out of Valon when Sophia, along with her son Caine and the guard, ambushed them. All of the humans were slaughtered. Josh, Grace, and William made it out alive; but Josh's father, Thomas, was killed by Caine. Caine called for the blood of Josh and the others to be spilled, but Sophia took pity on the Barrington family. She put a binding spell on Josh that would not allow him to enter Valon but she called for war against Grace and William and all the others. The protectors who sympathized with Grace and William decided to rise up, against Sophia and Caine.
A war ensued. Many fell, but Josh was not able to help his friends because the war took place on the hillsides of Valon. Once the war ended and the surviving protectors fled but Josh stayed on the outskirts of the city. His brother, Theodore, and sister, Sam, remained in the city with their Mother, Elan.
He waited for the day that he would be able to revenge his Father s death at the hands of Caine.
Samantha pulled up to Josh’s house and turned off the car. She hesitated to get out knowing that Josh would be furious when he found out the situation she was in. Josh opened his door and looked out into the twilight. Samantha got out of her car and walked up to him.
“Hello Josh.”
“Come here,” he said. She looked at him, he reached out, grabbing her arm and pulled her closer to him. A light began to glow in his right hand and he placed it on the side of her head. They stood very still for a moment and he released her. She stumbled back.
“Not necessary! You could have been just a little gentler!” Sam yelled at him. He looked at her and took one step forward.
“Sorry, didn't want to talk, thought I'd just take the memory from you,” Josh said.
“Nice Josh. Don't talk to you for a year, and you just hook up to me like a battery and take it all. So much for being social!” Sam yelled some more.
“So, Theodore had a visitor? And now you are left babysitting Rue and Kai Volley?” Josh asked.
“Yes... and believe me they are all kinds of wonderful,” Sam said as she rolled her eyes.
Josh laughed. “Yeah, saw that.”
“So now you want my help because Theodore is sucking up to those feeders, like he always does?” Josh said as he grinned.
Sam sighed and looked at him, trying to look helpless. Not easy for her to do.
“Listen Josh... I could really use your help on this one, please.” Josh stared at her for a moment.
“I will help, but not for any other reason but because all roads lead to Caine.”
“Whatever your reason is fine with me,” Sam said. Josh stared out into the woods.
“We need to find Grace.” he said.
“We will check at the asylum then.” Sam said as she started to turn.
“I think maybe she's gone from there.” Josh said as he looked back at her.
“Why would you think that Josh?”
He shrugged his shoulders. “Just a hunch.”
Samantha put her hands on her hips, “I hate your hunches. They are usually right.”
Josh smiled at her, “I know.”
***
I had sat looking out my window waiting, it seemed... for hours. Well three hours and fifteen minutes to be exact. Kai had gone to his room and I kept seeing flashes of light in the hallway, with the occasional “whoo-hoo” following soon after. I guessed Kai was ‘kicking ass’ in there, awesome. He had his moments, but now... god, it was going to be unbearable. I had tried to touch the door when Samantha first left, seeing if maybe I could get out of the house, but had immediately been rocked with pain up my arm. I soon realized that her binding spell had me trapped there. Kai obviously didn't mind, but I wanted to leave and go to Rolling River, to see if my mom was even there anymore.
I also had thoughts of Johnathan creeping in my mind, and even though I knew I shouldn't want to see him, I did very badly. I don't know if it was because he was also a protector, that was obvious, or if it was because his lingering kiss haunted me. All I knew is he had tried to hurt me, feed on me… his own kind.
What kind of creature does that? I couldn't allow myself to believe that it was his will, pushing him to do that. I just couldn't.
I looked down at my hands and realized they were sweating again. I remembered the softness of his lips against mine. The phone rang pulling me out of my stupor. I jumped up.
“Hello?” I said, not knowing what to expect.
“Hello Rue Volley.”
I froze; it was Johnathan's voice on the line.
“I called to check on the party girl,” Johnathan said.
“What, ohhh…yea the party girl... right,” I said, trying to sound convincing.