by Rue Volley
I touched his face. “What did you think I was doing over there, Johnathan?”
“Nothing…”
I rolled onto his chest… I realized he had put his shirt back on. “You need to settle down… You sound like a girl.”
He sighed and put his arms around me, “It's that time of the month, I guess.”
I laughed out loud and buried my face in his shirt to muffle it.
He reached down and lifted my chin up, he put his lips to mine and I pulled my breath in.
I pulled away from his mouth. “Yea…kissing in my bed...in the dark…not a good idea,” I whispered.
He grinned...that grin that would melt any heart. “Is there anything else I could do for you Rue Volley?”
I sighed, “Listen, it's a miracle that I've been able to sleep with you next to me… I don't need options.”
He laughed, “It's comforting to know that I'm not the only one suffering.”
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“Well trust me…you"re not,” I said, as I sighed.
He pulled me down and I turned over… He pressed against me from behind and kissed the back of my neck.
“Good night…sleep Rue, try not to dream okay?”
I closed my eyes… “Yea…I would prefer not to, I really would.”
He sighed again and I let myself drift...all the while, thinking about how warm he felt against me.
******
I woke to the smell of breakfast and just knew that Theodore was the architect. I sat up slowly, rubbing my head, looking down I saw Johnathan was laying on his stomach, faced away from me. It was a miracle that nothing got out of hand with him in here all night… I started to fidget with my hands and felt the ring on my finger… I must have slipped in on at some point…I didn't remember. I jumped out of the bed and went for the stairs…with every intention of getting some answers.
I ran into the kitchen and Theodore was cooking away. The room smelled like a restaurant. He already had an array of items placed on the table. I looked at it, my stomach growled and he spun around with a smile on his face.
“Ahhh…I see we are hungry...! Good, as you can see...we are feasting this morning. It is a celebration for your return to us, Rue!”
“Thanks…no, I can't believe you cooked all of this. I am starving, I really am, but I have to talk to you.”
I looked down and started to spin the ring on my finger. Theodore looked at my hand and raised his eyebrows.
“Did we elope last night sweetie?” he asked.
I walked towards him… “Oh no...no, oh god…listen, I had a dream last night ...
about my mom, Theodore… She was wearing this ring and now I have it…look!” I raised my hand to him and he took it, looking closely at it.
“You say you pulled this from a dream?” he asked as he inspected it.
“I…yea…she, well, we were in the library, you know, the day we all… Anyway, she spoke to me and then started to sink into the mirror. I reached for her hand and I couldn't stop her from.” I felt tears welling up in my eyes.
“Ohhh…curious…here, sit down, don't get upset Rue.”
I wiped my hand against my nose. I felt a cry coming on.
“Oh…no, no…here.” Theodore handed me a tissue. “Don't cry, you'll make me cry… I don't do well with sadness.”
I wiped my eyes and looked up at him, I'm sure I looked like a puppy in window.
Theodore pinched my chin. “You are a very special creature Rue… I will get to the bottom of this mystery for you, I promise my dear.”
“Can you just look…look at my dream Theodore, please.”
He knelt down in front of me and placed his hands on mine. “I will do this for you, but you need to relax.”
“I know…breath slow…relax, close my eyes, right?”
He grinned... “You and Josh have been practicing, huh?”
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I looked back down, “He tried to see it last night for me...he couldn't. He said it was a void, there was nothing.”
“Mmmm…interesting, well perhaps he was distracted.”
“Distracted?” I asked him.
Theodore laughed. “Well…I'm sure you just had him flustered… Did you wake him?”
“I…I didn't fluster him… He just couldn't do it… Would you please do it for me?”
Theodore took my hands and led me to the couch. We went through the same motions as Josh and I had the night before…well, minus the flirting.
Theodore opened his eyes. He said nothing, I peeked at him.
“What…? What did you see?”
“Nothing…nothing at all… Very odd,” he whispered.
I sighed… “Why…? Why can't anyone see what I saw…? I swear, I spoke to her last night Theodore… I swear I did.”
“Oh I believe you sweetie… I just cannot see it, I have no answer for that…but I promise you that I will… I love a mystery.”
Theodore took my hand, “Do you mind taking it off...? Can I have the ring?”
I hesitated… I really didn't want to take it off, but I decided to hand it over. Maybe a tangible item would assist in the puzzle.
“Mmmm… ” He rolled it over in his hand and slipped it on his pinky finger. “You say she spoke to you…? What did she say?”
I frowned, “I don't remember… I did last night, but now I can't tell you.”
“Mmmm.” He rolled it between his fingers.
“Quite simple, but flawless...”
He pulled it off and read the inscription on the inside. “You and no other.”
He grinned, “Well…if one thing can be said about William, it is that he was a fruitful romantic.”
I cleared my throat…not wanting to hear “was” used in a sentence about my dad.
I leaned forward and whispered to him, “Do you feel anything...? A vibration or flashes of light?”
He turned it on his finger. “No…nothing, but don't fret” He tapped my knee. “... I will get to the bottom of it, now you need to eat!” He jumped up and headed back to the stove.
There was a knock on the door, I looked at Theodore and he grinned.
“Ahhh…your little muse is here, Rue!”
“My muse?” I asked, as I stared at the door.
“Yes…your sweet Sara, I invited her for breakfast… She was so excited that you had returned for the remainder of the summer… She simply exploded when I told her!”
“When did you talk…?”
“Oh, yesterday…I ran into her while I was out… Endearing creature, so bubbly…!
I just love her.”
He headed towards the door, then looked back at me. “I have set things in place here for you little one… The glamor I spun is just splendid, I am your cousin…
older of course, newly appointed to our fine library here in town… She knows that I am well versed in culture, being a graduate of the arts.”
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He grinned… “Now you have been away on a vacation…visiting family in Arizona…but you have returned now.”
I nodded…absorbing the lie. “Okay?”
He opened the door and she bounded in, heading straight for me.
“Rue…! OMG…I swear I missed you soooo much!”
I barely had time to stand up, before she so famously jump hugged me. I held onto her, wishing that I believed the false reality that Theodore had spun.
She pulled back from me and smiled…her big smile, genuine.
“I will beat you, if you ever just take off without a goodbye again Rue...! But I don't care, your back now so...”
I wanted to tell her everything…I really did. I imagined myself sitting her down and just letting the whole mess just fall out of me…but Sara is not that friend… I loved her but, “serious” was never part of the equation of our friendship. She was the only link I had to being normal…yea normal, I laughed out loud.
“I missed you too Sara.” She hugged me again and I sighed, relaxing in her arms…normal never felt bett
er.
Theodore looked towards the stairs. He yelled out in his loudest voice, “Get up...!
I did not cook all this food for myself!” He looked at us, “Now sit...! The boys will be here soon and I fear there will be nothing left to eat, once they come.”
I heard doors opening and we were about to have a breakfast as a family… I need to get used to that…
Johnathan came down first…his hair looked disheveled, but in true hottie fashion, it looked amazing on him.
Sara looked up and smiled… “Ohhh, Johnathan, Hellllooo.”
I looked at Theodore, who winked at me. I am not going to engage her reaction, because I have no idea what glamor he had spun about him.
Johnathan smiled at her, “Hello, Sara.”
“Oh I swear, your family is so a vaunt guard...leaving for Europe and letting you stay here, to do what you want with your summer.” She sighed, “God, if only my parents were so cool.”
“Yea…my parents are ahead of their time, I guess.” Johnathan winked at me and sat down.
Kai and Sam came walking in. Sam spotted Sara at the table… “Ahh, good, the male/female ratio in this house is evening out...”
Kai laughed, “We still win.”
Samantha laughed and looked at Theodore. “Yea…well, Theodore here is on the fence, so we are evenly matched.”
Theodore sat down. “This is true, I will not lie.”
Josh jumped down, skipping the last two steps on the staircase.
Sara's eyes went glossy… “Hi Josh.” She smiled that girl smile, the one that lets a boy know that he is in.
“Hey...” he said.
He looked at me and grinned.
“So Rue...what are we doing today?” I glanced at Sara, as I was shoving a bite of pancake in my mouth. I had to raise my hand over my mouth to talk.
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“Ummm, I don't know,” I mumbled.
“Well…I think we should all go for a hike in Red woods…! The weather is so awesome… What do ya think girlie?”
I swallowed and looked around the table, “Well, I don't know…”I said.
Theodore took the helm. “I think that is a wonderful idea Sara...! You should all get some fresh air!”
Everyone looked up… Josh broke the silence.
“Sure, why not.”
Sara grinned from ear to ear…you would of thought that he just asked her to the prom.
Johnathan reached under the table and took my hand. I looked at him and he smiled.
“Sure...sounds good Sara, why not.”
Sara scooted her chair back and stood up… “I have to run back home and get dressed”
Josh looked up at her, “Get dressed…? You look fine.”
She laughed, “Oh my god, no...I am not wearing these shoes in the woods…
that's crazy!”
She winked at Josh and he grunted and continued to eat.
Theodore laughed, “I agree Sara…your shoes are…”
Josh laughed, “I would suggest boots...thick ones.”
Sara grinned, “Thank you Josh...that's exactly what I'll wear.”
He didn't look up at her, she turned and headed for the door... “Be back in an hour!”
Josh laughed again, “Why is it going to take you an hour to put on boots Sara?”
“Don't be ridiculous…I have to match my clothes to the boots.”
He grinned and looked back down at his plate. “Cute,” he muttered.
She gave a wave and blew kisses at me. I half smiled, and she was out the door.
I looked at Josh. “You know she likes you...a lot.”
He pushed his chair back and took his plate to the sink. “I know,” he said.
“Well…she's my friend.”
He turned around and leaned against the sink. “And?”
“Well I don't want you leading her on.” I said with a blank look on my face.
“Who's leading anyone on?” He started to walk across the kitchen towards the stairs.
I put my fork down. “She's my friend.”
He turned around. “What do you think I am going to do?”
“I know you.”
He grinned that wicked grin...god.
“You don't, it's not what your thinking,” Josh muttered.
I looked at Theodore… “What has he been doing while I slept?.”
Theodore looked at me, “Training…like all of us.”
“Training...? For what?” I asked.
“Listen, I know you are still absorbing things, but the true reality is, we have to be prepared for anything... Do you not remember...? Many Valon guards met their demise in the library that day.”
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I pushed away from the table… “I…I remember everything, I'm going to take a shower.”
Samantha looked at me, “Listen Rue, we can go on this little hike today…but this evening you start to train… We've lost enough time with you…understand?”
I nodded and took in the reality.
Truth is...it was nice, just having breakfast and seeing Sara, but I need to start to accept that I am living a visible illusion. We all are.
******
We reached the woods and I looked up at the trees. The wind was blowing lightly and they swayed from side to side, the leaves were flipping from top to bottom, looking like a shimmer of dark to light green. I stood there and closed my eyes, breathing in the air. I felt a warm hand in mine and I looked to see Johnathan smiling at me. I smiled back and we started to walk forward. I could see that Sara had caught up to Josh, she was waving her hands side to side, obviously chatting away to him, in Sara talk. I grinned, remembering that I had told her that he loved to talk. I saw him nod and look at her. He seemed to want to talk. I guess, with my absence, maybe he had learned to stop just sucking the information out of people and let them communicate to him normally. Sam and Kai trailed behind us, they seemed to be talking too. Weird...things change I guess. We walked in silence, along the trail until we walked into a clearing and I noticed that the grass was tall, waving like water on the ground. I looked out across the open field and stopped.
“I've been here before…I mean I think I have.”
Johnathan squeezed my hand, “What?”
“I recognize this field Johnathan… I've dreamed about it.”
I let go of his hand and started to walk forward. He followed me, close behind. I looked out ahead and looked up… A flock of birds flew over head and I watched as their shadows raced across the top of the grass.
“We need to go this way,” I said.
I started to pick up my pace and Johnathan sped up too.
“Where are you going Rue?”
I made it to the top of a small hill and looked down…more grass waving in the wind.
I scanned the field… “We need to go right.”
“What are you looking for?” he asked me again.
I stopped and turned back to him, “A tree...there should be a tree, standing alone… It has white bark, it's huge…looks like it is very old.”
He looked out across the grass and back to me.
“I'm sorry, I don't see anything Rue.”
“It's here… I know it, we just need to keep going!”
I started to run… He caught up with me and grabbed my hand, spinning me around.
“Rue…I've been here a hundred times, there is no tree.”
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I started to look around…he was right. I saw nothing, but grass and the edge of the woods on all sides.
“I…I'm sorry I thought it was here… I could of sworn it was.”
He stepped toward me and took my other hand. “Rue…sometimes a dream is just that…a dream.”
“But, it was so real Johnathan… I ate fruit from it…I could taste it, I could.”
He put his hand to my face and ran his hand along my cheek. “You are so stubborn, when you think you are right…you know it?”
“Maybe if we walk a little further, we will fi
nd it.”
“Rue…it's not here, trust me.”
I sighed, “Your probably right… We can walk back, I'm sure they are wondering where we went.”
“I'm not in a hurry,” he said as he squeezed my hand.
I looked up and he was grinning at me. I should of started walking, but I got caught up looking into his eyes.
“Okay…” I whispered.
Johnathan leaned down and put his hand on the side of my neck, I felt his fingers trace along my skin, on the back of my neck. I closed my eyes.
“Don't do that...we are all the way out here alone.”
He leaned down and whispered in my ear, “I know.”
He backed away from my ear and stared at me. I touched his face and traced my fingers across his lips. I felt his breath pull in, under them. My face relaxed, not a smile, just a look of understanding. I knew he felt as I did…completely engulfed and drifting.
“I wanted to save you Rue…I did.”
I looked at him and raised my eyebrows, still holding my hand on his face.
“What do you mean, Johnathan?” I searched his face while he hesitated.
“I fought him... I fought Josh when he insisted that I wouldn't be able to offer my blood to you. I told him…I wanted it to be me.”
I looked down and ran my fingers across the top of his hand. I could see color start to swirl on his skin…bright red.
“Johnathan,” I whispered.
“I would die for you…not even a second thought Rue… I would.”
He raised my head to him and leaned in, gently kissing me on the cheek. I closed my eyes and felt my heart speeding up.
“Johnathan…I wouldn't want to ever have to live with that thought... I couldn't do it…I just couldn't”
He slowly pressed against me and started to pull me towards the ground.
“I don't think this is a good idea, Johnathan.”
He pressed his lips to mine. I accepted it and slumped down, letting him wrap his arm around my waist.
I tried to talk, but he kissed me harder and I felt a vibration start to well in my body, causing me to hold him closer to me. He put his hand at the base of my back and ran his hand up under my shirt. I could feel the heat from his hand caressing the small of my back. I gasped at his lips and he groaned and 200
whispered my name. I laid on my back and he half rolled on top of me, his hand gently moving down my side, until he rested it on my outer thigh, then he squeezed at it and I gasped again. I arched my back, with my head falling back and he put his mouth to the front of my neck. I felt his teeth graze my skin. I opened my eyes and noticed that the skin on my arm was swirling, with a deep ocean blue. He raised up inches from my face and grinned.
