"Crow...Crow?" Emerald asked, positioning her face above Lex's to make sure
he could see her. "Are you alright? Did you hear Devon? Crow...please..."
She said, her voice growing panicked when Lex continued to stare glassy-
eyed at the ceiling of the cramped tent, seeming unaware of her presence.
"Devon...could you just leave us for a second," She said, turning to the
older boy and putting a small hand on his arm when he began to protest.
Devon sighed and nodded, patting Lex on the shoulder before stepping
outside into the cool night air. "Crow, it's just you and me...you can talk
now if you want. Ask a question or...tell me off...or tell me I'm crazy
just talk again...please!" She begged him, her eyes filling with tears once
more.
Lex finally focused his eyes on her and stared openly, trying to spot the evil that he knew must be inside of her. She had to be evil...the Slayer...Buffy. She had killed his mother, so Slayers were bad. And Emerald was a Slayer...
"What is a Slayer?" He croaked, wincing at the way his words rattled around his head loudly. Emerald breathed a sigh of relief.
"I know it's alot to take in but you have to believe me...A Slayer is the chosen one. A girl chosen to fight demons. She is given super strength so that she can fight them as an equal...I'm the slayer of this generation. When I die, the next Slayer takes up her duty" Emerald said slowly, her voice toneless and automatic like she'd heard the words a thousand times before. Lex stared, his brain trying to tell him it wasn't true but unable to stop the images of his mothers disfigured face. "But I can't save people anymore...my powers are weaker than usual and I can't do it. Because of me, more and more vampires were created and now the whole city has been taken over by them. Their leader is the most powerful new vampire I've ever come across. She killed her whole tribe except one girl who escaped and came to me...Eagle I think. But the prophecies...they say that *you* are the only one who can save us. Crow...you have to try...or everyone will die. Jade, Devon, Raad..me..everyone," She said quietly, her voice filled with fear and hope.
Lex stared into Emerald's eyes for what seemed like years before giving an almost invisible nod. "OK," He whispered.
"OK what?" Emerald asked, cursing herself for jumping *again* when Crow spoke.
"OK...I'll do it," He croaked, pulling himself into a sitting position and biting his lip so hard he could taste the copper tang in his mouth.
"What...Crow, lie back down, you'll hurt yourself," Emerald cried. Lex shook his head,
"I've been through worse," He muttered, shuddering slightly and shutting his eyes tight as his head threatened to explode. Emerald drew breath to make another protest but Lex changed the subject before she had the chance. Living with Selene had made him an expert at dealing with concerned women. "What's this say anyway?" He asked, motioning to the words scratched across his chest....oops, wrong move, he thought when Emerald's expression darkened.
"It says Corch," She said shortly, guilt written all over her face. Lex frowned, half regretful that he'd brought it up and half worried that he was more stupid than he thought he was. Was Corch even a word?? When he voiced his question, Emerald nodded slowly. "Devon checked it out. In Elvish, it means 'Crow. In ancient Malanatian, it means, 'tormented one' and in ancient Amaratin it means 'silent strength'," She replied, pretending she didn't hear when Lex snorted.
After much debate, she and Lex came to the compromise that Lex was allowed to sit outside with the others tonight so they could all discuss the 'situation'...providing he let Devin carry him. Lex had reluctantly agreed and flushed slightly when Devon remarked that how light he was.
"Crow!" A little voice cried and suddenly, a pair of thin arms were wrapped around his neck, carefully avoiding the bruises she'd been warned about. Lex smiled weakly and hugged Jade back, letting her bury her head in his shoulder and nodding when she asked if she could sit on his knee. He almost laughed at how carefully she was not to hurt him and wondered how long Emerald had lectured about 'no pressing the owies' when Jade had repeated this sentence to him for the 5th time in as many minutes.
"Go to bed kid. If you don't go now the wolves will come and eat you," Adam said menacingly, narrowing his eyes at the small child and ignoring Lex completely.
"Will they really Crow?" She asked him, her voice wobbling slightly. Lex smiled gently and shook his head, suppressing the urge to jump to his feet and teach Adam a lesson...something he hadn't felt since Tai-san had...
He shut his eyes and shook the thoughts away, concentrating on Emerald when she began talking with the group and hugging Jade close when he felt her breathing even out into a peaceful sleep.
"OK, so, now I've already explained the situation, we have to decide on how to do this," She began, scowling when Adam interrupted,
"You gotta be kidding me? This freak is some sort of hero? No way," He said, jerking his head in Lex's direction. Lex's face remained emotionless, though his stomach twisted almost painfully.
///////"Red stains on the carpet,
Red stains on the on the knife,
Old freaky Lexie,
Has murdered his Dad's wife.
He murdered the nurses,
For fear they would tell,
And now we all know,
He'll be living in hell," The kids sang, circling Lex and taunting him as he lay on the floor in tears.
"I didn't!! I didn't kill Mummy!! I didn't kill the nurses...I'm not a freak!" He shouted at them, screaming when two boys spat at him and began kicking him...////////
"Crow? You alright?" Lex jumped at the voice but nodded slowly at Lynx.
"Alright, so who votes we should go barging into the city with weapons and killing on sight?" Devon called. Predictably, Adam and a few people he'd blackmailed into voting for his plan raised their hands. "And who votes we should send in a group of four to kill Saitan and destroy the vampires by performing the cleansing spell using her ashes?" Devon asked, raising his own hand. Lex nodded to Lynx to hold up both her hands because he couldn't raise his or he'd wake Jade.
"8 to 5. We send in four people," Devon said, smirking at Adam, who scowled and kicked a nearby log.
"So, who's going?" Raad asked, looking around, "'Cause it sure as hell ain't gunna be me," He added, shaking his head. Emerald rolled her eyes,
"Me and Devon have decided seeing as we're the leaders," She said.
"Well of course you have," Adam threw in, reminding Lex so much of his previous self that it was quite frightening.
"We've decided," Devon began, pointedly glaring at Adam, "That Crow, Emerald, Lynx...Adam and I will be going," He said, looking sick at the thought of Adam coming.
"What!?" Several members of the tribe called out.
"No way Adam is coming!" Lynx called out, shaking her head.
"Lynx...he has too. He's one of the best fighter we have and he already knows how to fight vampires,"
"But I kno.." Lynx began furiously when Adam leered at her cockily.
"Look," Devon interrupted, "You're too valuable. You know you're the strongest witch we have and we can't risk you fighting. Adam however.."
"Oh face it. Your a girl. I'm a guy. Of course I'm a better fighter," Adam sneered, trying to get a rise out of her. Lex quickly stood between them and shot a meaningful look at Lynx who sighed deeply before sitting back down.
"Alright...let's get this show on the road," Devon said, clapping his hands, "Lex, you have to get some rest. Lynx, come with me and I'll show you the spell, Adam, go practice fighting. You'll need it," He said.
Lex swallowed hard, wondering whether this was all worth it. Everyone died in the end, who cared if they had to die a little earlier? That was just the way life worked. You had to be tough.
Jade shifted in Lex's arms and he jumped when he looked down to find her wide blue eyes staring up at him with a sleepy smile on her face.
"'M not sleepy...Don't wanna go to bed," She muttered, when she realized everyone was getting up. Lex chuckled quietly and nodded...his mind made up.
He had to fight. He had to fight to protect Jade. To protect her innocent smile...because *nobody*, *nobody* had the right to remove her sweet purity and leave her an empty nothing. A ghost.
No. Lex would fight anything to protect her.
Anything.
TO BE CONTINUED
Awww...isn't he sweet?
*glares at Zoe suspiciously, wondering wot she's gunna do to Jay before running back to the mansion and shaking him awake.* RUN JAY RUN!!!!
Lex finally focused his eyes on her and stared openly, trying to spot the evil that he knew must be inside of her. She had to be evil...the Slayer...Buffy. She had killed his mother, so Slayers were bad. And Emerald was a Slayer...
"What is a Slayer?" He croaked, wincing at the way his words rattled around his head loudly. Emerald breathed a sigh of relief.
"I know it's alot to take in but you have to believe me...A Slayer is the chosen one. A girl chosen to fight demons. She is given super strength so that she can fight them as an equal...I'm the slayer of this generation. When I die, the next Slayer takes up her duty" Emerald said slowly, her voice toneless and automatic like she'd heard the words a thousand times before. Lex stared, his brain trying to tell him it wasn't true but unable to stop the images of his mothers disfigured face. "But I can't save people anymore...my powers are weaker than usual and I can't do it. Because of me, more and more vampires were created and now the whole city has been taken over by them. Their leader is the most powerful new vampire I've ever come across. She killed her whole tribe except one girl who escaped and came to me...Eagle I think. But the prophecies...they say that *you* are the only one who can save us. Crow...you have to try...or everyone will die. Jade, Devon, Raad..me..everyone," She said quietly, her voice filled with fear and hope.
Lex stared into Emerald's eyes for what seemed like years before giving an almost invisible nod. "OK," He whispered.
"OK what?" Emerald asked, cursing herself for jumping *again* when Crow spoke.
"OK...I'll do it," He croaked, pulling himself into a sitting position and biting his lip so hard he could taste the copper tang in his mouth.
"What...Crow, lie back down, you'll hurt yourself," Emerald cried. Lex shook his head,
"I've been through worse," He muttered, shuddering slightly and shutting his eyes tight as his head threatened to explode. Emerald drew breath to make another protest but Lex changed the subject before she had the chance. Living with Selene had made him an expert at dealing with concerned women. "What's this say anyway?" He asked, motioning to the words scratched across his chest....oops, wrong move, he thought when Emerald's expression darkened.
"It says Corch," She said shortly, guilt written all over her face. Lex frowned, half regretful that he'd brought it up and half worried that he was more stupid than he thought he was. Was Corch even a word?? When he voiced his question, Emerald nodded slowly. "Devon checked it out. In Elvish, it means 'Crow. In ancient Malanatian, it means, 'tormented one' and in ancient Amaratin it means 'silent strength'," She replied, pretending she didn't hear when Lex snorted.
After much debate, she and Lex came to the compromise that Lex was allowed to sit outside with the others tonight so they could all discuss the 'situation'...providing he let Devin carry him. Lex had reluctantly agreed and flushed slightly when Devon remarked that how light he was.
"Crow!" A little voice cried and suddenly, a pair of thin arms were wrapped around his neck, carefully avoiding the bruises she'd been warned about. Lex smiled weakly and hugged Jade back, letting her bury her head in his shoulder and nodding when she asked if she could sit on his knee. He almost laughed at how carefully she was not to hurt him and wondered how long Emerald had lectured about 'no pressing the owies' when Jade had repeated this sentence to him for the 5th time in as many minutes.
"Go to bed kid. If you don't go now the wolves will come and eat you," Adam said menacingly, narrowing his eyes at the small child and ignoring Lex completely.
"Will they really Crow?" She asked him, her voice wobbling slightly. Lex smiled gently and shook his head, suppressing the urge to jump to his feet and teach Adam a lesson...something he hadn't felt since Tai-san had...
He shut his eyes and shook the thoughts away, concentrating on Emerald when she began talking with the group and hugging Jade close when he felt her breathing even out into a peaceful sleep.
"OK, so, now I've already explained the situation, we have to decide on how to do this," She began, scowling when Adam interrupted,
"You gotta be kidding me? This freak is some sort of hero? No way," He said, jerking his head in Lex's direction. Lex's face remained emotionless, though his stomach twisted almost painfully.
///////"Red stains on the carpet,
Red stains on the on the knife,
Old freaky Lexie,
Has murdered his Dad's wife.
He murdered the nurses,
For fear they would tell,
And now we all know,
He'll be living in hell," The kids sang, circling Lex and taunting him as he lay on the floor in tears.
"I didn't!! I didn't kill Mummy!! I didn't kill the nurses...I'm not a freak!" He shouted at them, screaming when two boys spat at him and began kicking him...////////
"Crow? You alright?" Lex jumped at the voice but nodded slowly at Lynx.
"Alright, so who votes we should go barging into the city with weapons and killing on sight?" Devon called. Predictably, Adam and a few people he'd blackmailed into voting for his plan raised their hands. "And who votes we should send in a group of four to kill Saitan and destroy the vampires by performing the cleansing spell using her ashes?" Devon asked, raising his own hand. Lex nodded to Lynx to hold up both her hands because he couldn't raise his or he'd wake Jade.
"8 to 5. We send in four people," Devon said, smirking at Adam, who scowled and kicked a nearby log.
"So, who's going?" Raad asked, looking around, "'Cause it sure as hell ain't gunna be me," He added, shaking his head. Emerald rolled her eyes,
"Me and Devon have decided seeing as we're the leaders," She said.
"Well of course you have," Adam threw in, reminding Lex so much of his previous self that it was quite frightening.
"We've decided," Devon began, pointedly glaring at Adam, "That Crow, Emerald, Lynx...Adam and I will be going," He said, looking sick at the thought of Adam coming.
"What!?" Several members of the tribe called out.
"No way Adam is coming!" Lynx called out, shaking her head.
"Lynx...he has too. He's one of the best fighter we have and he already knows how to fight vampires,"
"But I kno.." Lynx began furiously when Adam leered at her cockily.
"Look," Devon interrupted, "You're too valuable. You know you're the strongest witch we have and we can't risk you fighting. Adam however.."
"Oh face it. Your a girl. I'm a guy. Of course I'm a better fighter," Adam sneered, trying to get a rise out of her. Lex quickly stood between them and shot a meaningful look at Lynx who sighed deeply before sitting back down.
"Alright...let's get this show on the road," Devon said, clapping his hands, "Lex, you have to get some rest. Lynx, come with me and I'll show you the spell, Adam, go practice fighting. You'll need it," He said.
Lex swallowed hard, wondering whether this was all worth it. Everyone died in the end, who cared if they had to die a little earlier? That was just the way life worked. You had to be tough.
Jade shifted in Lex's arms and he jumped when he looked down to find her wide blue eyes staring up at him with a sleepy smile on her face.
"'M not sleepy...Don't wanna go to bed," She muttered, when she realized everyone was getting up. Lex chuckled quietly and nodded...his mind made up.
He had to fight. He had to fight to protect Jade. To protect her innocent smile...because *nobody*, *nobody* had the right to remove her sweet purity and leave her an empty nothing. A ghost.
No. Lex would fight anything to protect her.
Anything.
TO BE CONTINUED
Awww...isn't he sweet?
*glares at Zoe suspiciously, wondering wot she's gunna do to Jay before running back to the mansion and shaking him awake.* RUN JAY RUN!!!!