EMBER IN DARKNESS Chapter 11 (Roasted)

“River…”’ I bit my bottom lip and wrapped myself around his arm. How I wish I could shrink into a snail and hide in his pocket.
Their stares overpowered me, thus, forcing me to look at anything but them. We should’ve attended the meeting at the gym, where there are a lot of people. The only person here besides me and River would be the cafeteria lady slacking behind the counter and she won’t do anything when something happens.
I followed every step he took and noticed the difference between grass and stone without looking. After a series of steps, a smooth ground texture rested below my feet.
“We’re at the bottom of the staircase. They’re not doing anything yet.” He stopped and brushed his hands over my eyes to open them.
“Don’t.” I drew my face away from his hand and buried it in his other hand. “I don’t want to see anything anymore. Just…stick something in my eyes. Please. I won’t move here unless you do so.” I made sure that my feet are firmly rooted on the floor, if there is such a thing.
“Coward!” He yelled. I don’t care if he’s mad at me again. I will not go up without taking my eyes off.
“You tremble in their presence…You don’t know anything yet.”
“Because I don’t have any plans of knowing anything! Do you think I chose this?” I felt so bad and scared that I wanted to cry. What kind of slayer would roast a person who is already burnt into uncertainty?
“Kid.” He spat, lifting me from the ground like an empty suitcase, arms cloaked around my waist.
I hate him!
The effort of kicking and ranting eluded me. I’d rather be taken upstairs forcefully rather than roll down the flight of stairs freely.
When we reached Dr. Burke’s floor, he gently put me down and waited for me to walk to Dr. Burke’s office. Getting there won’t keep us safe, right?
Must I really trust River?
“Dr. Burke?” I exclaimed when he stepped out of the corner.
He looked up at us and stuffed his hands in his pocket. “Go inside, River.”
River hesitated for a moment, giving me a warning glare-same with Dr. Burke and feebly walked to the corner. Dr. Burke didn’t take his eyes off the floor until we heard and thud, indicating that his door is already closed.
“You said River’s eye changes.” He crossed his arms over his chest. I don’t know if I should answer that question truthfully. He’s a psychologist. He’ll know if I’m lying. Knowing that I’m not a good liar, I’d rather say yes than show that I am giving him an answer with crossed fingers.
I nodded. What is it to him anyway?
“Do you remember that video I showed you a while ago?” His glasses flicked.
The one with the rolling head? “Uh-huh.” I also wanted to ask him why he showed it to me.
He sighed and locked his eyes into mine.
I curiously waited for his answer, further attracting my interest in the matter. What is it with the video?
“That was River-two months after I found him.”
My hands covered my mouth to muffle a gasp. He had his head cut off??? But…how could they plant it back on his neck? It’s impossible. Did he grow a head? Gross. “How did you get his head back?”
“He didn’t have his head cut off; it was him who ripped that man’s head off his body.” His voice is pounded with impatience.
He’s not serious. River couldn’t have done that. He’s no killer.
“That’s not true.” I muttered, breaking the invisible line pulling at our eyes.
“I’m not forcing you to believe me, sweetheart. Just be careful around him.” His lips twitched as he turned around, walking back to his office. I gingerly followed.
If River is that unseen murderer in the room, then, I should see his face in that video.
I wanted to avoid his eyes but River gave me a questioning look the moment we entered the office. I’ve got to get to the part where a face shows up for concrete proof…
River did tell me that Dr. Burke placed him in a cell before.
For a moment, my mind drifted off to space. Was he abnormal during the time? Has someone read his tattoos? Because if that’s the case, then they just have to look for that other person who can read the tattoos and let me prance the way out of this summoning mess. Then, they don’t have to worry about anything else. By the way, he’s still not saying anything about my parents.
“Where are my parent’s bodies?” I asked him while he was browsing his computer. He lowered his glasses and went blank for a second, as if he was thinking of something to say.
“The burial will be two days from now.” He went back to his work and clicked away.
“Thanks.” I looked at River, who is fiddling with the strap of my bag. I wonder why he never brought a bag with him. His pen is always in his pocket, so is his mini-notebook.
Spade… I hope he’d finally get over this and stay with me. Things seem to get more and more difficult.
“River…” I grabbed him and sat on the huge velvet sofa. “Help me find out who killed my family.” I said in a low voice.
He looked at Dr. Burke, then, back to me and shook his head.
What is his problem with Dr. Burke? I tucked a hair behind my ear and stepped near the window, feeling my palms turned ice cold as soon as I looked outside.
Their number multiplied and stared at me!
Catching my breath, I turned around and closed the curtains.
Hold on, it must have been my imagination. I blinked and rubbed my eyes, made sure that everything in the office is crystal clear and swiveled my head backwards.
They really are staring.
This is sick. I gazed at River. Something inside me insisted on reading his tattoos.
The first four letters on his nape is showing a little; I read it quietly… Felsa-
I stopped when he shot up and glowered at me.
Did I think it too loud?
“Sorry.” I choked out and looked back outside.
They’re gone? That’s a relief.
”Demons.” River’s breezy, almost breathing type of whisper passed by my ear.
How’d he get behind me so fast?
“They were looking at me.” The crack in my voice made him blink. I don’t have to tell him I’m scared.
From where we stood, Dr. Burke cleared his throat. River rolled his eyes while I, on the other hand, spun to him.
I think it’s time to go home. He opened the door and stood beside it, River and I hesitantly followed. I personally want to stay there and lock myself in, cover the windows with any heavy furniture in here and cement the fireplace. Besides, telling Dr. Burke everything that’s going on is a little too much. River might be right or wrong about him.
Whatever, as long as we stay out of trouble.
We walked down the stairs-no sign of anyone I must be avoiding.
Bit by bit, I checked the exit for any shadows as we descended the stairs. The nurse is still doing stuff at the clinic; a few kids roamed the grounds and a girl is sitting by the fountain. The meeting must’ve ended a while ago-when those ‘people’ got an opportunity to gather outside.
Dr. Burke’s new car was parked on his space. I’m no fan of cars; it looks like a modified version of Herbie (beetle).
We both got inside while Dr. Burke spoke with the nurse. I nervously peered through the windows, to make sure that neither Fathom nor Neon is around.
The wind hurled inside, running through my burgundy hair, sending some of the strands on my face…winter is near; cold ribbons the air and give us frostbite.
Lily…
A voice whispered from nowhere. It didn’t come from River. He’s seated at the other end and I think I would know if it was him.
“Oh my God.” I blurted out when I caught a glimpse of Fathom and company on tree branches. They’re still here, so are Neon’s, hiding behind huge columns. That’s when I noticed differences. Neon and his companions have reddish rings around their eyes. From where I am, that color dominated their face-sure, they are pale but Albinos can look like vamps too. Their pupils are gold or yellow. The odd part is, we are all a set of meters apart yet I notice it. Fathoms’ pack is obvious-they have tattoos somewhere.
River leaned in front of me and closed the window.
“There are more of you and them?” I asked him.
“Only thirteen students in this school are human, you included.” He pressed on the locks and looked around.
After all this time, I was walking around a school full of vampires and demons…
Vampires…demons…mortals…summoner… the words seeped through my mind slowly, sending my heart rate to an increase for every digested word.
Suddenly, I felt a little lightheaded, then, blacked out.
I woke up to see myself in my bed, wearing a night gown which isn’t transparent this time but shorter than a mini-skirt.
I must have fainted back in the car.
My legs wobbled a little when I stood and almost made me fall on the floor while making my way out of the room.
“The maids changed you into that outfit.” River called in a low voice.
I turned-he stood in the middle of the veranda, again, without a shirt. I have to struggle to keep my eyes from travelling lower than his chin.
He’s so used to getting inside this room without permission.
I joined him, and for the first time, looked at the view-mountains! There are mountains everywhere. Never did I notice that we’re just a rabbit’s trip away from a cliff. A community sparkled from a distance.
“That’s Raydor Valley.” He proclaimed as I admired the sparkling gems of light like a second layer of sky hanging from the full moon.
“I saw their tattoos-you know, Fathom and the others. They stayed on guard even when we went inside.” I ran my hands along the smooth balustrade.
“When you read their seals, they will feel it.” He tapped his fingers on his arm…I bit my lip, feeling that desire of staring at his sculpture-perfect form running all over me. How I wish that there’s no way for him to see my eyes, for they will be on his body. It so happened that guys with tattoos have plus points for my taste.
“So, they are not tattoos, but seals and those seals do something to you guys, like do that same thing where you attack me?” My eyes fluttered involuntarily-must’ve been the wind.
He nodded. “Vampires and demons have been fighting over domination ever since, but everything was…settled, as long as nobody from either side gets harmed by the opposite.”
I shivered from the cold breeze that sailed by, drifting on my skin.
“Here.” River handed me a thick, brown robe. I wore it, of course-later regretting accepting the warm cloth.
It smells exactly like him…after a shower.
Where did that thought of the shower come from?
“Fathom found out about you, I don’t know how. You are the key to bring out their forms so that they could be more powerful than these vampires.” His eyes glinted anger and if I am not mistaken, worry. “Neon desires you just because he fell in love. Now that he knows what you are, he’ll want you…need you more than ever; he might even kill you if things go out of control.” He continued. “You have seen their display earlier.”
“Uh...” I mumbled. What did he just say? “Did I summon your form?” I hugged the robe tightly around me. As the night goes deeper, the temperature just plunges down.
“Not yet.” His chest came into clearer view…why, oh why does he have to stand so close? He might’ve even noticed that I was looking at his body.
I flushed at the thought.
“Whatever happens, don’t read any seal. It will only put you in danger.” His hand rested beside mine. I’m having a hard time balancing myself on this waist-low balustrade. My back technically bent lower than my chest.
“d-d-dang-dan-ger” I stammered, focusing on his lips, parted at the middle. I heaved, panted as if I had a thirst for something better than water, something sweeter.
He’s so damn near…It makes me want to nibble on his lip…I must push him back.