Blood and Light

by Rue Volley

  “If I wasn't told to spare you, your insides would be all over this forest right now, for the creatures here to feast on...”

  She drug him a few feet further and dropped him down. He grunted as his head hit the ground. He thought he heard a crack as his head hit. He didn't know if it was his skull. Sharp pains were flashing through his mind and he rolled over on his side. He opened his eyes and realized that he was laying on a mirror.

  Elin leaned down and whispered, “Bind” in his ear.

  He straightened out and groaned. His whole body felt like it had a ton of weight pressing down on it.

  Elin scribbled symbols all around the mirror and stood up over him.

  “You should have been nicer to me Johnathan.”

  “I'm sorry Elin!” Johnathan tried to say, as he felt the ability to breath slipping away from him.

  Elin laughed and leaned over him. “No you are not...but you will be,” she said.

  The symbols started to glow and Johnathan felt his body sinking into the mirror, as it started to roll like water. He struggled, but with no hope.

  “Don't do this Elin,” he said breathless.

  He closed his eyes and took a breath...as he sank into cold darkness.

  ******

  I flashed through the woods and I finally picked up a strong trail. It felt slightly different to me, but the same pull entered my chest. I came to a clearing and stopped. Johnathan was standing in the middle, looking at me. I stared at him for a moment and felt a wave rush over me. I wanted to run to him, but I wasn't going to make it easy for him. I felt a slight twinge of guilt come over me from what had happened with Josh. I looked down and no orange color laced my skin. Thank god. I didn't want to explain, and I didn't want him to think that I wanted him, even though I did.

  I stopped a few feet from him and looked into his eyes. He pressed his lips together and I decided to be the first to start talking. I had a lot to say anyway.

  “Listen, I am still pissed...I am. What I saw, you know...with you and Elin was, well it made me sick.”

  He stood there and stepped one step closer to me.

  “I am sorry, if I hurt you… I would never want too,” he said.

  I tilted my head at him. He sounded relaxed, more relaxed then I expected him to be.

  “Well...you should be,” I said, as I looked down at my hands.

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  He stepped closer to me and took my hand in his, raising it to his mouth. I felt him gently kiss my palm. I closed my eyes and then came back to my senses.

  I pulled my hand from him.

  “It's not going to be that easy,” I said.

  He grinned, a little too wicked for my taste.

  “I will do whatever you say,” he said to me.

  “Okay, then...don't touch me for awhile,” I said, as I crossed my arms.

  He smiled. “Okay, no touching then.”

  “And, I don't know if I want to talk to you that much right now,” I added.

  “Alright, no talking,” he said.

  I looked up at him and he let his arms relax by his side. I bit my lip and jumped at him, I pressed my lips against his, as hard as I could. He reached around me and pulled me against him. I felt a vibration well up in my chest and I pulled myself away from him. He stood there like I had never even kissed him.

  I cleared my throat. “Okay...that was it for awhile,” I said as I nodded.

  He grinned at me. “I will behave, I promise,” he said.

  “You are being very agreeable Johnathan,” I said.

  “I just want you to be happy, Rue Volley,” he said to me.

  I looked at him for a moment and turned, when I felt a flash up behind me. Josh stopped and looked at me and then at Johnathan.

  “Theodore felt something, like someone was trying to break the binding. He wants us to return home,” Josh said, as he stared at Johnathan.

  I looked at him and back to Johnathan. “Okay, lets go home then, ” I said.

  I reached down and grabbed Johnathan's hand. He grinned at me. We flashed out of the forest and back towards the house. I stopped, with Johnathan at my side when I reached the house. Sara stood up and ran out to me.

  “Oh...girlie…! Theo said that we had some trouble,” she said as she hugged me hard.

  She backed up and gave Johnathan the stink eye. He winked at her and she raised her eyebrows. She looked back at me and rolled her eyes in his direction.

  “Yea, listen...we are going to talk, I think,” I said to her.

  Sara crossed her arms in protest. “Okay…but you,” she pointed a finger at Johnathan. “Better be nice to my Rue.”

  Johnathan smiled at her. “I have every intention of making sure she is happy,” he said.

  Sara grinned. She is a push over for pretty boys. I wasn't so sure that I was going to let him be so nice, I kinda wanted a battle...one yelling match.

  Something that pushed us both to the brink, and then we could make up. He wasn't even offering that to me, it kinda irritated me that he was so compliant.

  I stepped into the house with Sara and Johnathan, and Theodore turned around. He looked at me and then at Johnathan. He had a puzzled look on his face for a split second. I prepared for him to say something mean, but he let it go and turned back to the stove. I smelled the air.

  “You cooking again?” I asked him.

  “Caramel popcorn, miss,” Theodore said as he waved his wooden spoon around.

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  “Oh my god...that is my favorite,” I said as I squeezed Johnathan's hand.

  “It is movie night, Rue...your choice,” Theodore said.

  “Wait…who tried to break the binding?” I asked, before I got caught up in our pretend normal.

  “I do not know...it came and went just as fast. Maybe a tracker from Valon, I do not know. Josh is out scouting, just to make sure,” Theodore said, without looking at me.

  I looked around the room. “Is Sam and Kai with him?” I asked.

  “Yes, they will be back shortly... Now pick a movie,” he said.

  I looked at Sara, who had ran to the wall and started to rummage through the collection.

  “Ohhhh,” she said as she picked one up.

  “Tell you what Sara, you pick, okay?” I said to her.

  She spun around and grinned from ear to ear. “Really?” she said.

  “No, I don't mind,” I said as I walked to the couch and sat down.

  Johnathan walked towards me and sat down too. He sat close enough, that his body heat raised mine. I don't know what my problem is... I should be hating him right now, but instead...I'd rather jump on him. Maybe it is true, maybe girls always want the guys who do awful things. But he didn't do it knowingly, did he? He said he didn't anyway. God, I hate Elin...dead or not. I wish she was alive, so I could kill her.

  “So,” I said, as I turned to him.

  He was staring at Sara as she picked out a movie. He shifted his eyes to mine. I heard his stomach growl. He grinned and pressed on it.

  “Do you want real food?” I asked him.

  “You wouldn't believe how much I do right now,” he said as his eyes wondered over to Sara.

  I raised my eyebrows. “Well…we have a lot of food left over believe it or not, Theodore cooks for an army, I swear... Do you want some?”

  He looked back to me. “Yes, I'll eat.”

  I jumped up and ran into the kitchen. Johnathan followed me. I started to pull stuff out of the refrigerator and he leaned in towards me.

  “I can get my own food Rue,” he said.

  I straightened up...that's true, why the hell am I in here grabbing stuff for him?

  “Well, here,” I said, as I put a bowl in his hands. “You know where the plates are.”

  I walked back into the living room and sat down on the couch. He pulled out a plate and piled left overs on it. I sat there and crossed my arms. I am the reason why guys do stuff and think that they can get away with it, I thought to myself. God...I have to stop be
ing so nice to him for awhile...it's going to suck. I looked over at him, while he raised his fork to his mouth. He turned it upside down and pulled it from his mouth slowly. I looked away and sighed. I'd rather just take him to my room...stupid, stupid girl.

  Josh, Kai, and Sam came through the door. Kai ran into the kitchen as soon as he smelled the caramel, I knew he would. It was something that we both loved when we were little, Mom used to make it fresh like that too. Sam went to her room and shut the door, and Josh sat down next to me. I looked at him and 382

  then pulled my legs up onto the couch in a semi fetal position. He smiled, I hate him.

  “So, Sara...are you picking a movie for Theodore's movie night?” Josh asked.

  Sara got up off of her knees and had five movies in her hand.

  “I can't pick…I want to watch them all,” she said.

  “Well, I guess we will have to do a marathon then,” Theodore said, as he spooned his ten pounds of popcorn in a huge bowl. He stopped by Johnathan and stared him down.

  “You have to try this,” he said as he winked.

  Johnathan half grinned and stood up from the table. He left his plate lying there. I looked at him as he walked towards us, and cleared my throat.

  “We clean up after ourselves,” I said as nasty as I could.

  He looked back at the table and walked back. He picked it up and dumped it in the sink, without washing it off. I stood up and grumbled as I walked in and turned on the water, I started to wipe it off. Johnathan reached in and put his hand on mine, and rubbed the plate slowly. I blinked and felt my heart skip a beat. I shut off the water and went back into the living room and sat down next to Josh. Johnathan came in and sat on the floor. He didn't say a word to me. I kinda wanted him too so I could pick a fight, but nothing. I pulled my legs back up and hoped that me sitting by Josh would bother him, but no...he's a dick.

  Sara came over and put her first choice in. I looked down at Johnathan and he just sat there and watched the movie. I heard Sam come out and she walked to the chair that Kai sat on. She sat on his lap and she leaned against him.

  “So...? Who won?” I asked her.

  She grinned. “Well, seems Kai is very talented when it comes to battle,” she said as she placed a hand on his face. “I was impressed,” she added. Kai grinned at her and leaned in to kiss her. I looked away.

  Grossness. “Okay,” I muttered.

  I looked over at Josh and he smiled at me, as he pushed a handful of caramel popcorn in his mouth. I rolled my eyes and leaned over. Before I knew it I was asleep. I didn't dream...nothing, just like Johnathan...nothing.

  ******

  I felt a nudge and I blinked my eyes. I sat up and it was just me and Josh.

  I looked around the room. Everyone was gone.

  “Where is everyone?” I asked as I rubbed my eyes. “Bed,” he said as he yawned. I pushed myself up and looked at the floor, Johnathan was laying there still, on his side.

  “He is asleep?” I asked. Josh looked at him.

  “Yea, looks that way.” Josh stood up and looked down at me. “I'm going to bed,”

  he said. He held out his hand and I just looked at it.

  “I think I'll sleep down here tonight,” I said.

  He sighed and lowered his hand. “I will never understand girls,” he muttered.

  “Go to bed Josh,” I said. He rubbed his head and ran to the stairs.

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  I watched him skip steps as he went up the stairs, and disappeared around the corner. I sat up and stared at Johnathan on the floor. I stood up and walked over to him. I knelt down and placed my hand on his head, moving his hair out of his face. He started to move and I stood up. I started to quietly walk away.

  “Hey,” he said, almost in a whisper. I stopped and looked back at him.

  “Hey,” I said.

  He sat up and held his hand out to me. I walked to him, although I should have went for the stairs. I stared at his hand and then I sat down, without taking it. I crossed my arms. Johnathan sat up and looked at me. He reached toward me and pushed my hair behind my ear. I wanted to lean forward and kiss him, but I just sat there...I am off to a good start.

  “You fell asleep,” he said.

  “Yea, I was tired...sleep seemed like a good idea,” I said.

  He shifted his weight and scooted closer to me. “I wanted you to lay on the floor with me, remember when we did that?” he said.

  I sighed. “Yea, I remember.”

  He leaned toward me and looked me in the eyes. “Do you want to sleep with me down here?” he whispered.

  “No…I'm going to bed,” I said.

  He raised his hand to my face and paused, right before he touched me. I felt a slight vibration coming from his fingers. He took a breath and I wanted to get up, but I just sat there like an idiot. He ran his thumb across my cheek and then across my lips. I shrugged my shoulders and pulled back a little. He scooted forward and grabbed my wrist. I looked at him and he just kept staring at me. He had a tight grip on it at first, but then he relaxed his hand and reached over with his hand and put it behind my head. I started to turn my head and he turned my face to his. He leaned in, and his mouth was so close to mine. I closed my eyes.

  “Johnathan, please...” I said.

  He gently rubbed his lips against mine. I gasped, as he immediately put his tongue in my mouth. He kissed me like he was hungry. I felt a burn in my mouth and I tasted blood. He had bit my lip and my heart started to beat wildly in my chest. He wrapped his arm around me into the small of my back, he pushed me down and rolled on top of me. He grabbed my hands and put them above my head. I moaned and tried to talk to him, but he pressed against me. He took his leg and pulled mine apart, then he pressed against me again, as he kissed me hard. I tried to pull my hands out of his grip, but he squeezed them so tightly my fingers started to tingle. I kicked my legs and arched my back trying to push him off of me. He leaned into my ear.

  “I want you now,” he whispered. I pushed up and said, “No.”

  He pressed himself against me harder and I started to struggle. “I said no Johnathan!” I said louder.

  He held my hands in one of his hands and reached down, putting his hand up my shirt. I felt myself getting angry and blue color started to swirl on my skin.

  His face lit up as my body started to glow. I felt a burst of energy and I pushed 384

  him off of me with one thrust. He flew off of me and hit the couch with his back. I sat up pulling my shirt down and I pushed myself up off of the floor.

  “I said no Johnathan.”

  He looked up at me. “I am so sorry Rue, I just wanted to make it up to you...I swear,” he said.

  I looked at him and he looked so upset. He lowered his head and I sighed. I walked to him and placed my hand on his face as I knelt down.

  “I'm sorry Johnathan, I'm just not ready... I said no…” I said.

  He looked up at me and whispered, “I love you...please don't hate me Rue, I didn't know.”

  I leaned in, and kissed him softly on the mouth. “You just got too excited,” I said.

  “I know that you are upset, but I'm not ready...not yet anyway,” I said as I sat down and hugged him. Johnathan hugged me back. He gently rubbed my hair as he grinned over my shoulder. I stood up and walked to the stairs. I looked back one more time, as he sat up on the couch and started to lay down.

  “I'll see you in the morning okay?” I asked him.

  He smiled. “Yes, the morning,” he said as he laid down.

  I ran upstairs and went into my room. I stood there for a moment, leaning against my door. My heart was still pounding in my chest. It took everything I had to stop that. He probably knew it too. I locked my door and laid down. I started to drift off. I thought I heard the front door, but I shrugged it off as me being right on the edge of sleep.

  Johnathan flashed into the forest.

  ******

  The morning came and I rolled over, only to see Josh sitting on my bed
with a tray in his hand.

  I sat up and looked at my door. “I locked my door last night,” I said.

  “Yea, I noticed,” Josh said as he ate off of the tray in his hand. I looked at it and to him, raising my eyebrow.

  “Oh.” He looked down at the tray, “I brought you breakfast.”

  “Then why are you eating it?” I asked.

  “I got hungry,” he said with a grin. He laid it down on the bed.

  I looked at it. It was a pop tart. Only half of one. I looked up and grinned.

  “You ate half of it?” I asked as I crossed my arms.

  “Umm, well…looks that way,” he said as he shrugged and picked it up, breaking off a piece. He smiled as he popped it in his mouth.

  “Oh, okay...thanks?” I said. He leaned in with it hanging in his mouth halfway.

  I pushed myself off the bed and walked to the bathroom. I started to brush my teeth. He walked up behind me and I saw him in the mirror. I had cracked this mirror too in my fit of rage, so he looked distorted. I grinned and spit my toothpaste out.

  “What?” he sai, as he chewed.

  “Nothing...” I said, as I dropped my toothbrush in it's holder.

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  I turned around and walked to my closet. I turned my back to him and took my shirt off. He cleared his throat and turned around. I grinned as I reached for a t shirt.

  “So...I thought we could umm, ah…maybe go to the library today...finally,” he said.

  I pulled my shirt over my head and pulled my shorts off. I turned around in my t-shirt and underwear and he looked at me. Then he looked down.

  “What…nothing to say Josh?” I said as I held my hands out.

  He walked towards the door. “Nope, I got nothin,” he said as he opened the door, and walked out.

  I smiled, he said the same thing that I would of said. It felt good to have the upper hand, just once with him. I headed to the shower and stripped my clothes off. I showered with no worries of any boys coming in for the first time, in almost a year.

  ******

  I came downstairs and Josh was on the couch reading a book. I looked at him as he peeked over at me. I went into the kitchen and joined Theodore, who was eating. I looked around.