A fed up exhale from the bed across from mine caught my ears and I looked over to see Vaze getting out of bed. He grabbed one of the extra pillows in the corner and strode over to Darren with a slight irritation in his step. As carefully as he could he placed it over Darren’s face, and immediately the snoring was quieted. I giggled; it was the kind of thing I used to do. Vaze turned quickly yet quietly and caught my eye with a surprised expression. It quickly faded and was replaced with a friendly partial smile.
“It helps stop the noise,” Vaze said. “Did I wake you?”
“Nope,” I said quietly. “Darren beat you to it.” Vaze smiled. I was surprised to see how much different he looked when he smiled. It was as if his whole face lit up and sent warmth throughout my body. An awkward silence set in after that. For a moment it seemed as though Vaze was going to come and sit by me, but after a few slightly awkward steps he mumbled good-night and we both headed back to our beds.
I laid awake unmoving for a small time after that, pretending to be asleep by breathing quietly. It didn’t take long after though for me to drift off, and unfortunately spiral into a nightmare.
Chapter Three
It was hard to make sense of what was going on, and I knew it was a dream immediately for one reason: Jake was tiny. I was sitting in a tree next to a little Jake, or at least what Jake probably looked like when he was six. We were overlooking the assassin Enzio, as he killed my Guardian. The horrible scene unraveled before my eyes like it probably had for Jake, until finally the woman’s golden blood was all that was left of her and Jake was already scrambling towards the hidden baby. I couldn’t watch the end. I didn’t need to. The frighten cry of my infant self was mixed in with the roar of fire and Jake’s shriek of pain, giving me my own unwanted mental picture.
I was soon alone, sitting in the tree by myself, staring down at the bluish crystal that was the remains of my Guardian. Tears stung my eyes. They started streaming without warning, and with a pathetic attempt to gain control I rubbed my eyes with my coat as if it would stop the stinging tears.
When I looked up again, I jumped out of my skin. A woman with deep purple eyes and long caramel curly hair was looking down on me as if she was up above, floating in the air. Yes, she was looking down. The woman was literally three feet up from me in the air, but there were no branches below to support her. She smiled at me and wiped a tear off of my cheek. The woman drifted down to the ground with amazing grace, and motioned for me to follow.
Not knowing what else to do, I jumped from my perch to the ground. The woman seemed to float over to the crystal. She scooped it up, then dropped it into a small pouch that hung around a thin leather necklace.
The woman glided back towards me and took my hand. My fist clenched, and my whole body went tense. I wasn’t used to people touching me, especially not strangers. Surprisingly, she only looked into my eyes and smiled with a twinge of sadness. The woman eased my fist open slowly, and she slipped the pouch into my hand. She looked into my eyes and smiled again, this time happily.
It only lasted a second. The woman’s bright smile twisted into agony as she let out a pained cry. Amber blood stained her pure white dress as she fell to the ground. To my horror behind her was the blood-thirsty assassin, Enzio. His eyes were ablaze and angry. I didn’t even have time to scream before he slashed down at me with a black dagger.
I woke up with a jolt; my fists balled up so tight they turned whiter than they already were. I was breathing hard. I looked around the room to find everyone still sleeping, so as quietly as possible I turned and peered out the window. It was almost morning, though the skies were still dark and the rain hadn’t broken.
I eased up my fists and to my surprise a small pouch rested in my hand. I opened it in a hurry, intent on proving to myself that it was just a dream. Reality must really hate me. Inside the pouch was a rounded crystal that emitted a bluish glow. It pulsated with heat as if it was alive and (though I was probably imagining it) it seemed to beat every so often. I don’t know how long I stared at it, but a quick guess would tell me an hour, because a soft voice nearby brought me back to reality, along with the sky going from black to grey out the window.
“Morning Scarlet,” Al yawned, which nearly made me jump out of my skin. I quickly shoved the stone back in its pouch and into my pocket.
I turned to find Al staring around through squinted eyes. I laughed. I couldn’t help myself. His hair looked like he had just been through a hurricane. My hair probably didn’t look any better because when Al looked at me he laughed too.
“Crazy night, huh?” He said in a drowsy tone.
“You have no idea…” I replied while brushing the knots out of my hair with my fingers. I looked back out the window. It was obviously morning or Al wouldn’t be awake, but it looked like it was night. The rain clouds were so thick they blocked out the sun.
Al rolled over in his bed while letting out a big yawn, and fell right off, landing on the hard floor with a loud crash. The rest of my brothers jolted out of their beds, and the pillow that had been on Darren’s face flew halfway across the room.
I rolled my eyes and hopped out of bed. I didn’t bother changing my clothes; the ones I had on were probably the only pair I had and (thanks to the bookworm) were brand new. I ran down the stairs and skipped the last three steps by jumping to the floor with one hand still on the railing.
I hit the ground hard, but despite the pain in my ankles I gave a little bow, as if I had actually meant to do that. As though I had gotten bored of my invisible audience, I lifted my head and searched around the room. The bookworm was sitting in a chair by the fireplace asleep. I crept quietly over to his seat and gathered all the air my lungs could hold, ready to scream.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you child,” The bookworm’s voice echoed throughout the house and I jumped in surprise.
“What are you talking about, I wasn’t doing anything,” I said trying to sound hurt as my lungs deflated. “Who do you think you are blaming people with false accusations?”
“Do you really think I’m that stupid? That’s the same thing you said when I caught you burning my books.”
I shrugged. The bookworm just shook his head, and muttered something about being too old. It was as if I were the reason for every white hair left on his head and in his beard. And even if I was, white hair adds character right?
“Is everyone up?” he asked with a sigh. There was no need for me to answer because my brothers came bounding down the stairs with Vaze at the rear. The bookworm looked at them and rubbed his temple. Finally, to my pleasure, he said, “Well then let’s get you some breakfast.”
The bookworm walked towards the front of the shop and I followed close behind. The large bookshelves towered all around, but I was not interested in them at all. Instead I set my sites on a different target. I jumped behind the counter in search for food, not caring if I looked more like a hungry monkey than a hungry girl. I hadn’t had anything to eat since yesterday morning, and my stomach had just about had it. I tore open the drawers in my desperate search for a scrap of food. I didn’t care if I had to fight a mouse for it, I was going to get my food as soon as possible.
“Hey, Bookworm,” I called out in frustration. “Where do you keep the food in this dump?”
Air whizzed by my ear, and was followed by a sharp pain. I yelped, more from surprise than pain, but still I grabbed my throbbing ear.
“Scarlet! Show some respect!” Jake scolded me. Jake was just about the only person that didn’t hesitate to punish me when I acted badly. He didn’t do it much though. He did it for the bookworm because he was the only person who had ever shown us kindness.
The Bookworm didn’t pay any attention. He was too busy staring out the window, with a somewhat shocked and disbelieving expression. We all gazed out the window along with him in curiosity. It didn’t seem very interesting to me. The people on the streets were walking in one direction: to the center of the town. There were the richer citizen
s, and some of the middle class, but the ones that were seen the most were the lowest class and homeless. Most of the homeless were adults, because homeless kids tended to die quickly, with the exception of my family, who knew how to survive better than others. I was about to look away when I realized something was off. Everyone’s eyes were the same color: so light that they were almost white.
Anyone else wouldn’t think twice about it, but growing up where no ones’ eyes were lighter than your own, it can be kind of weird seeing a bunch of people with white eyes passing by. I looked harder, and realized that wasn’t the only part that didn’t seem right. Every one outside had the same look on their face: completely blank. Not Darren’s face when someone says something smart type of blank, but genuine zombie like blank.
“We have to get out of here, now,” The bookworm said in a dark tone. Without warning he whipped around faster than I thought possible and bolted back towards the stairs. “Get away from the window! Quickly, before any of you are seen!” He called back to us.
No one hesitated. Jake and Al jumped behind the counter with me while Seth, Darren, and Vaze shot behind a bookcase. No one moved, and I wouldn’t be surprised if no one breathed either. The way the bookworm ordered us to hide so suddenly made it feel like if we moved we’d be discovered. I was pretty sure none of us knew exactly why we had to hide from the people outside. They weren’t even paying attention to their surroundings, which was obvious by the sound of one of them walking headfirst into a streetlight.
“As quietly as you can children, come to the back,” The bookworm’s voice made its way to us in hardly more than a whisper. Jake was the first to move. He slipped through the space between the two halves of the counter like a ghost. Al scrambled along after him with me at the rear. In less than a minute we were standing before the bookworm again as he was putting out the fire in the fireplace. In his arm was a bundle that looked about as big as me.
The bookworm laid the bundle onto the ground and unraveled it. Its contents surprised me, because you probably can’t find these things in any bookstore. What lay before us were my best friends: daggers. Heck, anything dangerous was my best friend, unless of course it was trying to kill me. There were also enough cloaks for all of us.
“Throw on a cloak and grab a dagger!” The bookworm had already grabbed a dagger and was frantically putting a cloak over his shoulders. My brothers did the same and I decided to follow their lead. Vaze had already gotten his things before the bookworm started talking.
“We must get out of the town as soon as possible, before the Convergence begins. Vaze and Scarlet would be fine but the rest of you wouldn’t be able to fight it. The only reason you’re not doing what the citizens of the town are, is because Scarlet’s ‘abnormalities’ have been exposed to you enough that you have her ability to resist the evil magic’s pull.”
All this was new to me. I for one had no idea what he was talking about. Despite this, I didn’t stop to ask questions. The bookworm led us hastily to the back door and shot out. Dirty alleyways flashed alongside us as we bolted across the city. We had chosen a back route, which had been abandoned long ago and had been neglected for years. We didn’t pass any people, but through the alleyways that connected to the main street I could see people slowly walking towards the center of the town.
Before I knew it, we reached the tree-line that marked the city limits. We slowed to a halt that turned into a chorus of gasping to our catch breath. A shriek cut through the air. I stopped short as my eyes widened. I knew that all too well. It was a Shadow. Instead of the sound coming from the forest, it came from the town.
“Bookworm!” I croaked out through a dry throat. “What’s going on?” I was freaking out. Last time I had run into the Shadows I also ran into Enzio, the assassin that nearly killed Vaze and I. The only reason we had lived was because he disappeared through black flames.
“The Convergence is starting in the town! Quickly children, before it is too late!” The Bookworm shoved my brothers into the forest one by one. I watched as the backs of their cloaks disappeared into the trees.
Just as Vaze was about to follow them, a voice boomed from the city. “Vaze! Face me you coward! You have always been running! Do you remember when I slayed your mother before your eyes? You could have saved her, but you abandoned her, just like you abandoned your people! You abandoned everything and in turn your Guardian abandoned you, because you are spineless! Will you run yet again?”
I looked to Vaze in confusion. His back was to me, but I could see that he was trembling with anger. His fists were balled up so tight that I could see every bone, vein, and muscle in them.
Vaze’s wings snapped out of his cloak. “No!” The Bookworm screamed, but it was too late because Vaze was too far from him to make a difference. Then I made a snap decision. I grabbed Vaze’s leg as he was lifting off, hoping that would make it too difficult to fly.
Sometimes I wish I was born smart like Seth so I wouldn’t make stupid decisions. Decisions like mine could prove deadly. For example, jumping onto the legs of a person lifting off into the air. To Vaze, I didn’t weigh a thing. He lifted off with ease and before I could let go we were at heights that make birds airsick. As though I were a child, Vaze plucked me off of his leg and held me tightly against his chest, and out of fear I threw my arms around his neck like a cat stuck in a tree that’s afraid to climb down.
I clung to Vaze for dear life as we soared over the town. I made another stupid decision and looked down. The blood in my face left instantly as I saw the now pebble-sized buildings. The streets were dotted with little black specks everywhere. Freezing cold wind and raindrops whipped at my face, which, in turn, quickly went numb.
Without warning, Vaze snapped his wings shut. I closed my eyes tighter than I thought possible and held on for dear life as Vaze plummeted towards the ground, taking me along for the ride. If I could have screamed I would have, but I was completely paralyzed with fear.
Suddenly, Vaze whipped his wings out once more while dangerously close to the ground. The feeling of gravity pulling us down turned into a sharp yank as we fell into a gentle float. I refused to open my eyes until I felt Vaze touch the ground. Vaze let go of me and, like the klutz I was, I fell to the ground looking like a fool.
“What did you do that for you idiot?” I yelled. He didn’t reply, or even acknowledge me. His eyes were focused straight ahead with an intense hatred. I tilted my head back to find town square upside down. A man was sitting on the stone fountain that marked the center of the town. I flipped myself over and the world was right side up again, allowing me to see the man at the fountain.
My breath was caught in my throat. The only thing I could focus on was the man’s blood red eyes. I scrambled to my feet immediately. I really, really wished I hadn’t grabbed onto Vaze now. Standing before us, lounging on Laetus’s heart, was Enzio. His arms were crossed casually and he almost seemed human—almost.
“Thirty seconds; I think that’s a new record,” He said emotionlessly. “I knew you’d come, but I didn’t think you’d make my job easier by bringing my next target to me.” Vaze didn’t bother replying. He took out the dagger that the Bookworm had given him. The assassin chuckled. “How cute, you think you can beat me.”
Shrieks that resembled a cat using glass a scratch post resonated behind us. I flipped around to find an impossible number of Shadows streaming in through the streets toward us. The same thing happened where-ever I looked, there were hundreds of Shadows piling into the town square. My heart was beating so fast that I thought it would burst out of my chest.
In less than a minute we were surrounded by a sea of Shadows. They made a ring completely around us. I looked back to Enzio. As much as I was afraid of the Shadows that surrounded us, I was more concerned about him. He was a bigger threat than the uncountable Shadows. He seemed to read that from my expression, and his eyes crinkled a bit, as though underneath his mask of red rags he was smiling.
Vaze bolted for the assassin
faster than I’ve ever seen anyone run. Though his speed was impressive, it was the dumbest thing I’ve ever seen somebody do. It probably could have gone down into the history of dumbest things ever done, or at least tied with something stupid that I’d done. Enzio didn’t move, nor did he make any attempt to protect himself. He just looked completely relaxed.
Vaze was within inches of him with his dagger even closer to Enzio’s face, when suddenly, Enzio was gone. Vaze stopped and looked to his right and left sides with on-edge paranoia. Just as quickly as he had disappeared, Enzio appeared out of the air behind Vaze. The assassin raised his arm to strike Vaze with a black dagger, and Vaze was completely oblivious to the fact that Enzio was behind him. But I wasn’t.
I concentrated on Enzio and with the flick of my hand his dagger caught fire. Enzio yelped in pain and dropped the black dagger. Vaze whipped around and, without missing a beat, slashed out at Enzio. Enzio jumped back, but the tip of the dagger still caught his stomach. It tore through his shirt with ease, but only managed to create a thin cut across his stomach.
Enzio shot an evil look at me and my blood froze. Fortunately for Vaze, when Enzio momentarily stopped my heart, it also momentarily threw off his concentration so Vaze was able to get in another shot, this time cutting a little deeper—this time into his left shoulder. Enzio grunted but the sound was quickly drowned out by the shrieks of the Shadows. I finally realized the Shadows were making no attempt to attack us. It was more like they were just watching the fight as if we were dogs they were betting on.
I shook it from my mind and continued to help Vaze. Whenever Enzio touched the ground, I made fire spew out from beneath him. It may have been raining but, as I have said before, water doesn’t affect my control over fire. In fact it helped a little bit. Whenever Enzio was about to step into an especially large puddle, instead of making the ground catch fire I used the fire to make the water boil.
Playing With Fire Page 4