Episode 11: "Cutting Ties Pt. 2."

"Turn here." She said.

Christian turned the truck down a residential street.

"It's the tan one--7581." She said, her childhood memories filtering through her brain. It wasn't a bad one, if looking through the lense of a child. Now that she was older, maybe it was a little bit. Her parents encouraged her to make friends. To make the good ones. Never mind the ones that got bullied or mistreated.

She shook her head some.

He pulled up to the driveway.

Sure enough her things were outside in boxes by the garage. It was a little passed three, but her parents weren't home yet. She wasn't complaining.

She turned to him. "Okay. Can you use your super speed to hurry up and get this stuff on? I literally want to be gone before they get back here. You know, just be gone without a trace? I want it to sting them. I can't let them have the last laugh...the satisfaction of doing this to me."

"Who says they're satisfied? They could be very unhappy about all this? Did you stop and think about all that, Alicia? That perhaps they don't want to be doing this?"

"Christian?" she frowned.

"I'm just saying. They may just want to see you fly."

"You mean fall. You do realize how bad my life would be had you not showed up? I'm literally road kill to them."

"I doubt that."

"Well I'm nothing to them now. Can you help me with this please?" She turned and unbuckled her seatbelt. She opened the door and slammed it shut.

He watched her walk up to the front door and unlock it.

He stared down at the steering wheel for a moment before he pulled the keys out of the ignition and got out of the car.

***

Alicia had packed all of her knick-knacks and things. Sentimental things. She wasn't in denial that she'd miss her parents one day. Once she had time to cool off and all her anger had died down. But it would still boil to the surface each time she thought about Christian not being in her life. She guessed if she really didn't want to end up raped and murdered or just abused she would have taken that scholarship. Against her wishes, but it would have been for her survival too. She smirked. But she didn't. As she stared at pictures of herself and her parents, of her family, she wondered how they would take her parents responses to her not doing school. How they would feel if they knew that her parents were kicking her out. Some would probably agree while others wouldn't.

She ran her fingers along the shelf. This had been her home for as long as she had been alive and now it had all been snatched from her. She blinked and lowered her hand. She looked down at the floor. Truth be told they had only been there for fifteen minutes. Almost everything she had was in one box or another. Her room was bare except for her bed. She had stripped her bed and placed the covers in a trash bag along with her pillow. Even if she wouldn't need them, they were hers.

She eyed the photograph book and hastily walked over to it. There was one memory she had with her parents that she had genuinely loved and was happy about.

It was her sixth birthday. It was very simple. Just a cake and them. Her parents had allowed her to place cake all over mouth and then take a picture with them in it.

Heart beating out of her chest, her parents would probably be there any second, she flipped through the book and found the photo she wanted. There were always doubles. Probably for her to take one off to college to remember her parents by.

She huffed. Pulling the photo out she placed the book away and turned around.

Christian stood behind her, staring at her memories behind the frames.

She found herself to be watching his reactions when she remembered her plan. "Christian come on. Let's go!" she walked hastily out the door.

He turned and followed after her.

She closed the door and handed him her bag.

He took it and whoosed into the car. If this was her plan, then he'd help her achieve it.

Making sure the door was locked, she bolted to the truck. "Step on it."

He chuckled as he started the engine.

As he was backing out she saw her parents car turn the corner. Should she duck and hide herself or look at them head on? She quickly thought these scenerios over. She smirked. Her parents had to stop their red car in order for Christian to back all the way out.

Her parents stared up at her in surprise.

Her mother rolled down the window and stuck her head out just to be sure that was her daughter in this moving truck that was backing out of their driveway.

"Alicia?!"

Alicia rolled down her window. "Bye Mom! Bye Dad!"

"Wait--" Her mother called.

Alicia ignored her as she rolled up her window again. "Drive on, Christian."

"Hmph." Christian shook his head as he turned the truck around and drove past her parents.

"You don't agree?"

He shook his head some. "It's not my place to say."

Alicia looked through the rear view mirror and saw her parents park and her mother get out of the car and watch her go. She watched her mother pull out her cellphone. She rolled her eyes. She was probably going to try and call her.

Her cell began to ring.

She sighed and picked it up.

"Hello." She said.

"Alicia! You just up and go? No 'good-byes' or 'I love yous'?"

"I did say good-bye. Were you expecting something more sentimental? Or were you just expecting me to still be going crazy on what I'm supposed to do with my life without you and Dad?"

"I expected you to do what you had to do, but still have the deceny to say good-bye. A proper one."

"I'm sorry." she said mockingly. "These last few weeks haven't been done decently. I didn't get a job decently. Where I'm staying isn't--no, scratch that. It is pretty decent." Alicia looked to Christian.

He smirked as he kept his eyes on the road.

"But that's for me to know. You wanted me gone. I'm gone. Consider this a courtesy that I'm letting you know now that I'm changing my number."

"What?"

"I'll see you when I see you, Mom."

"Now wait a minute! Your account is connected to ours! You can't just change numbers without us knowing, even have any money to do so!"

"Oh but I do and I will. You wanted me to face the world and so I am..." She held her tongue on wanting to say 'With or without you'.

Her parents were confusion for her at the moment. She wanted to be angry at them, but now it was kind of hard to when she would be taken of.

She smiled a little. "Good-bye Mom."

"Alicia--"

"Good-bye Mom." Alicia said again.

If she kept trying to talk to her then she was going to have to hang up on her. No matter how much she respected her parents.

"Fine! Be that way! All your father and I did was try and teach you about life but since you want to be immature and cynical then so be it! Don't come calling around here for nothing because your father and I won't help you! Good-bye Alicia!"

Her mother ended the call.

Alicia closed her eyes and pulled the phone away from her ears.

Christian stopped at a light. "Perhaps its for the best. You are involved with me now. My world is not a pretty one."

"Look around you, Christian." She looked to him. "My world's not so pretty either."

He turned to her.

She scoffed and probbed her elbow up on the arm of the door. "Hmph." She shook her head as she looked out the window. "I'm the cynical one?"

"It's only guilt." Christian said facing the road. He drove forward and made a left turn.

"So why do I feel guilty too?"

"Because you know there were other ways of saying goodbye."

She looked to him.

"But, in your defense, I think they deserve to stew in their own juice for awhile." He looked to her. "You wanted to tell them off and while you may not have meant all of it, it's still deserved on their part. They did the same thing to you? Did they not?"

"They did."

"So live with it now. Live with your actions as they have to live with theirs. Should you want to see them again, you know where they live." He had faced the road again.

"If they don't move." Alicia looked out the window again.

"You'll be able to find them again if they do. I'll make sure of that."

Alicia turned to him again with her eyebrows raised. "Is that so? You got friends in high places or somethin'?"

"In this case I'm your friend in a high place."

"How high?"

"Beyond a human's reasoning."

"You mean a normal human's reasoning?" she said, moving around in her seat.

That was the second time she had called him 'human'.

"Something wrong?" He asked.

"No, just like to readjust some." She said. She yawned and then stretched.

"Are you tired? You haven't eaten anything?"

"No, no, I'm fine." She leaned her head back and fell asleep.

She's little, he told himself before he mildly panicked. Delilah and Alice, well, Delilah was bigger than both of them. Alice only needed one long rest before she was fine.

There were many things they needed to do, but it could be done later. He stopped at a red light. The light turning green then, he turned on his blinkers and made a U-turn. He headed toward the freeway.

***

"Ah! Christina!" his accent was thick. His Rs rolled off his tongue.

"High Elder." She was in kneeled position.

"Come, come dear. Off that dirty ground. Come. What is your plea?"

Christina had mixed emotions when she gazed upon the old man. And he looked his age, contrary to their supposed immortality. Or perhaps they remained immortal and still aged over time. She grimaced at that thought. What was the point of being immortal if you didn't retain your youth?

His looks aside, Christina had likened this man to the father she had never had. Add to the fact that his seat was the one that she would eventually be after, but since she had time on her side, she would slowly work her way up to the top.

"Oh, no plea High Elder." She rose from her position and approached him. Not even those on the council could be so close to him at times.

She could feel all their eyes burning into her soul in jealousy and hatred.

"Just reporting on the elusive Christian Royce."

The mutters began immediately and she held in her own rage. Why was it always her brother? Not that she cared that much. She'd have him soon enough, but it was like she didn't matter. And she knew she didn't there. She didn't care about that either as she'd have all their heads bowing before her, or rolling. Whichever came first. She guessed it just annoyed her. Day in and day out, when she did do a direct visit to the council, it was always 'Christian this', or 'Christian that' or 'that Royce boy'. The boy could never catch a break and if she could take step back from her own selfish plans for her twin brother, she'd feel for him. She did at times.

"Ah, Royce's boy. Speaking of the Royce's, your parents, how are they? I know they like to elude us as well. But, I guess that is to be expecting given their treachery...and banishment. Hehe. No wonder they don't come around!" He laughed.

Christina smirked some. "Well, people do crazy things when they're in love. Unfortunately none of that love rubbed off on us."

The High Elder's eyes softened.

"Anywho, I've talked to Christian. He knows to expect your visit."

"Will the boy finally be one or the other this time?" a member nudged another member on their side and they all laughed.

"Yeah, will he? Stop beating around the bush already! You're not human, you never will be. Deal with it!" another spoke.

They all laughed and agreed with one another. Except the High Elder. He had a smile on his face and his eyes closed.

"Christian is a very unique boy. He has a taste of both worlds, but can only choose one. He cannot remain the same, nor can both of his bloodlines mix into one. You can see that from his siblings. One is of their mother, two are of their father. Christian must fall into one of those categories. No exceptions." He said.

"Yeah, but when, Eugene? It's been five hundred years? Does the boy keep expecting us to play this game with him? Sooner or later we will act."

"How, Demitri? I'm curious to know?" She asked, folding her arms.

"So you can go and report it back to him? Honestly Eugene; I don't know what you see in this snake!"

Christina smirked, her emerald eyes flashing.

"I'm well aware of what Christina's true intentions are."

Christina played it cool and looked his way. "What do you mean, High Elder?"

"Who doesn't want my spot, my dear?"

All the members looked unsettled then.

"At least have it cross their mind once? The only problem is that very few ever have the will--how do you say--'guts' as you young people say today, many lack the guts, the confidence to oppose me. Although I warn you, you will age considerably." He eyed his fellow members. Every last one of them. "Should one of you strike me down, it will be a blessing. This title and job...it weighs heavy on the spirit."

Something flickered in Christina's eyes.

They looked around at one another.

"Many feel they can take on my position, but very few if any can."

"And who could?" one asked.

The High Elder chuckled. "I could name one, but one thing I'm known for is my silence. So that is what I'll continue to do. Christina, if nothing bothers you personally, you are excused my dear. The rest of you, as you were. We will meet at Christian's humble abode one month from now, so for now, act busy. There's not much for any of us to do anyway but sit and rot."

There were light chuckles as they busied themselves.

Christina looked Demitri's way and saw him eyeing her. She looked away from him and to the High Elder. "High Elder." She bowed with a fist over her chest and then turned and walked out.

Her eyes flashed red. She was a little too close to the High Elder. She read between the lines--no, she didn't even have to do that. If assassination wasn't in his future, then having someone succeed him in an orderly fashion was.

She hoped that 'someone' wasn't a certain blonde male with the last name of 'Royce'.

How ironic. That old man. She understood why she became drawn to him. They were in their own little game of cat and mouse. She'd loved to say she was the cat. The one in control with the mouse's tail in its grip. But at times she'd want to be the mouse. Just pretending to be caught.

The High Elder seemed to be both, or more importantly, neither. He was bigger than that. If she wanted to truly be one step, no, one thousand steps ahead of him, then she'd need to up her game. Considerably. If it was even that serious. She could just as easily waltz in and kill him in his sleep.

She wondered if he knew that at all?

Probably not.

She smirked. She knew how to be silent too. No, she may not have been exactly like her brother, but they were similar. She wouldn't consider herself to just be one species. Not with what she could do and saw the limitations of others that were pure on just one side.

Her wheels turning she left the council self-assured once again. She thought she'd pay Christian another visit, but relented. She'd be present when the Council would come. And their parents.

They were rarely around but when all gathered at Christian's home, that's when things grew interesting. She was sure that sparks would fly and not the good kind either.

But she knew Christian.

She knew he would not take anything sitting down and if one called to be removed, he'd have no problem executing it.