Ravage

Chapter Two.

 

Ravage♥ Chapter Two. [unedited.]

 

“Humans are terrible creatures.” Xander mumbled, the words floating and disappearing into the air as he breathed.

 

I scoffed, turning my head slightly to look at him as it was rested in his lap. This was a moment of weakness for him, I had come to learn that very rarely did he allow people to get physical with him in any sort of way. I’m almost positive the only way we ended up in the position we are now was because he wasn’t thinking about it. That and he for some reason really loved my hair. “Humans aren’t all bad.” I glanced up at him.

 

“Death and destruction is inevitable, isn’t that correct Aella?” He questioned seeming to ignore my own statement, and although he said my name it didn’t seem correct to answer it. It seemed like an obvious question.

 

“I don’t think you have to cause death and destruction to make your way around this world. I think a lot of people have and I think that’s why it’s so screwed up.”

Xander’s eyes found mine as he suddenly became aware of his fingers tangled in my locks. His expression pained for a minute as he seemed at a lost for words. He turned his head, comfortable with the silence that settled around us.

 

“So.. you’re home? You said you went home but then later told me your home was destroyed.” I commented curiously looking up at him, his gaze settled on his outstretched leg before turning to me.

 

His eyes fluttered about and I saw his jaw move, I felt a bit like a creeper. Observing his muscles tensing, he let out a breath before speaking. “Humans are terrible creatures, they are greedy, power hungry. Never content to just live, they want to rule.” He started, his hands starting to toy with strands of my hair again.

 

“They wanted to steal our wealth, gain more power. Use our women-- and men as slaves.” His speaking turned into a mutter, eyes cast towards the ground as if it was painful. “We were much stronger than them, but that didn’t stop them from burning the village to the ground and taking what they pleased. They attacked at a time we couldn’t find back.” He closed his eyes, leaning his head up against the cool bark of the tree. His fingers stopped moving, he was extremely still to the point if I hadn’t known better I would’ve  mistaken him for dead.

 

“Xander?” I questioned, gently resting mine on top of his to wake him from his trance.

“Sorry.” He replied, but didn’t continue his story just stared into endless abyss of the sky through the tree’s covering as the light faded to a deep orange coating our faces and the animals hidden around us. “I’ll tell you another time, Aella but I need to go now. Promise me something however hard it might be to commit to.”

 

“Depends.” I spoke, sitting up to look at him on eye level.

 

“Don’t go into the forest.” With that he seemed to disappear right from the tips of my fingers. All traces that he had been in front of me moments ago were gone except for the distinct smell of pinewood.

 

I still didn’t understand, it was if I was blind to something much bigger than me and I’m sure I was but I couldn’t piece together what could be so bad about the forest. His home was in there, and there was others like Xander. Sure, there were vampires, demons, and all kinds of other things caught in there but I had heard of little to no attackings lately. The violence seemed to have died down if for only a moment.

Still, I could at least trust him for now.

 

--

 

I sighed, heaving off the heavy jacket that had trapped me in its confines all day. It felt more like a straitjacket than anything making my mobility little to none. I’d rather just be a bit chilly than wear it, but my father wouldn’t let me out of the house without it so I didn’t mind as much. Even if he wasn’t here, I was already disobeying most of what he had asked of me, it only felt right.

 

I kicked off my boots at the bottom of the steps, sliding them over with the side of my foot and out of the walkway before racing up the stairs to the sound of the loud creaks in the old wooden stairs.

 

“Aella? Are you home? Where were you?” I heard Andrea’s voice as she rounded the corner and appeared at the end of the stairs. I was surprised to see her, I had figured she’d be out at least for another day. She resembled my dad in a lot of ways, the tired lines evident on her forehead, the hair coloring and the shape of their noses. Slightly crooked at the end, the main difference however was her eyes. They had something stirring in them at all times, something dangerous, something to be feared.

 

I cleared my throat, turning towards her and wiggling my toes a bit in the confines of my wool socks. “Just out for a walk.”

 

“You’re lying, you always twitch when you lie.” She replied, nodding her head towards my shuffling feet causing me to shrug. “You were by the forest, weren’t you?”

 

When she didn’t receive a reply she just shook her head, smiling mischievously. “It’d be in your best interest to be careful Aella, I won’t stop you nor tell on you. You’re much like myself in that way.” Andrea chuckled lightly, and disappeared around the bend. I wasn’t sure how much I liked being compared to her. All she did was cause my dad pain and suffering especially after mom left.

 

I shook off the feeling that settled in my stomach and continued on my way up the stairs and down the dimly lit hallway to my room. I pushed open the door, practically collapsing on the bed and looking towards the window where a small spider seemed to be spinning a web.

 

In most cases, I would of screamed like a little child and swatted it away but it seemed harmless. The few times I’ve heard Xander ramble about nature must’ve had an effect on me, one that was unseen on the surface. I reached my hand out, clasping the spider carefully and watching it go in a defensive position before scurrying across my hand.

I immediately dropped the spider when I felt a stinging pain in my hand. “Ouch!” I screeched, quickly smushing the spider with an extra shoe I had laying around. “None of that nature crap for me.” I muttered, rubbing my hand. Xander can be the weird one that likes those little bugs, This wasn’t some ancient Charlotte's web sequel, I’ll stick to keeping those little creatures farfar away from me.