Where The River Flows Red

Eighteen

Adele- Hello

    Being back in school no longer has the appeal it did a few weeks ago. Everything has become predictable. I don't have to pay attention to record the lessons in my head and the way others stare at me is annoying. This much attention is going right over my head. It bothers me. They can feel it growing, probably not as much as I do, but close enough.

    "Hey," I looked up to see Silas coming over to me with Collum and Ebony following close behind.

    It doesn't surprise me to see the two of them holding hands. Ebony is wearing her hair up in a messy bun with a scarf around her neck to cover the bruising. A-part of me wants to hug her and profusely apologize to her but the greater part made me is angry for what she's done and what she had attempted to do. It's strange to feel so strongly about something I didn't know anything about a couple of days ago. Even worse to suddenly know more than I care to know.

    "Good morning," I greeted them politely. "You can have a seat," 

    "Nice," he smiled, taking the seat next to me. Ebony and Collum sat across from us. 

    "How are you doing?" I asked looking up at her. 

    "Fine," she choked out, pulling the scarf up to try and cover the bruising. 

    "How are you doing? We haven't had a chance to catch up," Silas interjected as he takes his books out. We received a few glances and lots of glares from the others. Most of them disappointed glances at me. 

    "Is it safe?" Collum asked pulling Ebony closer. 

    "It is. They can't come near me anymore. It wouldn't be smart for any of them to make a move," I waved everyone off.

    "Guess it has its perks," Ebony scoffed. 

    "What has its perks?" I asked. 

    "Being blood of a monster," she didn't try to mask her opinion of us. It is us now. She had said it with intent for the others to hear. I scoffed. 

    "It has nothing to do with me being related to Godrick. On the contrary, I can take care of myself. Which is why I don't have any guards," I rolled my eyes. It caught some of the others off guard. They look pleased with my answer. Okay.

    "Right," she scoffed yet again, this time before rolling her eyes. Maybe it's the hidden snob in me but I feel like I should press the matter further to see where it takes us.

    "Are you embarrassed?" I asked. 

    Both sides are looking. Paying attention to what we say. Those who are unaware of what we are, don't seem to notice the small flaws and tension between those like me and those like Silas and Ebony. Funny how being unaware of the danger makes everything so blissful. I'm going to miss that the most.

    "What do I have to be embarrassed about?" she turned to face me.

    "The scarf. I mean I guess I would be too. Not only that. I'd be ashamed as well," I pointed out. She glared at me. 

    "Of my scarf?" 

    "Of what you're trying to hide," 

    "Why should I be embarrassed or ashamed?" she asked. Her pupils dilated making her eyes seem like they are growing dark. 

    It's something that becomes Ebony. The anger. Her eyes darken. Her body tenses to the point where a slight tremble takes her body. I had triggered it once before when we were kids and it had scared the hell out of me. Now, now it's just kind of cute. 

    "Well, I'd be embarrassed about my purpose. You tried to go up against the monster that took someone important from you and got your ass handed to you. Ashamed because you failed your purpose. Both because both monsters and colleagues are both looking at you and laughing," I smiled. Her hands slammed on the table and she stood up. Her anger is completely directed at me. 

    "You f*****g b***h. You think these leeches are going to defend you when the time comes. You're a traitor. The leech who hid among the enemy," she shouted.

    "Who's the bigger traitor here? The leech hiding or the murderess protecting the leech? I don't need anyone to defend me. That's not what I'm here for. You've got your s**t twisted," I waved her off.

    "What are you here for? You're an abomination," 

    "So you say. As history recalls it, we were here first," I shrugged. I got a few laughs.

    "You mean abandoned?" 

    "Does it matter? The trespasser here is you," I sat back.

    "Me?" she asked without taking her eyes off me. 

    "Yeah, you shouldn't be here. My mother made a call remember?" I asked, turning the page of my textbook. 

    "Look at me," she demanded, taking the book. She shut it and slammed it on the floor. I looked up at her unimpressed. "Cassmier Bourne isn't your mother. You're a monster. One no one wanted. One no one will ever want because even your own kind wants you dead," 

    "They want me dead because they know I'm not a weak b***h with bruising around my neck and a little bump on my head," I shot back. she flinched back. I stood up and picked my book up. I placed it on the table beside me.

    "I should have killed you," she whispered. I gripped her scarf. Collum and Silas stood up unsure of what they should do. I pulled her into me. 

    "If you ever put hands on any one of these leech mother fuckers, again. I will rip your f*****g throat out," I let her go. She stumbled back falling into her chair. 

    "If you ever come near me again I will end you," she shouted. Her voice is raspy. I concentrated on the scarf as I began to put my books and belongings in the bag. 

    "I don't have to come near for you to die," I informed her as she began to struggle to breathe. "Silas, I won the bet," 

    "Stop," Collum called out to him, trying to get the scarf off of her. I let it go. She took in deep, desperate, mouthfuls of air looking up at me in shock.

    "This isn't who you are," Silas chastised, placing a hand on my shoulder. "What are you doing?" 

    "I remember everything," I let him know, pushing his hand away from me. "There's this particular conversation I remember between you and Ms. Stark here. One that took place in your bedroom," 

    "What?" Collum asked looking between them. 

    "I knew you had s**t taste in women. I didn't think you'd go as low as f*****g the help. The next time you feel like complaining about what a burden it is to have a sister like me, I'd like for you to tell me directly. Maybe we can compromise," 

    "Lady Anastasia," I looked up to see Elijah and his lab partner. "You ready to go?" 

    "Yeah," I nodded, grabbing my bag. 

    "Tobi, I didn't mean what I said," Silas tried stopping me. 

    "Then why did you say it?" I asked looking back at him. I glanced at Ebony to make sure she hears what he says. "There's one of two reasons why you could have said it. One because you meant it or two because all you wanted was to f**k her and saying the right words got you what you wanted," 

    "Are you f*****g kidding me?" Ebony asked looking at him. "Answer her," 

    "Why are you doing this?" Silas asked me. 

    "Why am I doing this?" I asked him. "Because I am f*****g pissed. You said you didn't know. You fed me lie after lie and I ate that s**t up like they were Christmas cookies. If I'm going to feel this s**t inside of me, the anger I feel. How it tears me up. We're all going to feel this s**t together. Tell her the truth. Collum is starting to hate you both. I hate both of you. I want you to join the party. So answer the question, Silas,"

    "I'm not playing your little game," he shook his head without looking at her. 

    "Either way, your best friend is pissed," I looked at Ebony. "And you're about to get dumped on your ass. By the way. This happened during MIT finals," 

    "I can't believe you two," Collum blurted out finally getting up. I didn't think he'd say much.

    "It didn't mean anything," Ebony lied, trying to stop him. 

    "Maybe it didn't mean anything to either of you. Did either of you stop to think what it might mean to me?" he asked them.

    "No, they didn't," I answered for them, looking him over. "Just like it meant nothing to you when you f****d all of Silas' girlfriends. The only reason you can't f**k his fiance is because she's way out of your league and she actually has self-respect," 

    "Stop," Silas demanded. 

    "Or what?" I asked. "What are you going to do about it? Does it hurt you? Is it eating at you? Welcome to my f*****g life brother," I turned to walk away.

    "You promised," he whispered, softly and it hurt me that much more. To hurt them, to get them the hell away from me. I have a reason to exist and it doesn't involve any of them. I just want them to go away.

    "I did promise and I fully intend to keep that promise. You're my brother Silas. I can't stop loving you because for a long time you were all I had. When the part of me that was locked away came back, I can't even begin to describe the kind of heartbreak that came along with it. You three stay mad at one another for a while and then makeup. Me on the other hand, I'll always be the monster that ruined your lives. One small victory for the unwanted beast that you call an adopted sister," 

    "You're my little sister," he corrected me, grabbing my arm. 

    "Let her go," Elijah growled, coming over to me.

    "You're my brother but I can't forgive you right now. We should have listened to your dad. We should have let Tobiana Bourne die the moment she was taken out of your home," the tears in his eyes reflect the ones I'm fighting hard not to show. "Let her die, Silas. I want her to," 

    "Because of what I said to get her into my bed?" he asked the tears in his eyes now, overflowing. 

    "No. I can care less about that. Remember the night before we were kidn*pped? I walked into dad's study. He was quick to cover some things on his desk. I didn't pay any attention to it then but when this thing in my head broke I saw what it was. We weren't kidn*pped because they wanted money. You played me. You guilted me into wanting to go with you so that her dad could kill me before I transcended. I took that beating thinking I was protecting you but that was the plan all along wasn't it? To have that man beat me to death?" 

    "Tobi," he shook his head, looking down at his feet. His grief filled my nose. It's a bitter-sweet scent. One I recognize from that night. He's been grieving since then. Maybe from the moment, he was told I was going to be discarded. 

    "Anastasia. My name is Anastasia Lockwood. My father named me that," I wiped the tears away that finally escaped away. "Tell your parents I said thanks for the car. It's the least they could do for trying to kill me," I placed the tracker Raven had taken out of the engine last night on the table. "I'll see you at work," 

    "I'm sorry. I didn't want to go through with it. It was an order. I'm sorry," he cried. I wrapped my arm around his neck and pulled him into me. 

    "So am I," I agreed and let go. I turned around giving them my back. Elijah offered me his hand and I took it without hesitation. 

    He didn't show his face at the internship. Bruce and Cassmier lingered around the office all six hours of my shift. Since Silas had been a no-show I was placed to work with Cassidy. She talked my ear off about my powers how she had read about them as individual powers in different people, never in one person. I was intrigued and was able to keep busy with her and Sammy. The feeling around Cass now is dark. Powerful. Sometimes I can see the tip of her fangs in between her lips when she talks. I want to ask her things, but I'm not sure if they'll be appropriate.

    "I heard about your altercation with your brother," Sammy cornered me when she sent Cass to put some texts away. I sighed and looked up at her. 

    "Did he tell you?" I asked. She nodded. 

    "He told me when our parents decided that we were going to have to get married. You were still in the hospital. It was eating him up," she tightened her lips. His sympathetic look makes me want to hit her for some reason.

    "I know that," I sighed and continued finishing my paperwork. 

    "If there is anyone you should be mad at, it's Bruce," she added. I sighed looking up at her.

    "I'm not mad," I corrected, my voice broke. 

    She came over to me, wrapping her arms around me, and for the first time, I allowed it to get the best of me. I gripped her arms and started to cry. Cassidy didn't know why I was crying but she came over to us and joined the hug. 

    "I'm driving you home," the three of us jumped at the sound of his voice. 

    "Godrick," I choked out, trying to wipe my face. He's the last person I need to see me like this.

    "Get your stuff and sign out. We have reservations. Raven and her brother are waiting," he looks really mad. I nodded. 

    "I'll see you guys tomorrow," I waved at them after signing out of the computer. 

    "I love you. Even if you are a little monster," Sammy chuckled. I laughed. 

    "Laters," I made it out the door before Godrick stopped me and turned me to face him. Bruce and Cassmier standing not far from where we are with Silas and Ebony. 

    "I never want to see you like that again," Godrick sighed, taking the handkerchief from his jacket and wiping my face with it. "It tore me apart to see that. I wish I could tear them apart if it wouldn't cause you even more pain," 

    "Thank you," I smiled as best as I could before placing my hands on his wrists. "I have so much to tell you. So much to ask you. I know we started off as strangers but now that I remember I've missed you. You have no idea how much I've missed you and how sorry I am for all this time you've spent alone,"

    "We have time now. Nothing is ever going to take you from me again. Nothing," he promised. I nodded. Silently promising him the same thing. He took my hand and we turned to face them. 

    "We have a conversation pending," Bruce tried to keep the same authority as before. Why was I so afraid of him? 

    "No, we don't," I chuckled. Godrick smirked.

    "Give us an opportunity to explain," Cassmier added. "You owe us at least that," 

    "She doesn't owe you s**t," Godrick growled at her before I did. I was going to say the same thing. "In fact, you owe her for not taking this up with the council," 

    "We haven't done anything wrong," Bruce glared at my brother, pulling Cassmier behind him.

    "k********g attempted murder, bribery," I started to name. stepping down the steps next to Godrick. "All which result in immediate execution by the blood treaty," 

    "We didn't kidnap you," Bruce shook his head.

    "That's not what the evidence says and you didn't deny the attempted murder part," I shrugged, looking at Silas. 

    "Why are you doing this? Just a few days ago you wanted to stay. What did they say to you?" Cassmier asked.

    "Her bloodline on the Phantom side gives her free access to her limbic system. If it's come into her sight directly, indirect, from her peripherals she can access it like if she were going through old pictures or videos on a tablet or a phone," Silas answered. "She knows everything. If she walked into the room while we were going through plans or blueprints she remembers them, vividly. Even if we tried to hide it," 

    "No use in lying anymore," I nodded. "I'm keeping the car and thanks for the trust fund. Pocket change right?" 

    "You don't need their money. You're worth a lot more than they are," Godrick smirked. 

    "Oh, I know. I remember. I'm keeping it because I want to. I mean, after all, I'm doing them a favor," I reminded him.

    "A favor?" Bruce asked. 

    "Breathing and living in my book is a favor," I sighed before looking up at Godrick. He played along and nodded. "You played your parts very well. You two should get an Oscar, seriously. Your performances are the best I've ever seen and I thought no one would ever be able to top Johnny Depp. Thanks for the fairy tale childhood. I'll be sure to include that in the list of things I have to tell my brother as we catch up," 

    "I didn't pretend," Silas interject, stepping forward. Bruce grabbed his arm but he pulled away from him. "I meant it. I mean it. Everything," 

    "I know," I nodded, taking my key from the Valet. I handed it to Godrick. "Laters bro. Good luck with your next orders. I believe this completes your mission,"