Heritage

by Rebecca Walton

  “Nothing yet then?,” Josh whispered, glancing at Katelyn who was listening intently to our conversations.

  “No, it’s useless” I whispered, giving Katelyn a smile which made her turn back to stacking the books.

  “Why don’t you ask your father?” Alex asked silently. In an attempt to say the question we all wanted to know the answer to, without actually saying it. I didn’t really know why I didn’t ask my father, he was the one who knew all the answers about everything.

  “Because he should have been the one to tell me in the first place” I sighed, resting my chin on the pile of books in front of me.

  “What if..” I stuttered.

  “What if what? This means you’re a seriously evil demon or that your destiny is to rule the underworld. Chill Elle ok, this doesn’t change anything!” Josh whispered angrily. The vein on his neck pocking out of his skin.

  “Just because this arrogant prick says that your mother is a demon. So what, she’s always been that way and you have always been the way you are. So why does this change anything? It doesn’t, so stop trying to convince yourself that you’re this evil thing that needs to be taken care of”

  He finished and took a deep breath. His hands had begun to grow hairier as he became stressed. Why was he getting stressed at me, I don’t know what I was thinking.

  “Take it easy Josh she has a lot on her plate at the moment” Alex slapped him on the back of the head and smiled at me.

  “Talk to him Elle, you have to”

  Katelyn pulled the books from under my chin as I began to speak. My teeth caught my tongue as my chin hit the table. I cried out in pain as Katelyn glared at me.

  “Ow Katelyn!”

  “You children need to be out doing something productive, instead of cluttering up my library” She growled, collecting the books off our table and slotting them into her wooden trolley.

  "Gone are the days when adults wanted children to learn," Josh remarked with a cocky grin. A giggle escaped my mouth as Katelyn shot me a dirty look. If looks could kill I’d be a dead woman.

  “We are researching Katelyn, and as this will all be Elle’s one day, I think she has the right to use it don’t you?”

  Alex’s tone sounded as if she was daring Katelyn to respond. It’s not like she isn’t right, this will all be mine soon everything. The thought of that made me drop my head into my hands. Too much responsibility that I wouldn’t be able to cope, it’s a good job it’s a full ten years away.

  “Alexandra! That may be true, but you have no right to address me in that tone nor you Joshua. Your mother will be hearing about this” Katelyn threw one last dirty look in my direction and waddled off amongst the book cases.

  “Wait Katelyn” I shouted. Standing up so fast my chair squeaked as I pushed it out. I could feel their eyes on me as I walked up to Katelyn.

  “You know this library pretty well right?” I asked as she gave me a seriously disapproving look.So what, now I wasn’t allowed to speak to her without her permission. Ignoring her screwed up face, I continued.

  “I’m looking for information about goddess Merial. Do you know where I could find any?” I asked. Katelyn’s face dropped as I said Merial’s name. If Katelyn knew I was researching Merial, then she would know I was trying to find information about my mother and knowing her snooty tell tale nature. She will go straight to my father and then he would have to tell me everything he knew. Quite a good plan even if I do say so myself.

  “No, there is no information in any of these books that will help you sorry. May I ask why you were researching about her?” She asked with her nose in the air.

  “Personal reasons” I answered. Giving her a smile, I walked back to my awaiting friends who had their mirrored puzzled expression on their faces.

  “Who says I need to ask my father? I have a feeling he will tell me himself” I smiled. I felt rather happy with myself.

  “Sneaky,” Josh laughed, standing up and ruffling my hair with his fist.

  “Come on, let’s get out of here,” Alex sighed picking up her bag and pushing in her chair.

  Another evening in the library with no information to show for it, the only book that even had her picture in was the Ruins of our souls. I wish I could look at the book again. Josh hadn’t had time to pick it up after he jumped out of the window, during the thunder storm attack. It was gone when he eventually came back.

  “Adabelle” A small voice coughed from behind me. Turning around, a small elf with a single tuff of hair on his head smiled at me. Tugging on his green suit he took a bow.

  “Permission to speak your highness” He squeaked raising his head.

  “Permission granted”

  I’d never been asked for permission to speak before, it felt quite powerful. He held out his little hand and gestured for me to come closer. Looking around me, I knelt down on my knees and put my head closer to his.

  "Look in the Kings private library," He said, covering his mouth so I could barely hear his muffled voice.

  “My father doesn’t have a private library”

  “Just look,” he hastily rushed off into the library and was lost amongst the books. Why doesn’t it surprise me that my father has a secret library.

  “I’m telling you elves are weird!” Josh murmured.

  “ADABELLE GABRIEL!”

  My father’s voice got to us before he stormed into the library. The doors banged against the wall as he entered.

  “Wow Katelyn is quick,” I whispered to Alex and Josh before they scattered away. Rolling my eyes I approached my father and smiled at him with a sweet smile.

  “My office now!” He spoke through his telepathy. Whatever he wanted to say, he obviously doesn’t want to disturb the peace.

  Sitting in his office I couldn’t take my eyes off the portrait of Merial on the wall. Staring at it I saw that it wasn’t her. Her eyes were golden, this woman’s eyes were hazel. I’m guessing that picture was my mother. My stomach turned as my father tapped his fingers impatiently on his desk.

  “I wish you would leave things alone Elle!” He yelled making the room shake.

  “What are you talking about father?” I asked sweetly. Holding back the sarcasm that I wanted to let escape.

  “Why are you being so hard?” He asked. Ignoring him I continued to stare at the picture.

  “You know don’t you” He sighed.”I wanted to tell you Elle”

  “Then why didn’t you, instead of leaving it to a demon?” I asked. I peeled my eyes away from her picture and looked at him straight in the eyes.

  “I didn’t want you to find out like this...”

  “So why didn’t you tell me?”

  “I…”

  “It’s a simple question dad.”

  “Not a simple answer” He replied. Pushing his chair out and standing up, he crossed the room. He stopped in front of the portrait I had been staring at.

  “She was beautiful, I fell in love with her the first time I saw her. That story you know, but as you have heard she was a goddess and the twin of Merial. Lily was amazing she had so much power in her. She could have done so much good in the world, but she wanted more. She was tempted by bigger things and she well… got in with the bad crowd and turned into an even more powerful demon. She fell from the heaven right onto Satan’s lap you could say” He sighed and walked towards the open window. After a few seconds of complete silence with only our heartbeats to fill the time, he continued.

  “I was worried that if you knew you would do something stupid” he explained.

  “WHAT!” I yelled. I couldn’t keep it in. All this doubt in my mind was in his to. So even he thought I was in line to self combust and go dark side.

  “You are so much like her” He smiled and walked towards me. Jumping out of my chair I backed away from him.

  “You think I’m a demon?” I stuttered. This was mad, even my own father didn’t trust me.

  “No! Calm down”

  “You think I’m evil? I th
ought you knew me”

  “I do Elle I…I” he stuttered taking another step towards me. I mirrored him and stepped back.

  “I mean, your mother lived for the day just like you. I know you’re not evil”

  He sighed taking me in his arms. Taking in his scent I surrendered and hugged him back.

  “Is that everything that I need to know” I asked.

  “Yes but, please tell me you won’t look into it further” He asked. Pushing him away I backed up into the doors.

  “Why?” I asked stubbornly. What else was he hiding. If that was everything about my mother, then why didn’t he want me to dig anymore.

  “When did you stop listening to me Elle?” He barked.

  “When you started lying to me,” I responded opening the door and running out.

  “ELLE GET BACK HERE” he yelled as I ran down the corridor. Stopping at the end I turned to face him.

  “It’s obvious that you’re lying to me, which means you don’t trust me. It’s obvious my existence has started up some hidden evil that not even I can hear about. It’s my life, it’s my mum, and It’s my heritage. So I’m going to find it out myself. I don’t care what you say. Your say in what I say or do went out the window when you started keeping secrets from me. Bye!” I yelled orbing out of the corridor and into my room at the Bales.

  I’m in definite need of a drink now. So let’s evaluate shall we Elle, the events of this weird week have shown you that. Your mother was not only a twin and a goddess. She was also an Evil demon, I have a mad crazed demon on my case. Oh and just to finish the lot off, your hearing voices in the wind. Yeah I think a drink or four is defiantly on the cards. The sound of my ringtone brought me out of my trance.

  “Hello” I answered collapsing onto my bed.

  “Ok, so meet me and Carrie outside of yours at eight. Then we are heading into town to meet the others. Think you will be ready in time?” Poppy babbled through the phone.

  “What time is it now?” I asked in a daze.

  “Half Seven”

  “Yeah, sure I’ll be ready see you then”

  Shutting the phone I closed my eyes and sighed. Thank you oh mighty creator for this life you have given me, I hope your having fun watching me suffer.

  Pulling myself together, I stood up and made my way to my miniature wardrobe. There is absolutely nothing in here I can wear to go out. I need my grey dress and floral net leggings. Closing my eyes and picturing the clothes, I opened them and twirled in front the mirror. Yes, this was the perfect outfit and now for the hair. Unfortunately, that wasn’t something I could use my powers for. Dragging a brush through the mop I call hair and rummaging through the box of hair accessories on the floor. I pulled out a star clip and shoved it in my hair.

  “As usual this is the best it’s going to get” I sighed.

  “Elle!,” He whispered, making me jump and freeze him in the space of a second. I wish people would understand that I hate it when they jump out at me. I think I like Logan when he isn’t talking, I didn’t have to un freeze him I could just look at him. Ok Elle that’s turning Psycho, plus he must be here for a reason. It’s not every day a demon jumps into my bedroom, well not the one in the Bales house anyway. Raising my hand I unfroze him.

  “Did you just...” He asked.

  “What do you want Logan” I Interrupted. I think I best sit down for this. Sitting down on the edge of my bed, I faced him as he continued to stand by the window.

  “Nice room, it’s a tad on the small side though, compared to yours in the castle...” Giving him an accusatory look he continued.

  “That I know of” He smiled a cocky side grin and took a seat next to me.

  “Is there a particular reason you are here Logan, or can you just not keep away from me”

  Slightly smiling I bent down to find my grey boots that were hiding under the bed. Trying but failing to look decent, I pulled out one boot and put it on.

  “Bit of both really” He smirked holding his palm out, and my other boot appeared in his hand. Ok that was cool, why didn’t I think to do that. Taking it from his hand and thanking him, I placed it on my other foot.

  “But seriously, I need you to help me” He explained.

  “What with?” I asked.

  “Well, ok just listen before you go all Elle Psycho on me ok?”

  What was he up to, demons don’t ask angels for help. Well only in serious situations like, I don’t know, the sky falling down. His serious eyes fixed on his face as he waited for my reply.

  “One, I don’t go Psycho and Two you're sitting on my coat” I tugged at my coat as he lifted his body off the bed.

  “Sorry, ok well … wait. Are you going somewhere?”

  “Yes with my friends,” I explained standing to put on my coat.

  “Now? But we need to find Lorias before he does something dangerous” he exclaimed, following me out of the bedroom.

  “Correction he’s your de... Follower, so he’s your problem” I muttered as we made our way down the stairs.

  “Bye” I shouted to Beth, not that she really noticed I had gotten back.

  Stepping out onto the front porch, I could feel Logan’s frustration as he stepped in front of me.

  “Logan I’m entitled to a life” I muttered pulling my coat tightly around me. The wind picked up, and Beth’s dolphin wind chime, chimed franticly above our heads.

  “This is important. If we don’t find him, then maybe you won’t have a life to waste gallivanting around with puny humans,” He shouted over the metal clanging.

  “What is it you want me to do? You’re his Prince, you should have some sort of authority over him”

  I began to shout to, as the wind chime continued to spin in the freak wind. My hair whipped around my face. Logan zipped his leather jacket up to his chin, as a gust of wind nearly blew us over.

  “What in Satin’s name is with this wind?”

  “I’m working on that, back to the matter in hand. He’s your demon, and he’s your problem” I mumbled. I’m guessing Rumpelstiltskin from last week, is rearing it invisible head again. Ignoring the start up of my ringtone, I made my way across to my car. Before Katelyn had kicked us out of the library on Wednesday, I picked up a book on wind spirits, and I’m glad I stashed it in the car.

  “Would you care to elaborate? Or am I just meant to guess?” Logan muttered, following me and leaning against the front side window of the car.

  “When you left me last week I heard…a voice in the wind” I whispered. Saying it out loud made it sound even more insane than it did before.

  “A voice? In the wind” He looked at me with a side glance and chuckled.

  “Shut up! It was real ok, I heard it and …….”

  A gust of wind pushed me against the car.

  “In Icarus Lies the answer to un asked questions”

  It faded as before and I was left just like before, completely confused. Why does this wind spirit talk in riddles. I’ve never been good at them.

  “Ok well that settles that then” Logan breathed.

  “Elle?” Poppy bellowed walking up the driveway. Great, I know that look on her face. She’s set her sights on Logan.

  “Hey Poppy, you’re early” I whispered, glancing at Logan to check he was still there. My heart was pounding against my ribcage. Keeping track of my lies was beginning to take its toll on my brain.

  “No, actually I’m just on time. Your Elle’s cousin right? I’m Poppy” She asked. Making her way towards Logan with her, look I’m hot walk.

  Logan smiled at her and continued to stand silently against the car. Normally boys would have flirted with her or come back with a witty comment about her name being a flower, yeah boys are clever.

  “Yeah this is my cousin err...”

  “Chris” Logan piped up shaking Poppy’s hand.

  “Yes Chris, Chris this is Poppy and Carrie” I threw a smile at Carrie as she stood lifelessly behind Poppy.

  “Well its lovely to meet
you Chris, are you coming out tonight?” She asked batting her eyelashes. I tried hard to hold back a gag.

  “No, he isn’t, he’s going back home to sort out his little problem” I smirked. I edged Poppy away from Logan and down the driveway.

  “Actually” Logan shouted as he ran towards us.

  “I’d love to come, if that’s alright?” He smirked.

  “No!” I shouted.

  “Yes of course, that would be amazing… I mean cool” Poppy babbled. What was he doing, this boy was going to be the death of me.

  “Excuse us for just one moment” I requested, pulling Logan by the sleeve and dragging him towards the house.

  “What? Don’t you want me to hang around with your friends” He smirked.

  “NO! I don’t, and you don’t like humans”

  “True but this double life you lead fascinates me and this little problem isn’t just mine”

  Giving me a wink he marched off into the direction of my friends. Poppy’s huge smile could be seen from space it was that big.

  The wind gently blew amongst the trees as we made the twenty minute trip from my house to town. Logan chatting about his imaginary college and family made my actual life seem unreal. The fact that Poppy believed everything he said was stupid. He loves all of this attention I can see it in his perfectly carved face. His cocky smile hasn’t left his face for one second.

  “Your life sounds amazing” Poppy sighed. Her butter wouldn’t melt voice made my stomach squeeze. She was my best friend, but sometimes she really annoyed the hell out of me. Turning the corner we past the fence towards the northern brook. The rippling of the water silenced the big headed talk of Logan and his amazing imaginary life. Everything was shadowed in darkness, and the wooded area felt eerie and slightly mysterious.