She is gone. Now that Zinnia was gone, I could feel the empty place inside of me that I never even knew existed. How could she mean so much to me? It frustrated me to the cold, bitter core of my being. I should have told her that I wanted to go with her but after what I saw I didn't know what I wanted. Now that she is already gone, I know for sure that I would follow her to the end of the world if that is where she wanted to go. On the other hand, I am not sure whether or not I would follow her beyond the end of the world, and according to what I witnessed, she wasn't part of this world anymore. The human world. (Could it really be true? No, it couldn’t. It shouldn't, but... If it was true, is she really going Ťhere?!) "Sick joke!" I yelled to the heavens above. "Who are you talking to, dude?" I jumped around, ready to attack, because for that instant, I let my guard down. "Dude, seriously, you should cut that shit out. You look like a diseased animal, and it's like
At last, I was home, I banged the door behind me and slid down to the floor. "How can I be so pathetic?" "Eric...what's wrong dear?" I saw Johanna hurrying towards me from the kitchen. Her face was as white as snow, worry written on every line. "Hey, Nanna, I'm sorry. It's nothing to worry about." I said, trying to reassure her. I laid my head upon my knees to hide the guilty feeling so very obviously coloring my face and neck. I felt her hands gripping my biceps, and she pulled me up. She didn't loosen her grip till I was seated on the couch. She gave me a look to say stay and then disappeared back into the kitchen. She entered the living room carrying two cups filled with a thick, scarlet substance. "Drink it will make you feel a little bit better. It's still fresh and hot. " I took a sip hesitantly before gulping half of it down. I didn’t realise I was that hungry until it touched my tongue. "Now, tell me what is wrong." I stared into those shimmering eyes. She always
I was inside the kitchen in less than a second, ready to protect my grandma from anything threatening to harm her in any way. She was staring at something outside the window and then screamed; "You! What do you want?" I looked to see what she was staring at, and then I saw her. A gasp from my lips echoed my grandmothers. She smiled and disappeared. Then, a soft knock came from the front door. The knock was only slightly audible, but it felt like the vibration went through the entire house and into every fiber of my being. My grandma twirled around and stomped to the front door. She unwillingly swung the door open. She just nodded, and worry filled her expression. "Come in, I'll quickly get us something to drink. You look exhausted and worn out." My grandma was good to anyone, even her enemies. "Thank you, Johanna. I ran all the way from Central City to bring you the news first." I stared at her slack jawed. She came over to me and kissed me on the cheek. "Eric," she nodde
It felt absolutely wonderful to ride again. It is absolute freedom, all things forgotten. No stress, no pressure, no nothing, just you and your magnificent partner galloping, wind flying. That moment when you and your horse become one is the most amazing feeling of unity and trust. A feeling you can get nowhere else, search high or low. I have forgotten just how I loved to ride. The one thing that kept me from enjoying it fully was my thoughts that kept returning to Eric. No matter how much I tried to fill my brain with nothing but my surroundings, he would just pop up out of nowhere. I haven't opened the box that he gave me. I could feel it burn against my thigh, inside my jeans pocket. I wanted to open it, but at the same time, I wanted to get rid of it. To toss it into the bushes or be a drama queen and very dramatically let it fall into the ocean, tears streaming from my eyes. I was too damned nosy, though, and my curiosity overpowered miss’s drama queen as per usual. A sa
“Justine, what’s wrong?” I stumbled a bit over my own tongue. She held up her finger to silence me, her eyes flickering all over the place. I looked behind me and strained my eyes and ears to look and hear further and all over the place and to hear whatever she might be hearing, but I didn’t know what to look for. I couldn’t hear anything else unnatural except for the beating of my own heart that was pounding loudly. Her expression fell and grew more grave by the second. The fear inside me grew more demanding. I could feel that little fearful girl inside me growing wanting to take over, I tried to force her back into her box, but it was very hard. Justine dropped her hand and relaxed a little, but I could still see the fear in her eyes when she said; “Something is terribly wrong. I can sense it in the atmosphere and in the aura surrounding the building. The air is very much disturbed.” “What do you think is wrong?” And then that little girl took over; “Is dad okay? Where is he?”
"Daddy, no!" At first, it was only a whisper, but then it grew louder and louder, more incoherent as I became more hysterical. Tears were running down my cheeks. The one following the other without a break, like they were running a marathon. I couldn't stop them from escaping. The snot started dripping from my nose. Joining and mixing with my tears. As I licked my lips, without thinking, I could taste the saltiness from my tears and snot. I didn’t care, though. Only one word echoed through my brain and lips. "No, no, no, no!" I ran from one room to the other, at an inhumane speed, the grief fueling every step, not pausing to check the rooms properly. I didn't realize at the time how strange it was that I was running through a castle, staggering through door after door, but there was no one in sight. I heard Justine and William behind me. They were shouting something, probably trying to stop me or slow me down, but I only ran faster. I just couldn't stop. Even though I knew deep
As I opened my eyes, I realised we were in my fathers house. I recognised the room only slightly because everything was still dancing around my vision. This was the room I slept in during the summer vacation here with my dad. "Why couldn't you wait!" I yelled but it only came out in a whispered sob. My birthday was tomorrow and now my dad would not be there. My body suddenly started twitching, my head started throbbing, my brain was on fire and it felt like it was growing in my skull, my skull split. My eyes burned, I could feel the burning moving down my face. Hot, sticky, wet liquid was running out of my eyes, out of my nose and out of the corners of my mouth. The burning ran down the length of my body. I could feel it reaching my fingers, running down my legs to my toes. It was burning my me from inside out. I felt my body sizzling and changing under the pressure of the heat. I felt myself fading into unconsciousness as the pain got worse by the second. I wanted to die. It
We fell, slid, and rolled once, twice, three times. Glided another few meters before we came to a halt. When I opened my eyes, I saw this giant black wolf as big as a bear pinning me to the ground . The hatred burning in his beautiful, chocolate brown eyes were almost palpable. He growled, warning me. I let out a breath, I didn’t realise I was holding. I could see that he was out for blood. And that is when I relaxed in his grip. This was my chance, the easy way out without having to do it myself. Extending my neck, giving him better access to my throat, but my eyes never left his. Inviting him. I could see in his eyes that he was considering his choices; getting rid of me quickly or making a game out of it. I at least wanted to die quickly and as painlessly as possible. “Please do it as quickly as possible.” I tried not to sound so pathetic but failed. I closed my eyes and waited for the sting of theeth or claws ripping out my throat, but it didn’t come.... yet. I opened
When the morning broke, we jumped to work. The wings were still there, and even after hours of work with William, it still didn't go away. William didn't confirm it when I suggested that I was stuck, but he did say that we should take a break. I didn't tell them, but I had the nagging suspicion that something went wrong with that ass hats spell, and that is why I couldn't shift, but I was under the spell for a very long time. So maybe just maybe in time I will get...unstuck. For now, I had to get used to these damned things. William and Thentos contacted all the people who were willing to fight on our side. No one was forced or cohorts into fighting with us. We amazingly had about two hundred willing warriors from all species and races who joined our ranks, even vampires who did not agree with Victorianna's future or the manner of getting there. I found out the entire family of the little girl deflected from Victorianna's side after they found out what happened to their dau
Thentos looked at me confused, I pointed to my head, trying to tell him that whoever it was was speaking inside my head. William raised his finger to get our attention and pointed to the woods. There was a figure just at the border. "Zzz-i-n-n-ia, I know you're there." This time, he said it aloud. "Come out and play." A young girl came running out of the jungle. Blood was streaming down her face. Tears, she was a young vamp girl, and she was crying. Her eyes focused on me. Fear, hurt, and betrayal flickered through her eyes. I needed to do something, she was suffering and I needed to do something about it. "There is a playmate for you. Come out and play. You are, in a matter of fact, a mere child." The voice sounded sarcastic. Before the girl reached us, a black tentical closed around her wrist. She screamed out in pain, and the scent of flesh burning could be smelt. Blood started dripping from the area. Purple marks started appearing around the tentical. I started
I pulled away slightly to look into those beautiful warm eyes. "Hey baby," I said, smiling He kissed me on the forehead, and I could see the relief in his eyes. Underneath all that was pain. I could see that he didn't want to talk about it. That was good because neither did I. I had too many questions, and now was not the time or place for it. "I am so glad I found you." He smiled "So now we can elope." He teased. "Come on darling, let's run away forever." I went along with it. We turned away and ran. Ran till we reached the gates he turned to me suddenly and seriously. The whole way, we were silent, not talking about what happened to any of us or what I saw or what I would find. "Nia." He turned to me. "I need to warn you." "Don't." I whispered because I knew what he would say. I knew he would try to warn me about William being in mourning for his mate and baby. How our world has changed. I could feel the evil and darkness in the air, just standing at th
My breath caught in my throat. I couldn't believe this. I wanted to pounce him and ravage him, but I couldn't. This beast was Victorianna's son. When will the act stop? When will he change from the knight in shining armor back to the monster he allegedly is? I couldn’t tell him I knew and I couldn't tell him I might be in love with him too (OMF! Where the hell did that come from? You don't love him! You should be in love with Eric, but....no! I am seriously suffering from Stockholm Syndrome!""I..." I stopped his eyes were waiting for my answer. Longing filled them, and I knew my answer would most probably cause my death.(You have nothing to loose.) The thaught hit me. I suppressed it at first, but it came back. (It's true you can't return to your mother. You don't have a father, and you're considering your feelings for Eric and Enrickio. Justine just died.)I pondered about it for a while. (I have Thentos and William....who need me now....or do they?)I took a deep bre
He led me to the garden cabin behind the house. Inside was a young girl clenching her side in pain. Blood seeped through her fingers because of her wound. I would know this girl anywhere; "Shila?"Her white-haired head shot up at the sound of my voice. I could see the longing in her faded green eyes. It made me want to disappear. She disgusted me. Her fragile demeanor will at first trick you into wanting to protect her. Wanting to love and get to know her, but once you do, she changes into a bloodthirsty monster."Thentos." She pleaded and started crawling towards me, but the look on my face must have said everything because she stopped and just let her head hung for a second before looking up again."What are you doing here?""I...I ...I was passing by when..." She stuttered at first."Stop lying! Why were you part of the..."I didn't want to say assassination, I wanted to say murder, but I could not get the words out."Because..." She hissed."Because what?" I growled."
He took her from me and disappeared down the corridor to their room. I wasn't sure what to do and I didn't want to leave him alone so I followed him into their room. The baby was asleep on their bed between two pillows, and he was busy running bath water in the onsuite. "What is her name?" I asked, wanting to make conversation. I could not stand quiet. "I haven't decided yet. She always wanted to name our first born Zinnia out of respect, but I always liked Jennavive." "Why Jennavive?" "Her full names were Justine Jenavive Dijon." The longing for her could be heard as he said her name. "She wanted to call her Zinnia out of respect for the king?" I confirmed. "Yes, may his soul rest in peace." He whispered the latter. I wondered as I stared into the innocence of her face. The poor baby had no idea what she had lost and what was to come next. In a way, I envied her peaceful innocence. "Jennavive Nicole Dijon, Nia Jennavive Dijon, Zinnavive Justine..." I trailed off a
The attack was quick and efficient. There was definitely an inside man or women involved in this attack. I made another round and counted a total of 9 bodies from the attackers and 5 of our own dead and one of our own wounded. I returned to Zinnia's room, and what I came upon was a nightmare right out of a horror movie. I would never forget the sight for as long as I might live. William was holding the cold, limp Justine. He was covered in blood and mumbling some incantation over and over again. He turned towards me as I opened the door, and I felt helpless. His eyes were begging me to do something to help in some way, but there was nothing I could do. It was just not possible. There was no weapon or body close to her, I couldn't understand what could have possibly ripped her stomach open like that. Her throat was also slashed open to ensure the death of the mother and infant.I looked up at Williams, begging eyes and suddenly, his eyes went wide, and he instantly rippe
I felt the shiver run down my spine, which indicated someone was trying to communicate with me. I haven't felt that shiver in so long. On the one hand, it confirmed that the magic was fading, and I was starting to get my magic back, but on the other hand, I hated this way of communicating. It is like a gun you hold to your head to pull the trigger that separates your body from your mind. What made it worse for me was the fact that I never knew who to expect, I knew that as you get used to it there is ways to tell who it is but I was not at the caller ID stage yet. I was also not at the stage where I could decline the incoming call, as yet. Before I knew it, I was in my fathers house again. I was in my room. I was not prepared for what I saw. Justine was sitting on my bed, and she looked like she swallowed a basketball. I knew I was gapping, but I was struggling to find words, and then someone hugged me from behind. I spinned around, only to find Thentos grinning at me. He
"Evening son." I could hear the suspicious tone in my mothers voice, coming from the darkness. I looked around and saw she was in her room. There was only one reason for this summons. "Evening mother." I greeted her."How are you?" (Cut the crap) I thought to myself, she has never cared for one of us. She was stalling or buying time. "Same as always." I shrugged. "Is the job done?" I could hear the threat behind her words. (No mother, I fell for the girl that I had to kill. But guess what, I won't be killing her. I will be taking her with me, and we are going to disappear. Somewhere, no one will find us. I haven't told her yet, but I don't think she will have a problem with it, even though she probably will. So, mom, what do you think of my plan? Do I have your blessing? No, I have never had your blessing for anything, have I...) She interrupted my mental conversation. "Well?" I could hear the supressed anger in her tone. "She is probably dead." I lied. "What?!"