Heritage (27 page)

Well that hurt a lot. Pulling myself up off the ground and wiping the mud from my hands on my jumper, I threw two fire balls his way. He burnt to the ground next to my bag. Before I could go grab it, Megan was standing over the pile of demon ash.

“Megan?” I whispered. She looked like Megan but a whole lot better. Her blonde hair was curled and hanging flawlessly on her cheeks.  She was dressed head to toe in black leather. Looking like someone from the matrix’s she pulled out the box which held the crystal.

“Don’t you…”  Before I could finish she shimmered out of the Alley, taking the water crystal with her.  Well that wasn’t the best thing ever. Sighing I picked up my soaking wet bag and headed to my car hanging my head in shame.

Chapter fifteen

At least I wasn’t the only one who had their crystal stolen. Alex was jumped by a werewolf on her way home from her boxing lesson and only just escaped. The werewolf ran off, and Megan again, took her stone.

Chewing on the end of my pen, I tried to block out the noise coming from the Television six feet away from me. Having spent a lot of time away from the Bales I missed them a little bit, so why not join them when they are watching their soaps. It gives me time to work on my report due in tomorrow and even hide away from my duties of being the princess of all good. Losing the stone to a newborn vampire hurt my ego, but losing it to Megan Cairns hurt me a little bit more. The Eastenders theme song began to play as I finished the one thousand word report, that I had spent the past few hours writing.

“Isn’t it nice seeing them back together,” Beth yawned covering her mouth with her hand. “I always liked them together.”

The people in soap land were so dramatic, for a small neighbourhood an awful lot went on.  I have no idea why someone would sleep with their nephew and his arch enemy and then try and blackmail them. Saying that she would tell their wives. How did no one else see what was going on, surely someone would pick up on it.  Also, how does no one notice a baby being switched with another baby during a new year’s party. Are they all blind.

“Isn’t he her nephew or something?”  Robin asked. She was sitting behind me as I sat on the floor. Her long blonde hair was tied up in a plat, and she was wearing cute pink bunny pyjamas. For a twenty year old she dressed like a twelve year old, but with her figure she pulled it off well.

“No,  he’s her cousin,” Marc replied from the other side of the sofa that I was leaning against.

“Either way that’s wrong,” I scoffed.

“Too right!” Robin chuckled from behind me.  On the other sofa sat Beth and Bruce. Bruce wasn’t really paying any attention and as usual had the newspaper to his face.  Even though, the Bales are not my real family, I did feel at home when I was with them. I had spent eight years with them and even though Robin made out she didn’t like me, she did have a sensitive side, and at times she did act like a sister.  Once she even lent me her amazing blue butterfly jumper to wear to college. Having a family like this to comeback to every week made me feel half normal. In Gracia the only time my real family spent together was in meetings and meals, even then it was pick and choose whether you attended.

“Hey Elle, I heard your friend got with Blake Robinson on Saturday,” Robin spoke over the murmur of the television.

“Yeah she was bragging about it today,” I replied setting my laptop down on the floor beside me.

“My friend Casey was so jealous. She’s been after him for months,” She chuckled.  Being shushed by Beth we stopped talking and continued to watch the drama unfold on the screen.  I had to tell Poppy about Casey, she would love to know that she made her Jealous. Being the most sought after girl in the small town of Black Stoke, Casey wasn’t ever jealous of anyone. So Poppy would probably boast about this for a long time.  Maybe I shouldn’t tell her.

“Mum can I borrow twenty pound from you tomorrow?” Robin asked.

“What for honey?” Beth replied already pulling out the twenty from her purse, ready to give to Robin.

“I need to pay for the books for the new course, I want to start next year.  I thought I would get a head start,” She explained standing up to take the money from her mother. Thanking her, she sat back down behind me.

“What course are you doing?” I asked turning to face her.

“I want to do a course in Greek mythology,” She mumbled. Greek mythology, that is an unusual course to take especially for Robin. She didn’t seem the type to be interested in mythology.

“It just interests me. I’m interested in the Greek Gods and that kind of thing,” She muttered staring at the television screen.

“It’s a great subject. You will enjoy it,” I smiled turning back to the TV myself.

My phone rang disturbing the peace that I was having. Leaving the room I unwillingly answered the call.

“Hello,”

“Now what gets me is how Megan was able to take the crystals,” Alex exclaimed down the phone. I could tell she was annoyed by the fact she had been beaten by a werewolf and a vampire.

“I’ve been thinking about that,” I explained climbing the stairs and entering my room. Alex was perched on the end of my bed. Hanging up the phone I sat down beside her.

“Other demons perished when they came in contact with the stones. Why didn’t she?” Alex asked again, shaking her head in annoyance.

“I think it’s because she was good before she was turned into a vampire, I don’t know maybe that allows her to touch them? That’s my explanation anyway” I explained.

“That makes sense in a weird twisted way, which is the usual way in our lives,” she muttered, picking up the more magazine from my floor that Poppy had left when she last came over. Flicking through the pages, she let out sighs at ever page she turned. It’s really weird how alike Poppy, and Alex are in some ways, I sure know how to pick my friends. 

As we sat looking at male celebrities and who’s dating who, my window blew open and in flew a small blackbird. It flew over our heads and perched on the chair in front of my desk. 

“Well that’s different,” I whispered trying not to scare the small bird. I didn’t need to bother with being quiet as it grew in size and turned into Josh. We both stared at him biting our tongues.

“That’s a bit feminine isn’t it?” Alex laughed. Not being able to hold it any longer, I laughed along with her.

“Don’t start with me! It’s less eye catching than a giant panther,” He yelled, the vein on his forehead popping out under his skin. Alright this sounds like something that the Bales don’t need to hear. Crossing the room I closed my bedroom door in hope they wouldn’t hear us.

“Breathe Josh,” I whispered massaging his shoulders. He was tensed up, and his fists were clenched so tightly they were turning purple. Taking shallow breathes, he unclenched his fists, and they slowly turned back to their natural colour.

“What happened?” I asked, continuing to massage him as he body began to ease up.

“I was jumped by a bunch of six vampires and two minotaur’s on my way home from basket ball. I total could have taken them, but they all pinned me down before I could shape shift. Damn mythical bulls. They are so strong. Then Megan appeared and took the Earth stone out of my Gym bag. By the way on a totally different note, she looked HOT!”  He spoke in one long breath. Taking another breath his shoulders deflated. Releasing my grip on his shoulders. I went to sit back next to Alex on my bed.

“So we have lost three stones now?” Alex groaned slapping her forehead with her hand. That’s a comforting thought. We are three stones down,
and
the demons are three stones up. The are three steps closer to opening a gate that unleashed something evil.

“But we still have Air and the diamond. I can honestly say that is a big part of the whole opening the gate way to hell.”

I tried not to get angry at the thought of being three steps behind anyone, never mind an evil Megan Cairns. I leant over and pulled out an old shoe box from under the bed.  Pulling off the lid the metal diamond glistened in the dim light.

“Our main priority now is to keep this and Leos’ crystal safe. Otherwise, we are sort of doomed and not in the dramatic sort of sense. In the, the world will perish in a wall of fire sense,” I explained placing the Diamond in Alex’s hand.

“Try not to lose this one,” I mocked, closing the box and pushing it further under my bed than planned. Receiving angry looks from both of them. I tried not to say anything else that would anger them further.

“I’m just saying. If we have that taken from us too, then we have a big fight on our hands. None of us want that,” I explained.

“Well the way I’m feeling. A fight is what I defiantly want,” growled Josh through clenched teeth.

“Cool the jets there tiger,” I teased.

“You know who I would seriously love to kill right now,” He exclaimed tensing up again and clenching his fist. The hairs on the back of his hands turned black and grew in number.

Glancing at Alex we both hesitated to ask him who, but it was clear in my mind whom he was going to say.  Even though, Josh had never even spoken to Logan properly, he had a clear hatred for him from the first time he saw him.  In my mind,  that was the right feelings to have towards Logan. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t help but feel there was more to him than what people saw.  I don’t believe that someone could be all evil but according to my father, I always want to see the good in people.

“Who?” I asked unwillingly.

“That Bastard Logan!” He growled, his hair turning from blonde to black.

“Breathe Josh. I don’t think I could explain a giant panther in my room to Beth,” I cried taking his half formed paw in my own hand.

“Yeah well, He was just doing his job” I replied. As soon as the words left my lips I wished I could take them back. His eyes turned yellow as his breathing became quick and shallow.

“Joshua Albert Edelweiss. Calm down now!” I commanded placing my hands on his shoulder. His yellow eyes dimed as his hair regained its normal shade of dirty blonde. Letting go of his shoulders, he sat down on the desk behind him, trying to calm his breathing pattern.

“Sorry Elle!” He breathed.

“You really need to sort out your emotions Josh. Someone could get hurt,” I exclaimed sending him a stern look as he checked his hands were back to normal.

“I’m sorry, but he gets me so angry!”

“I see that, but I don’t know why. You have never even had a conversation with him.” I replied cautiously. I really didn’t need a panther in the middle of the room.  I don’t even know if this room could fit Josh’s panther form inside it, as well as me and Alex and my bed. 

“I don’t have to have a conversation with him Elle. I can see that he is Evil. Unlike you, who just sees his attractive features,” He exclaimed his hands clutching the side of my desk, cracking the wood.

“Excuse me!” I yelled. “How dare you say that to me. Is that what you honestly think. You think I’m that shallow that I would base an opinion about someone on their looks.”

“I didn’t mean it like that,” He stuttered.

“Oh and what exactly did you mean then Josh. Please explain I’m dying to know,” I yelled a fire ball forming in my hand. Maybe I needed to control my emotions to.  Closing my hand, the flame disappeared, and I continued to stare intently at Josh.

“I just meant that you are looking at who he is rather than what he is,” Josh boomed pulling off half of my desk in his hands. Sure that would be easy to explain to Bruce. What am I going to say to Bruce when he asked why his antique table had two holes ripped out of it.

“It doesn’t matter what someone is if whom they are, is different,” I explain. That didn’t make a lot of sense, but I’m hoping Josh picks up the gist of it.

“That’s ridiculous! If someone is a demon it means they are Evil Elle. Their personality doesn’t change whom they were born to be.” He slammed his hand on the desk making it shake. The anger boiled in me, my head felt like it was on fire. I’m sure I have never been so hurt and angry at Josh in my life before.

“Well I’m half demon Josh.  So does that mean I’m Evil?” I asked biting the inside of my cheek.

“No, No Elle your different,” He stuttered stepping towards me. Stepping away from him I tried my best not to punch him right in the nose.

“Right! How so?”
“You’re Elle and your half angel, so that’s a completely different thing,” He babbled trying to undo what he had said.

“I think you’re looking more on who I am than what I am Josh” I replied.

“Elle don’t listen to him,” Alex whispered.

“It’s ok Alex. I’m Glad he said it, now I know where I stand,” I replied smiling at her. She never liked to see me upset, and I didn’t want to take what her brother did out on her.

“Elle I honestly didn’t mean that,” Josh attempted to make amends, but I couldn’t even look at him anymore. Let alone talk to him.

“Josh I suggest you shut up now!” Alex snapped.

“Elle,” he whispered.

“Go home Josh! I’m done talking to you,” I yelled.  Putting her arms around me, Alex gave me a hug.

“I’m with you on this one. Just because, you are told you are something, does not mean that is whom you have to be.” She whispered.

Josh was half out of the window before Alex disappeared. Mouthing sorry he jumped from the window and landed on the ground as a chocolate Labrador.

Now even my friend thinks I’m going to become evil. That fills me with warm fuzzes. How can Josh even say that to me? He was the one who told me that because my mother was evil, it didn’t mean I was. Well he soon changed his mind on the whole situation.  All my strength was being used to not scream out loud. I didn’t want to alarm the Bales downstairs, even though they most likely heard the whole fight up here anyway. We had been louder than I wanted us to be.  I need to get out of here. I just want to scream until my lungs can’t take it anymore.  Holding out my hand I called for my blue cloak with the pink inner lining. It appeared in my open hand. The fabric soothed me it reminded me of home and Peggy. Wrapping the cloak around me, I flicked the hood up over my head and leapt out of my open window. I had no idea where I was going, but I started to run. As I ran the air rushed past me. I held my hood tight around my face, trying to shut out the strong wind. Following the path down into the wooded area at the side of the Bales house, my feet were swallowed by the flooded grass. Picking my feet up higher to avoid being stuck in the mud, I continued to run across the acres. When I couldn’t run any further, I stopped to catch my breath. I have no idea where I am running to.  Trees towered over me as leant against a wooden picket fence. Darkness covered everything in sight.  Distant sounds of running water reminded me of where I was.  The path towards the village was visible in the dim moonlight.  Crumbling I fell to the ground and couldn’t stop the tears from flowing. All my emotions poured out of my body as my tears fell uncontrollably.  I couldn’t control the nagging voice in the back of my head, telling me I would become what I hunt. A demon like my mother. Now there are so many people telling me that is whom I am. Lorias I could cope with but my father and Josh, that I can’t take. Even though my father hadn’t said the exact words.  Saying I was like my mother in my mind meant I was evil.  All I know about her is that she was evil.  Yes,  she may have been good once but does that change anything. Nothing in my head makes any sense.