Converted

Chaper Seven - Let Us Leave

“We don’t want to hurt you. Give us the child called Nate and we’ll be on our way.” The man said. He and the woman clearly wanted to get this over and done with. I looked at them. They were old. Not the eldest I had met but old enough to have full control. Approximately five years old?

“Why are you after Nate?” I said. They looked at each other. “It’s not an unreasonable question. You’ve break into my house. A house under the protection of the elders I might add. Now tell me.” The last part was a command. My words made them squirm. I was more than surprised by how uncomfortable they were under my scrutiny.

“The child has irritated our ‘master’, ‘boss’ or whatever colloquial term you apply to it.” The woman said. The woman was ashamed that she’d answered me.

“If you mean Cain I don’t appreciate him sending you to my house and weakening my defences. Your ‘master’ won’t face any trouble from him again.”

“You can’t guarantee that woman. The child is unruly and bad mannered.” The man said. I was mind boggled by the seemingly intellectual conversation I was having with the creatures.

“Manners are hard to come by in this age.” I said measuring my words. “I’m intrigued as to why you class me as an adult where as you class Nate, someone very close to my age, as a child?” The man seemed to be having a fight within himself.

“You have maturity and respect so we and our kind have respect for you.” The woman said glaring at the man. “Now give us the boy and we’ll leave.”

“Sorry not going to happen.” They glared at me and slipped forward into a half crouch. Knees bent muscles coiled ready to lunge. “I wouldn’t do that if I was you.” They looked at me their eyes getting more insane by the second. The blue-ish tinge to their skin which had receded while they were talking came back full force making them look unreal. Ethan and Steven grab my arms and tried to pull me behind them. I shrugged them off. “Stop!” I shouted at everyone. Ethan and Steven froze as the two creature stood upright their skin returning to a more human shade. They looked at each other perplexed. I was shocked but I didn’t let that leaked into my expression I shook of Ethan and Steven’s hands. The two creatures looked at each other and made a break for the back door. “Stop! Stay exactly where you are.” I had no idea why they were doing what I told them to but I may as well use it while it lasted. They stopped a few feet from the door and stood growling in frustrated and fury directed solely at me. I moved a bit closer to them so I could look in their deceptively human eyes.

“Be careful!” Ethan said worry clear in his voice. I smiled at the others reassuringly.

“Why are you doing exactly as I say?” I said. The question came out as an order. They looked at each other clearly not wanting to answer the question.

“We don’t know!” the man said in exasperation.

“There’s something about you…” the woman said.

“Let us leave now! We’ve told you what we know!” he said glaring at the woman. She glared back with equal menace of her own.

“Will anyone else be coming tonight?” I asked they shook their heads. “Fine go but don’t come back to hurt harm or take anyone from this house. And make sure you leave the defences strong enough not to let anything else through.” They looked relieved to be able to leave and not be forced into staying any longer. “Oh and tell Cain what I said about not appreciating him sending you to my house after someone under my protection.” They nodded and left. Sealing up the way in which they got in as they did so. 

“What was that?!” Sadie exclaimed once they’d left.

“I have no idea.” I said and moved to sit on the bottom step of the staircase. My legs trembling slightly. I took a deep breath.

“That was close.” Ethan said sitting beside me putting his arm around my shoulders.

“Isn’t your… uh message going to rub Cain up the wrong way.” Steven said. Rubbing a hand through his sleep tousled hair. I noticed for the first time he was in plaid pyjama bottoms and a quite tight fitting black t-shirt. Sadie was appraising him herself. I struggled not to laugh at her current appearance. She was wearing black pyjamas with cartoon bats and vampires on them and her top had the slogan ‘Bite me’ on it in red. Drops of ‘blood’ coming off the letters. Without the heavy eye make-up she looked like a normal teenager. Well I guess it depends entirely on what you definition of normal is. Her hair was fastened into a messy knot atop her head the blonde highlights creating a strange effect.

“As you two are up you can take the next watch.” I said with false brightness. My brain was already starting to shut down. “There’ll be no more trouble tonight.”

“You trust what they’ve said?” Sadie asked.

“Why would they lie?” I said.

“To lull you into a false sense of security?” Steven suggested. I stuck my tongue out at him. “Hey, you’re the one who’s always saying how it’s all mind games with them.”

“True but this was the truth I could tell. I’ve dealt with them more than you guys.” I said.

“You’ve dealt with those two before?” Sadie asked.

“Not them two specifically but you get the idea.” I said scowling at her. “Now if you don’t mind I’m going to get some sleep.” I said getting up and almost falling over. I stumbled up the stairs as I began to yawn. I reached to first landing and stumbled into Nate and Pete. Both of them caught me. 

“What happened?” Nate and Pete said at the same time.

“Don’t you start doing that too?” I said with sleepy irritation.

“What happened?” Nate said.

“Bad guys got in. I sent bad guys out. No bad guys coming back tonight. Steven and Sadie on watch. Me going to bed.” I said simply and walked toward my room leaving two rather confused guys behind me. I giggled stupidly at their expressions.

“Let her get to bed. That’s the most sense you’re going to get out of her until morning. This is what she’s like when she’s tired.” Ethan said coming up the stairs. I stuck my tongue out at him. He returned the gesture as I stumbled into my room. “If you’ll excuse me I’ll see her in.” I heard Ethan say.

“Out.” I ordered as he came into my room. “Pyjama time Mr and there’s no way you’re staying in my room while I’m getting changed. I may be tired but I’m not completely out of it.” He held up his hands and backed out of the room shutting the door behind him. I hear chuckles the other side of the door. I grumbled to myself as I pulled out the cute pyjama set out of my wardrobe door. I grinned at the mouse with wings and a magic wand with the words ‘away with the fairies’ around it. I pulled the top over my head and got into the bottoms. I staggered and knocked into my wardrobe with a bit of a thud.

“Is she tired or drunk?” I heard Nate ask with a laugh.

“I heard that!” I almost yelled. My outburst led to more laughter.

“You alright in there?” Pete said.

“Mhmm.” I said crawling into bed. I pulled the covers up to me and sighed in contentment only to realise I had to get out again to switch the lights off.

“You decent?” Ethan said.

“Yeah.” I said grumpily. Ethan opened the door and raised his eyebrows at me. He came over and kissed me sweetly and gently on the lips.

“Night, night.” He said pulling back.

“Don’t let the bed bugs bite.” I mumbled back. Nate and Pete looked shocked by our exchange but each came and gave me a little peck on the forehead and wished me goodnight. I expected it from Pete not so much Nate. I sighed. I’d ponder that tomorrow when I will actually be awake. Thankfully whoever left the room last turned off the lights. So I happily drifted off to sleep.

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