Safety is Relative

Chapter Four- Initiation

I wake up the next morning feeling alert and on edge. I jump out of bed and straight into the shower, thinking maybe the hot water will calm me down, but it only makes me feel even more stressed when I realise I am still wearing my watch. I pull it off and place it by the sink, desperately hoping that it’s not broken.

I finish my shower and go into my bedroom, but I’m stumped. What do you wear to learn about being a Slayer? My imagination is wild, suggesting trainers, stuff for running around in, but I can hardly wear that and expect everyone to think I’m normal. Instead I opt for my boots, which I can still run in, some jeans and a tee-shirt. I put another shirt in my bag just in case.

As I walk downstairs, I almost laugh at myself. What am I expecting?

In the kitchen, Ash is making scrambled eggs.

‘Ooh, can I have some?’

He glances at me. ‘I’ve already started…oh whatever. Yeah, you can.’

I am surprised that he agreed. ‘Thanks.’

He sends an amused glance at Quinn, who is sitting at the table, and had been reading an article from a newspaper until I came in.

‘Can’t let our little sister go to training on an empty stomach, can we Quinn?’

‘Of course not. She’ll need all her strength to fight the nasty vampires.’

I sigh and move over to the fridge. I should have guessed- joining them at training will only open me up to more teasing about how bad I am at slaying. I just know I’m going to fail.

‘What’s it like?’ I ask, pulling out the orange juice.

‘You’ll have to wait and see,’ says Quinn.

‘Yeah, we wouldn’t want to spoil the surprise,’

Considering what sort of mood they’re in, I think asking them if I’m dressed adequately will only give them more fuel for teasing.

‘Oh and word of warning,’ says Quinn, looking back at his newspaper, ‘Mum’s going to be all over you.’

‘What?’ I say, feeling slightly alarmed. Our mother does get herself worked up about things.

‘Where’s my baby girl? My little slayer? Where is she?’ Mum calls downstairs. Then she yells, ‘Rue, are you up yet?’

‘Hide,’ advises Ash, smirking.

‘If I hide, I’ll miss the scrambled eggs,’ I say, watching as he divides them up.

‘We can’t have that, can we?’ says Quinn, ruffling my hair as he walks past to get his plate.

Ash laughs. ‘Rue’s gonna love it today. If she wants something, she’ll get it, no matter what the price.’

Quinn looks at me appraisingly. ‘Nah, she’s too small. She’s gonna fail.’

They look at each other. ‘Five quid?’

I roll my eyes, deciding that Quinn definitely does not deserve to win today, but probably will.

The ‘price of scrambled eggs’ walks into the kitchen moments later, beaming from ear to ear.

‘Oh darling, I was going to make you breakfast! And you made some for your brothers too! You’re just going to be great today, I know it!’

Ash looks annoyed. ‘I made the breakfast, Mum.’

She blinks. ‘You made breakfast for your brother and sister?’