Through Their Eyes Chapter One In Noleta's View
I looked back over my shoulder and cursed, they were still there. Relentlessly chasing me like hounds on a rabbit. I knew these streets like the back of my hand and yet the two men following me drove all sense, all confidence from my mind. I looked around quickly for some place to hide. 'Hide?' I thought. 'Me, hide?' I made a face of disgust. 'Never once have I hid like a coward, I wont start now.' I slipped around a young man walking his dog. The dog's big brown eyes caught my attention.
"Better to hide and fight another day." It seemed to tell me. Another look over my shoulder confirmed that they were still following me. Cursing under my breath I ducked into a small café and headed to the back patio, weaving in and out of waitresses and bust boys. The patio was small with a handful of tables and one or two people were seated and eating lunch. White concrete tiles were on the ground and surrounded by very low little white picket fence. I promptly hopped the fence and continued on my way. I grinned as I continued and another shoulder check revealed my pursuers were no longer on my tail.
The day was like any other in August, for the city of Toronto, Ontario. The sun was warm on my back and a slight breeze blew through my hair and over my face. It was a beautiful day and I had skipped school once again to enjoy the freedom of the streets. I glanced again over my shoulder to see a crowded street full of bustling people. Something about those men had me ruffled and I couldn't for the life of me figure out why I thought of them as a threat. I crossed the street ignoring the honks of the drivers that I had cut off. 'They were wearing cloaks. Black cloaks at that.' I hadn't noticed at the time, I was too frantic about getting them off my tail. Something gave me the feeling that if they caught up to me, my whole world would be turned upside down. 'Pull yourself together there is no reason for anyone to be after you.' I told myself sternly
"But then again." A small black alley cat with green eyes watched me pass "there is a reason." The little cat told me.
'No! No! No!' I repeated in my head
"There is NO reason." I said out loud suddenly.
"No reason for what?" A voice said startling me. I looked up and realized I was at the old run down building my friends and I used as a hang out. My eyes soon focused on the young man in front of me, blue eyes, brown hair and a cheeky smile.
"Oh hey Rye." I gave him what I hoped was a convincing enough smile. It felt forced to me but he seemed to accept it.
"You know," he said, "talking to yourself is a good sign of insanity."
"Thanks for the reminder Rye like I needed that today." I stepped through the broken door into the run down building.
One of these days the whole building would collapse, that or the city would tare it down. I chuckled to myself. 'Not likely considering all the spells and bindings we had on the place.' I passed the old living room full of dust and headed threw the kitchen with all the broken plates. I grinned remembering how we had smashed them the first night we found the place. I opened a door and headed carefully down a set of steep rickety stairs. As my eyes adjusted to the dim light I could make out four figures. Two who were smaller then the ones, who were closer to me, they had to be Julie and Rose. Julie had straight blonde hair along with brown eyes and was very skinny. Rose had a bit more of a solid build to her and straight black hair with dark eyes to match. They always seemed a little out of place in here. I turned my attention to the other two. The first was tall and lanky with a mane of unruly black hair with the tips died red. His eyes were a washy blue gray color and as always I couldn't read what was going on inside that head of his. That was no other then Daemon. The other was tall and had a sturdy build blonde brown hair and soft brown eyes told me it was Briar.
"Hey all!" I said with faulty cheerfulness. I was in no mood to put up with Daemon's antics. Julie and Rose each gave me a wave; I got a small and nod from Briar and a scowl and nod from Daemon. I was just sitting down when there was a sudden crash.
Rye could be heard shouting obscenities upstairs and what sounded like explosions were making the house shake. Daemon and Briar were on their feet and clambering up the stairs. I was close behind followed by Julie and Rose. I heard a large thump and Briar was falling down the stairs. I managed to dive onto the landing and avoid Briar but Julie and Rose weren't so quick. Rye was down on the ground bleeding slightly and unconscious while Daemon had one of the men up against the wall by the throat. 'Black cloaks black cloaks.' My mind was reeling
"Oh you messed up bad you did." Snickered a black squirrel that was scrambling along the rafters. "Yup you did. Lead 'em right to your friends." I picked myself up from the floor 'Shut up shut up SHUT UP!' And the squirrel left through a whole in the wall. I could feel the familiar tingle of magic in the air and I shuddered. One of the men raced towards me and I used his momentum to trip him up. I ran over to where Rye was and he was just getting up. Briar came up the stairs with Julie in his arms and Rose behind him limping. I felt rough hands grab me by the back of my shirt and neck. Lifting my toned body off the floor and pining my arms behind my back. I felt the familiar tingle of power ripple over my body. A little mouse in the corner of the room froze and watched the scene play out.
"Do something." It squeaked at me. "Before it's to late."
I looked around and saw Daemon and the others trapped in a ring of fire. 'Do what?' I asked meekly. I was beaten I let the man lead me roughly out of the house and out onto the street. I let me feet drag giving up on fighting for freedom the magic in the air made me nervous.
"That's it." The man behind me said, "Cooperate and no one will get hurt." He had one hand one my shoulder as we walked down the street. The sudden sound of his voice brought me out of my shook.
"Briar! Daemon!" I cried out suddenly trying to turn back around to the house. I reached for the power in the air but found I couldn't grasp it. I watched in horror as smoke rose from the house. The man's grasp on my shoulder tightened painfully on my shoulder bringing me down to one knee.
I wanted to die right there and then. I had led them right to my friends and now they were hurt, I gulped.
"Or worse if they can't get out." The little squirrel snickered at me from the crook of the old oak try we would scramble up or do chin-ups on. The man picked me up by my shirt and nodded to his partner. He turned me around and pushed me forward forcing me to move. I watched the ground as I walked along numbly. I didn't hear the cars pass on the streets or the dogs barking in the park down the road. I blinked as I saw a reflection of myself. Long red hair like a flame on a candle, my eyes were a bleak green because I no longer cared. The past had caught up with me and I was in over my head. The man shook me slightly and I realized I was staring into the tinted windows of a black car.
"Don't make me repeat myself for a third time. Get. In. The. Car." He clearly separated each word gritting his teeth from anger. My hand reached out and touched the chrome, cool hard steel. Unbending to the world. I smirked to myself. I would be that steel because everyone knows that you can't hurt steel.