hey everyone! i'm sorry that it took... what 100 years to get this up? hahah! jk... but yeah i totaly hope y'all like it R&R please and thank you!
WATCH ME BLEED
keep it real
"C"-T-(R)
Baileyzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Chapter 4
It was finally morning when my eyelids closed. Only to be opened again by Heath rummaging around the shack starting his day. He never turned to look at me like he normally would when he heard me in the morning.
"Heath," I whispered his name, but I knew he could hear me.
"Yes?" he turned to me with a gentle, tired smile.
"Are you ok? What did you see last night?" I asked timidly.
"Erin, go back to sleep or be quiet," he snapped at me. His emerald eyes were intent on mine. I looked away and put my knees to my chest. I'd be quiet.
He finished whatever it was he was doing as sat down in front of me. He looked into my face and grinned.
"I do believe I promised to explain Sunde to you, correct?" he said.
I sat up straighter, "Yes, you did say that." I smiled and opened my ears.
"Well Erin, a long, long time ago in a land far, far away," he snickered to himself, "Just joking. Ok for real. A very long time ago, in the beginning of time, there were only two vampires, Dracula and Violet.
"Now Dracula wasn't half as terrible as people make him out to be. But the elves forced him and Violet to work and they refused," He looked up like he was trying to find out how to fully explain himself. "You see, the elves, as wise and wonderful as they are, are sometimes a bit controlling and superior. So when Dracula and Violet were defiant, the elves were angry and stole their shadows from them. And then put these new creatures to work for them in their fields and such. Dracula and Violet were then shadow less and there was an entire new race.
"The first two shadows did looked like Drac and Vie, but they soon reproduced. Vampires can't, they have to bite more humans to create more vampires- myself no included. Now, just because new vampires were made, didn't mean there was a shadow to match them. But still, they had no shadows. That was a privilege stolen. And just because shadows were being made didn't mean there was a vampire that was the same." He looked at me then, and paused. Maybe he saw the confusing in my eyes and maybe he didn't, still he continued.
"You see, I don't have a shadow that is of me. Does that make sense?" he asked me, squinting.
"I guess, but what does this have to do with Sunde?" I answered and asked him.
"She's a shadow."
"Oh."
"Yes," he smiled at me. "And her full name is Sundevil, she just likes Sunde for short." He winked.
"I'll try to remember that."
He nodded, grinning.
Then I asked, "So do the 'shadows' have any talents? Or are they just good for farm work?"
"Well they make amazing warriors simply because at night they are almost completely invisible. A shadow, as in a member of the race, can fold into any other shadow- like one below a tree or a building. They fold into these other shadows and even the most skilled of elves cannot find them," he informed me. He smiled and chuckled slightly, "And if someone is really good, they can fold into even the shadow of their opponent. They are a very gifted race, the shadow people."
His smiled faded and he muttered quietly, "Shunned, but gifted…."
I wondered what he was talking about, but I let it go. I thought of how Sunde's ears were pointed and that puzzled me. "If the first shadows were created from vampires, and vampires don't have pointed ears because they were humans, then…. Why does Sunde have pointed ears?"
"Good question, evolution I suppose. It could be possible that an elf or two slipped into the masses, but it's not probable in any way, the shadows were slaves and nothing more," he muttered thoughtfully.
"Would you like to go see her today?" he asked sweetly.
"Can we? That'd be great," I answered.
A few hours went by as the sun rose and I eat my breakfast. It looked to me that it was noon when we left the house.
Today we went the opposite way we had yesterday.
"Where exactly are we going, Heath?" I asked after a few minutes of walking.
"To Sunde's house just inside the shadow community. Once we reach the town, we'll have to make haste through the streets to her home," he said.
"Why?" I muttered.
"These people aren't that excepting of vampires, especially myself," he said shrugging.
"Why not?" I mused.
"They're angry with us," he looked at me, but we continued to follow the thing path. "Because we won't help them…. Now I would, in the ever heartbeat I don't have. But they don't want me," he looked away and his face turned sorrowful. He mumbled, almost inaudible, "It seems no one does….."
This hurt me slightly because I wanted him… Well like a brother I mean, like a protector. Or a friend. Yeah as a friend. Yep that's it, a friend…… Nothing more.
I was too embarrassed to say anything and we keep walking in silence.
"What do they need your help with?" I asked.
"They're at war," he answered, looking at the forest around him.
With that I begin to take in my surroundings. I couldn't breathe.
The trees were taller than any skyscraper created and wider than the widest of trampolines. The roots shoot out of the ground and covered several feet. I noticed that the roots were taller then I was! And thicker than the width of a man.
There was moss everywhere and grass and leaves. Everywhere you looked you'd see lush beautiful green. I'd never seen so many different hues; never seen them stick out to me so much, but flow together so beautifully as well. There were also browns everywhere. The bark on the close trees were cracked and ridged, and soft and breathe taking.
Some of the leaves, which were larger than my hand, fell slowly and silently. Defying gravity, they looked like they were caught in slow motion. This place- this wood- was the most beautiful, warm scenery I had ever seen in my entire life. Yesterday's walk was wonderful but today, these trees and plants, succeeded those by far.
I saw buildings a few yards away and I knew we were close to the town. Were these the homes of shadow people? They were large and made of the beautiful white stone. In the stone there were lines and cracks of various colors. This was a very different scene than the one I'd seen yesterday in the elfin market place. There also weren't many people outside at all. Only a few children and a group of teenagers roamed the streets. All I people I did see though had tan skin, just like Sundevil's. And they all had slightly pointed ears.
"Where is everyone?" I whispered to Heath.
"In side their homes, or working…" he paused before saying 'or working' and I wondered why. He took my hand and started walking much faster.
We soon reached a house that was larger than all the rest. It had windows of blue and red painted glass and told, cone pillars. The pillars stretched up high into the sky and were connected to a balcony that went all the around the front of the building. There was no door at the front of the home, just a large rectangular hole. The top of the door way was curved and along that curve something was written. I couldn't read it though. It was in another language. The word looked like several cursive F's and L's with many dots going every which way.
"What does that say?"
"Eleleka. Freedom." He answered using an accent to say the first word.
I tried the word over my own tongue, "Eleleka."
"Exactly," he smiled at me.
We entered the home and walked through the few rooms. The first seemed to be an office and library. When you walk in there is a wall to your right and it leads on to the next door. And to your left is the library itself.
It was vast, moon shaped room and to the right of the curve a large, dark desk sat itself. With the desk was a chair that had a silver cushion attached to part that you sit on. The chair was halfway pushed under the desk. Heavy looking books were spread all across the top of the desk. It was also covered with many pieces of parchment, notes that looked to be maps and letters maybe. An inkpot and quill were perched in the upper right hand corner of the table. On the left side was a lit large, black candle. There was also a globe next to the desk with waters and landmasses I'd never seen before. The floor was covered with a rug that was a deep, romantic shade of red.
Then there were the walls, covered with thousands of books. The room's walls stretched up very high and every inch was covered with books of all shapes, colors, and sizes. I was taken greatly aback. The room had a very warm feeling to it. It's color theme, it looked to me, were black, red, and gold. The shelves, which were plastered with books, were all made of the same wood that the desk was made of.
The walkway to the next room was straight ahead from the door to this room so we walked on past all of that and into the next room.
It was the largest family room I'd ever seen. It was the same size as the school cafeteria with glass as the celling. The glass was painted glass and it was black. In various spots all over the celling where small diamond shapes, all in different colors- red, yellow, clear, blue. They were stars. I didn't even see the rest of the room because I was starring straight up.
"Wow," I exhaled.
I heard Heath sigh and then mutter, "I could have sworn she was here."
"Is she not?" I asked, looking at him.
"No, Sunde's not here. Maybe we'll come back tomorrow or something," he answered, seeming a bit apologetic. "Let's head home I guess."
"Can't we wait? Or maybe talk to some of the other folk?" I spoke quickly.
"No, like I said, they don't like us." And with that he walked back outside.
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We went home and just waited there.
Some time passed by. I was sitting on the floor and Heath was staring out the window. Suddenly he shrank to the floor and put his knees to his chest. He began to shake back and forth. He ran his hands to his hair and then started pulling on it. He was muttering things very fast and shaky.
I crawled slowly over to him and knelt beside him. "Heath?"
He snapped his head up to me and his eyes held so many secrets. So many emotions stared back at me; anger, pain, anguish, and deep in there I saw sorrow and a pleading wish.
"Leave me along!" he yelled at me. But I couldn't do that. I just couldn't.
I began softly rubbing his back and he ducked his head. He continued to rack his hair and to rock back and forth. He sobbed as well.
The hours went by and he quieted down. He never lifted his head though. And I never took my hand form his back.
"Heath? Erin?" a voice came from the door.
He was up in a flash and whispering in Sundevil's ear. She nodded and he disappeared outside.
"Hello, dear," she smiled at me and came to sit down beside me.
"What's going on?" I asked frantically.
"He just needs to hunt, that's all," but her voice was too innocent. "He asked me to watch you while he was out."
"Oh, ok," I agreed.
Sunde was dressed in a large, off-white button up shirt and brown trousers. Her hair was tied up in a loose ponytail with a black string. She looked very different from the moment in the elfin marketplace. Her beauty stung my self worth all the same, though. The sword was still slung around her belt. She had a delicate cut above her right eyebrow. I was sure that wasn't there before.
"What happened? There's a cut above your eye," I asked her quietly.
Her hand flew up to the wound and she looked frightened for some reason. Then she smiled softly, "Oh, I got it at work."
"How?"
"I, uh… was bending over to get something out from under the counter and hit my head on the way back up," she informed me, still smiling in a humble way.
"Ah… well I'm sorry," I laughed slightly and she joined in.
"You know, I've missed having your kind around," Sunde spoke to me brightly.
"Excuse me?" I chuckled back to her.
"You see, humans used to live here as well, thousands of years ago. Only they were... less than happy with the lot of us. They were angry that they'd no powers. So the elves sectioned off a part of the world for them, and they long forgot about us. Only the most arrogant of old men say they don't miss the humans. Everyone misses them, we all miss unity. Only a few still live here, a little population of about 2000." Sunde stopped and I was stunned.
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The hours passed by and night fell as they talked lightly. Then Erin asked Sunde about Heath's parents.
"His father died, but his mother is still around here somewhere." Sunde's voice was monotone and her expression was guarded.
Erin's face feel, and she felt tears threatening to emerge. "What happened to Abrum?" she asked and her voice shock.
Sunde looked out the window for a time without speaking. She then looked back at Erin and her eyes were full of sorrow. "Maybe you should ask Heath that yourself, love."
Erin simply nodded.
"Do you have any family, Sundevil?" Erin asked her softly.
"All the people are my brethren," she answered.
"But I mean, immediate family, a brother maybe? Sisters?"
"Yes, I had a brother," the shadow smiled and looked her in the eye. "Shadowhunter was his name. He was older than I and oldest in the colony after my parents died. Because he was, like I, one of the older people, he has a name like that. And Erin, how I loved him, as I did my parents. He died fighting in the war right beside me." She looked away from Erin and her voice softened a bit. She continued to speak, though.
"We're at war with the elves because of the rebellion my parents started and when Shadowhunter died people talked of how much more fire that would spark in my veins. They said that I should fight harder because of what has happened, that only by fighting more would I live up to what he is dead for.
"Isn't it strange how people try to justify death with more death? A lost loved one can put revenge in the heart of most warriors, but it only puts remorse in mine. I lost a brother and how many others will have to lose before we can stop?" She looked down again, brokenhearted.
"I wonder, friend," she still looked away. "Every time I'm in battle, the thoughts haunt me and I wonder. Where did he grow up? Who is his mother? Does he have a sweetheart waiting for him back home? Will she miss him terribly when she hears of his passing?" her voice was strong, but Erin thought she detected a tremor of pain and regret.
Sunde continued all the same, "I do not like war Erin White, but I stand at a crossroads and a choice must be made."
Erin was sure she heard it now, and her heart cried out to her new friend, Sunde spoke of pain she truly couldn't imagine.
"This isn't what Shadowhunter wanted either. He didn't want to fight. But he loved all of us and I know what I musts do. I will fight for my people and against the others until we are finally one."
"Wow," Erin breathed.
"Yes. And I even wish the humans still remembered."
Minutes passed and time felt long. Then Sundevil broke the silence.
"As you fight your wars we are here as well, fighting our own. Do you think only those on earth are separated by skin and race?" Sunde was looking at Erin very intently, but the shadow looked down now. "We were shunned by the elves because of our tanned skin, because of what they made us. It doesn't make sense to me. But either way, we now fight."
She paused for a few moments, almost like letting Erin take it all in.
"Yesterday, when you and Heath came to see me, you didn't stay because I had to work. And when I say work I mean fight. I run that little shop everyday, but I do more. And the sword around my belt indicated to Heath that I was going to the battlefield later that day." She looked into Erin's eyes, "That's why I have a cut under my eye, and why, when you came to my home, I wasn't there."
"Your home is beautiful by the way," Erin murmured softly.
"Thank you," Sunde smiled sweetly.
"But, oh, yeah. That's explains things I guess," Erin commented.
"I'm on the village counsel and one of the generals for war. There for I must be there at all times."
To Erin, Sundevil was a peacemaker at heart, but a solider at mind. The beautiful warrior. Sunde was the wisest person Erin had ever met, the most beautiful, and the most broken. Deep in her eyes, Erin deciphered grief and pain. And something that hurt her more was that she saw loneliness.
"Have you ever been married, or considered it?" Erin asked.
"No and yes …." She smiled brightly to her friend at the last part. Then she sighed. "But his heart is set on another," Sunde looked away and her face was full of anguish.
chapter five is coming soon, i hope hehe love you all!
