Bonded by Blood

Chapter One

“Seraphine, you won’t return until you complete your training. As you are now, you won’t be of much use to me.” I watch my father through the eyes of a child, blinking slowly as I struggle to comprehend what my young mind can’t grasp. Slowly, I nod, feeling that’s what he wants me to do. I’ve always looked up to my father, but since my mother passed away, he has become the cold man everyone says he is. Or perhaps he was always cold to everyone else, and now that she is gone, he can’t find it in himself to care about me. He barely can stand to look at me. I suppose it’s because I resemble my mother at least in appearance. They’ve always said my wild personality comes from my father. I’ve never been as docile as my mother.

I jolt awake, gasping for air, and mutter, “f**k,” as I take in my surroundings. I regain my composure and realize I’m back in my old room in a town I once considered my home. However, over the years, I’ve come to understand that I don’t truly belong anywhere since my mother is gone, and so is the blindfold covering my eyes. I glance at the clock on my nightstand and see 8:45 am flashing back at me. I was supposed to be at my new school forty-five minutes ago. I shrug, “Oh well, I need a shower then I’ll head out.” After finishing my shower, I throw on my leather black leggings, combat boots, my favorite red shirt that stops just above my belly button, revealing my belly ring, and my mini leather jacket. I let my long black hair flow down my back and put on some mascara, eye liner, and red lip stick. As I head out the door, I think, “It should be lunch time by the time I get there. I’ll grab something to eat then.” I swing my leg over my black bike, which I prefer to drive, and head towards the hell that is Blackstone High. I haven’t been back here in years as I zoom through town, looking at everything that looks exactly the same but different. I briefly wonder about the friends I left behind and the family I was close to at the time. I wonder just how much has changed. I know I’m not the same carefree wild child I used to be.

As I speed into the parking lot, I hear the bell ring, signaling the end of third period. I turn off my bike and head to the cafeteria. I’m familiar with the school, having visited it on a tour over the weekend when it was empty. The guidance counselor had encouraged that we get “acquainted”, but I suspect she’s eager to delve into my personal life, particularly my daddy and dead mommy issues. Yeah, that’s not going to f*****g happen.

I walk through the double doors of the cafeteria and scan the area, spotting several people already seated and eating. Most of them are in line. I lean against the stone wall and kick up my leg, watching and waiting. People are looking at me, but I ignore them, let them stare and know I’m not someone to mess with. My eyes scan the room, searching for a specific brunette.

When I spot her emerging from the line, I kick off the wall and start walking towards her. But I stop when I see the most fake blonde bimbo I have ever seen and her two friends approaching her. I tilt my head and wait, not wanting to interrupt them in case they’re her friends. The blonde says something to her and I see her face fall. Then the bimbo smack the tray up and food splashes all over her and she falls to the ground. Cassie just sits there covered in her lunch and starts trembling. I watch, waiting for her to snap and show this blonde she messed with the wrong girl but she doesn’t move just sits there crying while the bimbo laughs with her friends and whispers more s**t I can hear. Then she says loud for everyone to hear, “ Look at that spaghetti in your hair well it sure is an upgrade from your boring looks Cassie. Nobody would ever want you.” I clench my hands and move fast pulling out my knife that I always keep in my pocket I walk past the bimbo slicing her long hair right at shoulder length until I’m holding the remains and turn to her. It takes a minute for her to realize what’s happened and she looks to her friends who are looking back at her in horror. “Oh my God, Brittany, your hair! “ bimbo two says. Of course her name is Brittany that total makes sense.

I can feel everyone’s eyes on me now, no doubt from the scene I just made. Someone needed to replace her with fake boobs. I look at her and let a slow smirk spread across my face as I extend my hand, allowing the remains to fall. She opens and closes her mouth twice, clearly in disbelief. Then, she shrieks, and I wince. Her voice sounds like a dying whale. I tilt my head to the side and look her up and down. “What I did was a favor to you. That dye job looks terrible. Now, there’s less to look at. You’re welcome.” I shrug and tuck my hands into my pockets. Brittany turns so red that I think she’s going to burst. She shrieks, “What the f**k, who are you?! You had no business getting involved in this. Look at my hair!! You’re going to pay for this. My daddy is part of the Knight mafia. He’ll have you killed for this!” I laugh dryly and step closer to her. “You have your daddy fight all the battles you know you can’t win?” I look her up and down once more and shake my head. “Yeah, that totally makes sense. You only pick on those weaker than you to make you feel good about yourself. That’s fine. Have your dearest daddy knock on my door anytime I don’t mind handing a grown man his own ass. As for my name,” I smile sweetly and extend my hand. “I am Seraphine… Seraphine Knight.” I watched as the blood drained from her face and she took a step back almost unconsciously. I drop my hand. “Guess you’ve heard of me from your daddy, huh.” I shrug. “That’s a shame. And here I thought we’d all be good friends.” I say sarcastically.

Then I turn dismissing her, I look down at who use to be my best friend, Cassie Walter, she also is my cousin from my mom’s side. But she hasn’t moved still looking down at the floor and crying, although she is a lot stiffer now. I hear bimbo and her friends storm away, Brittany screams out as she leaves “this isn’t over I am going to call my father and make you pay for this.” As I squat down and really look at Cassie, wondering if this is the same girl who use to be as fierce as I was. Besides this reaction her features look the same. I stick my hand out, “Hey Cass, it’s been a long time.” Her eyes snap up to mine and there is hatred there which surprises me but I mask it. She jolts up, and I instinctively follow. “Cass, don’t say that! It’s been years, Seraphine! YEARS! Where have you been, where did you go, what happened?” “Whoa so many questions, slow down” I laugh out loud. She balls her hands up and scoffs. “Don’t deflect , you left me here!” Her bottom lip trembles. I soften a little. I back up putting my hands in my pocket “Come on let’s go.” I turn and start walking to the doors, “where?” I hear her yell out behind me. “You want answers, don’t you?” I call out not waiting and just like I knew she would Cassie sighed and starts following me.