On the Other Side

Blood

^^^^^^^^^Togo

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The current state I was in was beyond words. Nothing registering in my mind. I'm blank. In my own world. Lost in my own thoughts

How did I get here?

That is the only question I ask

I feel Togo lick my hands and whimper. I look down to see the old lady's blood coating them.

I begin to sob

"Hey" Linwood says calmly

"Stop doing that. Stop crying. Ok, it's all going to be ok. We are here now"

"Are my parents really alive" I sniffle

"Well kind of" he sighs

"What do you mean. The only reason I got in this damn car was because of them. Open the damn door" I scream

He laughs at me

"Damn it Linwood" I kick the door

"Calm down. They are but it takes a little work."

I huff

"Just come inside. Keep your head down. Understood" his voice suddenly goes stern

His eyes tell me all lot could be at stake if i don't

"Understood" I mumble

"What about Togo."

"Who"

"The dog" I point to the puffball in my arms

"Here take this." He hands me a black and gold cloak from the back seat.

"Hide him in that."

We get out of the car and I follow behind him. When I look up and all I see is a dark sky. People scatter around what looks like a market. They all look rich. Silk and velvet adorn their bodies. They all look ethereal. I try not to stare.

We avoid people the best we can but once we reach a crowd. Linwood grabs my hand

And for some reason I don't want to pull away

"King Linwood welcome." They chorus

"Mmmm"

"Look at the new pet" one man whispers

I begin to turn back to him before Linwood squeezes my hand and drags me away

When we enter the place he takes me up a few steps. He pulls me into a fire lit room and lets go of my hand.

"You can relax now." he breathes

I pull the cloak off and put Togo down who runs to the fire.

"Pet huh" I say

"They think you are human"

I look him up and down. I study the room around me. It seems like his bedroom.

"So my parents. Where are they"

"In here." He taps at his head

"You must be joking"

"No. Sit down"

"No"

"You don't trust me" he shouts

"You tried to kill me

"You tied me to a tree" he counters

I reluctantly sit on the couch. He sits beside me and turns to face me. He takes my hands in his and looks me in the eye. I watch him carefully as he takes a needle and pricks his finger. He hands the needle to me

"Prick yours"

I slowly prick mine and put the needle down on the table. He draws a line of blood over my palm and I do the same to him

Linwood closes his eyes and mumbles a few words under his breath. When he looks at me his eyes are no longer their normal blue but blood red. I try to pull away but he keeps a strong grip on my hands.

"Linwood are you-"

He is suddenly at my neck drinking from me. I can feel the blood leaving my body and that I need to stop him but I feel too weak to pull away

"Please" is all I manage to choke out before everything goes pitch black