The Eyes

The Half Blood

-Vincent-

The moon was upon the sky early tonight. It was only slightly early, but early enough for it to be dark on my walk home from work. The boss, a friendly Italian man, had thought he kept me in late, but the clock said otherwise. There was also an unsettling chill in the air that was uncommon for summer.

Something was wrong. I could feel it in my body. There was a strange hum in the air. The hum of pure, ancient power. Normal humans wouldn't be able to sense it, but I could. It made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end. The scream of horror only punctuated my unease.

I considered just walking away. For once in my life I had a normal life. I wasn't being hunted down by the police, my family wasn't trying to kill me. I sort of fit in. This big city had so many opportunities for me, so many chances at a happy life. A mundane life. Human. I didn't want to throw that all down the drain because a silly girl needed saving. But there I was, following the scream, the unsettling hum of power. I'd hate myself later for this.

I found my way into a forest. It was like a small point of green in the concrete jungle I lived in. I could tell it wasn't a normal forest either. Magic clung to ever twig, every leaf of this place. It was blissful yet terrifying to me all at once. This was a feeding ground for the paranormal. Nothing good could come out of this forest. I felt my feet carry me faster. Some branches reached out, digging into the skin on my face, but I didn't flinch. Pain didn't bother me as much as it used to.

I eventually found my way to a clearing. Flowers still bloomed full due to the unnaturally early sunset. A disturbing scene played out before me. A man, a particular man I knew, ripped the eye out of an innocent girl's face. She was unconscious now and the man was about to rip the other eye out after he pocketed the eye he held. I started to run closer.

"Viktor!" I yelled. His head snapped up and his satisfied expression fell into disgust.

"It's you," he spat in his usual hating tone. He threw the girl off of his lap and stood, pushing her limp body aside like a rag doll. "I was wondering when you'd rear your half blood head again."

The petty names he came up to insult me bothered me no more. I had come to terms I'd never fit in anywhere completely. And now I'd probably have to relocate again. Always running, never able to find peace. It always happens right after I thought things were going well.

"What's with the girl, Viktor? You hate humans as much as Father," I said, coming as close as I dared. I knew Viktor was still stronger than me despite all my training.

His eyes flared with anger, but only for a moment. He masked it quickly, thinking I wouldn't be able to see I struck a nerve calling the man 'father'.

"He is no father to you," he growled and stepped over the girl. "And this girl has eyes that contain power. I want them."

Eyes that contain power? Had Viktor lost his mind? She was human. I could smell her blood. It was certainly human blood. The only creatures that have eyes that contain power have long been dead. They were killed off centuries ago. They might not have even been real. They have been legends, fairy tales, for as long as I could remember. "Are you mad?" I asked, glancing at the girl. I mentally cringed at her face. Her left eye socket was a black hole oozing blood onto the flowers.

"No. You are mad to come here."

Then he disappeared from view. I ground my teeth. I didn't want a fight. I'd be hurt badly, or worse, dead. I felt a stirring behind me and swiveled around, pulling a knife from my belt. I swung the weapon as I turned, slashing Viktor's face. He wasn't expecting me to be so fast. I turned back around and ran to the still unconscious girl. I came to save her and I intended to complete my objective.

Viktor recovered swiftly and shoved me away from the girl. I flew back a few yards into a tree. I slid to the ground, moaning in pain. I'd feel that in the morning. Then I earned a fast kick to the rib cage. I felt something crack and my breathing became slightly labored. Pain shot through my body. Next he landed a harsh punch to my face. My lip busted open and I saw stars for a minute. When I landed in a heap, Viktor pulled my head up by my hair.

"You best be leaving now. I have things to do, little half blood." He pushed my face to the ground and turned his back to me, heading back to the girl.

I spat blood out of my mouth and gripped my knife. I looked back up at his back. Starting to gather energy from my surroundings, I channeled power into the steel blade. It wouldn't kill him, unfortunately, (I didn't have that kind of power) but it would wound him enough to get away and save the girl. Once the knife wad glowing, I flung it as silently as I could. It flipped through the air and sank right into Viktor's back. He fell over and roared with pain. I jumped up and ran as fast as my battered body would allow and picked up the girl.

"I'll find you, Vincent. You'll be dead soon!" Viktor snarled as he shook with agony on the ground, unable to move other than weakly reach for me with his hand. I stood with the girl in my arms and pressed my heavy boot onto his hand.

"You can try to find me."

With those words, I threw down a small black glass ball which shattered, taking me to the location I set it to. My shitty one room apartment. It may be small and cluttered, but I have wards and protection spells up so it was safe enough for now. I laid the girl down on the old couch and went to go grab bandages. As I started to wrap her eye to stop bleeding, my mind wondered. I may have been cocky when I spoke to Viktor, but I was truly scared. I knew he would find me. And this girl. I didn't even know what I should do about this girl. She'd wake up soon and probably call the police. I'd be arrested again. I didn't want this to happen...

Why did I do this?