The Scarlett Story: How it all started

Chapter 9, part 2

"Who are you?" A man with the same black eyes as Ara says.

"Who are you? And where am I?" I keep the people in my peripheral vision, then look around the room. I can see my brother off on the other side, chained to the wall. His hair is all dishevelled, now like a brown mop on his head. Oh to have a camera, this is very funny.

"Who I am doesn't matter." The man says. The man moves quickly to my brother's side. His eyes locked on the chains that are keeping him imprisoned, but then he glances back up to me with a curious glare. "Do you know him?"

"Possibly." There are two people in the crowd that I noticed, I've seen them before. They are Lovel's parents, Lovel has a picture of them on his desk. "Why is he here? Why am I here?"

"You are here" another answers, "because we need you." He then looks at my brother. "As for him." He glances over at him again, then back at me. "Let's just say he's being held for ransom."

"What do you need me for?"

"Do you know who I am?" The bald guy asks, trying to change the subject. I have this weird faint recollection of this man.

"I don't know who those four are, but I know those two. Prosper and Cindra Blackbavrne, father and mother of Lovel Blackbavrne." I look at the two people in the centre of the group. Cindra is a beautiful woman, blue eyes like Lovel's, and long copper hair. Where her husband Prosper is scary looking, darker blue eyes like a storm, and blonde hair like Lovel's. But he has an expression that's cold as ice. "And I am going to assume you are Lord Hodges?"

"Correct." Lord Hodges says, "but you still haven't answered my question."

"You know me, we met 13 years ago. When you tried to kill me and my brother. Congratulations on killing the parents though." I say sarcastically.

"Indeed, I remember that encounter well. And here we are again, reunited under unfortunate circumstances." Lord Hodges chuckles darkly, his eyes flickering with amusement and malice. "Tell me, what brings you to the Blackbavrne estate?"

"This rock." I hold out the ruby. "Why turn a rock into a port key?" It's not like I truly want to be here.

"Ah, the legendary Blackbavrne Ruby," Lord Hodges says, his voice hushed with reverence. "It has the ability to open up portals to distant locations, making it quite valuable. As for why it was turned into a port key, that's a long story. Suffice it to say, the previous owner had his reasons." So long story short, I am keeping it. There is no way he is getting this back.

"So you went from killing people to playing with rocks?" I say. That man from earlier now that I think about it, kinda looks like Ara. A bit more than just his eyes.

"Well, my dear, not quite," Lord Hodges replies with a wry smile… "Physical desires from time to time. But the ruby is a valuable asset in my arsenal, one that allows me to travel swiftly and silently." He chuckles softly, his eyes never leaving mine.

"I am not your dear." and either way I am going to find a way to keep the ruby.

"My dear," he says in a mocking tone, "You are one to speak. You are curious about your fate and seek knowledge and power, right?"

"No, not at all. Currently I just want to leave. Knowledge and power are not on my list."

"Knowledge and power are not on your list? Now that's just a plain lie." he chuckles to himself. "Everyone wants power and knowledge to an extent. But you are different. You're more... driven more than the rest."

"I can say the same about you. What drives someone to kill children that haven't done anything to you?"

"I do not need an excuse for what I did, but the reason why I did it is something I will never tell you. Even you have to have some secrets, right?"

"Yes, but I thought it would be good to know why you tried to kill me and my brother. But I understand that secrets are valuable."

"Exactly," he nods, "I can tell that you are smart, so let's just skip that topic. We will be discussing something more important now, and it involves you."

"What?"

"Come with me, my dear." he says, reaching out his hand to you, "I would like to have a word with you."

"I don't know where you have been." I say refusing his hand. "Lead the way." I put my hands behind my back. This is how I die? Yeah definitely.

"Good girl." he chuckles before leading down a dimly lit corridor into a small dimly lit room. That name sounds so weird coming from an old man. It sounds better coming from Lovel. Everything feels wrong, but I continue following the Lord. I am focused on getting my brother out of here.

"Have a seat." he says before gesturing to an empty bench in the centre of the room. I sit down and keep my eyes on him. He nods and takes a seat beside me on the bench.

"So." he begins, "as I was saying earlier, I need you for something."

"Okay?

"You see..." he pauses and takes a deep breath. "You are like me."

"And?"

"Well... how should I explain it?" he mumbles for a minute, seeming to think about his answer. "You are special. You have an ability that not many other people have."

"Get to the point. What do you want from me?" I will take some of that statement as a compliment.

"Your power. But don't worry, I'm not here to take it or harm you in any way." he says with a soft smile and a reassuring glance.

"Okay? So what do you want me to do?"

"I'm going to need you to use that power of yours to help me accomplish a task. And in exchange, you will get your brother back."

"Okay? What do I need to do?" ransom, like they had said earlier.

"Well, first let me ask you something... are you aware of how to use your power?"

"Yes, I am." but I probably won't.

"Good." he nods, a small smile forming on his face. "Okay. Then I need you to use it for me. Kill a boy, and get your brother back."

"Fine, who?" I am actually excited for this. For once a good reason for killing someone. Even Lord Hodges has a bigger smile and seems to be enjoying this way more than he should be. Maybe we are more the same than I thought?

"It's a boy named... Koresh Walsh." I know him, he is a year above me and in Hordad. I want to ask why? Why kill this boy? But I know better. Also I don't care much, Koresh stole my pen, and lost it.

"Okay, but Mathias is sent back to Evermore first. Then and only then, will I kill Koresh."

"Agreed." he nods. "And one more thing."

"What?"

"Do not let anyone else know of our conversation. Do we have an agreement?"

"Agreed. But can I ask one thing?"He sighs slightly before nodding, seeming curious.

"What do Prosper and Cindra Blackbavrne have to do with any of this? And who are the other four?

"Those are questions for another time, my dear." he says, trying his best to not give you a clear answer. "I will tell you everything you need to know once you have completed your agreement with me."

"Fine." This is so one sided.

"Good." he says, satisfied with my answer. "Now, leave. And take that creature you call a brother. With you." That's fair, Mathias is a strange person. I roll my eyes and leave the room. I walk through the hallway and go back to my brother. I am able to remove the chains and transport us back with the Ruby. I put Mathias in one of the hospital beds. He hasn't been awake for any of it. Why does danger follow us everywhere? All I wanted was to keep my brother safe and now some child has to die. Nevaeh had already been released earlier today, so it's just me and Mathias.

Mathias hasn't woken up yet. I have class today but I can't leave his side. It's like when we were little. Mathias used to get very sick and Aunt Grata and Uncle Remy wouldn't do anything. So I would sit next to Mathias and watch over him. I don't think it did any good physically, but he was always happy to wake up and see me. So I will sit here until he wakes up.