Blood and Light

by Rue Volley

  “Thanks Rue...get ready, it's almost seven.”

  She left my room and I stood there holding the dress. I've never in my life worn one... I guess there's a first for everything. I slipped it over my head and it feel right into place. I looked in the mirror and for the first time I looked like my mother...probably the dress though. I let my hair fall around my shoulders and I gave makeup a shot...avoiding the dreaded burn in my eye, maybe that's a good 109

  sign. I tried to rock my chucks for a half second but it wasn't working so I dug in my closet and pulled out my white lace up combat boots that came to my knee...

  I turned to the mirror and it actually looked cool so I decided that's it then and I headed downstairs.

  Josh was on the couch with Kai and Sam must have been finishing getting ready... Josh turned around and stood up when I reached the end of the stairs.

  He looked me up and down and then sparked a wicked grin.

  “What?”

  “You look...beautiful.”

  I could feel the heat enter my cheeks...

  “Thanks...Josh.”

  Kai rolled his head back on the couch...

  “What the hell?”

  I looked at him like I looked at his meals.

  “What Kai?”

  “You look...good Rue...dress huh?”

  I looked down at it, “Yea ummm...Sam let me borrow it.”

  Kai looked back at the T.V.

  “That makes perfect sense then. Nice to see you in a dress sis.”

  Huh...nothing? No sarcasm…? I don't know if I like Sam anymore, where's my brother?

  I heard a car horn...must be Sara, I looked at Josh.

  “Well...you ready...? Your date"s here to pick YOU up.”

  I smiled at him.

  He came over to me and leaned in my ear...

  “Everything I do to her...I'll be thinking of you sweetheart.”

  “Shut up.”

  He started laughing and we headed for the door.

  When we stepped outside there were two cars not one. Sara had jumped out wearing a butterfly tee and a denim mini. I would of laughed at the butterfly reference but she looked really good. She had flowers...fake ones, placed around her hair...added to the pretty. I would have said something but my gaze was stuck on the black BMW parked next to her car. I froze there on the porch under the light lit above me and I looked up... What I would give for it to be an alien beam pulling me up into the mother ship but no luck.

  “OMG...Rue!”

  Sara took both of my hands and pulled them apart to get the full affect of what I was wearing.

  “Holy Crap...you look awesome Rue!” She stepped back from me... “I swear I'm gonna pass out…! You in a dress…? Never thought I'd see it, not in a million years!”

  If she only knew...I may have a million years to try to wear one again.

  I looked down at my shoes... “Yea I thought…well, it's Sam"s.”

  “Well...I love her taste!” Sara smiled at me and went right to work on Josh.

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  She instantly started talking... Sara talk, the kind I like to listen too but Josh will just freak out at some point. Hope he doesn't kiss her to shut her up, no maybe he should...why should I care?

  I saw the door open on the BMW and Johnathan got out... I don't know what I expected to feel but it took every ounce of strength I had not to run at him and wrap my arms around him. He walked up to the porch and looked at me…

  really looked at me like he was seeing me for the first time.

  I crossed my arms, I did it before I realized it.

  “Hello Rue Volley.”

  I looked at him and he smiled...the smile that I knew the best, the one that told me he was happy to see me.

  “Hi Johnathan.”

  He walked up two steps towards me.

  “I…you look beautiful, you really do.”

  “Thanks…it's Sam"s she let me borrow it.”

  “Well you own it, you really do.”

  I smiled and looked down at my hands.

  “I…I didn't know if you…well I had no idea you were still going tonight.”

  “Ohhh... do you have a date with someone else?”

  I looked at him and grinned..

  “NO…no…I just didn't know you would be here...thought maybe you'd skip.”

  He took the last two steps and now he towered over me.

  “Rue…I should of called... I apologize for that.” He reached out his hand and brushed it against my cheek. I felt my heart flutter.

  “No Johnathan I'm sorry…I really am.”

  We got locked in a gaze with each other and for a moment I didn't know where I was.

  The car horn went off and we both flinched.

  Sara leaned out her window... “Leaving...! Are you guys coming or what?”

  Sam came running out of the house and jumped into Sara"s car along with Kai and Josh. Sam stopped for a moment when she realized she was in the back with Kai, gave me a look, and got in. Johnathan and I both nodded and headed for his car.

  ******

  I think it was Mozart, on Johnathan"s radio. We didn't talk, but he had reached over and took my hand once we got into the car. We followed Sara and when we got to the entrance of Red Woods, my stomach had that “roller coaster going down hill” feeling for a moment. I kind of shook it off, truth was, I really just wanted to hang out with Johnathan. I didn't realize how much I missed him, until he was there in front of my house. We all parked and we could see a huge bonfire going a little ways off.

  Sara, Sam, Josh, and Kai piled out of the car and headed towards the light. Johnathan shut the car off and sat still.

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  It was dead silent…I hoped my stomach wouldn't growl, it would sound crazy in the car with no noise to drown it out. He turned to me.

  “Listen Rue…I wanted to call you, I really did.”

  I looked at him...the moonlight was making his skin even more beautiful than memory.

  “It's okay, it really is…I should of…” I said.

  He interrupted me.

  “Sorry...no I'm not done.”

  I looked at him wondering where this was going.

  “I'll be honest, when I left your house that day I thought, I thought I'm leaving and I'm not going to talk to her again.”

  I would of said something but he wasn't done… I hoped he wasn't done.

  “Well I spent the rest of the week wanting you.”

  “Wanting?” I had to ask.

  “Yes... I dream of you every night, I think about you every day. It really made me mad at first because I didn't want to...but no....it just wouldn't stop, I couldn't stop wanting to be with you.”

  “Johnathan.”

  He looked at his hands, it was a first.

  “I…I…need to know Rue, in class those things you said, was it about me?”

  I wanted to lie, I wanted to make things so much easier...then I opened my mouth and whispered.

  “Every word.”

  “Rue...I've kissed you more then I've talked to you, but I feel the same way, I really do.”

  I looked out the window towards the bonfire.

  “If you want to go...”

  I looked back at him and I jumped onto his lap and started to kiss him. Our heartbeats were syncing up, so I couldn't tell whose was beating harder, really I didn't care, not one bit. He reached under his seat and moved his seat back, giving me more room to function. He pulled my face away from his.

  “Rue...” he whispered.

  He rubbed his bottom lip against mine, so softly, that it shot a tingle up my spine. He nudged my head back and ran his hot breath down the front of my neck. I clinched up and drew in air. He whispered.

  “Oh my god Rue...you'll be the death of me I swear, I am so weak with you.”

  I kissed him and held his face in my hands, the windows were starting to steam up. I pulled away from him...last thing I wanted to do...and whispered in his ear.

  “We h
ave to go.”

  “I know... I know,” he said.

  I pulled off of him and got back into my seat. He sat for a moment and cleared his throat, running his hand through his hair... “Okay... okay then.”

  He got out and came around to my side opening my door.

  I got out... I don't know how I had the strength to stop what had just happened. I liked it though... I liked being the one who could say stop, especially 112

  with him.... He took my hand, it fit so well in his, like it had been there forever. We walked towards the fire.

  The closer we got the more we could here chatter...the whole school must be here. I know besides the coffee shop and the occasional fair this bonfire was the most exciting thing here in Minnesota. It was crazy to think that exactly a week ago things were so different...

  We looked around to find our group and found Sara and Josh sitting on

  “log” chairs off to the side, As we approached them I could see Josh smiling towards the fire and Sara talking, talking...talking.

  We stepped up to them and I had let go of Johnathan"s hand.

  I looked at Josh.

  “Hey...”

  He smiled at me and nodded at Johnathan.

  “Where you two been?”

  Johnathan ran his hand through his hair and I looked at my hands...fidgeting…

  wait, why should I feel weird? He asked so...

  “We were making out in the car, Josh,” I said.

  Johnathan looked at me, kinda shocked that I just blurted out the truth...no sarcasm…nothing.

  Sara just let her jaw drop. I'll admit it was cool to see her shut up for the first time ever.

  “Okay”...Sara crooned, “Awkward.”

  Josh stood up.

  I stepped in front of Johnathan and grabbed both of hands wrapping his arms around me. I looked up at Josh.

  “You asked…I told you,” I said.

  I could see the fire reflected in Josh"s eyes making them look as if they were burning hot. For a split second I swear I saw hurt in his eyes or maybe it was anger... I can't be sure. I was preparing myself for anything but we were interrupted when someone flipped on the techno music...loud enough to drown out the situation at hand. Sara jumped up and grabbed Josh"s hand pulling him towards the bonfire...other kids had immediately started dancing and she has always been a sucker for techno. I turned around and Johnathan was smiling at me. I leaned up on my tip toes and yelled in his ear.

  “What?” I let my feet relax and he leaned down to my ear.

  “You surprise me every time I swear, I thought I would be…I mean we would be a secret or something… I don't know.”

  I grabbed his hand and pulled him out onto the makeshift dance floor.

  Everyone around us was pulling their best moves out...or what they thought were. We stopped and I reached up and touched his face. The music was thumping so loud... Johnathan leaned down and kissed me, I put my arms around him and went for it... I didn't care who was looking. Suddenly I got bumped from behind, it almost knocked us over, I turned to look and Johnathan looked at the same time. It was Josh...

  “Sorry!” he yelled.

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  Sara was all pushing up against him so I had to believe it was an accident. Josh turned him and Sara around so he was facing us.

  I just started to dance… Why not...? Lets just have a normal moment, just once. I put my hands over my head and started swaying back and forth... I didn't know if Johnathan would play along, I didn't know if he even liked to dance...

  guess we'd find out. I turned my back to him and I felt him press up against me from behind… He started to sway with me... His hands started on my sides and then they inched down over my hips... I reached above me and grabbed his hair... He whispered something in my ear but I couldn't hear him... His hands slid up the front of me and I could feel his fingers trace across my stomach. I sucked in my breath...feeling my heart pounding from a mix of dancing and his touch. I had thrown my jacket on and I was starting to sweat so I decided it was time to take it off... I started to pull it off but Johnathan turned me around and with both hands started to move it off my shoulders...he did it so slow letting his thumbs gently trace down both my arms... When he got my jacket down to my wrists he pressed my arms behind my back and leaned in kissing me... I swear I felt a vibration in my mouth from him letting out a small moan. He turned me away from him again and I could feel his mouth on the back of my neck. I looked up...

  my eyes kinda glossy and caught Josh looking at us... He looked away when he saw that I noticed him staring. Then he looked back at us and he stepped out from Sara squaring his shoulders...light starting to glow in his palms... I froze..

  “What the hell are you doing Josh?!” I screamed at him.

  I turned to Johnathan and saw that red flames were coming from his arms and licking at his feet.

  “Oh my God Johnathan!” I yelled at him.

  Johnathan looked at his hands and back at me...he grinned.

  I backed away from him... Josh took two steps forward...

  “Get out of the way Rue!”

  I panicked and threw myself in between them.

  Suddenly Sam flashed to us and threw her hands into the air...everyone went into suspended animation except for the four of us.

  Josh looked at her...

  “How the hell did you suspend everyone Sam?”

  “I didn't do it Josh”... Sam spun around looking everywhere.

  Josh grinned and looked back at Johnathan.

  Sam looked back to Josh....

  Sam grabbed me so fast I didn't know it until I hit the ground... Josh had hurled a flash of light at Johnathan almost simultaneously. It knocked Johnathan back towards the bonfire.

  I screamed out... “No... Josh please stop!”

  Josh started to chant and blue flames started to form at his feet suddenly engulfing his body... He threw his arms forward and hit Johnathan again this time knocking him into the bonfire. I scrambled to my feet in a total panic thinking he had killed him.

  Sam grabbed my arm stopping me from running into the fire to pull him out. Tears were streaming down my face and I looked at Josh with the most 114

  hatred I had ever felt for anyone ever. Josh never even looked at me, his eyes were fixed on the fire and then I saw a strange look come across his face... Sam and I turned to look....

  There he was. Johnathan had raised up right in the middle of the flames and stood there looking at his arms...then to us… He started to laugh. Then he stepped out...

  Josh and Sam immediately took a warrior stance with him… They both had blue mist and white light flashing from them. I felt like I was about to see the battle that my parents had endured. Johnathan"s entire body was engulfed in red flame...

  looked like shimmery metal mist, he looked at Josh and Sam and then turned his gaze to me.

  Sam flashed to me in a blur and grabbed me...yelling at Josh to run. Josh stood his ground.

  Just when I thought everything was going to explode the ground beneath our feet started to vibrate…symbols started to glow under us... They were appearing so fast I don't think Sam or Josh could even keep up with trying to figure out what they were... The wind picked up....

  We heard someone scream... “Bind!”

  Clark Noble flashed up to us so quickly he just appeared... He flashed to Johnathan and placed his hand on the side of his head… “Sleep,” he yelled.

  Johnathan dropped to the ground.

  Josh and Sam positioned themselves in front of me... Sam turned to me and whispered, “Stay behind us Rue.” I wasn't going to move.

  I could see that Josh"s breathing had increased…from behind I could see his back moving up and and down... I was kinda shocked to see him rattled.

  “What have you done Clark?” Josh said.

  Clark smiled…

  “Me...? Listen children I did not do anything but save you.”

  Josh started to laugh..

  “You...? Save
us...? Are you kidding me?”

  “Well from the looks of things here you needed my help so I would expect a thank you.”

  Josh looked at Sam.

  “Thank you...? For what exactly...? You have done more damage over time then anyone of us.”

  Clark relaxed his arms.

  “Well that is simply not true,” he waved a hand at Johnathan who was laying still on the ground beside him... “As you can see here.”

  Josh became angry.

  “Want to tell me what that is?” Josh pointed to Johnathan"s still body.

  “Well my boy…looks as if he is a protector like yourselves.”

  “Not like us,” Sam chimed in.

  Clark let his gaze settle on Sam...

  “Oh but you knew that didn't you Samantha?”

  Josh turned to her. Sam didn't return his look.

  “That is true Clark, but I bound him, when I arrived here,” Sam said.

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  Josh got angry…

  “What Sam...? You knew he was…?”

  She turned to him…

  “Yes Josh, I did… I saved Rue from him the night I arrived here.”

  “Think that would have been a good piece of information to share with me?” Josh said.

  Sam looked at Clark.

  “No I did not,” she muttered.

  Josh let out a sigh.

  “Nice Sam…really nice,” Josh added.

  Clark began to laugh...

  “You Barringtons I swear...always surprising me.” He added, “Well…I counted on that… You know Josh here is always so quick to act and you Sam, always so inquisitive... I needed to be sure, and now I am positive.”

  Both Sam and Josh looked at Clark.

  “Sure of what Noble?” Sam said.

  “That Caine had finally done it... You see Johnathan here was the only survivor in a string of experiments Caine pulled in the last hundred years.”

  I stepped around Josh and Sam.

  “What...? What do you mean?” I asked.

  “Oh Rue Volley...look at you! So pretty in that dress.”

  I looked down at it, smudged in dirt from being knocked to the ground. Noble added…

  “Don't know if I would have chosen the boots though.”

  Josh put his arm in front of me.

  “Enough chatter Noble... Johnathan is what?” Josh asked him.

  Noble squared his shoulders...