by Rue Volley
Clytie turned to her and flashed to her face. Sophia felt the wind on her hair from the speed at which Clytie came to her. Clytie leaned into her ear.
“I have loved Gods, so much so that I could be considered a God myself. You are but a speck in the existence of this world… a mistake really. Gods came before you and because of their wants and weakness they fell, as so will your people,” she whispered.
Sophia raised her hand in a flash to grab at Clytie’s face and Clytie placed a blade to Sophia’s throat.
“I find you boring. Would you like to gaze upon my beauty… to look upon a creature more powerful than yourself?”
Sophia sucked her breath in as Clytie ran the blade along her throat gently; it barely cut the skin and a small amount of blood started to well up under the blade.
“What are you?” Sophia said as she tried to remain calm.
“Oh, something you would have been excellent at… A creature that suits your nature, all love and wanting.”
Clytie stepped back from her and held the blade under Sophia’s chin. She took a deep breath and her image started to glitch in front of Sophia’s eyes. Rue started to fade and Clytie started to form, finally fully back to her formal self… beautiful… red hair, porcelain skin… full lips.
Sophia stood very still and stared at her face.
“Clytie?” Sophia asked.
Clytie laughed and kept the blade steady at Sophia’s throat.
“Yes… it is me. I know that your son told you of me.”
Sophia shook her head.
“No, he did not. I know you and your treachery… Protectors have dispensed of many of you nymphs over time. All of you having nothing but bad intention in your hearts.”
Clytie shook her head and smiled.
“It would appear that you and your race have been a tad bit prejudice towards me and my sisters. I was the only one who was able to stay on the earth, depending upon the ignorance of the humans to bring me life.”
“I would assume that you ran into Rue Valon then,” Sophia said.
“Ha! Oh that I did. She came to me when she was still a child. Children seem to be more trusting. I befriended her and played on her strange human compassion that she possesses. I smelled her blood… knowing that I had stumbled upon someone very special… a protector who did not know yet who she was.”
Sophia sighed.
“Yes, it would seem that Grace and William tried very hard to hide the child from her lineage.”
“Well, regardless of their lack of parenting, Rue came to me and I was able to receive her blood. With it, I solidified my immortality.”
Sophia stepped to the side and Clytie shook her head and held the blade out.
“Would you like to talk or die?” Clytie asked her.
Sophia smiled.
“I would prefer to sit,” she replied.
Clytie looked at the chair and back to her.
“Sit slowly, or die quickly,” she said.
Sophia stepped to the chair slowly and held her hands out as she sat down very slowly.
“As you see I have no intention of causing any trauma.”
Clytie laughed and glanced at Sophia’s hands.
“I know what you are capable of, Sophia Graph,” Clytie said.
Sophia smiled and interlaced her fingers slowly.
“Well, then you know that you will not survive this,” Sophia said to her calmly.
“Oh, I will survive as I always have. I am not easy to kill. Remember, I have survived the Gods before you and I now have the blood of a protector in my veins that cannot be easily dispensed of.”
Sophia leaned back, maintaining her relaxed state.
It irritated Clytie to no end that she did not strike fear in her heart.
“What is it with your race...? So smug and accepting,” Clytie said as she stepped up to her and raised her chin with the end of her blade.
“Immortality has a way of deadening the senses, I would guess,” Sophia said as she grinned up the blade and settled her stare on Clytie’s face.
“I find you completely unnecessary in the realm of things,” Clytie said as she bit her lip.
“Tell me, since my death seems imminent… Where did you acquire a child?” Sophia asked her. Clytie giggled, evil really… and shook her head at her.
“Okay, I will tell…mainly because it will not matter that you know. I tricked a female mortal with hopes of freedom. She employed her brother out of fear, and her brother cut the child from the womb of a human outside the gates of Valon. Evidently, the stress of such an act weighed heavily on the boy’s heart and he decided to leave, at the end of a rope.”
Sophia smiled.
“Sounds messy,” she said.
Clytie tilted her head at her and blinked.
“It was a terrible act of viciousness, a heinous act… You find it normal?” she asked.
Sophia sighed and raised an eyebrow. “I find it necessary; a plan fit to succeed.”
“That is what I thought!” Clytie said as she maintained the blade at Sophia’s chin.
“We are not so different, you and I. I would think that under different circumstances, we would have much in common.”
Clytie took a breath and then straightened up.
“We have nothing in common. I am a nymph, shed of mortality and void of any compassion after thousands of years of heartache.”
“Oh, and do you think that you are the only female who has dealt with a broken heart… only you in the millions of years of existence?” Sophia asked her.
“I… I don’t know or care of any others, except for my own wellbeing,” Clytie said in a stutter.
Sophia leaned forward and gently ran her finger along the blade, cutting her fingertip. She placed the finger in her mouth and closed her eyes as the blood ran onto her tongue. Clytie’s hand started to shake a little as she watched her drink her own blood. Sophia opened her eyes and then smiled.
“Well then, we have more in common than you think,” Sophia said.
“I have no interest in your lost loves, only my own,” Sophia added.
Clytie looked at Sophia and took another breath as she glanced at her hands.
“What are you doing?” Clytie asked as she felt the blade getting heavier in her hand.
Sophia slowly rose up as Clytie started to lower to the floor.
“I have been weaving a spell since you first pulled your blade. It will bind you… crushing your lungs in on themselves,” Sophia said with no emotion.
Clytie grabbed at her chest and tried to draw in breath, but it felt as if someone was slowly squeezing her chest.
“Sophia… please, find mercy… find a reason to use me,” Clytie said as she fell to her side.
Sophia stood over her and smiled.
“Oh, I have intention for you… I need for you to regain your image of Rue… I will need you to be at the service of my son,” she said.
“Yes… anything,” Clytie said as she gasped for air.
Sophia leaned down over her and touched her face as Clytie’s eyes rolled in her head.
“You will be my puppet. I will use you to bear an heir to my son and then you will be the blade that strikes Rue Valon from this plain forever… I will destroy you if you ever turn on me again. My spell is everlasting and can be carried out at a moment’s notice. Do we understand each other?” Sophia asked her.
Clytie moaned and grabbed at her throat.
“I can choke you of precious air over and over again for an eternity… and that I will, if you ever try to harm me again.”
Clytie nodded and Sophia waved her hand over her.
Clytie quickly sucked in her breath and rolled on her side, drenched in sweat.
“Now… get dressed, you will accompany me to the gathering tonight. These humans need to be swayed, fears subsided. After which, we will welcome my son back from the grave and you will let him feed on you at will.”
“I understand,” Clytie said through gritted teeth.
Sophia smiled and flashed to her pressing her foot to her throat. Clytie struggled to pull Sophia’s foot from her throat. Sophia leaned down, pressing her foot against her throat until Clytie felt her larynx start to collapse. Sophia picked up the blade and placed it in between Clytie’s legs and ran it up slowly. She placed it under her dress and with one quick flick of her wrist thrust it into her and twisted it. Clytie gasped and her eyes rolled in head. Sophia took her foot off of her throat and rose up, pulling the blade out quickly, blood dripping from it. Clytie grabbed at herself and rolled on her side as she cried out.
Sophia looked at her and flicked the blade, throwing the blood on her white dress.
“You will not be able to bear an heir until I allow it to happen. I will heal you at that time. Now get dressed and meet me in my chamber,” Sophia said.
Clytie lay on the floor moaning and whimpering as she held herself.
“You should have investigated my nature before you decided to cross me, Clytie. My heart is truly black and it has not been beating in my chest for over a hundred thousand years. You be sure to regain your image of Rue Valon before you come to me.”
Clytie’s eyes narrowed and she nodded as she held in her cries of pain.
Sophia held her hand over her womb until the bleeding stopped. She stopped the bleeding, but didn’t heal the damage to her uterus.
“Good… I will leave you now,” Sophia said as she dropped the blade, letting it clatter on the floor in front of Clytie’s face.
Clytie watched it rock back and forth until she closed her eyes and tried to black out the pain Sophia had inflicted on her.
“I hate you,” Clytie whispered.
Sophia stopped at the door and looked back at her.
“You do not understand hate, not yet… but you will, I assure you,” Sophia said as she stepped out into the sunlight and smiled at the birds flying over.
“Beautiful day,” she whispered to herself as she walked towards the council through the square.
***
I sat there watching Theo meticulously heal the damage done to Josh’s back from the blast of energy Caine threw at us as we hurled towards the mirror. I winced as he did, but he did not moan, although his back looked as if the flesh had been stripped from it. How he did not collapse on me instead of picking me up and twirling me around, I do not know. I looked towards the tent opening as Sam stepped in and glanced at me as she stepped towards the bed that Josh laid on. She looked at his back and leaned down in his view.
“You took it in the ass,” she said to him.
He laughed and then coughed from the pain of the laugh.
“Don’t do that,” he said to her.
She stood up and looked at Theo.
He glanced at her and shook his head. She bit her lip and looked at me.
“Do you want to walk?” she asked me.
I shook my head as Josh kicked his leg while Theo continued to touch him with light. Sam stepped up to me and placed her hand in my face. I looked up at her and then I decided to take it. I mean I could say no, but Sam was not one to say no to. We stepped to the tent opening and I looked back at Theo and he grinned at me and waved his hand.
“I will be right back, Josh,” I said.
Josh waved his hand without looking at me. I hoped that he was not holding in his screams for my sake. I just wanted him to be well again. Theo had worked on him through the night with little success, it was all beyond me. I stepped out into the sunlight and a silent carnival and looked at the birds flying overhead. Sam touched my arm and I looked at her.
“Theo will heal him; I have no doubt,” Sam said.
I smiled and watched two rogues flash in front of us out into the open field.
“I know. I believe in what Theo is able to do,” I said to her.
She smiled and stared at me.
“What?” I said.
“Oh, nothing… it is just you; you seem older… more accepting,” she said.
I sighed and started to walk; she walked along side me.
“I just can’t freak out, it wouldn’t do any good,” I said.
“Very grown up of you,” she said as she smiled and nudged me.
I looked at her and grinned.
“Well, I won’t lie… when Theo pulled his shirt off and I saw his back I almost hurled,” I said in a whisper.
She laughed and interlocked her arm in mine.
“Me too… How gross was that?” she said.
We both stopped as Johnathan stepped out of his tent and spotted us.
I looked at her and she smiled.
“Listen… you and vamp boy need to talk; he seems all emotional right now.”
I rolled my eyes and then looked at her.
“Sorry, guess I am not that grown up yet.”
She laughed and stepped away from me as Johnathan stepped up to me.
“Hi,” I said.
Johnathan rubbed his neck and looked at the ground.
“Hey.”
“So, weird stuff, right?” I asked him.
I mean, what do I say really? We just spent time thinking that we were in a relationship, not physical, but a relationship nonetheless. I guess that it would have been nice if the mirage of school would have been truth, but as the majority of this year has been, it was not.
“Yea… you could say that.”
I took a breath and realized that he was wearing the stuff I picked out for him at that shop.
He smelled really good, although it cost way too much.
“You smell good,” I said, as I opened my eyes up.
He smiled.
“Thanks… It’s all ‘toilet passion’ up in here,” he said as he laughed.
I laughed too and then he hugged me. I let him. I mean it has been so long since I have really been with any of them, but I felt different… everything felt so damn different. My mind wandered right back to Josh lying in that tent. Johnathan stopped hugging me and stepped back.
“Go back to him okay?” Johnathan said.
“Is it that apparent?” I asked him.
He nodded and grinned at me.
“I love you, Rue; I won’t lie… but you belong with him. I know that; we all do. Just the way it is,” he said.
I smiled and touched his face as I stared into his eyes. Johnathan had changed too. God knows what he had been doing all that time, but he felt different too. I turned and Josh stood in the tent opening, shirtless… but with tons of white wrapped around him. I looked back at Johnathan and he nodded to me. I ran to Josh and stopped right in front of him.
“Is being on your feet a good idea right now?” I asked him.
Josh grinned. I saw his canine teeth… so crooked and pretty.
“Well, I guess it’s better than lying on my stomach,” he said.
I laughed and shook my head at him.
“Rue,” he said, sounding somewhat serious.
I looked at him and waited. His energy felt weird… like it waved from him.
“I am dying,” he said.
I sucked in my breath and stumbled. He grabbed my arm and held me up.
“What...? I don’t... What can I do?” I asked him.
Josh shook his head at me and touched my face.
“Just stay with me. It could be soon it could be later… Theo doesn’t know yet,” he said.
I felt the earth stop turning. I tried to clear my thoughts, but it was impossible.
The tears welled up in my eyes and I looked at him.
“You so can’t die… not now. It isn’t fair; I have spent most of this year in my head without you,” I said.
“Well, we had the floor, in your room,” he said.
I grabbed his hand and pulled him back into the room. Theo looked up at us from the black book and I stared a hole in him. He stood up and looked at Josh.
“I would guess that you told her,” he said.
Josh nodded and Theo walked towards the door. I looked back at him.
“I
am depending on you to find a way,” I said.
Theo stopped and closed the book.
“I will do my best as I always have,” he said as he stepped out and I looked at the bed.
I looked at Josh and didn’t know what to say… There was so much and suddenly I had nothing on my lips… nothing but misery and regret. He sighed and rubbed his fingers on the tops of my hands and I pulled him towards the bed. He tried to stop me but I shook my head at him.
“There is no time for argument here, Josh. I want you now,” I said.
I sat down on the bed and he stood before me with his head down. I let his hand go and started to undo his pants. He touched my hands and pulled them up to his chest.
“Not like this,” he whispered.
“Then like what?” I asked him.
“Let me romance you at least, for Christ sake,” he said.
I smiled; he wasn’t refusing me… He wanted it to be special. I could understand that, I really could. He leaned down in front of me and placed my hand on his heart.
“Rue Volley… I would like to ask you to be my mate, for all of eternity.” He looked at his wrist, pretending like he had a watch on. “Or, for at least the next few days. Which may seem like a short time… but I guarantee you that no one has ever loved you more, will love you more, than I do. I give you my heart, my light… You live in me forever.”
I bit my lip and looked into his eyes. I think that this is the protector equivalent of a human proposal, and I was so going to take it. I grinned.
“I accept… I am nothing without you,” I whispered to him.
“I love you,” Josh whispered to me.
I wrapped my arms around his neck, conscious of his injury to his back, and then backed up and placed my hands on his face.
“I love you… I need you; please don’t die,” I whispered to him.
He closed his eyes and sighed as he let my words sink into his heart. I knew that he would not die if he could find anyway to cheat it. If I had to sacrifice myself, he would live because I couldn’t, live that is, without him. My color started to swirl on my hands and he breathed it in. I felt it enter him warm and comforting. If only it would heal him; if I could only heal him. I have to. There was no question. He stood up and pulled me up with him. I looked at him and then glanced at the bed behind us.
