Hedgesville, West Virginia
Caspian Residence
Wednesday, August 21, 1996
3:35PM

Raising her hand up to knock on Nick’s door, Jennie paused as she thought about what she wanted to talk to him about. Before she could even thud her hand against the door, she heard Nick call her inside. It didn’t really surprise her that he knew she was there.
With a shrug, she pushed open the door and looked inside to the man who was her parental guardian. He was sitting behind his desk in his usual position.
“Hey,” she greeted quietly, taking a seat.
“How was your first day?” Nick asked as he looked up from some paperwork he was been looking over. He pushed the stack of papers to the side of the desk and peered at Jennie with his undivided attention.
“Uh…good,” she said as her face twisted up in doubt.
“That good, huh?” he asked amused.
“Before school started Rowen came into my class,” she stated, pressing the tips of her index fingers together idly. “He broke Kasei’s hand and said some nasty things to me.”
She ignored stating what Kasei had said. “Then Mrs. Dashiell got rid of him.”
“Mrs. Dashiell,” Nick said as he looked uncomfortable at the mention of the name.
“And then in weapons study I had to choose a weapon,” Jennie replied. “I picked out…no, Shan picked out a Shoe-lint bow?”
“Shinlu,” Nick corrected with a laugh. “Shoe-lint…that’s a good one. And you mean Shanyuan Shuai-Xu? Didn’t know he came to Earth. He was a Mid Caven born demon. And from what I remember he was living at Vagrant Abbey.”
“He’s my partner in class,” Jennie said. “And there was this nasty magic study teacher. He yelled a lot.”
“I’d ignore him. He‘s always been a dick. Even when I was in school,” Nick mumbled as his eyes went to a paper on his desk. “Why don’t you go and get something to eat. I have some work to finish up.”
“Nick, I had some questions,” she said.
“Could they wait until later? Or maybe you could talk to Riley?” He didn’t bother to look up as Jennie looked to the floor.
“Yeah, I’ll just ask Riley,” she said, getting to her feet. “Have fun with your work.”
“Sure,” he mumbled as Jennie left the study.
Walking down the hallway, she looked into the kitchen as she passed to find Rachael making dinner. “Have you seen Riley?” she asked.
“I think he’s still at the store,” Rachael said as Jennie groaned. “Something the matter?”
“I was just curious about something,” Jennie said as she stepped into the kitchen and took a seat at the table.
“Oh? About what?” Rachael questioned.
“Just something about Ashlee and Janiston’s aunt,” Jennie replied. “Nick and Mrs. Dashiell had been good friends and now they don’t talk to each other? How come?”
“Not sure,” Rachael whispered, thinking about it for a moment. “Allard and Dad always avoid each other. Maybe they were in love once?” A smile tickled Rachael’s face as she laughed. “I doubt that though. Dad loved my Mom very much. And Allard always loved Aeron. If you’re really curious, you should just ask Dad.”
“I tried, but he was too busy,” Jennie said. An annoyed sigh escaped her as she knocked her fingers across the table.
“Why don’t you go outside for a bit then?” Rachael said, looking over her shoulder at the younger girl. “The guys are outside. Doing what boys normally do when they’re bored.”
“Fighting?” Jennie asked as Rachael nodded. “I think I’ll just go to my room. Can you call me when dinner is ready?”
“Sure,” Rachael said.
Heading upstairs, Jennie headed to her bedroom and stepped inside as an apprehension filled her. The door closed abruptly as she peered over her shoulder to it.
“Eh?” she questioned as she gazed at the door then turned her attention to her window. Her eyes fell on the man who had tormented earlier that morning as he sat in front of the glass.
“Rem!” she screamed loudly as she stomped her foot against the flooring. “Nick!”
“Yell all you like. They’re not going to hear you.”
“What?” she asked.
“You’re voice falls on deaf ears,” Rowen said as he chuckled. “Angel magic is wondrous, isn’t it?”
“Get the hell out of here,” she shouted at the man.
“Nice to see you, too,” Rowen said as he sat at the window with a pack of cigarettes in one hand. He pulled one out and stuck it between his lips. “So…how are things?”
“Why should you care?” she asked.
“I don’t,” he replied. “Just making conversation.”
He pulled a lighter out of the pocket of his pants then flicked the lid open while a flame danced around. He inhaled on his cigarette until the tip glowed red and smoke flowed in front of his face.
“Do you have to smoke in my room?” she asked nastily.
Rowen peered at her under hooded lids then beckoned her closer. When she didn’t obey, he hopped off his perch and headed toward her.
“I could careless what you want,” he said as he blew a stream of smoke into the air.
“Smoking’s bad,” she said.
“Don’t even bother,” he stated. “It would kill you quicker than me.”
“I could go get Rem if he can‘t hear me,” Jennie stated firmly as she pressed her back into the door of her room.
“Go ahead,” Rowen laughed. “I wouldn‘t mind mopping the floor with his bloody face. Maybe I can finish him off without big brother and daddy around.” A smirk formed on his lips as Jennie shivered.
“What about you, love? Want to have a go at it?”
Jennie stared at the ground, knowing it would be a pointless fight. She ground her teeth together and clenched her hands into tight fists.
“I couldn’t,” she muttered. “There’s nothing I can do now. But later…I will. You and your friends.”
“Friends?” Rowen asked as he sneered. “Friends…there‘s no such thing as friends. Only people you use.”
“What’s that suppose to mean?” she asked, watching as a corner of his mouth curled.
“Exactly what I said, moron,” Rowen said with a shrug of his broad shoulders.
“You know,” Jennie said, trying to find her courage to backtalk the man in front of her. “You condemned Nahele for speaking to me, but you’re doing the same thing now.”
“Really?” Rowen questioned. He looked up to the ceiling of her room. “You‘ve got a few points wrong, Nahele was trying to sweet talk his way into your panties. I, however, am going to force my way in.”
“You‘re gonna do what?!” Jennie screamed as she found her heart pounding heavily in her chest.
“Are you deaf now, too?” he said quietly as he grinned. He cocked his head back as he stared at her body. “You humans, so fragile.”
Reaching out, he grabbed a hold of her hand and pulled her toward him. “No fun at all.”
“Get away from me!” Jennie said repulsed as she pushed away as best she could. His grip on her hand was tight and unrelenting. Turning her body around, she grabbed a hold of the doorknob and began to turn it as she felt Rowen whipped her arm up into the air and flung her across the room. She crashed onto the bed and rolled off onto the floor.
“You don‘t fucking understand, do you,” he said, cracking his knuckles. “I own you! I have always owned you ever since you were a child.” He flung out his hand, grabbing a hold a handful of her hair, pulling her up as she struggled to free herself.
“You don‘t piss or crap, without me knowing about it.”
“Do you always have to talk out of your ass?” Jennie questioned.
“Mind your mouth, bitch,” Rowen growled.
“You don’t own me!” Jennie abruptly shouted. “And you never will! I have the Scions to protect me!”
“Protect you? Where are they now? Playing with each other. While you‘re here. All by your lonesome,” Rowen replied, pulling his cigarette from his mouth and flicking the ash to the floor. He released her as she dropped to her knees. “The weak are ruled by the mighty.”
Tears streamed down Jennie’s face as she clutched the carpet under her hand tightly. She was being tortured again and Rowen was enjoying it. He was a sick, coldhearted bastard. Holding up a hand to her mouth, she tried to stifle the choking sobs. It was then that she felt a hand touch the top of her head lightly.
“Yeah, keep crying. It’s just makes it more fun for me,” Rowen said as Jennie bit her bottom lip out of frustration. Kneeling down beside her, he grabbed her chin. lifting her face up so he could look into her eyes. “A whimper here, a groan there. Your pain brings me absolute pleasure.”
“Please stop,” she whispered under her breath. She closed her eyes as she felt the padding of his thumb rub lightly over her lips. “Do you have to take everything from me?”
“I do,” he growled as he leaned forward, allowing his lips to brush casually over hers. “And in the end I‘ll have your life.”
“Dinner!”
Rowen and Jennie turned abruptly to the opening door to find Rachael walking in. And all Rachael could see was Jennie on the floor with Rowen hunched over her.
“DAAAD!”
“Fuck!”
Jumping backward from where he had been, Rowen landed in the middle of the room while Rachael held out her hand swiftly. A heaviness befell the room as the redhead was sent flying backward, taking out the window frame and a portion of the wall.
“That’s wasn’t very graceful, was it?” Jennie asked wide-eyed at Rowen’s mess.
“Are you okay?!” Rachael asked, dropping to her knees in front of Jennie. She reached out her hands, grabbing a hold of Jennie’s cheeks and stared her in the eyes. “You seem okay.”
“I’m okay,” Jennie said heavily as her shoulders went limp and she let her head fall back against her bed. “I can’t keep my guard down. And it looks like I need a constant watch.”
Bursting into the room, Nick looked to Rachael and Jennie who were sitting on the floor then to the gaping hole in the room’s wall. His jaw dropped.
“What the fuck happened?!” he screamed as he drew up his hands.
“Rowen happened,” Jennie said.
“That little bastard,” Nick cursed under his breath as he went to the broken wall and peered out it. There was no sight of the half-demon.
“What’s going on?!”
Everyone looked to find Rem rushing in. He paused as his eyes fell upon where the window used to be. “Rachael used her powers again, didn’t she?”
“Sorry,” Rachael said from where she sat as she reached out, wrapping her arms around Jennie and pulling the younger girl into a hug. “And I’m sorry to you. I should’ve told you to stay with me downstairs.”
“It’s okay,” Jennie said, hugging the woman back. “He didn’t hurt me.”
“But he could’ve,” Rachael whispered.
“I have to have one of the boys stay in here with Jennie from now on,” Nick replied as he looked thoroughly pissed. He turned around, stepping out of the room. “I’ll have Riley clean up the mess when he gets home.”
“I’ll stay with Jennie,” Rem said abruptly as everyone looked at him. “I’m the leader of the Scions. I say to who stays in her room.”
“And I’m her legal guardian,” Nick declared loudly. “I’ll say who sleeps with her!”
Each person in the room gawked at him as he just stared back with a blank stare. “You know what I meant!“ he shouted suddenly as he whipped out his hand, pointing at his son, “Stay with her…stay with her, dammit! Not sleep with her.” Walking off in a huff, he disappeared down the stairs while Rachael and Rem stayed behind.
“What the hell,” Rem mumbled with wide eyes.
“I’ll head downstairs,” Rachael said, releasing Jennie finally. She looked at the young girl and smiled. “Let Rem take care of you.”
Jennie sat on the floor as she watched Rem’s feet move toward her. He stooped down in front of her as he placed a hand on her shoulder.
“Are you sure he didn’t hurt you?” he asked.
“Maybe my pride,” she replied.
“He’s good for that,” Rem mumbled.
“You didn’t hear me call?” she asked.
“No,” he whispered with a frown, “sorry.”
As he stood to leave, Jennie reached up and grabbed at his pant leg. Rem glanced down at her as she stared up at him. Both locked eyes.
“Never mind,” she mumbled, looking away.
“I’ll try better next time,” he said as Jennie blinked, turning back to eye him. “To hear you when you call.”