Shattered

4

We walked around the closed off center, slowly and taking in everything. Ray hummed as she led the way to the door. Scar was right beside me. She gently brushed against me. Once Ray was where ever she was, Scarlett asked, "Why was your husband like that?" 

"Hell if I know, probably because of her father, I don't know." I shrugged

"You do know that Dalton Demise was being controlled, right?"

"He was?"  

"Nah, Ray's convinced that's true though."

"Oh, 'kay." 

Once we saw a burst of fire, we both knew that was Ray. We rushed over towards the area where the smoke lead. We then saw Ray trying to pick the lock behind the Detention Center. Frustration crawled from her skin into her voice. She banged on the door with her sun-kissed fist. She let out a frustrated sigh. Her fiery hair shimmered in the golden sunlight. Her emerald stones called eyes shimmered with her hair. Her hair was engulfed by the flames. She turned her head to face us, "Mind givin' me a hand?" She said with a slight smile. She flashed her fangs at me, a friendly gesture. Her eyes held a glimmer of hope. I wonder why? Why is she hopeful about a detention center? I wonder what she's so optimistic about? I looked at her beautifully sculpted face. Her cheekbones were prominent along with her small nose. Her fire hair fell in her face and Ray brushed the strands of hair out from her vision. She took a packet of gum out of her pocket. She opened her thin lips to speak again, "You comin', Dakota?" I looked to my side and Scarlett vanished. She was right beside Ray. I nodded quickly and joined the rest.

"Can you kick the door down?" I suggested.

"Stand back then."  Ray urged while she motioned us to back up. Scarlet pushed me back into the pile of leaves with her falling right beside me. 

"Stop right there, Demise!"

I looked up to see Grayson and Tristen hovering above us. I looked towards Ray and her expression was stoic. Her sly smirk turned into a dull, bored pout. She rolled her jade eyes. Her eyes gave off a warning glint. She hissed softly, already bored with them, "What do you want?" 

"We need Dakota to take her back. She doesn't need to be influenced by the likes of you." Grayson spat.

"What's the matter, Matthews, got your panties in a wad?" Ray mocked his British accent. Even though her's was eerily similar. She loudly clicked her tongue, waiting for him to retaliate. Grayson was furious. His scowl showed it all. He waved his hand and disappeared. I looked at Raychel and her smirk told it all. She won. That's all that matters. I shot a glance at her. She took a step forward towards Tristan, who looked mad as a hornet. I shared a quick glance with Scarlett. Uh, no, I thought, This isn't good.  Scarlett's blank expression turned into worry with a snap of her fingers.  She rushed between Tristan and Raychel. She held her arms out signaling that if one of them took a step closer they'd be zapped. Ray took a step back. Acknowledging Scarlett's presence, Raychel held her palms up in surrender.  

"What's the big deal about being a Demise?" Everyone looked at Raychel.

"What the hell do you mean? You father killed so many people! He's a murderer!  And then your mother killed herself, 'cause he got what he deserved, who does that?"

Ray rolled her eyes and mumbled something, we couldn't hear. She walked in the other direction. I wanted to go to her, to help her calm down, but Jay would be very upset. Dunno why, though.  I turned to Tristan, "Why is Jay out to get Raychel?"

"'Cause he wants to finish what his father started." 

"What do you mean by that?" 

"His father killed Dalton Demise. He was the executioner."

  The realization hit me like a pickup truck.  How could I not know this? 

"But she isn't Dalton, she's Raychel." I tried to explain my confusion. 

"Hmph. Well, of course, she isn't......yet."

"Yet?"

"The  Videns said she will turn out just like him."

 "Videns? You mean the crazy witch seer?"

He nodded.  Prophets never lie. Prophets never have and never will. What the see is the truth. Even if we don't like it. But they tend to be a tad bit insane.

"What did he say?" Scarlett spoke up, curiosity sparked a million different things the Prophet could have said. Tristan shrugged, "Dunno, Somethin' terrible, I guess."  

"You guess? You make claims about Raychel like you know her, but you don't. You don't even know what she's been through!"

"I've been through worse." He murmured.

Scarlett strutted over to Tristan and slapped him. You could hear the sound of the hit on his skin. Once her hand slipped off his skin, his cheek had a red handprint on it.  She turned the other way and waltzed off, probably to find Raychel.  Tristan rubbed his cheek and spit blood out.

"Are you okay?" I rushed towards Tristan.

He grabbed my arm and led me back towards Magix.