Not Alone

Chapter Five

     The place the portal had dropped off the group was a beach. The hot sand felt warm through DJ's converse, and the ocean breeze was refreshing. No one was really around, and he could hear a couple of cars flying past the beach, but not stopping to check out the teens climbing out of a golden light. That was a good sign, in DJ's opinion.

     Ree screaming at him? Not a good sign.

     "Say something! What the hell was that thing?!" she yelled, standing on her toes to appear taller, and probably meaning to be intimidating. All she reminded DJ of was a rabbit standing on its hindquarters. "I don't want to talk about it," was all DJ wanted to say on the matter. "Well, you're going to have to, considering that thing came at us like a fucking train," Joey snapped. "Look, that thing was the reason I didn't want to go anywhere near the woods. But did anyone listen to me? Noooo," DJ quipped, doing a jazz hands motion sarcastically. 

     "Cut the sarcasm, you dick! Twice today we have almost been killed. No one is in the mood for your smart ass," Joey raved. DJ glared at the blond, his nostrils flaring but remaining quiet nonetheless. Sarcasm had always been DJ's defense mechanism, and he wasn't going to stop now to spare the feelings of people he met briefly at some party. "Why do you live near the woods with that thing living in there?" Ree asked. She went back down completely on her feet, but she still looked freaked out by the whole situation. "It's a long story, and I'd rather not talk about it," DJ sighed, running his hand through his hair before turning to Logan. "Where do we start?"

     "Well, my colleague should be here any minute. I suppose it would be best to give you more of an explanation as to what you will be fighting and why you were chosen, seeing as you can't see it for yourselves," Logan said, looking each of them in the eyes, before talking again.

     "As you already know, I am a wizard, and I am over 1500 years old. And I have been battling the witch, Lorelei, for over 1200 years. Lorelei desires the world, quite literally. We knew each other in our youth, studying under the brilliant Merlin. But, she wanted more than what Merlin had to offer. She became consumed with greed, wanting to rule both the living and the dead. She has spent the past thousand years researching and tracking down the ancient Artifacts of Thanatos. With these artifacts, she can rule the dead and living, controlling who lives and dies.

     "That is why we are here today. After almost being overthrown by a mortal, the god Thanatos asked each of the wind gods to carry each artifact to a place of mystic power. The Bermuda Triangle is one of the most mystical places on Earth. We will find what we need here."

     Logan finished, and through his whole speech, he never broke eye contact with any of them. "That sounds serious," Ryder remarked in shock, speaking for the first time since they entered the portal. "Yeah. So, what does that have to do with any of us?" Joey asked, eyeing the other three teens as though at any moment, one of them would step up and explain it instead of Logan. But DJ couldn't think of any reply, being just as clueless as the rest of them. Logan, however, shifted his steady gaze to DJ.

     "Before I answer you, Joseph, I believe DJ should tell all of you why his father attacked you," he suggested, raising his eyebrow a fraction. DJ felt a shutter rack his body, his face cringing while he refused to look at anyone. "That was your father?!" Ree shouted, moving to stand right in front of him. DJ scuffed his shoes in the sand, doing everything in his power to not meet her stern and panicked gaze. "Um... yeah," he muttered, shoving his hands in his pockets. Joey reached over and grabbed Ree's shoulders, moving her over so he could also stand in front of DJ. "Be honest here. No sarcasm, no quips, nothing. Just answer me this: what are you?" he demanded. "Um..."

     "Vampires."

     DJ's head turned to Ryder so fast he was surprised he didn't get whiplash. "How did you know that?" DJ's voice couldn't go above a whisper, so shocked that he couldn't find his vocal cords working right. "It was a bit obvious if you saw that little details," he said nonchalantly with a shrug. "And, pray tell, what are the signs of spotting a blood sucker?" Joey inquired. DJ flinched at the term. This was why he hated what he was. The judgement, the fear, the loneliness that came with it. He understood completely why Mackenzie tried to be as normal as she could. He just couldn't find himself doing the same thing, and he constantly regretted it.