Chapter 9:

I ran at Phoebe with my left hand held high above me. Phoebe's eyes widen. With a scowl I lowered my left hand and twisted my body. My right hand clenched into a fist and I gritted my teeth. I punched Phoebe in the nose. "Slut." I muttered.

I kicked her knee and smiled when I heard a crack. "Aah!" She cried falling to the ground.

I stood above her my fist clenched. "Get up." I spat at her.

I watched as she cringed away from me. With a growl I pulled her up by her collar. No one was getting in my way. They are smarter then they look. I thought to myself. "Guess what bitch. No one messes with my sister." Wait no that's not right. My sister? It just slipped out. I cranked back my right arm. With a snarl I punched the woman in the jaw. I let Phoebe fall to the ground. I quickly turned away and looked for a stick. I saw one a little ways away.

I walked over and quickly grabbed it. With a smirk on my face I turned towards Phoebe. "Get up." I spat at her again. "Get up before I break an arm."

I watched with grim satisfaction as Phoebe tried to stand. I watched as Owen walked over and tried to help her up. "Leave me alone asshole!" She snapped at the poor man.

Owen backed away hurt and sadness shimmering in his eyes. I frowned and narrowed my eyes. Three people she's hurt so far. Three hits. I waited until she had dragged herself to her feet. "I'm not the most honorable person ever, " I began. "But I have a code of honor. You get what you give." I twirled the stick expertly in my hand. "You've hurt three people today. Calvin, Marella and Owen with the insult." I gripped the stick tightly in my left hand, the bitch was lucky I chose to go easy on her. "For that I'll hit you three times."

Phoebe's eyes narrowed and she glared at Marella. "You're a whore."

I took a step forward. "The name calling ends here. If you say anything to her again, I will re-arrange that butt ugly face of yours and take a limb or two."

I swung the stick and hit her leg. With a scream she landed on her knees. I swung the stick again and hit her arm. I waited as she yelled for me to stop. I watched her as she lay sniffing on the ground. I swung the stick a third time and hit her back. Finished I threw the stick on the ground beside her. "YOU FUCKING WHORE! YOU DEMON FROM HELL!" She screamed at me.

I smirked and crouched down beside her head. "I am giving you the justice you deserve, I went easy on you this time Phoebe. Next time I will personally give you hell." I stood and walked away. I felt the burning sensation of everyone's gazes on me until I reached the bridge. With a muttered curse I crossed the bridge and headed for the field.

I sat down in the middle of the field and watched the clouds. I could hear Dr. Jin running up the path towards the Garmon Mines. I growled and laid down. I closed my eyes letting myself drift away. Am I a bad person for protecting Ella? Was I too harsh? Yes I was too harsh but I was protecting one of the most important things I have. I laid there until I heard familiar voice coming down the path. With a sigh I stood up and headed for the house. I didn't want to be caught.

I opened the door and slipped inside. Slowly I walked over to me bed and pulled my suitcase out from underneath it. I opened the top and sighed as the gleam of weapons seemed to give me energy. I shifted the weapons around looking for my adoptive fathers old weapon. Then I remembered, I'd left it out in the field. With a sigh I closed my suitcase, and slid it back underneath the bed. I heard the front door creak open. "Aurora?" Vaughn's voice echoed around the small house.

I looked up. "Hi." I whispered.

Vaughn stood in the doorway for a few seconds before closing the door and walking over to me. "You're scary when you're angry. You know that?"

I chuckled. "You have to be when you're a jjang in a gang."

"Jjang?" Vaughn's hand reached out then fell back to his side.

I smirked, "It's Japanese for best fighter. Where I come from there was a lot of Japanese traditions."

"Oh."

I sighed. "I have to go find something in the field. I'll talk to you later."

"Well I was going out to the field anyways." Vaughn murmured.

I smiled, "Okay."

I left the house with Vaughn following close behind me. I walked over to the part of the field I remembered hiding the gun in. I walked over to a pile of leaves and dived into it. I tore it apart. After a few minutes of lifting leaves a glint of gold caught my eye. Grinning I lifted a leaf and found my gun. "Did you find what you're looking for?" Vaughn asked walking over.

I nodded. "Mhm."

"What is it?" He asked looking over my shoulder.

"My adoptive father called it a gun. He said it was a one of a kind." I stood up and dusted myself off.

"You know how to use that thing?" Vaughn asked his voice full of disbelief.

"Yup."

"Show me?"

I smiled at Vaughn. "Okay. Go into the shed and grab five pieces of wood."

I watched as Vaughn walked over and chose five pieces. All of them looked fairly small. Good a challenge is just what I need right now. I watched as Vaughn started to set them out at random intervals. What a mind reader that man is. I thought to myself.

Once Vaughn had set them all out he walked back towards me. "So what do you do?" He asked.

I smiled and showed him the gun. "This part here is the safety catch. Right now if I pull this back," I pointed at the trigger. "It won't do anything. But if I remove the safety and pull on it, it'll shoot a bullet."

"A bullet?"

"A small metal ball that breaks skin and can fatally injure someone."

"I see. Is it hard to use?"

"Once you get used to it, it's like breathing."

"Are you good at it?"

"Watch." I smiled and faced the targets. With a grin on my face I raised the gun and held it with both my hands. I aimed and fired. The next shoot came right after the other. BLAM! BLAM!BLAM! BLAM! BLAM! I lowered the gun and smiled. "Would you like to go check the wood?" I asked him sweetly.

Vaughn nodded and headed for the wood. I followed him clicking the safety into place. Sure enough through each of the pieces of wood there was a small circular hole. I crouched down beside Vaughn as he inspected one. "There really is more to you then meets the eye isn't there?"

I smiled and nodded. "Yea...most people tend to avoid me because I know how to do things they can't."

"I'm not about to start avoiding you." Am I imagining it or did Vaughn actually sound sincere?

I smiled and hugged the man. "Thank you." I whispered in his ear.

"No thank you, Aurora."

A fall wind blew gently across the land. I leaned into Vaughn's warmth and tried to ignore it. "About last night." I murmured.

"What about it?" Vaughn asked.

"I-uhn...nothing." I stammered feeling myself blush. I shivered and then scowled at myself.

Vaughn wrapped an arm around me. "If you're going to ask if I had a good time. The answer's yes. I had a great time." He murmured pulling me closer.

I smiled. "I'm glad." I answered truthfully.

We stood together watching the sun start to sink down towards the edge of the sky. I shivered again but tried to disguise the movement. "Cold?" Vaughn asked his voice amused.

"A little." I confessed trying to keep my voice calm.

"Want to go inside?"

"No, I'm fine out here."

"Okay." Vaughn rubbed his hand up and down my shoulder.

I sighed and watched the sun sink. As the sun touched the horizon I heard growling behind us. I turned and saw a shadow slinking through the field. I quickly flicked the safety on the gun off. "Turn around slowly." I whispered to Vaughn.

Vaughn turned following my instructions. The shadow creeped even closer. When it reached a patch of dim sunshine, I caught a glimpse of purple and black fur, and a huge mouth. I frowned and grasped my gun tighter. What the hell is it? I thought stepping in front of Vaughn.

The monster stopped five feet away. "Are you Aurora Edwards?" The beast spoke in a low rasp.

I swallowed the fear, and nodded. "I am."

"My master sends his regards."

"Why?" I narrowed my eyes.

"Because your sister is about to die..."

"I don't have a sister." I snapped losing patience.

"Are you sure of that my goddess?"

I growled confused. "It's not I who will be dying tonight." I whispered. I raised the gun knowing it wouldn't know what it was. "It's you." I pulled the guns trigger. A second later the thing fell to the ground dead.

I heard screaming in the distance. I snapped my head up and ran for the house. Running through the field I jumped over logs and rocks. "Vaughn!" I shouted.

"What?" I turned my head and saw him running behind me.

"If I give you the gun, you think you could use it?" I asked turning my head back around.

"I can try."

"Good." I muttered picking up speed.

Vaughn started to slow as we got closer to the house. Gritting my teeth I aimed for the window. Steeling myself I dived through it. With a gasp of pain I rolled through the glass as I hit the ground. With a groan I stood up and ran over to my bed. "Bunny are you insane?" Vaughn thundered as he came through the front door.

I gasped for breath and reached under the bed and pulled out my suitcase again. "Here." I said tossing him the gun. I unlocked the suitcase and pulled out a sword, and a couple of daggers. I strapped the sword to my waist and ran over to my dresser. I yanked the bottom drawer out and pulled out a pair of worn leather boots. I kicked off my sneakers and pulled them on.

I turned to Vaughn who's eyes were wide and staring. "What the hell?" He whispered

"Remember how I said my adoptive father was strict?" Vaughn nodded. "He taught me how to use weapons and how to fight with my bare fist."

"That's why you said everyone avoids you."

I nodded tears coming to my eyes as I saw the way he looked at me. I shook my head and blinked the tears away, I didn't have time for this. "Stay here or come with me. "

"My choice?"

I nodded. "I'd prefer if you came that way I know I could protect you..."

Vaughn watched me for a second then smiled. "I was going to come anyways." I smiled back and released my breath. I hadn't even realized I'd been holding it in. I left the house with Vaughn hard on my heels. I looked over my shoulder, at Vaughn. I hope I didn't make a mistake.

Vaughn and I turned the corner, the screams were getting louder. The only one I registered was Marellas. I saw a group of shadows moving together. With a snarl I unsheathed my sword and ran into the mass. With a scream of rage I brought my sword down on a monster cutting it in half. Whipping around I sliced a monsters arm off. From there I whipped around trying to find Marella and Calvin.

I spotted Calvin a few feet away. With a growl I jumped over a monster and landed beside him. He was bleeding over his eye, and his chest had cuts in it. I grabbed him and swung him over my shoulder. I jumped back over the monster and wormed my through the monsters. "Aurora over here!" I looked to my right to see Vaughn next to a house.

I ran over and set Calvin down. "I have to go back for Ella. Stay here and make sure he stays put." I growled before rushing back to the mass of monsters.

"BUNNY!" I heard Marellas voice calling for me.

I turned and saw her underneath a monsters belly. I ran over and pulled her out from underneath the monster. "You okay?" I asked, chopping off a monsters head as it ventured to close.

"Fine." She gasped, but I knew she was lying. Her eyes were full or terror.

"Hop on." I muttered turning my back to her.

I grunted as she climbed on. With a scowl I slashed at a monster that leaped for me. I raced through the monsters back to the place where Vaughn and Calvin were waiting. Marella climbed off my back and raced over to Calvin's side. I turned back to the horde of monsters. "If I'm not back in half an hour, leave without me."

I started to walk back, when someone grabbed my arm. I turned to look into Vaughn's purple eyes. "Don't go." He whispered.

I smiled sadly at the man and gently pried my arm out of his grip. "I have to." I murmured.

"No you don't." Vaughn's purple eyes bored into mine.

With a small smile I raised my hand to his face. "Vaughn...I promise I'll come back." I stood on my toes and kissed him. Vaughn wrapped his arms around me and lifted me off my feet. He dropped me and I broke the kiss. I turned away and ran back to the horde.