What Have I Become

Chapter 4

I walked back to my house, hands in my pocket and the stench of defeat and failure on my breathe. Nothing. I got nothing. No-one knew anything about what happened. I kicked a rock closest to me and started playing game with it to pass the time to get home, what am I doing? This is child's play! Get a hold of yourself Lex, you're not a child anymore...Well sometimes but that's not the point. Even though I was having an own body battle with myself, I still persisted to kick the rock, not even looking up to avoid bumping into the man in front of me and being knocked to the ground and rubbing my back.

" S-Sorry...I didn't see you there. " I winced and looked up, the guy must've looked like he wasn't even bothered, stood still, bold as brass looking ahead then down and fixing his glasses. He looked weird. His jet black hair was combed back, with a few strands poking out of the side of his head like spikes as two hung at his cheeks. He had a narrow face, pointed at the bottom. A thin sharp nose rested above thin, closed and pale lips. Behind two thin rectangular lenses, attached to a silver frame, sat two golden coloured eyes that just bore holes into the back of my mind and appeared to flash, they were mesmerising.

The clothes he wore were just..Unorthodox. He was dressed as if her were a butler of some small, rich, little British family. He even spoke like one too; smooth, soft and calming with a bite if needed.

" Do be careful next time Lex...Or the outcome won't be you falling on your ass. Now excuse me, I'm in a bit of a rush. Good day. " He gave a slight smirk and walked off down the street. How...Did he know my name? Who was he? Whatever, whoever he is I have a bad feeling that that won't be the last time I'll be seeing him...Whoever he was.

I got up and rubbed my back and backside then continued me walk down the street to my house. When I got closer I noticed six other cars outside other then my mothers...Must be her friends over for something. Book club probably. I walked in and closed the door and happen to over hear their conversation, forgot to close the door. I quietly walked over and listened.

One voice called out, a loud booming voice, that of a rich man, " ...Sarah, you must be joking...You must! This can't be happening! It was prophesied that they wouldn't gain this knowledge until they were mature enough! " They slammed their hand down on a table.

Then another one replied, a quite faint voice, " Will you keep your voice down, Daemein! Lex could be home any second now and do you really want the boy to hear? " Hissed the voice.

" Yes...Samantha is right. The children mustn't know anything of this. They are too young to know of our world and its dangers...Ace told me that some strange man was following him when he came back from the gym today...Its him...Jonathan Claveria is back and you all know damn rightly what that means. " A strong and soothing voice said out loudly.

What the hell was going on? I knew these people must be my friend's parents but it...didn't sound like them. The voices were different from what I known.

" Lucius has a point, we all know the power of Claveria. Keep an eye on the children...We all know what he is capable of...Its been 5,000 years since I heard wind of that man...He can't be up to any good. " I knew that voice. That was my mothers voice, the same old; soothing, warm and loving voice.

All the voices mumbled in agreement, " Look...I suggest that we- " The suggestion was interrupted by a loud creaking noise. The room fell silent, not even a pin could be heard dropping. Footsteps came closer to the door and I straighten up and stepped back to the door to look like I just walked in, the head of my mother poking out through the door.

" Oh...It's just you Lex. Why don't you go upstairs, okay? The other parents and I are just talking about some boring book blah blah blah. Nothing you young teenagers would read, all into that metal and black and stuff. " She smiled and chuckled.

I weakly smiled back, " Yeah...I was just out going around and checking up on my friends...Wanted to see how they're doing and stuff. " I gave a feeble laugh.

" Awk...That's just brilliant. I'm very proud of you for doing that Lex. You make me so proud you know that? Sometimes I think to myself, ' How did I ever deserve such a son like you? ' I guess I got lucky, love you. " She smiled again, that warm loving smile that gave you butterflies in your stomach.

" I love you too mom. Now you go on ahead...I won't bother you anymore from your...Book thingy, love you bye. " I nodded and quickly walked upstairs to my room,
hearing the living room door close behind me, and locked the door.

I quickly and hastily took off my jacket, letting it fall to my feet, and hurried over to my cupboard and opened the left door to reveal a full body mirror and lifted off my tee and turned my back to the mirror and strained my neck round to see what was seared into my back that caused me that extreme amount of pain last night.

Along the top of my back, a rich black symbol was branded across my skin, large welts of red and irritated skin surround the mark. A large jet line with two horned ends and curved fangs that hung from the middle of the line. My eyes widened and my breathe started to catch in my throat, I was getting light headed and dizzy. Oh God! What the fuck happened to me?!

I fumbled around for my shirt and quickly pulled it over my head and kicked the door closed and fell back against my bed and gripped the sides of my head, thoughts and questions flooding through my head on a rampage, I started to panic. What am I going to do? What am I going to do? What am I going to do?! I banged my fist off. The border of my bed in anger, a heavy pain shot through my hand and I clasped it in pain and groaned.

My phone started buzzing and flashing, the soft piano tune playing as it shook about on my desk. I looked at it and blinked at it then slid over and lifted and looked at the screen and caller ID, a picture of Matthew with Red and Blue Vines hanging from his mouth was on the screen. I tapped the "accept call" button and put it to my ear.

" Hello? Matthew? " The words came out slowly, as if I was questioning if it truly wee Matthew on the other end.

" Hello? " It was Matthew, my thoughts were reassured with a sigh, his voice came out low as if a whisper, " Lex, I need you to come back over to my house right away! Please I need to show you something...I think it's important. " He hung up his mobile, the last thing I heard before it ended was a distant shout - don't know what but it sounded as if someone was looking for Matthew - my eyes widened as and pocketed my phone and in a flash I had my jacket in again and was hurrying downstairs again, shouting to my mother, " I'm away out again! It's Matthew, he needs my help with something! I'll be back later! " I jumped the rest of the stairs and left through the door, ignoring the pulsating and calming crimson light coming from the crack under the living room door.