Where The River Flows Red

Sixteen

Skarlett Riot- Warrior 

    "Why did you stop me?" Elijah asked when Raven had taken my dad and Silas. I looked back at him and then at Godrick. 

    "Ivanka didn't want anyone to know she had information for me. I have to get into that house as soon as I can," 

    "You're being watched," Elijah disagreed, disapprovingly. 

    "The Lamborghini is being watched," Analyse corrected, looking at Godrick. "The windows are tinted dark. I can drive it back to Norte Maison myself and wait until you can bring her back," 

    "You want to break into Bourne Manor?" Godrick asked crossing his arms over his chest with a smirk on his face.

    "I wouldn't be breaking in. I have keys and codes," I shrugged. "My balcony is always unlocked. I can climb up the side. Silas and I used to sneak out of my room all the time. It'll be dark," 

    "You're talking about the massive wardrobe in your room?" he sighed. I nodded. "I can run you there on my back. Elijah, you're going with Analyse. You two are going to be a pain in my ass together," 

    "He's going to be a pain in our asses, if anything," Analyse rolled her eyes at him when I handed her my key. "Have fun with Mr. Personality over there," 

    "I'll see you later, princess," Elijah bowed before following her out. 

    I closed my eyes and imagined the room the way it was when I had first seen it. I opened them and watched the furniture move back to their rightful place. I can't fix the food on the floor but I was able to put it back in the cart. Kitty walked in with a broom and a dustpan to realize she didn't need them anymore. 

    "Well, you won't be any fun," she scolded, her shoulders slumping. 

    "Sorry," I grinned. Godrick walked into the room, looking around. 

    "You're getting a lot better at this, Kitty," he smiled. She scoffed at him before going over to the cart. She pushed it away. He handed me a helmet. 

    "What's this?" 

    "You're going to need to put that on if you want to see and breathe while I run," he informed me. We walked out to the backyard. It's pitch black out here. 

    "Why is it so dark?" I asked. 

    "The lights are off so no one sees us leave," he answered while looking me over. "Put that on," 

    I put the helmet on. Godrick bent down and motioned me to jump on his back. I hoped up. He gripped my thighs tightly. It startled me at first and it made him laugh. Part of me is freaking out. Yet, it's such a familiar feeling.  I grabbed on to him. He leaned forward. I took a deep breath and before I could let it out I gripped onto his shirt. It's like falling into water. The cold stung against my skin even through my clothes. 

    My eyes began to adjust to the darkness and the only way I can describe what I'm seeing is what I imagine a shark would see as it swims through the ocean at full speed. The trees and the empty fields breezed by faster than I had ever gone, yet I can see everything up ahead as clear as one can see in dim light. 

    When we broke through the trees and out into open field. This is a whole new world. It's like flying right above the surface. Everything is speeding by so fast. Like hitting the fast forward button a few times on the DVD player. I couldn't help the laugh that came out of my mouth. 

    "We're near the school," he shouted. I looked around to see where we are. 

    "Cut through the main road up there," I instructed. I didn't think it was possible but he went faster. "Left," 

    "Are you sure? The road ends," he shouted. 

    "No, it doesn't. It's a secret passage," I shouted back. 

    He pushed forward until we reached the lining of the trees in my parent's backyard. He stopped and began to look around. Everything looks the same but somehow it feels completely different.

    "Dogs?" 

    "Don't worry about them. My room is on the second floor by the maple tree," 

    "I remember," he chuckled. "Hold on," 

    He rushed towards the house and before I could prepare myself he jumped up landing right on my balcony. I jumped off his back almost falling. He chuckled helping me stay on my feet. Once I was ready, I pushed my door open and walked in. He didn't close it all the way as he followed in after me. I walked over to the wardrobe and opened it. 

    "This is Narnia?" he asked. I looked back at him and pressed the back of the wardrobe. It popped out to reveal my books. "You have two copies of Narnia?" 

    "One is hollow," I smiled, pulling out the box. I opened it to find a file and three USB pucks. I shut the wardrobe and went to my closet to grab one of my backpacks. I put the book in and grabbed my tablet and laptop. "We should go," 

    "You don't get it, Silas. She's not coming back," I heard my dad shout outside my room. Godrick pulled me into the Wardrobe with him. My door was opened. "This is the only thing that is left of Tobi. She's Anastasia now. You saw it yourself son. She's chosen her side," 

    "Because you told her to. You gave her that stupid speech about having to choose the best path for others. That's all she's doing. She's doing what's best for us," 

    "Then why did she shut the Sterling boy up? She doesn't trust us anymore," 

    "She has every right, dad. I don't trust us anymore. I'm trying to coexist with her. She's my sister whether she has fangs or not. You brought her into our lives you can't just kill who she is to us because she evolved," 

    "You'll see it yourself, Silas. You need to learn this on your own. Tobi will be completely gone soon. All that will be left is Anastasia Lockwood. The Vampire Princess. We were always just temporary for her," 

    "Is your love for her temporary as well?" 

     "Of course not but I am not the one in denial about what she is. She and I know where we stand,"

    "Dad," the door to the wardrobe was pushed in as if Silas is leaning against it. "I don't know if I can move on without her here," 

    "Silas, the world isn't without her. She's out there. You were going to have to break away from her one day. She would have gotten married and chosen to leave on her own. It's in her nature to lead on her own,"

    "Is this your helmet?" 

My stomach flipped. I looked up at Godrick. He pressed his index finger to his lips. 

    "It must be your mother's. She comes in here a lot," 

    "It would have been easier if she left because she got married and moved out. Not because she's going off to become a leech," that hurt me. 

    "Go take the helmet to the garage. Your mom probably forgot it's up here. She'll be looking for it," 

    "Goodnight," the sound of the two of them walking out was the last thing I heard before the door shut. Godrick opened the wardrobe and we walked out. 

    "It's not a far run from here," he shrugged, referring to the helmet. 

    "Let's just get out of here," I shook my head, grabbing one of my favorite hoodies. 

    I looked back at the room one last time before stepping out onto the balcony. I shut my eyes and leaned into Godrick protecting my face. The run went by quickly. When I looked up we were standing in front of the elevator that takes us up to the penthouse. I stepped down when we got inside. 

    "I'm sorry you had to hear him say that," Godrick finally broke the silence. I was kind of hoping he wouldn't. 

    "I think it's better that I do," I waved it off without looking up at him. "Da- Bruce is right. We're going to be pulled apart anyway. There is no way either side would accept any kind of relationship between us. This was over before it started," 

    "You know what's the best part of being king?" he asked. I looked up at him. 

    "What?" 

    "You can tell everyone who tells you can't do something to go f**k themselves," he smirked. I laughed. "It'll be hard but just because he's human it doesn't mean you have to stop being his sister," 

    "What about you?" 

    "It's a little morbid to think this way, but in an odd sixty or seventy years, I'll still be here. We'll probably still look the same and he'll be dead and gone,"

    That realization hit me hard. We walked out into the hallway and over to the apartment. I can't believe I hadn't thought of that. I'd lose them all anyway. We're not the same. Almost everything in my life is fleeting. A moment to look back on. Interesting. Even with the spell that made me forget what I am, it hurts to know that I can't be like them. That I will never be able to get back to the place I found solace in. I have to get over it. I have more important things to do. I was born with one purpose and he's standing right next to me. We've found each other brother. Now we have find them.