by Rue Volley
“Like now?” I said.
“No… like when we get back.” He added.
“Oh.” I said as I looked down, not at my boots this time, but at my hands.
Josh leaned down, and tried to see my face.
“Could you give me that?” he asked me.
I looked up and tried to soften my look, but I know that I look upset. Regardless of Johnathan and all of his crazy baggage, he is still my Johnathan, my friend… and the thought of him gone, is not something that I ever wanted to consider.
“I ah.” I started to say and Josh stepped back from me and looked at my face.
“You love him.” He said.
I opened my mouth up and said ‘yes’, with no hesitation.
“Well then.” Josh said as he started to walk towards the end of the hallway, which would lead us to the large staircase.
“Joshua Barrington.” I said and he stopped and turned around. I swear his eyes looked glossy, but it may be the dim light in the hallway, making him look sad. I cannot be sure.
“I do not love him like that.” I said.
“Like what Rue Volley? Like the pain in my ass that has bugged the shit out of me since the day I met him?... or no, maybe like the freak who fucked up his only chance at happiness with the only girl on the planet… a human of course… Brooke, who he could have been happy with… but no, it’s always you… always. Until he lets you go we will not be friends, in fact I would prefer him dead.”
And that was that. Josh finally let that beast out of him and laid it in front of me to kick around. I stared at him, not mad, but just kind of shocked that he really felt that way… like I had not chosen him, like Johnathan had a shot with me, like I would ever consider that.
“Are you ill?” I asked him.
He looked at me and rubbed his neck.
“No.” he said as he lowered his hand.
“Then what the hell is wrong with you?” I asked him.
“Johnathan Graph… that’s what is wrong with me.” He said.
“I can’t believe that after everything we have been through, for god knows how long that you would think that I would one day choose him.” I said.
“Well, if you did you would be stupid.” He said.
“Me? You are the one who is coming up with crazy ass conspiracy theories in your head!” I said.
“I am not… whatever you just said.” Josh said as he raised his hands up and waved them around.
“What does it take?” I asked him.
“What?”
“You heard me Joshua… what does it take for you to know my love for you?” I asked him, finding myself folding my arms on my chest and staring him down.
“I...”
I flashed to him and touched his face as I stared into his eyes, he still had his mouth open and I placed my finger on his lips and traced it, leaving a light blue color behind. He closed his eyes and I could feel him draw his breath in, pulling the chilly air of the hallway over my fingers in the process.
“You have to know that I love you, more than myself… more than anything, and that will never change.” I whispered.
“I’m sorry… I don’t know why he bothers me so much.” He whispered as he kept his eyes closed. I tapped him once on the top of his head and he ‘ow’d’ as he rubbed it.
“Knock it off… this isn’t like you, to act like a pussy.” I said as I grinned.
“Me?... no, I am not a pussy.” Josh said.
“Well then put your big boy pants on and realize that I am able to love other people, Johnathan for example, and it does not mean that you are threatened.”
I walked past him, grinning… knowing that I just pulled a “Josh” on him, and he would let that sink into him and allow him to pull himself out of this crap he had buried himself in. I stepped around the corner and Johnathan stood there, leaning against the wall and I stopped and looked at him.
“And what the hell are you doing?” I asked him.
He leaned up, pulling himself from the wall and Josh stepped around the corner and looked at him.
“What did I do?” Johnathan asked as I walked past him and to the stairs. Josh stood there and looked at him and I turned back and looked at the two of them.
“Are you guys gonna make out… or come to this party with me?” I asked.
They both looked at me then glanced at each other and then ran to step up on either side of me. I took both their arms and we walked down the stairs, no talk, no sarcasm…no bullshit.
I won’t lie… it felt awesome to just tell them both to man the hell up. Go me.
***
Alexander and Gracie walked for quite a while with no conversation. The night was cold, as most nights are in Minnesota and Alexander finally stopped and leaned down, placing his hand on the ground and grinning. He turned and looked at Gracie, who stood there… looking disinterested in anything as she looked up at the trees and around the dark forest.
“Gracie.” Alexander said and she looked at him, the small bits of light glinting on her dark eyes.
“What is it Alexander.” Gracie said.
“You have been too quiet for comfort.” He said.
Gracie half grinned, exposing her canines and looked at him like a predator would its prey.
“I am just looking.” She said as she shifted her weight to her other foot and crossed her arms on her chest.
Alexander stood up and smiled at her.
“Yes… the earth is not as it once was. I would say it is dying from over use and mistreatment.”
“Oh I don’t know about that, it has a charm to it…I guess.” Gracie said.
Alexander tilted his head and looked at her as she looked up again at the dark sky…many stars popping up one by one.
“You hated this place.” He said. “You said it stunk of human and protector flesh and wished for it to be scorched of all parasites.”
“Huh… don’t remember that.” Gracie said as she walked towards him.
“Did you purge all of your memory? Or were you selective?” he asked her.
She shrugged her shoulders.
“I remember your face, and that I love you.” She said.
“Well, I guess I should be thankful of that.”
“Do you remember your plan?” he asked as she walked past him and squatted down, touching the cold dirt. She picked up dying leaves and crumpled them in her hand.
“I am afraid that you will have to remind me.” She said as the small pieces of leaves fell between her fingers and back to the ground.
“We came here under your command.”
Gracie stood up and looked at him.
“I would tell you that you are better equipped to lead than I am now.” She said.
“I find that disturbing, coming from you. You lead Gracie, you do not follow.”
“Huh… funny, I don’t remember.” She said as she started to push on. Alexander caught up to her and leaned to look at her face.
“I will tell you that I am a bit angry that you purged memory, they will not remember you and the point was… to have the shield and the sword return home in a panic and come to find you.”
“The what?” she asked as she glanced at him.
“Rue Volley and Joshua Barrington.”
“No memory.” Gracie said as she waved her hand at her head and grinned.
Alexander stopped her and looked at her face.
“You need to return to me, if this is to work… do you understand?”
Gracie took a breath, slow and relaxed.
“I am right here.” She said.
“No… you are not. In fact you feel different.” Alexander said as he took a step back from her.
Gracie tilted her head, not unlike a bird and stared at his face.
“I am at peace, was I never at peace before now?” she asked him.
Alexander laughed and looked at her like she had told the funniest joke ever told.
“Seriously, you baffle me.” He said.
“What?” she asked him as she rubbed the front of her dress and looked back up at him.
“Gracie… you are a warrior, the most powerful of all of us. We have followed you, as you instructed… as I would to the end of time. You constructed this plan, the destruction of protectors and humans alike. Your hatred for all of them fueled it. We all followed you, believed that you would not fail… you do not fail, at any cost. You entered Rue Volley, as she became pregnant with child; you did this of your own free will. You manifested as one of them, letting your energy animate the flesh that she carried. You said that once you came into the world, you would destroy them all… with the added power that the two of them gave to you… does any of this remind you of what you planned, why we are here?” he said.
“Huh… not really.” She said as she looked up at the trees again.
“This is no good.” Alexander said as he grabbed her wrist and started to walk. Gracie followed him still with a peaceful look on her face. Alexander stopped and turned to her.
“Are you lying?” he asked her.
Gracie crinkled her eyebrows.
“What?” she asked as she bit her lip.
“Stop that.” He said.
“Stop what?”
“This.” He reached up and touched her lip.
“Oh… I didn’t know that I was doing it.” She said.
“We have to speed up, we have business to attend too, and then we need to return to Valon. I am certain that the others have returned and have disposed of that disgusting relic that resides there by now.”
“Who?”
“Caine Graph.” He said.
Gracie raised her eyebrows and let him drag her along behind him.
Johnathan stood at the window, quiet. Staring out at the sky. Hating where he was, hating that he was not strong enough to fight his way out of Valon, and most of all… hating the fact that he actually felt something when Alandra killed Caine. Why would he feel anything? Caine deserved death… perhaps at Jonathan’s own hand. But when the opportunity arose, he did not strike as he had dreamed of doing, so many times before. The beast deserved to die, he kept repeating it over and over in his head and yet he felt something, resembling sadness and it infuriated him to no end. Johnathan turned when the bathroom doors opened up and Brooke came walking into the room. Rubbing her hair with towel and glanced at him. She walked to the Vanity and sat down, picking up a brush and started to slowly brush the tangles out of her hair. She hissed when the brush got caught and she tried to pull it from her. Johnathan sighed and walked up behind her, placing his hand on hers and pulling the brush from her hand. She looked at his reflection and cleared her throat. He started to slowly brush her hair for her and she rolled her eyes.
“I am totally capable of doing it.” She said.
Johnathan grinned slightly and gently moved the brush through her hair.
“Let me.” He said quietly.
Brooke looked up at him and his face looked soft, she bit her lip and relaxed in the chair as he continued to brush, avoiding causing any pain as he pulled the tangles from her hair.
“Don’t act like I don’t know your tricks.” She said.
Johnathan stopped and looked at her face, she looked upset. Not unlike she had the entire time so far.
“I am sorry.” He said. Knowing that he really didn’t know why he was saying it, but perhaps if he said it, she would soften and talk instead of bitching.
“Oh… like that is enough, like it would ever be enough Johnathan.” She said, in a low whisper.
Johnathan leaned over to try to hear her.
“What?” he said.
“Nothing.” She said as she turned and snapped the brush out of his hand, and started to brush her own hair.
“So how the hell are you going to get us out of here?” she asked him.
Johnathan sighed, knowing that he had tried his best to stop her from hating him… but Brooke, not unlike every girl in his life, would stop hating when she felt the need to… and would not be swayed with any amount of charm.
“Good question.” He said as he turned and walked back to the window. He stared out and she stopped brushing her hair as she felt something soft in her for him for a split second. She shrugged it off and stood up.
“Well, you better figure it out.” She said as she walked back to the bathroom and slammed the doors behind her.
Johnathan sighed and continued to stare out the window, wishing that he could understand why she hated him so much… other than the fact that they were not together, his fault… he knew.
The lock turned on the door and Johnathan turned to see a girl, about his age enter. He tilted his head and stared at her as she stepped in and stood there, all dressed up… looking like she about to attend a party.
“Get the girl.” She said.
Johnathan looked at her and grinned.
“Who are you?” he asked.
“My name is Cali, but that is of no importance to you… retrieve your mate. Von would like for both of you to come to dinner.” She said.
“What if I am not hungry?” Johnathan asked.
“Be assured that I care not if you ever eat, but Von is intrigued with you monkeys… so follow or die.” She said, as she pulled out a blade, not too different from blades that he had wielded himself.
“Well, since you are being so nice about it, I guess I will come.” He said.
“Whatever… get her now.” Cali said as she stood there, not accepting his charm.
“Fine.” Johnathan said as he walked to the bathroom door and hesitated before he knocked on the door. He tapped lightly and it popped open, making him step back. Brooke looked as if she had been crying, and he wanted to hug her, make her feel better but she immediately stepped past him and stood there staring at the girl.
“What?” she said.
“Oh I see that you are just as pleasant as the rest of them.” Cali said as she grinned.
Brooke placed her hand on her hip and Johnathan stepped up next to her.
“We have been invited to dinner.” Johnathan said.
Brooke looked at him and back to the girl.
“I am not hungry.” Brooke said.
Cali shook her head and walked to the door.
“Follow me and shut up.” She said.
Brooke opened her mouth, but Johnathan touched her arm and Brooke looked at him. He shook his head and looked at Cali.
“Fine… but I don’t want to sit next to him.” Brooke said as she walked to the door and blew past Cali. Cali grinned and looked at Johnathan.
“Oh… she hates you, I am sure you can feel it as I do.”
Johnathan sighed and followed no choice really.
Cali opened two large doors, larger and heavier than needed with little effort. She looked back at Johnathan, and Brooke stepped in with her head up, looking as if she was in no mood for any shit whatsoever. Johnathan followed and looked up at the skylight. This room was devoid of the stench that he had endured in the council room; in fact it was beautiful really. The walls looked white and new, and the room smelled of flowers. He looked down and saw a long table, filled with food and vase after vase of Lily’s and took another breath. Brooke had found a seat already and due to her warning he took a seat across from her. Von sat at the head of the table, with all the others spread out. He stood up as they sat down and dinged his glass with a knife. Cali kicked Brooke’s chair in and Brooke shot her a look as Cali passed her by grinning to herself. Brooke mumbled and Von cleared his throat.
“I would greet you as guests tonight… this being the first time our two kinds have come together, minus a blade.”
Johnathan looked at his glass and gritted his teeth when he realized that it had been filled with blood. Von raised his eyebrows and sat back down.
“You do not approve of the drink?” he asked.
Johnathan scooted the glass away from him and looked down the table at Von.
“I do not drink blood.” Johnathan said.
The other angels at the table laughed and Von raised his hand and they stopped. He looked at Johnathan and leaned back in his chair, pulling his own glass to his mouth and closing his eyes as he took a drink. He swallowed and then placed the glass on the table.
“I find that strange… and yet intriguing, perhaps you do not embrace what you are due to the fact that you are not pure in anyway.”
Johnathan looked at Brooke and then back down the table at Von.
“I choose to eat food.” Johnathan said.
Von laughed and leaned forward, looking at Cali. She shook her head and took a drink of her own.
“Funny… I would think that flesh would make you happy.”
“I would think that Angels would not drink blood.” Johnathan said as he stared him down.
“Huh. Well, then it is going to be a night of learning I believe.”
“I think I know all I want to know about you.” Johnathan said.
Brooke looked at him and crinkled her eyebrows. Johnathan grinned and picked up his fork. He moved the meat on his plate and watched the blood trail behind it. He lowered his fork and leaned back in his chair.
Von stood up and everyone but Johnathan looked at him, as he stepped away from his chair and started to walk down the table.
“I detect that you feel as if you are better than we are Johnathan.” He said.
Johnathan laughed and glanced at him.
“I never said that.”
“Oh but I detect it… this smug attitude, not unlike your recently departed Father.”
Johnathan sighed and pushed his chair out from the table. Cali started to rise and Von held up his hand and she lowered to her chair slowly.
“Caine Graph was never a Father to me… more like pain in my ass.” Johnathan said.
Von clapped his hands together and laughed.
“Oh so I see, you hated him… so amusing. I would think that you would have had some shred of compassion for him… seeing that he did play a part in your creation.”
“Creation or not… he meant nothing to me.” Johnathan said as he stared at his hands.
Von stopped behind his chair and looked at the back of his head. He grinned and Brooke stared at Von, hoping that this was not the beginning of a fight.