by Rue Volley
“Why else? She wanted to have power. You see humans cannot be transformed into a protector, but if they drink our blood, they can have temporary power. It doesn't last very long though, a few hours at best. Elin is a junkie, she wants what we have. Wouldn't surprise me if she didn't trade her family to some bastard, so she could get blood.”
I sat there just thinking it through. “So… Elin wants to be one of us? Wait, what exactly can a human do if they drink our blood?” I asked, as I pushed the pillow away from me.
“Well… it all depends on how much and from who. A human that drinks it inherits the power of whoever they drink from.”
I sat there, my head started to sift through all the crazy.
“Oh my god, I know why she wants to be with Johnathan, Josh!” I said, as I stood up.
Josh leaned forward on the couch. “Of course… Johnathan has both protector and human blood in him. Elin wants to be what he is,” he said, almost like he was talking to himself.
“Well, you said it depends on how much she drinks. What if she drank it all, I mean all his blood, Josh?”
Josh looked at me. “I don't know, no human has ever done that before.”
“Well, I will tell you exactly what would happen.”
We both turned around and Theodore was standing behind us, with Sam and Kai at his side.
I looked at Theodore, who still had his arm intertwined in Kai's. Kai looked at his arm and pulled it out,
“Okay… we are home now,” Kai said, half laughing.
“So?” I said, obviously impatient.
“Well it is a known fact that we possess magic, in many forms. I would say that a human who actually fed enough and for a long period of time, on any one of us, would not only appear to of not aged, but would start to show signs of our ability, but it would not be predictable. I would say that a human would eventually go mad trying to become like us. They simply are not evolved enough to handle it.”
I stepped toward him. “But what if she drained someone…? Someone like Johnathan, for instance?”
“Oh, now to drain a protector of his blood would be a trick indeed Rue! You see, we are never without it, in fact our blood is constantly renewing itself. That is one reason why I look so good at my age.” He smiled and walked across the room, as if to show off.
“Okay… yeah, you look amazing for what? One thousand or something?”
“Oh you flatter me little one.” he smiled and put his hand to his chest.
“But Johnathan has human blood too, Theodore,” I said, I could tell that I was getting worked up, because I could feel a tingling in my fingers.
“Yes… that he does. I cannot say that he couldn't be totally drained.”
“Oh my god, that bitch is going to try and kill my boyfriend!” I said out loud. I meant for it to be my “inside” voice, but no, I shared it with the room.
Josh walked to the kitchen. “That's the second time you've used the word ‘boyfriend’ today Rue.”
I didn't even look at him, I kept my eyes fixed on Theodore, hoping he would have something to say.
Theodore walked to me and placed his hand on my arm. “Listen to me, we will get Johnathan back here, and I will continue to strengthen the protection spell on this town. But you must understand that once we leave here... we are in danger, and we will have to be careful, not to get ourselves killed. You understand?”
I nodded my head. I looked over at Sam, who had a grin on her face. She was obviously up to the task of life or death, and I hoped I was too.
“Theodore… I want you look into my mind, so that you can see what Elin did each time I met her.”
“Well! How many times have you had the pleasure of her company?”
“Three… once by the tree, then twice inside of it.”
“You have been in the tree?” Theodore asked, with a look of shock on his face.
“Yes I have… what?” I asked.
“The tree of life?” he asked me, still bewildered.
“Oh my god... YES, I ate an apple from it, then I went inside it a couple of times.”
Theodore took my hands and led me to the couch. He sat down and I sat next to him. I swear he was about to cry.
“What is wrong Theodore?” I asked him.
Josh and Sam came in and sat down… Sam in the chair and Josh on the floor near us. Theodore cleared his throat.
“The tree of life is home to the creator, our creator. It is from which we all came to be. It is said that it rose from the volcanic ash, two hundred and fifty thousand years ago when the earth was unwilling to sustain life for any creature. There were fourteen people who stumbled upon it. Fourteen humans.”
“Okay Theodore, I've read a lot about history and there were no humans then,” I said
“Well you might love to read Rue, but history does not always get recorded accurately. There were humans then, not many, but a few. They were on the verge of extinction, but the tree gave them shelter and they traded their humanity for life, they did it to survive. It is said that they ate from the tree and the life giving blood purged them of their weakness to the elements and made them slaves to the world.”
“Slaves?” I said. I couldn't understand why he would use that word.
“Yes… without the earth and the energy in everything, we simply would not be. In the beginning it was a beautiful thing. The first of us fed from the tree and the core of the earth, but as time went on, some strayed. Descendants, wanting more... wanting to be stronger. Caine was one who preached that we should feed on humans. He was a great divider, many followed his belief and when the first humans entered Valon and allowed protectors to feed upon them. The tree that had stood in the middle of the city for thousands of years started to wilt, its bark turned a ghostly white and the leaves began to brown and fall. Your mother and father protested the fact that humans had become host families to many of us. They pointed to the waning health of the Tree and warned against the lack of loyalty to the giver of life. Caine claimed that they were ignorant and that any who followed their belief would be deemed traitors to their own kind, bent on the destruction of our people. That is when the Great War broke out in Valon and many died, humans and protectors alike. I did not fight that war but our father did. He died at the hands of Caine that night. He was the first protector to die since the Tree had given us life. The Tree simply faded, returning to the earth and we have been feeding on the energy of humans ever since.”
I sat there staring at him. I had tears in my eyes at the thought of my parents being so noble and brave against so many. It takes someone very special to hold to a belief, even in the knowledge that they could be destroyed by it. I wiped the tears away and straightened up.
“So… you have seen the tree?” I asked him.
“No… it was in the tower, in the center of the council, a place that is now an energy void, that as a protector you never want to find yourself trapped, believe me. There is a black pool now, black as the darkest night… looks like a mirror. It is used to get information from any protector who crosses the council. It drains you of your energy slowly… very painful, I would imagine. When the humans who inhabit Valon come to the end, where they no longer have enough energy to sustain their master, they are placed in it, as an offering to the Tree of life. The creator.”
“That sucks! Why are humans even there to begin with?” I said.
“Well, my dear, many humans become distraught. They even see to their own demise with war and murder, some are hopeless. They come of their own free will wanting to live in Valon.”
“What if there are no humans who would want to live there and be a ‘host’ to a bunch of vampires.”
I said, completely serious. Josh laughed out loud.
“What?” I said, as I turned to him.
“Are you kidding? Some just go because they are freaks, they love the thought of someone drinking their blood Rue!” he said, as he grinned at me.
“I… I'm not going to say that I didn't do it,
but it's different for me, I'm a protector, just like all of you,” I said, I could feel my cheeks getting red, as memories of Johnathan and I in the field flashed in my mind.
“Ohhh… what you did was freaky Rue,” he said.
“Shut up Josh… you don't know anything.” I turned back to Theodore.
“Well… I want all of you to see it,” I said calmly.
Theodore looked at me curiously.
“Can you make it possible for everyone here to see the Tree in my memory?” I asked.
Josh pushed himself up, a little too excited.
“Well… it is a marvelous thing to be so generous with your privacy Rue.”
I shot a look at Josh and raised my eyebrows.
“Did you hear that Josh... my privacy,” I said with sarcasm.
He grinned. Theodore stood up and held his hand out to me. I reached up and had one second thought about letting them all see into my mind, but I was going to control this, I wasn't going to have a jungle gym of crazy going on. Well, I hoped not.
Theodore led me to the middle of the room and turned to Sam.
“I will need a blanket Samantha,” he said.
She nodded and ran out of the room, coming back in with a blanket from Kai's bed.
“Here,” she said, as she handed it to him. He wrapped it around me and smiled.
“I need for you to lie down on the floor Rue. I put a blanket on you, because you will become cold from the energy drain, okay?” he asked me.
I grinned and lay down, Sam put a pillow under my head.
“Thank you,” I said as she looked down at me. She smiled and touched my face.
Theodore started to etch symbols all around me, when he finished the last one he stood up, and told everyone to come and stand outside the circle around me. They all took each other’s hands and Theodore started to chant out some Latin. I really need to learn what they are saying, makes me feel like a foreigner. He started to lower himself to the floor and they all lowered with him. He told them to close their eyes and focus on me, only me. He leaned in and whispered to me.
“You need to take us there Rue, it will feel strange at first, but once you feel yourself separating from your body, just embrace it and take us with you, okay?”
I nodded and closed my eyes. I could hear them chanting and I thought for a moment that I wouldn't be able to do this. Just when you think you can't, seems you find out you can. I started to feel my heart beat slowing down and their voices started to fade and echo in my ears. I saw flashes of Johnathan's face, and then my mom’s... my dad… little Rue. I sucked in my breath and the air felt bitterly cold in my lungs. I started to see flashes of light, a buzzing in my ears was slowly getting louder and louder, until it reached a point that I thought I'd scream out, just to deafen the noise.
I opened my eyes and I pushed myself up out of green grass. I breathed in the sweet smell and felt the warmth of sun on my skin. I stood up and looked around. They all lay in a circle around me. I reached down to Theodore and touched his face. He opened his eyes and grinned at me. He pushed himself up and looked around. They all woke up and one by one they stood, same look on their faces, one of wonder and slight disbelief. I held my hand up and looked across the field. There was the tree, white as ever, reaching toward the sky.
I started to walk and felt a hand slip into mine. I looked over to see that Josh had appeared beside me. I looked down at our hands interlaced together, and squeezed his hand in reassurance. We all started to walk towards it. Well I walked, but Theodore, Sam, and Kai ran like kids heading for the toy department. I kept on, slow and steady. I wanted to share this with them, but truth was I had some sadness in my heart just looking at it. It was a cemetery to me, in a way. Josh and I approached it and Theodore was reaching his hand out to touch it. I ran up and pulled his hand away. He looked at me, but did not argue.
“I told you I saw it,” I said. My voice echoed on the wind.
Theodore turned to me. “I believed that you did, I just cannot believe I am standing here… right now.”
Tears started to flow down his cheeks and I reached out to wipe them. His tears shimmered a light silver and gold. I held my hand out in front of me and let the sun shine on the tears in my hand. A light started to glow in my palm, I cupped my hand and lowered it. I didn't want to cause anything with everyone here with me. I turned when I heard a whisper on the wind.
“Johnathan?” I said.
Josh squeezed my hand. I looked at him.
“Did you hear something?” he said.
“I thought I heard Johnathan,” I said, as I looked across the field.
Everyone turned to look, but all we saw was green grass flowing like water in the wind.
I almost held my breath, but nothing, I could hear nothing but the wind blowing. I turned back to the tree.
“Okay… I've been here long enough,” I said.
“Hey look... stairs!” Kai yelled out. I tried to run to him, but he had already started to climb.
“Don't Kai… please!” I yelled up to him, but he kept climbing like he couldn't hear me.
I looked at Josh. “Please… stop him Josh, he cannot go up there… please!”
Josh looked at me and started to climb. I backed up from the tree, but I couldn't see Kai anymore. Sam had followed along with Theodore. I waited, my heartbeat sped up. I looked down at my palms and they were glowing blue. I turned when I heard a whisper again . I looked across the field and saw Johnathan walking towards me. I started to run towards him. As I got closer I realized he had a look of sadness on his face. I stopped a few feet from him.
“Johnathan?” I called out. He had his head lowered, his hair falling over his face.
“Johnathan… are you okay?” I asked.
He looked up at me and blood covered his face, he grinned.
I gasped for air and sat straight up in the living room. Everyone still sitting around me.
“Ahhh… Jeezus Rue!” Josh cried out, as he grabbed his head.
Theodore fell away from me, Kai and Sam grabbed at their heads too.
“I'm sorry!” I yelled out.
Theodore pressed his fingers to his temples. “Oh honey, you just jerked us right out of there... it was too fast.”
“I am so sorry guys, you all started to climb and I... I saw Johnathan. He had blood all over his face! I freaked out and woke up… I didn't mean to.” I wrestled the blanket off of myself and stood up. “Did you all see it? The tree?”
Josh had pulled himself onto the couch.
“Yes... I was about to open the damn door and I started falling… when you woke up.”
“Oh god... well you shouldn't go in there. Trust me, Elin is always in there,” I said.
“Oh, I'd beat her down Rue… no worries,” Josh said, as he went into the kitchen. He stopped over the trashcan and hurled in it.
“Ewwe,” I said.
He cleared his throat. “Ah, that's better... Listen, I suggest that all of you throw up. You'll feel better, trust me.”
“I don't like to,” Kai said, as he sat on the floor.
“Just imagine you’re eating maggots,” Josh said.
Kai pulled himself up quickly. “Oh you dick!” he said, as he ran for the bathroom.
Josh laughed. “Sam, Theodore… do it, trust me.”
“I will not,” Sam said.
“Babies are really good in soup,” he said.
“Oh my god!” Sam said as she busted out of the house, off the porch. I could hear her in the yard.
Theodore was the only one still standing.
Josh looked at him and grinned big.
“I will not have you torturing me Josh,” he said, as he clutched the arm of the chair.
“What…? Are you too good for the obvious solution Theodore?” Josh asked, as he pushed food into his mouth. “Mmmm… this is really good, it's raw fish Theodore... sushi. I know you like it, here,” Josh flashed to him and opened his mouth as he chewed.
“I hate y
ou,” Theodore whispered, as he ran towards the bathroom with his hand over his mouth.
I stood there with my hands on my hips.
“Why?” I said to him.
“Because, I care,” he said, with a smile and a shrug of shoulders.
“Uh huh… you just ooze compassion Josh.”
“I agree,” he said as he grabbed some more food.
Sam came back into the house with a hand on her stomach. She looked at me and then to Josh. “You do that again and I will stab you in your sleep Josh,” she said it so matter of fact that I had to hold back a grin. She sat down on the couch and sighed.
I walked to her and sat down, I touched her hand. “I am sorry about that Sam. I got frightened when I saw Johnathan. I had no intention of making all of you sick.”
“Tell you the truth, I am glad. Kai was hell bent on going into the tree. I swear, you Volleys are just fearless, or stupid, or maybe a little of both,” She said.
“It's not stupidity on my part. I'm just curious about everything… now I can't speak for Kai,” I said to her.
Kai came back into the room. “Well, that sucked ass,” he said as he leaned in to kiss Sam.
She put up a hand. “Don't,” she said.
He looked like a kid who just got told he couldn't go on a field trip. “What?” Kai asked as he shrugged his shoulders.
Sam grunted and pushed herself up from the couch and walked to the kitchen. Kai followed her, still muttering something. She ignored him as she opened the fridge and pulled out some water.
“Oh my god, go brush your teeth Kai,” she said with disgust. He headed toward the bathroom by his room.
I leaned back on the couch and looked at the ceiling again. I yawned.
“You should eat,” Josh said, as he tapped my leg. I looked at him and he was eating some cold chicken.
My stomach growled and I knew what I really wanted, but food would have to do. The last thing I wanted right now was to confirm Josh's “freak” theory about me. I sat there and Johnathan flashed into my mind, blood all over his face. My stomach growled again. I missed the day when the sight of blood would have made me sick. Now it made me hungry. I should have never drank his blood or Josh's blood either.
