I don't own the song Lil' Red Riding Hood. Some oldies band does, only I'm using the remake by Bowling for Soup. YouTube the video, the song is great! Enjoy!
Thalia was walking down the snowy street listening to her iPod. It was a long walk to Jude's place from the tower and the temperature had dropped considerably over night.
'Jude had better be home. It's freaking cold,' The wind howled around making it colder out than it already was.
Thalia finally arrived after what seemed forever at Jude's apartment complex. She couldn't have teleported because she and Desiree decided if they did it too much they would eventually get caught. She took the elevator up and walked to his door. She was a bit hesitant about knocking.
'You can always just turn around and go back, it's not like he's expecting you or anything. No you can do this, now go!'
She knocked quietly and heard what sounded like someone tripping behind the door. "Damn! Ouch!" that was clearly Jude's voice. Thalia chuckled a bit, who knew the suave Jude was a klutz underneath.
The door opened and revealed a tired but smiling Jude, "Hey Thalia come on in." Thalia walked in and got a really good look at Jude. He had dark circles under his eyes, and his hair was all messy. He looked like he hadn't slept in days. "So what brings you here?"
"I was just stopping by to see if you were sick or something, you were out all last week so yeah…" she trailed off.
Jude stared at her with a huge smile on his face. "What? Why are you smiling?" Thalia asked.
"You were worried about me," Jude said and turned to walk into the living room. She followed him, fuming.
"I was not," she exclaimed.
'Yes you were.' 'Shut up!' Thalia argued with herself.
Jude sat down on the couch and put his feet up on the coffee table, "Okay sure, take your coat off. Xander's out right now so you don't have to worry about him spazzing out on you today."
Thalia didn't know why but she did as Jude said and laid her coat and gloves on the kitchen counter and walked over and sat on the coffee table facing Jude.
"So were you sick? I mean you don't look sick," she asked.
"Nope," Jude said as started channel flipping.
Thalia stared confused. 'Why else would he be out?'
"Okay so if you're not sick then why have you been missing school?"
Jude's face fell a little, "Xander needs help with some stuff here. So I have to stay at home. We're on break though now right?"
"Yeah we are, are you coming back at the end of break?" Thalia asked.
Jude didn't speak for awhile, "I don't know yet. It depends on some stuff that's going on."
"Like what Jude? What's so important that you have to stay here?" she said, her voice rising a bit.
Jude smiled, "You're not helping me believe you didn't miss me when you say that you know."
"I didn't. Okay maybe a little, but that doesn't answer my question," she barked, her face serious. Jude was still smiling though. "Tell me!" she ordered.
The dark-haired boy sighed, "I didn't want to tell you about this, I wanted to wait till Xander came home but I guess I have to." He ran his fingers through his hair which was spiky today, his dark eyes were filled with sadness.
'Oh come on, he's cute and you know it!' 'SHUT UP!'
Thalia could see that this was going to be hard for Jude, she leaned in, "I know it comes off as if I don't like you Jude but, on some strange level I do. You can tell me if something's wrong. I'm a good listener."
Jude looked at her for a bit, "Alright it's kind of a long story so pay attention. Xander usually tells it better than I do so let me know if you get confused."
Thalia rolled her eyes and mumbled, "Oh no not another one."
"What?" Jude asked.
"Nothing continue," Thalia said making herself comfortable on the glass coffee table.
"Okay, remember I told you my parents died when I was little?" Thalia nodded. "Well they were murdered. Murdered by hunters, it was a dark night Christmas Eve in fact a long time ago. Nineteen twenty four, my family My mom Esme, my dad Daniel and Alexander or Xander was in our little house in the woods that were hidden by mountains. We thought they wouldn't find us there, and we were wrong. My mom heard a noise outside that worried her. Who else could be way out here? My father who was also worried, told Alexander and me to run out in the forest and far. I was only four at the time. We did as we were told, but heard screams echoing from behind us. Early the next morning the screams stopped. Xander thought it was safe for us to go back to the house, what we saw was disturbing. My mother and father's bodies were drenched in their blood, it was on the walls and spattered over the floors. On each of their right hands was a cut in the shape of an "S". The Shaken had come for us. Confused yet?"
Thalia nodded, "I don't understand? Why would hunters kill your family? And who are The Shaken?"
"I'm getting to that. Okay don't freak out on me I don't think you will considering you're one too but," Jude started but Thalia cut him off.
"Wait what am I?" Thalia asked.
"Thalia my family all of us are witches, warlocks, sorcerer whatever you prefer. The hunters that killed my parents weren't normal witch hunters though. They were The Shaken. The Shaken are a group of warlocks and witches with our kind of powers. They are collectors, they kill witches and warlocks for their powers, sometimes they'll keep one or two if they show promise. I think that's worse, you become something else entirely. Your magic becomes like a drug and you just want more, so you'll kill innocent sorcerers just to gain their power. My family caught their attention, they were willing to take on all of us. My parents didn't want us to become monsters, so we ran. After they killed my parents they came looking for Xander and me, we were special apparently. We woke up night after night feeling a presence was among us but when we searched we found no one. We've been wandering around ever since, around the nineteen forties I stopped aging. No idea why but I just did, and Xander did too. We think it might be because we have to avenge our parent's deaths. We've been rescuing ones who have been marked and some have even gone off on their own to save others. The Shaken call us rebels, I like it but Xander doesn't really, he thinks we sound to much like superheroes. And here we are."
Thalia just stared at the boy, "Okay so what does that have to do with me?"
Jude took Thalia's right hand, which was wrapped up in gauze now, "You've been marked by The Shaken. There's a prophecy saying that The Shaken will obtain a witch of great power, they'll steal her power and she'll die. Thalia you are that girl."
"I don't believe you! This is nonsense, there's no such thing as "The Shaken" you're just trying to scare me," Thalia said starting to get up, Jude grabbed her by her upper arms.
"Look at this if you don't believe me," he held up his right hand, there was a faint scar of an "S" on it. "I was supposed to be one of their inner circle. I refused them that's why mine is a scar now."
"I bet it's just a coincidence you and I have a scar on the same hand. It doesn't mean we're connected or I'm a prophecy or whatever," Thalia was getting flustered now, getting up and walking away from him.
"Go ask your friend Oliver to show you his hand, he's got one too. Only his will be bright red even though he's had it for almost a century, it looks as if he just got it yesterday," Jude said.
Thalia spun around to face him. "How do you know about Oliver? Have you been following me?" she said growing angry.
"I've known Oliver for a long time, he's the one who gave me my scar. He's one of The Shaken's best, part of their inner circle. Don't trust him Thalia, you can't," Jude pleaded.
"Why should I listen to you?" she said coldly.
"Because I have more experience with Oliver and the others. Xander and I have been fighting them for most of our lives. Stay away from Oliver," Jude said.
Then Thalia suddenly started to laugh, Jude straightened up, "I don't see what's funny about this. I just told you some dude wants to off you and you're laughing. Maybe you're hysterical." He'd heard about people snapping when they found out about this kind of stuff, maybe Thalia had cracked.
"No, no I'm not, I just find it hilarious that you would come up with a story like that just because you're jealous of Oliver! I mean really Jude, you could have just told me I'm a little creeped out that you're following me though," Thalia said laughing the entire time.
"I'm telling the truth! You're in danger!" Jude practically shouted throwing his hands up in the air.
"Okay let's say I actually believe you. I don't think Oliver is capable of murder, he's too nice," Thalia said, smiling as she thought of the sweet and sensitive boy with the sexy accent.
"That's because you're Little Red Riding Hood! And he's the big bad wolf, he's tricking you Thalia," Jude said growing more and more desperate.
"And who's the hunter who's going to save me Jude? Is it you? Well guess what, this Little Red Riding Hood can take care of herself and fend off any big bad wolf that comes her way. Honestly I don't have time for this I have to go, I need to get a dress for the dance that Oliver is taking me to. Oh I'm sorry I meant the Big Bad Wolf," she snapped as she left the room. The door slammed and Jude groaned as he kicked the wall in frustration.
"She's a feisty little thing isn't she?" a voice said from behind Jude. "That must be what makes her so gosh-darn adorable."
Oliver was standing in front of the doors that led to the balcony. "I must say I like the analogy. I've always thought I'd make a good werewolf."
Jude braced himself for a fight, "Relax Masterson, I'm only here as a warning. I've got bigger things to concentrate on than you and Alexander."
"You will not touch her," Jude growled. "I won't let you." Pure hatred was in his eyes.
"Oh you won't be a problem, your parents weren't when they were trying to protect you, trying to save you from your destiny. Though I still think they should have just handed you over. They wouldn't have died if they did that. Just like we won't have to kill you if you just stand out of the way and let us take the witch," Oliver said.
"I won't back down easily. You'll have to kill me first before I let you get to her," Jude said as he launched something that looked like black lightning at Oliver. The other boy responded by turning into a black smoke like form. He pulled himself back together and sent black energy at Jude. Jude went flying into the wall, the black energy held his wrists in place. Jude struggled to get free but his efforts were useless
"We will kill you Jude, after we kill her and you will watch that, you will watch her scream in agony. I don't get why you're so protective of her, she's really not all that special. Well you know what I mean," Jude growled when Oliver said that. "Oh I get it, you like her don't you? Maybe even love her? Oh that makes perfect sense, and it will make me going to the dance with her all that much sweeter. You know that's when the date is set right? She's to be sacrificed that night. I'm hoping I can get some fun in with her body before that though if you know what I mean."
Jude snarled and broke through the bonds and lunged for Oliver. The evil boy turned into the mist and floated away from Jude. "Stay away from her Jude. It'll be easier that way."
Jude was kneeling on the floor, "He won't get away with this. I won't let her be my fault too."
Xander walked in to see the boy on the floor in anguish, "Wow what happened here? What's wrong?" Jude didn't answer, he walked over worry plastered all over his face. "Jude what's going on? Talk to me Jude."
"Oliver stopped by for a visit. The date is set and lil' red riding hood is on her way to grandma's house," Jude said, his face was hopeless.
Okay what did you think? I hope that clears up a lot of confusion. I've had the thought of Thalia being Little Red Riding Hood for a long time, it just seems to fit her character at least for this story. Reviews are like chocolate!!