• "thunder" chapter seven

    Ms, Tenor and I bolted over to her side. I grabbed her, keeping a firm grip on her arms. We barely managed to stand her up as Ms. Tenor handed her a handkerchief. She took it, and cleaned her face, which was now covered in tears and whatnot. Her legs were laden with dust and blood. My blood. And, to make matters worse, I had no idea how it got there.
    She was still crying, but was trying to hold them back long enough to wipe her face properly. I continued to hold her as she cleaned up, "What happened to you? I've only known you about two, maybe three days, and I can already tell that that was not like you."
    She had reduced her tears to mild sobbing when she answered, "I'm sorry. I just Had a bad past involving relationships." she managed to pick herself up. Barely, though.
    She didn't stay up long. Before she could fall to the floor again, I grabbed her and wrapped myself around her, keeping an even firmer grip on her than last time. I calmly brushed her hair, "Stay calm, Maria. Just forget about it all. This is the present, not the past, dear." I heard Ms. Tenor tell Maria in a motherly tone.
    I held her tighter as I felt her tears run through my shirt. she buried her face in my chest, and wrapped herself tightly around me. I could easily tell that this was a bad topic to talk about for her.
    I pulled her chin up so she could look at me, and smiled as brightly as possible at her, "Let's go. We've got some homework to do together, and I still have a few things to teach you about this place.
    She'd stopped crying, but still buried her face in my chest. As she did, I'd sware I'd heard Geryon's voice, "You deserve good things, Adrian. And so does she. So it's a good thing you two found each other."
    A good thing we found each other. It didn't feel like that. It felt more like someone brought us together. Wich was true, though? Ugh, too many unanswered questions. I did get a few answers, though. Death cursed me for a reason, I'm the one who has to keep balance between the lords of each realm and their subjects. and that I was within some powerful bloodline that had a legacy possibly even better than my dads. which, honestly, I had no idea about. Yeah, I definately have issues.
    I led her out of the school and took the long-shortcut home that me and Matt always took. I especially went through the garden that i so secretly adore. She gawked at the beautiful stone fountains carved into the shape of fairies (which I thought was cool. Usually, people would want angels and that kind of stuff.) and the stone walkways that led around them. I sat down with her on a bench and chacked the time on my phone. It was just past 3, wich meant I had plenty of time on my hands.
    She looked at me from her gawking and talked barely above a whisper, "I'm sorry for that back in Ms. Tenor's class. I never had a good relationship in the past, and when I look back..."
    I cut her off before she could break down again. seeing her cry made me want to cry with her, "don't worry about it. As much as it seems degrading to say, everybody needs to cry sometimes." Corny, but true.
    She yawned, and layed her head on my lap, "I wish I knew more guys like the ones here. Theyr'e all so nice. not a single person gave me any weird looks or anything like that today. I didn't feel like an outcast." She grabbed my free hand and rested her head on it. I put my phone away, and Softly Caressed her arm.
    There was a long silence, then I broke it up, "This is soooo not sexual." and I sware to you I thought I heard her mumble a 'Damn' under her breath.
    It was an hour or so before we left the garden, "Well, I have to get home and get ready for work." I told her as I sat her up on the bench.
    she streched, And gave me a simple, happy look, "You never told me what kind of a job you have."
    I smiled back and asked her, "do you really want to know?"
    Her smile brightened as she nodded, "Yep. I really, really want to know."
    I sighed, "Well, You know about how there's three different realms, right?"
    She thought for a moment, and nodded, "Yep. You and Matt told me about them in M.A."
    Yes, we abbreviate music appreciation. It's just a freaking mouthful to say, ok? "And you know how the spectral realm blocks off the material and demonic realms like a wall, right?"
    She nodded, waiting ever so patiently.
    "Well,sometimes, there ends up being a sort of hole in that wall, where demons can pass freely to the material realm, and humans, or animals, can pass through to the demonic realm."
    "Okay, and what does it have to do with your job?: she asked.
    "I get paid by the high circle to keep an eye on those holes, and make sure nobody, human or demon, gets through without permission and an escort."
    She understood all the keeping an eye stuff, but asked, "What do they need an escort for? and, if they're like holes, can't they be fixed?" Amazing that she'd ask those, because they were on my top three F.A.Q's whenever I did get asked anything.
    I shrugged and answered simply, "We just haven't figured out how to fix them, so people are hired to guard them. I guess they're more like gates than holes. And they need an escort to make sure they don't cause any trouble on their way to their destination."
    "Oh. well, i should get home, then. see you later." She walked off, blowing me a kiss. Flirty, or friendly?
    I yelled back, "How about I just call you?"
    "But you'll be working."
    I lifted up my phone, "I have a cell."
    But you'll be busy with..." She thought for a moment, obviously realizing what I was implying, then cocked her head in confusion, "It doesn't mean you need both of your hands, does it?"
    I smiled, and told her, "Not many creatures come through as is. so I often get time to screw around." I had almost forgotten who I had to guard the damnded cavern with, "I've got guard with Izzy today."
    "Who's Izzy?" she asked
    "She's a demon hunter as well. She doesn't talk much, though."
    "Oh." she sighed in relief. that kiss she blew was definately flirty, "And I wanted to see what kinds of cool equipment you guys had to wear."
    "Nothing but the clothes on our backs, whatever weapon we have with us, and a first aid kit." At least that much was simple.
    "Oh, ok. I wish I could see you in action." her eyes seemed to fade into a place even I couldn't find out about. not yet anyway, "Well, see you soon."
    "I hope so." I told her. something passed through me at that moment. A thought, though clear, had completely baffled me. "Why can't you come with me? It gets boring after a while out there."
    I have to help my dad unpack. he's not too good at simple things like that." She smiled guiltily.
    "Well, how about I at least walk you home?" I offered to her. She started back toward me. "What?" I asked. she was completely blank in expression, and when she got to me, she got entirely still.
    That stillness quickly changed into a smile as she tucked her hands in her pocket, began walking around and leaning inward toward me, like a little kid would, and said, "Do you like me?"
    "Hmm, yes. Yes I do." I stood up, and grabbed her hand. It was so soft. It was also so pale. I smiled warmly into her eyes as she fell into my arms. "Why do you look so familiar?" I asked more to myself than to her. Then, pain shot through my entire body as I remembered what had happened then. I remembered her from that incident.