Heritage

by Rebecca Walton

  “Our main priority now is to keep this and Leos’ crystal safe. Otherwise, we are sort of doomed and not in the dramatic sort of sense. In the, the world will perish in a wall of fire sense,” I explained placing the Diamond in Alex’s hand.

  “Try not to lose this one,” I mocked, closing the box and pushing it further under my bed than planned. Receiving angry looks from both of them. I tried not to say anything else that would anger them further.

  “I’m just saying. If we have that taken from us too, then we have a big fight on our hands. None of us want that,” I explained.

  “Well the way I’m feeling. A fight is what I defiantly want,” growled Josh through clenched teeth.

  “Cool the jets there tiger,” I teased.

  “You know who I would seriously love to kill right now,” He exclaimed tensing up again and clenching his fist. The hairs on the back of his hands turned black and grew in number.

  Glancing at Alex we both hesitated to ask him who, but it was clear in my mind whom he was going to say. Even though, Josh had never even spoken to Logan properly, he had a clear hatred for him from the first time he saw him. In my mind, that was the right feelings to have towards Logan. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t help but feel there was more to him than what people saw. I don’t believe that someone could be all evil but according to my father, I always want to see the good in people.

  “Who?” I asked unwillingly.

  “That Bastard Logan!” He growled, his hair turning from blonde to black.

  “Breathe Josh. I don’t think I could explain a giant panther in my room to Beth,” I cried taking his half formed paw in my own hand.

  “Yeah well, He was just doing his job” I replied. As soon as the words left my lips I wished I could take them back. His eyes turned yellow as his breathing became quick and shallow.

  “Joshua Albert Edelweiss. Calm down now!” I commanded placing my hands on his shoulder. His yellow eyes dimed as his hair regained its normal shade of dirty blonde. Letting go of his shoulders, he sat down on the desk behind him, trying to calm his breathing pattern.

  “Sorry Elle!” He breathed.

  “You really need to sort out your emotions Josh. Someone could get hurt,” I exclaimed sending him a stern look as he checked his hands were back to normal.

  “I’m sorry, but he gets me so angry!”

  “I see that, but I don’t know why. You have never even had a conversation with him.” I replied cautiously. I really didn’t need a panther in the middle of the room. I don’t even know if this room could fit Josh’s panther form inside it, as well as me and Alex and my bed.

  “I don’t have to have a conversation with him Elle. I can see that he is Evil. Unlike you, who just sees his attractive features,” He exclaimed his hands clutching the side of my desk, cracking the wood.

  “Excuse me!” I yelled. “How dare you say that to me. Is that what you honestly think. You think I’m that shallow that I would base an opinion about someone on their looks.”

  “I didn’t mean it like that,” He stuttered.

  “Oh and what exactly did you mean then Josh. Please explain I’m dying to know,” I yelled a fire ball forming in my hand. Maybe I needed to control my emotions to. Closing my hand, the flame disappeared, and I continued to stare intently at Josh.

  “I just meant that you are looking at who he is rather than what he is,” Josh boomed pulling off half of my desk in his hands. Sure that would be easy to explain to Bruce. What am I going to say to Bruce when he asked why his antique table had two holes ripped out of it.

  “It doesn’t matter what someone is if whom they are, is different,” I explain. That didn’t make a lot of sense, but I’m hoping Josh picks up the gist of it.

  “That’s ridiculous! If someone is a demon it means they are Evil Elle. Their personality doesn’t change whom they were born to be.” He slammed his hand on the desk making it shake. The anger boiled in me, my head felt like it was on fire. I’m sure I have never been so hurt and angry at Josh in my life before.

  “Well I’m half demon Josh. So does that mean I’m Evil?” I asked biting the inside of my cheek.

  “No, No Elle your different,” He stuttered stepping towards me. Stepping away from him I tried my best not to punch him right in the nose.

  “Right! How so?”

  “You’re Elle and your half angel, so that’s a completely different thing,” He babbled trying to undo what he had said.

  “I think you’re looking more on who I am than what I am Josh” I replied.

  “Elle don’t listen to him,” Alex whispered.

  “It’s ok Alex. I’m Glad he said it, now I know where I stand,” I replied smiling at her. She never liked to see me upset, and I didn’t want to take what her brother did out on her.

  “Elle I honestly didn’t mean that,” Josh attempted to make amends, but I couldn’t even look at him anymore. Let alone talk to him.

  “Josh I suggest you shut up now!” Alex snapped.

  “Elle,” he whispered.

  “Go home Josh! I’m done talking to you,” I yelled. Putting her arms around me, Alex gave me a hug.

  “I’m with you on this one. Just because, you are told you are something, does not mean that is whom you have to be.” She whispered.

  Josh was half out of the window before Alex disappeared. Mouthing sorry he jumped from the window and landed on the ground as a chocolate Labrador.

  Now even my friend thinks I’m going to become evil. That fills me with warm fuzzes. How can Josh even say that to me? He was the one who told me that because my mother was evil, it didn’t mean I was. Well he soon changed his mind on the whole situation. All my strength was being used to not scream out loud. I didn’t want to alarm the Bales downstairs, even though they most likely heard the whole fight up here anyway. We had been louder than I wanted us to be. I need to get out of here. I just want to scream until my lungs can’t take it anymore. Holding out my hand I called for my blue cloak with the pink inner lining. It appeared in my open hand. The fabric soothed me it reminded me of home and Peggy. Wrapping the cloak around me, I flicked the hood up over my head and leapt out of my open window. I had no idea where I was going, but I started to run. As I ran the air rushed past me. I held my hood tight around my face, trying to shut out the strong wind. Following the path down into the wooded area at the side of the Bales house, my feet were swallowed by the flooded grass. Picking my feet up higher to avoid being stuck in the mud, I continued to run across the acres. When I couldn’t run any further, I stopped to catch my breath. I have no idea where I am running to. Trees towered over me as leant against a wooden picket fence. Darkness covered everything in sight. Distant sounds of running water reminded me of where I was. The path towards the village was visible in the dim moonlight. Crumbling I fell to the ground and couldn’t stop the tears from flowing. All my emotions poured out of my body as my tears fell uncontrollably. I couldn’t control the nagging voice in the back of my head, telling me I would become what I hunt. A demon like my mother. Now there are so many people telling me that is whom I am. Lorias I could cope with but my father and Josh, that I can’t take. Even though my father hadn’t said the exact words. Saying I was like my mother in my mind meant I was evil. All I know about her is that she was evil. Yes, she may have been good once but does that change anything. Nothing in my head makes any sense.

  “Elle are you ok?” Logan whispered. I wasn’t aware he had appeared next to me, until his voice broke through the mass screaming in my head.

  “I’m perfect,” I smiled. Wiping the tears from my eyes with the edge of my cloak, the hood fell down.

  “You don’t look it,” he sighed wiping away a tear from my eye.

  “How did you find me?” I asked. Trying not to look at him I looked down and twiddled my thumbs.

  “I’ve placed a tracking device on you. I like to keep track of my arch enemies,” He mocked pulling my hands apart, stopping my thumb twiddling.

>   “Please tell me you are not serious!” I sniffed.

  “Fine I’m not serious. Alex told me you were here,” He mumbled. I turned towards him and couldn’t help but stare into his dark blue eyes. I was transfixed by the way the moonlight made them sparkle. Elle get a grip of yourself. Tearing my eyes from his, I looked around where we were sitting.

  “Wait how did Alex tell you I was here?” I exclaimed.

  “She texted me,” He replied taking out his blackberry and showing me the message from Alex.

  Go see Elle at the Bale’s, I can’t help, so I’m sending the big guns

  I read chuckling to myself. Typical that Alex would tell Logan of all people to come find me and what did she mean by big guns.

  “She seems like a fun kind of girl,” he laughed putting his phone back into his pocket.

  “She’s great,” I praised.

  “So are you going to tell me why you are sitting alone. In a dark forest crying your pretty eyes out?” He asked tucking a strand of my hair behind my ear. Shuddering at his touch, I wrapped my cloak tightly around my body.

  “I had an argument with Josh. Funnily enough about you,” I replied. He looked confused which made his forehead wrinkle.

  “Don’t worry about it. It was nothing,” I continued.

  “You don’t seem the type of girl to cry over nothing,” He sighed. The wind began to pick up around us, scattering leaves around my out stretched legs. I cry over most things, but I wasn’t going to tell him that.

  “Can I ask you something?” I asked shifting my body to turn towards him.

  “Sure makes a change from me asking you all the questions,” He chuckled mirroring my move.

  “What do you think is stronger Nature or Nurture?”

  “In what sense?” He asked raising one of his eyebrows.

  “In the sense of whether you are evil or good?”

  Pursing his lips together, he sat and thought for a while before he answered.

  “Personally I think that you choose your own course in Life. Even if, you’re born one way, doesn’t mean you’re forever going to be that way. Your heritage isn’t all of what you are. You choose whom you want to be.”

  “I’m glad I’m not the only one who believes that,” I smiled. He smiled back at me and let out a large sigh.

  “It’s a pity our opinions don’t count in the world,” He sighed staring up at the clear sky. A couple of stars were doted around the moon that shone behind a large oak. Wind blew through the trees making them sway, scattering their leaves over the open path.

  “I’m not even going to pretend to believe that things will change when we are in charge,” I groaned.

  “We may want them to but there are too many rules and restrictions for us to follow. People don’t do well with change,” He sighed.

  Being Queen of everything good in all worlds, was a scary fact that someday soon I was going to have to come to terms with. How I was going to rule over three billion mythical creatures. It’s going to be hard considering I can’t even take care of one crystal. The thought of Megan stealing the crystal reminded me of the reason I was mad with Logan in the first place.

  “Wait I’m mad at you! You let Megan get away and then steals the crystals from us.” I exclaimed standing up in fury.

  “Wait! Hold on she did what?” He replied standing up in front of me.

  “Don’t act like you don’t know.”

  “Trust me I’m not acting. She took the crystals? How many?” He asked holding my arm lightly, most likely to stop me from running away or orbing anywhere.

  “I don’t trust you,” I exclaimed. Letting go of my arm he stepped back as if I’d electrocuted him. The hurt look on his face made my heart sink. I didn’t want to hurt his feelings, and I couldn’t bear to see the look on his face any longer.

  “Sorry,” I whispered taking a step towards him.

  “Elle I’m not involved in this devil gate situation. I wouldn’t do anything to hurt you,” He whispered stepping closer to me and stroking my cheek.

  “I want to believe that Logan,” I gulped as his hands cupped my face. He stared intently at me. His dark eyes seemed to search my soul as he continued to stare silently. The only sound down I could hear were the beating of hearts and our breath, as he stood looking at me.

  “What are you afraid of Elle?” He breathed making my heart skip a beat.

  “Honestly,” I paused. “You.”

  Taking my head in his hands he pushed his lips against mine. I didn’t even hesitate as I kissed him back. All the emotion I felt towards him was coming out in this one embrace. Running my fingers through his hair, he dropped his hands from my face and wrapped them around my waist, pulling me in closer.

  Pulling away I couldn’t help but be angry at myself. This was Logan, my born arch enemy. Why an earth was I kissing him and why do I want to continue. Brain scan needed.

  “I can’t,” I breathed, “I have to go.”

  Running back down the path I came from, I heard him call after me. It was taking all my strength not to turn back around and kiss him again. Why was I feeling this way about him? It’s only because he is forbidden to me. I wasn’t even allowed to talk to him out of meetings. So I’m guessing making out with him was frowned upon. Adabelle Gabriel you are out of your mind. I am forbidding myself to see him ever again. I don’t know what is crazier, the fact that I have just kissed Logan or that I’m talking to myself about it. Yes, I am definitely crazy.

  ***

  “You did WHAT!” Alex shouted. Realising where she was, she lowered her head

  “You did what?” She whispered. Letting out a deep sigh I closed the book I was reading. Yet again I was spending another Tuesday evening researching in the library.

  “Ok please don’t make this a big deal,” I whispered.

  “Oh no, of course not. You make out with the prince of Evil and it’s just an everyday thing…”

  “Alex,”

  “Elle,” she mimicked my voice with a smile.

  “Ok fine. So it’s a big deal, but I am trying my hardest not to beat myself over the head with a baseball bat. For being so naïve,” I groaned taking another book off the shelf. One hundred ways to kill a demon. Really there are a hundred ways to kill a demon, well you learn something new every day.

  “This is so exciting!” She squealed.

  “Excuse me? How an earth is this exciting. This is the opposite of exciting, its catastrophic.” I replied putting the book back on the shelf.

  “Oh stop being so dramatic! He’s hot,” she moaned handing me a book of spells and enchantments.

  “I’m not being dramatic. I’m being realistic, and his hotness has nothing to do with anything. I didn’t kiss him because he is hot,” I mumbled flicking through the old book.

  “So you’re admitting you enjoyed the kiss,” She grinned jumping up and down with excitement.

  “Fine I enjoyed it, but that’s not the point!”

  “So why did you kiss him then?” She asked, the grin on her face growing bigger by the second.

  “I have no idea,”

  “Liar! You like him and you are only unwilling to admit it because of whom he is. Just remember my friend, Romeo and Juliet’s love was forbidden to.”

  “What? One I do not, I repeat in no way love Logan and two Romeo and Juliet died. It’s not really anything to aspire to.” I chuckled passing her back the book of spells.

  “Whatever. It is my duty as your best friend to tell you to live a little. You never know, you might even enjoy it,” She smirked placing the book on the shelf behind her.

  “Is it possible that we have searched this whole library and found nothing on the Devils gate?” I asked placing the one hundredth book back onto the bookshelf. Personally I would like to be out there hunting Megan down and taking back the crystals. Apparently, according to my dear father, that is not what we should do.

  “Ok Elle this is killing me. I know Josh was completely out of order last night but
can’t you to sort it out? He is miserable!” Alex blurted out taking a seat at the desk in front of the shelving area. With everything that had gone on with Logan. I hadn’t had time to think about how to sort out this mess with Josh. Why should I be the one to sort it out. He is the one in the wrong.

  “When he apologies to me, I’ll think about forgiving him, but Alex you have to understand. He really hurt me.”

  “I know,” She sighed.

  Speak of the devil and the devil shall come. As soon as Alex had finished speaking, Josh turned around the corner and walked towards us.

  “Elle Can I speak to you please,” He asked with his hand in his hair. He looked nervous as he bit his lip. He should be nervous, and he should also be apologising to me.

  “I’ll leave you guys to it,” Alex whispered picking up a few books and disappearing into thin air. What is it with Alex and leaving me in awkward situations? I think she likes to see me squirm.

  “Elle I’m really sorry about the things I said last night. I wasn’t thinking, and you know me, I’m an idiot,” He chattered his hand not leaving his hair. I chuckled at him as he called himself an idiot. I could have thought of a few more words that described what he was at the moment.

  “Josh I don’t understand what you have against Logan. Yeah ok he’s a demon but so am I technically.” I took a seat on the desk next to Josh and twisted my loose hair around my finger.

  “I don’t… Elle Look. He turned my date into a vampire…”

  “No Ruby the rude vampire did that,” I corrected.

  “Whatever, he let them get away didn’t he,” He pointed out. Removing his hand from his hair, he placed it in the pocket of his jeans.

  “I’m not trying to stick up for the guy, but it’s his job to protect his people. Plus you heard Ruby, it was his dads order. Can you imagine me going against my Dad’s orders and don’t say it’s different, it’s not.”