Daltons Part 11

The sudden throw of passion had not been on the agenda for the evening, at least not in Lia's mind. Somehow her mind had let go of all the logic screaming at her and despite her better judgement things had gone too far, too fast. Her green eyes flickered open the blurred sight of a dark and unfamiliar room. As she began to shift she became suddenly aware of the heavy arm draped over her waist and her eyes followed it the peaceful sight of Hunter asleep beside her. A small smile appeared on her lips, he looked like less of an annoyance asleep. Her eyes searched for the clock and a small hint of panic came over her as she saw the time. She was dead.

Carefully she slipped out of the bed and fumbled through the dark for her things. Her mind was reeling with emotions, everything in her fighting her to stay but she knew better, by the morning they'd be leaving town and this, whatever this was, had been a stupid idea. She never should have gone in the first place, she should have just overpowered him for the ring but that deprived girl inside her had desperately wanted the experience, more than she would ever admit, so much so that it actually scared her. Slipping her clothes back on she grabbed her shoes and quickly made her way out the door. She shut it quietly behind her before pulling her shoes on she hurried down the apartment stairs and out.

As she got to the motel she reached for her key only to realize she didn't even have her bag. "Shit" she muttered running her hand through her tangled hair she hesitated as her fingers ran into a hair pin. Pulling it out she knelt down at the handle carefully picking the lock. Lock picking had basically been a right of passage in the Dalton family, after all haunted houses weren't always left open. She heard the familiar click and stood turning the handle quietly. Opening the door she carefully stepped inside the room hoping that her absence had gone unnoticed.

"Lia what the hell we were about to call the police!" Jimmy said and for the first time in a long time she saw a genuine look of worry crossed his features. "Well that would be a first" she commented, people like her didn't mix well with the cops, they always seemed to get in the way "Thank God you're alive" he said closing the space between them her brother wrapped his arms around her tightly. The moment her older brother embraced her she lost any control over her emotions that she might have had. It had all hit her, everything that they had missed out on in their lives had always gone unnoticed, until now. Tears rushed down her cheeks as she felt the burn against her cheeks and she could feel her brother tense in his hold uncertain of how to react, after all Lia Dalton didn't cry.

"Give us a minute Jim" and her oldest brother's voice cut through the room. She hadn't even seen him sitting there until he'd spoken. She stepped back from the hug and turned her attention to him now waiting as she watched Jimmy head outside shutting the door behind him. She watched Jake stand from his chair and move across the room before he grabbed his shoulders firmly his blue eyes staring into hers. "You can't do this, pull yourself together Lia you're a Dalton" he started before his eyes looked across her face and he suddenly released her stepping back. "What happened?" he demanded "What did he do to you?" but she shook her head.

"Nothing" she protested. Jake wouldn't understand, he never had he didn't see a problem with their lifestyle, they did their job, just like they were trained to and moved on from town to town. He'd never been the sort of guy who got attached very easily, so leaving people behind had become second nature. For her and Jimmy, it was different. They had always joked that Jimmy was the outcast, his dark hair made him contrast against their fairer features but in truth, it was Jake who stood apart from them both, whatever need for normalcy he might once have had, was long gone. "Lia you're sneaking in at four in the morning in tears so it's not nothing how about we try that again?" he asked.

"How about you leave it alone?" she retorted with force and the look of betrayal that crossed his face stung. "You and Jimmy need to get my bag back" she said simply moving past him to open the door letting her other brother back inside.
"Why? Where is it?"and she hesitated.
"His apartment" she revealed.
"Wait; what were you doing at his apartment?" Jimmy asked with such naivety it almost hurt to hear the words.
"I think I can guess" Jake offered, his own voice sounded more like a growl causing Lia to avoiding looking either of them in the eye. This was not ideal, if she'd come home at a more decent time she never would have been faced with the scenario and no one would have been any wiser of what had gone on in her absence.
"I still don't follow" Jimmy offered and Lia almost lost it.
"I slept with him Jimmy!" she yelled all of her frustrations coming out on her brother now, the wrong one in fact. "I gave it up! Handed out the V card! Hit it and quit it!"
"I think we get the picture" Jake interrupted
"Do you? Do you actually Jake because of all the people in this room right now you least of all should be judging me!"
"Hang on it's-"
"I swear to God if you're about to finish that with 'It's different' so help me Jacob" she warned him. She was sick of stupid double standards, it had always been this way and honestly, she was shocked she'd even been allow to hunt at all, one might have thought she was living in a Jane Austen novel with the restrictions they placed on her.
"I- wait you- wait- what?" Jimmy seemed to have a more difficult time comprehending it all but Lia waited, it usually only took him a moment before his brain caught up. "Jesus Lia... with THAT guy?"
"Did you have another guy in mind?" she questioned curiously
"Preferably none... ever" Jake offered and she rolled her eyes, welcome to the twenty first century.
"Okay well when you guys come back to reality come find me" she muttered moving past them  grabbing her jacket off the bed and heading to the door opening it.
"Lia! Come on..." Jimmy's voice followed her and she turned quickly.
"No, just leave me alone" she said slamming it closed behind her she took off into a run, disappearing into the night.

A Matter of Perspective

This was written by myself in a 25 minute time period as an essay assignment for an online practice examination. I thought I would share it.

"Two men look out through the same bars; one sees mud and one the stars." (Frederick Langbridge) a simple but exceptionally true statement. No, two individuals do not always see the same thing when they look at it. Every human being has a different way of thinking, as individuals no two people are alike, we have varying forms of intellect and different cultures, or economic situations can have an effect on how we perceive the world around us. Humans can be taught how to look at things and still, five students with the same instructors for their education will never turn out to be identical thinkers. One cannot exactly explain the process but there are a variety of factors that affect the outcomes. Individual DNA can be a contributing factor and an uncontrolled one at that.

 An artist will not look at the stars as a philosopher would, nor would an astronomer. One may see a beautiful backdrop to paint, another simply contemplates the view and it's greater meaning, while an astronomer will map it. All three are looking at the same sky but to each individual the outcome is astoundingly different. There is also the question of where an individual would look. As quoted by Frederick Landbridge, one man is looking down at the ground, while the other looks about to the sky, quite literally they are looking in two separate directions despite the fact that they are looking through the same bars.

Additionally is the metaphor to be examined here, optimism verses pessimism, most individuals would be inspired by a vision of the stars above, while mud on the other hand is less inspirational less one is an exceptional gardener. Not only in the quote, are the men quite literally seeing two different objects, but their perceptions on life seem to contrast, it is a classic tale of viewing the glass as half empty, versus half full.

What does this say of the human society? If all humans are of a basically similar genetic makeup, why are we not all seeing the stars through the bars, or the mud? There is a component of the human mind that cannot be controlled, it is the very reason that in an elementary class of thirty children, all receiving the same instruction for several years will produce so many different individuals and professionals. 

Out of one simple class of thirty individuals, despite their identical education could be an Author, a Doctor, an Educator and so on. In fact, despite everything there could be thirty different professions to appear out of this class and for no reason aside from the fact, that as human individuals each and every one of these students is potentially able to excel at different tasks. Some are logical thinkers, others are artistic, some have no preference and are comparable at both and others do not excel at academics at all but are much better at task work.

In conclusion often times no two individuals see everything from the same perspective It is not to say that it is not possible for this to happen, but the human brain is a complex place, completely individual to each and every new human being that is born and developed in a society.

Campaign Launch

I have launched Crowdfunding Fundraiser campaigns for A Lost Legacy: Awakening on both Kickstarter and Indiegogo. I need your support to make them happen!

A Lost Legacy series was born in the forefront of my mind about six years ago. Writing has always been a passion of mine and the Supernatural and Fantasy fiction genre is a great place to escape. I have been perfecting and changing the novel for so long now that it's almost ready for release the only issue is getting the funds to get the product out there!

 The novel is in the finishing stages but it needs my complete attention, a great editor, great advertising and some wicked graphics. Unfortunately while I try my best to self-promote all of this is costing money, not to mention I want to get the product printed and out there to people who really love to read and believe in the power of a good book.

What's the Difference? Indiegogo is a flexible funding site where all funds raised go to the campaign launcher VS Kickstarter where the fund raising is all or nothing.  Indiegogo also offers a Paypal option to Kickstarters Amazon/Creditcard only pledge options. 

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Kickstarter Launch

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Thank you so much for the support on my blog and reading what I've written so far, though I've tried to keep the main content of A Lost Legacy underwraps you have all been supportive with my short stories! To support or simply check out the project you can find it here!

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Bound

The sound of Audrey's alarm rang through the room as she moved her arm across her to smack the snooze button before groaning under her breath. Morning always seemed to come too soon, and she never felt fully recovered from the day before. Curling up in the warmth of her blanket she felt the soft press of lips against her cheek she opened her dark eyes and focused on the man lying next to her. "Morning" he started and she muttered something in agreement to that fact. "You better be careful" he teased "I'm getting used to waking up here" the comment made her smile but she did best to hide her nerves. Roman was one of the first people she'd met in Braxton when she'd moved and the closer he got to her, the more lies she had started to spin to keep him there.
"Yeah well don't get too comfortable you have your own place you know" She reminded him kissing him quickly before she rolled to get out of the bed. He grabbed her hand quickly before she could step too far and she glanced back at him over her shoulder.
"Where's your bracelet?" he asked and her eyes fell to her wrist.
 "took it off to shower last night" she offered the lie flowing so easily from her lips it became hard to stomach forcing a smile before she hurried into the bathroom sliding the door shut behind her. Reaching for the drawer she opened it her eyes falling quickly to the diamond tennis bracelet she'd left sitting there and running her fingers across the jewels she reached to grab it as her fingers brushed something else. Closing her hands around it she carefully removed a blue leather box and her fingers carefully moved across the worn edges. She never should have taken it with her, it sat there as a constant reminder of what she'd left behind. As she moved to open the box she heard the vibration of a phone from the bedroom and she froze, dropping the box down into the drawer and slamming it shut.
"Bennett Carter's calling" the name caused her stomach to drop, Bennett had promised to let her be which meant if he was calling her, something had to be terribly wrong. She moved into the room with grace and a smile more forced than the last one. "Should I answer it?" he asked and she reached for the phone all too quickly just as it stopped ringing.
"I got it" she said casually "you go shower" she told him as she took the phone and moved carefully into the kitchen. She waited until she heard the water turn on before returning the call. With each ring her nerves began to raise but she suddenly calmed as the familiar voice came through the phone.

"Audrey, I'm glad you called" it was Bennett's voice, calm, controlled, comforting as always.
"You called me" she reminded him and she could almost hear him smile through the phone.
"That I did....you need to come home" She froze at the words and stuttered a response.

"You said I could stay here-" she protested but it was quickly cut off.
"That was when I thought you would be safe, unfortunately circumstances have changed, you've been in Braxton long enough we need you home" his tone was demanding and as much as she wanted to say no, she knew that she had an obligation to her family even if she hadn't chosen them, they had chosen her. She was about to protest when the words she feared most came next.

"It's Ryder- he's in trouble"

***

Ryder Carter had always been different, from the day Bennett had found him at the Foster home, things had changed, he had been only seven years old and still his powers had begun to exhibit themselves. Unlike the others, Ryder had always carried a darker side and with darkness came rage, the kind that he wasn't always able to control and that's where Bennett had come in. His whole life he had worked at trying to prove his place, to make Bennett proud and to be a contributing member of the society even if that meant taking on the less than desirable tasks. The secret was, he had enjoyed it, embracing the pain, the lessons he got to instill on the rogues, it was a way to unleash his own pain and ensure that they understood the rules were in place for a reason, their abilities were not to be toyed with, not to be exposed in any way. The day he had met Audrey Rhodes had changed his whole life, he'd gone from a man with nothing but ambition to someone who felt real, she had seen something in him no one ever had before, and it wasn't his power. He had fallen in love with her the moment they'd met and despite his stubborn personality and attempts to keep her away, she somehow kept finding her way back to him. It had been soon after he met her he began to notice she was different, much like the others he had grown up around she too had some sort of ability, one he had never seen the likes of before. It had taken him a year to build up the courage to bring her to Crescenthill, and even then it was only after she had accepted his proposal. Bringing her to Crescenthill had risks, he had known that when he'd done it but he knew that Bennett needed to approve of her before he could marry her. He hadn't planned what had happened next. The Rogues had attacked them on the road into the manor and as payback for what he'd done to them in the past they stabbed Audrey. Bringing her to Bennett he had been faced with the choice, allow the woman he loved to bleed to her death in the infirmary, or to make her an initiate, a risk that could very well have taken her life. He chose to initiate her, allowing Michael Barnes to heal her wounds and expose his power, the act that would make her one of them. While the men in their line were born and thrived on their abilities, the women in their line were claimed, at age twenty-five their abilities fully manifested, a process which either killed them, or made them stronger. The house was filled with males for the very reason that none of their female ancestors or initiates had ever survived the claiming, that was until Audrey. The shock of electricity on his skin woke Ryder out of his thoughts as he screamed from the pain, the burning smell of his skin becoming an all too familiar scent.
"Oh good you're awake" he narrowed his dark blue eyes at the man standing before him his fingers sparking like lightning, as he glared he thought of all the ways he would make him pay for this when he got free.
"What the hell do you want?" he asked boredly as though he were there on his accord.
"Well how about a little payback for this? Then we'll move on from there" Leo Wilde had always been dramatic but it wasn't until he had left them had he truly embraced his inner melodrama. The payback he was speaking of was in reference to what Ryder had done to the man's face for betraying the homes secrets to another family.
"I think it's an improvement Wilde, I mean you know what they say, chicks dig scars" he offered before a punch met him straight across the jaw. Ryder laughed even as he tasted blood on his tongue. "Oh you can do better than that" 

***

"Whoa, one phone call and you're packing your bags?" Roman asked and Audrey bit her lip nervously as she shoved a few shirts into a duffel bag.
"It's just for a few days, I need to go home and help out with some family stuff and then I'll be back" she assured him. That was part of the truth, whatever Bennett had said on the phone, she was going back to get their unit back together before she left again, she had been serious when she said she was out, she would keep her powers to herself, she would keep their true identities secret but she couldn't live like that anymore she needed normal.
"Right, this mysterious family. Does the seven month mark not warrant a family introduction yet?" he asked and Audrey laughed slightly.
"Trust me, you don't want to meet them they're... complicated" she stated. She'd only been in the circle for four years before she'd left, but even in that time, she had dealt with and done things she regretted, things that still haunted her dreams at night, the less Roman knew about that life, the better and he certainly didn't need to get anywhere near Ryder.
"You haven't told them about me have you?" the question of the day and she turned looking slightly guilty as she stared at him, his green eyes watching her expectantly.
"No..." she admitted "but I will, I will tell them when I go there and can do it face to face" she offered. She would have to tell Bennett at least, and she knew that he was good at keeping a secret if nothing else. "And I told Carson remember" she pointed out and watched as he smiled.
"Right well, at least the brother knows, makes me fell like less of a dirty little secret" he joked. Part of the agreement of moving to the city had been Carson coming with her as her 'brother' while he studied pre-law she could do what she liked. The more she had to explain the random people in her life the more complicated a lie her family tree began to weave. "Is he coming with you?" he questioned and she nodded.
"He's waiting outside" she said picking up her bag. "Love you" she said running out of the apartment and down the stairs to the car. Seeing Carson waiting there she opened the door tossing her back in the back before climbing in the passenger side. Carson was twenty years old, a good deal younger than her and the moment she'd moved into Crescenthill she had taken to him like a mother to a child. His messy dark hair and brown eyes gave them a similar appearance enough it seemed to pass as Half-siblings but there was a olive hint to his skin that was very much absent from her own fair complexion.
"Where to?" he asked calmly and she adjusted the side mirror to check behind them before turning her eyes to him.
"Home"

***

Bennett waited patiently by the window as he glanced through the trees of the estate to the road waiting for the stretch of country road to show the appearance of a car. He had already summoned most of his initiates and family home for this, a move he would not have made if he didn't think the matter was serious. Ryder had often caused trouble for the circle, but never like this, never to the extent he had now. Audrey's departure had sent his son into a tailspin that had landed them in the situation they were in now, his capture and a ransom he was not willing to pay. He heard the car before it came into view but a calm washed over him as the SUV pulled up outside the house. He moved from the window and into the main hall as the doors opened and Audrey entered.

"Audrey" He said moving to her quickly he wrapped his arms around her in a tight embrace holding her tightly. In her time there she had truly become the daughter he had never had, and one he knew now he would not have to lose to the claiming. He had once been hesitant on her involvement but she had done nothing but make them stronger since arriving, and he had come to care for her as he imagined any father would care for their child. It hurt him, to see the pain her leaving had caused Ryder, who was the only and closest thing he had to a son, he had hoped the calm that she brought to him would last but his actions had driven her from them, and yet somehow drawn her back now. "I've missed you around here" he told her before moving to hug Carson. "Welcome home you two, Carson your cousins are upstairs, I need to speak to Audrey" he said motioning to the office before watching as Carson nodding heading up the wooden stairs to the upper levels of the manor. He stepped inside waiting for Audrey to follow before closing the door behind her.
"I didn't realize you'd called in all the reinforcements" she commented placing her bag down by the door taking a seat at the chair opposite his desk. Seating himself on the other side he took a moment to survey her, she looked different, uncertain of herself and it was a something he had never witnessed before.
"Well you know I wouldn't have called you if it wasn't serious Audrey, Ryder... has been taken" he watched for some sort of reaction on her and he saw what he was looking for in her eyes, concern.  "The rogues are under the assumption they can initiate a negotiation of leadership in this family and Leo Wilde is requesting I step down as Elder and promote his father to the position"
"What? The Wilde's had their chance at leadership in their own circle and they broke the rules, they're rogue for a reason, that's absurd" she could feel her pulse beginning to race, the heat in body could have made her blood boil. "So what? They're using Ryder as a bargaining chip? You for him?" she asked.
"Something like that, but we don't give into requests they should know that, and we especially don't react well to threats" he finished standing up he pulled a crystal from the drawer and slid it across the desk towards her. "You're the most gifted as Scrying Audrey, and you're also have the closest bond to Ryder, I need you to try a locator spell in the den and let us know the results, Nathaniel is upstairs waiting for you, he's got the maps" he watched as she stood up from the chair closing her hand around the crystal before turning to the door. She stopped and glanced over her shoulder at him for a moment.
"Bennett..."
"Yes Audrey?"
"When we find him... and we will find him, I'm going back...you know why I can't stay here" He watched her for a moment and gave her a sad look.
"I know why you think you can't stay here" he said simply and nodded to the door. Clenching her fists tightly Audrey turned and pushed her way through the office door grabbing her bag as she passed. "Your room's still there" he called behind her. Shaking her head Audrey bounded up the stairs stopping on the third floor she hesitated outside the door. Running his fingers across the surface she placed her hand on the door handle and carefully pushed it open. Stepping inside the memories hit her hard, for years this had been her sanctuary, their sanctuary. Inside she and Ryder were safe, as long as they were together and it had all fallen apart. Tossing her bag on the bed she slammed the door behind her as she moved back into the hall and walked down to Nate's room. Throwing the door open she walked in and slammed the Crystal down on the table.
"RHODES!" she turned quickly to see a grinning Nate moving towards her.
"Hey Nate" she said with a smile he suddenly lifted her from the ground in a tight hug spinning her around before placing her down. Nathaniel Barnes had grown up at Crescenthill, his father, had known Bennett when the two were children and they now ran the circle together. Ryder and Nate were like brothers, and they had adopted Carson into their family when his father had died. They had all had a tight bond when she'd arrived, but they'd accepted her with open arms like the sister-in-law Ryder had intended her to be to them.
"I've missed that face around these parts, all the testosterone it's exhausting" he joked placing her down. "Did you finally come to your senses and come home?" he asked and her smiled vanished quickly.
"I'm just here to find Ryder and then I'm going back to Braxton" she said moving past him now to the table where the maps had be laid out.
"Why you got a squeeze there or something?"
"Nate.."
"You do...ouch" he stated "And I thought we had something" he said mimicking hurt.
"Nate seriously enough" she told him and he cut the act.
"Does Ryder know?" he asked next and she sighed turning her attention back to him.
"No, and I'd prefer it if he didn't have to find out, my life in Braxton is my own, my life here... it's the past they don't need to meld" she stated and caught herself. "I don't- that's not what I meant" she said suddenly.
"I know what you meant sweet cheeks, no harm done" he said "Lets just find Ryder so you can get back home" he said moving to lean on the edge of the table his eyes focused intensely on the map. She turned and placed the crystal on the map.
"Do you have something of his?" She asked "Something he gave you?" Nate shook his head.
"No... but you should" closing her eyes for a moment Audrey reached into the pocket of her jacket removing the small leather box. Opening the case her eyes fell on two silver bands within, one with a small singular diamond had been hers, the other, had belonged to Ryder.
"I planned to leave them here" she spoke to leave that whole memory behind but she still seemed unable to leave them behind no matter where she went. She had tried to give hers back to Ryder when she left Crescenthill, but he'd surprised her by removing his own and giving them both back to her. "He told me to give it back to him when I was ready" she muttered, but she was sure that Nate knew that already, she hated to think of the things that were said about her there. Taking his ring from the box she placed it around the chain before connecting it to the crystal. Holding it over the map she closed her eyes tightly and began the incantation in her mind. Feeling the crystal stop she turned her eyes to the map. "He's in the mountains, in Rosewood" she stated. It didn't surprise her that the Rockford Circle would let the Wildes stage this kind go coup, or they were completely unaware, but there was bad blood between the Carters and the Rockfords, blood that went back centuries.
"We can't cross into that territory" Nate said turning he threw his fist into the wall with frustration. "damn it!" Audrey took a breath calming her mind as she turned she focused her star on the hole Nate had left in the wall and the bruise already forming on his hand, she knew what had to be done.
"You can't.... " she said taking the ring off the chain she placed it back in the box before shoving the box back into her pocket "but I can" 

Summoning 2

Zalia Thorne walked through the long corridor of the train, passing compartments as she went until she finally settled into an empty one. She placed her shoulder bag beneath the seat and settled her head against the side of the compartment her eyes staring out the window at the fog covered platform. There were no parents, family members to wave good bye just more children filing onto the train. She wasn't sure how she was supposed to feel about it, leaving home. Sad perhaps maybe a little bit frightened and yet she simply felt numb.

"Excuse me is this seat taken?" a quiet little voice pulled Zalia from her thoughts and turned her attention towards the compartment door. There was a girl standing there, her hair was blond and in the dim light could have been mistaken for white, her skin was just was pale, almost sickly looking and her eyes the colour of the darkest brown. She looked as though one gust of wind would snap her in two and the thought amused Zalia.

"Go ahead" she said simply her voice showing her lack of interest in the concept. Whether or not the girl took the seat across from her held no bearing for her trip.
“Welcome Students” a shrill and overly enthusiastic voice echoed through a static filled intercom. “The train will be departing for The Academy in precisely ten minutes, we ask that you take this time to change into your supplied uniforms and someone will be by to inspect you shortly” as if on cue another boy appeared at the compartment door. He didn’t ask permission to enter he simply did so pulled up the input screen on the side panel. Zalia watched as he entered his size requirements and moments later it spat out a uniform. Grey slacks, white shirt, grey sweater it was extremely lacking in the colour department though she supposed that was the point. Turning her attention to her own side panel she followed the instructions as he had and within moments held a similar outfit, only in place of grey slacks she and the tiny girl across the compartment from her had grey stockings and skirts. Pulling the curtain around her seat Zalia changed from her long white summoning dress and into the supplied clothing before, with the simply wave of the hand the separation curtain retracted and she slummed back down into her seat, her eyes returning to the platform view.
“I’m Ilandra” the small little voice broke the silence again and both she and the boy to her side turned their attention to the girl across from them. “I’m from Sector E” There were seven sectors across Westwell mostly divided by land type or produce. E, O, I, S, R and finally A.
“Rykel, O” the boy spoke. The roughness of his voice surprised her, or perhaps it was the fact that he could speak at all, he had certainly seemed more like the silent type than a conversational one. Both their eyes fell to Zalia now as they waited for some form of introduction and she turned away before she added.
“Zalia” I stated “Sector A” I admitted not that it mattered anymore. These sectors were no longer their homes. Some of them might be sorted back home eventually but many of them would not be likely to see our homes again. The blond girl went to open her mouth again when the compartment door flew open. A chill settled over the space as a grey looking man stood there. He was large enough to block the entire door, tall enough to cast a shadow over all of them. “Up” he demanded his tone cold and harsh. The three of them wasted no time getting to our feet as he looked us over through dark rimmed squared spectacles. “Right arms out, forearms up” he instructed next and they quickly slide up their sleeves and outstretched their arms. “Names and Sectors”
“Rykel Reese Sir, Sector O” suddenly the man pulled out a long silvery device and held it down to the boys arm she watched as Rykel flinched for a moment and as it was lifted away a black array of numbers appeared across his arm with a small circular symbol above.
“You!” the man stated to her and she turned her attention from the marks to him.
“Zalia Thorne, Sector A” and within second the burning pain had carved a set of numbers into her arm as well. Her eyes settled on them and knew it was now her identifying factor 070990 she reached to run her fingers across the raised skin before she was stopped by his sharp tone.
“Don’t touch it you’ll get yourself an infection, you girl, your name”
“Ilandra Rollins Sector E” the other girl spoke meekly and it caused Zalia to roll her eyes, that was a good way to get walked over for sure. Zalia watched as she too was marked before the man continued.
“These marks are now your means of identification you must scan your arm each time you enter in and out of any classroom, or building during Academy hours of operation, after hours you will be require to check into your dormitories by the same methods is this clear?” and the three of them nodded in unison. “Now check in by means of your screens so the Academy can be assured you are on board” he said and moved to leave before stopping “and for the love of Westwell straighten your shirt” he stated to Rykel before slamming the compartment door shut behind him.
“Well someone forgot his happy juice this morning” Zalia commented before turning to the screen on her panel and allow the mechanism to scan her arm. “let’s hope they’re not all that miserable” Her eyes turned back to the other two now, Rykel seemed unshaken but Ilandra looked close to tears. “Look you better toughen up sweetheart because the Academy is designed to find and prey on your weaknesses the best way to beat them is to not show them any weaknesses at all” technically she knew the Academy was designed to discover their strengths, and to pair them with those who had likeminded or complimentary traits to reproduce, but they also watched for your weaknesses as a method of division.
“And you’re perfect?” Rykel growled at her.
“No” she stated simply. “I’m just trying to be a realist here”
“No you’re being a pessimist and the compartment could do without the negativity don’t you think we’re all scared enough as it is” It was a thought that had never occurred to Zalia, that the others might be frightened of their journey. The realization silenced her quickly and her violet eyes turned to the ground as she thought through that idea. It seemed absurd, to be afraid when they’d all known since birth that the day was approaching but maybe she had just been hardened to it.
“I’m sorry” She spoke suddenly, not to Rykel but she lifted her eyes to the small girl before her. “I didn’t mean to sound so harsh but I don’t know about you I don’t want to end up in the Otherlands” but even with her attempt at an apology she could hear the words came out forced, she sounded so insincere no matter how much she actually meant it. She was so focused on surviving the Academy, not only surviving but excelling and hopefully gaining a place of nobility, with a higher income and better perks. She hadn’t been destitute, but her family had struggled on occasion to make it by, she wouldn’t do that to her own children and if she didn’t have control over who she married she was going to have control over something. The Otherlands was the place the selectioners sent the undesirable candidates, those who had been born unusual, that didn’t fit into the textbook image of human perfection. The infertile, the mutated, the deformed and sickly were all sent to the Otherlands to die and Zalia would be damned if she, or anyone else in the compartment was banished there. The screechy voice returned to the intercom as she demanded that everyone take their seats and Zalia returned to her place, her gaze fixed out the window as she watched the train move down the track and the place she once knew as home disappear forever.

RYKELL

The jolt of a stopping train had shocked her awake and the site of her sitting up in a semi-panic brought amusement to him. Served her right for being a downer. As the announcement game over the intercom they all stood and gathered their things entering the corridor to file off into the receiving dock of The Academy. As he stepped out into the cloud covered sun he squinted his cerulean eyes and lifted an arm to shelter them from the suddenly light as the large building came into view he was left speechless. He’d seen photos of The Academy before, in school it was part of their history of course, part of their culture but to actually see it first hand, was both frightening and invigorating. The building was aged stone, and just a bleak and grey as its surroundings but the size and history it held was enough to urge him forward. Long before the fire had destroyed everything, the Academy had been a castle a place that oozed history and charm, that kings and queens had lived and ruled but as one of the only freestanding buildings left it had been renovated for the program and he hated to think what beauty and soul they had sucked out of it. The only hint of color was the lush regrowth of forestry that held the backdrop of the building itself. It was partitioned from the grounds with no visible access that he could see, at least not at first glance. He had one goal at the Academy, come out on top. He had lived in the farthest and poorest section of Sector O, his father had died when he was five and he had four older brothers to follow after. With their mother’s job they had barely survived, it became a little easier each time of them was Summoned until finally, he’d been alone, and now, his mother was alone until, or unless he was sorted back to Sector O an outcome he didn’t find all that likely.

“WELCOME” The booming voice shocked him out of his thoughts and his eyes quickly turned to the front of the building. There she stood, and in person she appeared more frightening than any photograph could have portrayed. Her tall, boney figure and angular features made her appear harsh, even with what could have passed as a slight smile on her thin lips. “My name, as I’m certain most of you already know is Director Tamesis Blake and I am in charge of the program, The Academy and in turn, all of you” the idea was chilling, ownership of their lives had never been in their possession, from birth they were pledged to the program, The Academy had always owned him he’d never been free. “Now for some introductory information, you will each sit a brief written exam upon entering and from there you will be divided into four profiles, you will then be housed and evaluated with those of your likeness for the remainder of your time here” it was really not time to be screwing up together and he felt tingling nerves spreading through his arms at the idea that it was so final. He turned his eyes next to him and found Zalia had taken to stopping there. Typically she looked the same as ever, unthreatened and unimpressed by the building, the events and the finality of what was ahead of them. Maybe she was right, it didn’t really matter what he wanted, he had no control, they’d never have any control.

Dalton's part 10

Despite her own strength, supporting Hunter as they tried to make their way from the building unnoticed was a more difficult task than she had initially bargained for. This whole scenario was just a great reminder of why she didn't date, talk about complicated. As she got him outside she leaned him against the building lettings her eyes take a quick assessment, ensuring he was in one piece. As she lifted her eyes to meet his she found he was staring at her with a blank, if not shocked look on his face. She took a moment to survey herself and realized she was covered from head to toe in blood spatter. Hesitating to speak she tried quickly to formulate a lie in her mind, but she couldn't think of anything that was believable. Lying was a special skill to a Dalton, it came second nature because the truth sounded more absurd than any lie could, and she knew that. "That was so bad ass" he said suddenly and it was her turn to look shocked.
"You and I have a very different idea of that then" she said simply "That was survival plain and simple" She took no pleasure in it, and whether or not it was bad ass seemed irrelevant to her, her mind was set on the task, get the ring, get the boy.
"What the hell were those?" he asked now pushing himself up off the ground and she moved to help him stand again.
"Trust me sweetheart, you don't wanna know" she said. "but come on, lets get you out of here before the rest of them come back" She said. On foot, it was going to be one hell of an escape especially with his current state. If it had been a question of him or her, she might have just left him there, the truth was harsh but it was survival of the fittest. Despite the agonizing time it had taken them to get back into the city limits Lia felt a wave of relief wash over her. Still, she had stopped by the River to wash the blood off her face and hands as to not alarm the people around them, slipping off her jacket she turned her dress backward and placed the jacket back on to hide what blood might have shown through.
"You're pretty skilled at that" Hunter observed and she shrugged her shoulders gently.
"Unfortunately nothing to be proud of" that she had long since learned to hide blood spatter, it made her seem worse, if not the same as a psychopath.
"So much for our first date" he added.
"My first date" she informed him.
"Wait what?"
"It was my first date..."
"Ever?" she nodded to confirm the fact and he looked confused.  "Is that even possible, you're super hot" and the observation caused her to laugh slightly.
"Thanks, I think?" it was a compliment, she knew that well enough but she still was uncertain how to take anything he said. Still she wasn't sure why she'd told him that, he seemed to be thinking about it more than she felt comfortable, she didn't typically like people analyzing things about her, the less people understood her the easier it was to keep them at a distance. The problem now was convincing him what he'd seen wasn't real, or somehow finding an explanation for it that wasn't going to ruin the rest of his life. The supernatural had a habit of doing that, ruining peoples lives and she tried to protect as many people from it as possible. She knew, that it was too late for her and her brothers, but if she could keep the rest of the world out of the life than at least she would have accomplished something.
"Can you at least tell me what that was about?" he asked and she slipped the ring out of her pocket and flashed it quickly.
"I told you, It wasn't mine" she said simply. "People get a little possessive about things like this, apparently it's worth killing for"
"So what? They're like the ring mafia?" he trailed off slightly before he stared at her again "Holy shit, you're a contract killer!" he said as though he'd just unraveled the secrets of the universe. "That's why you're so good at that, you're some kind of professional" he said and she narrowed her eyes in slight confusion. That was the first time anyone had ever thrown that theory out at her but the human mind had a way of pacifying itself, so many he had simply chosen not to remember, or to even see their fangs. It wasn't the worst theory out there, and it certainly gave her an easy enough out, after all when you were in that line of work you sort of needed to stay under the radar.
"And what if I am?" she asked cautiously trying to feel out the situation, was he going to talk to someone about this, if so she was going to do the one thing she'd been trying to avoid, sticking her brothers on him to make sure he didn't talk about any of it. There was a few moments of silence between them before he grinned brightly.
"That's awesome!" and again she rolled her eyes, he really had a horrible concept of what was determined cool in societal standards. Still, it was better than having to explain to him that she'd just slaughtered an entire vampires nest in front of him.
"You need to keep what happened tonight between us" she spoke quickly, she couldn't have word of it getting out to anyone, it would make him a target even after she was gone.
"Right sure, don't want to blow your cover and all that" He said casually and she stopped walking turning quickly she grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him toward her into a nearby alley way before pushing his back against the brick wall in the darkness, her expression threatening as she held her face an inch from his her green eyes glaring into him.
"You breath a word of this or me to anyone and I will singlehandedly make sure you have no more stories to tell, we clear?" her breath was heavy and her voice serious and calm hiding the tremble of fear that was hidden within her mind, the only thing worse than letting one of those bloodsuckers get away was getting caught and locked in either prison or worse a mental institution. Beneath her clenched fists the back of her hands were resting against his chest, she could feel the heavy beating of his heart as his blue eyes searched hers before he let out a gentle breath closing the space between them and capturing her lips against his own in a heated kiss. Was that a yes? God, he was truly infuriating, she could feel her blood boiling as the heat from it rushed to her face, or was that something else? Her grip on his shirt loosened but it wasn't, to her own surprise to pull away. Her hands moved instinctively behind his neck pulling herself closer. For the first time she could remember, she was really truly alone no one was making the decisions now but her. Suddenly his hands, that had been pressed against the wall were on her waist and with ease he lifted her from the ground and turned them both pressing her back now against the wall leaning in and trapping her hips with his as she wound her legs around him. His lips trailed from hers gently across her jaw line until he stopped next to her ear "Lia" he said, his voice was rough, short of breath. I uttered a sound that might have sounded like an acknowledgement but my mind was running full speed, racing almost as quickly as my pulse which quickened as his hand came to rest on my thigh slowly inching its way up. "I'm going to marry you" the laugh escaped her throat maybe too quickly, but she had already gotten a good hold on his warped sense of humor.
"Hunter" she responded her eyes closed as his warm breath against her skin cause her skin to raise her steady breathing followed by a sudden gasp. "Just shut up and kiss me"

A European Adventure

Well that was certainly a long time to disappear but I swear I had a good excuse. I was traveling around Europe with an extremely well packed backpack and a good friend by my side. In the short four weeks I managed a Journey that took me from Madrid, all to way to Dublin with several stops along the way. The experience was amazing, and time in places like Florence and London were more than inspirational for my writing. There was no manner of culture shock (aside from the fact that a bottle of wine in Madrid was one 1 Euro) but only an appreciation of beauty and cultural differences. Canada is a great place in its own right but it truly lacks the rich history that Europe had around ever single corner. You couldn't turn a corner, or witness a building without a story that surrounded it and hundreds of years of history and conflict entwined in the stones. I fell in love with the continent. I have always been a lover of history and royalty, the trip offered me insight and information on both, from the royal guard changing and parade in Madrid to Koningsdag in the Netherlands and a walk through Kensington gardens. It was surreal and so often I felt myself wondering if some of what I was seeing truly existed. Monaco, is quite truly Hollywood's version of a country, it is the idealistic Beverly Hills of Europe. White pebbled beaches, crystal clear water, every second store dedicated to Ferrari or Rolex. Simply walking down the streets felt safe, serene, and everything was clean and well taken care of there was no sense of unrest of safety issues, it was truly a dream.

I've only been back a couple weeks and already I miss it there, more than I missed home while I was gone, what I wouldn't give now to be locked up in a country house in the hills of Tuscany writing away my novel with the warm breeze lofting through the windows. I can see the stairs of Florence now, and the Gardens, a place I could have spent so many days just basking in the history and beauty.

Untimely Terror

The scream escaping her lungs sounded so unnatural, even to her own ears, yet the ear splitting sound had certainly come from within. The room, was drenched in crimson, blood spatter from floor to ceiling as her parents, or what she could make out of them lay sprawled in a puddle of their own blood. She was frozen, in shock certainly but the only movement her body seemed to be able to make was the screams of horror that she would hope could wake the dead.  Her brother came running into the room after her and let out a cry of horror before he grabbed her, picking her up in his arms and pulling her from the room. She screamed fighting his hold and reaching over his shoulder towards the room, burning tears streaming down her cheeks. “Kat!” her brother’s voice sounded shaky, he was talking through tears of his own and yet she could hear him repeatedly telling her to calm down. How could he expect her to calm down when he couldn’t keep himself calm? “Kat calm down please” he begged her but she did nothing but scream.

“Kat?” her dark green eyes lifted from the spot on the rug in which she’d been focusing on, taking into her vision Dr. Moore staring at her expectantly, pen in hand note book at the read waiting to judge, to interpret.
“I’m sorry, what was the question?” she asked boredly shifting her weight on the couch to a more comfortable position. Over the past three years she had grown accustomed to tuning out in her sessions, no progress was being made and yet her Aunt insisted they continued with the treatment until some acceptance could surface.
“Have the nightmares subsided since we discussed those focusing and redirecting exercises?” Kat did everything in her power not to scoff at the idea. Dr. Moore was a nice enough person, she was just trying to help but considering the fact that she had no answers to what had happened that night, Kat wasn’t going to be able to come to any sort of acceptance not until she knew what had really happened.
“Nope” she stated simply her eyes holding steady with a bit of a smile on her lips. “No offence or anything Dr. Moore but I really don’t think they’re going to stop anytime soon” She stated. Even Jared still had the nightmares, that much she knew, but evidently he was a far better liar than she was, enough so to finally get out of therapy for good. Of course, being a legal adult now gave him that advantage over her as well, she could only wait for the day that she was free to make her own decisions.
“Kat do you understand the concerns?” she asked again for what seemed like the hundredth time since these sessions had begun. She simply shrugged her shoulders as she waited for the explanation to ensue.
“You Aunt and Uncle are concerned with your emotional state, they feel that by not coming to an acceptance about your parents death, that you are preventing yourself from being able to move forward”
“I don’t want to move forward. I want to know why it happened” she retorted with ease, was it too much to ask for answers? “Everyone else may be comfortable with forgetting and moving on happily in their delusional little lives but I will never be” she assured her. “And you can tell them I said that” with that she stood from her place on the couch and grabbing her bag headed towards the door.

“We still have time left”
“Great… just bill them”

Kat stood on the sidewalk in front of the office building waiting for her ride. As the familiar honk caught her attention she turned to see her brother’s black pathfinder pulling up to the curb and she shifted her bag before hurrying to get inside. Opening the door she tossed her bag on the ground before pulling herself up into the front seat fastening her seatbelt before turning her attention to her brother. Jared was so unlike her in every way, his deep brown eyes were soulful, while her green ones were menacing, and her chocolate brown hair was countered with his contrasting blond. Their temperaments differed greatly too, he was always the more practical one, level headed, in control. She envied him, and it didn’t help that people were constantly comparing them.
“So how did it go?” he asked curiously as he shifted the vehicle into drive and pulled away from the building.
“Oh you know, as well as to be expected” she said casually and she actually managed to get a laugh from him.
“So the usual then?”
“I thought therapy was supposed to be private?” she said a jokingly defensive tone in her voice. He knew that she said nothing in therapy that she would never say to him.
“I thought therapy was supposed to be productive” he countered and an amused smile settled on her lips as she turned her attention out the window.
“Touché”
“How long are you going to keep this up?” he questioned her curiously and she flipped her eyes back to him.
“As long as it takes” she wasn’t going to just give up. Three years had passed since the day she had walked in to find her parents dead, and it still replayed through her mind as vividly as if she were still standing right there. “It just doesn’t make sense, you know it doesn’t don’t pretend to me you’re suddenly on the move on bandwagon”
“Three years in a long time Kat, I mean most cases go cold in forty-eight hours you know that, just because we want to find out what happened, doesn’t mean we ever will. I don’t want to spend the rest of our lives obsessed with this, Mom and Dad wouldn’t have wanted that” she closed her hands tightly into fists as her green eyes narrowed at her brother.
“She got to you, Gertrude got to you”
“Okay, cut the dramatics, no one got to me, It’s just my opinion.” He sounded so sure that she almost believed him, except that he had that same lost look in his eyes, the same missing piece of the puzzle she saw each time she looked in the mirror. It was because of this she didn’t push, after all Jared was the only one she had left who understood her.
“Whatever you say brother”

Summoning

“Some say the world will end in fire,

Some say in ice.

From what I've tasted of desire,

I hold with those who favor fire. 

But if it had to perish twice

I think I know enough of hate

To say that for destruction ice

Is also great

And would suffice.”

― Robert Frost

Zalia had long known this day was coming, the Summoning day. A birthday, she was told, had once been an occasion to celebrate and yet for her it was something she had dreaded most of her life. Her 16^th year marked the time where she was of age to be evaluated sent to the academy for pairing. Her eyes glanced around her at the others who had reached their sixteenth year that month, there were only about ten of them in their sector and most of them she had known since birth. Their walk through the dusty grounds that had once been lush crop fields meant the edge of her white dress was growing greyer with each step she took towards the train. White clothes were customary for Summoning day a reminder of what you were being sent to achieve. The Kingdom of Westwell had placed the pairing law into effect after the great fire had destroyed everything, and almost everyone. Marriage was not only mandatory but it was arranged. Every surviving sixteen year old across the Sectors was rounded up and shipped to the Academy. It was there she would be evaluated and paired with a husband and they would be assigned employment, a sector and a reproduction schedule and once they turned eighteen they would be married and shipped off together. If her parents’ pairing was anything to go off of she doubted she would have an enjoyable life. Her father was a pleasant man, hardworking and cared for them as a father was meant to but her mother, her mother resented everything about her life and in turn Zalia and her siblings had been a target for her resentment. There was an upside to the academy, a life away from the daily poison her mother spewed at them in the form of hateful words, in slammed doors and passive aggressive actions. She would, perhaps miss her father in time and her siblings would be sent to their own lives, in time perhaps she would see them, or never again it didn’t matter much, it was no shock to her that this day had come, only the speed which it had arrived.

“So what do you think it’s like?” a voice spoke suddenly and it took a moment for her to realize the question had been directed to her. “The Academy I mean” her violet eyes settled on the boy beside her and she simply shrugged her shoulders.

“Efficient” she said a hint of sarcasm in her otherwise emotionless voice. She had no care what the academy was like; the venture wasn’t one of excitement, at least not for her. 

“Well I’ve heard they’ve added an exception to the rules” he continued and her shoulders tensed as she closed her eyes. She was uncertain why he was talking to her, she was quite sure there was nothing about her that deemed her welcoming. “There’s been whispers that if you fall in love while in the academy, they’ll allow you to complete your own pairing”  her eyes opened quickly and turned to the boy. 

“Rubbish” she said hesitantly, she might have heard something of it herself if that had been going on. “they would never relinquish that power over us” she said angrily. Dreamers like him, gossipers did nothing more than give false hope to those where there was none. “And that is the only thing you can be sure to count on”