Chapter 8

It all makes sense, sort-of

"What do ya think yer doin?" Dustin shouted accusingly, "Sneaking out of the house, Damon would have flung us off a cliff if we didn't find you!"

"Your concern is touching," I grumbled.

He sighed, "How did you even know about this town in the first place?"

I jammed my thumb at Christopher, who was currently snacking on the waffle, "Ask him."

Dustin looked extra scary as he loomed over Chris; maybe it was his dark clothes added some spooky effect.

Christopher tried to beat a hasty retreat, "Well, uh, I'm just gonna…RUN!"

I have to admit seeing Dustin chase around Chris was pretty funny, and I was vaguely reminded of a cat and mouse cartoon.

"Pip," I whispered to my small, royal companion, "I've wanted to ask you something."

"What?" She asked.

"Does Ethan have a twin brother?

She looked taken aback, "Of course not. Twins are a bad omen in this world, and even if Ethan did have a twin then he was disposed of."

I felt a chilling shiver run down my spine, "What do you mean by 'disposed of'?"

"The twin the parents love the most on sight is the one that stays. The other is killed," Pip said as simply as if she were explaining how the garbage was taken out.

"But that's murder!" I screamed.

"I don't see what the big deal is. Thousands of our people are murdered in the war with the demons."

"That's different!"

"Miss Terra?" I heard Jem's voice from behind me, "What's going on?" He scanned the strange assortment of events around the tavern, me with the princess, Dustin trying to kill Chris (who still had the blueberry waffle in his mouth by the way) and poor Jem looked quite frightened indeed.

"Well we're having a circus. You want to be the third ring?" I answered sarcastically.

Jem bowed before Pip, "Your highness, if I may be so bold as to ask that Scarlet return home with us."

"Actually I was planning to offer her shelter at the castle."

"Princess, you know that one from another world cannot enter the castle without the aid of the provinces."

Okay, now I was interested, "What do I need from the provinces?"

I was ignored as Jem continued, "However, if you let Scarlet stay with us we will help her gather the items and then escort her to the castle."

Pip seem perplexed for a moment then spoke, "Very well, but if she does not arrive by Nuptial Day you shall be punished."

Jem bowed again before gently taking my arm and leading me out of the tavern. By this time Dustin and Christopher had noticed the entrance of their friend and trotted along after us.

"Now we must get you home before Damon notices your absence." Jem stated.

"Hey, Scarlet," Dustin asked, "Why did you run away in the first place?"

Chris turned his big purple puppy-dog eyes up at me, "Do you not like us?"

I blinked a few times. Truth be told I didn't know why I left, "I'm not sure. Just out of sheer boredom I suppose."

"Boredom?" The three boys echoed in unison.

I replied, "Well, yeah! I mean you guys didn't exactly leave me with something to do."

Dustin rolled his eyes, "Oh, so if we had left you a jigsaw puzzle you would've stuck around?"

"Maybe I would have! The puzzle would sure be more entertaining than you!"

"Don't you sass me young lady!"

"When did you turn into my Daddy?"

Jem held his hands to his ears, "Would you two just SHUT UP!" All of us turned in shock to look at Jem.

"Well, what do ya know; little Jemmy Boy's got a little sass of his own!" Christopher cheered, clapping him on the back.

That's really strange for Jem I thought. Maybe something was bugging him.

The blonde boy looked bewildered for a second then replied in a small voice, "I-I'm sorry I snapped like that."

Dustin snorted, "Whatever let's get going a.s.a.p., Freaks."

Walking home in my new dress was much easier now that I could breathe. Dustin currently had Alexandra's dress, and he was carrying it as though it were the most valuable thing on the planet. Oh, looks like Dustin may have a crush I thought wilily to myself. Chris did something surprising then. Instead of giving crap to Dustin about the dress (As I and most of the earth's population expected him to do), he just patted him on the shoulder and whispered in a gentle voice, "I know, Buddy, I know." Jeez, what's up with all the depression? These guys are crazy wacko maniacs for crying out loud!

"Uh, is everything alright?" I asked.

Dustin and Jem angled their faces away from me, and stared at their shoes. Christopher was the only one to turn to me, "Yeah, everything's jolly." That's a fake smile if I ever saw one I thought and trust me, I know fake smiles. My teachers give them all the time to students in the early morning when they're running on coffee.

It doesn't matter; I'll get it out of them sooner or later. We paced into the house. No one spoke to each other. Jem raced down the hall to the kitchen with his edible items, or at least I hope they're edible.

I jogged after him. Figuring if I was going to get anything out of these guys, Jem would be the most reliable source.

"Let me help you with that," I offered, reaching to put a loaf of bread away.

Jem didn't look at me, "Thank you, Miss Terra."

After a few moments of silently and awkwardly putting food away, I grabbed Jem's spiky hair and made him face me.

"What's wrong?" I demanded, rather than asked.

Jem looked pretty ticked, "If you are trying to be sincere, I'm afraid that you are epically failing, my dear."

I wrinkled my nose, like I do when I get angry or when I'm feeling snooty, "Fine! If you don't want to tell me, I'll just get someone else to." I folded my arms across my chest.

He sighed, "Alright I suppose you have a right to know, but I won't tell you until we're all at dinner, which you are so kind as to help me make."

I paused for a second, "Oh I see what you did there. I don't like it, but I respect it."

Jem chuckled, and we made dinner and set the table. After we were all sitting down, minus Damon, I popped the big question, "Okay, what's wrong with you guys?"

Chris threw his head back laughing, "It would be easier to tell you what isn't wrong with us."

I glared at him, "You think I'm playing, curly top?"

Christopher nervously patted his swirly locks, than looked at Jem, "My hair's not that curly is it?"

Jem shook his head, more out of pity than disagreement. Dustin nodded vigorously, confirming Christopher's curliness.

With a defeated look, Chris frowned and smacked his face on the table with a groan. Feeling bad I patted his shoulder.

"Anyway, Miss Terra, you may think that we are just like everyone in your world, but in actuality we are quite different." Jem stated, "For instance I-"

"Mine is more noticeable than Jem's," Dustin cut in. He reached for his covered head then paused, "Scarlet, just try not to be too scared." He slowly took off his hood and where there should have been more of his shaggy, black hair there were two horns.

My eyes went wide. I had to cover my mouth to keep from screaming. I always thought Dustin had a bit of an attitude, but he's got freaking DEVIL HORNS!

"It's not that bad compared to full demons," Jem said, "Don't look so frightened, Miss Terra."

"Not that bad?" I yelled, "He's got horns poppin' out of his head-like daisies!"

"FYI I only have two horns, smart one," Dustin mumbled.

He looked so hurt. I calmed down, "I'm sorry, Dustin. I was just taken a little off guard is all."

Christopher's head shot up from the table top, "Well now that you're 'on guard', Jem can tell you what's wrong with him."

"Wait, wait, wait," I said, "Jem, you mentioned that full demons weren't as bad. What does that make Dustin?"

The boys exchanged glances.

"I'm half demon," Dustin answered, "My dad was a demon, but my mom was human."

"Well you could've told me that in the first place," I said.

"I was afraid of how you'd take the news," Dustin defended himself; "A lot of people don't trust me because of my bloodline. No one likes a half breed."

I didn't like the way he said half breed, as if it was some disease.

Chris smirked, "Everyone except Alex."

Dustin blushed, "That's different."

"To keep with the subject, Miss Terra," Jem started, "I'm sure you've noticed my lacking of pupils."

I nodded.

Jem took a deep breath, "Well that's because when I was young demons invaded my home. They killed everyone and were going to do the same to me, but instead they thought they'd use me. Those demons injected a special poison in me that eats away at my soul, and also turns my eyes this way. In time, if I don't do anything about it, I myself will become a demon that will slaughter everything."

I gulped, "That's pretty bad."

Chris nodded, "That's why we need you."

"I can't do anything!" I protested. Now, I realize this sounds a little rude, but I seriously know nothing of this world.

"You can do something," Jem argued, "The king has placed a bounty on your head."

I felt my eyes go wide, but Dustin continued, "He said that whoever brings you to the royal family will receive the reward of one wish. The entire kingdom knows this."

"Pip didn't know," I countered.

"Well it's hard to recognize you." Jem stated, "Only demons would know if it was you or not."

"We had to travel through like 600 worlds to find you." Chris said.

"It wasn't a total loss, I got these" Dustin gestured to his gun and sweatshirt.

I thought about this, "What does the king want me for anyway?"

"You heard me tell Pip that we would return you by Nuptial Day?" Jem asked.

"Yes."

"Well that's what the royal family wants," He continued, "It is in your foretelling that if you are married the dark age of war will be over."

"Oh and by the way," Christopher chimed in, "A foretelling is like your destiny. Everyone in this world has one. You can't stray from it if you tried."

"I tried and it failed horribly," Dustin grumbled.

"Hold on a second!" I screamed, "Who am I marrying?"

Damon strode into the kitchen.

"Hey you old stick-in-the-mud," Chris called, "Where have you been?"

"Out," Damon answered.

"Who am I marrying?" I screamed again.

Damon turned his cold blue eyes on me. He snarled his voice dripping with venom, "Why, his highness Prince Ethan of course."