Of The Blood

Raven woke up groaning. For twelve years she had slept on the dirty and cold sidewalk and still it hadn’t gotten any less uncomfortable. Neither of the girls collected enough money from begging to have a place to stay, so they both slept outside.

As it had always been since her parents had died.

Raven sat up and stretched a soft yawn escaping her lips, beside her Audrey stirred as well and smiled up at her big sister.

Audrey’s blue hair flowed gently in the morning wind, not even slightly messy from her sleep. Her breath was sweet and smelled fresh. Neither would be possible if she wasn’t born of the water.

Audrey jumped up to her feet and grinned. “Another sweet beautiful day!” She twirled in the wind breathing in the crisp air. She noticed dew and grass nearby and she squealed with delight, touching it and Sinking it into her DNA.

Her hand turned invisible and she grinned. “Look, Ray! I lost my hand in the great war!” Audrey giggled.

“You shouldn’t joke about such things, Dree.” Raven groaned as she heard her back cracking. “Ow.”

“Aw, brighten up!” Audrey grabbed Raven’s hand with her invisible one and pulled her sister to her feet. “It’s a new day! We should go buy some Blood and Water and maybe Wolf will even be there to give us some food.”

As if on queue a voice came from behind them. “Did someone call me?” Wolf teleported to where they were, his messy hair blowing in the wind in a gorgeous way. He was born of the light and his silver hair was an indication that Moonlight strengthened him more than Sunlight.

Audrey squealed in delight once she saw the boy and she swung her arms around the boy. “Good Morning, Wolfy!”

“Always great to see a pretty face in the morning.” Wolf said, making Audrey blush and grin wider.

Raven scoffed. “Well we aren’t very happy to see you.” She crossed her arms a scowl appearing on her face.

The boy laughed and teleported behind Raven and wrapping his arms around her waist. “Cheer up, Ray, you’re just as pretty as your sister.”

“That is such a lie, Wolf! We all know it!” Raven pulled his hands away from around her waist and leaned against a nearby tree glaring at the Wolf.

“Let me just buy you two some food,” He glanced at Raven's belt. ‘And I see you used up your blood again. What’s been going on?”

Raven wanted to yell at him and tell him it was none of his business when Audrey squealed and spoke up.

“Weird blood people are chasing her!” Audrey said, smiling as though it’s all one big joke.

“Blood People?” Wolf raised an eyebrow. “The blood knights, you mean? What do they want with Ray?”

“Nothing.” Raven said quickly looking away. “I bet they’re just wondering if I’m Born of The Blood like them.”

“They want Ray to join them.” Audrey intejected, “They also said they could teach mewanna teach Ray to use human blood.”

“Is that right? I’ll look into it, the Blood Knights have been trouble to this Empire before.” Wolf huffed and shrugged. “Today, I’ll try sneaking you two into the Imperial Castle, you’ll be safe there.”

“That would be so awesome!” Audrey said, twirling around excitedly.

“How would we even pull that off?” asked Raven, slightly cautious. She looked into Wolf’s eyes as if searching for an answer.

“They rarely check what’s going on in my room and there are no guards inside my room so we can get you in there safely at least today.” Wolf smiled. “Now let’s go grab something to eat.”

Audrey whooped and slipped her hand into Wolf’s, grinning widely. “I’m so hungry.”

The three of them entered the restaurant, it was open for all meals of the day, and to Raven and Audrey it was the greatest restaurant in the world.

Wolf leaned against the counter and smiled at Bob, the kind waiter who always seemed to be there. “We’d all like the usual, and Ray needs more blood. One of each type preferably.”

“Gotcha.” Bob smiled at them and went inside the kitchen to get the food and pouches.

Raven caught many people staring at her murmuring about her red hair and she quickly put her hood on, embarrassed that everyone could tell she was of the blood.

Wolf pulls her hood back down. “How many times do I have to tell you not to be embarrassed, it’s a very special power you have.”

“Doesn’t mean it’s a good one.” Raven muttered under her breath as they sat down on the table they always did.

“It’s beautiful hair too.” Wolf said, leaning against his chair and winking at her.

“Not as beautiful as mine.” Audrey smiled, very proud and vain of her blue hair. “Right?”

“It’s a tie.” Wolf replied, grinning. “You two both have very beautiful hair.”

Raven didn’t hide her smile this time a small bit of pink appearing on her cheeks and she looked away, her smile turning into a grin.

Bob waddles up to them and hands them they’re usual pastry, a large salty pastry. Wolf and Audrey had chicken in there, but Raven didn’t eat meat, she felt guilty enough for using animal blood.

The waiter hands her the blood pouches and waddles away, squeezing his way into the kitchen.

Audrey immediately dug into her pastry and Raven smacked her hand. “We have to say grace first.”

“Right.” Audrey said her mouth was already stuffed with food and closed her eyes along with Wolf and Raven.

“Dear Father who is in heaven, thank you for the food you have provided and the chance we have of enjoying it, in the name of your son, Amen.”

As soon as Raven finished her prayer, Audrey dug back into her pastry smiling. “This is even better than last time!”

Raven looked around uncomfortably. “Wolf, I don’t like the look that man is giving us.” She said nodding to a burly man a few tables away glaring at them.

“Don’t worry about him, Ray.” Wolf said with a small encouraging smile. “There’s three of us, he’s only one guy, plus we’re all Born, look at his hair, it’s normal, he’s not.”

Despite his comforting words Raven subconsciously moved closer to her sister, sneaking glances at the man every now and then.

The Man slammed his drink into the table and stood up. “This is an offense! Having a girl of the blood in such a place. What has this world come to!”

No one in the restaurant reacted to what he said they all just looked away, though Raven could tell they felt the same way.

Most people did after all.

Wolf stood up as well, a stern look on his face. “Leave her alone! She did nothing wrong.”

“Nothing wrong? Her parents should have killed her the minute she was born, those creatures are a menace to us.” The man spat on Raven’s food and she stood up as well, clenching her fists.

“My parents were good people! They would never kill anyone.” She yelled at the man and Audrey spoke up as well though she stayed on her seat.

“My sister is too, she’d never hurt anything…” Audrey yelled with a small pout on her lips.

Tha man scowled. “Your sister? Lady, this thing…doesn’t deserve to be called human, much less be considered related to an angel like you.”

Audrey blushed and looked away taking a nibble of her pastry.

Wolf teleported to the man’s side and twisted the man’s arm making him yell in pain and stomp his foot.

“Foolish boy! She’s not worth protecting!” He yelled again as Wolf twisted it harder with a stern look in his eye.

“Apologize!”

The man whimpered but didn’t give in, his eyes burning with rage. “Apologize to a demon? I think not.”

Wolf slammed the man into the wall and the man screamed in a high pitch making Audrey giggle with amusement.

“Fine, fine!” He looked straight into Raven’s eyes and huffed. “I’m sorry.”

Wolf twisted his arm again. “Tell her what you're sorry for!”

“I’m sorry I said you weren’t human!” He said his body, trembling.

“And she isn’t disgusting, is she?”

The man shook his head wildly and forced a smile. “N-No, she’s quite lovely.”

Wolf smiled and let go of the man, who immediately rushed as far away from the silver haired boy as he could. “I do think so myself, her dark tone really compliments her red hair don’t you think?”

The man nodded quickly his head moving up and down with a speed Raven didn’t think was possible. His eyes filled with tears. Wolf walked back to their table and signaled for the girls to leave the restaurant.

“I don’t wanna be with this man one second longer, let’s go.” He said turning around and walking out the door.

Raven and Audrey rushed after him, though Audrey stuffed herself with a bit more of her pastry as she followed Wolf and her sister.

The two catch up to Wolf and Raven places a hand on his arm forcing him to turn around and look at her.

“It’s okay, Wolf, I’m used to it.” She said her eyes staring deep into his. She forced a smile pretending to not be affected by the man’s words.

“It’s not ok, nothing about this world is okay!” Wolf replied, his eyes filling with rage. “You did nothing wrong and they treat you like some kind of monster!”

Raven looks down. “What if I am a monster?” She tried stopping the tears from falling, but in vain and they slid down her cheek.

“Of Course you're not!” Audrey said, jumping on her sister’s back and grinning wide. “You're my sister! And a great one at that!”

“Thanks, Dree.” Raven smiled slightly at her sister’s kind words, but a small part of her still believed the man had been right. Maybe she was a monster.

“Ray?” Wolf looked at her with a worried expression. “You okay?”

She nods trying to keep any tears from falling. She couldn’t cry. Especially not in front of Wolf. “Yeh, I’m fine, thanks.” She said coldly.

“Don’t lie to me please.”

“I said, I’m fine.” Raven snapped at him with a scowl. “So stop asking.”

Wolf winced but nodded not wanting to push any more than he had to. “Sorry.” He whispered. “Anyway, I should head to the palace. Meet me at the Palace gate at 1900.”

Audrey whined and wung her arms around Wolf with a small pout on her face. “Already? Can’t you stay any longer?”

“Sorry, Dree, I really have to get going.” Wolf said, giving her a small smile. He waves at them and teleports away.

“Well, that was fun.” Audrey grinned, turning to Raven. “Did you see how he grabbed the man’s arm and twisted it?” She giggled as the memory replayed in her head. “And he yelped like a little girl.”

Raven nodded barely listening to her sister. “Yeh, he did.” She mumbled distractedly. But she couldn’t get the man’s words out of her head.

The day dragged along slowly. They had earned seven silver coins while begging. It wasn’t too much, but it was enough to repay Wolf for the breakfast he had bought them.

She and Audrey walked beside each other to the palace. Neither of them was a big fan of the Emperor, he mistreated peasants and hated those of the Blood more than anyone else.

Worst of All, he worshiped the gods of power.

The five gold statues of the gods were proudly on display at the front of the Palace Gate. Dozens of people bowed before the statues whispering quiet Starz, it was a prayer, but one directed to the gods of power.

Raven and Audrey passed by the statue quietly and they quickly reached Wolf, who was waiting for them patiently. He smiled widely when he saw them.

“For a second there, I thought you two had bailed out on the plan.” Wolf said with a grin on his face.

“It’s a pity we didn’t.” Raven muttered, though obviously her sister didn’t agree. As soon as she saw Wolf she jumped on his back.

“Missed you!” She whispered into his ear and a small giggle escaped her mouth.

“Missed you, too.” Wolf replied, grinning wide. He stuck his hand out for Raven to take. She scowled but took it.

“This better not hurt.” Raven hissed at him.

“Of Course it doesn’t hurt.” Wolf said. “Do you think I’d keep Teleporting if it hurt?”

“Knowing you, yes.”

Wolf ignored her and a strange tingling sensation spread through Raven’s body and she squeezed her eyes shut. She kept them closed and her grip tightened around Wolf’s hand. What was taking him so long.

“Raven, you can open your eyes, we arrived ages ago.” Audrey said, giggling.

Raven blushed quickly, taking her hand out of Wolf’s and looking away. “I knew that.” She replied, though the pink on her cheeks said otherwise.

After calming herself down, she looked around the room she was in. It was huge. In the middle of the room was a bed twice the size of any bed Raven had ever seen, she touched it and was pleasantly surprised by how soft it felt.

She walked to the restroom and her eyes widened at how beautiful it looked. The mirrors were covered in jewels and the floor was shining.

“How come you never brought us here before.” Raven asked, her eyes wide as she looked around.

“I figured if I did, you probably wouldn’t accept my invitation.”

Raven wanted to argue, but she knew Wolf was right so she closed her mouth and just took in the beauty of the room.

Audrey seemed much more excited than her, though. She jumped on the bed and grinned widely. “It’s so comfy!” She squealed. “I could lay here forever.”

Wolf chuckled fondly. “I bet you could.” He sat on the bed and ruffled her hair which made Audrey giggle.

Raven glared at them but said nothing. She lay next to her sister and did her best not to smile. It was even more comfy than she had thought. She closed her eyes but she suddenly realized something.

“Wolf…there’s only one bed.” Raven said lowly her voice barely audible.

“Don’t worry, I can sleep on the floor, it’s not that bad.” He replied, giving her a small smile.

“No, you can sleep on the bed with us.” Audrey whined her lips merging into a small pout.

“He will not!” Raven snapped at her. “It’s not appropriate!”

“It’s not like it’s romantic!” Audrey whined again. “I’m not letting him sleep on the floor just because of us.”

Wolf chuckled softly. “It’s fine, really. I’m okay with it.”

“See.” Raven said with a look of victory.

“I’m not ok with it.” Audrey whimpered. “I don’t want him to be uncomfortable!”

Raven scowled. “We sleep on cobblestone every day!”

“Which is why I don’t want him to sleep on the floor! He doesn’t deserve it!” She stomped her hand on the soft mattress. “It wouldn’t be fair.” She looked at her sister with her big hazel eyes. “Please.”

Raven sighed and looked at Wolf. “Would you rather sleep in the bed with us?” She asked while gritting her teeth.

Wolf stayed silent for a while thinking it over and he gave a small smile. “Sure.”

Raven scooched over to make room for him and Wolf lay down as well. Despite not being beside him, Audrey squealed.

“Yay! Sleepover.” She smiled widely and cuddled up next to her sister like she usually did. She was asleep in just twenty seconds.

Raven and Wolf both stayed quiet for a while until Wolf spoke up.

“Why is it you don’t like me, Ray?” He asked, turning on his side and looking at her.

“What are you talking about!” Raven blurted quickly. Too quickly. “Of course I like you.”

“Then why do you always ignore me?” He continued. “And, when you don’t, why do you have to sound so annoyed.”

“I don’t sound annoyed.”

“Yes, you do.” Wolf insisted, he seemed to really want to know her answer. “Please, Ray…”

Raven looked away. “I don’t wanna talk about it.” She whispered, a small tear forming in her eye. She sniffed louder than she wanted to.

“Ray? Are you okay?” Wolf scooched closer and put a hand on her shoulder. “What’s wrong?”

A long silence filled the room and then Raven sniffed loudly and her body started trembling.

“I d…don’t hate y..you.” She was sobbing now, her body shaking uncontrollably. “I j…just don’t like h…how dependent me and A…Audrey are of you.” She sniffed. “It makes me feel s…so weak.” She squeezed her eyes closed as the tears fell faster. “D…dad told me it was my j…job to take care of A…A…Audrey, but I feel like I’m doing a bad job, a…and you’re d…doing everything.”

“Ray…” Wolf said gently. “You're an amazing sister. Audrey couldn’t have a better one. Your father would be proud.”

“N…no, I d…don’t do anything.” She sobbed even harder.

“Raven, you do everything you can, if you dad was here right now, he would be happy knowing what his daughter does every day for his sister.”

Raven turned to him, her eyes were red and puffy and she was having difficulty breathing. She slowly calmed down as she looked in his eyes. “R…really?”

“Yeah. Audrey agrees too.” He said with a small smile.

“B…but, you’re the one who does all the work, you pay for our food, water, and blood.” Raven said quietly. Despite her words she seemed much calmer now.

“Yet you're there for her, and that's what she needs.”

“Thank you.” Raven whispered, sniffing a bit more and wiping her eyes. She hesitantly placed her head on his chest. “Thank you for helping us.”

“You're Welcome” He responded, wrapping his arms around her. Raven dug her face into his chest and mumbled a small “Good Night” before the drowsiness took over her.