The Sunflower Keeper

Unkind

“Faith!” My head slumps against my chest. I hear a voice ring in my ears. My breaths move my chest up and down. “Faith wake up!” Her voice is accompanied by the dripping water. A groan escapes me. I shake myself out of the daze that holds me captive. My eyes blink open. My hair swings over my shoulders and knots form between the navy blue-purple strands. It’s not my daze that is holding me captive. It’s something else.

          “Where… What…” My words form on my mouth but do not come out as recognizable.

          “They grabbed us. I can’t get this rope loose.” I whip my hair out of my face. I glance over at my incapacitated friend. She struggles against her restraints but gives up and signs as if annoyed. “Damn!” She grunts.

          “Where are we?” I start rotating my wrists. The rope burns against my already bruised skin.

          “I think we are in a sorry excuse of a basement.” She chuckles.

“Laughing isn’t going to save us from almost certain death.” My shoulders tense.

          “I just thought I lighten the mood.” She slightly shrugs.

          “How’s your head?” I lean back and look at the gash at a better angle. It rips through her skin.

          “It stopped bleeding… So I guess that’s good.” Her hair is stained with dry blood.

          “I could disagree. It honestly smelt delicious. The gushing and oozing... Just like an ice cream sundae.” Demetri’s hands clash together. “Only better.”

          “Gross.” Nevaeh’s disgusted face twitches.

          “Not really.” He disagrees.

          “What do you want with us?” I bite out.

          “Oh. I want you. I don’t really care about the little blue chick.”

          “I’m not blue or little!” Nevaeh angrily yells.

          “You have blue highlights dear. I think I can say you’re blue.” Brody quickly says.

          “Then let her go!” The anger in my voice is no longer hidden.

          “I can’t do that.” His answer annoys me.

“Good ‘cause I wouldn’t want to leave Faith alone anyways. Simply because I want to see her kick your ass personally.” She snorts. A blur replaces Demetri and his hands yank on Nevaeh’s hair. I fight against my tied up body.

“You’re getting on my last nerve.”

“Let her go!” His attention shifts to me and he exposes his fangs. A smile creases on his face.

          “This is getting spicy. Faith how about you and I take a walk across the hall.” He pulls the ropes that bind my feet apart. He tugs me to my feet and drags me to the door. “Brody. Easton. Get rid of the blonde. I have no need for her anymore and looking at her bothers the hell out of me. So do whatever you want... I don’t really care.” He pulls me in the hallway as I scream Nevaeh’s name. Brody and Easton walk into my old cell.

***

          The room is dim-lighted and smells retched. My nose burns, and my eyes are filled with tears. Demetri leans against the lifeless wall. He untied my hands once I was far enough from my screaming friend.

          “I’m going to kill you.” I divulge.

          His laugh makes my anger even more raged. “I’d really like to see you try. Hey do you want to see a trick?” My eyes meet his. He disappears in a blink of an eye. Stunned, I survey the room trying to find him. No luck. “Looking for me?” I jump to my feet and swing around to find him behind my chair.

          “How?”

          “Your sister was a powerful one. I killed her and now I’m going to kill you.”

 “I’d like to see you try.” I roll my eyes and back up a step.

“Don't go stealing my lines.” His pale, muscular arms cross. “You’re a feisty one. You know you share that with your sister.” He grins. “I should say shared. Considering she’s not alive to share anything with you anymore.”

          “I’m going to make your death hurt. I didn’t even get to meet her!” Tears stream down my face. “She didn’t even know I existed and now she’s dead. You just killed my best friend. So please don’t piss me off more than I already am.”

          “You can’t do anything to me. But…” He pulls a folded piece of paper out of his pocket. He steps closer as I step farther away. “Since I’m a nice person… I’ll give you a photo of her before I kill you and strip you of all your powers.” He holds out the folded slip that conceals the identity of my dead sister.

          I hesitantly grip the paper between my fingers. I glance back up at him. He nods. I open the paper. My eyes widen. She has brown hair and brown eyes. Her wavy hair flops over her shoulders. She has a cute smile. Blue, purple, and green markings form around her face. I smile. A place in my heart becomes reserved for her. Then I remember. She’s dead. A tear drips onto the photo. I wipe it off. I lean against the wall and slide to the floor. I clench the photo and close my eyes.

          “Should we continue and truly end your life.” He says. I open my eyes and lean my head against the wall.

          “I don’t have my powers yet.”

          “I know. Which is why I have an idea on how to make you earn the rest of them. First I would like you to meet my friend. Oh wait I’m pretty sure you already know him." Elijah tumbles into the room. I rush over to him and yank the ropes off his wrists. “You two kids have fun. I’m going to go sort through everything. The door is iron and has multiple locks. So don’t try to escape. I’ll see you two later.” He steps through the door and slams it shut. I hear the locks being locked from behind the door.

          “Isn’t he a charmer?” Elijah turns to face me.

          “Yeah a real catch…” I roll my eyes. “What are you doing here?” I place a hand on his shoulder.

          “Do you really need to ask me that?” He leans back on his hands and stares into my eyes. “I came because I care about you. I know we haven’t know each other more than a few weeks but I like you. That’s the only reason I’m here.”

          “He gave me a picture of Scarlett. He had a picture…” Anger boils inside me as I think about the possible reasons to why he had a picture of my little sister.

          “Can I see?” I hand him the picture, and he flips it open. He forms a goofy smile. “She looks like you.” I grin a little bit.

          I correct him, “Looked…” He grips my hand and I lean into him. His face turns down to have access to mine. His hands lift my chin. He examines my cheek.

          “He hit you…Now I really want to hurt him.” His mouth flattens.

          “You hit me.” I meet his green eyes.

“I had orders. You know that. I did it to prepare you for the worst. I had hoped that it wouldn’t ever get that bad but it did. How do you know Scarlett’s dead? I mean if she really is powerful then she might be okay.” I shake my head.

          “I hope you’re right.” I lean back into him and absorb his smell. I close my eyes to try to relieve some of the pain. My head is throbbing.