by Rue Volley
Joshua gently grabbed the side of my thigh and my neck and shoulders tightened up as well as the rest of me and the kissing became awkward on my end as I ‘owe’d’ in his mouth and scooted back, breaking off the heaviness of the situation. An empty house, a more than hot boy and my hormones make for a cocktail of Uh oh, and Uh oh is not the place I wanted to be… but I knew it would happen, I just didn’t know when. Josh sighed and rolled onto his back and placed his hands over his face for a second giving his eyes a rub and then let his hands drop as he stared at the ceiling again and I felt awkward and had no idea what to say but…
“I’m sorry.” I said low and almost sad.
“Oh…” Josh said as he sat up and looked at me. He hesitated and then smiled at me, shaking his head.
“It’s fine… no big deal.”
I took a breath and wished that my heart would return to its normal thump, thump and then I pushed myself up and smiled back, knowing that this changed nothing between us, as it had not a hundred times before.
“So… has the vibration thingy been happening?” I asked him.
Josh looked at his hands and back to me.
“Nothing usually… until I start groping you.” He said as he laughed.
“I don’t understand why they cannot figure out what it is at the hospital.”
“Nope… there is nothing wrong with me, they are chalking it up to possible nerve damage… seeing that I have had some brushes with fighting and accidents.”
That was true. Joshua had told me, over time, that his memories of school consisted of fights and more fights intermixed with dare devilish stunts with his bike and anything else that could cause him damage. Thinking about that it is entirely possible that he had one to many falls and caused damage in his hands that would make them tingle or vibrate or whatever… Funny thing was, after the ‘accident’ that I had where I successfully drove me and my car off of the bridge at the edge of town, I felt like I should know what the vibration was, like somewhere in me I possessed the answers to everything, but this past year has eaten away memories that at one time seemed so real, crazy memories… obviously all made up in my mind as I laid dead in the cold water that night for all of thirteen minutes.
“Rue?” Joshua said and I snapped out of thought and looked back at him.
“Where do you go?” he asked me.
“What?” I asked him.
He tilted his head and grinned at me. “Well, you daydream a lot these days.”
“No… I ahhh, I was just thinking about the accident and stuff.” I said.
He walked up to me and hugged me and I sank into him… my favorite place to be in the whole world.
“You lived.” He whispered.
“Thanks to you.” I whispered back and he held me tighter.
“Uh hummmm.” I heard and Josh and I let each other go and I looked up to see my Dad standing there and Joshua cleared his throat.
“William.” Joshua said as he glanced at me.
“Oh it’s okay.” My Dad said as he smiled and walked in, glancing at my bed that looked a little messy.
I looked at my bed too and felt a blush coming on and Joshua saved me as usual.
“Johnathan was here getting his weekly therapist session.”
“Oh… Brooke mad again?” My Dad asked as he looked at me.
“Yeah… she ahhh, she gave him the ring back this time.”
“Oh, ouch.” My Dad said and Josh started to snicker and I hit him with my elbow in his side.
“Yeah, she got really irritated with him this time.”
“Big shocker.” Josh muttered and I shot him a look.
He shrugged his shoulders and stared back at me.
“Well, love is awkward… and sometimes the road to get there is the whole point of it, not the final destination.”
“Beautiful.” I said as I looked at my Dad and he smiled.
“I have my moments, it’s not like your Mom was the easiest to nail down.”
“Oh I am sure.” I said as I smiled and my Dad winked at me.
“Well, seems that ‘Volley View’ has won.” My Dad said.
“I knew she would win.” I said and my Dad rubbed his hair, putting it into its messy and most natural state.
“But.” He said as he pointed his finger towards my ceiling. “The tree section is mine... therefor it will be called Tree Bark.”
“Way to win the small war.” Joshua said and my Dad raised an eyebrow to him making me grin… you see I get the whole ‘eyebrow thingy’ from him.
“The war is never over in a marriage.”
“Positive outlook.” Josh said as he smiled at me.
“Well, not saying that is where you two are headed but just understand that the Volley women are experts at getting their way.”
“Thank for the heads up.” Josh said and my Dad grinned at me while I felt completely embarrassed that he mentioned ‘marriage’ and Josh and I in the same sentence.
“I need food.” I said as I walked past him. My Dad smiled at Joshua and he smiled back… knowing that ‘operation make Rue uncomfortable’ was indeed a success.
Josh started to follow me and my Dad touched his arm and Josh stopped to look at him.
“No bed.” My Dad said and Josh cleared his throat and walked out, feeling the wrath of a Father who would not have it, regardless of how much he liked Josh… and he does, but he loves me more.
***
A hand clawed its way through the ground and dark and bloodied finger nails gripped the mud… then another hand followed and the earth moved aside as a body appeared and slowly broke through. It fell to the side, in a fetal position and a shuddered and deep-throated cough came from it. The figure rolled onto its back and took a deep, rattled breath then coughed again.
Through a dark and muddied face two eyes appeared and then teeth and a laugh, one that sounded less human than demon, and the figure started to push itself up, swaying on its feet. It started to move forward and stumbled, catching itself with one hand and pushed on until it reached the water’s edge and fell onto its knees, dipping its hands into the water and scooping up handful after handful, washing away the blood and mud and letting it settle into the clear water.
The figure sat up quickly and took another breath and then it leaned forward to reveal its reflection… that of a boy, not much older than 19 or 20… golden hair, beautiful blue eyes, flawless skin and then he stood and shed his clothing, that may have been white at some point and waded into the water, up to his waist. He slowly scooped more water into his hands, letting it stream down his muscular chest, over his stomach and back into the lake. The his skin on his back started to crack, two small lines along his shoulder blades then suddenly and with force… as if coming out for the first time in hundreds of years. Two large wings, greyish in color, expanded out to his sides and somewhat above him and they shook, dust flying from them both and then small traces of white light started to stream through them both, almost sparkling from the sunlight above him.
He looked up at the sky and grinned and then scanned the countryside and saw it. A once great city, once known to all and bowed down to by many… home to the angels, home to vampires and now ready to be reclaimed by him... the archangel Michael himself.
“Valon,” he whispered from his crimson-colored lips and his wings shook again, shedding the last bit of dust from them both.
Chapter 2
Welcome Home
Johnathan sat at the table with me and I grinned at him as he fiddled with his hands. I looked at his hands, all smooth and lacking in any real work and sighed as my Mom snapped me out my stupor as she placed a plate in front of me. I looked up at her and she glanced at Johnathan who sat there all silent and emo. She looked at me and raised her eyebrow and I looked back at him.
“You know, she will be fine… she always is.” I said and Johnathan smiled at my Mom as she gave him a plate of food too.
“Hopefully.”
“Hope is a must do.” My M
om said as she turned back to the stove and Joshua glided into the kitchen and stopped dead when he saw Johnathan sitting next to me.
“No one cooks in your house, do they?” Josh asked as he half grinned and plopped down in the chair across from me. I rolled my eyes at him and looked back to Johnathan who remained all stuck in his stupor.
Joshua tapped his fork on the table and my Mom giggled and turned to all of us.
“Now Joshua, if Johnathan prefers my cooking… I am going to take it as a compliment.”
“More like a hand out.” Joshua muttered under his breath and Johnathan scooted his chair out and stood up as I watched him.
“I should get home.” He said as I reached my hand out to him and he walked away. I heard the front door open then close and I crossed my arms on my chest and stared Josh down who was stuffing his mouth. I leaned back and glanced at my plate. I decided to stare him down some more and he peeked up at me, raising one eyebrow and slightly shaking his head. I shook my head and grabbed my fork, scooping up some food and placing it into my mouth.
“What?” Josh said as a little food dropped from his mouth and he caught it with cat like reflexes, popping it into his mouth. I sighed and my Mom sat down, looking at me and then at him.
“You could try to be a little less testy.” She said.
Josh smiled and leaned back, wiping his mouth and shaking his head as he dropped his napkin on the table.
“Johnathan gets on my nerves.” He said.
“And why is that?” I asked him as I lowered my fork and stared at him.
“Because, he always comes here when he has drama… and I hate drama.” Josh said.
“Friends are there for each other when needed.” My Mom said and I nodded my head ‘yes’.
“We are friends, just… I don’t like drama, and it follows him around like a dog.” Josh said as he leaned back and glanced at me.
“Some are not as lucky to have a relationship that is drama free.” Mom said as she grinned and placed food into her own mouth. I looked at Josh and tilted my head and he sighed. I know he doesn’t mean to be an ass to Johnathan, it just happens that way. It’s their way of being, kind of like how siblings are. I don’t always enjoy Kai and his harassment but at the end of the day he is still my brother and I love him.
The front door opened back up and I stood up, half hoping that Johnathan had come back. Joshua was calmer now and with my Mom present he may behave and give Johnathan a break. I heard a bag drop loudly and crinkled my eyebrows and my Mom grinned. I ran into the living room and there they were, Kai and Sam. I squealed and jump hugged Sam as she stumbled back a little and said “Oh… okay.” as she smiled. I glanced at Kai who was smiling to and let Sam go and hugged him too. He laughed and pulled me back and looked at me.
“You have grown.” He said.
I smiled and looked down at my feet, knowing I probably had not… but you do not notice change like that when you see it every day… only when you have been gone… and they both had been gone for a while, 8 months this time to be exact.
Josh walked in and shook his head.
“The prodigal son returns.” He said as he walked up to Kai and they hugged then the fist bump came. Hate that fist bump thing boys do… but truth was I was so happy to see them both I don’t even care. Josh then looked at Sam and they hugged too, no words this time.
“I didn’t know!” I said all excited.
Sam smiled and placed her hand on her hip.
“Well it was a secret.” She said.
“Why... I could have made plans, told people.” I said.
“Ummmm duh… It is your Birthday.” Kai said as he pulled a box out of his bag and handed it to me. I hesitated, as I stared at the little box with a bow on it… like taking it was an admission to the inevitable… my birthday… yuck. I don’t like them for some reason, I can’t really say why. I don’t hate other peoples birthdays, just my own. Kind of like how you like or don’t like a certain food. Kai took my hand and placed the box in it as he smiled.
“If you like it… I bought it… if not, it was Sam’s pick.” He said as he smiled at her and she rolled her eyes at him.
“No… Kai did this on his own, but know it’s from both of us, so I hope he did a good job.” She said as she placed her bag on the floor and walked to the couch, sitting down and inspecting her nails as she so often does.
I looked at the box in my hand and Josh stepped up next to me. I looked at him and back to the box that was causing my heart beat to speed up for some reason.
“Open it.” Josh said as he grinned.
I sighed and pulled the bow, letting it drop to the floor… my fingertips felt funny like the blood had left them completely and then I did it. I popped the lid off, like I was expecting a bomb to go off and saw tissue paper. I peeled it back and pulled out two tickets and crinkled my eyebrows as I stared at them in my hand. I looked at Kai and he rubbed his neck.
“They are for the art festival this summer; I thought you and Josh would like to go.” He said. I grinned, letting out another squeal and jump hugged Kai again. I had hoped and wanted and hoped some more that I would be able to go.
This Art Festival was actually a huge thing, a gathering of all my favorite artists and writers and what not. It was something that happened two towns over every year and I had never been, never been able to round up enough money to get the tickets and even if the money thing wasn’t problematic enough… just getting the tickets was next to impossible. This festival was so booked in advance that some years the tickets sold out as soon as the festival ended for the next one. I looked at the tickets and grinned big at Josh who didn’t look all to impressed. He is not big on art and I am certain that this was not his idea of a good summer vacation.
“Can you believe this?” I asked him and he looked at Kai.
“Fantastic.” He muttered and I placed the tickets back into the box and smiled at him.
“If you would rather skip it, I am sure that Johnathan would love to use this extra ticket.” I said as I glanced at Sam who rubbed her nails and laughed under her breath.
“No… no, I am cool with going.”
Sam stood up just as my Mom entered the room and smiled.
“Grace.” Sam said as she walked to her and hugged her. I looked at the box and grinned again as I pulled it to my chest and realized just how freakishly cool it was. Kai had rocked it big time and actually made this whole Birthday thing seem cool.
“Thank you.” I said as I looked at Kai and he grinned.
“I know I’m the shit.” He said.
My Mom let Sam go and stared him down.
“Language Kai.” She said and Kai cleared his throat and walked to her as she placed her hands on his face and he sighed.
“Sorry.” He said under his breath and she pushed his hair out of his face.
“Look at you; you look more like your Father every day.”
Kai grinned and Dad walked down the stairs and smiled big.
“Well look at this shit.” He said and Kai laughed and met him at the foot of the stairs and they hugged big as my Mom crossed her arms on her chest and cleared her throat.
“This ‘stuff’.” My Dad said as he glanced at my Mom and let Kai go and tapped him on the shoulders.
“It is so good to see you son.” He said as Kai touched his hand and turned back to me.
“Well, should we tell her?” he said and I tilted my head.
“Tell me what?” I asked as I looked around the room.
“We are home for good Rue.” Kai said and I smiled bigger than I had in forever.
***
Michael stood at the gates of Valon and tilted his head as he listened to wind whistling through the now empty city. He stepped forward and through the entryway with no worry of spells, glamor’s or Valonian guard causing him any harm at all. He walked into the large square and looked up.
The buildings once white and pristine were now covered with green and browning vines and birds
nested in the open windows. He stopped, looked at the fountain and crossed his arms across his tanned chest and stared down the one rival that he knew all too well. He studied the statue that had once glowed white in the sun, and effortlessly hopped up on the outer flat rocks and started to climb until he stared the likeness of Joshua Barrington in the face. He tilted his head and grinned.
“Oh Gabrielle, how the mighty have fallen.” He whispered.
He gently touched the lips of the statue and then with one blurred motion of his hand he decapitated it. The head dropped and rolled onto the flat rocks below until it finally hit the ground and chipped against the stone. Michael jumped down, with little to no effort and stood over the head and grinned.
“I will assume this did not hurt your blackened heart one bit.” He said as he looked up and saw the tower standing across the square. He grinned and left the head lying there as he walked towards the doorway that once rolled like crystal clear water. He stopped and looked at it, not certain if any enchantment remained. He gently placed his fingers out in front of him and when he was satisfied that no portal existed he stepped into the tower and sighed as he scanned the long hall to the right and then to the left. He held his right hand up and symbols started to appear on the floor and walls and he took a right.
Michael stepped up to two large doors both with browning vines winding a crooked pattern on them and he waved his hand and the hinges creaked and moaned as both doors started to move. Then with one last wave of his hand the doors slammed open, kicking up dust. Michael covered his mouth and then stepped into the large room, scanning it slowly. He then spotted the first of many piles of clothing and walked to them quickly, lowering to one knee and grabbing the cloth into his hand. He raised it to his mouth and smelled it, dropping it quickly as he recognized the stench… it was rotting angel, something that burned his nostrils and made him stand up quickly, blowing the retched smell out of his nostrils as quickly as possible. He raised the back of his hand to his mouth and coughed as the smell of death lingered on his tongue.