I don't Know a Title yet
by: Amberjade

She was sitting on a bus bench when it happened. Her black hair resting on her shoulders, swaying just a little in the breeze. She had a half eaten turkey sandwich in her hand and was intent on the book she was reading. The sun was burning her shoulders but she didn't feel it, to intent she was. It was an old book read to tatters but she was just as curious now about what would happen as the first time she bought the book. Then everything went dark and he was there,out of nowhere he appeared, tall, hooded, strange somehow, otherworldly. Some sort of aura about him that made him so enchanting that she didn't want to look away, yet so dangerous that she wanted to run. May have been how dark everything was. It was like the sun was gone, the people vanished, even the chattering of the squirrels was gone.
"He's coming for you Sheila" He said, his voice was deep and dark, like everything about him so far, then a rush of light and the world was restored. She dropped the book and stared at the empty air where he had been.


"I told you Irene, I don't know who he was talking about" She twisted the charms on her bracelet. "He was serious though. He wasn't threatning me. He was warning me, now that I think about it. He was tall---" Sheila's voice trailed off, and Irene looked up sharply. Her eyes where off focus and she was twisting at her necklace.
Irene could remember, when they were younger, how Sheila would fall for anyone who would pay the slightest attention to her, she also remember how if someone did fall for her, she would fall head over heels in love with them. She lost her heart so many times, never learned a thing.
"You like him! He talked to you once and said someone was after you and you're falling for him!" Irene stood and ran her hands through her copper hair and stared at Sheila. She raised an eyebrow, she hated for her friend to hurt, she loved her.
Sheila blushed and grabbed her drink, "I am not" she mumbled, taking her glass to the sink. Her apartment was small but she lived alone so it didn't matter. It was dark, all the walls dark dark brownish red, the curtains and furniture black. She turned from the sink and looked at Irene again. “I'm not falling for him.”
"Liar" Irene said. The phone rang and they both jumped.
"Yello” Sheila said, her uncle had said that everytime he answered the phone when she was little. She loved it.
"GET OUT!!" It was the man from the parks voice. "RUN SHEILA RUN!!" Then the tone of a disconnected call. Sheila dropped her drink.
“What happened hun? Who was it”
"Irene, it was him he said--" They both jumped as they heard the door to the stairs slam open. Sheila dropped the receiver and grabbed Irene. “We have to run!”
SHEILA!!!" She didn't stop and she didn't turn, it was a different voice, not the man from the park. She, in her heart only did she allow herself to think this, didn't think that voice belonged to a human, something that, she didn't know the word for it. Evil was just to small a word. They ran towards the fire stairs and slammed through the door. There foot steps and breathing were loud as thunder. Irene's hand fell from hers as she fell to the ground. Her breath came in ragged gasps and for the first time, Sheila hated her and Irene's inactivity.
“I-can't-run-Sheila.” Irene's gray blue eyes stared up into hers and teared up as she realized her childhood friends decision. “Please?” She whispered, reaching toward her.

3 years before
“Come on Irene” Sheila pulled at her friends arm. “Its so much quicker!” She was trying to get her to go down the alley way shortcut home. The July heat was stifiling but was made worse by the record breaking humidity. Sheila's now white blond hair, had been pink just the week before, was damp and stringy against her neck. Her arms were bare and beginning to sun burn. “Please?” She whispered pleading with Irene.
Irene looked out towards the street, the sun was reflecting hotly of the asphalt shining mirages of water everywhere. The street was teaming with people and cars. She turned towards the alley. It was littered with broken glass and haphazard shadows of dumpsters and uncut trees. Her yellow cotton shirt clung to her sweaty skin and she knew the alley was quicker.
“Please?” Sheila whispered again, pulling at her arm again. Irene looked one more time towards the busy street and towards the alley. “Oh my god, today was so hectic. First Ms. Sherry had me read one of my stories in front of the whole class because I was writing during her lecture, a lot of people liked it but it wasn't done so it didn't do its full damage. It was about her. I didn't even change the teachers name in the story. I think really I could get in trouble for that couldn't I?”
“If they knew but you said it wasn't finished it could have just been some ranting or something.” Irene kicked a plastic bottle, it landed in a pot hole and spun to a stop. “You could just say you were using real names till you could finish it and--”
Two men jumped from behind one of the dumpsters. One was tall and dark, the other was short but just as dark. Irene grabbed Sheila and pushed her behind her. “Hey baby, the tall one said. Lookin' for some fun?” He spit to his side and elbowed the shorter one. “I think the blond one likes you bro.” The short one grinned and elbowed him back, the darted towards Sheila. Irene pushed him hard. The tall one grabbed her and pulled her towards the shadowed dumpster. She could hear her best friend screaming and fought harder against the man. His hair was matted and dark, little pieces of grass and food clung to his beard and his breath smelled of rotten food and whiskey. His eyes glinted dangerously in the midday sun. She wondered how no one could hear there screams and then remember how busy the street was. The noise of the traffic covered there screams. She tore her nails across his face and he loosened his grip for a moment, but not long enough.
“Do that again bitch and I'll tear you apart.” He pulled at her shirt, the cotton ripping easily under his hands. She trembled and knew this wasn't going to end well. He felt her shiver and smiled. “Are you scared bitch?” He leaned closer to her, his breath making her gag. “Be sure to squirm for me, makes it better.”
“SHIELA!!” She screamed.

“IRENE!!! HELP!!” Sheila screamed trying to fend off the man. He seemed almost cleaner than the other, although not by much. “Please!!” She sobbed arms tired with pounding at the mans chest. She was losing she knew, only a moment of time before he had her. She could hear Irene screaming for her help just as she was screaming for hers and knew that no one would help them. “Please” She whispered to the man. “Please I have nothing you want.”
“Yes you do” His voice was gravelly and harsh. She could smell the whiskey on his breath. He pinned her arms down with one had and pulled at his pants with the other. “You have a lot I want”
“Please” Sheila whispered again. She had no way to fight. Irene had stopped screaming and she knew what was going on in the shadow of the other dumpster. The man leaned down and kissed her neck. “Come on baby it's not that bad.” She screamed again and he laughed. He had his pants unbuckled now and was working on hers. Sheila sobbed and tried to fight again. He grabbed her chin and pulled close to her. “Don't fight me or I will kill you. I'll just have my fun--” A broken lamp crashed on his head. Irene was standing above him. Her copper hair was tangled and her yellow shirt torn and dirty. Tear tracks marred her face, a nasty bruise was forming on her left cheek and her lip was bleeding.
“I'm sorry I wasn't quicker” She said and fell to her knees, Sheila grabbed her and they lay there until another group took the same shortcut and found them, huddled in misery sobbing against each other next to the unconscious forms of the two men.

Present time

"I'm sorry," She whispered and dropped her friends hand. "I'll try and come back!" She ran down the last flight of stairs and out the parking lot door. She fell against one of the pillars and knew no matter what came she couldn't move now. "What the hell is going on?"
"He's still after you." Sheila turned her head towards him, she didn't have energy for much else. It was the man from the park again. He was standing next to her, like a little kid that just waits until you notice him.
"Who are you?" She asked wiping her face. "Who is he, what the hell is going on."
"You can call me Micheal but we are not safe enough yet to talk of much else. Come on" He started away.
"I can't" The words echoed in her mind, she knew that Irene had said the same thing and she had just left her. She expected no less of Micheal.
"Come on." He held out his hand, pulling her up. It pained her to see that, knowing that it had just been her to leave her friend behind. He was helping a complete stranger and putting himself in danger while doing it.
“Why?” She asked, to exhausted to weep, but wanting to with everything she had left. He didn't answer.


A couple of hours later......

"Who is he??" Sheila asked him, there were driving out towards the county line, she knew that she should be worried about what was happening, a strange man taking her out of town, but it was better than the alternative. "And why is he after me."
"His name is, well he doesn't really have a name. He is after you because of what you can do."
"What can I do Micheal?"
"Your the only person in this world right now that could bear his child."
"What?? Bear his child?? What??"
"He's a fallen angel. One not very high on the list, but if he gets a child on one of the chosen, one of the people in this world who have a little of the blood of the Others in them, he can move up on the list just by being related to them.”
“The others?” She wondered if she was dreaming. “I'm the only one who can have his child in this world. What does that mean.”
“It means this isn't the only world. There are others. Some higher than yours, some lower, some on the same level just different.” He turned down a side road. The sky out side was clear and full of stars, there was no moon. She didn't realize that so much time had passed, to much was happening at once.
“Why is it so dark?” She asked. She knew that it wasn't time for it to be this dark. She checked her watch. “Its only 6:30. Why is it so dark?” She looked out the window, the trees were different, seemed more illuminated than the stars could take credit for. Even the grass seemed off.
“Calm down Sheila.” He pulled the car to a stop. He could hear her breathing accelerating, knew she was becoming hysterical. He couldn't blame her. He knew he would do the same in her situation.
“No, I won't” She could feel her self losing control. She knew she was over reacting but she was scared. She tried to pull away from him. “No lemme go. Please don't. IRENE!”
“Shh, Sheila, it's ok.” He pulld her towards him, cradleing her against him. “Come on honey, its ok.”
“I just left her, Micheal. She took care of me and I just left her. She's dead, he killed her. I left her. I left-” Her voice broke and she sobbed against his chest. “She always took care of me.”
He tilted her head up and wiped her face. “As much as you hate what you did, you did the right thing.” She stared up at him, his eyes were dark blue and his hair black. His face was pale but he was so beautiful. He leaned forward and kissed her softly, barely pressing against her. She pulled away. “I'm sorry.” He said and started the car again. She leaned back against her seat, touching her lips. “I'm sorry.”
“Where are we going?” She asked as she pulled her seat belt on. It felt like an anchor keeping her here. She wished she could let go. He just shrugged and pulled the car back onto the road.
“Nowhere you know.” He said eyes intent on the road.
***********
Seth watched as Micheal and Sheila pulled away. His golden eyes glinted in the setting sun, and his dark brown hair moved in a slight breeze. Foot steps sounded behind him and he turned.
“Did you get the other girl?” He asked the new comer, a tall blond headed girl pointed towards the fire exit. She held out a black gloved hand towards the shivering body on the floor. “Is she ok? You didn't hurt her did you.” He took a step towards her. “So help me, if you hurt her!”
“I didn't Seth, I swear. She is shaken with her friends betrayal, she didn't expect it.” The girl took a step back her black eyes wide. The girl stepped back towards him and laid a hand on his chest. “I swear by everything Seth.”
He shrugged her off and walked towards the huddling mass. “Get up!”
“No!” Irene said tears coursing her cheeks. “I don't want to. Go away”
Seth bent down and brushed the hair from her eyes. “I don't want to hurt you, Irene is it?” He smiled and grabbed her hand. “I just want to help Sheila. She's in great danger with my brother, any one he loves dies and you wouldn't want that to happen to her would you?”
She looked up at him and frowned. He scared her but she knew nothing about this Micheal and even less about this man. “I don't want to hurt you.” He said again pulling her towards him. He leaned down close to her ear. “But I will if you make me Irene, I wouldn't hesitate to snap your pretty little neck. You are nothing to me.” He let go and she fell to the floor sobbing. The blond girl watched from the corner.
“Phyllis, grab our new friend and come on.”

Many Years Before.....

Ylena pulled the cloak closer around her. It was chilly this week, winter was setting in and it was her birthday soon. She would finally be able to accept Micheal's hand in marriage. She was so happy, her chestnut hair fluttered in the breeze and sparkled with the snowflakes that stuck. Most melted but a few stayed. She pulled the cloaks hood over her. No need to catch cold now.
“Ylena!” Seth called. She frowned in disgust. How much did it take to get rid of him. Seth was Micheal's brother and was just as in love with her as she was with his brother. She never led him to believe she felt anything more than a slight disdain. “YLENA WAIT!” She stopped and turned. He was the same as always, dark brown hair sleek and clean, golden eyes full of something she couldn't quite name.
“What Seth?” He held out a little blue box, she knew what was inside it, the same thing had been inside the last three times. It was an engagement ring, and she would refuse again. She started walking again. “Seth we've been over this.”
“Just open it, its not what you think.” She sighed and didn't reach for it.
“Thats what you said last time.” They exited the school grounds and headed towards her rooms. They were at the very end of the school property, she had chosen it so far back because it was closest to the woods surrounding the back of the school. In the winter they were gray and empty and full of icy wonder, in the summer full of emerald darkness.
She pulled the cloak around her again, shivering at Seth's nearness wishing he would just buzz off. “Please, Seth, I told you.” She looked up and saw that she was at her door, the walk seemed so short when she didn't want to get home, she didn't want him near her rooms. She knew etiquette demanded she offer him in to get warm before trekking back up the hill to the grounds but she hoped he wouldn't ask.
“Would you mind me coming in, just to get warm?” He smiled his slick smile and her lips curled. He thought it a smile.
“Sure Seth but just for a moment.” He nodded and she opened the door. It was a cottage type building, small and brown with a green shingled roof. The inside was dark and uninviting to anyone but her. She had eclectic tastes and it showed. On one wall hung a cheap recreation of the Mona Lisa, next to it a small children's painting of a house with stick figures next to it, marked out in blue.
On the fire place mantel three Buddha statues made of ply wood and painted red sat next to a Japanese dragon and two cardboard pumpkins. Seth's nose wrinkled and Ylena smiled. Books covered every possible surface, some in towers so high they touched the ceiling.
“How can you live in such filth!” He exclaimed rubbing his finger on the mantel and pulling it away dusty. She smiled again and grabbed the coffee pot from the cabinet.
“Its not filth, its my decor, and if you don't like it you can't like me.”
“Don't annoy me bitch.” She heard him say. She turned slowly.
“What did you say?” She ground her teeth to keep from screaming it. 'How dare he! In my own house no less.' She wondered how etiquette would demand her deal with this and decided she didn't care. “Get out of my house Seth.” She said and pointed towards the door, “I will not tolerate that here.” She turned back towards the cabinet to put the coffee pot back up.
She only barely heard the foot steps behind her in time and ducked instinctively away from him. His eyes glowed insanely and she shivered. “Seth, come on now, what are you doing?”
He held up the box. “Open it.” He shoved the box towards her, she stepped back.
“Please Seth, don't do this.”
“Just open it.” He took a step forward, she wanted to step back but he had her against the sink. He grabbed her wrist. “Open. It. Now.”
She took the box and fumbled with the gold clasp on the front. It was a little blue velvet box, black hinges. No way to know what was inside. She didn't want to know. She looked up at him again as the clasp released. Inside was a little silver ring, a chip of a garnet in the center.
“See different.” He said, he was right, the other ring had been gold with a blue stone. She didn't know how to tell him it wasn't the ring she was refusing. “Will you marry me, Ylena?”
“Seth, I don't love you. I have never loved you, I will-” He grabbed her throat and pinned her against the cabinet.
“Don't finish that thought.” He said, his voice became raspy. She fought against his hand, it was clamping her air off. The walls and everything but a black tunnel was fuzzy. The only thing she could see was him.
“I love you Ylena. Don't you see, I've always loved you.” He leaned forward and kissed her, but didn't move his hand from her throat. “And baby, if i can't have you, no one can.” She felt the world slipping away and grabbed towards him. Tears welled in her emerald eyes.
“Please,” She croaked losing control. “Please, Seth.”
He kissed her again, and squeezed tighter at her throat. “I swear on your blood that I will kill any woman that he ever loves, because he took you.” She stopped struggling and he let her down. He knew she wasn't dead so he grabbed a knife from the drawer.
“To seal this promise I take your blood.” He sliced her neck and watched as the blood drained from her. He felt something rise in him, he felt aroused at the scent and the smell of what was spilling from her. “To sell this oath i take my blood.” He pulled the knife across his left wrist and smiled. He felt there blood mix and knew what he had done. He pulled Ylena's lips. She was dead now.
“I loved you so much.” He said and walked out blood dripping from his arm.