Heritage

by Rebecca Walton

  “How about a game of poker” I asked awkwardly.

  “You play poker” Logan smirked laughing under his breath.

  “Yes I do, and I’m pretty good at it “I replied giving him a nudge.

  “Alright then, let’s see how good you are”

  “I think I’m going to pass and go bed to, Night guys” Alex had gone before I could disagree with the fact that I was now facing Logan, who had switched seats so we could play.

  “Ok here kids, I’m going to take these up to your father, have fun” Emerald handed us the cards and chips and left the room. Why was everyone going, now I was definitely alone with Logan?

  “What’s the matter scared of being alone with me” He smirked as he shuffled the cards.

  “As if” I replied biting my lips “Just hand out the cards ok!”

  He let out a chuckle and handed out the cards. Picking up the two cards in front of me I smiled. Two aces that has to be the luckiest hand I’ve ever had. I’m going to beat this guy, and it's going be good.

  “You look like you have some good cards there” He laughed.

  “They’re ok, but I’m sure you have better” I teased.

  “Let’s make a bet shall we”

  “That’s what the chips are for” I mocked.

  “Duh, but no something better”

  “Ok name your stakes” I smiled looking at my cards. I was so going to win, whatever he wanted he wasn’t going to get it.

  “If I win, you hmm” He stared at me and smirked “If I win you have to take me to Icarus”

  “Why? I can’t take you there. I’m sure that’s against some sort of rule” I muttered.

  “It is, but I’m pretty sure you’re not one to stick to any rules” He mocked.

  “Fine but if I win, you have to tell me everything you know about Lorias” My proposal seemed to bug him, he shifted in his seat with a thoughtful expression on his face causing his forehead to wrinkle.

  I stared at him for a few seconds, tapping my fingers on the table. He lifted his head and smiled a cocky smile.

  “Everything?”

  “Everything” I repeated.

  “That’s reasonable, it is you he is after, after all” He pointed out.

  He dealt out the five cards in front of me and said the number as he placed the cards down.

  “King, four, seven, queen, Six” He showed me a charming smile and placed down his cards. He had a King and Five, I’d won, great I’m going to finally find out what was going on with Lorias and why it bugged Logan so. I placed my two aces down and watched as his face dropped from smug to surprise.

  “So where do you want to start” I smiled smugly. He let out a huff and stood up, mirroring him I walked towards the door that he was leaving out of.

  “A bets a bet, you can’t back out!” I exclaimed catching up to him as he approached the end of the empty corridor.

  “Sure I can, I’m a demon, I’m dishonest, I cheat, and I Lie!”He exclaimed as he picked up pace around the corner. I tried to keep up, this boy was fast if he got any faster I’d lose him, but I’m not going to let that happen. He’s not getting out of telling me everything I need to know.

  “LOGAN!” I shouted my voice echoing in the hall, raising my palms I froze him in place. He groaned and dropped to the floor with a thud.

  “Don’t use your powers on me!” He yelled attempting to pick himself up.

  “Then don’t walk away, that’s not fair” I reasoned letting him go and helping him up, he shrugged my hand away. Maybe I shouldn’t have done that, maybe I didn’t want to know. It was obvious it was important though; otherwise he wouldn’t be so stubborn by not telling me.

  “Life’s not fair Elle, Get used to it!” He exclaimed standing up and continuing to walk away.

  “Oh no, you don’t! , that line sucks, and get back here “I yelled running after him. Why was I running, this was desperate times. It was hard enough running in flat but the heels that I had on where not the running type. Stopping in front of him I place both hands out.

  “It can’t be that bad, Please Logan, stop being a Jerk”

  “Jerk” He chuckled making me feel uncomfortable. “No one’s ever called me that before”

  “Maybe not to your face, are you going to tell me or not” I sulked.

  “Not”

  “Fine” I sighed and turned away from him.

  “Fine? That’s it? I say no, and you say fine”

  “Pretty much, yes” I replied. What’s the point in begging this guy if he wasn’t going to tell me.

  “Wow there’s me thinking you weren’t stubborn” He mocked. I was starting to get tired, and I had to be up early to get back to the Bales tomorrow. Damn, I forgot to call Poppy to see the arrangements. I’ll have to do it tomorrow. I bet she will be annoyed with me.

  “If you stop staring into space like a twit, I’ll tell you what you want to know” He sighed.

  Rolling my eyes at him I opened my mouth to speak but stopped as I heard something from the end of the corridor, sounded like shouting. Actually it sounded like my dad’s voice. It won’t be good if he see’s us talking like this, damn. Gripping Logan’s arm I dragged him into the first door I found.

  “What the?! If you wanted me alone all you had to was ask”

  “Oh shut up, I heard someone” I stuttered.

  “Shit!”I cried. We were in Katelyn’s room.

  “Shit, Shit, Shit” I whispered, scared of the fact she may be in there somewhere.

  “What? What’s wrong” He whispered mimicking me.

  “Katelyn is a psychopath. She’s head of my dad’s book club” I tiptoed around the room checking every shadow. If she caught us in here we would be completely dead.

  “Wait, your dad has a book club, ha that’s Pathetic” He bellowed. I gave out a huff and pushed him towards the window. Katelyn’s room was two floors up shit, what the hell was I meant to do, she would kill me. I could just see her blowing fire out her hairy nose and her grey hair flying in the wind. I’d be lucky if she didn’t turn us into stone.

  “Calm your horses, there’s no one here” Logan who was now sitting on the end of her bed, ran his finger through his hair as he spoke.

  “Are you crazy? Get off there” I whispered angrily, pushing him off the bed and flattening out the creases on the floral print duvet.

  “Yes Katelyn I’ll talk to her about it tomorrow before she leaves” My father’s voice trailed from the corridor.

  “Time to go!” Gripping his arm I whistled then pushed open the window and jumped. The ground beneath us began to come closer. Just before, we hit it Peggy came flying underneath us and caught us on her back. I sat up straight as we flew around the castle. Feeling a tug on my back I turned to see Logan hanging on.

  "You know we could have just orbed or shimmered out of there," He remarked as we landed in the courtyard.

  “Alright smart arse but no we couldn’t, Katelyn had the room surrounded in crystals. No orbing in or out” I explained straightening my dress which now had a tiny tear at the bottom. Walking Peggy to the stables, there was nobody other than us around. The clock chimed nine as we entered the stables.

  “Wow she sounds like a bundle of fun” He chuckled stroking his horse when we entered.

  “You have no idea. When I was eleven she caught me chewing in the corridor, and I had to stand on one leg in the middle of her office for a whole hour. It was torture, let’s just say I haven’t chewed gum since” I exclaimed, the memories of how my leg ached for a week after made my leg hurt.

  Logan laughed and helped me as I pulled a hay block from the shelf.

  “Anyway you still need to tell me about…..”

  “Adabelle! What are you doing in here! Get to bed this instant!” Katelyn interrupted as she busted into the room like a giant troll. Dressed in a grey nightgown looking like she was a nun. Someone needed to introduce her to Gok Wan.

  “Sorry Madame I was just…..”

  “I know exa
ctly what you were doing! I always know what you are doing” She yelled.

  “But…”

  “Get to bed at once! You to, Mr. Night! I can’t have you waking everyone up” She ordered as me and Logan ran into the corridor. Followed by her glance and foot tapping.

  “You weren’t kidding” He breathed.

  “No, but she’s right we should get to bed” He lifted his eyebrow as I spoke, which made him look sort of sexy in a demon kind of way.

  “Different bed’s” I continued.

  “That’s a shame, I’ll tell you some other time” he waved goodbye and continued down the corridor.

  “You promise” I called after him.

  “Promise” he replied from far down the corridor.

  Turning towards the direction of my room all the thoughts of the Lorias came into my head. What could he possibly want with me. I know I’m powerful and the daughter of the King of good magic but why did it seem that there was another purpose for his wanting me. Maybe he just wanted to kidnap me and demand a ransom or something stupid like that. He didn’t seem like a clever demon, so maybe the plot that he had going was stupid, and he wouldn’t succeed. But what if it wasn’t stupid, Conrad’s feathers had been ruffled when Logan hadn’t told him about what happened last night. Maybe that was just because he had kept something from him, not on purpose but still. I reached my door and turned the handle. The familiarity of my things made me feel calmer. I undressed and put on my night dress. I held the ripped dress up to the light. Great Emerald was going to kill me, this dress must of cost a fortune but wait she said it was my mothers, that case she is seriously going to kill me. Laying on my bed the image of Logan’s face floated in my mind. I was seriously confused about this guy, wow I’m an idiot for even thinking about him. With that thought in my head, I quickly fell asleep.

  Chapter Seven

  Geez, I wish she would calm down. The sound of the repetitive whining was beginning to give me a headache. Looking across the table at Alex’s little sister. I could of swore she had horns growing out of her head. She was such a brat, with her long brown hair she was the spitting image of Alex. The whole table was staring at her, all two hundred of them. The table stretched the length of the grand hall. Each person that lived in the castle had woken up to have their breakfast with us and here this girl was, being an utter brat, all because she wanted more bacon. I could see the sweat on her mother’s brow as she tried but failed to console her child.

  “Will you shut up May, you’re making a scene” Alex whispered.

  “Yeah, you’re ten, not five!” Josh added from across the table. May folded her arms and stuck out her tongue.

  “You have lots, I have one piece” She whined loudly, and half the table sighed. Josh gave a huff and picked up a piece of his bacon and threw it on to her plate.

  “There, now be quiet” he muttered. His mother gave him an appreciatory glance and everyone else nodded at him. I finished my breakfast and asked to be excused.

  “You are excused, but I would like to see you in my office before you leave, please” My father dismissed me and I left quickly and quietly.

  I’m guessing that’s what Dad was talking to Katelyn about last night. Intriguing, what would that old hag want my dad to talk to me about. Was I running in the corridor to much, or did she find out about me in her room? Damn stupid physic, that wasn’t going to be a fun conversation by any means. I sighed as I entered my room and slammed the door behind me.

  “So you had a fight with a lawnmower?” Alex muttered holding up my dress, making me jump out of my skin.

  “Geez Alex!” I yelled as I jumped. Does anyone know about privacy in this place, my rooms like an open house these days.

  “Keep your knickers on girl! Or is that what led to this?” She mocked lifting her eyebrow.

  “Don’t be moronic! We got into a little trouble” I mumbled.

  “I see” she winked and moved from the bed to sit at my dressing table. She played around with her hair for a while. This is my chance to run, maybe if I lock myself in the bathroom she will leave, and I won’t have to say what happened with Logan, not that anything did happen.

  “Don’t even think about it” She glanced at me, as if she had read my mind about running. Typical, she had to be there when I needed time alone, her and Poppy were so similar. Shit Poppy, damn what time was it. I seriously need a watch or better still a useful power that helped me know the time whenever I ask. Flipping open my phone, I dialled Poppy’s number. The ringing continued for longer than usual.

  “Hello” She answered dazed and confused.

  “Hey pops you ok?” I asked. The hint of worry in my voice shocked me.

  “Yeah buts it’s fricking nine o’clock on a bank holiday morning! What the heck are you ringing me about that couldn’t last for another, I don’t know, two hours” She groaned. I now heard the Groggy sound of her morning voice and felt a hint of guilt in my gut.

  “Sorry Pops, I was just asking about the plans for today” I mumbled apologetically.

  “It’s ok, don’t worry about it, we are all meeting at the church at one” She answered, sounding more awake which made me feel even guiltier.

  “Ok I’ll see you then and again sorry”

  “It's ok Bye” She hung up the phone as I collapsed on my bed.

  Pulling myself together I wandered over to my wardrobe, hitting Alex slightly on the head as I passed. What was I going to do about the blue dress. Picking it up I threw it at the back of the wardrobe, hoping Emerald wouldn’t ask about it for a while. Pulling out a pair of dungarees and pink top, I quickly got dressed in the bathroom, away from Alex.

  “Looking good there” Alex pointed out walking towards me.

  “Thanks anyway, I have to see my Dad for some reason” I moaned as we made our way out of my room.

  “Ok fine if I don’t see you before, have fun during the week but don’t forget to call ok?” She questioned giving me a hug.

  “Like I would ever forget to call you” I laughed and waved goodbye, leaving her to walk alone in the corridor. As I walked slowly up the corridor, making sure I looked at every piece of art work as I passed it. Anything to bide my time before getting my head bitten off by my father, for some made up reason that Katelyn thought up over a cup of tea yesterday morning. After the ten minute walk that usually only took two minutes, I reached the door to my father’s office. I knocked softly, secretly hoping he didn’t hear so I could say I came, and I knock, but there was no answer. But no such luck, I heard him call to me from inside so reluctantly, I entered.

  “Sit” He gestured to the chair in front of his desk. I lingered in the door way for a while before he looked at me with a raised eyebrow. I went and sat in the seat staring at my thumbs, awaiting my punishment for something I didn’t know I had done.

  “Do you know why I wanted to see you Elle?” He asked sounding like a head teacher. I tried not to giggle.

  “No, I don’t” I answered truthfully, as I had no idea. He put down the pen he was using to write with and looked me square in the eyes.

  “The reason you are here is because it has come to my attention, that you have spent some time with young Mr. Night” he explained.

  “I was being hospitable Dad” I said with my head so far down, it might have as well been on my lap. What was wrong with being with Logan. It’s not like we were doing anything. We were just playing cards for crying out loud.

  “Yes well in the future I do not want you to talk to him unless you have to, Do you understand” He asked. I could feel his eyes burning a hole into my head, so I took the stupid decision to lift it and look at him. He stared at me contently, which freaked me out slightly.

  “I understand Dad, May I leave now? I have somewhere to be” I mumbled un able to form a clear argument against the fact he had been keeping tabs on my whereabouts and who with.

  “Not yet, Katelyn has asked me to inform you that the second floor of the library is restricted till further notice
”

  “Why? That is where most of the books I need to hunt demons are on”

  “It’s a rule Adabelle, and I want you to stick to it ok?”

  “Fine” I replied confused “Can I leave now”

  “Yes you may leave” He gestured towards the door and I left.

  Elle can you do anything that won’t get you into trouble, the answer to that is no, no you can’t I sighed. Closing my eyes and letting the air take me I orbed. The air rippled around me, and the scent of Beth’s home cooking hit me before I orbed completely into the hallway of the Bales house. Thankfully, it was empty, but I heard the clattering of plates in the kitchen. Going against my better judgment I walked into the kitchen straight into Robin, who had started to come out. She tossed her Blonde locks over her shoulder and pushed past me with a huff. What a welcome home party. I might as well just turn around and go to my room. Beth interrupted my thoughts with a bang of a saucepan as she realised I was standing there.

  “Oh dear, hello, How was your weekend? How is your father?” The bunch of questions she threw at me weren’t meant to be answered, but in the mood I was in, I was going to annoy her.

  “Hello Beth, my weekend consisted of Meeting with the King of all evil and jumping from two story windows. It was eventful if anything and my father is fine but enough about me. How was your weekend?” I finished with a sweet smile.

  "Oh that's nice dear," she said, softly continuing with the dishes, yet again dismissing whatever I said. Sometimes it’s like I’m not here, why the heck do I come here. I can’t wait until I finish college and I can leave this place and start doing demon hunting full time.

  On that note, I’m going upstairs. Walking out the room I didn’t hear Beth stop washing up once, Geez I’m so invisible. Before I got to the stairs the doorbell rang. Opening the door I was greeted by a slobbery wet kiss from a black Labrador.

  “Whoa! Cool it Ozzie” I exclaimed as the dog pushed me to the ground and started climbing all over me. The smell of dog over powered me as Oscar pulled his pet back so I could stand.