A little taken back by the hug, I looked around at everyone else first as they smiled at my bewilderment. “It’s nice to meet you too, ma’am.”
Ash looked up from a plate of food as Skylark ran her fingers through his hair. “The food is delicious,” he mumbled while stuffing more into his mouth.
“You’d think he hadn’t eaten in days,” Skylark laughed.
Cutting to the chase, I stood in the middle of the living room awkwardly. “So where do we go from here?” I asked calmly.
“There are a few things you should know, firstly, if Masaya wants your power there is nothing that will stand in the way of her harvesting them from you. Secondly, know that she will use anyone she can to try and get to you, so be careful.” Thorne answered.
I thought about his words for a moment, “I’ve heard that from someone else before. Do either of you know if I’d be able to pull someone through dimensions? Cause there are a few questions I’d like to ask her.”
“This is a safe-house, no one can enter here unless they are aware of its place in the portal.” Nivene responded.
“So this is like some kind of secret clubhouse, you have to know the password to come in, right?” Ash said in reply.
“Something like that,” Thorne answered.
Shadows danced across the dimly lit room before three more people appeared inside of it. “You’ve grown so much,” another woman beamed with excitement as she stepped from a corner in the room and wrapped me in a loving embrace. “You look just like your mother, such raw beauty.”
I pulled away from her, she may have known me, but, I didn’t know her. “Thank you,” I replied awkwardly. “Back to the issue at hand here, what else should I know, and why have you guys been deciding to hide them from me until now?”
“Because until now, we have no choice. Masaya has found you,” Skylark moved away from Ash and closer to me. “Please, have a seat.” she offered the comfort of a loveseat in the middle of the room. I refused it and continued standing.
“I could have protected myself out there, protected Nikko. She tossed me around like I was some sort of rag doll.” My tempered escaped my control and before long I’d begun to see red as fire dance across my vision.
“Please, calm down, Alizarin. Each one of us made a promise to your mother not to let you know these things. It was not our idea to hide them from you. We were bound by our word.”
The room had begun to fill with an array of different people, all gathered and watching me intently, trying to figure out what I was going to do with this new insight. My mind raced as I looked from face to face, some of them slightly drowned in fear. “You set me up then continuously lied to my face and now you want me to calm down?”
“You have to understand our reasons,” Skylark continued while still offering me a seat.
“I suppose I better sit before I completely lose it,” I responded, taking the seat she offered. They were all still looking at me, treating me like a statue on display. “Could you all just stop looking at me that way? It’s making me uncomfortable.” I turned my eyes to Skylark, the red had vanished and I could think clearer than before, the urge to tear something up left and I was left in unintentional embarrassment. “Who are these people anyway?” I whispered, not wanting to sound rude.
“Most of us are family, the rest are fellow Resisters, as Masaya likes to call us.”
“Family, huh?”
Skylark nodded, then started pointed out people and giving names that at the moment I didn’t care to remember. “Nice to meet you all, now, where do I go from here? She knows where I live.”
“You can stay here in Polythias for as long as you’d like, we have homes here.” Nivene offered.
“What about my parents? And school? What do I do about that?” Ash questioned, finally making himself useful.
“What he said,” I agreed.
“We are not for sure she knows where you live. You see she’d chose to meet you out one the road, rather than knock on your front door.”
I thought it over for a moment, Masaya certainly didn’t seem like the person to beat around the bush. “Ok, so what do I do to at least keep my parents safe?”
“The only thing we can suggest is that you and your brother return to your home, gather some of your things and come back here. First, Ash must learn to be an effective Lookout,” Centure answered.
“How long will that take?”
Ash stepped into the living room and sat down on the floor amongst a few other people as the room still filled with people. “What is a Lookout?”
“At first, we were unsure why you’d developed power Ash, but now, you’ve shown us that you are her protector.”
“Let’s focus. How long will it take for Ash to become a better, whatever he is,” I said, raising my voice over the crowd, that’d broke out in three separate conversations over why Ash and I didn’t know these things already.
“You’re right, focus is key.”
Behind me, Nikko massaged my shoulders and calmed me down. I let my neck roll as he eased some of the built-up tension. “Thanks,” I said, slightly soothed.
“It’ll take at least a year for either of you to be any good,” Nivene said, stepping in front of the crowd. “We all have Psenora to thank for that.”
“What if we don’t have a year?” Some from the back of the room spoke up. “She can’t possibly be Ikuista. The prophesy says she’ll be coated with platinum and ride on a beast born of fire.”
I stood up from the couch and partially lifted my shirt, exposing the spreading blotch on my back. “Is this platinum enough for you?” I replied, unsure why I’d needed to prove anything to these people.
Whispers erupted from the crowd and I sat back now. “When can he begin this training?”
“It’s not just him. None of you have completed training. Not even Nikko. If we are to take on Masaya and her powerful forces, we’re going to need to be as prepared as we can,” Centure responded as she moved swiftly through the crowd. “Go now, retrieve whatever you need from the human world and come back here, I will do the same.”
***
It was night when we crossed back over into our world. The portal building was completely empty as we looked around. Since Azlyn wasn’t around my wrist, I’d remembered that I’d left without retreating her.
Hey Azlyn, are you alright? I thought as I walked outside.
I’m fine; did you find your answers? She replied tiredly.
Behind me, Nikko wrapped his arms around my waist as we both stared up at the night sky. “Are you ready for this?”
“If by ready you mean completely terrified, then yeah, I’m as ready as I’ll ever be,” I replied, turning around to kiss him softly on the cheek.
“Who knows, it might turn out not to be that bad,” he said, looking into my eyes.
“We’ll see then, won’t we?”
Ash and Skylark came out of the building just after I’d retreated Azlyn so that I could teleport faster with Nikko. “So are we all going together?”
“Skylark and I are going to take Aspen, we’ll meet you there. We have some things we need to talk about,” Ash replied quietly.
I shrugged then fell into Nikko’s arms and closed my eyes. When the surrounding of my bedroom came into view and the gut dropping ceased, I ran around the room and grabbed my large suitcase then opening it before throwing things into it.
“You should have just asked me to transport your whole closet,” Nikko joked.
“Could you?” I replied, seriously.
“It was a joke. But seriously, do you really need any of this stuff?”
“You never know, I might.” I zipped the case then pulled the handle, it made a light thump as it hit the ground. “Okay, I’m ready.”
Nikko grinned at the suitcase, “Are you sure?”
I paused and thought a moment, “You’re right, I need to get Triton’s things.”
“We can buy him new things, you’ve seen the way they’re li
ving in Polythias, you’re going to stand out like a sore thumb.”
“The way they live is not my problem,” I said.
“It kind of is,” Nikko replied before taking the suitcase from my hands.
“I should go down there and talk to them, they probably won’t even notice I’m gone anyways.”
“You’ve been gone all day, you don’t think they’ll notice you walking down the stairs?”
I shrugged my shoulders then grabbed my phone charger from the wall, couldn’t believe I’d almost forgotten that. “I’d be surprised if they noticed anything about me,” I countered.
He dropped the things to the floor and lifted me into his arms then transported us to the front porch. “This way just feels right,” he said.
I pulled the keys from my pocket and reached out to unlock the door, only to realize that the door was already open. I pushed it open and stepped into the house. “You guys left the door open!” I called through the house.
Nikko followed behind me closely, pinching the bottom of my shirt. “This doesn’t seem weird to you, at all?” he asked quietly.
Thinking that they’d most likely be in their room, I crossed through the living room, only slightly noticing small red droplets on the tile in the kitchen. Immediately I was frantic, my thoughts unsure what to do with themselves.
My eyes followed the crimson droplets to the pantry, whatever it was, was seeping from under it.
“Don’t open it, Aliza.” Nikko said from behind me, pulling me away.
It was too late; my hand reached out and twisted the silver handle of the pantry door. Grief, horror and anger engulfed me as both of my parents fell from the closet, more of their blood spilling out onto the floor.
I hadn’t had time to process the mental, physical and most important, emotional blow, when Skylark came running through the front door.
“Aliza, they’ve taken him!” her voice was shaky as she tried to catch her breath. At the first sight of what my eyes were still focused on, she broke down to her knees. “No, no. Not Psenora.”
While I stood frozen, Nikko leaned over and checked both of their pulses. “They’re not breathing,” he whispered before pulling his phone from his pocket and dialing 9-1-1.
I turned slowly to Skylark, “Is there any chance to save them?” My tears felt like knives as they cut down my cheek. I tried to wipe them from my cheek, only to realize that they were no regular tears, meaning, they were not water but instead a golden paste that was sticky and smooth.
Skylark looked up at me, her tears the same as mine and shook her head. “Not unless you want to take their place,” she answered, as if it were not even an option. “And Xyonthis needs you,” she continued.
“Where is Ash?” I said, looking around the room. I had to get away from the scene, I wanted to run and hide. My feet carried me all the way to my parent’s room and my body gave out in their bed. I could smell my dad’s aftershave and the perfume my mom loved so much mixed together on the sheets and pillowcases of the bed.
Nothing seemed to matter anymore, my mind had completely given up and I was allowing it. A few seconds later, I saw Skylarks silhouette in the doorframe, yet I didn’t turn any of my attention to her.
“She did this, Masaya did this,” she said, stepping deeper into the room and sitting on the edge of the bed.
The room was completely dark except for a little bit of light that peeked through from the living room. “Where is my brother?” I asked again with my face planted deep into my dad’s pillow.
“We flew into a cloud, as we’ve done countless times before, but this time was different. When we came through the cloud, Ash had disappeared. I tried going back through the same cloud but it’d disappeared. I don’t know why I didn’t see this coming,” she replied.
I could tell she was still crying, so was I. I lifted my head from the pillow and looked down at the golden stains. If this had happed when they were alive, my dad would be so upset. I tried to force the thoughts away from me, I didn’t want to think of it, I didn’t want to think of anything.
“Did Masaya do that too?” I asked quietly.
In the living room, I heard the paramedics moving through the room and calling for forensics. It was nothing they could do, I’d find the killer myself and bring her to justice.
“Do you have any idea where she may take him?”
“No,” she laid flat on the bed and cried louder.
Nikko stepped into the room and came to the bed and sat down beside me and rubbed my arm. “The officers need to speak with you,” he said sadly.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Ash
I’ve woken up in a dark room; the cold musty air burns my senses as I strain to regain sight. The room is completely blurry for now and the last thing I remember, well, I don’t remember anything, including nothing from my day at all. I immediately panic, hoping, but not hoping that Alizarin is here with me.
“Aliza? Skylark? Is anybody in here?” I search the haziness and try to force my perfect vision through the fog. Nothing works, and no one answers.
A dim flash of light peeks through the darkness, seeming to wink at me; as if begging me to come closer. My body shivers to no end, the cold is nearly unbearable and throwing off all of my senses. I decided to gravitate towards the light- against my better judgment. Maybe there’s heat coming from it.
I know very well that I cannot think anything to Aliza without first being able to see her, I just pray for now that she will miss me enough to pull me from this freezer and save me.
What seems as the chains of a cellar door jingle loudly through the room, echoing off of the stone walls. I scramble backwards as I realize the light id come towards earlier was coming from the other side of a large door. Utterly revealing what I’d feared most- I’ve been captured.
“Glad you’re awake, young human.”
Her voice is unfamiliar to me. I struggle to stand on my feet and the first attempts fail, I fall with my belly flat against the cold stone. “W-Where am I?” my teeth chatter together as I try to even think straight under these temperatures. Vulnerability washes over me and again, I find myself on the unforgiving floors.
“A place you will stay until you tell us what we want to hear,” the speaker remains unseen, blending with the shadows. She steps in further but does not shut the door completely.
I quickly attempt to make as many versions of myself as possible, in an effort to confuse her while the real me runs out of the door. I soon realize that I no longer have the strength, let alone the power. My body gives out on me mid-way through my first copy, and I once again crash to the ground.
“It’s a strange thing what can happen to one’s power when exposed to freezing temperatures. I’m afraid you’re stuck with us,” she snickers. Her boots beat against the stone floors and I look up, able to see her for the first time.
“Bethany?” I whisper in confusion.
“So you do still have your memory,” she squats down and lifts my head up by my hair and looks into my eyes. “You’re scared, why?”
I roll my weakened eyes. “What do you want from me?”
“Information,” she answers, letting my head go. “Information is all I need, and you can go home. Though I’m not entirely sure at this point whether or not you have a home to go to.”
I can’t help the shakes as they over take me. “I’ll give you all the information you need to know for a little warmth,” I demand. Though it probably came out less like a demand and more like a plea.
“Good, tell us everything you can about your sister and her power and you can have all the warmth you want,” she steps out onto the other side of the door and comes back with a tiny space heater.
“What do you want to know about Aliza’s power for?”
“Isn’t it obvious by now? Your sister holds a one-of-a-kind power, I have to get it before Masaya does. I’ve already killed your parents.”
My heart threatens to jump from my chest at her words. �
��You’re lying,” I say, pulling myself up and onto my feet once again, somehow finding a hidden strength.
“Tell me what I want to know, Ash.”
I slid my feet across the cold floors as I make my way closer to her, spit flies from mouth and lands directly under her right eye. “Go to hell.”
“You first,” she smiles, then steps out of the room. This time, two very large beastly men take her place in the room. “Have fun,” she whispers over her shoulder as she disappears around the corner.
The door slams behind them and I find myself outnumbered and out strengthened. My own screams echo from the cold stone and pierce my ears as the monsters begin to tear into my flesh.
Please, please help me. I pray to a god I’m not sure exist anymore.
About the Author
Bloodlines: Everything That Glitters Page 25
