Chapter One
"We're lost." I stated.
"We are not lost." Caleb assured me, fumbling with the map as we passed the same crumbling statue for the third time. "We are temporarily geographically misplaced."
"Of course we are." I replied, too exhausted to bother arguing. "We're lost." I added under my breath.
"Hey, I heard that!" He called back to me as a trailed behind him. "I'll have you know my map reading skills are exceptional."
"Exceptionally bad." I corrected.
"No, really! I still have my scouts badge to prove it!" He paused whilst waiting for me to catch up.
"You must have got it out of a Kellogg's packet because the map is upside down." I pointed out.
Glancing down at the upside down map of Volterra, Caleb quickly turned it the right way up, as if it had always been that way. "No, it's not."
I sighed but said nothing. Here we were, two English exchange students from Cambridge who hadn't paid enough attention in Italian lessons to know how to ask directions, wondering around Volterra with no idea where they were. We were out of food, and although we had money, we were no where near any shops and they would be closed by now anyway.
We were in the heat of summer, which usually means rain in England, but here, in Volterra, the sun was beaming down scorching hot rays, even in the evening. It was almost ten o'clock, so we didn't have many hours of daylight left. Already getting dark, I remembered how quick darkness came in the summers. Too quickly. It could go from perfect daylight to pitch black dark in fifteen, maybe twenty minutes. I really didn't want to be wondering the streets of an unknown place at night.
We had been walking for hours, me traipsing behind Caleb like a lost puppy dog, and him leading the way. But of course, it had always been that way. Ever since the day we met.
Flash back
BANG!
I felt two hands grip my shoulders as they spun me around and smashed me into the lockers. My key slipped through my fingers on impact and someone else snatched my bag from my hand. Looking up, I met the eyes of my daily nightmare: Ashdon Faraday.
"Lunch money." He demanded. My skinny 5'5 frame was nothing compared to his muscular form towering over my head. His dark eyes, almost black, were throwing every ounce of hatred they had at me. Two of his minions, one of them holding my bag, stood either side of me, blocking my exit.
"I- I don't have any today!" His fist plummeted into my stomach and I sunk to the floor. I recovered from the blow as they emptied the contents of my school bag onto the floor. I tried to creep away, but one of the minions saw me and pulled me up, restraining my hands behind my back. Ash advanced towards me, fists clenched. Panicked, I looked around for help, but the corridor was conveniently quiet. The way it always was when there was trouble. No one would get involved in something that wasn't their problem. And as for the teachers? They never ventured further than their classrooms or the staff room.
"There's no one here to save you." The minion holding me propped me up, giving Ash a clear aim of my stomach. I closed my eyes as I saw him pulling back his fist, bracing my self. I gasped as the first blow came. My knees buckled but the minion held me in position as the blows continued to come.
"Why would anyone want to save you?" Ash sneered at me. "You're worthless." His fist slammed into my stomach. "You're a waste of time." His hand slapped across my face. "You are nothing!" His fingers gripped my hair and threw me to the floor. I didn't get back up.
The minions pounced on me, tearing off my jacket and shoes before running off down the corridor with them. Ash picked up my lunch box and emptied the food into his bag, but took a swig from my water bottle before dumping the rest of it over my head. The water mixed with my tears as I used my hand to brush the hair from my face, making my way to the girl's bathroom to clean myself up.
"Oh, no you don't." Ash grabbed my wrist and pulled me to my feet, my body protesting loudly, aching from all the abuse it had suffered. He picked up my locker key from the floor where I had dropped it. "Which one is yours? And don't you dare lie to me." I motioned to my locker, a few paces away. Dragging me with him, he strode toward it, swinging the door open.
"Get in." he ordered.
"W-what?" My voice shook.
"Get. In." I just stared at him. The locker was a little taller than me, so I would probably fit, but I wasn't about test it. "Now." Ash's voice growled, dangerously low. Losing patience, he shoved me in to the locker. His nails dug into my shoulders as he shook me back and forth, my head hitting against the metal walls of the locker.
"Please, stop!" I panted. "I'll give it to you tomorrow!" Releasing my shoulders, he threw a punch at my left cheek. I cried out in pain, tears streaking my face. "Please!" I begged, almost sobbing. "I promise!"
"Hey!" A male voice called. "Leave her alone!" I tried to see past Ash to catch a glimpse of the poor soul brave enough to get involved, but Ash pushed me into the locker hastily. His nose almost touching mine, he spoke to me in a threatening voice.
"Tomorrow, you will bring me £30-"
"But-" I cut him off. How was I supposed to get that much money?
"Shut up." He interrupted. "I don't care how you get it. Not my problem. But you will bring it to me, or you will pay in…other methods…" A sadistic smile spread across his face as his hand slipped down my back and fiddled with my bra strap. I shuddered.
"Hey! You! I said get off her!" The voice was closer now. Ash pinged my bra strap to regain my attention.
"Understand?" He smirked seeing the horrified realization cross my face. I gulped.
"Yes." I whispered.
"Good." He threw one last punch at my stomach and watched me slide to my knees and his hand, before slamming the door shut and turning the key, leaving me in the dark.
I heard muffled voices and occasionally someone being smashed into the lockers. I wondered how long this boy would last up against Ash. Not long, I guessed. Sitting in the bottom of my locker, I fiddled with the locket around my neck. Gazing at the picture of me and my Mum, I wondered how my life would have been if she had survived giving birth to me. Would I be here now? Locked in my own locker, bruised and aching from multiple assaults. No jacket, shoes or food and soaked with water. Mellowing in self pity and pondering on ifs and maybes that have no purpose other that causing me to spiral down into a pit of depression and negativity. Who knows?
I was distracted from my thoughts when I realized it was quiet. Guess the fight was over, then. It was silent for a while, and I had no idea how much time had passed when I heard footsteps coming down the corridor. The key turned in the outside of my locker and I instinctively threw my hands up to protect myself. Ash must have finished with the boy and come back to finish what he started with me. Light poured in and I squeezed my eyes shut, waiting for Ash's fist to slam into my chest.
But it never came.
Slowly, I lowered my hands and dared myself to open my eyes. What I saw was a boy a little older than me, with sand coloured hair and piercing blue eyes. He held my jacket and shoes in one hand and my bag, with all my books back in it, on his back. His other had was held out towards me, offering to help me up. I glanced around quickly.
"W-where is he? The boy - A-Ash, he was, h-he-" I stuttered panicked fragments of what was going through my head.
"Relax. He's not here anymore. He's in the medical room, actually." He smiled.
"H-he - Ash is in the medical room?" I asked, astounded. "But - he…how?"
"Let's just say he got a taste of his own medicine." He leaned closer to me, to help me up.
"I - you -" I gave up questioning this miracle. "Thank you."
"Your welcome. Here, let me help you." I took his hand and he pulled me up, giving me back my things. My shoes, my jacket, my bag, my locker key. He had retrieved everything. "Are you okay? You look-"
"No, its fine…I'm fine…" I insisted. He said nothing for a moment.
"I saw what he did to you." He spoke quietly.
"Honestly, I'm fine…I'm kind off used to it anyway." I stared at the floor.
"And I heard what he said to you." He paused. "What he said before he shut you in that locker…and where his hands were." His voice had turned bitter. My mouth opened and closed, but no words came out. He looked me in the eyes, but I averted his gaze, quickly looking back down to the floor.
"You shouldn't have helped me.- not that I don't appreciate it, because I do - but he'll come back for you now, and there'll be more of them and-" I cut myself off, realizing I was babbling. "Don't put yourself on the line - not for me. It's not worth it…" I turned away and added in a whisper. "…I'm not worth it…" He step in front of me and took my shoulders, I winced and he took my hands instead.
"Stop it. Don't you believe what he tells you. You are worth it. Please…let me help you." I looked to the floor again, but he took my chin gently and met my eyes. "I won't let them hurt you. You won't have to be used to it anymore. I can help. If you'll let me…?" I considered. Should I let this boy risk himself, for me, of all people? Or had he already made that decision when he decided to help me today?
"Okay." I whispered. "I'm sorry.."
"Don't apologize. How much does he want tomorrow?" The worry of how I was going to pay returned, as well as the worry of what he would do if I didn't.
"He said I'll bring him £30...or I'll pay him in…" I trailed off.
"Yes, I heard that part." His eyes glazed over for a moment, no doubt he had understood Ash's threats, but his expression returned to normal as if it had never changed. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out £40 and offered it to me. I opened my mouth to tell him I couldn't possibly take it, but he interrupted it before I could start.
"Take it. Hopefully, he won't give you any trouble tomorrow. But just in case. And buy yourself some lunch." When he saw my uneasy expression, he continued. "Besides, rather get it from me that steal it from someone else. That's what you were planning to do, isn't it?" I looked away reluctant to tell him that was exactly what I had been planning, and took the money.
"Thank you."
"What is your name?" He asked
"Cassie Faryll." I realized I didn't know his either. He held out his hand and I shook it.
"Caleb. Caleb Courtem."
xXx
From that day onwards, Caleb had looked out for me. And he had never failed me.
Of course, he was also male. Which meant he was too proud to ask anyone for directions. Even if he had no idea where he was and had been walking in circles for hours.
"Caleb, can't you just ask someone?" I complained.
"No, I know exactly where we are going." Typical guy.
"And where, may I ask, it that?" I queried, not having a clue where he was going. He pointed ahead of him.
"That way." He said simply. I resisted the urge to bang my head against the wall.
"Caleb…" I groaned.
"What?" He snapped. "Apart from anything else, we're in Volterra. They speak Italian. Do you know how to ask directions in Italian?" I stopped, taken aback by his outburst. "I'll take your silence as a no, then? I don't suppose you would like to try reading this map?" He didn't give a chance to speak before continuing. "More silence? I'll take that as a no too." He threw the map on the floor and stormed ahead. I picked it up and ran to catch up with him.
"Caleb!" I shouted. "Caleb, wait! I'm sorry…It's just we've walking for hours, and it's getting dark now…Caleb, please wait!" He stopped and waited for me to catch up.
"No…no, It's me. I'm sorry too. I guess we're both just sick and tired of walking all day." He took the map from me and gave my hand a little squeeze. "Don't worry. We'll find it soon. And if we don't, I'll find us somewhere to stay for the night. I promise. Okay?" he prompted.
"Okay." I smiled, reassured. We rounded the corner, only to bump into a tall man with raven black hair and piercing dark eyes. Caleb stumbled and the stranger took his hand to steady him, clasping it in his hands.
"Oh!" Caleb exclaimed. "I'm sorry, are you okay?"
"Yes, yes I'm fine. I apologize." The stranger still held Caleb's hand. "Are you all right?"
"Of course, I'm fine, thank you." When he still didn't let go, he added. "Really, I'm fine." He pulled his hand from his grip.
"Oh, thank god! You speak English!" I nearly jumped with joy. Swiping the map from Caleb's grasp, I gave it to the man. "Can you tell us where we are please?"
"Yes…You are right…here!" He pointed to a spot on the complete opposite side of the map that our destination.
"Caleb!" I almost shrieked. "You said you knew where you were going! We're on the wrong bloody side of the damn city!"
"Well…um…my map reading skills are little rusty…" He said sheepishly.
"Rusty? Rusty!? It's almost dark and we're on the wrong side of the city, and you call that rusty!?"
"I apologize for interrupting your little feud, but I have a few guestrooms in my home, if you'd like to stay the night…?" We both turned to look at the stranger.
"Really?" I asked.
"That would be wonderful!" Caleb exclaimed.
"Great! If you'll follow me…why don't you tell me a bit about yourselves? My name is Aro, by the way. Are you tourists?"
"Exchange students." I corrected, handing him our exchange papers.
"Cassandra…" He read. "Such a pretty name…"
"It's Cassie." I corrected.
"Ah! Here we are." We entered a huge medieval castle, with a big turret in the middle.
"You live here?" I asked, astounded.
"I do. I live alongside my brothers and servants here in the castle." He opened the large wooden doors leading into the castle.
"Cassie and Caleb, welcome to my home."
So? What do we think? I'm not sure how often I'll be able to update, but I'll try not to keep you waiting for too long. Let me know your thoughts using that lovely review box below. =]