Taken

[imaginationswoes]

Airy didn't remember when she decided to stay with Antonio and Nathan. It started with one night and then the next day which slowly bled into a month. There were still times that she felt like she was being followed but she was comfortable and she felt safe. At least as safe as you can feel living with a vampire and his cute stand-in. It was an odd relationship but Airy really liked them both. She could laugh again and she was finally in an environment where she could accept the part of her that she'd been running from.

She tried to suppress her powers but even when she slipped no one was mad at her. More often than not they were just worried or laughing. It was a good place to stay but Airy couldn’t help but get the feeling that her situation was fleeting.

She had gotten a text from Nathan asking for coffee, which wasn't unusual, and since she failed at making it at home she ran down to Starbucks. At this point she knew what he liked; he drank coffee at least once a day which made it impossible to forget and it was the least she could do since he put up with her most of the time. She bought him this crummy bracelet about a week before and it was just as lame as she thought it'd be but he was wearing it so he must have liked it.

Airy enjoyed walking through the city streets though she was always careful about letting her mind wander. With so many people meandering by she could blend in like a single pixel on a 25" LG screen. She smiled at those she made eye contact with which usually weirded them out and caused them to look away. She has begun to watch the people more than the impressive height of the buildings. Some people always kept their gaze down while others stared straight ahead as if they were the only ones on the street. Airy noticed that those who ignored the people around them were usually wearing nice clothes, probably on their way to work or some important meeting and couldn't be bothered with strangers. Some people she smiled at seemed to brighten as if recognition from another was all they needed to make their day better.

The path to Starbucks was easy. She had walked it almost every other day for the last month though she was usually with Nathan. The line was short and as Airy stepped inside she smiled pulling her jacket off in greeting to the heated warmth of the store. She had a small allowance of cash that Antonio gave her since Airy’s whereabouts are currently unknown; at least as far as the government was concerned. When she reached the cashier she smiled handing her the twenty. "Morning, can I get Nathan’s usual and a White Chocolate Mocha?"

The woman was a pretty young blond who Airy saw at least once every few days. She laughed at Airy before ringing her up with a few light punches of her keyboard. "Airy I know what you always get. Where is your handsome friend today?"

Airy pursed her lips lightly. "He’s not mine and I’m not really sure what he’s up too. He just said he wanted coffee." Apparently going to a coffee store a lot meant that there was room for teasing.

The girl raised an eyebrow before passing the two empty cups down the line to be assembled. "Sure he isn’t."

Airy rolled her eyes and walked towards the pickup counter. She plucked one of the green stiry things from the clear plastic container and then two of the cardboard pieces that are supposed to stop the coffee from burning your fingers. She watched as they made her order, zoning out in the direction of the menu. "Airy." Her attention snapped back to the man behind the counter.

She smiled taking the two drinks and then placing them on the counter so she could get that weird cardboard holders around them. "Thanks." They still felt hot.

She slipped from the shop looking at the lines of cars that made their way through the streets. She doesn't really understand why anyone drives in this city. She moved back to Antonio's apartment her eyes on the cars and the frustrated drivers edging to lean on their horns. She wasn't looking where she was going which in New York was a very bad idea. She crashed into someone dropping both cups of coffee to the ground. One block away from the safety of the high-rise she called home... she was so close.

"I'm so sorry!" Airy looked up her eyes widening when she recognized the familiar face. "D-Darren?"

The young man in front of her was the same age as Airy. His hair was a rich dark chocolate brown and his eyes were a watery unforgettable blue. It was impossible for anyone to forget the most attractive guy from Island Falls, Maine. She felt heat rise to her cheeks and her heart flutter nervously in her chest. This wasn't really the time for her to suddenly fall back into a high school mentality. "What are you doing in New York?" Her mind was working overtime and still coming up blank.

"Airy?" She can't tell if he's really surprised or not. "It's alright. I didn't think I'd see you here." The coffee hadn't spilled on him. It only got on the outside of her jacket otherwise it covered the ground in a sleek layer of glimmering caffeine. Darren smiled taking a handkerchief from his pocket and helping Airy wipe some of the spilled coffee from her jacket.

"Uh... yeah. Just hanging out in New York." It was weird to see him here and talking to him.

"We should talk or catch up sometime." He smiled that stupid charming smile she remembered from high school.

"We're talking now." Airy felt like she was currently the definition of awkward.

Darren chuckled softly. "At least let me buy you the coffee you just spilled. I think there is a Starbucks around the corner."

"Yeah." Airy really didn't need the people at Starbucks seeing her with this guy though she supposed it could be worse; like showing up with no coffee for Nathan. He was a little grumpy without coffee and she wasn't sure if it was the taste or the caffeine that soothed his nerves.

"Who are you thinking about?" Airy snapped out of her thoughts and looked up at Darren who was now inches from her face. She took a half step back feeling that unmistakable warmth rise to her cheeks. "AH! No one.. Just coffee.." He didn't seem convinced and looked somehow disappointed.

"Why do you ask?" She turned assuming that he'd follow as she made her way back to the coffee store. Small talk was good, easy, even though there were a lot of topics she wasn't looking to get into.

Darren clicked his tongue impatiently. "I was hoping you hadn't met any guys yet but it looks like you have." He did sound disappointed.

Airy turned ready to say something when Darren pulled her into an alley, just out of sight of those walking by on the sidewalk. Of course this was New York so anyone who saw them did nothing about it. The cold brick pressed against Airy's back as Darren pressed closer. "There was never a time to talk to you in school. You were always surrounded by your friends." His breath brushed across her cheek and for the moment Airy was stunned. "You really are beautiful Airy." He slowly leaned closer his lips inches away before Airy slipped from his grip. The only way to step away was to move deeper into the alley which wasn't ideal but space between them felt good.

"Whoa! Wait. What are you doing? I'm not interested in this. Sorry." She stepped to walk past him only to feel his hard grip grab at her shoulder.

"I wish it didn't have to be like this then." She tried to pull away, her arm slowly tingling as his grip around her tightened. "I would have made it worth it." Airy turned, her usually bright emerald green eyes glaring at the boy. She was ready to step on his toes and shove her elbow into his ribs only he acted first. His lips locked against hers; heat and shock flared through her frame. Her fingertips and limbs slowly begun to go numb as she pushed herself away from him.

"What did you-" Her words cut off, her vision began to twist, its edges blur, and then her legs buckled under her own weight. She felt strong arms lift her while a soft voice whispered against her ear.

"I found you."

Comments

Trapped

[imaginationswoes]

It was dark but maybe that was because her eyes were closed? She couldn’t open them, it hurt too much. She felt strong arms carrying her limp body and then a voice very close to her ear.

"She’s waking up." It was Darren but for a long moment she couldn’t figure out why. It was the boy she knew from high school so what was he doing here? Then everything came back. Coffee spilled at her feet and Darren did something to her. He took her, found her, she didn’t know what it meant and she didn’t want to find out. He knew something about her and that thought alone made her stomach drop.

A painful jolt brought her to awareness, her eyes snapping open to see a dark open room. There are no windows and the lights were hazy as her eyes slowly adjusted to the dim hanging lamps dangling above her. Darren was putting her feet on the ground while continuing to hold her close to his chest. She tried to pull away from him but his grip tightened, pulling her closer to his torso; it was uncomfortably warm.

"Dar-" Her voice was hoarse and the moment she tried to speak she felt Darren’s hand cover her mouth. "Shut up." There was hate in his voice. Airy began to tremble as fear and confusion took hold of her thoughts. In front of her was a man who looked strikingly like someone she knew. He was tall; his hair was black as night and his eyes suggested not only age but ruthlessness. This man was a vampire and looked very similar to Antonio.

As their eyes met Airy began to focus, there was a bird in her thoughts and she prayed that it would fly towards her friends. Please find me. She didn’t have to know what was going on to know it was bad. Darren kicked at the back of her knees and she crashed to the hard floor. It hurt though her disgruntled cry was cut short as Darren pulled her head back. A second later there was a soft click and then the pressure of cold metal against her skin. She couldn’t see what it was but it felt like a collar about one inch in thickness circling her neck. There were only a few seconds of silence and then she felt the collar switch on, its control in the hand of the Vampire who loomed over her. Bolts of electricity shocked from her neck and then out to her limbs. She screamed and the image of the bird vanished as she kicked and writhed on the cold floor.

It felt like forever until it was turned off. Airy was breathing heavily as Darren pulled her to her feet. His voice echoed distantly in her ear while she tried to picture the bird again. "If you think to use your sick powers we’ll shock you." He spat out the warning before pulling her up to meet the man in the chair face to face.

She noticed that he was handsome in the same way that Antonio was but she didn’t dare say anything, not with him looking at her with those cold dead eyes. She swallowed feeling the metal ringlet around her neck as if it was constricting her voice.

"This is the girl?" His voice was a low rumble and yet with a slick alluring accent that suggested he wasn’t born in the US. "What vile." Darren bowed his head and backed up leaving Airy to face this man alone. She didn't dare look away from him. He rose from the chair and walked towards her. She felt dwarfed by his size however it wasn’t just height that made her feel small. His hand lightly pushed her long brown hair away from her neck, his eyes shining with a sort of blood lust Airy’s only seen in movies. "Let’s see how the mighty Genetor tastes."

Airy wanted to run but all she could do was tremble. Her heart thudded loudly in her ear as he moved closer. It didn’t hurt as much as she thought. It was like a pin prick by the doctor. She shuttered at the sudden pressure feeling his hand grip tightly at her shoulder. There was a second where she felt her head swimming and the blood pulling from her neck. She was too scared to scream. The next few seconds happened instantly. Airy was thrown across the room, the prick in her neck seared in pain as his teeth twisted and mangled the skin. Her back slammed against the hard wall and she heard the soft crack of something in her chest. It hurt to breath but she didn’t want to just lay there.

Darren looked freaked out; his gaze turning towards Airy with hate as he roughly pulled her from the ground. Before he could assault her with question the vampires spoke, spitting Airy's blood to the ground.

"You're too vile to even count as food." His voice was dark and full of hate which Airy was getting used to. What she didn’t expect was to hear him laughing. It made her skin crawl as his eyes landed back on her. There was something more there now, more than just hate, there was lust. "I found him."

There was a pause as he brushed away what was left of Airy’s blood using the back of his hand. "For 400 years I've searched the globe for him but he has proven must illusive. You have my thanks." Airy’s eyes widened and somehow she knew who he was talking about. "You don’t even know little bird." The name didn’t sound like a compliment.

Airy felt her thin frame shake and she clamped her eyes closed. For a moment the image of the bird left her thoughts and instead they were filled with Antonio. Get away… go somewhere safe… please run. Her eyes snapped open when the collar was turned on and a bolt of electricity brought her to her knees. Air screamed feeling tears form at the corner of her eyes as pain flared from her side. When he finally turned it off she was on the ground, her breath falling in heavy pants as she gasped for the sweet taste of air.

"There isn't one creature on the planet whose blood is a poison... Except yours. Such a perversion of Nature. You shouldn’t even exist however I’m thankful because of you I’ve found my son." His eyes flashed darkly as he brought Airy up to stare into his eyes. "Thanks to you I’m going to find him. Just as I’m going to find any other Genetors and kill them. I’m going to use you to do this." Airy tried to look away but he roughly held her chin in place. "You will be the end of your kind."

His laugh was dark and his stare bore into her. "Let me tell you a story little bird. Long ago, humans knew their place, and knew to fear the dark. Beasts roamed who would eat of their flesh, would drink of their blood, and would rule their nights. They tended the land and had their petty disputes, but their reverence stayed where it belonged: with their betters. Then, legend tells us a race of being appeared whose very thoughts could blot out the sun or raise it at midnight. The people put their faith in these usurpers and beat back the beasts of the night. The predators fled into secret holes, cursed for millennia to hide among their prey like slinking insects, robbed of their glory by a pestilence. By you. For too long have we struck from the shadows, fearing the knowledge of our existence reaching the ears of the flock until we've nearly died out altogether. The flock has grown far too broad thanks to the intervention of your people. We will make it right, and they will know what it is to fear the dark once again."

Airy wanted to scream, cry and deny everything he was telling her. She didn’t understand, her powers were strange but she wasn’t anything like this. She continues to picture the little bird but it begins to falter and fade. "No…" Her voice was weak and she felt tears fall down her cheeks.

The vampire moved back to his seat waving Airy away with a dismissive hand. "Call Talia, until she arrives, you are to watch her."

Darren caught Airy’s arm and lifted her back against his chest. It was warm again but this time it was comforting. The pain in her side was soothed by the heat. She heard Darren’s voice next to her hear, he sounded almost nervous. "Her? I can do whatever you need me to." The vampire shot Darren a dark stare and without another word he pulled Airy from the room.

It was only later when she found out the man’s name; Amadeus Marchetti, Antonio’s father.

Darren escorted her roughly down the hallway and she heard him softly swear under his breath. "Fuck…" It was clear that whoever this woman was, Darren hated her too. Airy tried to focus on the path they took but hear head was swimming. She wasn’t used to pain, her side hurt and each volt of electricity made her nerves feel stripped and raw. Eventually he stopped at a thick steel door which he easily opened with a wave of his hand. Airy was to disoriented to tell but it looked like magic. He dragged her over to the hard bed and laid her down on it. He was gentler this time, as if knowing she was in no condition to run. He turned and closed the door before looking back at her.

"Originally, I didn’t think it was you." Airy turned her head to look at him, her breath coming out in short shallow huffs.

"Right." He moved a hand over her chest and she felt the pain fade as if her ribs were stitched back together. "This is all I can do for you. After today, you’re going to hate me because I’m going to make you."

Airy rose slowly, her emerald green eyes locked on him. "W-why?" Her neck still hurt but everything still hurt, it was only one small pain that he healed. She remembered him from school, he always seemed nice. He was completely different now.

He looked at her, his eyes filled with an emotion that Airy couldn’t recognize. "Because I hate you." He lifted a small device and flicked it causing the collar to activate. Airy fell to the ground, her limbs thrashing out while the electricity pulsed through her and then into the ground. It wasn’t enough to kill her but it kept her nerves stripped and her mind filled with pain and nothing else.

The next week was a blur. Airy wasn’t actually sure how much time had passed. She couldn’t sleep unless she was given permission too and she was only fed once a day. The food felt like it passed right through her, only enough to keep her alive but her body weak. She pictured the same bird in her thoughts for this week, stealing moments where it would flutter near those she knew. In the end it was always Nathan who came to mind. They spent a lot of time together and his face was the easiest to picture in the darkness.

That night, Airy was pulled from her prison, the room she had gotten to know intimately over the last week. She was dragged in front of Amadeus but this time there was a woman standing at his side; Talia. Her skin was dark and there were jewels dotting her neck and chest. If Airy was able to focus she'd notice that this woman wasn't wearing enough clothes but that thought was lost into an endless void that was once filled with fantasy and joy. Airy was empty, remembering only the pains of hunger and the shocks from her collar.

The vampire rose from his chair bringing a golden goblet towards Airy. She didn't know what was inside but she couldn't pull her gaze away from the ornate cup. He stopped in front of her and then pulled her head back roughly by her messy mass of dark brown hair. Airy's mouth opens to scream but the goblet was pressed to her lips before she could utter a sound. The rim was cold against her skin and she was so thirsty she drank before she knew that it was burning her throat. Her fingers reached out to claw him away but Darren held her back. "I tire of your screams." His dark eyes looked down at her with a disdain that she's become used too. He made her feel like she was worthless and each new reminder of that came with a new fresh pain.

Airy tried to speak but her throat was raw to the point where breathing became a painful effort. She looked at him in disbelief. She couldn't understand how he could do this to someone or why. Talia stepped forward next, her clothing ringing like bells in Airy's head. She felt her vision swim and then a sudden jolt as Darren pulled her hard against him. "Not here." His voice was filled with the same tone that he used towards Airy a week before.

The woman scoffed and then gave Darren a shallow mocking bow. "After you young prince."

Her glared at her and pulled Airy away back towards her prison. She felt Darren hold her tighter than before as if he wasn't willing to let her go. When they reached Airy's room he paused and Talia stepped in before him. She stood in the doorway, her smooth voice echoing over to Darren. "Place her on the bed and leave."

Darren threw Airy against the bed but she's lost her ability to scream and only quiet whimpers quivered from her chest. She was too dehydrated to cry and she wished more than anything that she could. Any sort of release from the pain and hopelessness that weld up inside of her.

Talia stepped up next to Darren her dark eyes piercing as she addresses him. "I can see what's in your thoughts, your desires for the girl. So strange to want something like that from someone you hate." Her tone continued to mock him while a cruel smile pulled over her lips. "Listen to me and no one will find out the other things going on in that head of yours. The things you've done and plan?" As she stepped forward Darren stepped back and soon the door closed with a soft click.

Talia walked over to Airy's side, the bells around her hips ringing as she came closer. She felt thin fingers lightly caress her cheek while the silky voice spoke in her ear. "Sweet Creator." She cooed softly running her finger down Airy's clavicle. "You'll have no secrets from me."

Talia smiled down at Airy and Airy noticed that her eyes had no pupil. Her teeth were gleaming white against her light brown skin. Her beauty was flawless and the jewels against her skin only made the rest of her flesh glisten in the soft light. Her smile grew further. "Thank you. You're going to see more of me, don't worry little one."

Airy didn't understand what happened next. She was looking into Talia's eyes and then falling through them. She saw memories and moments flash forward, the first person coming into mind was Nathan and Airy quickly pushed the thought away. There was the soft ringing of bells and the image was painfully pulled back. Airy's lips parted but no scream left her body.

"He's charming." She heard Talia's voice in her head this time the silky tone was laced with hate. "Soon you'll only think of me little creator." She continued to poke and prod through Airy's mind pulling up imagines of everyone she knew: Antonio, Sara, Mark, Gus, her mother, her father, her brother and Nathan. Every person Airy has ever met with these few people the point of her focus and furry.

That was only the first day. As Talia pulled out of her thoughts she lightly kissed Airy on the cheek. Her plump lips then pressing against Airy's. "I'll be back tomorrow little creator and I hope to see less of him."

Airy mouthed Nathan's name before she heard the bells fade.

Each day was the same, hearing Talia's soothing voice while she pushed through Airy's thoughts. After the first week Airy stopped resisting. She could hear Talia's voice in her heard. "You've been marked by me. You're mine little Creator." There was so much affection in the woman's voice that Airy began to reach for it. She wanted anything to save her and when Talia was there the collar remained inactive. It was only when she left that the volts of electricity returned.

Every day was the same: surviving, pain, Talia...

Trapped: Continue

[imaginationswoes]

Airy didn't know how many days had passed when Talia came in, this time followed by Darren. "I told you, your services aren't required." Talia turned to Airy. "Little creator? Come with me pet." Airy rose to her feet, her limbs shaking from the effort and then walked next to Talia. Her eyes were distant as if there was nothing left inside of her. She looked at Darren and felt nothing.

Darren's face twisted into furry. "What did you do to her!"

Talia smiled beckoning Airy to follow her. "My job. Just as you should do yours."

They all walked together down the hall. Airy walked next to Talia with Darren falling in step behind them. His eyes were set at the back of Airy's head; her hair had been brushed, most likely Talia treating Airy like her little doll. Darren glared at Talia however his expression fell as they all entered the large familiar room.

"It's time." The deep voice felt far away and Airy tried to grasps it. "Bring her Talia and lock her at the point we discussed."

Talia nodded her head and with a soft touch Airy collapsed; trapped within the darkness of her thoughts.

Rescue

[imaginationswoes]

There was only darkness as she fell into the recesses of her mind. Its comfortable there, safe; nothing can hurt her nor can she hurt anyone. Maybe she should stay here. That woman, Talia was her name, she said it’d be safe and Airy can’t help but know those words are true. Trust? No, it isn’t trust that she feels towards that woman. Talia was above her, like the sun shining down on the world. Without her light Airy would drown in the darkness that she now found herself in.

Time means nothing here.

“AIRY!” A familiar voice reached her ears and she shakes her head away. No. Leave me alone. I’m safe here. Her lips didn’t move and her voice only echoed around her like a faint whisper wanting to retreat further into her thoughts.

Airy couldn’t move and soon a frantic need to struggle against the darkness rose. She couldn’t escape the thick sticky web around her, the darkness turning into a slug as it tried to pull her deeper. NO! She fought and struggled, tears falling down her cheeks as she reached out. Then there was heat, not heat; FIRE. The darkness burned around her and Airy shielded her eyes in fear of the insistent flames.

It didn’t burn her. It felt warm against her skin like the embrace of someone you loved. She stood feeling her legs shake in the dark empty space around her.

She felt something, someone’s hand, it’s warm and his voice came again. “Airy. Wake up.” It sounded more desperate, hurt. Please, don’t be sad. I’m safe. Tight arms gripped her shoulders and she felt herself reach out in the darkness; that soft whisper in her head pleading with the voice.

Nathan don’t be sad.

It was him, she knew it was. She hadn’t forgotten him and she didn’t want to. He was her friend just like the others. Others? Yes, there are others too. There are reasons to find her way out of the dark.

Where are you? Nathan?

She felt herself moving but she couldn't open her eyes; she couldn't wake up. Airy shouted into the dark wanting to be released and see her friends again. The darkness pressed against her and she felt it reaching up and grabbing at her ankles as she tried to run.

She heard a voice, it wasn't anyone she knew. It was deeper and a little raspy and older? She tried to pinpoint it, to listen to it. Where are you?

"Calm down." Airy didn't know what else to do so she listened, looking towards the darkness. "Come towards my voice." It sounded like a command but it was something... someone within the darkness.

In seconds she found herself in a strange room, it looked like a bed room but the walls were washed white and flowers and grass sprouted from the floor. There were so many and she didn't want to step on them. The bed was on the far wall with a stuffed clydesdale laying across the pillow. The blankets were purple and she remembered them from home. There was a window and outside resembled her backyard in Maine, except she knew she wasn't home. Behind the door was a wooden ladder, it looked handmade but sturdy as it reached up towards the ceiling. In the center of the room was the strangest thing. It was a floating box, two of its corners pointed towards the ceiling and floor. Four sides were a misty white opaque while the other two were clear. She could see right through it and inside of the box raged a storm.

Airy lingered in the doorway, her eyes landing on an old man who stood by the window. Where are we? Who are you?

The man turned, his gaze measuring Airy. "Come in. We're in your mind. You are a very unique girl Airy." She hesitated before stepping towards the floating cube. "I am Carin. I'm a friend." His voice was patient as she picks her way through the flowers.

This is me? She looked up at the cube.

"Your essence is this room: your goals, your dreams and who you are represented here." Airy continued to look around, her eyes stopping at a flower that's unlike every other in the room. It's petals twisted upward, it's standing tall and straight.

I know this flower... She reached for it but didn't dare pluck it from the ground. For some reason she thought of Nathan and as she reached for the flower her fingers began to shake. I'm trapped here.

"For now." His voice was calm, his eyes watching her almost impressed. "We will free you but you have to be ready. You have to face what you've been running from. I must go. You sleep." He pointed towards the bed. "Another will come in my place. He'll guide you."

Airy didn't know what else to do. She nodded, happy to be away from the darkness. She laid down knowing the moment that the stranger left her mind. She saw things as he vanished, things that Carin probably didn't intend for her to see; his thoughts.

She curled on the bed and held the stuffed horse close to her chest. Then she cried. Her heart was broken and she cried until there was nothing left inside of her. No sadness, no pain, only a weary aching that insisted that she sleep.

When she woke there was another man in her room. He was taller, his hair long and black as night. He was also younger though still older than Airy. "I'm Seth." His voice was awkward and he had a thick eastern accent. "I'll be shielding you're thoughts."

You're friends with Carin. Airy stayed on her bed, her fingers curling around her blankets while the stuffed animal rest in her lap.

Seth nodded his head. "You'll hear me and my wife and daughter are here too. I've ask them to speak to you. You're asleep." Airy just nodded, she had figured that she was in something like a comma though it was hard to explain how strange it felt. "The person who did this..." He sounded sad. "She left more than I can heal but I'll try."

He looked at her, his expression serious. "I'm sorry to ask this but please be strong." With that he walked from her room. She knew that he was still there but like a shadow he stepped through her thoughts forcing her to relive moments that she had wished countless times to forget. She felt the phantom ring around her neck: Talia... Darren.

Seth made her remember.

The next day she heard another voice though there wasn't anyone else in her thoughts.

"Can I talk to her, daddy? Can she hear me?" It was a child.

"Yes, she can hear you." Airy knew Seth's voice. The child must be his daughter.

Airy sat on her bed and listened. "Like babies in stomaches, right?"

"Yes, little one. Like babies in stomaches."

"Airy, I'm Belle. Uncle Antonio told me your name. It's very pretty! I know you can't talk but I wanted to tell you that you'll be okay because my day is the best." She could hear the child smiling and before she could stop herself she felt herself crying while a smiled pulled at her lips. "My mommy wants to meet you too. She's a wizard. Hey! When you wake up we can be friends. I have so many things I want to show you."

"That's enough sweet heart. You're father has to work, we'll come back in a little bit." The voice sounded soft and motherly.

"Okay mommy. Goodbye Airy! I'll see you soon."

Then it went silent and Airy felt her heart twist in her chest. Before now she hadn't even known that it was still there. Suddenly she wished to see her younger brother, to make sure that he was safe. She felt Seth enter her thoughts and she didn't hide anything from him. He moved through the last month pulling memories that Talia had sought to destroy while breaking the ties she had twisted around Airy's psyche.

For the next week Belle came and spoke to Airy. She heard about her day or about the random things she saw on the street. It was nice and simple.

Rescued: Cont

[imaginationswoes]

[Why did I write this in first person?]
I got to know Seth and Belle very well over that week. The only reason I knew it was a week was because I saw Seth for seven days and then Belle would start rambling about the day. It was nice to know what time it was again, and each day I felt a little bit more human. Seth was nice. He never entered my room without asking and usually stayed by the door way, knowing that he was deep inside my personal thoughts already. I couldn’t really hide anything from him but then he didn’t try and hide things from me. I knew he’d keep my secrets to himself and he even shared parts of his past to help me through. We bonded in a way that was beyond anything I was used to and I quickly became comfortable around him. Apparently this was a problem come the end of the week.

Seth stood in the doorway; the room had started getting a little bit more color. The sheets of the bed were now a light blue and my pillow was green; I like cool colors. The flowers never seemed to grow or die though a few of them kept pulling my attention towards them. I found one that reminded me of Antonio, I laughed when I realized it was in a dark corner of the room. I also found ones that remind me of my parents and best friends from home, those were beneath the cube just like Nathan’s flower was. I didn’t have a lot to do in my own head so I started naming the flowers after people I knew. At one point I also tried to climb the ladder but I only got halfway up before I started to feel sick. The cube I didn’t touch… it felt fragile.

My thoughts were drifting and a light cough from Seth pulled my attention back towards him. “I’ve repaired and disconnected everything I could but…” He sounded momentarily unsure of himself. “Your defenses are two weak. I can come in here easily as could Cairn. We need to fix that.”
[I need to fix that.]

Airy’s eyebrows furrowed slightly. She didn’t understand why that was a bad thing if it meant they could help wake her up but then she remembered Talia and the way that had made her feel. Airy swallowed a lump in her throat and then nodded her head. What do I need to do? Seth relaxed at Airy’s acceptance. He felt as if this all might be too much for her but so far she was holding herself together. The only reason Airy was able to be strong was because she didn’t feel like she had a choice.

“I’m going to put guards around your mind and when Carin returns he’ll most likely want to test you.” He paused, feeling unease as he explained. “The guards and the compound will keep you safe but you’ll need to train your defenses.” It sounded as if it would take a long time for her to do but for now she didn’t complain or comment. “It won’t be easy Airy. Living like this is very hard and you’ve been hurt by one of the most dangerous kinds of people. You won’t be alone but you’re going to have to be strong.” Seth knew how strong Airy could be but she had to believe in herself which wasn’t the sort of thing Airy made a habit of doing.

“Are you ready to wake up?”

Airy nodded her head however her fingers tightened around her blanket. When she was in her room she usually sat on her bed. You could see everything from that seat and it felt like home. She was reluctant to leave but she was also tired of running. If she stayed in her own thoughts too long she’d probably end up dead.

Seth turned to leave but Airy rose quickly to stop him. She didn’t move from her bed or risk trampling her flowers but the movement was enough to make Seth turn back around Will I be able to come back here?

He smiled this time, his expression warm. Suddenly Airy can imagine this man as a father and it was no wonder that Belle was such an angel. “This is you Airy. It goes where you go and with practice you’ll be able to come back here.”

Airy let out a slow breath and then nodded. She rose, carefully stepping around a few new buds that had risen from the ground, and made her bed. She didn’t make it in the traditional sense. The pillow was crooked and the blanket just tossed loosely on top but the stuffed Clydesdale was placed lovingly on the pillow so that it was comfortable. With this done Airy glanced outside the window towards the familiar back yard; for some reason it was snowing outside. With her silent goodbyes said she turned towards Seth and smiled.

I’m ready.

Before he replied everything began to fade. Seth swirled into a black haze and the white of the walls and the bright green of the grass seemed to follow. For a moment Airy found herself in a swirl of color which slowly began to fade to a blinding white. She closed her eyes moving a hand to shield them from the harsh rays emitting from the bulbs overhead. She was lying down and slowly became aware of her extremities.

A familiar voice, Seth, echoed next to her but it sounded distant now. “Take it slow.”

Airy’s fingers lightly stretched and flexed before moving to rub at her eyes. Vibrant green orbs shined up towards the ceiling as it came into focus. “Her eyes are so pretty!” The voice was bright and happy and almost immediately after she heard someone else. “Quiet little one. Let’s wait outside.” There was a disgruntled sound from Belle but her and her mother left the room and Airy could hear their footsteps recede into the hallway.

The room she was in was small but the bed she was laying on was comfortable. Her clothes had changed and she wow now wearing a pair of light blue pajamas that had monkey faces on them. Airy didn’t try to sit up but she did turn her head to see Seth sitting on a chair next to her. Her lips parted as if to speak but there wasn’t a sound. Instead a sharp pain pressed against her throat making her fingers move to her neck in a frantic motion. There wasn’t any pain inside her head and now she was feeling the end result of her time in Amadeus’s keep. Seeing the frantic panic that rose to Airy’s eyes Seth lightly placed a hand on her shoulder. He spoke quickly and quietly. “You’re still healing. Airy please calm down.” She could feel her heartbeat racing as panic took hold of her. Her whole body ached and her muscles were stuff causing them to lock up when she suddenly jerked away from Seth.

“Listen to me. Airy, Listen.” He grabbed her shoulders, forcing her to look up at him. “It’s okay. You’re safe. You’re still healing.” His voice was a little harsher than she remembered but she listened knowing that Seth wouldn’t lie to her. She slowly relaxed and let herself be pulled down and onto the soft bed. “Just listen.” His voice was back to the calm gentle tone she was used too. “You were taken and we rescued you. I’m sure Rachel has gone to get Antonio so you don’t have to worry. Your voice will take a little longer to heal. You had to be awake before we could address it. My wife had changed your clothes for you and she’ll be back to help you with anything you need.” His hand moved to a bedside table that Airy hadn’t realized was there. “I have a pen and paper here for you to write. It’ll be slow but you’ll be okay. I know you are waking up in a strange place with strange people but we won’t be able to let you out of this room until we are sure that you are okay.” Seth looked into her eyes so he could see the sincerity in his words. “My family and I are the only ones able to come in and out of this room. Antonio will be able to stop in but he can’t step into this room. It’s warded more than the others to keep you safe. It’s my ward which is why my family can come and go. Do you understand?”

Airy felt a sinking feeling in her stomach but she nodded. She still felt trapped but she trusted that Seth was there to help. After all, she knew him very well.

There were a few seconds of awkward silence that unsettled her. She slowly sat up and Seth placed a hand on her back to help lift her into a sitting position. She noticed that the comforter covering her was purple which made her smile because it was most likely Seth’s idea. She didn’t think he’d share that information with anyone else. She looked over towards the pad of paper and scribbled down a note before passing it to Seth. The note had one word and then a questions mark: Music?

Seth smiled and then shook his head. He should have figured she’d ask for something like that over food, a trip to the bathroom or anything else. “Yes. I’ll get you music. You’ll have to use a CD player though.” A radio or internet signal wouldn’t work with Seth’s barrier set around the room. So Airy set to writing a few CD names down and then wrote little notes asking if the band’s new album had come out yet. “Rachel and Belle will be back with food, clothes and will take care of you for the night. I think Belle wanted a sleep over.” He didn’t really want to leave Airy alone considering this would be her first night awake.

Footsteps then sounded by the door and Airy looked up at the door. Seth turned and rose from his seat suddenly very quiet now that they weren’t alone. It was Antonio and as much as Airy wanted to leap from the bed and give him a hug she just couldn’t move. Her lips felt weak and everything ached. He stood just outside the door staring over at her. He looked relieved but there was another expression there that Airy didn’t understand. She reached for her paper and pencil and then quickly scrawled a question across it. She held it up so that Antonio could read it: Where is Nathan?

That didn’t seem to be the right question to ask because Antonio’s expression shifted again. “You focus on getting better. We’re all busy here but I’ll try and stop by okay?” Airy felt suddenly numb but nodded her head. She was happy to see him but she knew they couldn’t really talk yet. Antonio was then pushed aside as Belle wiggled her way back into the room. Seeing the little girl for the first time made Airy smiled brightly. She flipped the page on the pad and began to write: It’s nice to finally meet you Belle. Belle giggled with joy when she read it. “Me too! I have so much more stuff to tell you.” Belle was a cute kid, her eyes were wide and she had one braid along the right side of her cheek. Her hair was lighter than both of her parents but she had her father’s eyes and her mother’s nose.

Rachel then stepped into the room, after whispering a soft word to Antonio who then disappeared. Airy missed him already but she got to see him which was at least something. Her attention was then pulled towards the tray in Rachel’s hand. She smiled food and instantly her stomach grumbled in response. She couldn’t even remember the last time she had eaten anything.

It looked like a simple meal, chicken broth and some Jell-o. Airy assumed Jell-O was the feel better food. With it was a glass of water and some small pieces of chicken. With her throat hurting she didn’t really want to eat the chicken but at the same time her stomach wanted something solid inside of it. Airy gravitated towards the tray feeling the hot soothing effect of the soup as she drank it. It was gone in two quick gulps which earned her a disapproving stare from Rachel. “Eat slowly; you’re going to make yourself sick.”

Airy just nodded and ate slower feeling her stomach rumble and beg for more when she was finished. Rachel smiled brightly at her. “I’ll get more, Belle try not to bother Arianna too much.” Airy cringed at the use of her full name and now silently wished she hadn’t told Antonio that. The next week passed really slowly. Seth brought in a boom-box as promised which still ran off of 8 D batteries. Airy would go through CD’s and softly play music while Seth would set to work. Rachel was the one healing her throat which was a long process. Any time that Airy tried to say something Rachel would give her a disapproving look, it reminded her of her mother.

She asked a lot of questions but everyone seemed reluctant to give her answers. Airy assumed they were waiting until she could speak or something so she tried to exercise patience. Except that she wasn’t patient. In between healing Rachel would make Airy get up and move around. Her muscles were stiff and sore which meant that she had a series of exercises to do every day to get her body back to being used.

When Airy was alone she began to inspect her body to look for changes or marks. Her bruises were healed and her bones were mended. She didn’t actually remember being aware of her own state for a while so it all felt strange. Sometimes she’d just stare at her hand and wonder if it really belonged to her or not. Eventually she found one scar left over from her ordeal. It was placed at the curve of her neck; two mangled puncture wounds. She remembered Antonio telling her that vampire fangs didn’t leave a mark on the skin; they were small and healed easily after a few hours. Airy felt ashamed about it and whenever someone’s eyes were draw to it she’d pull her long chestnut hair over her shoulder to hide it.

It wasn’t really so bad having the Flores for company. Flore was Seth’s last name. Airy felt as if she was part of their family and she knew that they worried whenever they had to leave her alone. She tried her best to smile however the expression never reached her eyes. There were too many unanswered questions and to many things pressing on her thoughts. She’d sometimes just stop and shut down; even with Belle continuing on like nothing was wrong. Airy could tell that they were handling her like she was broken which made her feel even worse. She generally tried to keep a happy disposition in life but it was just so hard to keep smiling. She felt like she constantly had to force herself. During that week her powers remained dormant and she thought for at least a little while that they might have been taken from her. She didn’t really know how to feel about that. Eventually she asked Seth who shook his head and assured her that it’s all in her mind.

That was not a comforting thought.

She tried to sleep most nights but found herself lying away with a softly snoring Belle curled up under her arm. When she did fall asleep she had nightmares and would wake to scream silently into the air. Airy began to dread sleeping.

It took another week and Rachel’s smile said everything she had been hoping for. “Your throat is healed.” Airy didn’t know what to say and after a few soft whimpering like sounds she wondered if she still remembered how to speak. Rachel and Belle didn’t push her and they began to leave her on her own for longer periods of time. She’d see them during meal times and very slowly Airy began to talk again.

When she thought she was alone she’d begun to sing; only she didn’t know that others in the building could hear her. One of her favorite sounds was ‘Music of Life’ which she learned sometime in elementary school and now sang on those rare moments she started to feel better. “Listen to the sound of the wind, the sound of the rain falling on the trees… the bugs birds and bees humming as they please. It’s the music of life and they all make a sound… playing on in the world. So come hear the music of life.” Airy hummed softly as she shifted on her bed. “I don’t think those are the words at the end.”

After a short conversation with herself she’d sing the verse again this time changing the words slightly at the end. It never did sound right but it was nice to be able to listen to her voice again.

That day Belle came bounding in with a smile which no longer overwhelmed Airy. “You have such a pretty voice!”

Airy blinked and looked over at her. “What do you mean?” She was pretty sure that no one has heard her sing.

Except she’d be wrong, “You have been singing all week. Everyone really likes it!” Airy was happy it was just the two of them because the embarrassment she felt after learning that everyone could hear her was enough to turn her face scarlet.

She fell back on her bed hiding her face under her pillow. “I’m never leaving this room.”

Rescued: Cont

[imaginationswoes]

Eventually Rachel brought in a calendar for Airy and told her what day it was and the day she was rescued. She stared at the little squares counting down each day before looking up at Rachel. “35 days.” That was how long it had been from the day Darren took her off the street until the day that they were able to mount a rescue, the details of which still wasn’t shared with Airy.

She clicked her tongue and then began to count again. 35… She then counted the days since they rescued her until now. 27… It had been so long but everything within that time blurred and meshed together. She remembered being in that ceil, the floor was always really cold while the collar around her neck felt hot. She had tried staying on the bed but the shocks brought her to the floor whenever it was time to wake up. With a shutter Airy pushed the memory away. She looked up at Rachel feeling more hopeful that she ever let herself feel before.

“Does this mean I can leave now? I can see Nathan and Tony?” Rachel nodded but Airy could tell that she was keeping more secrets from her.

“Natalia would like to speak to you as well.” Rachel’s voice was back to its usual motherly tones.

Airy just blinked. “Natalia? Who is that?”

“She’s the one leading us. As your doctor I told her not to push you but she would at the very least want to meet you. There hasn’t been a Creator in so long. There isn’t a vampire alive that remembers them.” Airy was confused at the wording and it showed. “Creators are… they are people like you Airy. Who can create things with their thoughts.” Rachel clarified softly.

No one there had seen Airy create anything, Seth knew because he had been inside her head but no one else had. Her throat felt dry and her fingers nervously rubbed together. Airy suddenly couldn’t trust herself to speak so she nodded her head in reply and without another word Rachel went to fetch Natalia. These last few weeks felt like a day dream. Airy had been healing but she felt like she had a family, like she was normal and suddenly the reality of everything that was happening clicked. It wasn’t the same as waking up. When she stepped outside that door her time in this daydream would be over.

She wanted to run but she knew in her heart that she couldn’t. They already knew her, there was no where she could go that was safe and yet these people, the people Antonio were with had managed to keep her safe.

The soft bell of a cat walked passed Airy’s door and she stepped forward to see a dark orange calico run down the hall. It stopped to look at Airy which was when she noticed the bell, tied to a red ribbon around the cat’s neck. She exhaled a nervous breath however continued to linger in the doorway. Voices rose in the hall and Airy turned to look as a ground walked towards her. She recognized Rachel and she thought that Antonio might be hovering somewhere in the back because she faintly heard his voice rise above the chatter. There was another boy there that Airy didn’t know who was then quickly dismissed by the woman up front which Airy just assumed was Natalia. Belle ran at her mother’s side and Seth seemed to be trying to get there first.