Dracosapiens: The Birth of Half Breeds, Chapter 19 Part 1

Chapter 19: The Trade – Ella's Perspective1

Paul Residence, Second Floor, First Room to the Right 7.43am October 16th Thursday EST2

I knew my friends hated me, that much was obvious. They didn't dare mention the truth while I was around...but still I knew. Knew what they were thinking. Why hadn't she foreseen Sarah's death? Why hadn't she tried to stop it? I asked myself that question everyday. Why didn't I predict this? Seen it coming from a mile away? If ever there was a time when my power would have been life saving...3

In fact, I hadn't predicted the future for over a week now. It was as if my connection had somehow been broken. Of all the rotten timing.4

Going about my usual business, waiting for hell to finally beckon me, was without a doubt the most petrifying experience I had ever faced. 5

Pretending that my parents were alive and well, knowing that they may already dead, it was taking its toll on my emotions. The slightest noise, smallest of movements, it had me cowering beneath the covers. I was afraid to leave the bed, afraid that I was too late to save them.6

That horrible note, written in that sickly sweet scrawl, was tossed carelessly amongst the rest of my trash. I had to destroy the evidence, pretend that it wasn't real. Everything was fine in the Paul house. Nothing at all out of the ordinary.7

I hadn't faced my friends yet, I refused to let them into the house. The way I had treated Tyson when he tried to comfort me, that was inexcusable. All he wanted to do was find the Magiks and pay them back...and I lost it. I punched, kicked and beat him as hard as I could, nobody could restrain me. I was beyond hysteria, I was too far gone for help. Worst of all, he didn't even try to fight back, he just stood there and took it. Jake had come over at least seven times this week, and each time I had slammed the door in his face. I'm positive that he won't be coming back.8

I know that I shouldn't do this, alienate my friends, but I have to be alone when the Magiks call upon me again. It's the only real chance I have of getting my parents back, even if I never see them beyond that moment. 9

I always like to believe that even bad people have at least a shred of decency and honour, that they can be trusted when a deal is struck. It was easy enough to guess what Adriana wanted... me. Two lives for a life, a fair enough trade in her eyes. For her to let me walk away unscathed, hell had a better probability of freezing over. I knew that better than anyone. This was just one very unpleasant means to an end...but that's life...and I had lived it. The only thing I could pray for now, is that she would let my family go in peace...and uphold her end of the deal.10

“GOD DAMMIT ELLA! OPEN THE DOOR!” I quaked violently beneath the crumpled sheets, hoping that he would just go away and leave me alone. Tyson hammered on the door again and again, the furniture I had propped in front of it, trembling against his insurmountable strength.11

“YOU'RE BEING RIDICULOUS ELLA!” Jake bellowed, now trying to forcibly open the door. “YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE ALONE FOR THIS! LET ME HELP YOU!”12

“GOD, JUST GO AWAY!” I screeched, fear and anger somewhat muffled by the pillow. “I DON'T NEED YOUR HELP! I DON'T NEED ANYONE ANYMORE! SO LEAVE ME ALONE!”13

With a deafening crash, my desk, chair and wardrobe flew several feet into the air and I jumped out of bed with a scream. My door quickly followed their path along with several broken fragments of the wall. Tyson's patience for me had run out. 14

I fell face first onto the floor, seeing the ghostly shadow of my furniture soar in dangerous proximity to my head. I peeked fearfully through my fingers, hoping that my bedroom could survive the worst. It was a foolish hope – the giant gaping hole where my window used to be was proof enough of that. Dust and plaster continued to fly through the air and I instantly understood why it had become so spacious. Tyson had thrown everything barring my door, clean out the window. The outlook of my furniture being anything but splinters on the ground, wasn't so good.15

“Are you okay, Ella?” Jake asked, stepping across the debris to lend me a hand. I could do nothing but gape at him foolishly from the floor. It was nice to hear his voice again, the voice that wasn't yelling and screaming at me in my own house anyway. The nerve of some people!16

“I'm sorry about the door, Ella,” Tyson huffed, observing the damage as he picked his way through it. “Really I am. But you had this coming.” I blushed furiously as I looked up into Tyson's irritable face. It would be quite a while before he forgave me for this little episode.17

Staring their black and white get-ups up and down, my gape became one of confusion.“Why are you guys in your uniforms?” I asked. 18

Tyson rolled his eyes. “Ella, do you even know what day it is?”19

“Ummmm....Mon – no...Tues -”20

“Yeah, that's what I thought,” he nodded. “You've been holed up in this room for so long you can't even keep track of time. Just so you know, it's Thursday. And considering that you're wearing the same clothes you had on the day you got that letter, even if it was the weekend, you couldn't really raise your eyebrows at us.” I looked down guilty; my grey shirt was absolutely filthy and my faded skirt was now in tatters. I had indeed been wearing them since that day and I felt instantly revolted with myself. I hadn't showered or moved in days.21

“When was the last time you ate something Ella?” Jake demanded of me, suddenly cross. “You look dead on your feet!” I didn't answer his question because I honestly didn't know. I knew I had gotten up for the bathroom or for water when I needed it, but food...I took no pleasure in eating, so I chose to stop doing it.22

“There's an empty pizza box on the floor here,” said Tyson, sitting down and examining it. “Say's you ordered it Monday. Delivered.”23

“There you go,” I muttered, propping myself up. “I ate on Monday. Happy?” 24

Jake shook his head sadly. “Oh Ella, what am I going to do with you? You had me worried sick. And apparently for very good reason! You can't not eat. I know how you're feeling right now, but still! Do you have any idea what...if you didn't want to cook, you could've just...don't ever do that to me again.”25

“S-sorry,” I mumbled. “I...didn't mean to...” I glanced sideways at Tyson hoping that he would understand. Hoping that he would accept my apology.26

“Yeah, Ella,” he sighed. “I already know.”27

“So...have you seen a crow yet?” I asked meekly. 28

Tyson fought back a laugh. “Nope, all is quiet on the Western Front captain. The skies be clear.”29

“Idiot,” Jake muttered under his breath. I stifled a giggle and placed my hand comfortably on Jake's knee. Even such a simple action had me entirely relaxed. I was always so at ease with him around, he made me feel at peace, and in the past few days, I had really missed that.30

“And the interview about Sarah?” I asked of them.31

“It went fine, Ella,” said Jake reassuringly. “Granted, the first question we were asked is why Violette wasn't there but we dealt with it. Everything went alone smoothly.”32

“Good,” I sighed in relief. “It was wrong for me not to go.”33

“Yeah, but we'll forgive you,” Tyson smirked, “eventually.”34

“I don't like the sound of that,” I answered, getting worried.35

“Relax, Ella, he's only teasing,” Jake laughed. “He'd never do anything like that.”36

“Are you quite sure about that Jake?” he asked slyly, stopping him between hearty chuckles. I bet that secretly, even Jake wouldn't have put it past him.37

My gaze turned downward once more, Jake and Tyson easily reading my thoughts. “Don't worry El,” said Jake. “We won't let them lay a finger on your parents.”38

“Yeah,” said Tyson enthusiastically. “We'll come with you. No problem.”39

“But you can't,” I protested. “If you do, they might...”40

Jake's eyes turned cold. “Do you really think we would just let you go alone? March off to your death!? No chance!”41

“Damn straight!” Tyson echoed, jumping hastily to his feet. “To infinity and beyond!” 42

Jake shook his head in dismay, moving closer to whisper gently in my ear, “I really wish he couldn't talk sometimes.”43

Our discussion was immediately broken by the unpleasant sound of a squawking bird. “Damn pigeons,” Tyson hissed, stalking across the room to the man-made hole. “They're nothing but flying rats!” He picked up some of my drawing pencils and threw them in every direction, the noisy creature still persisting. Under normal circumstances, I would have been furious if he'd thrown my art gear onto the lawn, but since half my room was already there, it seemed rather pointless to stir up a fuss. Tyson however was way off, it wasn't a pigeon at the window at all, and as a small feathery object zoomed into the room, the three of us fell silent in shock.44

“Cawk! Ledder from Adriana! Ledder from Adriana! Cawk!” The talking bird glared at us with piercing eyes as it sang the Magik's message at the top of its lungs.45

“Is that a – oh no way,” Tyson mouthed, eying the bird as it preened its black feathers. “You can't be serious!”46

“Yep,” I replied, making a small popping sound as I annunciated the 'p.' “That my dear friend, would be a crow.” The black bird turned its head innocently toward me, taking a daring step forward to inspect us. I lent forward cautiously, hand outstretched for the crumpled note tied crudely to its left leg.47

“Looks like somebody owes a certain somebody else an apology,” whispered Jake in a semi-taunting voice. 48

Ignoring their feud, I struggled briefly with the knot before the crow simply leaned down and pulled both note and string free of its body. The parchment attached was just as tiny as the last and I held it nervously between trembling fingers. For some reason, I was suddenly glad that the other two were here with me. The concept of having to read this note alone was far beyond nerve-raking. 49

“Well in that somebody's own defense,” Tyson countered, “they seriously doubted that a crow could really be linked to that other certain somebody's future, let alone it actually talking.”50

“And being in cahoots with Adriana,” Jake added slyly.51

“Okay, okay,” Tyson growled, throwing up his hands. “I was wrong she was right. Build a bridge!”52

I unfolded the note with shaky hands. “What does it say, Ella?” Jake demanded, tapping Tyson firmly on the shoulder. He turned and watched me apprehensively, not even able to speak.53

Keeping my heart rate determinedly down, I read the note aloud for all to hear. “It says...meet us in the mountain range overlooking your town at sunset. Your parent's life for yours. That is the deal. No flying. And, that's...all it says.” I fought the urge to cry. “But how am I supposed to get there? I can't rock climb! What am I going to do?” I moaned, wringing my hands. Jake and Tyson exchanged an uncomfortable glance.54

“Cawk! Gonna leaf now. Gonna leaf now. Message deliver. Message deliver. Cawk!” Nobody paid any attention to the bird as it flew out my window and out of our lives. Praying that this would work, I closed my eyes and tried to imagine me with the Magiks, trying to determine the outcome of this day...but nothing happened. My powers of prediction were no longer present. I was quite literally facing the unknown.55

So preoccupied with my own dilemma, I barely noticed Tyson sneaking past us back into the hall. All I saw, several seconds later, was Tyson and Jake standing over me with pained expressions, and a long piece of rope in each hand.56