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“No thanks.  I wouldn’t want to make you look bad.”  “As if that were possible,” Vie thought to herself.

“Your pretty sure of yourself, aren’t you Miss Thorne,” Carter said. They stopped walking and he put his hand on her shoulder where her hair rested and glided his fingers gently across her neck.  His eyes never left hers and her heart began to race again.  For Carter and Vie, the thing between them was much more than an attraction, it was a bond.  A connection that makes
everything
stand
still for a moment.  Suddenly everything fades into the background, and all you can hear is the beating of your heart.  The person before you is all that matters, all you want.  That is what they were both feeling about each other.

The bell rang again and Carter whispered to Vie, “Sorry, I guess I made you late again.”

“Yes, you did,” she replied, her body feeling weak from the warmth of his breath in her ear.

“But,” she said pulling away abruptly, “lucky for me I still have an excuse,” she said as she pointed to her head smiling. “But you my friend...,” Vie implied that he would not fare so well with excuses of tardiness.

“I’ll see
ya
later then Miss Thorne,” he said with a patient smile.  Vie watched him walk away again. Each time he did, it got harder and harder for her.  Carter turned the corner out of
Vie’s
sight and then stopped to take a deep breath. Carter had never wanted any girl the way he wanted Vie.  He didn’t understand what was going on, having never felt this way before.  He guessed it was love but he couldn’t understand why.  Why now?  Why her?  Why so fast and so strong?  None of it made sense to him.  All Carter knew was he wanted more. He wanted all of her, and she was all he thought about.

The bell rang again and the school day was almost over. Vie had study hall scheduled for her last period and remembered that she had to see Mrs. Bader during her free period about her surprise news for Vivian. The art room was empty and Mrs. Bader was seated at her desk. She looked up when Vie entered and smiled a motherly, warm smile at her.  “Vivian, come in,” she said. “Please have a seat,” she said, pointing to the chair in front of her desk.  “I wanted to talk to you about your portfolio,” she said, putting the big black leather portfolio case on her desk in front of Vie.  “I know we discussed the idea of submitting your portfolio but you seemed to have reservations about your work.  But I want you to know I have never doubted you, not from the first moment you stepped into my class.  I knew you had a gift so I …” she hesitated before announcing, “I submitted it to Yale School of Art and they loved it! They loved you Vivian.”  They said and I quote, “We were compelled by Miss Thorne’s personal drive.  Her ability to convey a message through her paintings was not only evident in her work but also represented with deep emotion aesthetically in the elements using a creativity and impression that we had not seen before.” She ended the quote. Vie just sat listening to her
speak
.  Mrs. Bader took Vivian’s hand thinking perhaps her silence meant she was in shock.

“Vivian do you know what this means?” she asked. Vie looked at her and said, “They liked my work?” hoping it was the right answer.

“They didn’t just like it, they loved it and they have invited you to join them at Yale!  Vivian, you know it is one of the most prestigious art schools in the whole country.  And Vivian, the best part is that they are offering you a full scholarship to study there!” she said, her voice going up a few octaves. “Honey you’re going to Yale!!!” she said hugging her in delight.  “You know they were particularly intrigued by your later, darker, pieces which surprised me just a little for Yale.  But they admired the diversity you showcased as an artist between the pieces submitted and found them to be refreshing and imaginative.”

Very curious about the dark pieces in the portfolio in question, Vie wanted to view the paintings.  She figured it would provide some helpful insight into the “what” part that was going on in Vivian’s life.

“Do you mind?” Vie asked Mrs. Bader to view the portfolio.

“Not at all honey.  In fact, go ahead and take them if you like.  They are yours.”  Mrs. Bader grabbed
Vie’s
face and held it in her hands and said, “I knew from the moment you set foot into my classroom that you were special Vivian Thorne. From the second you put the brush in your hand, I watched a passion flow from your soul to the canvas that could only be described as a gift from God.  You go to Yale Vivian, and live your dream.  They are lucky to have you,” she said as if she was giving a speech to her first daughter heading off to college.  Just then tears filled in her eyes and began streaming down her cheeks like a river flowing.  She turned away wiping the tears from her face with her hands and said, “Your mother would be proud of you Vivian.”  Mrs. Bader hurried off to the supply room, leaving Vie standing alone with the portfolio.

The final bell rang and the day was over.  Vie was anxious to get home to look at Vivian’s paintings, hoping that they might shed some light on the darkness that inhabited Vivian’s soul.  She headed to her locker and before she reached her destination, she noticed Jeremy waiting there for her.

“Hey, so how was your first day back?” he said.

“Good, and yours?’ she replied.

“Not bad, not bad. Got a lot of homework I didn’t expect on the first day,” Jeremy said surprised.

“Me too,” Vie said closing her locker, hating all the small talk.  Vie was completely distracted by the portfolio she was carrying.  Jeremy offered to carry the heavy leather case for her and Vie looked at him as if he were crazy for suggesting it.

“No I got it Jeremy,” she said a bit upset.

“Okay,” he said putting his hands up and backing away, trying to make her laugh.

“Oh, I’m sorry Jeremy.  It’s not you, it’s me.  It’s just been…well…a very long day!” Vie said frustrated.

“I understand…Vie,” he said hoping calling her that name would make her happy.

“Thank you Jeremy.  You’re a good friend,” she said with a half-smile.

“Are you ready,” he said cheerfully.

“Yep, let’s get out of here!” she said glad, the day was over.

They left Newcastle High and stepped on the sidewalk headed to Jeremy’s car when she heard someone call, “Vie!”

She knew that voice, she would recognize it anywhere. Vie turned around and there he was, looking ridiculous sitting across the sidewalk in his beautiful, black, perfectly shiny Jeep. Both Carter and his jeep were illuminated by the golden rays of the hot summer sun. Of course Carter saw Jeremy standing next to Vie, but he didn’t seem to care.

“See you tomorrow Vie,” he shouted instantly making Jeremy insanely angry and Vie insanely happy. She
waved,
embarrassed about the open display of attention he paid to her in front of everyone.  But she was somewhat delighted by it too. He drove away satisfied that he got to see her one more time before he went home.

“You ready
Jer
?” Vie asked, wondering why he was still standing there looking at the road that Carter had already vanished from. 
“
Jer
?”
Vie called again louder to get his attention.

“Yeah, yeah I’m ready,” he said to Vie. “I’m ready to kick this guy’s ass,” he thought to himself silently.

Vie thanked Jeremy for the ride and told him she would see him in the morning.  She couldn’t wait to get inside to view the art work and talk to Gabriel about everything that happened in her day.  She really missed having him around to talk to.  He was her very best friend, no matter what world she was in.

Chapter 10

The Adversary

“You needed to see me?” a low
cadenced sinister voice spoke from the darkness.

Yes, my lord, I have some news,” the boy said nervously.

“Well don’t just stand there, what news do you bring me that is worthy of this interruption of my time?” he bellowed at the boy.

“They are here my lord, the Guardians have arrived!” he announced not knowing what to expect from the dark cloaked figure standing just feet away from him.  Slowly, his eyes lifted up from the pit of fire he was glaring into.  In full cloak, he turned to face his informant and then ordered the boy to bring the Guardians to him at once.  The boy looked upon the face of the dark soul and answered in a quiet voice, somewhat trembling in fear.

“My Lord, no doubt they will be expecting us?” he said trying to explain that he himself did not have the power to bring the Guardians to him as requested.

“Are you saying you cannot obey my order?” the dark shadowy figure thundered at him.

“No my lord, I am just suggesting that we might put together an army to ensure the capture of our adversaries.”

“Oh, you do?” The dark figure moved closer to the boy and they were now standing face to face.  The young warrior was shuddering where he stood and could see for the first time, the fire that burned in his deeply set hypnotic eyes.  He put his strong powerful hand around the boys’ neck and slowly raised him up off the ground, suspending him in the air and leaving him gasping for breath.

“Do I smell fear?” he asked in a deep, steady unwavering voice, challenging him to answer.  The boy could not speak.  He could not get air and he squirmed about with his feet dangling against the rough walls of the fiery underworld.  His eyes were wide with fear as he watched the dark one taking pleasure in the life being sucked out of him as he tightened his grip on his neck.

“My lord,” a voice echoed loudly from the opening at one of the tunnels. The dark figure turned to see who dared to disrupt him.

“I can bring them to you….all of them!” he announced confidently.

Impressed by the young warrior’s confidence and courage, he paused, leaving the boy still suspended against the wall.  The warrior saw it as his sign to continue speaking.

“My lord, I mean no disrespect, but don’t you think you need all of your soldiers here to achieve your goal?  I mean, you do want to get the Guardian’s, don’t you?” he asked.

The dark figure started to laugh, then looked back at the boy and said, “I only need the fearless ones!” and he snapped the neck of the dangling boy. Reese stood fearless and without feeling of what he just witnessed.

“You see my friend; there is no room for mercy here in my world,” he said gliding back over to the fiery pit.

“Step forward soldier,” he ordered and the young warrior moved out of the shadows and into the light of flames glowing from the bottomless pit.

“State your name and your business here,” he demanded.

“Reese,” he responded.

The dark figure walked around him slowly and suspiciously. “What brings you here to my underground palace?” He put his arms out and turned around showing off all that was his.  Reese couldn’t help but think that his “palace” paled in comparison to the Gates where he was from.

“I have come to join you,” he stated clearly and without reservation.

“You have?” the dark figure questioned his declaration. “And from where have you come?” he asked, acting as if he were Reese was just amusement to him.

“The Gates,” he answered, knowing he would have his full undivided attention now.  The dark figure stopped what he was doing and looked directly into the Reese’s eyes as if he were trying to see into his soul for confirmation of facts.

“I too have fallen,” he said in confession.

“So you have come to us from the precious Gates?” he asked looking for confirmation.

“I have,” Reese stated emphatically.

“And you want to serve me here in my underworld?” he said.

“I do.” Reese replied

“We shall see,” the cloaked figure responded with a wary glance back to Reese.  Although he was happy by this proclamation of the fallen comrade, he knew he would have to keep a watchful eye on him before he deemed him worthy to join them.

“How do I know I can trust you? I mean you are one of them,” he asked skeptically.

“Well, I am not used to a place where trust is not a given, but I can assure you I am a man of my word. And to prove what I am saying I can tell you I am aware of your plan, as are the Guardians.  They are here and they are protecting the boy, the Chosen One.  They know you
want to capture him so you can reign here in this world,” Reese said giving information about the mission freely.

The dark figure began to chuckle, which turned to an evil bone chilling laughter that echoed off the walls and through the tunnels. It grew louder and louder as it filled the room with an expulsion of menacing doom-laden laughter.  All the minions joined in and then all at once he stopped and yelled, “Silence!”

“You are not telling me anything I don’t already know, but let me tell you something that you may not know.  My plan is not to retrieve the boy….it is to destroy him!!!!”  He snapped his fingers and suddenly an arsenal of minion’s came out of the dark tunnels far beneath the ground in the evil dwelling of the underworld.  They gathered around their leader as he glided back toward the fiery pit like it was a place of worship to them.  He raised his hands up to his side and invited the evil lurking in the darkness to gather round.