by Abbie Payne
Legends of Rockfell Hybrid’s Trial
Abbie Payne
Legends of Rockfell: Hybrid’s Trial The following production comes from the writer’s brain, and the writer’s brain only. Any similar people – living or deceased -, events, or places are solely coincidence.
Copyright © 2018 Abbie M. Payne All rights reserved. No parts of this publication may be reproduced, scanned, copied, or transmitted in any form, digital or printed, without written permission of the author.
Dedicated to my not-brother, Anthony. Thank you for your support and always staying by my side through thick and thin. I can’t possibly tell you how much I appreciate it.
Welcome to Rockfell
This story takes place in two cities: Rockfell and
Crystalhills. These two
cities are vastly different from one another, but they have one thing in common: humans do not exist. Humans were eradicated from
existence some two hundred years before this story takes place, leaving the world behind to those we once thought were just figments of our imagination.
Any supernatural being that has ever been dreamt up by humans (vampires, werewolves, angels, demons, etc.) now inhabit the earth. However, just like how it was with humans, if you put different species together in one place they start to create relationships well beyond shaking hands and saying “how do you do?” This is how
hybrids were created.
In some places around the world, hybrids are now more common that even pureblooded creatures, but even so they are all severely discriminated against. More often than not, they’re deemed as outcasts (or “Legends” as people have come to call them) by both sides of their bloodline.
While neither Rockfell nor
Crystalhills have the population situation as stated before, they
definitely do discriminate against their hybrids.
Rockfell is a small community located right on the west coast of North America. While it has quite a large boundary, the population is still relatively small– especially when compared to the metropolis
Crystalhills. There are a lot of
historical sites located around the town.
Many people decide to live closer to the center of the town all the way out to the beach, but the Rizos (the family that this story focuses on) have decided to live in a small colonial style house on the outskirts of town.
The house is surrounded by
wildflowers and woods but go past those woods to your west and you will find Knight’s Point Beach – the everpopular vacation hot spot.
Most people that come to Rockfell don’t stay. Rockfell thrives off of tourism and so their infrastructure is very important to them. While the buildings are quite old, the roads are still kept clean and pretty, which in turn makes it a massive reality warp– especially coming from a big city like Crystalhills.
So, while Rockfell might seem like it’s just fields a few houses here and there, remember that our view of this town (inHybrid’s Trial, anyhow) is quite restricted to just the Rizo’s house, the courthouse, and once or twice the streets of Rockfell.
Chapter One (Lazarus)
“As you grow older, you will discoverthat youhave two hands, one forhelping yourself, the otherforhelping others.” –Audrey Hepburn
Icould hear my heart
pounding and the rhythm of my feet hitting the pavement,
but I wasn’t getting there fast enough. Well, if it had been anyone else I actually might’ve taken a little more time getting there, but this was my brother.
Unlike most of the people in my city, I didn’t like to use my powers unless I really had to, but this was one of times I felt it was really necessary. I teleported right in the middle of the circle of bullies surrounding Levi.
An idiotic thing to do, I know, but Mom says I never use my brain for anything good anyway. “He’s already on the ground. Don’t you have anything better to do with your lives?” I hissed.
One of the guys of the group snarled at me. He was a werewolf and I could smell his dog breath from where I was standing. “Who’s asking?” He
growled (quite literally).
“That’s none of your business.” I replied. About that time, the wind blew to push my hair from my face and reveal a scar on my cheek. “Kyan, that’s Hazel’s kid,” one of the other boys whispered. He didn’t have a specific smell, but I could tell by his teeth he was probably a vampire of sorts.
Kyan chuckle d, “So? I’m not afraid of that psycho creep or her boys.” He mused. He was whispering too, probably because he didn’t realize who my father was. No one ever did until I told them, mostly because my mom always worked hard to keep him a secret.
I stepped forward, “I can hear you.” I sneered. My father was a demon (no, not as in that kind of demon, but more on that later) and demons had
exceptional hearing.
Kyan laughed manically, “Oh really?I’m glad you have one thing going for you.” He snarled. He raised his arm and soon enough his fist was colliding with my face. My vision went blurry for a few seconds and I couldn’t see Kyan, but I didn’t need to.
He shoved me against the brick wall. “Do you want your death to be fast or slow?” He sneered. My vision corrected itself finally and I saw Levi behind him struggling against the vampire (the one that seemed to be scared of me) and the werewolf from before.
“Correction. If you don’t let my brother go this instant, it’ll be you that will be deciding how you want to die.” I breathed through my bared teeth.
I felt the heat in the palms of my hands and reached for Kyan’s bare arm. The vampire yelped and jumped back from my grip just long enough for me to break free of him. Kyan looked down at the second degree burnon his arm. “You little…!” He started. He took a swing at me again.
I chuckled, ducking from him. Kyan stared at me, shocked by the speed I actually had. “Half-demon.” I mused.
Kyan didn’t have a chance to swing at me again before his buddies pinned me down to the asphalt.
One werewolf sat down on my chest and started punching me as hard and fast as he could. Another put his claw up to my throat. I felt it piercing my skin. “You messed with the wrong people, Rizo.” Kyan hissed.
I closed my eyes, trying to block the pain from my mind when I heard a familiar female voice. “That’s
enough!” She shouted and I saw a beam of electricity shoot the werewolf on my chest in the shoulder. The werewolf whimpered as he got off of me and joined his buddies as he ran off in the opposite direction.
For safe measure, I couldn’t resist yelling after them, “Don’t let me see you laying a hand on my brother again!”
Part of me hoped I wouldn’t see them again. Not because I didn’t think I could take them again, but because it was ridiculous how much Levi had to put up with. Just because he liked reading books more than throwing a football around.
It wasn’t fair and that was why even though I was technically two years younger than him I protected him with my life. Levi walked over to me and put his arm around me and pulled me to my feet. “Thanks, Taz.” He whispered.
No one ever called me Lazarus. Levi had coined the nickname Taz when were little just because he couldn’t say Lazarus and it just kind of stuck after that.
Most people forgot my name even was Lazarus, even my teachers. “Lazarus Samuel Rizo, what was that?” I only then realized the woman that had saved me was my own mom, Hazel Rizo.
My mom was probably the most powerful witch there was. She was the head of the Rockfell Council of Witches and probably the best mother anyone could ever wish for. Levi and I adored her, anyway.
The only thing Mom didn’t have going for her was the fact she wasn’t in a relationship. My father was killed when I was very
young and we never talked about Levi’s father – an angel.
“Mom, I had to…” I muttered. Mom shook her head, “Let’s go home, boys. We’ll talk about this then.” She hissed.
“Mom, I’m sorry.” I whispered. Mom shook her head, “Just teleport home.” She snapped. Okay, yeah, she could be strict. But that was fine.
I teleported home without a moment to spare and plopped down on the couch beside Levi while I waited for Mom to come and scold us. Mom sat down in front of me with a first aid kit.
I reached up and touched my nose. I removed my fingers and they were covered in a dark red liquid. I sighed and waited impatiently for the famous Hazel Rizo lecture.
“You can’t just go around fighting on the streets, Taz. What if you were fighting where one of the cameras were? What if the Watchers caught you fighting with Kyan?” She whispered. I stared at her blankly. Mom looked up at me and sighed impatiently, glancing at my brother to explain.
“That guy that confronted you first? That Kyan guy? He’s the apparent heir of the Watcher Empire, the eldest son of Eleanora and Gabriel
Watcher.” Levi explained softly.
I huffed, “What empire? That mansion where they sit on cushy sofas all day while they are fanned with palm leaves and fed grapes by their servants that they continue to treat like a pack of mules?”
Mom laughed softly, “They’re powerful people, Taz. Not exactly a laughing matter.” She replied.
I sighed, “I still don’t understand why you let them boss the council around like they do.”
Mom simply shook her head, “I have no choice. Majority wins.” The Watchers were nothing but a cluster of prudes and every generation was worse than the one before them. They were all pureblooded vampires that were convinced that all hybrids were barbaric (Levi taught me that word, he’s a lot smarter than me) and in need of extermination.
But they also didn’t think that any species other than werewolves, vampires, and mermaids deserved to be deemed as citizens of Rockfell.
I had to hand it to them though, they were pretty good at persuading people to do what they wanted. They even convinced the entire Council to vote towards investing in a bunch of security cameras around town so that they could “keep an eye on their children”.
“I’m sorry I got in a fight with Kyan, Mom, but I had to protect Levi.” I muttered.
Mom smiled and put her hand on my shoulder, “I know you did, Taz, but just be more careful next time, okay? The last thing I need is to lose you too.” I saw her eyes begin to shine with tears, but she quickly got up and kissed me on the head before hurrying to her lair (likely to brew more potions). I turned back to Levi.
“Now do you care to tell me what happened?” I asked. Levi smiled softly, putting his arm around my shoulders, “Taz, you do realize I’m the older brother, right? I’m supposed to protect you, not the other way around.” He chuckled.
I nodded, “And? I’m still your brother and I still care about you.” Levi smiled wider and squeezed my shoulders, pulling me into a proper hug.
“Well, if you must know, then I’ll tell you. Kyan is apparently bitter about the death of his aunt and uncle and he sure seems to think that the Rizos are to blame.” He explained softly.
I raised my eyebrows, “His aunt and uncle?” I muttered as I sat up again. Levi looked down, “Right… I forget you don’t pay much attention to the news. Daisy and Sylas Watcher were found dead in their home a few weeks ago. There’s no apparent reason for death at the moment, the autopsy didn’t even come back with anything except for it pointing to a murder. Kyan’s trying to convince the whole town that it was the doing of a witch or a demon.” He explained.
I rolled my eyes, “And why does he think it’s us? There’s tons of witches and demons in Rockfell.” I argued.
Levi simply shrugged, “Remember Lily?” He asked. I nodded. How could I possibly forget my exgirlfriend (and Kyan’s younger sister) who I got with because I was trying to make a bridge between our families?
“Logic points in the direction that he’s trying to get you into trouble with the law because you broke up with her.” Levi added.
I looked down, “It wasn’t my fault…” I muttered. I always felt bad when he brought up how I broke up with Lily, but she drove me to my breaking point.
Lily was always the materialistic type and she was the queen of double standards. The last argument we ever had was when she told me she didn’t want to go out and that very same night she stormed into my bedroom demanding for me to take her out. When I reminded her what she said before she just yelled “I just need something.” I guess I could have understood that if I hadn’t already given her everything.
I stopped spending time with Levi and my mom so that I could comfort her when she was upset, never forgot her birthday or our anniversaries, and she was always treating me like I was an afterthought.
I took her out that night, but when I got home I finally broke. I sent her a text the next morning saying that we were done, and then told my mom about it. And what did Mom do?
Hugged me, told me she never liked Lily anyway, and took Levi and I out for ice cream.
What?
Half-demons can have a sweet tooth, it’s not a crime. “What should we do, Levi?” I asked. I trusted my brother’s intuition more than anyone else’s. He was smart and knew how to explain things to me better than most other people. It was kind of what we did. He helped me pass my classes and I reminded him how to have fun every once in a while.
“I’m not sure, Taz. I don’t think we should worry Mom with anything just yet, but I know she’d be hurt if she found out what we kept from her.” Levi answered softly.
I sighed, “You have a point. Maybe it’s nothing to worry about?” I offered.
Levi shrugged, “I sure hope you’re right, Lazarus. I sure hope you’re right.”
Chapter Two (leviathan)
“Do more than justexist.”-
T
Unknown az and I spend a lot of time together, but we’re still two completely different people.
I’m more of a nerd and he’s more of a jock. I’m book smart and he’s street smart. I’m more reserved and he’s more outgoing. I think about what I’m going to do and he acts on impulse.
I’m not e ven sure if anyone would know we’re brothers if the entire town didn’t worship our mom like she was a goddess.
My mom is quite obviously a witch and my father is an angel that I never got to know (nor do I want to), but my mom sayshe wasn’t a good person.
Honestly, I’m afraid of the angelic part of me. The angel species is a tainted race that is very much the opposite of the biblical creatures that humans knew and loved for so long before they ultimately went extinct, allowing us “supernatural” species to run rampant and take over the earth as our own.
In fact, the creatures the humans loved were as much of a myth as their deities were. In our world, gods and goddesses are as much of a legend as the undead creatures that humans also became obsessed with. In our world, there is no stereotype that angels are good and demons are evil. In fact, it is quite the opposite with some
exceptions to every rule.
Hence why I don’t identify as an angel. I’ve never been to the angelic home in the clouds, nor do I wish to. I’m not even sure if I would be accepted.
My hair is a mousy brown color as opposed to the blonde hair that is normal for angels. My wings are not white either, instead being dark brown with streaks and spots of black and dark gray mixed in them as a result of me being a hybrid. The only thing about me that’s normal for an angel are my blue eyes.
But my brother isn’t the perfect demon hybrid either. He comes from a special line of demons I still don’t fully understand: the Zephenrites. I don’t know anything about them either except for the fact that Taz’s eyes change colors according to his mood (green for happy, brown for scared, and gray for sad– those were the ones I knew the best) and when he’s really angry his eyes turn
>
turquoise blue.
When his eyes are that shade of blue, anyone that makes eye contact with him is as good as dead, so I always have to keep my gaze from his when he’s angry.
He got his changing eye color from his father, but that wasn’t the only thing he got from him. He got the snow-white hair that’s pretty much a telltale sign that someone’s a
Zephenrite, too.
He’s also very much an athlete like his dad was, but he certainly didn’t get his dad’s patience. He’s just as hot tempered as our mom is (don’t tell her I said that).
So, in o ther words, I’m not quite sure how Taz and I get along so well, but somehow, we do and I really wouldn’t have it any other way. I don’t even know what’d I do without my little brother.
Chapter Three (Lazarus)
“ We are all alittle broken, but lasttime I checked broken crayons colorthe
s ame.”-UnknownLevi and I went our separate ways after our little
conversation. He went
upstairs to his room and I went
downstairs to my mom’s lair to take to her and my not-sister, Bali.
Bali was basically my best friend and we’ve looked after her for as long as I can remember.
She was a mystery to all three of us. She never gave us any of her
backstory, even when Levi first picked her up off the streets. She didn’t even give us her name.
It was Levi who named her, calling her Bali after the extinct Bali tigers that he claimed reminded him of her ferocious temper, yet calm
appearance.
She was the same age as me, being only ten years old at the time of her rescue, and I like to think that she was significantly closer to me. However, to both of us we were her not-brothers and she was our one and only notsister. Even though our mom never actually adopted her but treated her like she did.
Bali liked darkness, it comforted her like security blanket did for young children, so her bedroom was in the small alcove of my mother’s lair. She loved it there, spending most of her days hiding in the shadows of the basement, but it never bothered us. It kept her safe, gave Mom an assistant with her potion making, and meant that Levi and I always knew where to find someone to talk to.