Scarlet Roses [11]

Chapter 11:1

In the beginning, there was a human, an animal, an insect, the moon, sun, & sky. There was no mate for any. There were no clouds to cover the sun, or bees to pollinate the lilies. In the beginning there was animal instinct, no guns or swords, maybe simple spears, but often no more then their bare hands. In the beginning it was simple, kill or be killed. The world is no longer that way in the physical sense except in the animal world, where it seems nothing has changed. Humans are still cut throat, but now only in a metaphorical sense. You no longer feast upon our brother's enemy to gain strength for a new dawn, but rather walk into any restaurant & order anything you please. You've become lazy, really, as a new day strikes & everything seems the same, nothing changed & nothing improved. You have become extremely worthless. Soon you'll be learning with out teachers & speaking with no sound. Before you realize what has happened you won't have to do anything. If you take a moment to capture the world around you, you might realize how quickly you are losing all of this beauty. And, if there is a god or higher being that created this world, wouldn't you think that creator would want it to look amazing again? This is what we are failing to realize. If the world is coming to emptiness, why are you not getting up & doing something? This brings me back to laziness, of course, because if you weren't the world might not be in such a state. This is an off hand subject, seeing as how this is a story about passion, pain, fear, & murder. Not that it matters what I say here, none of you will take it to heart. It's a simple thought that's now drifting from your mind, letting you sink back into this story without fuss.2

"There are always going to be unanswered questions, Emmet. You know that, you can remember everything that was of seemingly greater value before they twisted it, burned it, killed it. You can remember, can't you?" and of course he could, he couldn't forget, there was no way for him to force it out of his mind, Esme knew this but had to look past it. Whatever it was, whatever it was doing to him, it was going to end soon. Esme had an idea of the problem, it had been a problem for over 100 years now. The dreaded day was soon to dawn on Emmet & there was no stopping it. 3

"Emmet, I know it's hard to accept still, but you must move on with your life."4

"I know that Esme. It's hard with James still haunting me."5

"I know, I've lost my entire family, my husband & children are dead & I get to live? I never saw my little girls grow up. Emmet, I've lost just as much as you have. I have to move on every time someone in my family is found dead, I cannot stop living because they have."6

"I know Esme it's just so hard, you know? To accept the fact that not only is he dead but the fact that I killed him."7

"You weren't his murderer, you didn't kill him. Darling, it's not your fault he over reacted."8

"I know, but it just feels like it. I feel so responsible for his decline."9

"It wasn't your fault." she said, turning away from him & walking away down the long corridor, leaving him alone in the soft glow from the candles along the walls.10

"Esme?" he called out behind her.11

"Yes?"12

"I love you, Esme. Thank you, you've been more like a mother to me than my real mother was." he could see her smile in the dim light.13

"I love you too, Emmet, but you need to work pass all of the pain in order for you to achieve your greatness." she smiled again, turning on her heels & continued down the corridor, turning left midway down, disappearing from Emmet's sight.14

...15

The sight of immortality is an everyday occurrence that you never notice. With their beauty; you envy, with their love; you hunger, with every thing they are you long to become. As humans, an eye sore is anything unwanted, anything casually out of place in the society that you live in. The way you work is simple, yet still so complex as you grow from children to adults, later sliding in old age & death. You, of course, want to never slide into old age, but rather stay young & be merry your entire life. Though the immortality seems so delicious to our ever dying minds, we must know that with immortality comes loss. If we are to live & our friends & family are to die, not only does it place guilt upon one's fragile soul but also adds a pang of loss when one we are close to has left the earth, though they have merely left life, but never the earth. With age comes knowledge, maybe that's something you hunger for. You want to know everything & so to do so you must live forever. Although tempting as it may be, immortality is a curse to all who posses & a wish of all who don't.16

"Jocelynn?"17

"Hmm?" she said, still throughly engrossed in her novel.18

"Jocie? Are you reading? You are reading! You'd rather read than greet your only little brother." he said, humphing at the end of his pout. At that Jocelynn slowly put the book down, looked him in the eyes then suddenly sprang up & hugged her little brother, who was now far from little. 19

"Well, that's much better Jocie. How are you? Thirsty? I thought you might be, I'm not fully satisfied yet, so I'll go hunting with you."20

"Wonderful! Although Jerod, you must admit you are never full."21

"If I wanted to be full I would be. I had plenty enough to get full upon, I just decided to wait a little, I figured you might get well soon." he flashed her a face eating grin, to that she mirrored him, still keeping him wrapped in her arms.22

"Where's Elliott?" she asked finally.23

"Judgment, remember?"24

"Can we go? I want to be there for him."25

"No, it's a closed door meeting, although we can wait outside for him."26

"But Emmet! I can't wait out here while Elliott is being crusified! He could be sent away from me!"27

"I won't let it happen, Jocelynn. Esme has Clarence wrapped around her finger, Elliott's not going anywhere." she smiled & hugged him, wishing Esme was there so she could hug her as well.28

"Oh, Jocie I have something for you."29

"What is it Jerod?" he pulled a couple of leather bound books from his cloak & handed them to her.30

"What is it?"31

"It's Jane Erye by Currer Bell & Wuthering Heights is by her kinship, Ellis Bell. I over heard a few giddy girls going on about them, they were absolutely gay & gushing about how lovely Miss Jane was & how they envied Miss Georgiana's good looks but despised her sour attitude. And how they loved Heathcliff, though one of the girls disagreed, saying the only redeeming quality they had was their love for each other & she thought that wasn't enough. Poor girl, it's 1854, all people can ask for is true love."32

"Very true, Jerod. I'm very pleased to have found my true love."33

"I'm very happy you've finally found someone who likes to hear you talk." said Jerod in an irksome voice.34

"Jerod, you shrewd little toad!"35

"Takes one to know one, I suppose." her face turned red as she forced herself not punch him in the stomach.36

"Jerod, you know she has to go hunting soon. Take her now, it will be a few hours before they will dismiss."37

"But Emmet!" pouted Joce.38

"No buts Joce, you're eyes are so crimson, I'm surprised you're still standing here."39

"Let's go." said Jerod before Jocelynn could pout or fight anymore, grabbing her hand & pulling her down the long corridor to the top of the Underground.40

...41

The room was aglow with candles that highlighted every well toned face that inhabited the room. The long table was filled with men & women of centuries of knowledge & wisdom, though their youthful faces showed nothing of the sort. The table held familiar faces, to the left of her sat Cathrine, next to her sat Leonardo & Charles, at the head was Clarence. To her right sat Emily & Anne, next to them sat George & Isadora. The Counsel was comprised of those few, along with Ellen, Jordan, Rebekah, Nathaniel, & Matthew. Jordan was a soft spoken young man who was an immense fighter, though his eyes seemed cold to those unwelcome, they surged with love for a girl named Delilah. Clarence & Jordan were the best of friends and often made decisions together regarding anything to do with the the covet. Clarence cleared his throat, signaling everyone to take a seat & hush up. When this was done, he began.42

"You all know what this is about. It's about the mortal at the edge of the table. He seems less fearful now though. He seems to be almost smiling." they murmured about this & glanced quickly at said boy.43

"Well, it seems that he has fallen in love with one of our own. I have found him fitting to hold our secret now that he's fallen for the girl."44

"Who's this said girl?" asked Rebekah who stared into the unmoving sea of grey that was Elliott's eyes.45

"Speak boy, be not afraid of Rebekah, she is the most docile here." he shifted in his chair & looked directly at Rebekah.46

"Her name is Jocelynn."47

"Ah, Emmet's pet." Esme said gently.48

"If you call her that, I suppose. Her brother Jerod, he's quite a character as well, & Esme has been wonderful to all of us, though I must say she highly prefers Jocelynn over the rest."49

"Jocelynn reminds me of my little girl, though I highly disagree with your opinion of favouritism. I don't play favourites with my affection, it is a waste of energy."50

"Very well." said Elliott, looking her straight in the eyes, staring right through her lie.51

"So, you love her Elliott?"52

"Very much, I would give my life to be with her every moment of every day. She is what makes me feel so alive, no longer empty or longing for something that isn't there, I don't need to, because I know Jocelynn is there, though I worry sometimes, afraid this is no more than a dream & I shall awake soon & Jocelynn will be no more."53

"It sounds like love to me." remarked Jordan, who sat with a look on his face that made the room think he was wishing to be with Delilah.54

"Very well then, mortal. I suppose the only just thing to do is change you into one of us."55

"Yes Sir, if you would do so I would be eternally grateful."56

"No need to live your life in debt, Son. You shall owe me nothing, for I have no right to prevent you from being with your beloved."57

"Thank you, Sir." Clarence turned his eyes from Elliott to the Counsel.58

"He shall be changed tonight when the clocks ring out 8 times. He shall stay in the medical ward. I think it's about time we make those blokes do something with themselves." at that they all laughed, it was at times like this when they did not regret adding a medical ward to their "mansion" of sorts.59

"Dismissed." he bellowed, releasing them to the musty corridors that lay beyond the room. Elliott & Esme quickly made their way out of the room to find Emmet, who waiting for them.60

"Well?" asked Emmet, Esme just nodded her head & smiled.61

"What time is your transformation to occur?"62

"At 8 o'clock."63

"Very well, I shall fetch Jocelynn so she may be with you."64

"Thank you very much, Emmet. You have no idea how much this means to me."65

"I think I have an idea." he said, smiling & leading the group down the corridors to their state rooms. They arrived at Esme first, & as they did the clock struck 4 times, signaling it was 4 a.m. & Esme said she had work to attend to. When Emmet & Elliott arrived at Elliott's room, Emmet whispered a quick goodnight before he took leave to locate Jocelynn & Jerod.