Raaksha's Story: Chapter Six

Chapter Six1

“Have a good day at school, Rassa,” Mum called to me as I flew down the garden path, late for school again.2

“Oh and don’t start any fights again, or we won’t go for our hunting lesson tonight” Dad replied as I waved goodbye.3

“I won’t Dad! I promise!”4

“Good, we’ll see you when you get home, dear!”5

They both turned back to gardening while I ran down the street towards school. I was the only ten year old at school that walked to school, but this was only because Mum and Dad both knew I could take care of my self. Unlike the other children, who had their parents hold their hand. Luckily school was only two streets away, so I wasn’t too late when I walked into the classroom.6

“Late again, I see Rassa,” Ms Scotch pointed out as I slunk into my seat.7

“Sorry.”8

Ms Scotch turned back to the board and started going through all the things we would be doing today, Maths, English, Art and some silent reading.9

The school day went by slowly and by the time the class were told to get out our silent reading books, I was itching to get home. While many of the children pulled out picture books with pretty pictures of ponies and pirates, I pulled out my favourite book Mum gave me for my birthday.10

There were no pretty picture of ponies and butterflies in my book, but pictures of wolves, and unlike the other children’s books mine was about werewolves. 11

Mum and Dad said it would teach me all I needed to know, since my Grandmother had written it for my Mum and Mum thought she’d hand it down to me.12

Mum had added pages at the end and said that when I was older I could add my own pages and hand it down to my children.13

I was reading a page on hunting when the school bell rang, and we were all dismissed from class. 14

The students in the school flooded out of the school doors and gates all eager to go home. I pushed through the flood of screaming children and ran for home.15

Rounding the corner onto my street, I stopped in my tracks.16

Police vehicles were parked up the street in front of my home, people were being ushered away from the yellow tape, which circled the front yard, by police officers, and I caught snippets of conversation as I walked slowly closer.17

“What happened?” asked Miss Richelle, our neighbour.18

“I’m sorry Miss but can you please move away from the scene,” replied a police officer, ushering her aside.19

Why are they out the front of my home?20

Confused and scared, I ran closer. People looked my way, but turned back to stare at the house, wanting to know what had happened.21

Shoving past them all, I dashed under the tape, ignoring the calls from police officers and running through the door.22

In the house no one noticed me; I was below his or her eye level. Scanning the front room, I couldn’t see anything out of place, but the scent of blood drifted to me.23

I followed the scent to the Mum and Dad’s bedroom and stood outside the closed door, not so unnoticed as I thought, when a male officer spotted me.24

“Oi, what are you doing in here?” he said, more to him self, confused, as he moved towards me, with his arms out.25

I put my hand on the door handle, twisting to open it.26

“No, you don’t want to go in there, dear.” the man said, getting closer, with more officers following behind closely, as though I was a cornered animal about to bolt.27

I stared at him, then opened the door and rushed in side, slamming it closed behind me and locking it.28

I wished I’d listened to the officer.29

Looking around the room, everything was bathed in blood, the smell of it making me dizzy. The bed was soaked; blood dripping to the floor through the mattress, where what looked to be two bodies were lying. With the mess, I couldn’t tell which was Mum and which was Dad.30

After staring, shocked, I noticed that someone was screaming. Only I realised it was coming from me, when the officers broke down the door and dragged me from the room.31

“Let me go!” I kicked at the officers, who were dragging me from the room, “Mum! Dad!”32

Tears streamed down my cheeks as they closed the door, cutting them from my view, and taking me outside. 33

I didn’t pay attention to what the officers were saying as they tried to pass me over to a female officer, I kept trying to run for the door again.34

“You can’t go in there, dear,” she crooned, trying to calm me.35

The female officer had the three males drag me into the police car, and they locked the door. Still screaming, I looked to the house, hitting my fists against the glass in anger.36

“Let me out! Mum! Dad!” I screamed.37

The glass cracked under my fists, as I saw two stretches being wheeled to a white van in the driveway. Hitting the window again, it smashed and glass rained to the road, people standing around the yellow tape all pointed at stared and the officers standing close by cursed, calling over one of the doctors from the ambulance.38

Blood trickled from my hands, cut by the glass as I tried to climb out the broken window. I didn’t take notice of the glass digging into my flesh or of what the doctor said as he and an officer grabbed me and sat me on the road, the doctor pushing a needle into my arm.39

“No!” I screamed, “Let go! Leave me alone!”40

I pushed the doctor and the officer aside, the doctor smashing his head against the car and the officer landing hard on the pavement.41

The drug kicked in before I made it to the white van and the blackness of unconsciousness pulled me under.42

I woke in a police cell, the door open and the walls showing signs of being painted over many times. A police officer was sitting in a chair next to me. The light barely shone through the crack, that was meant to be a window, the pattern of the bars shown on the floor. It’s cold interior sent a shiver down my spine.43

The policewoman looked at me, her hair pulled tight from out of her face, which looked as though it was painted on.44

“Are you feeling alright, dear?” she asked as she leaned over me.45

My arms and hands stung, as I sat up, my mind still numb from the drug. I didn’t say anything; I just sat staring at her.46

She called over another lady, who looked like a nurse, who was standing outside the doorway talking to another police officer. She looked me over, checking my eyes and asking me questions, which I didn’t answer.47

They moved me to another room, one with a glass wall, which I sat watching my reflection in. People walked in and out of the room, all of them trying to get me to answer questions I wouldn’t answer.48

I sat in the chair, staring at my reflection still, when the door opened again and another lady walked in, her hair greying and wrinkles deepening as she smiled at me.49

“Hello, Rassa.” She said, sitting in the chair in front of me, “I’m Mrs Mitchell.”50

I looked at her, saying nothing.51

“The officers said they’ve finished talking to you…” she started.52

I didn’t pay attention to what else she said, just followed her when she motioned for me to. Mrs Mitchell led me out to a car and I curled up in the back, closing my eyes as she got in and started the car. 53

Mrs Mitchell’s phone rang and she started talking to the person on the other end, obviously thinking I was asleep.54

“Is it true that the child you’re bringing over broke the window in the police car?” the voice on the other end asked.55

Mrs Mitchell hesitated before she answered, “Yes, she did. I don’t know how she would have though, the glass was apparently bullet proof, and she is only ten years old.”56

“She’s only ten? My goodness we’re going to have to keep an eye on her.”57

“Yes we are.”58

I moved into a more comfortable position and fell asleep not wanting to hear the rest of the conversation.59

I jumped when there was a knock on the door window I was leaning against.60

Mrs Mitchell had stopped in the driveway to an old looking house. There looked as though there were three stories to the building and I could hear children running around in the yard out the back.61

A man opened the door and I stepped out, staring at the surroundings, my eyes caught the glint of the gold plaque by the double doors, which read:62

‘Soul Orphanage’63

Mrs Mitchell and the man led me through the doors and up a flight of stairs to a smallish room and closed the door.64

“Ras, Mrs Mitchell would like to see you in her office,” said Mr Russel as he looked in through the doorway.65

“Okay.”66

I put away the book I was reading, the one my Mum gave me, and walked down the stairs to Mrs Mitchell’s office and was told to wait in the seat by the door.67

A stupid place to put me, I can hear every word. I thought, sheepishly.68

“And how long has Rassa been here?” said a soft female voice.69

“She has been here for nearly a year, occasionally staying with a few of our foster careers,” answered Mr Mitchell.70

“Why is she still here? She is only eleven and should be in a steady home, not moved around.”71

“Rassa has had a few problems settling in to her homes,” Mrs Mitchell said hesitantly, “Been caught sneaking out at night and causing trouble at school.”72

I didn’t hear the voice’s reply, but Mrs Mitchell opened the door and ushered me inside.73

In one of the seats sat the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. Her blond hair was cut short, her pale skin, flawless, and she had an air of power about her. I stood and stared as she stood and smiled to me.74

The scent of vanilla circled me, but there was a faint sent under that one which sent warning signs through me. Mum had told me of her kind, vampires. She said that there were only so many which could be trusted, like Lady Elizabeth and Lord Victor. 75

“Rassa, say hello to Lady Elizabeth.”76

I nodded, not trusting my self to speak.77

Why is she here? Why is she asking about me?78

“Hello, Rassa,” she smiled, kneeling down to my hight, her ice blue eyes showing love and warmth, “I’ve come to take you home.”79

Mrs Mitchell sat back down behind her desk, clearing her throat and handing Lady Elizabeth a pen.80

Mr Russel led me out the room and back to mine, “I’ll help you pack your things Rassa.”81

He helped me pack all my belongings, looking at the book, which I held he asked, “Would you like me to pack that in your bag too?”82

I shook my head, tightening my grip around it, “No thankyou Mr Russel.”83

He nodded and I followed him back down stairs and out the double doors.84

***85

Damon looked at me, his face more pale then before.86

“Damon?”87

He shook his head, running his hand through his hair, “You’re Rassa?”88

I winced at the name, but nodded, “Yes…”89

Standing, he shook his head again and mumbled, “I can’t believe they did that…Shit…” looking to me once more, he left the room.90

“Damon?” I followed him out the room, and down the stairs but he was already gone before I could stop him.91

-Who did what?- 92