Hedgesville, West Virginia
Caspian Residence
Monday, August 19, 1996
9:57 AM

“Bad dreams?“ Jennie mumbled as she placed a hand over her eyes as she woke up. Was that all that was yesterday? I don’t remember anything after the fall. Just remember Rem…then nothing. And I feel fine…
Rolling over in her bed, she got a face full of gray fur. It was then that she realized a cat was curled up on her pillow by her head. She stared at the animal for a moment as slowly bits-and-pieces of the night before resurfaced.
The screaming was still fresh in her mind while she could visualize Reiyl storming up the stairs after Rem who was retreating back to his room. Nick had been cradling her in his arms while Rachael rushed out to the kitchen to make a phone call. Riley only stood with a solemn expression with Kasei beside him.
And the only thing Jennie could ask at the time was, “Can I die now?”
"I'm so stupid," she whispered pressing her hands to her face. Abruptly she reached out and grabbed a hold of the cat and hugged him him to her body. The feline’s warmth against her chest felt comforting as it began to stir.
"You okay, Jennie?" it asked as she nodded. "That's good."
In her arms, the cat shifted into its human form and Jennie found Reiyl slipping his arms around her. Her whole body went hot at his nearness. For the first time her her life, she was laying on a bed with a man. It was an awkward moment.
"How are you feeling?" he questioned softly.
“Fine,” she answered, trying to keep her composure.
“Are you sore anywhere?” he asked, leaning his head back. He looked her over a bit as if searching for something, making Jennie feel even more uneasy.
"Sore?" she choked out as her cheeks burned a brighter red.
"Last night," he replied, “you did fall down the stairs.”
“Yeah,” she mumbled, “but I really don’t feel anything. Actually I feel fine.”
“That’s good,” Reiyl said with a relieved sigh, “Lucia was able to fix you up pretty good then.” He leaned down, bumping his forehead against hers as he closed his eyes.
Jennie couldn’t think of anything to say, but figured he meant the woman from days before. She pulled free from the cat demon and fell onto her back, staring up at the ceiling.
“Was I hurt bad?” she questioned.
“Just some minor abrasions,” Reiyl said, “so you lucked out. Lucia simply used a healing stone to fix you up. Not a problem, alright?”
“Okay,” she whispered.
"But all this could have been avoided," he said, “if I hadn’t said anything to Rem.”
Jennie turned her head to the side to gaze at the boy only to find him glaring upward. It was pretty clear that he was upset with himself. Even his feline ears were bared back.
"I told Rem that if he wanted you,” Reiyl said through clenched teeth, “that he shouldn't hesitate. That if he didn‘t put claim on you now, someone else would."
“First,” Jennie said, “I’m not something someone can just claim.” She stared at him as he looked out of the corner of his eyes with an apologetic gaze. “And second it’s not your fault. Rem did it. Not you.”
She sighed. “Thirdly,” she whispered, “I don’t know what happened to me yesterday. It was like I…”
“We all deal with loss differently,” Reiyl said, sitting up. “When I first lost my parents, I hide away in my room for weeks. My grandmother couldn’t get me out. Eventually, one of my older cousins had to talk me out.”
“What about Kasei?” Jennie questioned.
“He was pretty young when it happened,” he stated, “but he cried for a while. But he got over it faster than I did.”
“I wonder how Rem was when he lost his mom?” she questioned.
“Back to him?” Reiyl asked, looking over his shoulder with a look of displeasure.
“Yes,” she replied, “back to him. Thinking back to yesterday, I don’t think he was really going to hurt me.”
“Wasn’t going to hurt you?!” Reiyl snapped. His face filled with anger as he flashed his fangs. “He was trying to push himself on you.”
“No,” she whispered, sitting upright and drawing her knees to her chest, “he was just trying to prove a point. That I can’t let my guard down around guys.”
"I can‘t believe that," Reiyl muttered. "Rem is simply an asshole."
“That’s true,” she said with a sigh.
“Don’t give him credit,” he stated flatly. “And I don't understand you. Asking to die yesterday and now it‘s like nothing happened. It‘s like you have two different people inside you. When you can‘t handle a situation, you shove out the other person to deal with it."
The cat demon sounded hurt. He leaned down, covering the back of his head with his hands. Shaking his head back and forth, he groaned.
“Humans are strange,” he said.
"Reiyl?"
"I don't want to get close," he whispered, standing up hastily. "Being a Scion is just a job. That‘s all I have to keep reminding myself. Right?" He looked back at Jennie who only gave him a blank gaze.
"Look who's being twofaced now," she said. She crossed her arms over her chest, puffing out her cheeks. "If I push out someone to deal with my stress, it‘s because I can‘t handle the pain I‘m going through."
"So you're hurting?" he asked.
"Of course I am," she said in a rushed voice.
"I'm sorry." His apology was genuine and made her body tremble while tears formed in her eyes.. "Don't cry."
Dropping her head down to her knees, she hugged her legs tightly. Embarrassment befell her as she shivered at the thought of Reiyl watching her weep. When she felt the light touch of his hand on her shoulder, she looked up to find his face gazing at hers.
“I didn’t mean to upset you,” he said.
He drew his hands up to the sides of her face as he wiped away the tears with his thumbs. A remorseful smile formed of his face.
"I'm sorry," she sobbed out as her face was tilted upward. All she could see was the depth of Reiyl’s orange eyes as her mouth dropped open in awe. She felt his fingers slip behind her head as he pulled her face closer to his.
"No need to apologize to me," he whispered. His breath was searing against her skin as he began to lean closer to her. Tilting his head slightly, he neared her lips with his own. “It can’t be helped…“
“It can’t?“ she questioned.
“No,“ he said.
Their lips connected and the world for Jennie seemed to disappear. All she could sense was the tenderness he put into the kiss. Before they finished the door to the bedroom swung open wildly.
Reiyl pulled away swiftly while Jennie sailed backward, falling onto her pillows. In the doorway stood Kasei with a look of concern in his eyes as he bounced up and down and bobbed his hands in front of his body. It was clear he didn’t catch the two.
"Oi, oniisan!" Kasei shouted as he rushed up to Reiyl. "Trouble!"
"Nani?" Reiyl questioned.
"Sanction members," Kasei hissed as he grabbed a hold of Reiyl's arm and began dragging him out of Jennie's room.
"What members?" Reiyl questioned as he turned to look back to Jennie, giving her an apologetic gesture.
"What's going on?" Jennie asked loudly as she bounced off her bed and followed.
"Stay in your room," Reiyl called out to her with a stern point of his fincer as Jennie paused in her doorway.
Watching as the two cat demons disappeared down the stairs, she sighed and slumped against her doorframe. "Damn," she muttered. She reached up briefly, touching her lips where she could still feel the dampness of the kiss. But a harsh thought crossed her mind.
When they think your defenses are down, they will jump you.
Rem’s words hit her hard as she thought of Reiyl. She felt her heart sink.
But didn’t Rem say that Reiyl had discipline? But then…he wouldn’t have kissed me, right?
Stepping backwards into her room, she stared at the ground. Uneasiness was gripping at her. A heavy sigh escaped her. Am I falling for a demon’s trap?
She shook her head then took a deep breath. Not going to worry about it. Let’s think about what’s going on now. That’s more important.
“Why is Sanction here anyway?” she questioned aloud, clenching her hands into tight fists.
"It's just an invite."
Turning on her heels, she found Nahele sitting in her window. He gave her a wave and a large smile. Her eyebrows scrunched up while her teeth grinded together.
"Is that the only way you visit me?" she questioned with annoyance. “Through my window?”
"It's safer for me," Nahele replied.
"And what‘s with the invite?" she asked, cocking her head to the side.
"To join Sanction," Nahele stated as he lifted his chin up slightly with a smirk. "but I seriously doubt any of you would be interested. Although it pays good."
"No thanks," Jennie mumbled.
"Worth a shot anyway," he said, waving his hand in the air casually, “or so Lord Shuai-Xi believes. Maybe he thinks if he has the Seraph by his side, he can control her. Or maybe he wants to lock you down in the castle dungeon and torture you for pleasure.“
"Is your king into that kind of…" She paused in her words as she looked past Nahele. Her eyes settled onto a young man dressed in a black leather uniform who standing on a branch outside her window. She blinked while her eyes filled with unease. "Why is he here?"
"Who?" Nahele questioned, looking over his shoulder as his brown eyes overflowed with horror. His tanned face paled. "Damn."
He turned around in the window and hopped backward into Jennie's bedroom. Throwing out his arms, Nahele made his stand to protect the girl behind him.
"I was wondering where you were at," Rowen announced from where he stood. He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned forward slightly, staring blankly at Nahele. "Why you here? Don‘t want to be with Sanction anymore?"
"Brah, whatcha talking about?“ Nahele jested, “I never said that.“ He stepped back, pushing his body against Jennie as she felt her heart quicken from the situation.
"What," Rowen questioned as he shrugged his shoulders and looked around, “is this some kind of Hawaiian talking torture? No wonder Japan gave up you pussies.” Without any hesitation, he slipped his right hand behind his back.
What’s he doing? Jennie held her breath as she pressed her hands against Nahele’s back. She peered at the red head, staring at him with awe at the odd uniform he was wearing. Something about him made her feel edgy. She remembered seeing him the one time in the mall, but this was different.
Swiftly Rowen whipped out his hand as Jennie saw a black blur while the sound of chains caught her attention. Her whole body tensed up as an unbridled fear welled up inside her when she saw the strange weapon in his hand. The scene before her was familiar. The weapon he was brandishing was recognizable.
And in a mere second, Jennie found herself being pushed back while the black chain wrapped around Nahele’s neck. She watched in horror as the long sequence of metal swung around the man, choking him.
Pulling forcefully on the chain, Rowen sent the other boy to the ground and quickly stomped his booted foot on top of Nahele's back. A wild sneer was the only thing Jennie could focus on as the terror inside her only continued to grow.
You’re the one from my dream. You’re the one…
"Get off me," Nahele growled., grabbing at the chains and trying to desperately to free himself.
"Do I look stupid to you?" Rowen snarled. He ground his foot forcefully into Nahele's flesh as Nahele let out a loud howl.
Jennie cringed at the sound as she backed away. The situation was making her feel lightheaded while the room seemed to be spinning. All she could see in front of her was her mother. Everything seemed to flow in reverse.
Leave my mom alone!
"Leave her alone," Jennie screamed loudly, lashing out. She grabbed a hold of Rowen’s arms, trying wildly to grab at the weapon. Her fingers began prying at his hand, ignoring the pain she inflicting on herself. “Stop hurting her!”
"Get off me, bitch!" Rowen screamed loudly as he whipped his elbow back, crashing it into Jennie's cheek. Her head snapped back curtly as saliva escaped into the air from her mouth.
Stumbling, she tripped over the carpet and flopped onto her rear. She placed a hand to her cheek as she felt the stinging pain of Rowen's hit, but her attention turned to Nahele. Everything came back to focus.
“Nahele,” she called out as the captured demon looked at her with alarm.
“Run before I get hacked,” Nahele shouted as Jennie shook her head, watching as Rowen drew up the odd, bladed weapon. “Just run!”
“What is that?” Jennie asked, pointing to the weapon in Rowen’s hand.
Turning for a brief moment to look at the girl who held a blank expression, Rowen stared at her then looked back down at Nahele. “It’s a kusari-gama,” he remarked as placed the tip of the blade against Nahele‘s chest. “But what makes it special is the material it’s made of.”
Jennie could see Rowen’s lips curl into a more sinister smile. It was a grin that made her stomach have a sinking feeling.
If he looks at me, I’ll puke… He makes me sick…
“With ‘angel ore‘,” Rowen said, “if I slice into his heart, he’ll die. Or maybe here…”
Raising the blade of the kama-like weapon to Nahele’s head, the red head chuckled. “He’ll go brain dead..”
“Get off me,” Nahele growled.
"Get off him!" Jennie screamed, getting to her feet. The fear within her was still there, but she knew she had to do something. She closed her eyes and lurched forward, ramming the side her right shoulder into Rowen.
"Fuck," Rowen muttered as his whole body slipped.. Jennie and Rowen both watched as the black blade craved into Nahele's cheek. The kusari-gama dropped onto the floor.
Jennie's eyes widened in awe as Nahele's blood spilled out onto the carpet. Rowen only laughed to himself as he reached down to pick up his weapon.
"Tsk, serves you right, jackass," he said loudly as he removed his foot from Nahele's back and flicked the chain free. "But it could have been a little deeper."
Raising his arm up high then coming down across Nahele's face, Rowen grinned while blood splattered into the air. "There we go," Rowen said through clenched teeth. "Now you’re pretty. And don‘t bother coming back."
Jennie watched as Rowen turned off quickly, heading to the window. He stopped for a brief second, looking at Jennie with cold, emotionless eyes.
"And you," he whispered coarsely, "are my next target. If anyone gets between us, they're dead.”
Jennie only gazed at him as their eyes were locked. He smirked.
“Have a nice day,” he announced. He leapt out the window with promptness, disappearing.