Where The River Flows Red

Twenty-Four

Madcon- Beggin 

    She's sitting in the cafeteria with a group of girls I've never seen before. Elijah and I walked into the school hand in hand. The clans instantly stood up with their hands against their chest in a tight fist. I looked around amazed by their change. It wasn't that long ago that they were thinking about killing me. They probably still are. Yet they're displaying full respect now that I know who and what I am.

    "You have some nerve coming here," Ebony stood up. She pulled out a baton and extended it. A few of the daylight clan members all stepped towards her, hissing their warnings at her. 

    "It's fine," I waved them off. They didn't sit back down, they only stood back. She pressed something on the side of the baton and it began to spark. "That's a cute toy," I gripped the end of it and snatched it from her. It actually kind of charged my abilities. With my other hand, I turned her around slammed her on the table. The other girls stood up, aiming their guns at me. This time the daylighters didn't hold back. I tapped the end of the baton onto Ebony's thigh. She let out a little yelp. "Do you insert it this way?"

    "Let me go, you freak," she shouted. I laughed and stepped away from her. She spun around to face me while I twirled her baton in my hand. The battery is drained from it now so I offered it back. She smacked it out of my hand.  

    "You being here is a violation of the treaty. I can offer you up to the clans and there wouldn't be a single thing anyone could do about it. You do know that right?" I looked over at her friends. They all put their guns down. "Unless you want to start a war between Starks and me,"

    "You?" she laughed. "Who the f**k are to enforce anything on me?" 

    "Lady Anastasia is the first princess of the Phantom household. The second princess of the Lockwood household. The last of the two houses," Professor Sterling walked up behind us and stood next to me. "The question you should be asking yourself is who the f**k do you think you are to be raising your voice or a hand to our princess. This entire city belongs to her and her brother. You are all just guests here. I suggest you pack your things and get the hell out of here. Mel," she called out. A girl appeared by her side. "Make sure Miss Stark here makes it to her next destination safely. She is no longer welcomed on school grounds," 

    "Lady Sterling, Lady Lockwood, Master Sterling," Mel bowed to us and motioned Ebony to start walking. Elijah stopped her. 

    "If you ever put your hands on any of my siblings again, not even the kinship Mila feels for you will save you from what I will do to you. That includes Analyse," 

    Ebony didn't say a word as she and the other Ubiets were escorted out of the school. Elijah and I turned to face his mother. We both followed her to her classroom. She went into the supply room and returned with two duffle bags. Without exchanging words, Professor Sterling wished her son luck in the old ways. He kissed her on the top of her head gently before whispering he loved her. 

    He handed me one of the bags and together we got into his car. The Hunting building is next. The place is surrounded by hunters. I smiled as I got out of the car. Upfront is Bruce in complete uniform. He really did get demoted. He looked me over and let out a heavy sigh. 

    "You don't have to do this, Tobi," 

    "We both know I do," I shrugged. "You know what's a stake here. You know exactly why I was born,"

    "You can make your own way. They're not here anymore," 

    "I'm here. My brother is here. As long as we exist, they will never stop coming for us. I need you to step aside and tell your men to stand down. I am owed blood," 

    "You don't know it was the Starks," he shook his head.

    "I do. I was there. I remember it just as I remember you reading to me word for word. You were told to get them out of here before I was awakened and you failed to do so, dad. You once told me we have a duty to our people. I am here to claim what belongs to mine," 

    "In accordance to the first law of the treaty of Veraslies, Anastasia Lockwood demands the lives of Jonathan Stark the third, Olivia Luther Stark, Ebony Stark, and Lucian Demario Stark. For the deaths of Marelle Phantom, Alicia Phantom, Dorian Lockwood, Stephen Lockwood, and attempted murder of acting Queen Analyse Lockwood," Elijah took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Failure to comply will result in termination of those who stand in our way," 

    "Jonathan is your godfather, Tobi. Olivia was a second mother, Ebony is your best friend," Bruce shook his head. "You're really going to kill them?" 

    "You are my father," I shrugged. "Casshmeir is my mother. Silas is my brother and I'd kill you all had you betrayed the treaty. You know that I am correct? You've always known he created me to be his soldier. You were once the king. You used Jonathan the same way my brother will use me. Heavy is the soul of the right hand of the King. You said those same exact words to Ebony when you caught her sneaking out of Silas's room. Did you think the rules would change for me?" 

    "I'm begging you not to do this, baby," he shook his head. "I don't want to hurt you," 

    "You think you can?" I asked meeting his challenge. 

    "If I best you, you walk away," he nodded. 

    Elijah and I both laughed. I don't know where he got it from but Elijah handed me a katana. As soon as my hand wrapped around the hilt, my body shivered. My body instantly remembered my father's teachings. It's an instinct now. I pulled the blade out and nodded. He stepped back. One of the soldiers took my dad's guns and his vest. He removed his sword from a strap on his back and told them all to stand back. 

    "I haven't done this since I lost my memory," I took a deep breath. "I was smaller the first time I held a weapon to protect myself. The first time I killed someone to protect my father. He taught me to remove emotion between life and the target in front of me. Yet, looking at you now. I don't think I will be able to do that, Bruce. If I kill you here, it will haunt me for the rest of my life,"

    "Then walk away," he shook his head. "I don't want to fight you either, princess Lucy," 

    "Forgive me, but that's not an option. My king has given me an order and my will to comply is stronger than any other emotion in me," I straightened up popping my neck and my shoulders. I looked over at Elijah. With a single nod, he disappeared. "And it's Queen Lucy. She was a Queen, not a princess," 

    "Where did he go?" Bruce demanded. 

    "You didn't ask him to walk away," I shrugged. "Prepare yourself, Bruce," 

    I stepped towards him. He blocked my move and maneuvered around me to strike. I smiled when the tip of his blade smacked against the center of mine. He stepped back and swiped at me. From inside of the building, gunshots began to echo. I ignored them and moved around Bruce's attacks. I admit he's a remarkable swordsman but my speed and strength far surpass his limitations. Even as a veteran hunter, he's no match for elder blood and that is what beats inside of me and my brother. The new generation of Elders in the making. 

    "Elijah," I heard Zach growl. "Get down," 

    "This was fun, dad. We should have done this sooner," I disarmed him and bowed respectfully. 

    "Tobi," he shouted as I rushed inside the building. Elijah is on the floor. I can smell his blood. I tossed both swords aside.

    "Who shot him?" I asked Zach. His eyes are pitch black and his stare is on Ebony. 

    "I shot him," she smirked. 

    "Hold her," I instructed Zach. 

    "Mila, no," Elijah shouted. 

    I grabbed her and tossed her over to Zach. Her mother who is standing behind her rushed towards me. Using the energy stored in my body, I deflected the bullets she shot at me and removed the two guns out of her hand. I grabbed her by her throat and formed a bubble around us so no one would be able to stop me. 

    "Do you remember me now, Olivia?" I whispered into her ear. "You shot at me through the passenger window the night I was born," 

    "No," she shook her head. "Not in front of her, Tobi. She's my daughter," 

    "Oh, really?" I laughed. 

    "Get off of her, Tobi," Ebony shouted. 

    "You killed my mom, Olivia. You and your family took me from her before I could even see her face and you have the audacity to ask me for a favor?" I growled tightening my hold on her. "Look at her. Your baby girl. Remember all of the things she did that made you proud of her. Remember all the little things she did for you. All things you deprived my mother of. All the things you deprived me of. It was you and your family that created the monster my father became. The monster I now have to be,"

    "You're right," Olivia cried. "I did kill Alicia. She was- she was my friend and I betrayed her. I was following orders," 

    "Give me a name and I'll have Zach take her away," I offered. Ebony is crying. Begging me to hurt her mother. 

    "I don't have the name. Lucian was our acting commander then," 

    "Please, please. Let her go, Tobi," Ebony shouted. 

    "I'll give you the location if you let her go," Olivia added. 

    "Let her go," I ordered Zach. He released her. She looked between him and me. Olivia whispered the location in my ear.  I looked her in the eyes and nodded. Elijah grabbed Ebony and covered her face. She screamed for him to let her go. "I will never forgive you," 

    "You don't have to. I'll see you in hell, b***h," she's scared but fully prepared to die. 

    "I promise it won't be my hand that takes her life," I bowed out of respect. I reached for her throat digging my claws into her neck. Her tear-filled eyes met mine. "This is for my mother," I ripped her throat open. I pushed her away from me before she could get blood on me. I flicked the blood on my hands away and watched her gasp for air until she died. Elijah finally let Ebony go. "Let's go find Lucian,"

    "You b***h," Ebony shouted as she pulled her mom into her arms. "I hate you. I hate you so f*****g much," 

    "You should find your dad before I finished my conversation with your uncle. Analyse is close," I extended my hand out for Elijah to take. He smiled at me and stood up. I shook my bloodied hand a little more to try and get as much as I can off. 

    "Didn't think you were able to stomach it," he admitted. 

    "I never really liked her. She was always kind of fake," I shrugged. "Where is Rae?" 

    "She has Lucian cornered. They can't get past the guns. Cass is having trouble with her powers still," 

    "You're just going to leave her like this?" Ebony shouted. I turned to face her. 

    "Yeah, she left my mother in no better condition. You should leave. I'm leaving your dad for last. Not because he'd be the most difficult," 

    Her eyes widened as she stood up. She backed away from us and then ran off. Zach led the way. Elijah took my bloodied hand in his and pulled me close to him. It's weird for him to at ease. He's usually worried about everything. About me. About Zach. He carries the weight of the world on his shoulders, but right now. Right now, I think he's relieved to see how far I'm willing to actually go. 

    I'm not going to lie to myself and say that none of this is affecting me. A part of me is screaming. A-part of me knows this is a betrayal to everything I had grown into. At the end of it all, I know that even if I hold back. Even if I forgive them. Even if I leave my parents where they lay. There is no way to live at peace with the world. Not for me. Not for my brother and definitely not if we want more than what are about to take. 

    This is going to start a war and that's only the beginning. My father isn't going to let what happened to him and my mother repeat itself. I gathered that much about him in my memories. I know he's unforgiving. I know how hard he tried to keep me safe. To keep Godrick safe. What I am doing is simply the strike of the match. 

    As soon as we entered the room, bullets were fired at us. My barrier is keeping them from actually hitting us. I walked to the center of the room. All the attention is on me. I looked around the room until my eyes landed on him. His gaze met mine and we stood there as if nothing were happening around us. He knows who I am now. 

    "Get down," I instructed Zach and Elijah. 

    "Cocky," Zach chuckled. 

    The two of them dropped down on one knee. I gathered the energy inside of me and pushed it towards my hands. I looked down and smiled at Elijah. This feeling is something else. When I was a kid, it didn't feel like this. I didn't feel the excitement. I was always scared. This isn't fear. I feel liberated. I spread my arms out and shut my eyes waiting for my opening. As soon as the bullets pause for a second. I clapped my hands together releasing the energy from all around me. The guards all smacked into the walls. 

    "That is so f*****g convenient," Raven laughed. I smiled back at her as I walked over to Lucian. 

    "Hi," I greeted him. 

    "How did I not know it was you?" he pushed himself up. I knocked the gun out of his hand with a backhand. "You don't look much different," 

    "You tried to kill me," I kicked the weapons near him away. Elijah and Zack are close to me. 

    "I almost succeeded," he laughed. 

    "No," I laughed. "You didn't. You weren't even close. I want to know who gave you your orders, Sargent Stark,"

    "I'm not going to tell you s**t," he scoffed. 

    "He's coming with us," I gripped his wrist. 

    "Just like that?" Zach asked. 

    "Mhm," I confirmed. 

    "Let me go," Lucian is trying to pull out of my grip. I began to drag him along with me while he tried to pull himself out of my grip with all his might. 

    "How did you hit everyone in the room except for him?" Zach asked. His eyes staying on Lucian. 

    "I can't push the energy out from my chest. It can kill me. I positioned myself right in front of him right before I released it. None of them are dead. They're just unconscious," I explained. 

    "Yeah, I can hear their steady heartbeats," Cass jumped on Zach. I haven't known him that long but I know that smile wasn't something that graced his features often. Not like it is now. He also seems a lot more relaxed.

    "Got something to say, princess?" Zach growled at me. 

    "I'm just glad she pulled that stick out of your ass," I smirked. They all burst into laughter. 

    "The fact that we're siblings doesn't bother you?" Cass asked. 

    "Animals," Lucian spat at her. I gripped his wrist a little tighter making him cry out. Elijah kicked him. 

    "Of course, not. We're all dealt what we can handle. Not to mention that someone had to carry on the Sterling purity. Your parents are siblings aren't they?" 

    "Yeah," he nodded. 

    "Let go of my uncle you blood-sucking b***h," Ebony rushed out from one of the meeting rooms. 

    "No, Ebony," Lucian shouted.

    She fired the shotgun in her hands. The bullets ricochetted off the barrier shattering. I watched as they were propelled back at her. She cried out when the smaller pieces pierced through her skin. I held Lucian's arm up. Zach took him as I went over to her. 

    "No," Mr. Stark ran over to us. 

    "I'm not going to hurt her. She's not what I'm here for," I reassured him. 

    Ebony is going into shock. I pulled her up into my arms as she tried to gasp for air. I bit into my wrist and allowed my blood to drip down into her more serious wounds. The bullet fragments were pushed out of the wounds and she was able to breathe. I picked her up and walked into the room. Mr. Stark followed. I set her on the table so she can catch her breath. Zach dragged Lucian into the room and we were all locked in. I pressed the button to the main office where I know Silas is watching. I didn't turn the screen on. I just need him to listen to what they have to say and why they can't do a single thing about me killing the Starks or the Silverlings.