Intention With Sins {Written In Red}

Until the last drop falls

"Will you give it a rest, already?! You've been at it for more than two hours, now!" As usual, Ash was complaining. My left fist shot out, punching the dummy in the area presumed to be it's 'mouth'. I let out my breath in a huff, turning to face him. "Okay, sure. I'll stop... If you can suddenly speak french." He smirked, clearing his throat and making a big show about it. "D'accord, c'est facile..." I stared at him, my expression showing utter boredom, though beneath that, hiding, was astonishment. ".....What?" His stupid, over the top, smirk stayed in place. "Guess you'll never know what I said." I simply ground my teeth together, contemplating whether I should punch him or not. The odds of me landing a punch before he broke my wrist didn't seem too good. He walked over, strolling casually behind me before he yanked my pony tail back, causing a turn-around-slap-Ash-in-the-face reaction. His eyes went wide as he slowly raised his hand to prod at the cheek I had slapped. He seemed to internally fight with himself about what to do. "...OW!" I chuckled, brushing my hands together; which were covered with leather gloves that were cropped at the fingers. "Oh, Ashy-Boo, what have I told you about pulling my hair?" His eyes darkened at the use of his old nickname. "Don't call me that, you know my reasonings, why would you even take it that far?" I chuckled, it really was cruel, but, thats how we were. We fought, screamed, everything. It was quite often, too. "Because..." Suddenly something I didn't recognize filled me... I think it was too much stress.... Burden... "Because, all you ever do is complain! You whine and try dragging me from my training when I'm TRYING TO KEEP YOU SAFE! Don't you get it?!?! I spend five hours a day down here because I'm here to PROTECT you! And... You.... You just.... Don't get it..." My eyes filled with hurt and the threat of tears as my just younger brother stared at me in shock. "....Izzy I-.... I'm..." He took off, up the basement stairs and out the door. I stared after him, eyes wide. It felt like someone had just torn a gaping hole in my chest. Ashton never took off like that. Ever. He usually just retorted with some witty quip that erased all traces of seriousness. I sighed. I didn't have time to go find him. He'd come back soon enough, right? "Ash, why ya' gotta' do this to me?" I nearly groaned, throwing another punch at the dummy with more force than necessary. The pathetic excuse for a pretend 'human' went flying across the room, slamming into the basement window and shattering it. The palm of my hand found my face and I dragged my fingers down along with it. "Raymond's going to kill me for that..." I grumbled, wandering over to the mess that was once a stain-glass window. "Eyup... I'm dead...." More grumbling occurred as I bent down to pick up the larger pieces of glass, careful not to cut myself. Of course, with my luck, a smaller shard of the damned object lodged itself into the tip of my finger, making me wince. "At this point.... I don't know if I should say 'Ow.' or not..." "I'd bet against it, Izabella." I nearly leapt out of my skin, hearing that voice. "Hunter?! When did you get back!?" My voice rose a few octaves from excitement as I leapt up and spun around, all but forgetting about the piece of glass in my finger. His tall framed was relaxed against one of the beams on the stairs, a cool smile on his gorgeous face. "When did I get back? Hmm, well, lets see.... Since I'm here now.... Now." I rolled my eyes at his sarcasm, he was a lot like me, it bugged me and made him more attractive. He held his arms out for a hug. "C'mere." I smiled and jumped into his arms, hugging the crap out of him. "I missed you, so did Ash.." He returned the hug, tighter than I delivered it. "Speaking of, where is the little devil?" Hunter's gaze fell down to my eyes, which shied away. "He... Erm..... Left. He'll be back later, though." I quickly finished, seeing the worried look on his face. "Okaaaay..... You're acting weird, Iz. What's up?" I looked at him, he was giving me pleading eyes, mixed in with an expression that said if I didn't tell him, there'd be hell to pay. "I got upset with Ash... And he ran off." Hunter let out a groan, indicating I was in trouble. "A-heh.... Don't kill me!" He rolled his eyes at my outburst, releasing me from the hug before stepping back and folding his arms. "What did you say to him?" My eyes shifted every way and that, choosing to look at everything but him. "Erm...." His gaze was intense refusing to break. "Izabella Marie, so help you God, if you don't tell me what you said..." I let out a sigh, shifting my gaze back to him. "I yelled at him; Told him he did nothing but complain." He groaned, shooting me a glare. Hunter is like an older brother to Ash and I, but he can be a little overprotective at times. Although, we love him, its annoying. But, the worst part is that I like Hunter.... A lot. Like, not just like a brother. Heh, it's obvious, isn't it? Eyup.... Anywho... "Why would you be so harsh to Ashton, Izzy?" My eyes shifted back down, I hated when he was mad at me. Just because he's two years older than I, doesn't mean I should be intimidated by him, amIright? "I wasn't harsh, Hunt! He always complains about my training, but never understands how important it is!" I let out a breath, I was getting worked up, I needed that to get under control... "Izzy.... Then why don't you tell him? It's really the only way to make sure he's absolutely safe. Besides, don't you want him to not be angry with you for the early curfews?" I rolled my eyes, but, really... I knew he was right.. As usual. "Don't roll your eyes at me. You know I'm right." That's when I lost it. I may have a crush on him, but, he was really pissing me off. My right fist shot out, aiming to connect with his jaw. But, as usual... again, his wrist snapped up, fingers extended as he caught my fist in the palm of his hand with ease. I was stupid, I'd learned everything I knew from Hunter. He was smirking, of course. He knew I couldn't beat him. I was lucky if I could ever get a good hit in when we sparred. "First rule of hand-to-hand combat; Don't be predictable." His voice was soft, yet harsh, as if i were that one kid the teacher couldn't get through to in the classroom. I hissed as his hand closed around my fist and twisted to the left, making me wince in pain as well. "....Ow." He chuckled, his eyes alight with curiosity."Really...? I can hurt you by twisting your wrist, but when I full on punch you in the jaw, you seem to be able to handle it well enough." I grunted, yanking my hand back, cupping it to my chest. "Thats different, my adrenaline is up then, but not now." His smirk grew wider. Oh, yeah. He definitely didn't share my feelings for him.... Just then, Ashton came bounding down the stairs. Not for me, I guessed. My assumptions were confirmed when he threw himself into Hunter's arms, clinging tightly as if he were a small child and not a 15-year-old boy. Hunter eagerly returned the embrace, swinging Ash in a small circle before setting him down and ruffling his hair. "Hey, Ash. How are you doing?" Hunter's gaze lingered on Ashton's eyes, there was something in them; excitement? Exhilaration? Hell, if I knew. Ash seemed to mull over the question for a few seconds before answering. "I'm.... Okay. I've been better." It was then, that I noticed the red puffy-ness that surrounded the lower part of his eyes. I'd made him cry... Wonderful. Aren't I just an amazing sister? Hunter shot me another look that seemed to scream What did you say to him?! Look at him, he's been crying! I rolled my eyes, though I knew I was wrong. I should apologize, but.... I was trying to protect him, so, why not lie? To keep him safe is the only thing I want. But, in the process I was hurting him more than anything else. Ashton's eyes flickered down to my left hand. "Izzy, you're bleeding!" I looked down, suddenly remembering the piece of glass stuck in my finger. "Oh, yeah.... That. About that... Raymondd is going to tear me to shreds for the window..." My gaze temporarily fell on the shattered window before it flickered back to my slender brother. Ash went white when he saw the glass. "Iz, what did ya' do?!" I groaned and flicked him in the forehead, giving him another one of my famous eye-rolls. "I broke the window. Duh." I said it like it was one of the most obvious things ever. "No kidding, but, how?" He glanced at me expectantly, as if I'd just tell him that I threw my practice dummy at it. " Erm.... I sort of, kind of, threw something at it... LIke a kind of 'human' something at it." Ash gave an exasperated sigh. "Aaaannnnd, she threw the practice dummy at it..." Hunter spoke up for the first time in a while. "Noooo, really?" I had to laugh at the sarcasm that laced his tone. Ash flashed him a smile and jogged the not-so-great distance to the broken window. "Ash, be careful! There's still glass, idiot!" The little brat ignored my warning and picked up the dummy, dragging it back to its place of origin. "Hush, child." He said without so much as shooting me a glance. Brat took my line.... "Did you just say what Izzy says on an annoying, daily basis? Because if you did, I'm going to punch you in the face..." Hunter raised an eyebrow quizzically at my brother, his head canted slightly to the right. "Yup, sure did. Besides, you wouldn't be able to land a punch, you're too slow for me." I let out a gasp. Ashton just insulted Hunter... Hunter. The boy who had taught him EVERYTHING. Though... He may have had a point. It wasn't that Hunter was too slow. Its just that Ash is like a freaking super human when it comes to running. After all, he is the Thomson High's track star... "Alright, Kid... You wanna' go? I'll take you on right now! One hand behind my back!" Hunter's retort was confident and knowing. Ash shouted back at him, his eyes alight with excitement. "Come at me! Slow-poke!" That did it... Hunter was across the basement in a flash, his arm shooting out once Ashton was within his reach. But, Ash dodged it, whipping around and under his outstretched arm. As soon as he was behind him, he grabbed Hunter's extended arm a twisted it behind his back. Retaliating and flipping Ashton over his back, Hunter pinned him to the floor, smirking all the while. Three words escaped his mouth, then. "Izzy, pin him." Ash was just the distraction, I was the main event. I sprinted across the damp, cold floor, leaping over my mentor and gripping his shoulders. The force from my body turning over in mid-air caused Hunter to be torn from my brother, landing him on the floor as i was now pinning him. He scowled, fighting back by trying to buck me off, but Ash was already on top of him, giving him a playful smack before darting to his feet and pinning them as well. "Hey, Izzy! Should we tickle 'em?" I chuckled and nodded, boys will be boys. Ashton lifted one of Hunter's booted feet before carefully tucking his leg beneath his under arm. Flashing Hunter a charming, innocent smile, he removed the shoe and ran his fingertips over the older boy's foot. Hunter started kicking his free leg, bucking and laughing all the while. "Stop! Ash, stop! Please! Have mercy, stop!" Hunter's words were cut off by giggles and sharp inhales as Ashton continued torturing him with the tickles. God, we were all so childish, at times. I rolled my eyes and scrambled off of, the now flailing, Hunter. Ash's eyes widened to the size of buckets when he noticed me getting off. "Izzy, what are you doi-?!" His protest was cut off by Hunter shooting off of the floor and tackling him. "Eeeek!" My brother sounded like a mouse as Hunter started the same torture on Ashton that was placed upon him. I watched in amusement as my brother was tickled to the point of his face turning a rosey red. "Hunter! Offfff! Geeeeeeet off! Uncle! Uncle! I give! Please! NO more tickles!" Ashton squirmed around on the floor, writhing and wriggling every which way and that. Hunter simply stared at Ash in bemusement and went on tickling him. That is until Ash started coughing, wheezing, and clutching at his side. "Oh, crap. Sorry, you okay, Bud?" Hunter ceased his tickling and sat back, helping Ash onto his knees as he gasped for air. "Yeah, I'm fine, its cool, just too much tickles!" I rolled my eyes and Hunter laughed as he patted my little brother on the back. "Oh, Izzy, by the way, that window needs to be replace before Raymond sees..." "Before I see what?" A husky voice sounded from the top of the cellar's stairs. Well, shit.... Raymond. "Oh, um, Nothing, Raymond! Just joking, is all, don't come down here!" I heard the first step on the stairs creak and whine in protest as Raymond put his foot on it. "And why not? What have you done this time, Izabella?" My eyes flickered over to the shattered window once again, Only Raymond used my full name, anyone else did and they would most likely have their tongue torn out through their noses. "Nothing! Stay where you are, we... Um, we have a surprise for you and we don't want you to see it, yet!" My feeble attempt at lying must've not convinced him. He all but ran down the stairs to take a look at his surprise. His eyes scanned the entirety of the basement before landing on the, once called, window. He did a double take and then threw a questioning glance at the boys before shooting me a death glare. "What.... On EARTH HAPPENED, DOWN HERE?!" We all winced at the shout. Raymond never shouted at anyone but me. He denied it, but I knew why. It's because of my Demon nature. Yeah, you heard correctly. Demon. "I got angry with Ash and used too much force on the dummy..." His eyes scanned me up and down for any sign of an injury, I looked down, but the glass in my finger was gone. As was the cut healed. I sighed, just another one of life's ways to remind me I don't belong... He sighed and walked over to inspect the damage. There was nothing left of the window, save for a few jagged pieces still lodged in the window pane. He mumbled something under his breath that sounded a lot like "What am I going to do with you, Izzy..?" I was about to make a witty quip on just exactly what he could do with me, but I was interrupted by the doorbell. My eyes flickered to the stairs, we all knew it was the mail. I acted first, bolting up the stairs, screaming at the top of my lungs "HAH! I GOT IT! I GOT IT!" I shoved the basement door out of the way to see the slot in the front door swinging idly on it's hinges. I smirked and ducked down, scooping up the mail in one grab. There was only one envelope It was small, but the red pentagram stamped into the front said it all; This was no ordinary letter. I took a deep breath and slid my fingers under the crease in the paper, easily tearing it open just as Ashton, Hunter, and Raymond emerged from the basement. I gingerly unfolded the letter and there, written in red, were three simple words; "We've found you."