Safety is Relative

Chapter Nine- Living up to Expectations

Red has never been my colour. I’m too pale-skinned- the bold crimson just washes me out, making me look like a ghost. And now, with the increased impact of the thick black stripes, it almost looks like the tee-shirt’s wearing me, rather than the other way around.

I wave at the girl-wearing tee-shirt that faces me in the mirror.

Most promising young slayer? That sounds like a joke to me now. I should never have won that award- only yesterday did my muscles actually begin to feel normal again. I’m no especially promising young slayer, hell- I could barely walk the day after. And now, the thought of seeing all those people I beat (even inside my head it makes me cringe) makes me want to lock myself in the bathroom.

As usual when I want to be alone, a member of my family interrupts.

‘Hello Rue,’ says Sorrel, sitting on the edge of the bath.

‘What do you want?’ I ask, tying my hair up.

‘I like your tee-shirt,’

Sorrel seems serious. I look back at my reflection. Maybe it’s only me who sees myself wearing this blasted tee-shirt with about as much pride, confidence and flair as a sack of potatoes.

I smile at him, though. ‘Hmph. It’s really not worth it, Sorrey. I’m telling you this for when you have to initiate. The stripes just make everything worse.’

‘How come Ash doesn’t have stripes?’ asks Sorrel.

I forgot that Sorrel is in the same boat now that I was a few weeks ago- in the dark, an outsider to the club of differently coloured tee-shirts.

‘He’s more skilled than anyone realises,’ I say. ‘They just haven’t noticed yet.’

Sorrel looks confused, but doesn’t say anything.

‘What are you going to do today, bro?’ I ask him kindly, aware that he’ll be left alone in the house until six.

‘I’m going to Cassia’s,’ he tells me, smiling. ‘We’re having a bake-off.’

‘A bake-off?’ I repeat. I wasn’t even sure Sorrel knew how to turn an oven on, let alone bake a cake.

‘Yep. I’m going to make you a cake Rue,’

‘Aw, thanks bro,’ I say, ruffling his hair. ‘I will look forward to eating it when I get back.’

We walk downstairs together, to where Mum is waiting by the door with Quinn. I notice that he’s carrying a rucksack with him, which has been packed with so much that it looks on the verge of exploding.

‘What’s in there?’

He smirks, unzipping the top. Inside, right at the top, I can just make out a large chunk of wood.

‘What’s that for?’

He glances at Sorrel. ‘We’re learning how to carve it today. I’ll let you do the maths.’

For a moment, I am really confused, and then I realise. They’re stake-carving today. That’s why he needs the wood.

I wonder when I will finally stake a vampire for the first time.

Ash finally appears, clutching an assortment of things, and we all pile into the car. On the way, we drop Sorrel off at Lysander’s house- his grandma, an extremely tall woman with eyes as black as crow feathers, takes him and Cassia inside with the promise of baking- and then all too soon we are back in that car park next to the church.

I get out of the car apprehensively, staring up at the church.

‘Rue!’

Jasper hurries over, wearing his plain red tee-shirt and some baggy jeans.