by Rue Volley
Von leaned up to Johnathan’s ear and whispered.
“You need not mask your pain with me.”
Johnathan stood up in flash and Von took one step back, holding his hand up as Cali once again rose quickly.
“I am just talking.” Von said as he held his hands out to Johnathan.
“We are not friends, so I don’t see why you want to.”
Von grinned and backed away from him.
“Well perhaps in time, you will see me in a different light.”
“In time? I have no intention of staying in Valon.” Johnathan said.
Von stopped and looked back at him.
“But why? This is your home is it not? In fact your Father wished you to restore this city to the shining example of theft that it was.”
“What do you mean by theft?” Johnathan asked.
Von returned to his seat and Cali walked to Brooke’s chair and pulled her blade out. Johnathan glanced at her and sat back down in his chair, not wanting any harm to come to Brooke.
“Seriously, you need to understand your lineage.” Von said as he took a bite from his plate, and blood dribbled down his chin.
“Well school me then.” Johnathan said as Cali returned to her seat and Johnathan stared at Brooke, who looked as if she was getting more upset by the minute.
“Oh! I would love to… thank you for asking… Mmmm, let’s see. Where to begin? Oh I guess at the beginning would be appropriate.”
Johnathan pulled the glass to him and stared at it. Brooke raised her eyebrows and Johnathan took a sip, coughing on it.
“Excellent.” Von said as he looked down the table at Johnathan.
“Okay then… let me share some of your illustrious history with you, since you were not taught anything of it.”
Johnathan cleared his throat and wiped the blood from his lip. With his napkin.
“Valon was the gate to heaven.” Von said.
Brooke looked at him and coughed, like she was rudely interrupting him.
Von looked at her and grinned.
“Perhaps you should drink, being a monkey as you are; you might not be able to understand.”
“What? I can understand anything.” Brooke said as she leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms on her chest. Johnathan looked at her and slightly shook his head.
“Really, I don’t get why you love this thing… but anyway.” Von said.
Johnathan looked down and Brooke looked at him and raised her eyebrows.
“Anyway, Valon was built by and for us. This is our city. Until that creature crawled from the tree.” He said.
“What creature?” Johnathan asked.
Von shook his head and looked at Cali, who had put her feet up on the table.
“That creator… the first of your kind. Sara, she crawled out of the sludge and slowly but surely swayed the angels, one by one to believe what she had to say.”
“Sara likes to talk.” Johnathan said as he grinned and looked at Brooke.
“Yes… well, one by one they listened… but none more than Joshua.” He said.
“Wait… what?” Johnathan said.
“Oh yes, I have your attention now I see.”
“You cannot be talking about Joshua Barrington.” Johnathan said.
“None other.”
“What the fuck?” Johnathan said as he leaned up and stared at Von.
“Well… as I was saying, Joshua believed her. Thought that she and the kind she brought with her deserved to live, and as I tried to sway him he would not listen to me. He shed his wings and entered what would become the first of us to turn.”
“Wait… so Josh was an angel?” Johnathan asked.
Von laughed and raised his glass. “Not only an angel… the first angel, the first true protector of this oasis, the guardian of Valon… and when he left us, others followed him, causing much confusion and heartache amongst us. But he got what he deserved, for he left us to become that of which he fought to not be. A creature that preyed upon humans and others of his kind. Did you not ever wonder why he was a third born to these things? He was not to be, and yet he is.”
“I think I am going to get sick.” Johnathan said.
“Oh Johnathan, Joshua has no memory of what he is, and yet a statue of his true form stands in the fountain square. He only knows heartache now, as he battles to understand why he has never felt settled, never felt as if he belonged. Pity, his parents knew of what he was, well his Father anyway, and be it that I despised your Father, the wretched creature that he was, he did do us a favor when he slew Joshua’s father.”
“I can’t… I don’t…”
“Oh come now… surely you must have felt him and wondered why he is so different from all of you.” Von said.
“I think I need to return to my room.” Johnathan said as he stood.
Brooke rose to and so did Cali. Von held his hand up and shook his head at her.
“Very well, perhaps you should sleep. We have a lifetime to catch you up on the truth.” Von said.
Johnathan stepped back from the table and ran out of the room, not wanting to think about anything that Von had just shared.
***
I stood there, staring at the open room and smiled. It was decked out like a ballroom, beautiful but not shocking, considering that Lily had decorated it. She has impeccable taste, this I know. People shuffled about, I could feel them all. Mostly humans intermixed with a few rogues. I was a bit surprised that I could detect the rogues roaming around, but perhaps there in London, these rogues had no need to hide. Not in Jonah and Lily’s house anyway. I looked to the right and a young girl hung on a pretty boys arm. She smiled at him and he leaned over, kissing her neck, pulling back I could see the small cut he had inflicted with his teeth on her neck and the blood was minimal, but still made me close my eyes and take a breath. I felt Josh take my hand and pull me towards the center, where Jonah and Lily stood, chatting with a few people in a circle. I looked back and Johnathan stood there, not following as he held his gaze on the young girl and boy who I had just been staring at. I turned when I heard Lily’s voice and smiled. She looked amazing. Not a surprise either. She wore a long dress, hugging all the right parts of her, showing off her thin waist and nice curve to her hips. She had chosen to wear red, and it looked awesome on her as it does most blondes. She smiled at me and grabbed my hands, holding them out to my sides and looking at the dress I had chosen to wear, obviously approving. I smiled back.
“A vision of Grace and Beauty.” She said and for a moment I crinkled my eyebrows as the words echoed in my ears. Josh leaned forward and took Lily’s hand, turning it over and kissing her palm. I stood there, not disturbed by it…I blinked and the words stopped echoing in my ears.
“You look amazing.” I said as I pushed the small amount of hair I had hanging down behind my ear.
“As do you love.” Jonah said as he stepped towards me and took my hand, kissing it not unlike Josh had Lily’s.
“This looks awesome.” I said as I looked around the room.
“Oh! Thank you.” Lily said as she stepped back from Josh and smiled.
I leaned forward, as if to share a secret… and they did too.
“There are a lot of rogues here.” I whispered.
Jonah laughed and took Lily’s hand.
“These are friendly beasts… that I assure you. They have no intention of causing harm, not unlike ourselves.” Jonah said as he kissed Lily’s hand and she smiled.
“Okay… cool.” I said as I glanced around the room, seemed as if another 50 people had shown up, just since we stepped in.
I swallowed. “I didn’t know there were so many here in London.” I said.
“Oh… well some are from across the pond, came just for the party.” Jonah said as he looked around the room too.
“Are you uneasy, love?” Lily asked me.
I looked at her and shook my head.
“No… no. I’m sure they are all just fine. I mean, you wouldn’
t have them here if they sucked.” I said.
Lily laughed.
“Well, they do “suck”… just not without being asked to.”
I looked at Josh and he smiled. I was glad to see him happy. Maybe my little bitch fit had finally knocked this stupid Johnathan thingy out of his head for good.
“Well… how about we dance?” Jonah asked as he held his hand out to me.
“Oh… okay.” I said.
Jonah took my hand and we walked away from the circle. I looked back and saw Lily lean into Josh’s ear and whisper something. He smiled and looked at me. I felt a blush coming on, as the thought of the three of us, that night so long ago welled up in my mind. I was snapped out of that thought when Jonah swung me around in front of him and took my hand as he placed his other hand at the small of my back.
He leaned up and grinned.
“You do look quite amazing tonight.” He said.
“Oh thanks… but really it’s just the dress.” I said.
“Oh no.” he said as he twirled me around and stopped.
“It is the creature that inhabits, for the dress is only fabric. You my love, make it look as if it is truly breathing.”
“You flatter me… stop it Jonah.” I said.
He smiled and twirled us again, and I caught a glimpse of Josh dancing with Lily.
“Am I embarrassing you?” he asked.
“No… no. I just, never mind. I will just say thank you.” I said as I half smiled.
“Good… it is nice to see that you can take a compliment after all of this time.” He said as he laughed.
“Well… I would think that I have just learned that there is no arguing with you.” I said.
Jonah laughed and turned me, I no longer saw Josh anywhere.
I crinkled my eyebrows and looked around the room.
“I’m sorry Jonah… I think I need a drink.” I said.
“Very well.” He said as I stepped back from him and started to walk through the room. I looked up and saw that everyone looked at me as I passed them by. Normally, or I guess years ago… I would have been disturbed by it, but not now. My only thought was where the hell Josh was, or for that matter… where the hell was Lily?
I was busy scanning the room and Johnathan stepped into my view. I grinned at him and he walked towards me. At least he is smiling too. Good. Maybe I really had finally buried all the crap that we were dealing with. Maybe being a bitch is what I should have been all along. Who knew?
Johnathan stopped about three feet in front of me and held his hand out as he leaned down. Oh shit, he wanted a dance. I sighed and tried to look gracious, but I am sure that I looked goofy because it felt that way. He reached forward and took my hand and I had no choice. I guess the additional dancing will commence. He placed his hand low on my back and held my other hand gently in his and I looked up. He looks calm, so I would assume that we are not having a problem here.
“Rue Volley.” He said.
“Johnathan Morris Graph.” I said.
He grinned. We haven’t been so formal since… well since we first met in the library, what seemed like a lifetime ago.
He slowly moved with me, holding me like I was a porcelain doll more than the friend he knew that I was… the Rue who had refused to be broken from a lifetime of trying.
“You look so pretty.” He said.
And again with the freakin compliments. I smiled and nodded.
“I will accept that and raise you one… you look pretty too.” I said.
He smiled, exposing his whiter than white teeth.
“I want to apologize to you.” He said.
“You don’t… I mean, let’s just leave it, okay?” I said.
“No… shut up and let me talk.” He said.
I stopped moving and he looked at me, his face soft and inviting, like the friend that I knew. I cleared my throat.
“Okay then.” I said.
“I have been a hot mess.” He said to me.
I giggled.
“Oh you think?” I said.
He raised his eyebrows.
“Sorry… go on.” I said.
“Well, it all became clear to me tonight.” He added.
“Good.” I said.
“I know what I have to do now.” He said.
I looked at him and tilted my head.
“I would hope that “just being the Johnathan that I know” would be it.” I said.
“Well, yes and no.” he said.
I stopped us and stared at his face.
“What?” I asked him.
“Do you know where Josh is right now?” he asked me.
I scanned the room and didn’t see him.
“No… but he is a big boy, I would assume that he is in the bathroom or something.” I said.
“No… would it pain you to know that he is with Lily?” he asked me.
I stepped back and my air left me. I took a breath but it burned my lungs.
“Don’t act like you didn’t know.” Johnathan said.
I touched my stomach and stared him down as my head started to ache.
“What?” I said in a whisper.
“He is with her, as he has been with you.”
Those words started to echo in my ears. Everything in the room spun a little and I grabbed my stomach as I started to become nauseous.
“I… what… I don’t know what you are saying to me.”
“You should be mine, he is not worthy of your affection.” He said.
I started to fall, but he caught me before I hit the floor. Not exactly the cool reaction that I would expect to dish out, but my head is aching and my heart is stopping in my chest. Johnathan picked me up and turned, walking out of the room and into the hallway. I looked at him, but not unlike a few times prior in my life, my body feels disconnected from me, like I am not a part of anything. Nothing at all. I felt us moving, but I had no words that would come out. In fact I felt as if I had been poisoned, not unlike I had when Mikah poisoned me. I suddenly felt air and I looked up at the sky as he moved with me. Are we flashing now? Faster, and further away from the house? I cannot be sure. Suddenly we stopped and Johnathan lay me down on soft ground. I looked up as he smiled at me and raised my hand to him. I wanted to say something, but I was paralyzed to do anything about it. Johnathan raised his hands above his head and flash of light came from him, I looked up at the sky and saw them start to fall. Ravens…hundreds of them, falling like rain around us. Johnathan leaned down and picked one up, cracking its neck quickly and biting into its side. He straddled me and started to speak in Latin. He leaned down and placed his mouth over mine forcing the ravens blood into my mouth. I swallowed, coughing, spitting out the blood as I cried out. The sky blurred, the blood beat hard in my ears and all went dark… darker than the blackest night.
Chapter 12
Glamor
“I find your silence deafening.” Alex said as he stopped and stared at the town.
Gracie sighed and looked around. The town looked dark and lifeless. Wind kicking up the debris left behind. A newspaper whipped up and then fell at her feet, wrapping around her ankle. She leaned down to pick it up, opening it and looking at the words typed in smeared ink. Alex looked at her and grinned.
“There are no journalists here love, I am certain that the cockroaches infesting this place ate them all.”
Gracie looked up at him and stood up, letting the newspaper fly away from her.
“Where are we?” she asked him.
“Come… I will show you what you hate.” He said as they walked down the middle of the street. The lamps lining it flickered, cracking and hissing from power surges.
Alex stopped and tilted his head, holding his free hand up. Gracie held her breath for a split second and he was gone in a blur. She looked around and heard a cry echo out in the distance. Alex flashed back to her with a boy, perhaps a bit older than her, struggling in Alexander’s grip. The boy’s feet dangled just above the ground as Alex held onto him. Gracie
looked at the boy and then at Alex.
Alexander grinned.
“This is what I am talking about.” He said.
The boy cried out as Alex bit into his neck and tore a chunk of flesh out. He dropped the boy to the ground and spit blood and bits of flesh onto the ground as he wiped his mouth with his sleeve.
“You taste like death.” Alex said as he spit once more and looked at Gracie.
Gracie looked at the boy as he held his hand to the wound on his neck and started to push himself on the road away from them.
“Ah… ah.” Alex said as he flashed to the boy and knocked him on his back. He straddled him and leaned into his face.
The boy hissed and spit blood on Alexander’s face.
Alex laughed and looked back at Gracie.
“See what I mean? Animals… all of them.”
Gracie shook her head and stepped up next to them both and looked down.
“Alexander…” she said.
Alex looked at her and grinned, blood splattered on his face.
“Do you not remember? This creature was disgusting to you.” He said.
“Let him go Alex.” Gracie said.
Alex stood up and kicked the boy in the side; the boy cried out and rolled onto his side, holding it with his bloodied hand.
“I find that unnecessary.” Gracie said.
Alex stood there and lowered his head. He then looked up at her with no real expression on his face.
“Did you strip yourself of what you are?” he asked her.
Gracie crinkled her eyebrows and stared at him.
“All I know is that I know you.” She said.
Alex started to pace and then he stopped, the boy was slowly inching his way away from the two of them.
“I believe that you live to torment me Gracie.” Alex said as he stopped pacing and looked towards the sky.
“I know that I love you.” Gracie said.
Alex sighed and his breath came out in a white puff of air.
“Time for you to learn.” Alex said as he flashed to her and touched her face.
Gracie took a breath and stared into his eyes.
“That thing behind us is rogue Gracie, a byproduct of our true enemy… protectors. You once vowed to strip the earth of all like him; it was you who said that we could not me tainted with this disease. You Gracie, your words… and I followed you as we all did, believing that you would make it come to pass.” He said.