Heritage

by Rebecca Walton

  “Yes, Thank you Odette” I answered. Receiving the steaming cup, my body warmed as I took a sip of the delicious tea.

  “Odette have you seen my blue tie. I’m sure it was around here somewhere.” Appearing in the middle of the small room, their father began to look under the small leather sofa we were sitting on. Ruffling his blonde hair that was exactly the same as Josh’s, he sighed and went to lean against the stone fire.

  “Oh hello your highness” He greeted.

  “It’s over here Jonah darling.” Wrapping the tie around her husband’s neck she looked at him lovingly. I envied Alex and Josh’s family. It’s not that I don’t love my father and Ethan. I just envied the nuclear stereotype that they were. Two perfect children and the perfect married couple. They had May also, but she wasn’t exactly perfect. If it wasn’t so sweet it would be sickening, The Bales family is also a nuclear family, but unlike Alex’s family, they weren’t at all close. The only family time they shared was when Grandma Bale was around, and then there were forced to be together. Giving his wife a peck on the cheek, he ruffled Josh’s hair and kissed Alex on the forehead as he left the room with his briefcase in hand. As a doctor, their father had the ability to heal a patient with one single touch. He also had the same ability as Alex. To disappear and reappear wherever he wanted, which I’m guessing makes it easier for him to get to his patients.

  “Thank you for that wonderful dinner Odette, it was amazing.” Odette hated it when anyone called her Mrs. Edelweiss, she felt it was to official and made her feel uncomfortable. Being a down to earth woman she wanted everyone to think of her as her own person, rather than a part of a unit. Even though she expressed strongly that she loved being in a unit with her family. She also, in her words wanted to be herself.

  “Your very Welcome Adabelle,” She smiled. “How’s your father been lately after the incident that happened on Edith’s grave stone.” She asked taking the kettle from the stove and cooling it on the brick shelf above it.

  “He’s ok I guess. I think it affected Ethan a lot though. He hasn’t been his self since he went to see it with my father, but that is understandable”

  “Poor boy.” She sighed taking a seat on the small arm chair that was close to the fire.

  “Hey Mum. Guess who Josh has a date with tonight.”

  “ALEX!” Exclaimed Josh.

  “Who? Oh don’t tell me it’s that bimbo from your fathers office. Josh I have told you, she is not good enough for you.” She babbled. Did Odette just call someone a bimbo. That just sounds weird coming from her mouth, she is so awesome.

  “No, Mum, its Megan Cairns the seriously hot… I mean great personality.” He smiled awkwardly as his mother raised her eyebrow at him.

  “Isn’t she going out with Kian Price?” She asked. Living in the castle, everybody knew everybody else’s business. It was like living in a small village.

  “No, she dumped him. He cheated on her with a nymph.” Alex corrected her. Stretching her legs out she put her feet on the oak table in front of us.

  “Hmm I figured he would cheat on her with a nurse more than a gardener. I suppose we can be wrong about these things.” She pondered. Pushing Alex’s feet off the table, she began to tidy away the mugs of tea and made her way towards the kitchen.

  “Your mum is so awesome, she’s one of those hip mums” I laughed.

  “Hip? Anyway enough of… whatever this is. I’m going to get ready for my date.” Kicking my feet off the table he made his way up the stairs to his room.

  “Want to go steer him in the right clothes direction?” Alex beamed sitting up straight.

  “I don’t know he’s usually really good at that” I replied sarcastically.

  Jumping up from the sofa, we both raced up the stairs. We pushed each other as we tried to beat each other to Josh’s room.

  Pushing open his door a strong smell of lynx greeted us, making us both cough uncontrollably. In the corner of the small room, Josh had began doing push ups on the floor in front of the mirror.

  “Man your vain.” I coughed, making my way in to his room. The walls were covered In Jackie Chan movie posters, and most of the floor was covered in weights and other workout material. Taking a seat on his single bed, I had to let out a chuckle at the Mr. Men bed sheets he had.

  “Is it possible that you can spray yourself with a bit too much lynx body spray?” Covering her mouth with her west life jumper, she made her way to the small wardrobe in the corner of his room.

  “So what exactly are you two un funny girls doing in here?” He grunted taking off his top to reveal his amazing six pack. Trying but failing to avert my eyes, I watched as he sprayed himself with another bolt of body spray. He could have been in an advert for lynx, he would defiantly sell at a lot of bottles.

  “Elle?” Waving a shirt in my face my daydream was cast aside.

  “When you are finished checking out my brother, do you want to help pick out his clothes?”

  “Does he have to put on clothes?” I mocked tilting my head to get a better view as Josh was flexing into the mirror.

  “Ok Ew!” Alex cried throwing a t shirt over my head disrupting my vision. Breaking out of my trance I pulled the t shirt from my head and held it out in front of me. A grey monkey was printed on the front with the words monkey business printed underneath it.

  “Alex he’s going on a date with a soon to be super model. Not a five year olds party.” I mocked throwing the shirt her way. She caught it in one hand and stuck her tongue out at me.

  Getting up I made my way to the open wardrobe. Where does Josh go shopping, Disney land? All of his t-shirts had funny characters on or cute witty comments printed underneath.

  “How is it that you ever get laid?” I asked picking out a green shirt with the words can’t touch this printed on in bright pink letters.

  “This.” He pointed at his abs and grinned.

  “Fair enough.” I laughed admiring his physic.

  “Anyway!” Alex coughed, pulling out a plain light blue shirt from a pile of washing on the floor. Sniffing it she opened it up and checked it all over.

  “This will do.” She cheered giving it to her brother to put on.

  “Thanks,” He sighed putting on the shirt and hiding away his perfectly tanned body. Megan was seriously one lucky super model.

  “Ok what do you think?” He asked doing a little turn and posing in a few very gay poses.

  “Don’t ever do that again.” Alex pleaded straightening out his collar. Straightening himself out in his reflection he ran his fingers through his curls.

  “You look stunning.” I smiled sweeping the dust off his shoulders. I picked up the brush from his table and brushed back his hair from his face. His green eyes gleamed as his face was completely clear of hair, which was unusual for Josh’s face to be fully visible. Changing my decision I brushed his curly fringe back on his face. His face looked more structured with his fringe covering half of his forehead. Placing the brush back on his table, Josh shook his head and ran his fingers through his hair.

  “So that was a waste of time,” I muttered. Stepping away from Josh, my phone vibrated in my pocket. Logan’s name flashed on the screen. To answer or not answer that is the question.

  “Hey.” I answered without realising I was doing so.

  “Hello are you busy?” He asked his voice made the hairs on my arms stand on end.

  “That depends?” I answered. He chuckled and sighed before answering.

  “I’d like my jacket back.” He replied.

  “Ok I suppose I can take a couple minutes out of my life to do that.”

  “I’m in the cornfield.”

  “I’ll be there in two minutes,” I replied hanging up. Trying to stop the smile that was implanting itself on my face I turned back to Alex and Josh.

  “Who was that?” Alex asked re buttoning Josh’s top buttons much to his dismay.

  “It was Poppy she wants to meet me. She has a question about something.” I lied. Why
did I feel the need to lie to my best friend? I just couldn’t deal with more of her romantic talk and that blue shirt would be ruined if Josh became angry and shape shifted.

  “I promise, I will be back before our boy goes on his big date.” I mocked, walking over to Josh and pulling at his cheeks.

  “So cute!” I chuckled.

  Before I was hit by a towel, I orbed out of them room and off to see the prince of all evil. Before I orbed to the field, I went to my room to pick up his jacket. The opportunity to return it was here, and I wasn’t going to pass it up. As soon as my hand touched the leather jacket, I orbed to the sunny cornfield.

  The sun blinded me making me stumble. Trying to get back my balance, I felt a hand on my back holding me up.

  “Thanks.” I smiled turning towards him.

  “You are welcome and thank you for my jacket.” He replied taking it from my hand and putting it on. Logan’s dark clothing stood out in the bright sun lit cornfield.

  “Ok I’ll see you around them.” I muttered, slowly walking away from him.

  “Can I ask you something?” He asked taking a seat on the floor, crushing stalks of corn.

  “Sure why not.”

  Taking a seat next to him, the corn crackled as I shifted my butt. So that, it wasn’t being poked by parts of stalk that I was sitting on. Last time we talked I gained a lot of information on the devils gate, so It would be wrong for me to walk away now wouldn’t it. Or am I just saying that, so I don’t feel bad sitting here with him. I really need to sort my head out one of these days.

  “This extra life you have, why do you have it?” He asked taking a stalk from the floor and putting it in his mouth. If he wasn’t dressed heavily in a dark t-shirt and black jeans, he would have looked like a farmer.

  “My dad thought It would be good for me to get as he called it, life skills” I sighed leaning back on my hands to bask in the glorious sunlight.

  “Life skills. What like how to walk around unknowing that there are thousands of different being from themselves walking among them. Doesn’t really seem like a good skill to have, but that’s just me.” He grunted whilst chewing on the end of the stalk.

  “You really don’t like humans do you?” I asked sitting back up straight and crossing my legs.

  “It’s not that I don’t like them. It’s just that they don’t seem to do anything. Apart from go through life doing a bunch of boring pointless things and then die. Their existence is just not worth it!”

  “That’s a bit harsh. It is worth it, they create families and friends. They have a better life than we do.” I argued.

  “How? How can they possible have a better life than we do? We have no restrictions in our lives. We can do anything we want and when we want. The only fear we have is dying and even then we know there is more after that.” He argued back with his hands flailing around as he spoke. The crease on his forehead began to deepen.

  “They live safely without fear of being attacked every single day…”

  “Yeah, because you protect them!” He interrupted.

  “Yes well you are the ones putting their life in danger. If you didn’t go around killing innocents then we wouldn’t have to protect them,” The sudden realisation of who I was sitting with beamed into my head like a lightning rod. I felt my eyes flickered from blue to pink, not staying on one colour. It was as confused as my mind as it raced over the possibility of the fact that I could be in danger, meeting with a demon.

  “Let’s change the subject, because the way you are staring at me is scaring me a little.” He chuckled pushing my shoulder lightly with his. Giving him a scowl I turned my head to hide my face. The sun blinded me, hindering my plan.

  “Oh come on!” He exclaimed changing his seating position to sit on his knees in front of me. He picked up my hands that were resting on my lap without any resistance from me. Even though, I know he is evil, and half of my body is telling me to run for the hills. The other half is telling me that I was safe, and I could protect myself if anything happened. But I didn’t feel like I was in any danger with him. When I get the time I am so going for a cat scan or to see a psychologist because my mind is playing games.

  “Listen, I know you think I’m this evil bastard, but I’m not ok… Well I am, maybe evil but I’m not a bastard. Well not all the time… I really don’t know what I’m supposed to be saying.” He sighed still holding my hands in his. Pulling mine away I folded my arms, tucking my hands under them.

  “Sorry.” He smiled awkwardly running his hand through his hair, trying not look directly at me.

  “People aren’t always what they seem Elle. I thought you would be this goody two shoes but you being here with me proves otherwise. Is it possible you could see more to me than my heritage?” He asked, his dark blue eyes sparkled in the sunlight as he stared at me waiting to answer.

  “Prove me wrong and maybe I can.”

  “Now how can I possibly do that?” He asked.

  Taking a look around the field an idea popped into my head.

  “Come with me!” I exclaimed grabbing his hand to pull him up from the ground. Jumping through the portal we landed in the graveyard in Icarus. The instant darkness made my eye sight blotchy. Covering my eyes lights danced on my eyelids.

  “What are we doing here?” He asked confused.

  “You my evil Prince, are going to rebuild that church.” I grinned crunching through the leaves towards the broken church.

  “Excuse me? You want me to what now.”

  “Rebuild the church. Come on it will be easy for you.”

  “Fine, consider this my good deed for the rest of my life.” He groaned “Just saying that makes me feel physically nauseous.”

  Laughing I pulled him closer towards the church. The doors were still lying battered on the floor like we had left them. I’m guessing no one has been here since we last came. Considering there were still a few deaths happening in Icarus there were no mourners doted around the graves.

  “I must warn you I have amazing design skills.” He joked rubbing his hands together.

  “Alright Lawrence Llewellyn-Bowen,” I chuckled “Let’s see your stuff.”

  He gave me a wink and parted his hands. His breathing became shallow as his hands began to glow. He pushed a luminous cloud of dark blue lights at the church. Small balls of dark blue light circled the small building. The cracks in the wall began to fill, and broken windows repaired themselves. Levitating bricks made their way to open gaps in the stone walls as the lights danced around them. Sending another blast of light towards the broken double doors, they lifted themselves up and fastened themselves to the broken brackets on the wall.

  Clapping his hands the lights disappeared in a blast of air. Regaining his normal breathing pattern, he turned towards me with a frown on his face.

  “That was excruciating,” He groaned placing his arm on my shoulder to use me as a leaning post.

  “You really are showing me what a great person you are.” I mocked sarcastically. The church looked brand new, all the bricks were perfectly placed, and windows were gleaming in the little sunlight that was hitting them. Moving away from his arm making him fall slightly, I made my way towards the newly built church.

  Inside the church floor was lined with cream marble. The old wooden beams had been replaced with dark crème pillars. Dark oak chairs covered most of the small room, creating a warm feel to the room. Walking down the leaf free aisle, I saw the shining gold box. It had gone from sitting on top of a dirty sheet covered podium, to a clean oak altar.

  “Not bad Lawrence.” I smiled turning towards him as he stood leaning against the entrance door frame.

  “Thanks, for my first interior design project. I’m very proud of it.” He chuckled, placing his head onto the wooden door frame. Making my way to the entrance I leaned against the frame opposite him. He smiled and turned to face me.

  “So did this help to prove I’m not all bad.” He asked stepping forward.

  “It’s
going to take more than a quick fix up of a building to completely convince me, but I suppose you’re getting there.” I confessed. My phone began to ring in my skirt pocket bringing me once again back to reality.

  “I have to get back Josh has a thing.”

  Smiling I made my way out of the church back into the darkness and dullness of the graveyard.

  “Well I wouldn’t want to get in the way of Josh’s thing.” He mocked following me through the portal into the blaring sun. Taking my left hand he gave it a kiss.

  “See you later Princess. Oh and if you want your bedroom decorating you know who to come to.” He laughed dropping my hand. Chuckling I orbed out of the field and straight back into Josh’s room.

  Alex was laying down on Josh’s bed, rubbing her temples with her eyes closed.

  “Things are going well then I see.” I snickered taking a seat on the bottom of the bed.

  “Please Elle for the love of all that is Holy. Tell my idiot of a brother, that a t shirt saying two tickets to the gun show. Is not a suitable t shirt for a date with Megan Cairns of all people!” She sighed angrily.

  “What’s wrong with it? It shows that I’m a fun loving guy, who also happens to have amazing biceps.” He replied flexing in the mirror yet again. Throwing his pillow at him, Alex placed the remaining pillow over her face and let out a huge muffled scream.

  “Ok then Rambo, but seriously you can’t wear that t-shirt. What happened to the nice blue shirt you had on when I left?” I asked as he pulled off his t shirt and threw it at Alex. Who was continuing to lay with her face under a pillow?

  “He didn’t like it.” Alex spoke her voice muffled by the pillow on her face. Pulling it from her, her face was flustered as she sat up right.

  “Josh you have ten minutes before you have to go pick her up.” I noted pointing towards the clock on the wall above his desk.

  “Shit!” He yelled rummaging through his wardrobe. Every piece of clothing he laid his hands on was thrown out and onto the floor. Ducking several times from the flying jeans, I picked up the light blue shirt that had landed over his desk lamp. Holding it in my hand I waved it in the air, waiting for him to turn around.