Blood and Light

by Rue Volley

  “Get out of my way Josh...I mean it,” I said, as I looked past him up the road.

  He reached out his hand and traced it on my cheek... I could see a blue mist trailing from his fingertips.

  “Stop...” I said as I turned my head away from him.

  “He is not for you Rue... I don't understand why you torture yourself... It will only be a matter of time before he destroys you.”

  I looked back at him…

  “Because I love him Josh,” I said with malicious intent.

  Josh stepped back from me. I felt like I just stabbed a dagger into his heart.

  “Okay...fine Rue, I'll take you to Barrington if you like, but not until Sam returns.”

  “What?” I said.

  He started walking towards the car.

  “You heard me…” he said.

  I heard the car door close. I stood there for a moment, shocked that he agreed to do it. I started walking towards the car and got in. We drove home, not saying a word. Kai was asleep on the couch. Josh walked ahead of me and went up the stairs, two steps at a time… I heard a door slam. Okay…awkward.

  Kai started to wake up... “Rue?”

  “Yea Kai…it's me.” I sat down next to him.

  “Where'd ya go?”

  I looked down at my hands and then to Kai..

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  “I took a walk.”

  He looked at me.

  “Hey…your hair…I like it!”

  “Thanks Kai...listen I'm gonna go to bed.”

  He smiled at me... “He's in mom and dad"s room.”

  I stood up.

  “No…no…god no… What are you thinking.?”

  “I don't know...seems like he"s got it for ya.”

  “Are you trying to pimp me out to your gamer buddy?” I said.

  Kai started to laugh.

  “I get 30 percent...ho, better have my money… OWWW!”

  I hit him in the side of the head.

  “GO TO BED KAI,” I yelled at him.

  “Just kidding Rue...” I hit him again and he turned sideways, so I got his arm.

  “Go to bed Kai… I'll see ya in the morning.”

  “K…! Love you too bully!”

  I smiled at him and he ran up the stairs.

  I sat down on the couch and sat there in silence. I couldn't hear anything and I loved it.

  ******

  Grace placed a hand over Elin... “Awake,” she whispered. Elin started to stir. Grace looked around...she had been here before. It was a knee high, grass field. She had dreamed of it for a long time. The sun was high overhead and she could hear birds off in the distance, chirping. Grace stood up and reached her hand down to Elin and pulled her up.

  “Where are we?” Elin whispered.

  “Just stay close to me okay?”

  Elin looked at Grace and did not let her hand go. Grace looked down at their hands and smiled at her.

  “Trust me Elin…I will not let any more harm come to you.”

  Grace started to walk, looking for the mirror that they came through.

  “Is Caine here Grace?”

  Grace stopped and looked at her.

  “I don't believe so Elin... I cracked the mirror behind me...it threw us forward... I wanted to make sure he would not be able to follow us.”

  “Good…that's good Grace.”

  They walked for awhile and nothing, but green field... They came to a hill and Grace stared down to the bottom.

  “I've been here before Elin...we have to keep walking, there will be a house up this way.”

  Elin looked, but she could not see anything...

  “Are you sure Grace?”

  “Trust me,” Grace whispered.

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  The sun never moved in the sky...the wind was swaying the grass back and forth…

  “I am so tired Grace... I think I need to stop for just a moment.”

  Grace looked back at her. “No, Elin listen to me…we have to keep walking…

  This place…it is a place to forget…to sleep forever… I need for you to stay with me, Okay?”

  Elin smiled at her... “But I am so tired, Grace.”

  “I know…please, keep walking I promise we will be there soon.”

  They kept going, for what seemed like a day...then as they came over another hill, they saw a small house nestled in the side of a rock cliff...

  “Look Elin...look!”

  Elin stared, almost in disbelief, that Grace had been right.

  Grace squeezed Elin's hand and started to move towards the house...but the house moved away from them, with each step they took.

  “NO!” Grace yelled towards the house. “No...we can make it there Elin...believe that we can.”

  Grace felt Elin"s hand slip from hers. She turned and Elin was falling in slow motion into the long grass. Grace knelt down by her side. She held her hand..

  “Elin?” she whispered.

  Elin looked at Grace with heavy eyes...

  “I am so tired Grace...please, I have to sleep now.”

  Grace started to cry...

  “Elin...I wanted to protect you...that was my intent…it truly was. I am sorry I did not build this place... I seem to have no power here.”

  Elin lifted her hand and placed it on Grace"s cheek.

  “Don't weep for me… I am truly grateful to you Grace...for showing me the heart of a protector… I did not know there was such compassion among your people.”

  “I would of gladly died for you or any other human Elin...a protector is supposed to protect the earth and those who inhabit it... You are a beautiful creature.”

  Elin smiled her hand slipping from Grace"s cheek and her eyes closed...going into a deep and uninterrupted sleep. Grace stood up next to her and watched the grass slowly cover her body... Wildflowers were left where she had just laid.

  Grace looked towards the sky and then towards the house.

  “I know I can reach you now,” she whispered. “This place is not meant for anyone but a protector... I understand.”

  She started walking towards it and made it to the door. She opened it and walked through...leaving the grass, sun, and Elin behind.

  ******

  I must have fell asleep on the couch... I had curled into a fetal position and I was startled awake, when Kai came bounding over the top and almost landed on me. At the last moment, he veered right and rolled onto the floor.

  “Kai...! What the hell?” I said in a grumble.

  “Geezus Rue...! I could have crushed you with all my man-ness.”

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  I sat upright and rubbed my arm…it was asleep, I must of laid on it funky.

  “Your man-ness...? Is that even a word Kai?”

  He stood up lifting his shirt, tapping at his stomach...

  “Gross…” I said, turning my head away from him.

  He grinned. “I think Sam would argue that.”

  I looked up at him with stink eye… “Sam wouldn't even respond to that...turd.”

  He reached down to the coffee table and picked up his controller, then he drop bounced next to me and almost knocked me off the couch.

  “Kai...! Fine I've got to brush my teeth anyway..”

  “That's the truth,” he added under his breath.

  “Shut up stud.”

  He smiled at me…not the intention. I sighed and went to my room. I took off my jacket...took off everything...I just wanted a shower. I used way to much shampoo, because I didn't realize how little I needed for my hair now... Suds were dripping down my face and got into my eye... I reached out the side of the shower, trying to find the towel and it got placed in my hand. I gasped... I used it quickly and peeked my head out, only to see Josh standing there.

  “Ummm...is this a habit of yours...ya know, coming into girl"s rooms when you hear water running?”

  Josh laughed. “No…only yours.”

  I shut the water off and wrapped the towel around me.

  “Well, I feel sooo sp
ecial now... Do me a favor and when you abduct me in a van, make sure it's not one of those shitty seventies vans with the smelly carpet, K,” I said to him.

  “I'll keep that in mind when I buy it Rue.”

  I stood behind the shower curtain, wondering why I could still see his shadow outside of it.

  “No stupid dragon on the side either,” I added.

  “Ahhh…come on Rue, airbrushing is the shit.”

  “Listen Josh...I am really enjoying this cryptic conversation…really I am, but do you think you could leave my room now...please.?”

  “Ohh, yeah sorry...I ummm, well breakfast is ready.”

  “Okay...thanks?” I said, as I waited for him to leave.

  He cleared his throat, “Yeah well…when your ready, it's downstairs.”

  “Awesome Josh thanks for making me aware of that important information.”

  He left the bathroom... Really...what the hell?

  I finished getting ready… I didn't feel so emo boy band this morning, so I put on a light gray tee and my jeans... Couldn't change my hair, but honestly...I did not regret it one bit. I blew my hair dry really quick and headed downstairs. I walked up to the table and a pop tart was sitting on my plate. Josh was sitting down chewing on his. I looked at him and back at the plate.

  “Really?” I asked him.

  He looked up at me and smiled.

  “I made it for you.”

  “You didn't paper cut yourself or anything right...? You know…when you had to tear it open and navigate the toaster.”

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  He started laughing... “No…I did not. It's blueberry.”

  I sat down. “M mmm…awesome.”

  “Soo…” I started to pick at my delicious pop tart.

  He looked at me, “Listen…I think I reacted strange last night…but no more funny business…we're on a mission.”

  I looked at him, “A mission?”

  “Yep…I mapped it…Barrington…takes four hours to get there.”

  “K…? I thought we were waiting until Sam got back?” I asked.

  He shrugged his shoulders. “Nah.”

  He grinned at me. I didn't like it.

  “Josh...why are you in such a cheery mood?”

  He stood up and took his plate to the sink. He turned around to me...and crossed his arms.

  “I like road trips...” he said.

  “For some reason, I don't believe you.” I stopped picking at my food.

  “Ohhh…come on, it'll be fun… I've never been there, have you?”

  “No,” I said.

  “Well then...awesome… Whenever your ready…we can hit the road,” he said.

  He walked out of the room grinning.

  I don't like it.

  ******

  Kai had been informed that we were leaving... Josh told him to stay behind, just in case Sam arrived, so she wouldn't flip out. He was fine…he had chips and his games… He was in heaven…not me. I was embarking on a four hour drive with serial killer here. Josh had grabbed road snacks...and I shoved a few things in my backpack and we jumped into the car. He pulled out a stack of CDs and started shuffling through them. Without asking, he pushed one in the slot and started the car. He looked at me and I tried to smile at him, but it came off as a “Who the hell are you?” grin…

  We pulled out and he turned up the volume...It was jazz. Okay, whew...I thought he'd pull out some crap, but it's actually okay. He turned to me and smiled. I smiled back, not so psycho this time. We drove for about an hour and then he decided to say something.

  “So…Rue.”

  I looked over to him, he wasn't looking at me, just gripping the wheel.

  “What Josh?” I asked.

  “You need to learn to center yourself,” he said. I turned to look at him.

  “What do you mean by center?”

  He slowed the car down and pulled off the side of the road. I looked at him, not knowing where this was going. He shut the car off and turned to me.

  “You need to understand that energy is something you can and will control... You have the power to do it…you've just never been shown.”

  “Ohhh…well, my mom showed me how to pull the static out of my hair and throw it away.”

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  “K...well that's a start but...here” He held both of his hands out to me... “Take my hands… I want to show you something.”

  I put my hands in his.

  “Ohhh…” He said.

  I looked up at him, he was staring at my hands.

  “What?” I said.

  He looked into my eyes... “You are humming.”

  “What?”

  Josh looked back down at my hands… “The vibration coming off of you is crazy.

  It's the energy you store…you have a lot of it...”

  “Is that normal?” I asked, as I stared at my hands.

  He laughed at me, “Rue, you find out your not even human and you want to know if you humming is normal?”

  I smiled... “Well, I'm kinda new at this...sorry.”

  He shook his head.

  “Now close your eyes…” He looked at me, “Listen, I'm not going to do anything, trust me… Look we are in a car…no van!” He laughed.

  “Alright...” I closed my eyes.

  “Listen to me...you need to concentrate… Think of the core of the planet…all the melted rock turning and twisting..”

  “Okay,” I whispered.

  I focused in, on what I had only seen on the history channels and in books and tried to envision it... I started to feel it…churning…glowing hot… I felt my feet start to vibrate and it slowly started to creep up my body. I slowed my breathing, almost instinctively...relaxing my body and allowing it to flow through me.

  Josh slowed his breathing, to match mine.

  “That's good Rue…keep focusing and draw it up through you.”

  I kept visualizing it and I started to heat up... Josh looked around the car and the windows started steaming up. He looked back at me and I was starting to shimmer gold.

  “Well that's new,” He said.

  I opened my eyes… “What.”

  He sucked in his breath... “Rue please...concentrate.”

  I closed my eyes... “Sorry,” I whispered.

  “Now listen to me...energy is always moving like water... Send it to me. Feel it in your body moving?”

  I did… It felt like a wave moving...like the ocean. “Yes,” I said.

  “Now let it flow to me like water, through your hands...slowly.”

  I visualized it leaving my hands and entering his. I could feel his hands shaking in mine...

  “Rue...” he whispered.

  “Now take it back from me...” he said.

  My eyes were shut, but I could see it swirling blue and white…like oil in water. I took it back from him and felt it creep through my hands, into my arms, until my whole body vibrated. I could feel Josh"s hands getting colder in mine.

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  “Good Rue…now you need to throw it away... You can let go of my hands and release it... Imagine something eating it, don't send it back to the core.”

  He released my hands and I tried to push it out of me…it lingered, I got frustrated and pushed it out with force. At that moment, the windows cracked in the car...the back window shattered. I screamed out and put my hands over my head to shield myself. Josh jumped out of the car and put his hands on his head... I looked at him from my seat.

  “Sorry?” I said.

  He grinned at me…

  “Well that's just crazy Rue... I've never seen that happen.”

  I got out of the car and walked to him. I looked back at the car. I crossed my arms.

  “Well...oops,” I said, no knowing what the right reaction should be.

  Josh started laughing so hard, you would of thought that I just told the funniest joke in the history of the world. He looked at me.

  “You are something special Rue… You really are.”

 
“Well Josh, what are we going to do now?” I asked, as I looked at the windows.

  “We have to get the windows fixed.”

  I looked at him. “Where?”

  “We'll just drive to the next town, I'm sure we can find someone to do it.”

  ******

  We drove for an hour before we saw a sign...Adda…ten miles. I looked at him and he grinned, not looking at me. We entered Adda and we realized this was a one horse town. The grocery and gas station were combined. He pulled in and stopped.

  I crossed my arms... “You think they even have a mechanic here?”

  He shut the car off and turned to me smiling, “I'm sure they do…every town has one guy to fix stuff.”

  “Well Josh, we need a mechanic, not a plummer.”

  He laughed and got out, he came around to my side and leaned in… “I'll be right back grumpy.”

  I looked at him and he jogged off towards the door. I sat there, hoping we could be lucky and someone in this town would be wanting to fix these windows now... I started feeling like I was in a delay on purpose. I saw Josh come out, with a grin on his face...

  I looked at him… “Well?”

  “Got somebody who can do it.”

  “Awesome...good deal,” I said with a sigh.

  Josh got back in the car. He started it up.

  “Where are we going?”

  He looked before he pulled out, onto what could only be MAIN st in this town...

  “Going to the hotel,” he said.

  I looked at him… “What?”

  “Yeah…this guy can do it, but it won't be until tomorrow morning.”

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  “Your kidding me.”

  “Nope,” he said.

  We pulled up to the Adda Inn...vacancy sign blazing… I bet, who would be staying here?

  Josh jumped out and looked back at me, “Come on, Rue.”

  I got out of the car and grabbed my backpack... Great...I am not prepared for a sleep over. Guess I'm not that high maintenance, but a toothbrush is a must have. We walked into to dimly lit room and found a bell on the counter. I leaned over to Josh.

  “This is how all bad b horror films start out… Whatever you do, don't tell him that we don't have anyone expecting us.”

  Josh smiled and rang the bell…then again. A middle aged lady with eighties hair came around the corner.

  “Whatcha all need?” she asked.

  Josh and I looked at each other and then he spoke.