The Heart of A Pendragon

Beware of The Blood Red Hair

    "You were the last person I expected to see here, Heart," principal Prudence greeted, looking me over. 

    Cat is in trouble. She had an altercation with a couple of girls. Prudence Abernathy was my elementary school teacher. When I was in fourth grade I was jumped by a group of older boys who wanted to take my new shoes. I ended up hurting them pretty bad and their parents had me expelled for what I did and no one had done a single thing about what they had done to me. That's a mini-story in the story of my life. No one cares about you when you're alone.

    "I had hoped I never had to see you again either, Prudence," I retorted.

    "It's principal Abernathy," she corrected. 

    "Lily," Cat rushed over to me with a bruise on her face. "They tried to hurt me," 

    "You ripped one of our star student's hair out. She has a bald spot," Prudence said. "This kind of behavior is not acceptable in this school, Lilianna. You know that better than most," 

    The anger in me started to boil. I hate that we're treated differently because of what we are. Prudence stood up coming over to me looking me over like she was sizing me up. One thing I hate about not being in school anymore is that if I hit her, I have a lot more than detention to look forward to. 

    "I'm sure we can come to an arrangement," I pulled Cat behind to ensure nothing happened to in case I did decide that beating her is the way to go. 

    "You know, if you hadn't been so self-destructive you could have been our best student, Lily," she sighed looking over at Cat. "I have a soft spot for your kind, Heart. She stays but she is suspended for the rest of the week. Deal?" 

    "Fine," I sighed. She lifted her arm to get a book off the shelf by her desk when the cuff on her sleeve got caught in her hair. Unaware she moved her arm towards the desk pulling the blonde wig she wore right off her head. 

    "Yuck," Cat giggled as the three of us looked down at the wig hanging off her arm. I looked up at her kind of expecting her to be bald. 

    "Don't trust the woman with the red hair. The color is like blood," 

    "I'm sorry," she said grabbing the wig as fast as she could. 

    The color of her hair is a beautiful brilliant red. The same color blood inside a blood bag is. I looked away before pretending to let out a low laugh. Cat snickered when I looked down at her. Prudence was quick to fix the wig back on her head. 

    "We won't say a word," I promised. 

    "Thank you," she said embarrassed as she placed a form in front of me. "Give this to Khon and have her call me," 

    "Okay," I agreed, taking the paper. "Thanks for not giving her the boot," 

    "You know I wouldn't have given you the boot either if I hadn't been new. I was under tight supervision then. There's not a day that goes by that I don't regret it," 

    "Okay," I scoffed, pulling Cat with me. 

    There's a sudden hostility rising in me. She had just said the one thing I had always wanted to hear anyone who had sent me away say. Sorry. And for whatever reason, there is a wave of raging anger inside of me. Something close to wanting to kill this woman. I had never felt this kind of rage before. 

    "I mean that," she said reaching for me. I pulled away. 

    "I believe you," I lied. "It just caught me off guard. Thank you for not kicking Cat out," 

    "Yeah," she nodded stepping back. 

    I took Cat's hand and got out of there like the building was on fire. I wasn't able to take a proper breath. She tightened her hold on my hand before standing in front of me with a sad smile on her lips. I remember being that age understanding as much as she had. The look in her eyes isn't that of a kid her age, it's more aware and adult than most adults walking this earth. 

    "You okay?" she asked. 

    "Yeah, are you?" she nodded. "I want you to stay away from her when you come back. Even if she gives you whatever you want, okay?" 

    "I don't like her either. She gives me the hee bee gee bees," she pretended to shiver. 

    "Me too," I agreed, motioning her to walk. "Listen, I have to work tonight. I got permission to be out late. I got you something," 

    "What?" she asked taking a packet of animal crackers out from her pocket. I pulled the new mini Ipad from my backpack and handed it to her. 

    "A lady came in this morning, got it for fifty bucks. It was her granddaughter's had to wipe it but I put a couple of games and some movies. Don't let the other brats see it," she smiled looking up at me with my new favorite smile. 

    "Are you for serious?" she beamed. 

    "Yep. I'm going to monitor your using time so don't get too addicted," she giggled jumping around in a circle. 

    "Thanks, Lily. I love it," 

    "You're welcome," I said. "Put it in your backpack," 

    "When are you coming home?" she asked. I stopped looking down at her. Home. 

    "Um, I get out at Eleven. So, I don't know depends on how long it takes me to get back," she nodded. 

    Once we got back, I helped her with her chores after finishing my own. I checked in with Mistress Khon before showering and getting ready to go. The walk back to the main street is sketchy once the sun starts going down. I noticed the expensive car and the bikes parked in front of the clothing shop as I made it to PCs for D's. 

    "Hey," Will, the night manager waved when I walked over to clock in. "Thanks for doing this. I know it must be hard with Khon on your ass. She used to be the high school Dean," 

    "She's cool," I shrugged grabbing the night time vest. The lights flickered and then steadied. "Do you guys get busy at night," 

    "Nah," he laughed. "We get a few of the geeky dudes for games and parts but its usually pretty quiet. Boss wants us to start setting up the posters for the new God of War. Wanna do that while I sort out the orders?" 

    "Sure? Where are they?" 

    "Upstairs. All the boxes on the right," I nodded. 

    I rushed up the stairs grabbed the two biggest boxes and brought them down. Will is a really tall guy. If he would put a little more effort into his wardrobe and hygiene. The guy would be really handsome. He's tall, a little on the thin side, has messy hair, dark green eyes, and rocks the unsponsored skater look. If that isn't enough, I swear I can fall asleep every night to him reading anything with his deep sleepy like voice. 

    "Box cutter is in the top drawer," he said pointing at the cabinet next to him. 

    I walked over, taking it out giving him a smirk as a thank you. The first box I opened has the cutouts. I pulled them out and began to set them up by the window. Once in a while, I would catch him looking at me and I had to hide the warmth that flooded my face. The lights flickered again making me look around. 

    "What's up with the lights?" I asked. 

    "Storm is coming in," he said without taking his eyes off the computer. "This s**t always happens," 

    "How's your mom?" I asked starting a conversation. 

    "She's good," 

    "She still making special brownies?" he laughed. 

    "Always. I can't believe you remember that," 

    "Ariana almost died. What do you mean?" we both laughed. 

    The lights flashed again. I looked up to come face to face with what looked like the snake from my dream. I jumped just as the lights came back on to reveal the empty street outside. I let out a heavy sigh and shook it off. 

    "You okay, Lily?" I looked over at Will who is now standing behind the desk and nodded. 

    "Yeah," I said getting up. "Tripped," 

    "Be careful," he laughed sitting back down. 

    "I'm going to get the other boxes," I called back needing to get away from the window. He nodded going back to the computer. 

    I stopped at the top, shutting my eyes before shaking it off. The lights flickered again as I was going down the stairs. This time a loud cracking sound echoed outside. I finished walking down the stairs. 

    "Are the lights all out?" I asked. I got no answer. I put the boxes down taking hold of the box opened. "William?" 

    Will is laying on his side next to the cash register. I rushed over to him looking around the dark store, trying to see if someone is in here with us. I pushed him completely behind the counter closing the side door and locking it in place. Not that it'll stop anyone from coming in. It'll just make noise if someone tried to open it. 

    "Stay where you are," the voice is familiar. 

    Where had I heard that before? I looked around trying to find the source. Nothing. I looked up thinking about maybe peeking over the counter. My heart skipped. The massive head of the snake is there. I stayed absolutely still as it got closer into view. 

    "You're going to have to run. Leave the boy it doesn't want him," the voice whispered. I shook my head vigorously not wanting to give away the fact that I am sitting right under a big ass snake. "Listen to me, Liliann. When I count to three, run," I shook my head again. "One... two... three," 

    I bolted. I ran towards the other side of the counter just as the snake struck the spot where I had been sitting. I rushed towards the door as fast as I could. I never made it. I was knocked off my feet. The impact of it made me completely numb as my body went airborne. I landed on top of a pile of empty used game boxes. I had an instant to try and catch my breath. 

    I jumped out of the away when the snake appeared again. Its face struck the boxes I hadn't knocked over. I cried out when its tail came at me. I dropped to my knees sliding across the linoleum barely missing it. 

    "What the f**k?" I shouted pushing the rest of the box cutter's knife out of the holder. When the snake came at me again I flung my arm out, the blade cut it across its giant snake nose. "This is not happening. This is not happening," 

    I tried to back away from it but I was up against the register already. The snake curled up in front of me showing me how truly massive it really is. The lights began to flicker again making its skin glisten against the fluorescent lights. Its skin is mostly black and dark brown peppered with sandy shades of yellow. Its mouth opened up revealing it's two massive fangs. The sides of it are expanding to show more dominance over its prey. It's a cobra. 

    "Flammae," someone shouted. 

    The snake pulled back making a loud hissing sound before the entire thing went up in flames. The girl in the fancy car stood in the doorway with her hands extended up into the air. She shut her eyes for a second before she moved her arms. 

    "Foras," she whispered and the flames along with the ashes all began to float out of the room. She looked back over to me just as the lights came back on completely. "Are you alright, Lily?"

    "No," I shouted still in shock. 

    "What's wrong?" she asked coming over to me. I flinched away when she tried to touch me. 

    "Um, well, You just... I was almost eaten by a big ass cobra," I rushed out in a panic.

    "You were," she nodded. "I'm so sorry about that. I turned my back for like two seconds. I swear," 

    "You... what? Fire?" 

She laughed. "Oh, sweetheart, you're in shock," 

    "A little," I nodded, looking around. 

    "Come," she said helping me up.

    "This place is a mess. Will," I cried, getting up as fast as I could. 

    I stumbled a little as I got around the counter. She came over to me bending down to look him over. She placed her hand over his eyes shutting her own before she opened them and looked at me with a smile on her lips. 

    "He's fine. Just a little sleeping spell," 

    "Spell?" I repeated. She nodded. 

    "Help me sit him up," I helped her put him up on the chair. She placed his arm on the counter to make it look like he was taking it a little nap. "Alright, go shut the lights off so I can fix the place up," 

    "What?" I asked looking around. She smiled. 

    "Go on," I walked over to the switch. She nodded. 

    I turned the lights off. Where she stood a purple and blue aura began to swirl around her feet like she was summoning it out of the ground, over her body, and into her hands turning into an orb. She mumbled something as the orb rose out of her hands and into the air towards the center of the store. When it reached the middle the orb burst cascading over everything. 

    The mess, the broken shelves, the shattered computers, the ripped up posters all began to levitate back to their rightful place. I couldn't look away. If I blinked I might have missed something vital. Within seconds the store was clean, the poster boards all back to where I had set them up. The games were all fixed. Everything is back to the way it had been. I turned the light back on to see it wasn't just my imagination. 

    "What the f**k?" I whispered this time. 

    "Yeah," she nodded. "That was the same reaction I had when my dad first taught me how to do that. Can you believe he used to make me clean like a normal person?" 

    "Appalling," I meant for it to be sarcastic. 

    "Right," she beamed. "He'll be up in a few minutes. He'll think he just doze off," 

    "Wait," I stopped her before she walked out. "I'm dreaming right?" 

    "No, Lilianna. You're not. Your shift is almost over. I'll give you a ride home. I'll explain on the ride back," she left. 

    I looked around the store to see everything I was supposed to have done was finished. The posters were up along the walls and the cutouts were all set up. The coming soon labels were everywhere. 

    "Good job," I jumped at the sound of his voice. "I must have dozed off. I am so sorry," 

    "You're good," I said looking back at him. He smiled. "No one came in any way," 

    "See, told you," he said getting up to go up the staircase. "Nothing ever happens at night,"

    "The pain I feel begs to differ," I whispered leaning on the counter. 

    I groaned out finally registering the fact that I was tossed around like a mouse trying to get away from it's impending doom. Holy f*****g s**t. A snake tried to eat me. A giant f*****g cobra. On top of that, the girl has weird magical powers. What the f**k is happening? What was I drugged with?