by Rue Volley
“I know you, you asshole!” The girl yelled out.
Caine smiled and leaned down, touching her face.
“As I you.” He said as she jerked her face away from him. He grabbed her chin and made her look at him.
“You will be mindful of your tone with me.” He said.
“You are a demon.” She said.
“You speak of demons? I would think that you would not have harsh words, seeing that you took one to your bed.”
The girl looked at him and shook her head.
“Johnathan is not a demon, he is not like you.” She said.
“Brooke… if you want to keep telling yourself that, go right ahead… but you will find that my son is exactly like me, that you cannot change.” He said.
Brooke rolled her eyes and looked towards the vined window, trying to keep her temper in check.
“Mmmm.” Caine said as he touched her neck and then let his hand wander down, over her chest.
Brooke started to move, cussing at him.
Caine smiled and took his hand from her chest and tilted his head.
“Oh perhaps later.” He said.
Caine turned and walked back to the door, opening it up and stepping out into the hallway.
“Let me go!” Brooke screamed as he waved his hand and the door slammed shut, cutting off her voice. Caine grinned and stood there for a moment, enjoying her frustration as it seeped from the room and he let it enter his hand. He clinched his fist and grinned, letting the energy soak into his skin.
“Oh it has been so long since I felt such hatred, makes me reminisce.” He muttered as he headed down the hallway and away from her screaming.
Chapter 6
Jonah & Lily
Gracie smiled as Sam bundled her up and pulled up her hood. Sam glanced at Kai and he shook his head at her.
“What?” Sam said.
“Not a good idea.” Kai said as he looked at Theo and back to Sam.
“Listen to me Kai Volley; I know what I am doing.”
“Uh huh.” Kai said as he walked out of the room and they all stood there as they heard his door slam shut.
“Whatever.” Sam muttered as she grinned at Gracie and stood up, taking her hand.
“I think that you should perhaps think this through.” Theo said, as he looked at the children all sitting on the couch and unnaturally quiet.
“I have thought about it, and I think that this is a good idea… so end of discussion.” She said.
She squeezed Gracie’s hand and smiled at her.
“Joshua would be angry.” Theo said as he stared her down.
“Well, Josh is not here… I am, and I don’t see anything wrong with taking her to the tree.” Sam said.
Gracie grinned. “Treeeeeee.” She crooned. Sam grinned and leaned down, looking at her face.
“Now listen to me, we are going to the tree house… you need to be weary.” Sam said.
“I have nothing else to say.” Theo said.
Sam stood up and placed her free hand on her hip.
“Stop acting like I am doing something crazy.” Sam said. “For craps sake, it is just a tree house.” She added.
“A tree house that houses the books, ones that little ones she should not be exposed too.”
“Okay listen…” Sam said as she walked Gracie to the couch and picked her up, setting her down in between Alex and Von. Gracie settled in and smiled all small in her huge coat with the ears on it. Sam smiled and walked to Theo, grabbing his hand and pulling him towards the front door. She jerked him out behind her and shut the door. Theo stood there as she released his hand and crossed his arms on his chest. Sam sighed and leaned against the railing, glancing at the forest.
“You know that we need to figure this out.” Sam said.
“I am aware of the mystery that is eating away at you, but sometimes we should not jump before thinking.” Theo said.
“I cannot believe that you are against this Theo…we have five children in there, god knows where the hell they came from. I think one little trip to snoop is not a bad idea.” She said.
“You are well aware that neither Rue nor Josh wants Gracie to enter that tree house, seeing that they are her parents and not either one of us; I feel that their wishes should be granted.” Theo said as he looked at her and held his ground.
“I would guarantee you that if they were here… which they are not; they would be just as curious as to what is going on.” Sam said.
“Well of course they would be, but I doubt that involving their child would be on the table.”
“Oh stop it, it’s not like I am walking her to the gates of Valon.”
“That is your next plan I am sure.”
“Theodore Barrington! I love Gracie, I would never put her in harm’s way, and you know that!”
Theo relaxed his arms and looked at her. “I know that, I do.”
“Well stop giving me so much shit then, and go and tell Kai that it is fine… he always gets all upset when you disagree with anything. I think he looks at you like a Father.”
Theo snorted as he laughed. “Oh please! I am no one’s Father.”
Sam tilted her head and raised her eyebrows.
“Okay… fine, I will talk to him… will that make you happy?”
Sam nodded and Gracie popped her head out of the window and grinned as she leaned on the windowsill.
“Treeeeeeehouse!” she squealed.
Theo sighed and let his hands drop.
“Well, it is fruitless now, you had to tell her.”
Sam smiled. “I knew that would seal the deal.”
“Alright then, but you will tell them that it was you who told her…not me.”
Sam laughed as she pulled Gracie from the window and placed her on her hip.
“No worries, Josh will not yell at you…I on the other hand, don’t care if he gets mad.”
Theo sighed and stepped back into the house and stared at the five children staring at him like deer.
“Well then, what shall we do today?” he asked.
Kai came out of his room, coat on and pulling his tennis shoe on as he bounced.
Theo looked at him and grinned.
“I would assume that you wish to accompany the girls on their adventure.” Theo said.
Kai sighed.
“Well, yeah… I mean I am not going to let them go out there alone and shit.” He said.
The children giggled and Theo placed his hand on his hip.
“The use of curse words in this house is not advised.” He said.
The giggling settled down and Kai flashed out the door and after two of his favorite girls, willing to set aside his protesting and ready to protect them if needed.
“First I would suggest that we bathe.” Theo said as he stared at their dirty faces.
All the children stood up except for Alex, who had bathed twice the night before. Theo smiled as they all walked up the stairs.
“Once you are clean we will go out.” He yelled after them. They all started to run up the stairs and he looked at Alex and smiled.
“You look clean enough I would guess, eat while we wait for the rest of them to wash the filth off.”
Alex pushed himself from the couch and walked into the kitchen. He sat down at the table and Theo flashed in and had food on a plate in front of him before he could blink.
“You are fast.” Alex said as he picked up his fork.
Theo smiled.
“I have had plenty of practice… eat,” he said.
***
The airship landed and we felt the jolt as the wheels screeched down the runway and the brakes were applied. Thank god we have landed. What a hooptydoodle we had experienced on the plane. Johnathan was all suicidal, Josh wanted to make Johnathan’s wish come true and me? Well, I just wanted to get this over with and return to normal, the normal I was used to… the one where I get up every day and look at my daughter and protect her from the world. Obviously the world has changed all arou
nd me and I had let it slip by me, not like I am going to sit and feel bad about that. I have been busy, well, family busy… which to me is life. We all sat there as the table as it vibrated. I guess paying and staying in an expensive cabin on this airship does have its advantages… no one came and told us to strap in or anything before we landed. There had been an announcement and that was the extent of the warning. Maybe it was because vampires roamed there, or maybe it was just the fact that we are flying first… FIRST class. Money, I guess, gave you privileges that no money doesn’t. Not like I even think about it, but situations like this make me think. Since we all had returned to the cabin no one had spoken, which was weird and disturbing all at the same time. I had a couple of moments where thoughts crossed my mind…not pertaining to the situation at hand, but I didn’t voice anything. Johnathan had sat at the table and Josh tooled around the room collecting our things and then had cleaned out the bathroom. This was the first moment that we all faced each other, there at the table as the airship vibrated and changed speed. I cleared my throat and looked at Josh.
“We landed.” I said, like he didn’t know. If one thing is certain, we are all experts at feeling stuff...stuff and things.
“Yep.” Josh said, a little short and devoid of emotion.
I looked at Johnathan, who was staring out the window.
“Jonah and Lily are meeting us at the terminal?” I asked.
“Yep.” He said and that was that. I have two ‘yep’ boys now… freakin awesome.
“Okay then.” I said as I stood up and walked to my black bag. I picked it up and placed the strap over my shoulder and sighed.
I started to walk towards the door and both Josh and Johnathan stood up at the same time and bumped the table. Josh stared him down and Johnathan looked away from him. I shook my head and opened the door up and looked out into the hallway. People had emerged, bags packed… looking excited about the landing and for a moment I felt jealous. I really did. I mean the original reason behind this trip was a sad one, but it was the first trip I had taken in over eight years and I had never been to London, heard stories… read books… but never stepped foot here. Too bad it was all crap now, even if it had just been to retrieve things that Brooke wanted Johnathan to have there would still be a looming cloud over it, but now… holy shit, we have problems… beyond the death thing. Like that alone wasn’t enough to deal with.
I looked back and Josh had his bag and so did Johnathan. They stood there, hesitating like they might say something and then nothing came. They walked towards me and passed me by. I could feel the anger and frustration coming from both of them and it made me instantly hungry… strange reaction I know, but not to me. Any protector gets hungry for any reason really. I think it was a curse… the whole hunger thing I mean. Even if I hadn’t just thwarted the apparent ass kicking Josh wanted to issue to Johnathan, the aftermath… the drama, made me hungry. Any jump in energy did. At least I don’t dream of blood anymore… that sucked and grossed me out, all at the same time. Theo had finally found the cure for me, and with one little pill once a day I no longer felt the urge to bite, except when the moment arose… you know the one, the ‘Josh’ one. I could bite on him anytime.
Johnathan walked past Josh, seeing that he was the only one who had been on this exact trip before, and Josh muttered something. Johnathan stopped and looked at him.
“What?” he said.
Josh shook his head.
“Nothing… you ass.” He said.
Johnathan sighed and kept going, I followed almost losing sight of him at one point and then I saw it… the opening to freedom. The exit. Johnathan disappeared through it and Josh looked at me and took my hand. I sighed, at least he touched me. I knew he was irritated with me, if the situation was reversed I would be too. I just cannot write off Johnathan, I mean how could I do that? I do love him, all screwed up and all. That is what family and the love of your family does to you. It makes you forgive, it makes you move on in the hopes that things will even out, and I have to believe that they would… they just had too.
Josh and I stepped into the long hallway that was attached to the airship and started to walk. The feeling of being on the ground minus the constant movement disoriented me for a moment. I guess kind of like sailors would experience after a trip to sea. Josh acted like he was fine. I knew that he probably was, seeing that he had sailed… for god knows how long before me. It didn’t bother him though, and I slowed my breathing and felt my body calibrate to the earth’s rotation once again. Yeah, we can totally feel that too, so I guess if it stops we would be the siren going off. Good for something, like the end to everything I guess.
We continued to walk and then I saw them both. Jonah and Lily. Lily was hugging Johnathan and Jonah stood there looking exactly the same as I remembered him. Lily on the other hand had changed her hair. It was shorter now, bobbed… no curls. She looked updated, minus the clothing that still had a slight burlesque and antiqued feel to them. I grinned as I remembered that weird night the three of us had… ah, awkward.
“Rue Volley!” Lily yelled out and she ran to me and hugged me. I almost dropped my bag and Josh stood there, just as quiet as he had been the last part of the trip.
Lily let me go, but touched my face and smiled. Her teeth looked amazing, all straight and pretty… and white, very very white. Much improved from the filed points she once had sported… and oh, the whole trying to kill me thing. I grinned at her and she looked at Josh.
“You look pissed, love.” She said.
Josh sighed and she hugged him too. He glanced at me and then she let him go. Jonah stared at the two of us as Johnathan looked off in the distance at all the people tooling around in the large terminal.
“Joshua Barrington and Rue Volley! London welcomes you with open arms.” He said as he walked towards the two of us and hugged us both. I got smashed in his armpit and he ‘oh’d’ and backed away as he laughed.
“You look good.” I said as I cleared my throat and glanced at Johnathan, who still stared off as if he was truly alone. Jonah looked back at him and turned to me.
“Why thank you, rain does me well… all the gloomy sky here.” Jonah said as he grinned.
“How is Lizzy?” I asked as Josh walked away from us and towards Johnathan. I watched him and Jonah cleared his throat.
“She is well, London makes her smile.” He said he looked back as Josh stopped next to Johnathan and spoke.
“So what the hell happened?” Lily said as she leaned into me. I looked down and back up to her.
“Oh you know…drama.”
Lily smiled and interlocked her arm with mine.
“Do tell.” She said as she leaned in.
“Now love… I am certain that Rue would like to settle in before you start in.,” he said.
“Oh please… you know you are just as curious.” She said.
“True… but we have time.” Jonah said as he winked at me.
What a strange thing, the whole change in the two of them. You would never guess that at one point they both had every intention of killing us and feeding… weird to remember them as two rogues devoid of emotion and killing at will. Here they were now… friends, good ones who want nothing to do with that. I would have never thought it possible, but there we are… arm and arm, heading towards a house, their house as guests, not the menu.
We all walked towards the exit, and of course a long black limo waited for us. If nothing else can be said for Jonah and Lily, they truly have settled into a more lavish lifestyle since their old days as carnival attractions. I would assume that they had money all along, but for some reason they chose to sleep on beds sitting on the ground in tents. Perhaps it was all in what you want at the time. We all piled into the limo, that had plenty of room for all us as the driver, a boy who looked just old enough to drive, opened the doors for us and then settled into the driver’s seat and raised the window, separating us from his view. I looked at Jonah and smiled.
“This is nice.�
�� I said as I felt the leather seat under me.
Jonah smiled and looked towards the window divider.
“Yes, I would agree to that.”
Lily laughed and tapped me on the arm.
“Jonah has a boyfriend… he is driving.” She whispered.
“Just a friend, a good friend.” Jonah said.
“Uh huh.” I said as I smiled. I thought of Theo and how that would not be good news to him, but Jonah and Theo had a whole sea separating them and had for the last year and a half. I would guess that I wouldn’t expect Jonah to be a monk, although Theo resembled one now in the romance department.
“So how is my Theodore?” Jonah asked.
I looked at him and grinned.
“He is Theo… as usual.”
“Mmmm.” Jonah said as he looked out the window as buildings passed us by.
“I would think that he would be flourishing in the romance department.” Jonah said.
Josh leaned up and started to mess with his bag.
“Theo hasn’t humped anything since you.”
I looked at him and shook my head as he grinned at me. There is my Josh, all asshole about things. I had to bite my lip and then I looked at Jonah.
“Theo is not a ‘humper’,” I said.
Everyone laughed, except for Johnathan and we rolled on towards their house in the country, away from all the busyness of the London streets.
The car pulled into a lane and I looked out the side window as the biggest house I had ever seen came into view.
“Holy crap.” I said as I forgot that I was in the car with anyone else.
Lily tapped my arm and rubbed my hand.
“I love it here… it is so…”
“Fucking big.” Josh said as he lowered his window and looked up the lane.
The house spread across the countryside, looking wider than most hospitals. It was made of stone, looked as if originally white, but time had changed some of the stones to a gray color. As we approached I could see that vines had weaved their way up the sides, making it look even older as we came closer to it. We stopped at a gate, that stood high and strong… wrought iron, black as night and a girl stepped out from a small stoned building and looked at the car. She placed her hand on a button and the gates opened up allowing us to roll into the interior of the grounds. I looked back at the girl and watched her back into the stone building and Lily leaned over to me.