Bloodlines: Everything That Glitters (21 page)

“Looks like I was stood up, I should get going. See you at home Aliza, later Nikko and Centure.” I shoved the chair back and stood. I waved and headed for the door- through the glass I saw my father standing in the distance; it was time for another hunt.

Alizarin

Sunday September 12, 2010

Everything is dark; she can only see her hands, yet somehow she knows that she’s standing in the middle of the woods. A ghostly figure flies forward, it glows a very brilliant green, lighting up the dark path as it leads the way. She’s running now, barely trying to keep up; the air is cold and thick as it burns her nose while she heavily breathes it in. The figure pauses for a moment before addressing himself as the eldest of many Skintoucher’s.

Once again she’s racing through the woods looking for something- although being completely lost. Suddenly she’s engulfed in flames; her eyes are bloodshot and the urge for revenge shudders up her tingling spine. She inhales deeply before staring at the flames around her, how could this be happening?

A small hint of light shines forth through the thicket and ahead she can see that there is a clearing of the trees. The woman jogs audaciously through the forest, dodging tree limbs that have unanimously come to life, daring to keep her hidden within the forest. A limb swiftly grabs her legs and she stumbles face first onto the warmly moist earth; a cry for help escapes her throat, but no one can hear her, she is alone and her flames are extinguishing slowly; in no time she will be in the dark, lost forever. A small tear falls to her cheek as she finally begins to give up hope.

That’s how the dream ends every time; I wake up in a cold sweat and my heart races on uncontrollably. I’ve been having this same dream for the past month and a half, even before I found out about the powers I possess.

I rubbed my eyes intensely; I couldn’t sleep although being extremely tired. “So much for that nap,” I sighed as I got up from the bed.

It was entirely too hot in the stuffy house as I contemplated on what to do with my life. Firstly, I needed to get out of the clothes I’d worn to school. I paid no attention to my surroundings as I stood in the room in a bra and panties fumbling around in the dresser for something to wear.

“I’m caught between wanting to look and feeling ashamed of myself. You have an amazing body.”

Immediately flames surrounded my body, not even giving myself time to locate the origin of the voice- I’d try to kill whoever it was anyways.

Nikko stepped out of the closet slowly, daring not to get any closer to the fire. “I was sent to keep an eye on you,” he smiled.

I quickly found anything out of the dresser and covered myself, not knowing whether to be afraid or angry as he looked at me longingly. “Are you serious right now?” I responded with a mix of emotions in my voice. “I have Ash for that, now disappear.”

I was sure to speak nice and clear just in case anything went sour and I needed Ash to help me sneak out with his dead body.

“Calm down, I don’t want to hurt you. Can we talk?”

“What do we possibly have to talk about?” I stayed in flames as he tried to maneuver around them.

“Could you calm the fire? It’s making me a little nervous.”

“Imagine that,” I responded sarcastically. After looking him over briefly, I decided to calm the blaze down until I was myself again.

“Thank you,” he smiled while walking over to me; I didn’t refuse him as he took my hands into his and looked into my eyes. “Do you want to have a seat?”

The closeness and warmth of his touch dazzled me as I unwillingly began to back up and take a seat on the bed. “What do you want?”

To my surprise my words came out more like a request than the rude question I’d meant it to be. Like whatever he told me he wanted, I was willing to do.

He sat down beside me and looked deeply into my eyes. “We need you, Alizarin. Our people need you. Why won’t you accept our help?”

“Why do I need your help? Why can’t I just live my life?”

Nikko’s eyes looked tired, as did mine. “You have questions you can’t answer on your own and we have the answers you need and deserve. The fact that you hang on to humanism is beyond me.” He shook his head lightly then stared out of my open window. “Can I tell you something no one else knows?”

“Why would you tell me?”

He quickly jumped up from the bed and rubbed his face. I could somehow feel his annoyance come through his pours like sweat. “Why do you answer all of my questions with a question? I trust you, okay.”

“Trust is a hard thing to come by. Why do you give it away so freely?”

He looked away then sighed. “Forget it,” he answered before disappearing.

Realizing that I was being a little more difficult than necessary, I got up from the bed and closed the window before openly saying, “If you can hear me, I’m sorry. Tell me what I need to do, and I’ll do it.”

Seconds later, he reappeared in the room and stood behind me- making me nearly jump out of my skin. “Great, and I have a thank you gift just for you,” he answered, once again disappearing from the room.

“I know a lot more than you think I do. I was raised in this thing, it didn’t just happen to me in a gas station.”

When he came back into the room he was holding the most precious thing I’d seen in a long time. It was a small brown and white curly haired Shytzu puppy no more than a few months old. It was cutely adorned with a red bow as it trembled then sank deeper into Nikko’s arms.

“I found him rummaging through the trash in China. My mom is allergic to dogs so I can’t take him to my house.”

I smiled down at the small dog. “He’s adorable. How’d he get clean if you
just
found him?” I asked puzzled.

Nikko shrugged, “I had time to stop and clean him up, he’s still wet but you can hold him if you want to. He needs a good home.”

I stroked the puppy’s back and smiled when I looked up at Nikko. “You’re giving him to me?”

Nikko took the dog in both hands and handed him to me, “Sure. I’ll even bring you food and a collar for him. What will you name him?”

I cuddled the damp puppy in my arms and recollected names that might fit the brave little guy. “I adore the name Triton, what do you think?”

I picked him up and examined his little face, he looked depressed and lonely like he hadn’t seen love in a long time. I wondered what it was like for him out there alone and if his parents were still around or had they died.

“Be right back,” Nikko responded before disappearing from the room for a third time. When he returned he was holding a bag of puppy chow and a small red collar with a bell and silver-plated dog tag.

Triton vibrated in my arms as I looked from him to Nikko. “Thank you so much, what does it say?”

“Triton the Brave.” He handed the collar to me and I unhooked the ribbon then buckled the collar around his tiny neck.

“I’ve never had a dog before but I’ve always wanted one. I just hope my parents let me keep him.” I sat him down on the bed and pulled some of the covers over him hopefully he would warm up soon.

“Well I’m glad you like him.” A seconds later, he had disappeared.

“Wait! What were you going to tell me earlier?”

When he didn’t appear back in the room, I figured he was gone for sure that time. I found something suitable to wear from the dresser then picked up Triton and headed out of the room. When I opened the door Ash was staring directly into my eyes, startling me. “What’s your problem?”

“He got you a puppy?”

I looked down at little Triton and smoothed his fur. “Why do you ask questions you already know the answer to? And yeah, isn’t he adorable?” I held up the little guy and turned him to face Ash who was stone faced.

“Why would someone you barely know bring you a puppy? Haven’t you learned that you can’t trust anyone? Not even your best friends, who dare I remind you, you almost
killed
?”

“No, you
don’t have to remind me; I see his face every day. It’s just a puppy so calm your nerves. It’s a signing bonus,” I answered.

Stepping around him, I walked to the bathroom. “Uncle Ash needs to mind his business doesn’t he, Triton?” I babbled as I turned the light on. I sat Triton down on the countertop and brushed my hair into a ponytail with a bang. The amethyst part of my hair was spreading while my original hair was losing its luster.

Ash appeared in the doorframe behind me. “You should just be careful, that’s all I’m saying. We can’t trust everybody, Aliza.” 

“You don’t think I know that? But I really don’t think he wants to hurt me. Besides, his brother and grandmother have helped me.”

Ash exhaled slowly. “Alright Aliza, do what you want.”

He turned and walked down the hall to his room and shut the door.

I scooped up Triton once again and headed out of the bathroom shutting off the lights as I left and headed downstairs. Although I wasn’t sure where I was going, I just had to get out of the house- it’d make me feel normal.

***

By the time Triton and I returned home parents still hadn’t made it home. I hung my jacket up downstairs and trudged upstairs to my room with a tired pooch resting peacefully in my arms. When I reached my room I gently sat Triton on the bed then examined the room before sitting down at my desk.

Since Ash’s car wasn’t parked out front and the television wasn’t sky-high in Corey’s room, I figured they must have gone out as well, maybe to grab something to eat. “It’s just me and you Triton,” I breathed as I turned on the laptop and pulled up a blank design document.

Before I could begin on the design for the logo for homework the doorbell rang, I pushed the seat back and got up to answer it. “Who is it?” I yelled from the stairs, several feet away.

“Centure.”

I unlocked the door then opened it widely and invited her in. “What brings you by today?” I said as she floated into the house. “Do you ever really use your feet?” I wondered aloud.

Centure continued on as if she didn’t hear me, “I came to invite you to my home which is not too far from here. I am going to help you.”

A faint car horn blew outside and seconds later Ash and Corey stepped in through the door. “Hello Centure. What’s going on?”

“You and your sister are coming to my home which is not too far from here,” she repeated slowly. “I’m sure you heard this from the driveway, yes?”

“Sometimes what you hear can be deceiving,” he replied tactfully.

“How does twelve in the afternoon sound?”

I heard a high-pitched bark upstairs and ran to get Triton, who was shaking and fully twisted up in the covers. “Awe, were you scared up here by yourself?” I said as I detangled him and held him in my arms.

“You’re going to spoil him!” Ash yelled from downstairs.

When I returned downstairs, Centure, Ash and Corey sat in the living room. “Why should you care?” I replied as I sat down in an armchair across from Centure. “So what is it exactly we need to be trained for? Is there some sort of war going on out there?”

Centure folded her hands across her lap and focused on something behind me, making me turn to see what she was looking at. “There are things about yourself and about this life that you do not know and I’m afraid it’s too early to tell you about them.”

I looked into her pale blue eyes and spoke. “Why not? I deserve to know these things, especially if someone is out there using people to find me. It shouldn’t be that big of a secret.” I was becoming upset and letting the pressure get to me.

As much as I wanted to pretend to be normal, I knew I was not and if going through some sort of power training was the only way for people to start talking, so be it. Besides, I knew I wouldn’t be able to run forever- or could I?

Centure only looked at Corey then back at me, her face was still calm and patient. “You are not ready. Now, if you will excuse me I have to go.”

Without another word, the front door opened and Centure floated out of it and disappeared.

I got up from the armchair and looked at Corey. “If you knew anything else you would tell us right?”

“Of course I would. You and your family have been very kind to me.” She looked down into her lap.

I nodded then went into the kitchen to find an old bowl that I could feed Triton out of until I bought him a proper food bowl; he hadn’t eaten anything since he had found some old scraps of popcorn on the fair grounds. Surprisingly his shyness didn’t last long today, he still wanted to be under me but occasionally he would jump out of my arms and run up to random children and adults.

“We need to talk about something,” Ash said as he entered the kitchen.

“If it’s about Nikko or Triton, save it,” I replied shifting Triton to one arm and holding up my hand in his face.

“It’s not about that, it’s about sleep. Have you been getting any lately?”

“You can see the black rings can’t you? If I’m lucky I can maybe be thirty minutes,” I replied, sitting the bowl on the counter.

“Same here. Do you think it’s because we’re stressed out?”