The night was quiet as Jaclyn sat on the dock that protruded into the Larvella Lake

The night was quiet as Jaclyn sat on the dock that crept over the waters of Lake Larvella. The sun had gone down a few hours earlier and the warm night air was lit by the stars and the single lamp post that was just a few feet behind her on the dock. She had been sitting there for only a few minutes before she could hear the sound of two sets of boots walking across the wooden dock behind her. They were coming towards her and they pounded the worn boards heavily. She didn’t turn around and as the boots came even closer the very boards she was sitting on began to vibrate with each of their steps. They soon came to a halt under the lamp post and Jaclyn glanced to her side. In the water she could see the reflection of two figures; the first was a tall figure cloaked in black with his hood drawn over his face, and the other was a smaller boy cloaked in the same black cloak as the other, his hood also pulled up over his face. They both had swords at their sides under their cloaks, each with the emblem of the Shayfire Vampiric clan to which they belonged to. Jaclyn let out a sigh as she returned her gaze towards the distant shore.

“I was wondering when you’d show up,” she said in a quiet voice. The two figures didn’t say anything; the small one merely turned its head under its black hood to one side before looking back at her. Jaclyn got to her feet and brushed the dirt off her white cloak.

“I don’t understand,” the smaller figure said suddenly and Jaclyn looked over her shoulder at him curiously.

“What is it you don’t understand?” She asked as she turned around so they were facing each other and she rested her left hand upon the hilt of her sword casually.

“Why are you doing this? Why don’t you run?” He asked, the youthfulness in his voice starting to come out now.

Jaclyn looked at him shocked. “Run? Why would I do something like that?”

The boy looked down under his hood and the taller figure spoke this time, “don’t play games with him Jaclyn. You know very well why we are here.” Jaclyn merely shrugged her shoulder with an almost cocky smirk coming across her face. She watched the taller figure tighten his fist as he yelled at her, “you foolish girl! We’ve been given orders to kill you-!”

“I know,” Jaclyn said flatly and the taller figure relaxed his fist with surprise. “I’m not stupid, but I also know you can’t beat me, Rommel,” Jaclyn said to the taller figure and he let out a sort of grunt that resembled a growl, but she knew he knew she was right. The smaller figure lifted his hands now and lowered his hood, revealing his youthful face. Jaclyn looked at him with an almost painful sadness in her forest green eyes, and he looked back at her with the exact same expression. They were brother and sister, and their forest green eyes, slightly tan complexion, and dark brown hair give it away.

“Jaclyn,” her brother started but she quickly cut him off.

“Don’t even try Elrond,” she said quickly before adding, “I will never go back to the House of Shayfire. They can hunt me for the rest of eternity if they wish, but I will have no part in their games.” Jaclyn felt a wave of anger and hatred towards the House of Shayfire fill her, and her eyes reflect that. Elrond turned his sad gaze away as he listened to her, “I am older then both of you and have witnessed more corrupted schemes and needless deaths then both of you put together. And I will not stand for it any longer. I instead invite you both to come with me.”

Elrond and Rommel glanced at each other. Jaclyn saw Elrond begin to part his lips to say something but Rommel spoke first, “We will have no part in your treachery!” Rommel threw his hood back and drew out his sword as he yelled. His stern gaze pinned itself on her and she shook her head, the same cockiness she had before creeping across her face, only this time it held a ghostly sadness about it.

“You were always the blue eyed favorite,” she said to him as she drew out her own sword calmly. “Good thing I’m not a few decades younger or I’d be after you just like all the other little mindless puppets in the clan.” She and Rommel readies themselves into fighting positions, however, to her surprise Elrond lifted his hand and placed it on Rommel’s sword blade, making him lower his weapon.

“What are you doing?” Rommel demanded as he turned towards his companion. Jaclyn did not move; she merely watched her brother as he turned his sad eyes back onto her.

“I am not sure what it was that caused you to run, Jaclyn, but I can’t kill you, nor can I come with you,” Elrond said. Rommel looked at him with a stunned expression.

“We have to at least try to complete our mission,” Rommel said but Elrond shook his head.

“No,” Elrond said as he held out his hand towards Jaclyn. “We’ll take back the necklace with the House of Shayfire emblem on it. And if you stick to your word and leave these lands then to us you shall be dead.”

Jaclyn lowered her sword as she looked at her brother. She felt her heart ache hearing that he would not come with her. “You will never see me again, you know that brother.”

Elrond nodded, “Yes I know. But at least I will know you are alive.”

Jaclyn smiled and placed her sword back in its sheath. Her brother was always the bright one of his generation, and she was proud of him for that. She bowed her head slightly as she unclipped the necklace that hung around her neck. However, before she handed it over she bit her finger, drawing a small amount of blood. She walked forward across the creaking boards and placed the necklace in her brother hand, a bit of her blood going with it. She held his hand in hers as she spoke to him.

“So it will be easier for them to believe you.” She said as she looked at him carefully. She wanted to remember his face, and as she looked him over he suddenly leaned forward hugging her tightly. Jaclyn wasn’t very surprised, though it did take her off guard at first. She wrapped her arms around her brother and as she did she heard him give out a small whimper as he held back tears. She gave him a tight squeeze before letting him go. Elrond wiped a single tear off his cheek and nodded to her, holding the necklace in a tight fist.

Elrond looked toward Rommel and nodded towards him. “Let’s go,” he said and Rommel placed the sword back in its sheath, nodding towards Jaclyn before walking back down the dock, mumbling under his breath. Elrond stood in front of Jaclyn silently. “Take care of yourself,” he said, “and I hope you find peace somewhere in those distant lands.”

She nodded to him. “You take care as well. You’ll always be welcome to come join me,” She said with a smile and he nodded in return, the goofy smile she always remembered him having returned to his face.

She watched Elrond turn and run down the dock to catch up with Rommel. She watched him rejoin Rommel at the end of the dock and glance back at her one last time before disappear into the darkness. She was finally free of the prison that was once her home but as she watched her brother run off towards what she had always been running from, she felt her heart ache grow deeper. She secretly hoped they would someday meet again, and he would leave the family to their wars and traditions.

Jaclyn remained on the dock for a few more hours, sitting on its edge and staring out into the darkness. She sat there with a clear mind, and before long got back to her feet, turning on her heal and walking back down the dock towards shore. She felt her brother in every step she took and when she reached the end of the dock she paused, standing where her brother rejoined Rommel. She looked towards the path he chose; hoping to see him running after her but was greeted by only darkness. She let out a sad sigh and pulled her hood over her head turning in the opposite direction. After a few moments she took her first steps towards a new life, leaving the House of Shayfire behind, hopefully, forever.