Just so all yall know, I have added the next part of Nghtmares today! Hope You Like It!
Thank So Much,
Chat Noir
Monday, August 17, 2009
Monday, July 27, 2009
UPDATED! Nightmares Intro - End of Part 11 (as of August 17)!!
Nightmares
By: Abby Spicer
Introduction
Everybody has their story, its just that mine is a little… well, different.
Part 1
When I was a little girl I had a very normal family. My Mom took care of the house and me. And my Dad worked as a car salesman. Life was typical, average, easy, and quiet. I went to normal schools, and lived a normal life. That was life, and it was so normal I thought it boring. My friends and I sometimes went to the movies, the beach, school, etc. But when I got home, it was always the same, and even though people were living there, it was almost as if the house, and the people in it were dead.
My Mom and Dad trusted me as much as they trusted any teenage daughter. In other words, not much. To me the house was a cage; a cage that was filled with too many pillows. At the time, little did I know that a simple walk down the street with my Mom and Dad would scar me for the rest of my life.
Part 2
My neighborhood was clean and neat, sometimes I though too much so. There were lots of birds, and enough trees to make you want to scream during a hurricane.
On one of those typical August afternoons, you know, hazy, hot and humid, chance of thundershowers… My Mom, Dad, and I went for a walk, which was unusual for us. We had never gone walking before, at least as far as I could remember. My parents weren’t exactly outdoorsy folks. When we were a block or two away from home, and near the tire swing where I used to play, we saw a man sitting there. He looked like he could have been homeless, that was except for a fancy black car and driver that was waiting for him.
His hair was a little to long to be cute, but no quite long enough to pull back. His face was young, but he looked worn and tired, as if he hadn’t really slept in days. But he was probably no more than twenty-five.
When we passed he gave us a nod, smiled, and waved at us. The weird part was that he winked at my parents. They waved back friendly as ever.
“Who is that guy?” I thought to myself. But he just sat there on the tire swing, and we kept on walking.
I later wrote of the incident as coincidence. People were always mistaking my Dad for some computer person, whose name I can never remember.
The next day continued on a usual except for the walk we went on again.
“Hey Mom, why are we going on another walk?”
“Oh, just to look at the trees honey.”
After that answer I couldn’t help but think that there was more to it than that. Granted, there were a lot of trees in our neighborhood, but seriously how much of that is scenic? Not much. Especially when my Mom grew up here.
When we got to the tire swing, that same guy was there again. He was looking our way, and just plain staring at me. Even when we passed him, and my parents were between him and me, I could feel him looking through them and leaving scorch marks on the back of my favorite t-shirt.
That night around 11, there was a knock at my door. Very unusual. My parents had already gone to bed, but I was awake and reading. I couldn’t sleep because I had had a gruesome nightmare. When I heard the knocking I turned my light off. I hoped that they would think everyone was asleep, and would just leave. Not so much. I slid back in bed, and waited listening, with my heart pounding. But the knocking didn’t stop. It progressively got louder and harder to the point it sounded like they were trying to break down the door. But my parents didn’t wake up.
“Perhaps they know whose at the door and they just don’t want to see them.” I thought to myself. “I mean it is 11 at night.”
I resorted to creep in their room, and ask them what the heck was going on, and hopefully get a real answer.
When I peeked into their room I expected to see them sleeping. But that’s not what I saw.
But stomach did a double turn, and my heart came up to my throat. The white walls were splattered with blood like a painting. Smeared, running, and dripping. All the windows were open, and a wet warm breeze was blowing in. One set of curtains was ripped. My father was gone, and my mother was dead, and her body practically ripped apart.
Part 3
It was all I could do to move from that spot. The tears that wanted to run, couldn’t come, and my lungs just wouldn’t work. I stood rooted at that spot for what felt like hours. All the while that banging at the door continued.
Given time I went to the front of the house on the second story. There was a large black car out by the street. And down by the front door there were six men, and 2 women. All were in dark clothes except for a red rose in the lapels of their jackets. Each had a machinegun in hand, and all were aimed at the front door.
In just a few short minutes I had gone from being happily reading to seeing things I had only had dreams of, to being afraid of my own demise.
The group had stopped banging on the door, and just stood there waiting. Suddenly, a rough male voice croaked out, “Now!”
The group left the front door and encircled the house. The voice croaked out again, but louder, “NOW!” Seconds later the guns started firing. They started at the bottom of the house, and worked their way up, and then back down. I ran to the middle of the house and lay down. Bullets flew in from everywhere, and shattered everything as if everything were made of thin glass. Then they stopped, and all was silent.
“Well, if that didn’t get them, then I don’t know what will!” chirped a gleeful female voice. “You got that right!” said another man whose voice was practically velvet it was so smooth. “Lets get outta here.” Said the other man with the voice of a toad.
I stayed put, afraid that if I moved, I would die. Outside, the black car quietly started its engine and pulled away.
Part 4
The next morning I somehow managed to get downstairs. Pinned to what was left of the front door was a note. It was written as if it was from the 1800’s. Old fashioned paper, written with a quill, and sealed with blood red ink. The seal was that of a snake, probably a cobra, going in and out of a scull with a red rose in the scull’s teeth. It was addressed to DaBeaut. I opened it.
DaBeaut,
You may have the bodies, but we have the lives that once were.
May You Enjoy Their Dead Blood,
Crros
Part 5
After reading that I didn’t leave the house, or talk to anyone for two days. By the time the third day came around some of my friends decided that they had to know what was going on with me.
When I heard then attempting to knock of the door, my heart almost stopped. I had no idea who would be at that door, and quite frankly I was afraid to find out. One of them pushed the door open.
“Hello? Mina? Are you here?” said Enrika. I had known her since 5th grade.
I was upstairs, and couldn’t make myself say anything.
She was a little taller than me, and had very straight black hair. There was frequently an air of befuddlement around her, and some of the palest blue gray eyes that had ever existed.
“Mina? Where are you? Mina… Mina Rune?” That was Christopher, my boyfriend for almost a year, and one of my best friends since I met him. He had transferred into my school from Brentwood Chelmsford School in Great Britain. He was one of those guys that could get the hottest girl in the room with just one look. He was 6’3” with dark green eyes, and short, curly brown hair, and one of the best people I have ever met. But to this day, I have no idea why he wants plain little me.
One of them started climbing that stairs. “Mina Rune... Come on, this place is a mess, so stop playing games.” That was Kiley. I met her two years ago, and since then all of us have been practically inseparable.
“Something smells funny.” Said Enrika.
“Please don’t come up any farther!” I shouted.
“Why?” said Kiley who was already half was up, and could probably see me.
“Well, I don’t care what you say, I’m coming up whether you like it or not.” said Enrika.
Naturally she wished she hadn’t. When she saw me, and the lack of color in my face, and noticed that the door to my parent’s room was never closed, was closed. A highly puzzled look came over her face. By that time Kiley and Christopher were upstairs and had done the same thing. Christopher went to the door and opened it. He saw what was inside, immediately shut it, and came over to me.
“What happened?”
I shook my head, and sat down.
Kiley and Enrika just had to go over to the door and open it. They left it open and backed away slowly, hands to their mouths so they wouldn’t risk throwing up. They came to my room, and asked me the same question Christopher had.
“What happened?” said Kiley.
“Seriously, with all the broken glass, and bullet holes everywhere, and now the, pardon me, blood bath in there…”
“I’m really not sure what happened in there.”
For the next few hours I told them all I knew, and showed them the note I had found.
Part 6
Abdel was a skinny and dark seventeen. He was fluent in nearly every language known to mankind, but he could not read or write any of them except for one version of Sanskrit, the rest he could only speak. Four years ago he had suddenly appeared in front of Vanya Crros; the leader of Crros.
Vanya Crros was the kind of man whose name did not match his style. His name made him sound almost angelic, with an air of contentment, ease, good and beauty. Instead he was more of a devil. Nearly everything he had done, he had done for his own amusement, and in his mind his name was a happy accident. It made people think he would treat them well and make them happy, as if a spell had been cast upon them; a spell that would hide the truth and bloodshed. He had built the entire Crros group with his own two hands nearly 223 years ago, which is why he made everyone treat him like a king. No one knows exactly what keeps him alive, but what little they do know is that even though he keeps to the indoors, he does not survive off blood. But rather some other medium that keeps him young in appearance, vibrant, and his heart forever beating. He was no vampire, but some other monstrous creature.
Abdel scurried around a corner quick and quiet as a mouse. He was always afraid of being caught by his master, Vanya Crros, and sent to be whipped by Gareth, or be forced to whip some other poor soul; his least favorite duty, but happily it was something he rarely had to do because Gareth enjoyed it so much. He had left his room in the main house’s basement earlier that evening to try to find out why Vanya had sent Nuri Theron, his sorcerer and creation, to meet with Samuel Calhoun. Even though Samuel had the face and sound of a toad, no one was better with a gun.
Abdel was almost back to his bedroom, which made him feel like he could barely breath and was opening the door, when Gareth grabbed him by the shoulders and dragged him upstairs. The backs of his ankles kept hitting the stairs and were beginning to throb when Gareth had finally towed him all the way up the dark stairs to the top floor of the house.
The house was more of a mansion than a house. Crros family had always been rich, and had had it built in the late 1700’s, not to long before Vanya had been born, but they died when he was just 21.
A cool, smooth, hard voice floated toward Abdel and Gareth as they left the staircase.
“Bring him in here Gareth.”
Gareth brought Abdel to the only open doorway in the whole corridor, and into what was used as the throne room for all intents and purposes. However, in reality it used to be the ballroom. Since the last glorious ball that Vanya’s long dead parents held, the red velvet curtains had been kept closed, but the room always had a shine to the marble floor, and an extra brightness and glory to the angels and cherubs on the ceiling that had seen god knows what. The room’s appearance was symmetrical to the man that was sitting in it, but was completely the opposite of his personality.
Abdel was always surprised by Vanya’s appearance. Only his eyes showed what he really was. And those eyes were staring right through Abdel.
“So, you think that you are clever enough to leave your quarters at night after lockdown, and follow Nuri do you.” There was enough sarcasm in his voice that you could cut it with a knife.
“No sir, I don’t think I do.” said Abdel, but in his thoughts he added, “I know I do.”
The dark eyes that were on that angelic face just continued to stair at him, trying to decide how to punish him, or learn what Abdel had seen or heard. That was a talent that Vanya seemed to have. Learning what someone knows, learning who someone is, and everything about them, by merely looking them in the eyes. The usual punishment for Abdel was three lashes by Gareth, a mountain of a man. Even though Abdel was a useful tool to have around, he was the least favorite of Vanya Crros.
Vanya waved a bored hand toward the door, which opened with a low-pitched scream. Gareth was standing right outside, ready to enjoy whatever punishment had been assigned to Abdel.
“He will not be punished tonight. He knows nothing. Take him to his quarters and lock his door.”
Gareth grabbed Abdel’s arm and hauled him to his closet of a bedroom, shoved him in, and locked the door; muttering the whole time, “Damn him, I was looking forward to lashing this one again. Vanya enjoys the screams as much as I do. Damn him, damn him to hell.” Gareth had shoved Abdel hard enough that he fell the short three feet between the door and his old bed. He hit his head on the bedpost, blacked out, and a small trickle of blood slid down his forehead.
Part 7
After telling everyone my story, they took me to Kiley’s for the remainder of that day. After all, it took a long time to find what was left of my things, and to find something to carry them in. When we finally got to Kiley’s house, and her Mom saw me, she started acting like a mother, cooing, and following me around everywhere. It would be enough to drive me insane if I had had to live with her. Happily I didn’t, or at least I hoped I wouldn’t have to.
Enrika left a little early, she had to get up early to help with a race in the morning. Christopher waited until we could be alone, kissed me, and told me he be back around 10 the next morning. The last look he gave me that evening was a very worried one. Naturally that made me just that much more uncomfortable.
Late that night after Kiley and her Mom had gone to sleep, I just laid there thinking. Kiley started tossing a turning, and eventually shouted out, “No! Don’t! Stop!” I shot out of bed and ran over to her bed to wake her up. She looked at me with a dismal expression.
“Dreaming of your Dad again?”
“Yea, every once and a while. I just can’t shake that last night he was here, I mean it was nearly a year and a half ago now.”
When everyone had first met Kiley’s Dad, they thought he was great. He knew how to make you laugh till you cried, and if you needed help, he was always right there for you. That was, unless he was drunk. Late one night, her father had come in so drunk that he really should have passed out in the bar. But, somehow he managed to make it home. He threw open the door, stumbled into Kiley’s Mom’s bedroom, and attempted to smother her with a pillow. Kiley heard the screaming, and ran in. She tore at his face with her fingernails. Finally he fainted, and appeared dead. Her Mom called the cops. Kiley couldn’t move because her own Dad’s blood was on her hands, and for Kiley that was just a little to disturbing. Her Mom had her Dad thrown in jail. He got out on good behavior and parole about eight months ago. And of course, he had to get drunk, and screw up the rest of what was left of his life. He came back to Kiley’s house, and mistook her room for her Mom’s room, and tried to smother Kiley instead. In the end, her father had gotten locked away for many more years to come. I guessed that that was she was dreaming about.
“You’ll be ok Kiley. Try and go back to sleep. I need you to help me figure out who shot up my house tomorrow, ok?”
“Ok, thanks Mina. G’night.”
“Night Kiley.”
I went over to her other bed, lied down, and finally went to sleep, she didn’t seem to have any more nightmares that night, at least not that I heard.
Part 8
Bo Garrett had finally made it to the Rune house. She didn’t much like it in the neighborhood; it was way to suburban. She preferred the woods, or an open field like where she had trained when she was young; besides that, she had never really fitted-in in the city. Her distaste for it always showed on her beautiful face. Her clothing, which was always either all white and floaty or black and floaty, and her beauty always separated her from the crowd. She was a tall girl of 19 with deep, dark blue eyes, and thick long, wavy hair that was so dark it was almost black, but with some dark red in it. She only wore black or white because they were the only things she felt comfortable in.
The DaBeaut leader Yuri Thorne had captured her when she was five years old and had trained her in the ways of old. He had trained her as a master sorceress, and taught her everything there was to know about battle fighting. Since then she had done anything he asked her to do, with in reason anyway.
Yuri Thorne had sent her to go and destroy the Rune family household. They were a plain and simple family, but they were the only remaining royals of the other worldly land of Rynulia.
DaBeaut wanted to rule Rynulia, as did Crros. This was because for hundreds of years both groups had been forced to rule people secretly. They knew that they would suffer great consequences if the U.S. government, and many other governments around the world learned of them. Both groups had accidentally found a way to get to Rynulia. However, neither had been able to set up anything and keep it going. All the people and creatures in Rynulia were very loyal to the Runes. Since they had been found, nothing was ever peaceful. Some of the rune family even fled to the world where DaBeaut and Crros came from, hoping that they would be able to survive.
This was why Bo had been sent to kill Mina Rune and her parents. When she finally got there she found nothing but a blood bath in one of the rooms, and broken and shattered unknown objects everywhere. She only found one thing of use to her, a note that was in what she guessed was Mina’s room. It said:
DaBeaut,
You may have the bodies, but we have the lives that once were.
May You Enjoy Their Dead Blood,
Crros
“What the heck are they talking about? There is only one body here, and it’s the Mom’s, where’s the Dad’s and the girl’s?” she muttered to herself.
Reluctantly, she mounted her white, winged horse, Firefly, and went back to the north the report to Yuri.
Part 9
Bo got back to DaBeaut Mountain more quickly than she expected. And even though she had little to tell Yuri, Bo Garrett was on his best of best sides. She was treated like a princess there. Yuri, her trainer and practically father, had grown up in the cold mountains with Scottish parents, and wanted to stay in the mountains for the rest of his life, or what was left of it. He had been training Bo her whole life to take over his throne, but she didn’t know that. She thought he was just partial to her.
The DaBeaut Mountain was one of the tallest mountains, and it was always covered in white crisp snow. The inside was quite unexpected. The dark caves had been tunneled by elves that had been kidnapped from Rynulia long before Bo had been born.
She turned a corner, and everything was different. Instead of being surrounded by black she was encircled by gold and warm yellow light. She had entered the outer room of Yuri’s mountain castle.
The room was huge. It was nine stories tall and the length and width of one and a half football fields. She was standing over all of this and looking down at the people from the second to the top story like a goddess.
Bo had always been afraid of going down the stairs from the main entrance because, even though the stairs were 7 feet wide, there was no rail and it circled around the sides of the large round room, went by different floors, and she was afraid of falling. And yet, that was the only thing that scared her. She had gone up against some of the strongest of men and won, battled creatures of colossal size, strength, and power in Rynulia and won. Through all of that her appearance was the complete opposite of her strength, stamina, and power.
Bo didn’t go down, but up. The top floor was where Yuri lived and planned. She opened the door, and went in. There she saw Yuri and his two generals.
Yuri Thorne was probably 50 in appearance, but young and wise at heart. He was good to those he ruled, and only those he ruled. To those he didn’t he was harsh and cruel, and more than happy to kill someone for almost any reason. Once you were on his good side, you would be ok, if you weren’t death was likely.
He was blue eyed, but his wife was blue eyed. She had died giving birth, and he had never been quite the same since. He was a little more short tempered with everyone, everyone that is, except for Bo. s
Yuri interrupted his general in the middle of a sentence and turned to Bo.
“Well? How’d it go, are they dead?” he said in his deep voice with a Scottish accent.
“At least one of them is. When I finally got there, the entire place had been shot up, and the mother had been murdered. There was no sign of the father, but I think Crros might have taken him away. As for the girl - ” she was interrupted.
“Yes, Mina Rune.” he said.
“Yes I know, as for Mina, I think they might have left her there and she left later with her friends. There was a tack in the shape of a rose on the front door like we’ve found before, but no note. I found the note in what I think is Mina’s bedroom, the seal had been broken. Here.” she handed him the note.
Yuri looked at it intently, and was surprised by its’ contents.
“You may have the bodies, but we have the lives that once were…. Hmm… It doesn’t make much sense base on what you said. But then has it ever?” He was clearly slightly confused, as was Bo.
“What is it Yuri?”
“They did something like this once before. The kidnapped those they wanted, and killed those they didn’t. But the people that they left behind alive were always left behind for a reason…” he pauses, “Are we sure that Mina is a blood relative, and their actual daughter and that she wasn’t adopted?”
“Yes, we checked her background as soon as we learned her name. Why do you think they left her?” said Bo.
“Perhaps to taunt us, to see what we would do. Perhaps to see if we would try to find her and kill her, so he could in turn destroy us, and have Rynulia for himself. I really can’t be sure until I get more info.”
“Excuse me… Yuri sir…” it was one of his generals. Yuri and Bo had completely forgotten they were even in the room.
“Yes, what is it?” said Yuri with a rather annoyed tone.
“We know who her friends are, and where they live. She is probably staying with one of them.”
“Yes, most likely. Send Edmund to poke around their houses.”
“Yes sir.” said the generals with a salute and left.
“Yuri,” said Bo. “Is it wise to send Edmund?”
“I think so. Why not?” said Yuri.
“Well, Yuri, he seems to mess up sometimes. Granted its not always directly his fault, but still, the things that happen when he works a job, only happen when he’s involved. Remember the explosion last year? And we had to come up with an elaborate cover for him, and then hide for a few months? Personally I didn’t enjoy that.”
“Yes I remember. But Edmund is my son, and you are the only other person that can really understand why I’m sending him. The two of you grew up together, and were best friends until I sent you on a job instead of him.” Said Yuri with a sigh at the end.
There was a knock at the door.
“Yes, come in.” said Yuri.
“Father, the generals told me that you wanted me to go and find Mina Rune.”
“Yes Edmund, I do. But Ill warn you now, mess up, and I’ll have you butt forced into traction faster than you can say Rynulia!”
“Yes Father. I’ll leave in the morning.”
“No. You will leave as soon as you can get your things packed.”
“But Father -”
“No Edmund, you will leave now, I am your Father, and your king, you of all people have no way to get out of doing what I say. Now Go!”
With one last bow and a quick glance at Bo, which made her blush, he left. Edmund was a bit of a screw ball sometimes, but for all his faults Bo still loved him. He was also 19, but had not inherited his fathers sense of strategy for one thing. Also, Edmund was still in many ways a child, he rarely planned, and when he did, it was always rushed and short noticed, either that or extremely slack and slow. He was handsome enough, rather normal. He had dark brown eyes, and light brown hair, and only a little taller than Bo. He was the only man other than Yuri that she had ever really known, and consequently the only one she thought she could ever love. Even though she loved him, she was ashamed of it. Edmund himself wasn’t even all that sure of her feelings because she did her best to hide them. Especially when Yuri was around, and Yuri was almost always around. Yuri thought that Bo could do better, even though Edmund was his own son. Bo on the other hand, thought otherwise. She did her best to keep it hidden, but she loved Edmund enough that she would be willing to die for him.
“What was that I saw Bo? When he looked at you, you blushed. Any reason in particular?” said Yuri with a somewhat higher pitched voice. He was looking her straight in the face, and when he looked at her like that it was hard to hide anything.
“Nothing Yuri, just a chill from when the door opened.”
“The door hadn’t opened yet Bo.” he said with a lowered tone.
“Then a draft or something, I felt cold air.” She was getting nervous.
“There cant be any honest to God cold drafts in here, we are inside a mountain, granted the top it open, but its covered when it snows too heavily. Now tell me, why did you blush when he looked at you Bo?” He was getting mildly annoyed, and yet still acted like a loving father.
Happily for Bo, there was another knock at the door. “Saved by the bell thank God.” though Bo.
“Excuse me, sir. Edmund has just left, and there’s a letter here for you. It’s from Samule Calhoun.” said the officer.
“Aahh yes. Thank you. Dismissed.” Yuri turned away from the closing door and went over to his desk.
“Finally I’ve been waiting to here from him for a long time now. I was about to send someone to make sure he was ok. He may sound a look like a toad, but he is the best gunman in this world at least. Especially since no one in Rynulia has ever heard of a gun.”
Attn. Yuri Thorne,
DaBeaut Leader
I haven’t been able to get a-hold of all the supplies you asked for quite yet, but I will send almost everything within the next 2-3 days at most.
FYI – Nuri Theron, the Crros sorcerer came to see me yesterday. He wanted the kinds of things you would need for a hunting party. That is, hunting for people. Think they might have lost or misplaced someone? Might have something to do with the Rune family. They sent me and a few of my people to shoot the place up. I don’t know how much good it did though. The kind of guns they told us to use don’t make all that much of an impact after going, or trying to go through, a wall. I mean I don’t think that they could kill a person, probably just shake them up a bit and shatter everything around them. Maybe a few scratch makes, but that would be it.
I’ll send your supplies soon!
Respects,
Samuel Calhoun
Master Gunman
“Well I’m glad to know he is still loyal to me and only appears to be to Crros.” said Yuri.
“Yes, as am I, he is one of very few who know where this place is.” said Bo.
“Well, I’ve sent Edmund to take a look around. When he gets back and gives us whatever info he manages to get, I would like you to go get Mina and bring her here.” said Yuri.
“Very well.” said Bo.
“You must be tired. Go back to your room and rest. There’s supposed to be a grand party tonight.”
“Why?” said Bo.
“The Festival of the Stars. It was always your favorite when you were little. Remember, the one night when the stars above this mountain literally come to life and come down from the sky to dance with us. They are what gives all of us that bit of magic we all have.” said Yuri.
“Yes I do remember and it still is my favorite. I’m gonna go get some sleep before the party. See ya later.”
“Later Bo.” said Yuir without looking up from the maps and papers on his table.
When she had left Yuri looked up and stared after her.
“If only she knew that one day when I can no longer rule she will take my place and not Edmund. If only she knew….” Thought Yuri.
By: Abby Spicer
Introduction
Everybody has their story, its just that mine is a little… well, different.
Part 1
When I was a little girl I had a very normal family. My Mom took care of the house and me. And my Dad worked as a car salesman. Life was typical, average, easy, and quiet. I went to normal schools, and lived a normal life. That was life, and it was so normal I thought it boring. My friends and I sometimes went to the movies, the beach, school, etc. But when I got home, it was always the same, and even though people were living there, it was almost as if the house, and the people in it were dead.
My Mom and Dad trusted me as much as they trusted any teenage daughter. In other words, not much. To me the house was a cage; a cage that was filled with too many pillows. At the time, little did I know that a simple walk down the street with my Mom and Dad would scar me for the rest of my life.
Part 2
My neighborhood was clean and neat, sometimes I though too much so. There were lots of birds, and enough trees to make you want to scream during a hurricane.
On one of those typical August afternoons, you know, hazy, hot and humid, chance of thundershowers… My Mom, Dad, and I went for a walk, which was unusual for us. We had never gone walking before, at least as far as I could remember. My parents weren’t exactly outdoorsy folks. When we were a block or two away from home, and near the tire swing where I used to play, we saw a man sitting there. He looked like he could have been homeless, that was except for a fancy black car and driver that was waiting for him.
His hair was a little to long to be cute, but no quite long enough to pull back. His face was young, but he looked worn and tired, as if he hadn’t really slept in days. But he was probably no more than twenty-five.
When we passed he gave us a nod, smiled, and waved at us. The weird part was that he winked at my parents. They waved back friendly as ever.
“Who is that guy?” I thought to myself. But he just sat there on the tire swing, and we kept on walking.
I later wrote of the incident as coincidence. People were always mistaking my Dad for some computer person, whose name I can never remember.
The next day continued on a usual except for the walk we went on again.
“Hey Mom, why are we going on another walk?”
“Oh, just to look at the trees honey.”
After that answer I couldn’t help but think that there was more to it than that. Granted, there were a lot of trees in our neighborhood, but seriously how much of that is scenic? Not much. Especially when my Mom grew up here.
When we got to the tire swing, that same guy was there again. He was looking our way, and just plain staring at me. Even when we passed him, and my parents were between him and me, I could feel him looking through them and leaving scorch marks on the back of my favorite t-shirt.
That night around 11, there was a knock at my door. Very unusual. My parents had already gone to bed, but I was awake and reading. I couldn’t sleep because I had had a gruesome nightmare. When I heard the knocking I turned my light off. I hoped that they would think everyone was asleep, and would just leave. Not so much. I slid back in bed, and waited listening, with my heart pounding. But the knocking didn’t stop. It progressively got louder and harder to the point it sounded like they were trying to break down the door. But my parents didn’t wake up.
“Perhaps they know whose at the door and they just don’t want to see them.” I thought to myself. “I mean it is 11 at night.”
I resorted to creep in their room, and ask them what the heck was going on, and hopefully get a real answer.
When I peeked into their room I expected to see them sleeping. But that’s not what I saw.
But stomach did a double turn, and my heart came up to my throat. The white walls were splattered with blood like a painting. Smeared, running, and dripping. All the windows were open, and a wet warm breeze was blowing in. One set of curtains was ripped. My father was gone, and my mother was dead, and her body practically ripped apart.
Part 3
It was all I could do to move from that spot. The tears that wanted to run, couldn’t come, and my lungs just wouldn’t work. I stood rooted at that spot for what felt like hours. All the while that banging at the door continued.
Given time I went to the front of the house on the second story. There was a large black car out by the street. And down by the front door there were six men, and 2 women. All were in dark clothes except for a red rose in the lapels of their jackets. Each had a machinegun in hand, and all were aimed at the front door.
In just a few short minutes I had gone from being happily reading to seeing things I had only had dreams of, to being afraid of my own demise.
The group had stopped banging on the door, and just stood there waiting. Suddenly, a rough male voice croaked out, “Now!”
The group left the front door and encircled the house. The voice croaked out again, but louder, “NOW!” Seconds later the guns started firing. They started at the bottom of the house, and worked their way up, and then back down. I ran to the middle of the house and lay down. Bullets flew in from everywhere, and shattered everything as if everything were made of thin glass. Then they stopped, and all was silent.
“Well, if that didn’t get them, then I don’t know what will!” chirped a gleeful female voice. “You got that right!” said another man whose voice was practically velvet it was so smooth. “Lets get outta here.” Said the other man with the voice of a toad.
I stayed put, afraid that if I moved, I would die. Outside, the black car quietly started its engine and pulled away.
Part 4
The next morning I somehow managed to get downstairs. Pinned to what was left of the front door was a note. It was written as if it was from the 1800’s. Old fashioned paper, written with a quill, and sealed with blood red ink. The seal was that of a snake, probably a cobra, going in and out of a scull with a red rose in the scull’s teeth. It was addressed to DaBeaut. I opened it.
DaBeaut,
You may have the bodies, but we have the lives that once were.
May You Enjoy Their Dead Blood,
Crros
Part 5
After reading that I didn’t leave the house, or talk to anyone for two days. By the time the third day came around some of my friends decided that they had to know what was going on with me.
When I heard then attempting to knock of the door, my heart almost stopped. I had no idea who would be at that door, and quite frankly I was afraid to find out. One of them pushed the door open.
“Hello? Mina? Are you here?” said Enrika. I had known her since 5th grade.
I was upstairs, and couldn’t make myself say anything.
She was a little taller than me, and had very straight black hair. There was frequently an air of befuddlement around her, and some of the palest blue gray eyes that had ever existed.
“Mina? Where are you? Mina… Mina Rune?” That was Christopher, my boyfriend for almost a year, and one of my best friends since I met him. He had transferred into my school from Brentwood Chelmsford School in Great Britain. He was one of those guys that could get the hottest girl in the room with just one look. He was 6’3” with dark green eyes, and short, curly brown hair, and one of the best people I have ever met. But to this day, I have no idea why he wants plain little me.
One of them started climbing that stairs. “Mina Rune... Come on, this place is a mess, so stop playing games.” That was Kiley. I met her two years ago, and since then all of us have been practically inseparable.
“Something smells funny.” Said Enrika.
“Please don’t come up any farther!” I shouted.
“Why?” said Kiley who was already half was up, and could probably see me.
“Well, I don’t care what you say, I’m coming up whether you like it or not.” said Enrika.
Naturally she wished she hadn’t. When she saw me, and the lack of color in my face, and noticed that the door to my parent’s room was never closed, was closed. A highly puzzled look came over her face. By that time Kiley and Christopher were upstairs and had done the same thing. Christopher went to the door and opened it. He saw what was inside, immediately shut it, and came over to me.
“What happened?”
I shook my head, and sat down.
Kiley and Enrika just had to go over to the door and open it. They left it open and backed away slowly, hands to their mouths so they wouldn’t risk throwing up. They came to my room, and asked me the same question Christopher had.
“What happened?” said Kiley.
“Seriously, with all the broken glass, and bullet holes everywhere, and now the, pardon me, blood bath in there…”
“I’m really not sure what happened in there.”
For the next few hours I told them all I knew, and showed them the note I had found.
Part 6
Abdel was a skinny and dark seventeen. He was fluent in nearly every language known to mankind, but he could not read or write any of them except for one version of Sanskrit, the rest he could only speak. Four years ago he had suddenly appeared in front of Vanya Crros; the leader of Crros.
Vanya Crros was the kind of man whose name did not match his style. His name made him sound almost angelic, with an air of contentment, ease, good and beauty. Instead he was more of a devil. Nearly everything he had done, he had done for his own amusement, and in his mind his name was a happy accident. It made people think he would treat them well and make them happy, as if a spell had been cast upon them; a spell that would hide the truth and bloodshed. He had built the entire Crros group with his own two hands nearly 223 years ago, which is why he made everyone treat him like a king. No one knows exactly what keeps him alive, but what little they do know is that even though he keeps to the indoors, he does not survive off blood. But rather some other medium that keeps him young in appearance, vibrant, and his heart forever beating. He was no vampire, but some other monstrous creature.
Abdel scurried around a corner quick and quiet as a mouse. He was always afraid of being caught by his master, Vanya Crros, and sent to be whipped by Gareth, or be forced to whip some other poor soul; his least favorite duty, but happily it was something he rarely had to do because Gareth enjoyed it so much. He had left his room in the main house’s basement earlier that evening to try to find out why Vanya had sent Nuri Theron, his sorcerer and creation, to meet with Samuel Calhoun. Even though Samuel had the face and sound of a toad, no one was better with a gun.
Abdel was almost back to his bedroom, which made him feel like he could barely breath and was opening the door, when Gareth grabbed him by the shoulders and dragged him upstairs. The backs of his ankles kept hitting the stairs and were beginning to throb when Gareth had finally towed him all the way up the dark stairs to the top floor of the house.
The house was more of a mansion than a house. Crros family had always been rich, and had had it built in the late 1700’s, not to long before Vanya had been born, but they died when he was just 21.
A cool, smooth, hard voice floated toward Abdel and Gareth as they left the staircase.
“Bring him in here Gareth.”
Gareth brought Abdel to the only open doorway in the whole corridor, and into what was used as the throne room for all intents and purposes. However, in reality it used to be the ballroom. Since the last glorious ball that Vanya’s long dead parents held, the red velvet curtains had been kept closed, but the room always had a shine to the marble floor, and an extra brightness and glory to the angels and cherubs on the ceiling that had seen god knows what. The room’s appearance was symmetrical to the man that was sitting in it, but was completely the opposite of his personality.
Abdel was always surprised by Vanya’s appearance. Only his eyes showed what he really was. And those eyes were staring right through Abdel.
“So, you think that you are clever enough to leave your quarters at night after lockdown, and follow Nuri do you.” There was enough sarcasm in his voice that you could cut it with a knife.
“No sir, I don’t think I do.” said Abdel, but in his thoughts he added, “I know I do.”
The dark eyes that were on that angelic face just continued to stair at him, trying to decide how to punish him, or learn what Abdel had seen or heard. That was a talent that Vanya seemed to have. Learning what someone knows, learning who someone is, and everything about them, by merely looking them in the eyes. The usual punishment for Abdel was three lashes by Gareth, a mountain of a man. Even though Abdel was a useful tool to have around, he was the least favorite of Vanya Crros.
Vanya waved a bored hand toward the door, which opened with a low-pitched scream. Gareth was standing right outside, ready to enjoy whatever punishment had been assigned to Abdel.
“He will not be punished tonight. He knows nothing. Take him to his quarters and lock his door.”
Gareth grabbed Abdel’s arm and hauled him to his closet of a bedroom, shoved him in, and locked the door; muttering the whole time, “Damn him, I was looking forward to lashing this one again. Vanya enjoys the screams as much as I do. Damn him, damn him to hell.” Gareth had shoved Abdel hard enough that he fell the short three feet between the door and his old bed. He hit his head on the bedpost, blacked out, and a small trickle of blood slid down his forehead.
Part 7
After telling everyone my story, they took me to Kiley’s for the remainder of that day. After all, it took a long time to find what was left of my things, and to find something to carry them in. When we finally got to Kiley’s house, and her Mom saw me, she started acting like a mother, cooing, and following me around everywhere. It would be enough to drive me insane if I had had to live with her. Happily I didn’t, or at least I hoped I wouldn’t have to.
Enrika left a little early, she had to get up early to help with a race in the morning. Christopher waited until we could be alone, kissed me, and told me he be back around 10 the next morning. The last look he gave me that evening was a very worried one. Naturally that made me just that much more uncomfortable.
Late that night after Kiley and her Mom had gone to sleep, I just laid there thinking. Kiley started tossing a turning, and eventually shouted out, “No! Don’t! Stop!” I shot out of bed and ran over to her bed to wake her up. She looked at me with a dismal expression.
“Dreaming of your Dad again?”
“Yea, every once and a while. I just can’t shake that last night he was here, I mean it was nearly a year and a half ago now.”
When everyone had first met Kiley’s Dad, they thought he was great. He knew how to make you laugh till you cried, and if you needed help, he was always right there for you. That was, unless he was drunk. Late one night, her father had come in so drunk that he really should have passed out in the bar. But, somehow he managed to make it home. He threw open the door, stumbled into Kiley’s Mom’s bedroom, and attempted to smother her with a pillow. Kiley heard the screaming, and ran in. She tore at his face with her fingernails. Finally he fainted, and appeared dead. Her Mom called the cops. Kiley couldn’t move because her own Dad’s blood was on her hands, and for Kiley that was just a little to disturbing. Her Mom had her Dad thrown in jail. He got out on good behavior and parole about eight months ago. And of course, he had to get drunk, and screw up the rest of what was left of his life. He came back to Kiley’s house, and mistook her room for her Mom’s room, and tried to smother Kiley instead. In the end, her father had gotten locked away for many more years to come. I guessed that that was she was dreaming about.
“You’ll be ok Kiley. Try and go back to sleep. I need you to help me figure out who shot up my house tomorrow, ok?”
“Ok, thanks Mina. G’night.”
“Night Kiley.”
I went over to her other bed, lied down, and finally went to sleep, she didn’t seem to have any more nightmares that night, at least not that I heard.
Part 8
Bo Garrett had finally made it to the Rune house. She didn’t much like it in the neighborhood; it was way to suburban. She preferred the woods, or an open field like where she had trained when she was young; besides that, she had never really fitted-in in the city. Her distaste for it always showed on her beautiful face. Her clothing, which was always either all white and floaty or black and floaty, and her beauty always separated her from the crowd. She was a tall girl of 19 with deep, dark blue eyes, and thick long, wavy hair that was so dark it was almost black, but with some dark red in it. She only wore black or white because they were the only things she felt comfortable in.
The DaBeaut leader Yuri Thorne had captured her when she was five years old and had trained her in the ways of old. He had trained her as a master sorceress, and taught her everything there was to know about battle fighting. Since then she had done anything he asked her to do, with in reason anyway.
Yuri Thorne had sent her to go and destroy the Rune family household. They were a plain and simple family, but they were the only remaining royals of the other worldly land of Rynulia.
DaBeaut wanted to rule Rynulia, as did Crros. This was because for hundreds of years both groups had been forced to rule people secretly. They knew that they would suffer great consequences if the U.S. government, and many other governments around the world learned of them. Both groups had accidentally found a way to get to Rynulia. However, neither had been able to set up anything and keep it going. All the people and creatures in Rynulia were very loyal to the Runes. Since they had been found, nothing was ever peaceful. Some of the rune family even fled to the world where DaBeaut and Crros came from, hoping that they would be able to survive.
This was why Bo had been sent to kill Mina Rune and her parents. When she finally got there she found nothing but a blood bath in one of the rooms, and broken and shattered unknown objects everywhere. She only found one thing of use to her, a note that was in what she guessed was Mina’s room. It said:
DaBeaut,
You may have the bodies, but we have the lives that once were.
May You Enjoy Their Dead Blood,
Crros
“What the heck are they talking about? There is only one body here, and it’s the Mom’s, where’s the Dad’s and the girl’s?” she muttered to herself.
Reluctantly, she mounted her white, winged horse, Firefly, and went back to the north the report to Yuri.
Part 9
Bo got back to DaBeaut Mountain more quickly than she expected. And even though she had little to tell Yuri, Bo Garrett was on his best of best sides. She was treated like a princess there. Yuri, her trainer and practically father, had grown up in the cold mountains with Scottish parents, and wanted to stay in the mountains for the rest of his life, or what was left of it. He had been training Bo her whole life to take over his throne, but she didn’t know that. She thought he was just partial to her.
The DaBeaut Mountain was one of the tallest mountains, and it was always covered in white crisp snow. The inside was quite unexpected. The dark caves had been tunneled by elves that had been kidnapped from Rynulia long before Bo had been born.
She turned a corner, and everything was different. Instead of being surrounded by black she was encircled by gold and warm yellow light. She had entered the outer room of Yuri’s mountain castle.
The room was huge. It was nine stories tall and the length and width of one and a half football fields. She was standing over all of this and looking down at the people from the second to the top story like a goddess.
Bo had always been afraid of going down the stairs from the main entrance because, even though the stairs were 7 feet wide, there was no rail and it circled around the sides of the large round room, went by different floors, and she was afraid of falling. And yet, that was the only thing that scared her. She had gone up against some of the strongest of men and won, battled creatures of colossal size, strength, and power in Rynulia and won. Through all of that her appearance was the complete opposite of her strength, stamina, and power.
Bo didn’t go down, but up. The top floor was where Yuri lived and planned. She opened the door, and went in. There she saw Yuri and his two generals.
Yuri Thorne was probably 50 in appearance, but young and wise at heart. He was good to those he ruled, and only those he ruled. To those he didn’t he was harsh and cruel, and more than happy to kill someone for almost any reason. Once you were on his good side, you would be ok, if you weren’t death was likely.
He was blue eyed, but his wife was blue eyed. She had died giving birth, and he had never been quite the same since. He was a little more short tempered with everyone, everyone that is, except for Bo. s
Yuri interrupted his general in the middle of a sentence and turned to Bo.
“Well? How’d it go, are they dead?” he said in his deep voice with a Scottish accent.
“At least one of them is. When I finally got there, the entire place had been shot up, and the mother had been murdered. There was no sign of the father, but I think Crros might have taken him away. As for the girl - ” she was interrupted.
“Yes, Mina Rune.” he said.
“Yes I know, as for Mina, I think they might have left her there and she left later with her friends. There was a tack in the shape of a rose on the front door like we’ve found before, but no note. I found the note in what I think is Mina’s bedroom, the seal had been broken. Here.” she handed him the note.
Yuri looked at it intently, and was surprised by its’ contents.
“You may have the bodies, but we have the lives that once were…. Hmm… It doesn’t make much sense base on what you said. But then has it ever?” He was clearly slightly confused, as was Bo.
“What is it Yuri?”
“They did something like this once before. The kidnapped those they wanted, and killed those they didn’t. But the people that they left behind alive were always left behind for a reason…” he pauses, “Are we sure that Mina is a blood relative, and their actual daughter and that she wasn’t adopted?”
“Yes, we checked her background as soon as we learned her name. Why do you think they left her?” said Bo.
“Perhaps to taunt us, to see what we would do. Perhaps to see if we would try to find her and kill her, so he could in turn destroy us, and have Rynulia for himself. I really can’t be sure until I get more info.”
“Excuse me… Yuri sir…” it was one of his generals. Yuri and Bo had completely forgotten they were even in the room.
“Yes, what is it?” said Yuri with a rather annoyed tone.
“We know who her friends are, and where they live. She is probably staying with one of them.”
“Yes, most likely. Send Edmund to poke around their houses.”
“Yes sir.” said the generals with a salute and left.
“Yuri,” said Bo. “Is it wise to send Edmund?”
“I think so. Why not?” said Yuri.
“Well, Yuri, he seems to mess up sometimes. Granted its not always directly his fault, but still, the things that happen when he works a job, only happen when he’s involved. Remember the explosion last year? And we had to come up with an elaborate cover for him, and then hide for a few months? Personally I didn’t enjoy that.”
“Yes I remember. But Edmund is my son, and you are the only other person that can really understand why I’m sending him. The two of you grew up together, and were best friends until I sent you on a job instead of him.” Said Yuri with a sigh at the end.
There was a knock at the door.
“Yes, come in.” said Yuri.
“Father, the generals told me that you wanted me to go and find Mina Rune.”
“Yes Edmund, I do. But Ill warn you now, mess up, and I’ll have you butt forced into traction faster than you can say Rynulia!”
“Yes Father. I’ll leave in the morning.”
“No. You will leave as soon as you can get your things packed.”
“But Father -”
“No Edmund, you will leave now, I am your Father, and your king, you of all people have no way to get out of doing what I say. Now Go!”
With one last bow and a quick glance at Bo, which made her blush, he left. Edmund was a bit of a screw ball sometimes, but for all his faults Bo still loved him. He was also 19, but had not inherited his fathers sense of strategy for one thing. Also, Edmund was still in many ways a child, he rarely planned, and when he did, it was always rushed and short noticed, either that or extremely slack and slow. He was handsome enough, rather normal. He had dark brown eyes, and light brown hair, and only a little taller than Bo. He was the only man other than Yuri that she had ever really known, and consequently the only one she thought she could ever love. Even though she loved him, she was ashamed of it. Edmund himself wasn’t even all that sure of her feelings because she did her best to hide them. Especially when Yuri was around, and Yuri was almost always around. Yuri thought that Bo could do better, even though Edmund was his own son. Bo on the other hand, thought otherwise. She did her best to keep it hidden, but she loved Edmund enough that she would be willing to die for him.
“What was that I saw Bo? When he looked at you, you blushed. Any reason in particular?” said Yuri with a somewhat higher pitched voice. He was looking her straight in the face, and when he looked at her like that it was hard to hide anything.
“Nothing Yuri, just a chill from when the door opened.”
“The door hadn’t opened yet Bo.” he said with a lowered tone.
“Then a draft or something, I felt cold air.” She was getting nervous.
“There cant be any honest to God cold drafts in here, we are inside a mountain, granted the top it open, but its covered when it snows too heavily. Now tell me, why did you blush when he looked at you Bo?” He was getting mildly annoyed, and yet still acted like a loving father.
Happily for Bo, there was another knock at the door. “Saved by the bell thank God.” though Bo.
“Excuse me, sir. Edmund has just left, and there’s a letter here for you. It’s from Samule Calhoun.” said the officer.
“Aahh yes. Thank you. Dismissed.” Yuri turned away from the closing door and went over to his desk.
“Finally I’ve been waiting to here from him for a long time now. I was about to send someone to make sure he was ok. He may sound a look like a toad, but he is the best gunman in this world at least. Especially since no one in Rynulia has ever heard of a gun.”
Attn. Yuri Thorne,
DaBeaut Leader
I haven’t been able to get a-hold of all the supplies you asked for quite yet, but I will send almost everything within the next 2-3 days at most.
FYI – Nuri Theron, the Crros sorcerer came to see me yesterday. He wanted the kinds of things you would need for a hunting party. That is, hunting for people. Think they might have lost or misplaced someone? Might have something to do with the Rune family. They sent me and a few of my people to shoot the place up. I don’t know how much good it did though. The kind of guns they told us to use don’t make all that much of an impact after going, or trying to go through, a wall. I mean I don’t think that they could kill a person, probably just shake them up a bit and shatter everything around them. Maybe a few scratch makes, but that would be it.
I’ll send your supplies soon!
Respects,
Samuel Calhoun
Master Gunman
“Well I’m glad to know he is still loyal to me and only appears to be to Crros.” said Yuri.
“Yes, as am I, he is one of very few who know where this place is.” said Bo.
“Well, I’ve sent Edmund to take a look around. When he gets back and gives us whatever info he manages to get, I would like you to go get Mina and bring her here.” said Yuri.
“Very well.” said Bo.
“You must be tired. Go back to your room and rest. There’s supposed to be a grand party tonight.”
“Why?” said Bo.
“The Festival of the Stars. It was always your favorite when you were little. Remember, the one night when the stars above this mountain literally come to life and come down from the sky to dance with us. They are what gives all of us that bit of magic we all have.” said Yuri.
“Yes I do remember and it still is my favorite. I’m gonna go get some sleep before the party. See ya later.”
“Later Bo.” said Yuir without looking up from the maps and papers on his table.
When she had left Yuri looked up and stared after her.
“If only she knew that one day when I can no longer rule she will take my place and not Edmund. If only she knew….” Thought Yuri.
Part 10
Mina Rune had had a hard time sleeping that night. She just couldn’t get the images of her Mom from her head. They flashed through her head like headlights on a car passing quickly by her destroyed house. Needless to say she spent more time awake than she did asleep. Kiley slept well for the rest of the night, and she dreamed less and less of her father every time that she slept. Kiley used to always lean on Mina, but now Mina had to lean on Kiley.
She and Kiley went to Kiley’s kitchen where her Mom was making waffles.
“She’s still acting like a mother hen… Unless I get outta here at some point I’m gonna go crazy.” thought Mina. Mina wasn’t the type to have people really futzing over her. It was ok if it was her boyfriend, but Moms. That drove her crazy.
“Thanks for letting me stay over Mrs. Edwards.” said Mina.
“No problem Mina. And how many more times to I have to call me Jen.” said Kiley’s Mom.
“Just once more as always.” said Mina with a smile.
Jen Edwards served them waffles, and within the next hour Christopher was there. Mina hadn’t even had a chance to get out of her old t-shirt and lounge pants. He obviously hadn’t slept well that night, if at all. He had red rings around his eyes, and an extra swagger to his walk, but he pretended to be well rested and cheerful.
“Hey hun.” He said kissing her on the cheek. “How’d you sleep last night?” said Christopher.
“Ok I guess.” said Mina with a little sigh, and then took another bite of waffle.
“Hey Jen, Kiley.” said Christopher.
“Hey Chris.” they chorused. Mina was the only one that called him Christopher anymore, it had sort of become a private joke with no real reason behind it.
“Would you like some waffles?” said Jen.
“Sure thanks Jen.” said Christopher. “I have a feeling it’ll be a long day.”
“Well you are up early.” said Jen.
Jen Edwards and Christopher had always been casual. Jen had hoped that Christopher would take a liking to Kiley, and get her out of the house a bit. So Jen teamed up with Christopher’s Mom to try and get him to like Kiley and ask her out. They thought it might actually work after a week, but to no prevail. Everything changed as soon as Mina passed through his field of vision. It took him a while to work up the nerve to ask Mina out, but after a while he did. Everyone though Mina was a plain girl with a good personality. But to him, her blue eyes and light brown hair were far from plain, and her smile was one of the things he looked forward to everyday.
Kiley finished a little while before Mina and Christopher and went to go change. Once Kiley was gone, her Mom started on Mina and Christopher.
“So, love birds.” she said with a partially fake smile. She couldn’t help but like Mina and Christopher together. “Can I know why Mina couldn’t stay at her house last night?” She may have been talking to both of them, but she only had eyes for Christopher. Mina couldn’t help but think that Ms. Jen Edwards had a crush on Christopher Finnegan. As Mina thought that she couldn’t help but smile.
“What are you smiling at?” said Jen as light hearted as ever.
“Oh… Nothing.”
She continued to smile, got up, put her dish in the sink and went to Kiley’s room. Christopher did the same and followed her leaving Jen alone in the kitchen. Just before he left, Christopher said, “Thanks for the waffles Jen, they were great!” and then followed Mina.
When they were finally alone and Mina started getting her things out, Christopher flopped on the bed Mina had been sleeping on and closed his eyes. He was almost asleep when Mina said:
“I think she has a crush on you.”
Without opening his eyes, “So is that why you made that little smile….” He said smiling. “I think she does too.” He said. Without another word he went to sleep.
“He must have slept less than I did last night.” though Mina. “I’ve never seen him just go to sleep like that before…” with that she left him to sleep and went to go get ready for the day. Happily Kiley had just left the bathroom, and she had it to herself.
Part 11
“Christopher, wake up.” said soft voice to him. It seemed so far away to him, distant, faint, and miles away. But as it repeated, “Christopher, wake up,” it got closer and closer till it was right beside him. It was Mina.
“Ok, I’m awake, I know I don’t look like it, but I am.”
“Did you sleep at all last night? said Mina.
“No not really.” he said with a yawn and a quite groan as he sat up. “Catnapped a little, but I couldn’t really sleep like I just was.”
“I’m sorry I woke you.”
“No no. We have things to do, and we need the whole day to do it. Now tell me,” he said looking her in the face, “did you sleep last night?”
“Sort of. Tossed and turned, and Kiley had another nightmare about her Dad, so I slep a little, but not well.”
“Well, I think you’ll be staying at my house tonight. I think we’ll both sleep better, and my Mom isn’t as much of a, what the phrase you use to describe Jen?”
“Mother hen….” giggled Mina.
“Yea, mother hen. My Mom isn’t as much of a mother hen, and I know how that can drive you crazy. So, what ya say; stay at my house tonight?”
Mina thought a sec, “Sure. I think your right about us both sleeping easier.”
“Ok, lets go.” said Christopher, and he picked up her bag, and they left Kiley’s room.
As they were leaving, Mina thanked Kiley’s Mom, Jen, for letting her stay over and for breakfast, but that she wouldn’t need to stay that night too.
The trio got into Christopher’s 4-door black Dodge truck and drove to Enrika’s house. Her neighborhood wasn’t really a neighborhood, it was actually woods, but Enrika didn’t want to admit it even though that houses were about a mile apart.
Christopher drove up the log heavily wooded driveway to Enrika’s house. It was a light blue two story with a pond, and barn in the back yard and an old VW bug. Enrika came out of the front door as soon as she saw the Christopher’s truck pull up. She was wearing her usual jeans and t-shirt that always born the name of a singer or band. Enrika was very eclectic. Yesterday her shirt was all about Jack Johnson, but today it was all about Gun’s n’ Roses.
“Hey guys!” said Enrika as she got into the back seat. “What’s up!” Christopher started to back the truck out of the driveway.
“Not much, not yet anyways.” said Mina.
“Not yet?” said Enrika.
“Right.” said Kiley. “We need to find out where Mina’s Dad is, why they took him, and why they….” She stopped short. “Um…. you know… to her Mom.” finished Kiley.
“Its alright Kiley. You can say killed or murdered. That’s what happened. There’s nothing for me to hide or feel guilty about, and its what happened.” said Mina.
“Wow.” said Christopher. “You sure are takin’ this well.”
“Its not that I am, I’m just trying to be reasonable about it.” said Mina.
“Ok hun. Whatever works.” By then he had backed the truck back onto the street and was making for the coffee & tea shop they frequented in the mornings.
As soon as he owner saw the black truck pull into the driveway. Each of them always got the same things every time that they came. Which was at least three or four times out of a seven day week. They would come in, get their things, and sit down in the screened area for an hour of two and talked and laughed. They were a good group, always paid their bill and didn’t make trouble. They were a good example of what the owner though were good teens. But today they looked a little different. The guy, Christopher he thought, had rings around his eyes, and the girl with the short light brown hair, Mina he thought, just looked sad. The girl with the straight black hair, Kiley he thought, wait no. That was Enrika looked worried, but otherwise ok. And the other one, Kiley, the one with shoulder length wavy brown hair, she looked worried too. “What is going on with them?” he wondered.
“Hey everybody! Here ya go, that’ll be $9.73 as usual.” said the owner.
“Yep.” said Christopher trying to be energetic as he handed the owner a ten. Mina took the tray of drinks over to the table were they usually sat.
“Yall ok? You look a little worse for ware so to speak.” said the owner.
“Yea, we just had a rough day yesterday, and none of use really slept well because of it is all.” said Christopher.
“Aaahhh ok. Just wondered.” he said handing Christopher his change.
“Yall have a nice day.” said the owner.
“You too.” said Christopher as he pocketed his change and went over to the others.
It was then that Edmund Thorne walked in. He had been following them since he saw Christopher’s dodge at Kiley’s house. There was no reason that Edmund knew of for Christopher to be at Kiley Edwards’s house unless Miss Mina Rune was there. Happily for him, he was right. Mina was there.
Mina Rune had had a hard time sleeping that night. She just couldn’t get the images of her Mom from her head. They flashed through her head like headlights on a car passing quickly by her destroyed house. Needless to say she spent more time awake than she did asleep. Kiley slept well for the rest of the night, and she dreamed less and less of her father every time that she slept. Kiley used to always lean on Mina, but now Mina had to lean on Kiley.
She and Kiley went to Kiley’s kitchen where her Mom was making waffles.
“She’s still acting like a mother hen… Unless I get outta here at some point I’m gonna go crazy.” thought Mina. Mina wasn’t the type to have people really futzing over her. It was ok if it was her boyfriend, but Moms. That drove her crazy.
“Thanks for letting me stay over Mrs. Edwards.” said Mina.
“No problem Mina. And how many more times to I have to call me Jen.” said Kiley’s Mom.
“Just once more as always.” said Mina with a smile.
Jen Edwards served them waffles, and within the next hour Christopher was there. Mina hadn’t even had a chance to get out of her old t-shirt and lounge pants. He obviously hadn’t slept well that night, if at all. He had red rings around his eyes, and an extra swagger to his walk, but he pretended to be well rested and cheerful.
“Hey hun.” He said kissing her on the cheek. “How’d you sleep last night?” said Christopher.
“Ok I guess.” said Mina with a little sigh, and then took another bite of waffle.
“Hey Jen, Kiley.” said Christopher.
“Hey Chris.” they chorused. Mina was the only one that called him Christopher anymore, it had sort of become a private joke with no real reason behind it.
“Would you like some waffles?” said Jen.
“Sure thanks Jen.” said Christopher. “I have a feeling it’ll be a long day.”
“Well you are up early.” said Jen.
Jen Edwards and Christopher had always been casual. Jen had hoped that Christopher would take a liking to Kiley, and get her out of the house a bit. So Jen teamed up with Christopher’s Mom to try and get him to like Kiley and ask her out. They thought it might actually work after a week, but to no prevail. Everything changed as soon as Mina passed through his field of vision. It took him a while to work up the nerve to ask Mina out, but after a while he did. Everyone though Mina was a plain girl with a good personality. But to him, her blue eyes and light brown hair were far from plain, and her smile was one of the things he looked forward to everyday.
Kiley finished a little while before Mina and Christopher and went to go change. Once Kiley was gone, her Mom started on Mina and Christopher.
“So, love birds.” she said with a partially fake smile. She couldn’t help but like Mina and Christopher together. “Can I know why Mina couldn’t stay at her house last night?” She may have been talking to both of them, but she only had eyes for Christopher. Mina couldn’t help but think that Ms. Jen Edwards had a crush on Christopher Finnegan. As Mina thought that she couldn’t help but smile.
“What are you smiling at?” said Jen as light hearted as ever.
“Oh… Nothing.”
She continued to smile, got up, put her dish in the sink and went to Kiley’s room. Christopher did the same and followed her leaving Jen alone in the kitchen. Just before he left, Christopher said, “Thanks for the waffles Jen, they were great!” and then followed Mina.
When they were finally alone and Mina started getting her things out, Christopher flopped on the bed Mina had been sleeping on and closed his eyes. He was almost asleep when Mina said:
“I think she has a crush on you.”
Without opening his eyes, “So is that why you made that little smile….” He said smiling. “I think she does too.” He said. Without another word he went to sleep.
“He must have slept less than I did last night.” though Mina. “I’ve never seen him just go to sleep like that before…” with that she left him to sleep and went to go get ready for the day. Happily Kiley had just left the bathroom, and she had it to herself.
Part 11
“Christopher, wake up.” said soft voice to him. It seemed so far away to him, distant, faint, and miles away. But as it repeated, “Christopher, wake up,” it got closer and closer till it was right beside him. It was Mina.
“Ok, I’m awake, I know I don’t look like it, but I am.”
“Did you sleep at all last night? said Mina.
“No not really.” he said with a yawn and a quite groan as he sat up. “Catnapped a little, but I couldn’t really sleep like I just was.”
“I’m sorry I woke you.”
“No no. We have things to do, and we need the whole day to do it. Now tell me,” he said looking her in the face, “did you sleep last night?”
“Sort of. Tossed and turned, and Kiley had another nightmare about her Dad, so I slep a little, but not well.”
“Well, I think you’ll be staying at my house tonight. I think we’ll both sleep better, and my Mom isn’t as much of a, what the phrase you use to describe Jen?”
“Mother hen….” giggled Mina.
“Yea, mother hen. My Mom isn’t as much of a mother hen, and I know how that can drive you crazy. So, what ya say; stay at my house tonight?”
Mina thought a sec, “Sure. I think your right about us both sleeping easier.”
“Ok, lets go.” said Christopher, and he picked up her bag, and they left Kiley’s room.
As they were leaving, Mina thanked Kiley’s Mom, Jen, for letting her stay over and for breakfast, but that she wouldn’t need to stay that night too.
The trio got into Christopher’s 4-door black Dodge truck and drove to Enrika’s house. Her neighborhood wasn’t really a neighborhood, it was actually woods, but Enrika didn’t want to admit it even though that houses were about a mile apart.
Christopher drove up the log heavily wooded driveway to Enrika’s house. It was a light blue two story with a pond, and barn in the back yard and an old VW bug. Enrika came out of the front door as soon as she saw the Christopher’s truck pull up. She was wearing her usual jeans and t-shirt that always born the name of a singer or band. Enrika was very eclectic. Yesterday her shirt was all about Jack Johnson, but today it was all about Gun’s n’ Roses.
“Hey guys!” said Enrika as she got into the back seat. “What’s up!” Christopher started to back the truck out of the driveway.
“Not much, not yet anyways.” said Mina.
“Not yet?” said Enrika.
“Right.” said Kiley. “We need to find out where Mina’s Dad is, why they took him, and why they….” She stopped short. “Um…. you know… to her Mom.” finished Kiley.
“Its alright Kiley. You can say killed or murdered. That’s what happened. There’s nothing for me to hide or feel guilty about, and its what happened.” said Mina.
“Wow.” said Christopher. “You sure are takin’ this well.”
“Its not that I am, I’m just trying to be reasonable about it.” said Mina.
“Ok hun. Whatever works.” By then he had backed the truck back onto the street and was making for the coffee & tea shop they frequented in the mornings.
As soon as he owner saw the black truck pull into the driveway. Each of them always got the same things every time that they came. Which was at least three or four times out of a seven day week. They would come in, get their things, and sit down in the screened area for an hour of two and talked and laughed. They were a good group, always paid their bill and didn’t make trouble. They were a good example of what the owner though were good teens. But today they looked a little different. The guy, Christopher he thought, had rings around his eyes, and the girl with the short light brown hair, Mina he thought, just looked sad. The girl with the straight black hair, Kiley he thought, wait no. That was Enrika looked worried, but otherwise ok. And the other one, Kiley, the one with shoulder length wavy brown hair, she looked worried too. “What is going on with them?” he wondered.
“Hey everybody! Here ya go, that’ll be $9.73 as usual.” said the owner.
“Yep.” said Christopher trying to be energetic as he handed the owner a ten. Mina took the tray of drinks over to the table were they usually sat.
“Yall ok? You look a little worse for ware so to speak.” said the owner.
“Yea, we just had a rough day yesterday, and none of use really slept well because of it is all.” said Christopher.
“Aaahhh ok. Just wondered.” he said handing Christopher his change.
“Yall have a nice day.” said the owner.
“You too.” said Christopher as he pocketed his change and went over to the others.
It was then that Edmund Thorne walked in. He had been following them since he saw Christopher’s dodge at Kiley’s house. There was no reason that Edmund knew of for Christopher to be at Kiley Edwards’s house unless Miss Mina Rune was there. Happily for him, he was right. Mina was there.
Part 12
Edmund walked in and did his best to look casual, and normal. He ordered a tea and a bagel with strawberry cream cheese from the man at the counter, whom he assumed was the owner and sat down at a table sort of close to Mina, Kiley, Enrika, and Christopher with his back turned.
Then someone else came in. He didn’t really care who they were, and consequently didn’t pay much attention. He just sat there and listened to their conversation, hoping to glean as much has he could from what little they were saying.
It was then that Opal Tormey walked in. She was a spy that had been sent by Vanya Crros to watch Mina Rune. She was Crros’s favorite spy because she was so easily missed. She had a plain face, an average shade of bobbed hair. She was wearing light blue jeans and a blue t-shirt that had a skull and cross bones on it that was surrounded by the words Rock-n-Roll Forever. This wasn’t what she was used to, but she was willing to do almost anything to get the job done. She got a coffee and a muffin and sat a could of tables away from Edmund, but within listening range of Mina, Christopher, Kiley, and Enrika.
Edmund didn’t even see her come in, order, or sit down. He was just a little too involved in his bagel and strawberry cream cheese.
“Silly boy.” thought Opal. “He just sits there and munches away on his bagel and doesn’t even see me her. But then, I do tend to blend in…” She smiled at that thought, it was one of the many things that made her good at her job.
“So who do you think left the note?” said Christopher.
“Well, it said didn’t it? Crros. And with that weird spelling too. C-R-R-O-S.” Enrika spelled out. “And what was up with the name it was addressed to. D-A-B-E-A-U-T. That’s just a little too weird too. I mean who would come up with these things?” said Enrika.
“Probably some weirdo group of people that think they can rule this and, if there are any, every other world.” said Christopher
The conversation continued, but Edmund payed the conversation next to no mind. He thought his entire mission was about watching and following them. Opal on the other hand had other ideas. “I wonder how Christopher came up with that idea… Hmmm…” she thought.
“I don’t think my parents had anything to do with these… people.” said Mina. “As far as I know, my Dad just sold cars, and my Mom just stayed home and took care of me and the house. I mean she went on a few trips for weeks or two at I time, so I had to go to my Dad’s car lot and be bored out of my mind, but that was normal wasn’t it?” said Mina.
“How long did these little trips last?” said Kiley.
“Usually just two weeks max, but there was a long one. It one was for three weeks while I was on summer vacation. But at the time, I didn’t think much of it. She always brought me really cool, but really weird presents though.” said Mina.
“Like what?” said Enrika, who was getting rather excited. “This could be something!”
Meanwhile Edmund wasn’t paying them any attention. Opal had stopped eating her muffin, and looked out the window, listening.
“Oh, things you wouldn’t find anywhere, and I mean anywhere. Like this necklace.” she said pulling it up so everyone could see. The necklace looked rather normal, it was a glass pendant hanging on a black cord that was as strong as steel chains. But the pendant itself was a teardrop shaped with the wide part at the bottom that was about an in 1½ inches in diameter. It was very smooth, and very clear, and as far as anyone else knew, it had always been that.
“So? You wear it all the time… No offense, but how is that something that you wouldn’t find anywhere else?” said Kiley.
“Lots of things. Some nights at midnight, if I take it off and put it down flat on my hand and it’ll change color. Its usually clear right, but it’ll go to bright pink, liquid gold, and all these other colors too. The colors lite up the whole room. Once I ended up closing my door and hoping that the light didn’t wake up my Mom and Dad. But no matter how much the color changed, there were always two things that were the same.” she said still holding the necklace’s pendant in her hand. “After the light show it would suddenly turn coal black. The glass inside looks as if it’s liquid because it swirls around like a dark cloud. Then an even weirder thing happens, the pendant floats up, taking the cord up with it. Then it comes towards me and goes up even higher so that its about a foot over my head. Then the cord floats up too and the loop that would go around my neck, gets bigger. Then it comes down over my head and eventually it delicately floats down so that its back around my neck.” said Mina.
“Weird, how often does that happen?” said Kiley.
“Every full moon at least but sometimes more often. It varies.” said Mina.
“How come you’ve never told us about it before?” said Christopher.
“I didn’t think you would be interested, or that you would believe me?” said Mina.
“Well, I do.” said Christopher.
“Me too.” said Enrika.
“Me three!” said Kiley.
“Well, come on guys, lets get outa’ here.” said Christopher.
“Yea, lets go.” said Mina.
The group got up, got rid of their trash, and walked toward Christopher’s truck.
Not to long after Opal left and got into her dark blue suburban and followed.
Part 13
Edmund was a little slower than Opal. That was why Bo was so reluctant to let Yuri Thorn send him. When he finally realized that everyone had left, and he saw a blue suburban pulling away, he recognized the license plate number as belonging to a spy for DaBeaut.
Edmund rushed out of the shop and slammed into his green Ford Taurus and rushed after Opal.
She had a feeling that someone was following her, and sure enough when she looked in her mirrior there was a green Taurus following her. She knew that that just had to be Edmund, no matter how dark his windows were tinted. She had realized that Christopher was going toward the beach. So she turned off to see if Edmund was going to follow her. And sure enough he did.
Opal sped up, she swerved around to the left and past red lights and around corners to the right and left. Edmund didn’t realize it, but they were actually going in a very big circle, it just had a lot of right angles.
“Finally…” thought Opal.
She turned left, and Edmund couldn’t follow without being involved in an accident and most likely dying. He stopped, and she continued.
Part 14
“I DON’T WANT TO HEAR ABOUT IT!!!!!” screeched Vanya. Abdel had been listening to Vanya and his guests to the Crros mansion. Abdel had never heard Vanya yell like that since he first came to the wretched place. It had been two days and Nuri had still not returned from Samuel Calhoun’s and he had supposedly left yesterday, or at least that’s what the owl that Nuri had sent to them said.
Vanya’s guests varied every time they came. Sometimes they were the rich, sometimes they were the middle class, and sometimes they were the very poor, or any combination. However, Vanya never let them wear their own things. He always gave them exquisite gowns from the 1700’s to wear. Long, floating, corseted dresses for the women, and special suits for the men. They were always given the best jewels and silks to wear. No other party had been as much of a ball since the 1700’s. But they were always held in secret. He brought people in from places all over the world, and the treated him like their king. He just sat their and watched. If something interrupted him or the dancing he lightly lifted his hand and said, “Continue.” with an air that clearly belonged to a king.
But he had never before yelled at his guests, at least, not like that anyway. Abdel wondered why he was yelling. Vanya was of a quiet, cold, and calculated nature, which was one of the things that made just his presence so terrifying to most. People that yell are frequently hiding something. It’s when they are quiet, cold, and calculated that one must worry. Consequently, people were always afraid of Vanya, and he liked it that way.
“Perhaps someone stood up to him, or spoke their mind…” though Abdel.
Suddenly he was surrounded by fancy clothes and dresses that had enough cloth to make sails for a sailing ship had surrounded him and were streaming and screaming towards their rooms. After they had gone, he heard Vanya’s sly footsteps. He was usually more quiet than a butterfly, unless something was wrong. When something was wrong with Vanya, Abdel usually had to take care of him because Gareth, no matter how much he loved Vanya, was always most frightened of him when he was unwell. The 64-dollar question was what was wrong with him.
“You, Abdel. Come here.” Said Vanya. His voice was no longer velvet, instead, it was sand paper.
“Yes sir.” said Abdel.
Abdel escorted Vanya to his chambers, Gareth avoided them, but Abdel still caught sight of him twice as they ascended the staircases. His rooms were like no other. The curtains were still red velvet and shut tight, but the furniture was golden, with green trimming, and a shine that made them gold. The part that made the room, and that made it fit Vanya was of course, the ceiling.
Instead of the golden, mischievous, happy cherubs, other creatures were in their places. Evil creatures that lived in Rynulia.
There were beautiful women that were supposed to be masters of illusion, arson, and seduction whose true reflection appeared only in water. Creatures that were part tiger-part lion who were in this world called manticores, and tiny snakes that were extremely poisonous whose victim would die long before they knew that they had been bitten. Fearsome creatures that are in this world called the Chimera, who are part lion, part goat, and have the tail of a snake. It would take hours jut staring at the ceiling to discover all the beings, but each one was in one way or another evil. Each of these creatures had come through the same portal that the rune family had come through so long ago and had caused enough havoc that they were forever embedded in this worlds myths, stories, and history. Beasts large and small, good and evil like the Kraken, Basilisk, Nymph, Brownie, winged or flightless Nightmares, Rocs, Unicorns, Fairies, and Griffins. Any mythical creature, and many un-mythical creatures had come from Rynulia. It was a land of wealth, danger, love and beauty.
Vanya moaned, and groaned. His body was young, but his mind and what was left of his heart were old. He had only loved once, and the love was still passionate, but he never told a soul who it was he loved. He was a necromancer. Frequently at night he could be heard throughout the mansion calling for the spirits of the dead to come to him. Many came. Sometimes they filled the entire place. But he never stopped till he fell asleep. He called them in hopes to see her face once more, but she was the only one that wouldn’t come.
When Abdel helped him onto his bead he was already instinctively calling the sprits.
To Be Continued.....
Edmund walked in and did his best to look casual, and normal. He ordered a tea and a bagel with strawberry cream cheese from the man at the counter, whom he assumed was the owner and sat down at a table sort of close to Mina, Kiley, Enrika, and Christopher with his back turned.
Then someone else came in. He didn’t really care who they were, and consequently didn’t pay much attention. He just sat there and listened to their conversation, hoping to glean as much has he could from what little they were saying.
It was then that Opal Tormey walked in. She was a spy that had been sent by Vanya Crros to watch Mina Rune. She was Crros’s favorite spy because she was so easily missed. She had a plain face, an average shade of bobbed hair. She was wearing light blue jeans and a blue t-shirt that had a skull and cross bones on it that was surrounded by the words Rock-n-Roll Forever. This wasn’t what she was used to, but she was willing to do almost anything to get the job done. She got a coffee and a muffin and sat a could of tables away from Edmund, but within listening range of Mina, Christopher, Kiley, and Enrika.
Edmund didn’t even see her come in, order, or sit down. He was just a little too involved in his bagel and strawberry cream cheese.
“Silly boy.” thought Opal. “He just sits there and munches away on his bagel and doesn’t even see me her. But then, I do tend to blend in…” She smiled at that thought, it was one of the many things that made her good at her job.
“So who do you think left the note?” said Christopher.
“Well, it said didn’t it? Crros. And with that weird spelling too. C-R-R-O-S.” Enrika spelled out. “And what was up with the name it was addressed to. D-A-B-E-A-U-T. That’s just a little too weird too. I mean who would come up with these things?” said Enrika.
“Probably some weirdo group of people that think they can rule this and, if there are any, every other world.” said Christopher
The conversation continued, but Edmund payed the conversation next to no mind. He thought his entire mission was about watching and following them. Opal on the other hand had other ideas. “I wonder how Christopher came up with that idea… Hmmm…” she thought.
“I don’t think my parents had anything to do with these… people.” said Mina. “As far as I know, my Dad just sold cars, and my Mom just stayed home and took care of me and the house. I mean she went on a few trips for weeks or two at I time, so I had to go to my Dad’s car lot and be bored out of my mind, but that was normal wasn’t it?” said Mina.
“How long did these little trips last?” said Kiley.
“Usually just two weeks max, but there was a long one. It one was for three weeks while I was on summer vacation. But at the time, I didn’t think much of it. She always brought me really cool, but really weird presents though.” said Mina.
“Like what?” said Enrika, who was getting rather excited. “This could be something!”
Meanwhile Edmund wasn’t paying them any attention. Opal had stopped eating her muffin, and looked out the window, listening.
“Oh, things you wouldn’t find anywhere, and I mean anywhere. Like this necklace.” she said pulling it up so everyone could see. The necklace looked rather normal, it was a glass pendant hanging on a black cord that was as strong as steel chains. But the pendant itself was a teardrop shaped with the wide part at the bottom that was about an in 1½ inches in diameter. It was very smooth, and very clear, and as far as anyone else knew, it had always been that.
“So? You wear it all the time… No offense, but how is that something that you wouldn’t find anywhere else?” said Kiley.
“Lots of things. Some nights at midnight, if I take it off and put it down flat on my hand and it’ll change color. Its usually clear right, but it’ll go to bright pink, liquid gold, and all these other colors too. The colors lite up the whole room. Once I ended up closing my door and hoping that the light didn’t wake up my Mom and Dad. But no matter how much the color changed, there were always two things that were the same.” she said still holding the necklace’s pendant in her hand. “After the light show it would suddenly turn coal black. The glass inside looks as if it’s liquid because it swirls around like a dark cloud. Then an even weirder thing happens, the pendant floats up, taking the cord up with it. Then it comes towards me and goes up even higher so that its about a foot over my head. Then the cord floats up too and the loop that would go around my neck, gets bigger. Then it comes down over my head and eventually it delicately floats down so that its back around my neck.” said Mina.
“Weird, how often does that happen?” said Kiley.
“Every full moon at least but sometimes more often. It varies.” said Mina.
“How come you’ve never told us about it before?” said Christopher.
“I didn’t think you would be interested, or that you would believe me?” said Mina.
“Well, I do.” said Christopher.
“Me too.” said Enrika.
“Me three!” said Kiley.
“Well, come on guys, lets get outa’ here.” said Christopher.
“Yea, lets go.” said Mina.
The group got up, got rid of their trash, and walked toward Christopher’s truck.
Not to long after Opal left and got into her dark blue suburban and followed.
Part 13
Edmund was a little slower than Opal. That was why Bo was so reluctant to let Yuri Thorn send him. When he finally realized that everyone had left, and he saw a blue suburban pulling away, he recognized the license plate number as belonging to a spy for DaBeaut.
Edmund rushed out of the shop and slammed into his green Ford Taurus and rushed after Opal.
She had a feeling that someone was following her, and sure enough when she looked in her mirrior there was a green Taurus following her. She knew that that just had to be Edmund, no matter how dark his windows were tinted. She had realized that Christopher was going toward the beach. So she turned off to see if Edmund was going to follow her. And sure enough he did.
Opal sped up, she swerved around to the left and past red lights and around corners to the right and left. Edmund didn’t realize it, but they were actually going in a very big circle, it just had a lot of right angles.
“Finally…” thought Opal.
She turned left, and Edmund couldn’t follow without being involved in an accident and most likely dying. He stopped, and she continued.
Part 14
“I DON’T WANT TO HEAR ABOUT IT!!!!!” screeched Vanya. Abdel had been listening to Vanya and his guests to the Crros mansion. Abdel had never heard Vanya yell like that since he first came to the wretched place. It had been two days and Nuri had still not returned from Samuel Calhoun’s and he had supposedly left yesterday, or at least that’s what the owl that Nuri had sent to them said.
Vanya’s guests varied every time they came. Sometimes they were the rich, sometimes they were the middle class, and sometimes they were the very poor, or any combination. However, Vanya never let them wear their own things. He always gave them exquisite gowns from the 1700’s to wear. Long, floating, corseted dresses for the women, and special suits for the men. They were always given the best jewels and silks to wear. No other party had been as much of a ball since the 1700’s. But they were always held in secret. He brought people in from places all over the world, and the treated him like their king. He just sat their and watched. If something interrupted him or the dancing he lightly lifted his hand and said, “Continue.” with an air that clearly belonged to a king.
But he had never before yelled at his guests, at least, not like that anyway. Abdel wondered why he was yelling. Vanya was of a quiet, cold, and calculated nature, which was one of the things that made just his presence so terrifying to most. People that yell are frequently hiding something. It’s when they are quiet, cold, and calculated that one must worry. Consequently, people were always afraid of Vanya, and he liked it that way.
“Perhaps someone stood up to him, or spoke their mind…” though Abdel.
Suddenly he was surrounded by fancy clothes and dresses that had enough cloth to make sails for a sailing ship had surrounded him and were streaming and screaming towards their rooms. After they had gone, he heard Vanya’s sly footsteps. He was usually more quiet than a butterfly, unless something was wrong. When something was wrong with Vanya, Abdel usually had to take care of him because Gareth, no matter how much he loved Vanya, was always most frightened of him when he was unwell. The 64-dollar question was what was wrong with him.
“You, Abdel. Come here.” Said Vanya. His voice was no longer velvet, instead, it was sand paper.
“Yes sir.” said Abdel.
Abdel escorted Vanya to his chambers, Gareth avoided them, but Abdel still caught sight of him twice as they ascended the staircases. His rooms were like no other. The curtains were still red velvet and shut tight, but the furniture was golden, with green trimming, and a shine that made them gold. The part that made the room, and that made it fit Vanya was of course, the ceiling.
Instead of the golden, mischievous, happy cherubs, other creatures were in their places. Evil creatures that lived in Rynulia.
There were beautiful women that were supposed to be masters of illusion, arson, and seduction whose true reflection appeared only in water. Creatures that were part tiger-part lion who were in this world called manticores, and tiny snakes that were extremely poisonous whose victim would die long before they knew that they had been bitten. Fearsome creatures that are in this world called the Chimera, who are part lion, part goat, and have the tail of a snake. It would take hours jut staring at the ceiling to discover all the beings, but each one was in one way or another evil. Each of these creatures had come through the same portal that the rune family had come through so long ago and had caused enough havoc that they were forever embedded in this worlds myths, stories, and history. Beasts large and small, good and evil like the Kraken, Basilisk, Nymph, Brownie, winged or flightless Nightmares, Rocs, Unicorns, Fairies, and Griffins. Any mythical creature, and many un-mythical creatures had come from Rynulia. It was a land of wealth, danger, love and beauty.
Vanya moaned, and groaned. His body was young, but his mind and what was left of his heart were old. He had only loved once, and the love was still passionate, but he never told a soul who it was he loved. He was a necromancer. Frequently at night he could be heard throughout the mansion calling for the spirits of the dead to come to him. Many came. Sometimes they filled the entire place. But he never stopped till he fell asleep. He called them in hopes to see her face once more, but she was the only one that wouldn’t come.
When Abdel helped him onto his bead he was already instinctively calling the sprits.
To Be Continued.....
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Extended Nightmares
Part 6
Abdel was a skinny and dark seventeen. He was fluent in nearly every language known to mankind, but he could not read or write any of them except for one version of Sanskrit, the rest he could only speak. Four years ago he had suddenly appeared in front of Vanya Crros; the leader of Crros.
Vanya Crros was the kind of man whose name did not match his style. His name made him sound almost angelic, with an air of contentment, ease, good and beauty. Instead he was more of a devil. Nearly everything he had done, he had done for his own amusement, and in his mind his name was a happy accident. It made people think he would treat them well and make them happy, as if a spell had been cast upon them; a spell that would hide the truth and bloodshed. He had built the entire Crros group with his own two hands nearly 223 years ago, which is why he made everyone treat him like a king. No one knows exactly what keeps him alive, but what little they do know is that even though he keeps to the indoors, he does not survive off blood. But rather some other medium that keeps him young in appearance, vibrant, and his heart forever beating. He was no vampire, but some other monstrous creature.
Abdel scurried around a corner quick and quiet as a mouse. He was always afraid of being caught by his master, Vanya Crros, and sent to be whipped by Gareth, or be forced to whip some other poor soul; his least favorite duty, but happily it was something he rarely had to do because Gareth enjoyed it so much. He had left his room in the main house’s basement earlier that evening to try to find out why Vanya had sent Nuri Theron, his sorcerer and creation, to meet with Samuel Calhoun. Even though Samuel had the face and sound of a toad, no one was better with a gun.
Abdel was almost back to his bedroom, which made him feel like he could barely breath and was opening the door, when Gareth grabbed him by the shoulders and dragged him upstairs. The backs of his ankles kept hitting the stairs and were beginning to throb when Gareth had finally towed him all the way up the dark stairs to the top floor of the house.
The house was more of a mansion than a house. Crros family had always been rich, and had had it built in the late 1700’s, not to long before Vanya had been born, but they died when he was just 21.
A cool, smooth, hard voice floated toward Abdel and Gareth as they left the staircase.
“Bring him in here Gareth.”
Gareth brought Abdel to the only open doorway in the whole corridor, and into what was used as the throne room for all intents and purposes. However, in reality it used to be the ballroom. Since the last glorious ball that Vanya’s long dead parents held, the red velvet curtains had been kept closed, but the room always had a shine to the marble floor, and an extra brightness and glory to the angels and cherubs on the ceiling that had seen god knows what. The room’s appearance was symmetrical to the man that was sitting in it, but was completely the opposite of his personality.
Abdel was always surprised by Vanya’s appearance. Only his eyes showed what he really was. And those eyes were staring right through Abdel.
“So, you think that you are clever enough to leave your quarters at night after lockdown, and follow Nuri do you.” There was enough sarcasm in his voice that you could cut it with a knife.
“No sir, I don’t think I do.” said Abdel, but in his thoughts he added, “I know I do.”
The dark eyes that were on that angelic face just continued to stair at him, trying to decide how to punish him, or learn what Abdel had seen or heard. That was a talent that Vanya seemed to have. Learning what someone knows, learning who someone is, and everything about them, by merely looking them in the eyes. The usual punishment for Abdel was three lashes by Gareth, a mountain of a man. Even though Abdel was a useful tool to have around, he was the least favorite of Vanya Crros.
Vanya waved a bored hand toward the door, which opened with a low-pitched scream. Gareth was standing right outside, ready to enjoy whatever punishment had been assigned to Abdel.
“He will not be punished tonight. He knows nothing. Take him to his quarters and lock his door.”
Gareth grabbed Abdel’s arm and hauled him to his closet of a bedroom, shoved him in, and locked the door; muttering the whole time, “Damn him, I was looking forward to lashing this one again. Vanya enjoys the screams as much as I do. Damn him, damn him to hell.” Gareth had shoved Abdel hard enough that he fell the short three feet between the door and his old bed. He hit his head on the bedpost, blacked out, and a small trickle of blood slid down his forehead.
Part 7
After telling everyone my story, they took me to Kiley’s for the remainder of that day. After all, it took a long time to find what was left of my things, and to find something to carry them in. When we finally got to Kiley’s house, and her Mom saw me, she started acting like a mother, cooing, and following me around everywhere. It would be enough to drive me insane if I had had to live with her. Happily I didn’t, or at least I hoped I wouldn’t have to.
Enrika left a little early, she had to get up early to help with a race in the morning. Christopher waited until we could be alone, kissed me, and told me he be back around 10 the next morning. The last look he gave me that evening was a very worried one. Naturally that made me just that much more uncomfortable.
Late that night after Kiley and her Mom had gone to sleep, I just laid there thinking. Kiley started tossing a turning, and eventually shouted out, “No! Don’t! Stop!” I shot out of bed and ran over to her bed to wake her up. She looked at me with a dismal expression.
“Dreaming of your Dad again?”
“Yea, every once and a while. I just can’t shake that last night he was here, I mean it was nearly a year and a half ago now.”
When everyone had first met Kiley’s Dad, they thought he was great. He knew how to make you laugh till you cried, and if you needed help, he was always right there for you. That was, unless he was drunk. Late one night, her father had come in so drunk that he really should have passed out in the bar. But, somehow he managed to make it home. He threw open the door, stumbled into Kiley’s Mom’s bedroom, and attempted to smother her with a pillow. Kiley heard the screaming, and ran in. She tore at his face with her fingernails. Finally he fainted, and appeared dead. Her Mom called the cops. Kiley couldn’t move because her own Dad’s blood was on her hands, and for Kiley that was just a little to disturbing. Her Mom had her Dad thrown in jail. He got out on good behavior and parole about eight months ago. And of course, he had to get drunk, and screw up the rest of what was left of his life. He came back to Kiley’s house, and mistook her room for her Mom’s room, and tried to smother Kiley instead. In the end, her father had gotten locked away for many more years to come. I guessed that that was she was dreaming about.
“You’ll be ok Kiley. Try and go back to sleep. I need you to help me figure out who shot up my house tomorrow, ok?”
“Ok, thanks Mina. G’night.”
“Night Kiley.”
I went over to her other bed, lied down, and finally went to sleep, she didn’t seem to have any more nightmares that night, at least not that I heard.
To be continued...
Abdel was a skinny and dark seventeen. He was fluent in nearly every language known to mankind, but he could not read or write any of them except for one version of Sanskrit, the rest he could only speak. Four years ago he had suddenly appeared in front of Vanya Crros; the leader of Crros.
Vanya Crros was the kind of man whose name did not match his style. His name made him sound almost angelic, with an air of contentment, ease, good and beauty. Instead he was more of a devil. Nearly everything he had done, he had done for his own amusement, and in his mind his name was a happy accident. It made people think he would treat them well and make them happy, as if a spell had been cast upon them; a spell that would hide the truth and bloodshed. He had built the entire Crros group with his own two hands nearly 223 years ago, which is why he made everyone treat him like a king. No one knows exactly what keeps him alive, but what little they do know is that even though he keeps to the indoors, he does not survive off blood. But rather some other medium that keeps him young in appearance, vibrant, and his heart forever beating. He was no vampire, but some other monstrous creature.
Abdel scurried around a corner quick and quiet as a mouse. He was always afraid of being caught by his master, Vanya Crros, and sent to be whipped by Gareth, or be forced to whip some other poor soul; his least favorite duty, but happily it was something he rarely had to do because Gareth enjoyed it so much. He had left his room in the main house’s basement earlier that evening to try to find out why Vanya had sent Nuri Theron, his sorcerer and creation, to meet with Samuel Calhoun. Even though Samuel had the face and sound of a toad, no one was better with a gun.
Abdel was almost back to his bedroom, which made him feel like he could barely breath and was opening the door, when Gareth grabbed him by the shoulders and dragged him upstairs. The backs of his ankles kept hitting the stairs and were beginning to throb when Gareth had finally towed him all the way up the dark stairs to the top floor of the house.
The house was more of a mansion than a house. Crros family had always been rich, and had had it built in the late 1700’s, not to long before Vanya had been born, but they died when he was just 21.
A cool, smooth, hard voice floated toward Abdel and Gareth as they left the staircase.
“Bring him in here Gareth.”
Gareth brought Abdel to the only open doorway in the whole corridor, and into what was used as the throne room for all intents and purposes. However, in reality it used to be the ballroom. Since the last glorious ball that Vanya’s long dead parents held, the red velvet curtains had been kept closed, but the room always had a shine to the marble floor, and an extra brightness and glory to the angels and cherubs on the ceiling that had seen god knows what. The room’s appearance was symmetrical to the man that was sitting in it, but was completely the opposite of his personality.
Abdel was always surprised by Vanya’s appearance. Only his eyes showed what he really was. And those eyes were staring right through Abdel.
“So, you think that you are clever enough to leave your quarters at night after lockdown, and follow Nuri do you.” There was enough sarcasm in his voice that you could cut it with a knife.
“No sir, I don’t think I do.” said Abdel, but in his thoughts he added, “I know I do.”
The dark eyes that were on that angelic face just continued to stair at him, trying to decide how to punish him, or learn what Abdel had seen or heard. That was a talent that Vanya seemed to have. Learning what someone knows, learning who someone is, and everything about them, by merely looking them in the eyes. The usual punishment for Abdel was three lashes by Gareth, a mountain of a man. Even though Abdel was a useful tool to have around, he was the least favorite of Vanya Crros.
Vanya waved a bored hand toward the door, which opened with a low-pitched scream. Gareth was standing right outside, ready to enjoy whatever punishment had been assigned to Abdel.
“He will not be punished tonight. He knows nothing. Take him to his quarters and lock his door.”
Gareth grabbed Abdel’s arm and hauled him to his closet of a bedroom, shoved him in, and locked the door; muttering the whole time, “Damn him, I was looking forward to lashing this one again. Vanya enjoys the screams as much as I do. Damn him, damn him to hell.” Gareth had shoved Abdel hard enough that he fell the short three feet between the door and his old bed. He hit his head on the bedpost, blacked out, and a small trickle of blood slid down his forehead.
Part 7
After telling everyone my story, they took me to Kiley’s for the remainder of that day. After all, it took a long time to find what was left of my things, and to find something to carry them in. When we finally got to Kiley’s house, and her Mom saw me, she started acting like a mother, cooing, and following me around everywhere. It would be enough to drive me insane if I had had to live with her. Happily I didn’t, or at least I hoped I wouldn’t have to.
Enrika left a little early, she had to get up early to help with a race in the morning. Christopher waited until we could be alone, kissed me, and told me he be back around 10 the next morning. The last look he gave me that evening was a very worried one. Naturally that made me just that much more uncomfortable.
Late that night after Kiley and her Mom had gone to sleep, I just laid there thinking. Kiley started tossing a turning, and eventually shouted out, “No! Don’t! Stop!” I shot out of bed and ran over to her bed to wake her up. She looked at me with a dismal expression.
“Dreaming of your Dad again?”
“Yea, every once and a while. I just can’t shake that last night he was here, I mean it was nearly a year and a half ago now.”
When everyone had first met Kiley’s Dad, they thought he was great. He knew how to make you laugh till you cried, and if you needed help, he was always right there for you. That was, unless he was drunk. Late one night, her father had come in so drunk that he really should have passed out in the bar. But, somehow he managed to make it home. He threw open the door, stumbled into Kiley’s Mom’s bedroom, and attempted to smother her with a pillow. Kiley heard the screaming, and ran in. She tore at his face with her fingernails. Finally he fainted, and appeared dead. Her Mom called the cops. Kiley couldn’t move because her own Dad’s blood was on her hands, and for Kiley that was just a little to disturbing. Her Mom had her Dad thrown in jail. He got out on good behavior and parole about eight months ago. And of course, he had to get drunk, and screw up the rest of what was left of his life. He came back to Kiley’s house, and mistook her room for her Mom’s room, and tried to smother Kiley instead. In the end, her father had gotten locked away for many more years to come. I guessed that that was she was dreaming about.
“You’ll be ok Kiley. Try and go back to sleep. I need you to help me figure out who shot up my house tomorrow, ok?”
“Ok, thanks Mina. G’night.”
“Night Kiley.”
I went over to her other bed, lied down, and finally went to sleep, she didn’t seem to have any more nightmares that night, at least not that I heard.
To be continued...
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Why They Are What They Are
The Groups In Nightmares
For those of you that are reading the story I'm writing, I thought I should explain the names for the groups of people in the story. (I still haven't decided which ones are evil, or not.)
Crros - the group that wrote the note that Mina found. Each letter represents a part of their symbol. The symbol is a scull with a cobra winding in and out of it and a rose in its teeth.
DaBeaut - the group that was supposed to recieve the note that Mina found. I havent decided what their symbol is, so the name is subject to change. If you have any ideas for a name and symbol, please post a comment. But so far it stands for Dangerous Beauty the words are just combined.
Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoy Nightmares!
Abby (C.N.S)
For those of you that are reading the story I'm writing, I thought I should explain the names for the groups of people in the story. (I still haven't decided which ones are evil, or not.)
Crros - the group that wrote the note that Mina found. Each letter represents a part of their symbol. The symbol is a scull with a cobra winding in and out of it and a rose in its teeth.
DaBeaut - the group that was supposed to recieve the note that Mina found. I havent decided what their symbol is, so the name is subject to change. If you have any ideas for a name and symbol, please post a comment. But so far it stands for Dangerous Beauty the words are just combined.
Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoy Nightmares!
Abby (C.N.S)
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Nightmares, Edited, Continued, Altered, and Lengthened
Note: DaBeaut - pronounced DeBut
Crros - not a spelling error
Nightmares
Introduction
Everybody has their story, its just that mine is a little… well, different.
Part 1
When I was a little girl I had a very normal family. My Mom took care of the house and me. And my Dad worked as a car salesman. Life was typical, average, easy, and quiet. I went to normal schools, and lived a normal life. That was that it was so normal I thought it boring. My friends and I sometimes went to the movies, the beach, school, etc. But when I got home, it was always the same, and even though people were living there, it was almost as if the house, and the people in it were dead.
My Mom and Dad trusted me as much as they trusted any teenage daughter. In other words, not much. To me the house was a cage; a cage that was filled with too many pillows. At the time, little did I know that a simple walk down the street with my Mom and Dad would scar me for the rest of my life.
Part 2
My neighborhood was clean and neat, sometimes I though too much so. There were lots of birds, and enough trees to make you want to scream during a hurricane.
On one of those typical August afternoons, you know, hazy, hot and humid, chance of thundershowers… My Mom, Dad, and I went for a walk, which was unusual for us. We had never gone walking before, at least as far as I could remember. My parents weren’t exactly outdoorsy folks. When we were a block or two away from home, and near the tire swing where I used to play, we saw a man sitting there. He looked like he could have been homeless, that was except for a fancy black car and driver that was waiting for him.
His hair was a little to long to be cute, but no quite long enough to pull back. His face was young, but he looked worn and tired, as if he hadn’t really slept in days. But he was probably no more than twenty-five.
When we passed he gave us a nod, smiled, and waved at us. The weird part was that he winked at my parents. They waved back friendly as ever.
“Who is that guy?” I thought to myself. But he just sat there on the tire swing, and we kept on walking.
I later wrote of the incident as coincidence. People were always mistaking my Dad for some computer person, whose name I can never remember.
The next day continued on a usual except for the walk we went on again.
“Hey Mom, why are we going on another walk?”
“Oh, just to look at the trees honey.”
After that answer I couldn’t help but think that there was more to it than that. Granted, there were a lot of trees in our neighborhood, but seriously how much of that is scenic? Not much. Especially when my Mom grew up here.
When we got to the tire swing, that same guy was there again. He was looking our way, and just plain staring at me. Even when we passed him, and my parents were between him and me, I could feel him looking through them and leaving scorch marks on the back of my favorite t-shirt.
That night around 11, there was a knock at my door. Very unusual. My parents had already gone to bed, but I was awake and reading. I couldn’t sleep because I had had a gruesome nightmare. When I heard the knocking I turned my light off. I hoped that they would think everyone was asleep, and would just leave. Not so much. I slid back in bed, and waited listening, with my heart pounding. But the knocking didn’t stop. It progressively got louder and harder to the point it sounded like they were trying to break down the door. But my parents didn’t wake up.
“Perhaps they know whose at the door and they just don’t want to see them.” I though to myself. “I mean it is 11 at night.”
I resorted to creep in their room, and ask them what the heck was going on, and hopefully get a real answer.
When I peeked into their room I expected to see them sleeping. But that’s not what I saw.
But stomach did a double turn, and my heart came up to my throat. The white walls were splattered with blood like a painting. Smeared, running, and dripping. All the windows were open, and a wet warm breeze was blowing in. One set of curtains was ripped. My father was gone, and my mother was dead, and her body practically ripped apart.
Part 3
It was all I could do to move from that stop. The tears that wanted to run, couldn’t come, and my lungs just wouldn’t work. I stood rooted at that spot for what felt like hours. All the while that banging at the door continued.
Given time I went to the front of the house on the second story. There was a large black car out by the street. And down by the front door there were six men, and 2 women. All were in dark clothes except for a red rose in the lapels of their jackets. Each had a machinegun in hand, and all were aimed at the front door.
In just a few short minutes I had gone from being happy reading to seeing things I had only had dreams of, to being afraid of my own demise.
The group had stopped banging on the door, and just stood there waiting. Suddenly, a rough male voice croaked out, “Now!”
The group left the front door are encircled the house. The voice croaked out again, but louder, “NOW!” Seconds later the guns started firing. They started at the bottom of the house, and worked their way up, and then back down. I ran to the middle of the house and lay down. Bullets flew in from everywhere, and shattered everything as if everything were made of thin glass. Then they stopped, and all was silent.
“Well, if that didn’t get them, then I don’t know what will!” chirped a gleeful female voice. “You got that right!” said another man whose voice was practically velvet it was so smooth. “Lets get outta here.” Said the other man with the voice of a toad.
I stayed put, afraid that if I moved, I would die. Outside, the black car quietly started its engine and pulled away.
Part 4
The next morning I somehow managed to get downstairs. Pinned to what was left of the front door was a note. It was written as if it was from the 1800’s. Old fashioned paper, written with a quill, and sealed with blood red ink. The seal was that of a snake, probably a cobra, going in and out of a scull with a red rose in the scull’s teeth. It was addressed to Chat Noir. I opened it.
DaBeaut,
You may have the bodies, but we have the lives that once were.
May You Enjoy Their Dead Blood,
Crros
Part 5
After reading that I didn’t leave the house, or talk to anyone for two days. By the time the third day came around some of my friends decided that they had to know what was going on with me.
When I heard then attempting to knock of the door, my heart almost stopped. I had no idea who would be at that door, and quite frankly I was afraid to find out. One of them pushed the door open.
“Hello? Mina? Are you here?” said Enrika. I had known her since 5th grade.
I was upstairs, and couldn’t make myself say anything.
“Mina? Where are you? Mina?” That was Christopher, my boyfriend for almost a year, and one of my best friends since I met him when he transferred into my school.
One of them started climbing that stairs. “Mina. Come on, this place is a mess, so stop playing games.” That was Kiley. I met her two years ago, and since then all of us have been practically inseparable.
“Something smells funny.” Said Enrika.
“Please don’t come up any farther!” I shouted.
“Why?” said Kiley who was already half was up, and could probably see me.
“Well, I don’t care what you say, I’m coming up whether you like it or not.” said Enrika.
Naturally she wished she hadn’t. When she saw me, and the lack of color in my face, and noticed that the door to my parent’s room was never closed, was closed. I highly puzzled look came over her face. By that time Kiley and Christopher were upstairs and had done the same thing. Christopher went to the door and opened it. He saw what was inside, immediately shut it, and came over to me.
“What happened?”
I shook my head, and sat down.
Kiley and Enrika just had to go over to the door and open it. They left it open and back away slowly, hands to their mouths so they wouldn’t risk throwing up. They came to my room, and asked me the same question Christopher had.
“What happened?” said Kiley.
“Seriously, with all the broken glass, and bullet holes everywhere, and now the, pardon me, blood bath in there…”
“I’m really not sure what happened in there.”
For the next hour I told them all I knew, and showed them the note I had found.
To be continued….
Crros - not a spelling error
Nightmares
Introduction
Everybody has their story, its just that mine is a little… well, different.
Part 1
When I was a little girl I had a very normal family. My Mom took care of the house and me. And my Dad worked as a car salesman. Life was typical, average, easy, and quiet. I went to normal schools, and lived a normal life. That was that it was so normal I thought it boring. My friends and I sometimes went to the movies, the beach, school, etc. But when I got home, it was always the same, and even though people were living there, it was almost as if the house, and the people in it were dead.
My Mom and Dad trusted me as much as they trusted any teenage daughter. In other words, not much. To me the house was a cage; a cage that was filled with too many pillows. At the time, little did I know that a simple walk down the street with my Mom and Dad would scar me for the rest of my life.
Part 2
My neighborhood was clean and neat, sometimes I though too much so. There were lots of birds, and enough trees to make you want to scream during a hurricane.
On one of those typical August afternoons, you know, hazy, hot and humid, chance of thundershowers… My Mom, Dad, and I went for a walk, which was unusual for us. We had never gone walking before, at least as far as I could remember. My parents weren’t exactly outdoorsy folks. When we were a block or two away from home, and near the tire swing where I used to play, we saw a man sitting there. He looked like he could have been homeless, that was except for a fancy black car and driver that was waiting for him.
His hair was a little to long to be cute, but no quite long enough to pull back. His face was young, but he looked worn and tired, as if he hadn’t really slept in days. But he was probably no more than twenty-five.
When we passed he gave us a nod, smiled, and waved at us. The weird part was that he winked at my parents. They waved back friendly as ever.
“Who is that guy?” I thought to myself. But he just sat there on the tire swing, and we kept on walking.
I later wrote of the incident as coincidence. People were always mistaking my Dad for some computer person, whose name I can never remember.
The next day continued on a usual except for the walk we went on again.
“Hey Mom, why are we going on another walk?”
“Oh, just to look at the trees honey.”
After that answer I couldn’t help but think that there was more to it than that. Granted, there were a lot of trees in our neighborhood, but seriously how much of that is scenic? Not much. Especially when my Mom grew up here.
When we got to the tire swing, that same guy was there again. He was looking our way, and just plain staring at me. Even when we passed him, and my parents were between him and me, I could feel him looking through them and leaving scorch marks on the back of my favorite t-shirt.
That night around 11, there was a knock at my door. Very unusual. My parents had already gone to bed, but I was awake and reading. I couldn’t sleep because I had had a gruesome nightmare. When I heard the knocking I turned my light off. I hoped that they would think everyone was asleep, and would just leave. Not so much. I slid back in bed, and waited listening, with my heart pounding. But the knocking didn’t stop. It progressively got louder and harder to the point it sounded like they were trying to break down the door. But my parents didn’t wake up.
“Perhaps they know whose at the door and they just don’t want to see them.” I though to myself. “I mean it is 11 at night.”
I resorted to creep in their room, and ask them what the heck was going on, and hopefully get a real answer.
When I peeked into their room I expected to see them sleeping. But that’s not what I saw.
But stomach did a double turn, and my heart came up to my throat. The white walls were splattered with blood like a painting. Smeared, running, and dripping. All the windows were open, and a wet warm breeze was blowing in. One set of curtains was ripped. My father was gone, and my mother was dead, and her body practically ripped apart.
Part 3
It was all I could do to move from that stop. The tears that wanted to run, couldn’t come, and my lungs just wouldn’t work. I stood rooted at that spot for what felt like hours. All the while that banging at the door continued.
Given time I went to the front of the house on the second story. There was a large black car out by the street. And down by the front door there were six men, and 2 women. All were in dark clothes except for a red rose in the lapels of their jackets. Each had a machinegun in hand, and all were aimed at the front door.
In just a few short minutes I had gone from being happy reading to seeing things I had only had dreams of, to being afraid of my own demise.
The group had stopped banging on the door, and just stood there waiting. Suddenly, a rough male voice croaked out, “Now!”
The group left the front door are encircled the house. The voice croaked out again, but louder, “NOW!” Seconds later the guns started firing. They started at the bottom of the house, and worked their way up, and then back down. I ran to the middle of the house and lay down. Bullets flew in from everywhere, and shattered everything as if everything were made of thin glass. Then they stopped, and all was silent.
“Well, if that didn’t get them, then I don’t know what will!” chirped a gleeful female voice. “You got that right!” said another man whose voice was practically velvet it was so smooth. “Lets get outta here.” Said the other man with the voice of a toad.
I stayed put, afraid that if I moved, I would die. Outside, the black car quietly started its engine and pulled away.
Part 4
The next morning I somehow managed to get downstairs. Pinned to what was left of the front door was a note. It was written as if it was from the 1800’s. Old fashioned paper, written with a quill, and sealed with blood red ink. The seal was that of a snake, probably a cobra, going in and out of a scull with a red rose in the scull’s teeth. It was addressed to Chat Noir. I opened it.
DaBeaut,
You may have the bodies, but we have the lives that once were.
May You Enjoy Their Dead Blood,
Crros
Part 5
After reading that I didn’t leave the house, or talk to anyone for two days. By the time the third day came around some of my friends decided that they had to know what was going on with me.
When I heard then attempting to knock of the door, my heart almost stopped. I had no idea who would be at that door, and quite frankly I was afraid to find out. One of them pushed the door open.
“Hello? Mina? Are you here?” said Enrika. I had known her since 5th grade.
I was upstairs, and couldn’t make myself say anything.
“Mina? Where are you? Mina?” That was Christopher, my boyfriend for almost a year, and one of my best friends since I met him when he transferred into my school.
One of them started climbing that stairs. “Mina. Come on, this place is a mess, so stop playing games.” That was Kiley. I met her two years ago, and since then all of us have been practically inseparable.
“Something smells funny.” Said Enrika.
“Please don’t come up any farther!” I shouted.
“Why?” said Kiley who was already half was up, and could probably see me.
“Well, I don’t care what you say, I’m coming up whether you like it or not.” said Enrika.
Naturally she wished she hadn’t. When she saw me, and the lack of color in my face, and noticed that the door to my parent’s room was never closed, was closed. I highly puzzled look came over her face. By that time Kiley and Christopher were upstairs and had done the same thing. Christopher went to the door and opened it. He saw what was inside, immediately shut it, and came over to me.
“What happened?”
I shook my head, and sat down.
Kiley and Enrika just had to go over to the door and open it. They left it open and back away slowly, hands to their mouths so they wouldn’t risk throwing up. They came to my room, and asked me the same question Christopher had.
“What happened?” said Kiley.
“Seriously, with all the broken glass, and bullet holes everywhere, and now the, pardon me, blood bath in there…”
“I’m really not sure what happened in there.”
For the next hour I told them all I knew, and showed them the note I had found.
To be continued….
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Nightmares (Intro and Chapters 1&2)
Introduction
Everybody has their story, its just that mine is a little… well, different.
Chapter 1
When I was a little girl I had a very normal family. My Mom took care of me and the house. And my Dad worked as a car salesman. Life was typical, average, easy, and quiet. I went to normal schools, and lived a normal life. That was that it was so normal I thought it boring. My friends and I sometimes went to the movies, the beach, school, etc. But when I got home, it was always the same, and even though people were living there, it was almost as if the house, and the people in it were dead.
My Mom and Dad trusted me as much as they trusted any teenage daughter. In other words, not much. To me the house was a cage; a cage that was filled with too many pillows. At the time, little did I know that a simple walk down the street with my Mom and Dad would scar me for the rest of my life.
Chapter 2
My neighborhood was clean and neat, sometimes I though too much so. There were lots of birds, and enough trees to make you want to scream during a hurricane.
On one of those typical August afternoons, you know, hazy, hot and humid, chance of thundershowers… My Mom, Dad, and I went for a walk, which was unusual for us. We had never gone walking before, at least as far as I could remember. My parents weren’t exactly outdoorsy folks. When we were a block or two away from home, and near the tire swing where I used to play, we saw a man sitting there. He looked like he could have been homeless, that was except for a fancy black car and driver that was waiting for him.
His hair was a little to long to be cute, but no quite long enough to pull back. His face was young, but he looked worn and tired, as if he hadn’t really slept in days. But he was probably no more than twenty-five.
When we passed he gave us a nod, smiled, and waved at us. The weird part was that he winked at my parents. They waved back friendly as ever.
“Who is that guy?” I thought to myself. But he just sat there on the tire swing, and we kept on walking.
I later wrote of the incident as coincidence. People were always mistaking my Dad for some computer person, whose name I can never remember, now especially since his… and my Mom’s death…
Everybody has their story, its just that mine is a little… well, different.
Chapter 1
When I was a little girl I had a very normal family. My Mom took care of me and the house. And my Dad worked as a car salesman. Life was typical, average, easy, and quiet. I went to normal schools, and lived a normal life. That was that it was so normal I thought it boring. My friends and I sometimes went to the movies, the beach, school, etc. But when I got home, it was always the same, and even though people were living there, it was almost as if the house, and the people in it were dead.
My Mom and Dad trusted me as much as they trusted any teenage daughter. In other words, not much. To me the house was a cage; a cage that was filled with too many pillows. At the time, little did I know that a simple walk down the street with my Mom and Dad would scar me for the rest of my life.
Chapter 2
My neighborhood was clean and neat, sometimes I though too much so. There were lots of birds, and enough trees to make you want to scream during a hurricane.
On one of those typical August afternoons, you know, hazy, hot and humid, chance of thundershowers… My Mom, Dad, and I went for a walk, which was unusual for us. We had never gone walking before, at least as far as I could remember. My parents weren’t exactly outdoorsy folks. When we were a block or two away from home, and near the tire swing where I used to play, we saw a man sitting there. He looked like he could have been homeless, that was except for a fancy black car and driver that was waiting for him.
His hair was a little to long to be cute, but no quite long enough to pull back. His face was young, but he looked worn and tired, as if he hadn’t really slept in days. But he was probably no more than twenty-five.
When we passed he gave us a nod, smiled, and waved at us. The weird part was that he winked at my parents. They waved back friendly as ever.
“Who is that guy?” I thought to myself. But he just sat there on the tire swing, and we kept on walking.
I later wrote of the incident as coincidence. People were always mistaking my Dad for some computer person, whose name I can never remember, now especially since his… and my Mom’s death…
Monday, June 22, 2009
Totally New Fav Song!
Ok, so I know its not my story, but it is a great song. I have a link to a video on my profile, but here are the lyrics:
"Desert Rose"
By: Sting
I dream of rain
I dream of gardens in the desert sand
I wake in vain
I dream of love as time runs through my hand
I dream of fire
Those dreams are tied to a horse that will never tire
And in the flames
Her shadows play in the shape of a man's desire
This desert rose
Each of her veils, a secret promise
This desert flower
No sweet perfume ever tortured me more than this
And as she turns
This way she moce in the logic of my dreams
This fire burns
I realize nothing's as it seems
I dream of rain
I dream of gardens in the desert sand
I wake in vain
I dream of love as time runs through my hand
I dream of rain
I life my gaze to empty skiees above
I close my eyes
This rare perfume is the sweet intoxication of her love
I dream of rain
I dream of gardens in the desert sand
I wake in vain
I dream of love as time runs through my had
Sweet desert rose
each of her veils a secret promise
This desert flower
No sweet perfume ever tortured me more than this
Sweet desert rose
This memore of Eden haunts us all
This desert flower
This rare perfume, is the sweet intoxication of the fall
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