Spoiler
I hope this slowed down enough (if slowed is a word) I think its an exciting chapter
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Two:
“It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God”
AvaAlt45: Kevin, what were you about to say when I said you were jealous of Greg?
KevAlt54: I was about to say… brb
AvaAlt45: you were about to say brb?
KevAlt54: no… I just… Idk Ava, I’m confused right now.
KevAlt54 logged of at 10:43 p.m.
AvaAlt45: what are you confused about Kev?
AvaAlt45: Kev?
AvaAlt45 logged off at 10:45 p.m.
Ava sat back in her chair, the wave of emotions that was coursing through her veins. The joy of defeating the demon, the confusion of Kevin’s abrupt sign-off and the hurt of the wound in her side. She rubbed the cut, wishing the pain would go away.
Tap, tap Ava turned, to see her mother walk into the room, holding clean clothes, still warm from the dryer. “Hi honey”
“Hi Mimi,”
“How was school?”
“Where did you go afterwards?”
Ava shifted uncomfortably, she had never told her mother about being an Alt-bringer, it would just make her worry and Ava didn’t want her to. The only person in her family who knew about the Alt- stuff was her brother Justin, who was off at med school.
“I went to Kevin’s with Titi and Greg.”
“I see…” Her mother’s lips pursed, she had never liked Kevin “and what’s this?” she pulled Ava’s laptop, which Ava hadn’t closed onto her lap. Her eyes flew up and down the screen, reading the conversation between Kevin and Ava. Then flicked to Ava’s face and then back to the screen. She snapped the lid shut and looked into Ava’s face. “Ava, I am going to ask you once; what on earth are you thinking hanging out with this boy? Why do you do it?” Her face was sat in a hard cold line.
“Because he’s my best friend Mimi, because he brings out the worst and the best in me.”
Mimi’s lips turned up into an almost imperceptible smile. Then she turned and stomped out of the room.
“Well” Ava grumbled, why does Mimi hate Kevin so much? She thought, opening her laptop up and pulling her text-books from her backpack. It was time to do homework.
******************
Two hours later, Ava had printed off her essays, done the math homework and wrote the first scene in the play she was writing for English. She exited Word* and pulled up SplashFace, the popular social networking site. Kevin had updated his status to thinking… She felt the urge to comment, but didn’t. Knowing him he wouldn’t reply.
Done with homework, now studying the Bible for church on Sunday.
She typed, her fingers flying across the keyboard at her 78 words per minute. That done, she logged onto chat, to see if Kevin was back on. Nope, better try calling him.
She dialed the number she had pressed countless times. He picked up at the second ring.
“What is it Ashes?” Ashes, the nickname from her middle name Ashley that he had given her when they were children, the one he only used when they were alone.
“I want to say I’m sorry”
“for what?”
“for whatever has made you mad.”
“It’s not you who’s made me mad. I’m worried about the Magi. He would never forget to spray a human. I think we need to go to the castle.”
Ava inwardly groaned. “I don’t think so Kevs”
“Ashes, I have this strange feeling that he’s in danger.”
“Last time we went there without permission he almost killed us. “
“Well, there is a big chance that his not there so who cares?”
“I do!” Ava burst out, standing up and knocking her laptop to the floor. “I care. I want to have a life. Not get killed.”
“Ava Ashley Dougnihew, if you wanted a guarantee that you wouldn’t get hurt, you should have never went to the Magi when he called us into apprenticeship.”
Ava blushed, knowing what Kevin said was right, she shouldn’t have. “But-”
“No buts, I’ll pick you up at three. Tonight we are going to the castle.”
Ava heard the click of the Kevin’s cell phone being hung up; she felt the stabbing pain of her wound digging into her side. She wanted somebody to fuss over it, make it okay and tell her not to go to the castle. But no, an Alt-bringer’s life must be hidden in shadow from its family. Or so the Magi had said. She suddenly felt very, very tired and extremely sick to her stomach and pulling herself onto her bed, curled into a ball and fell asleep.
Ava awoke to the soft tap, tap, tap of Kevin at her window. His face shone pearly white from the light of the moon, and he was trying to talk to her through the window. She sat up and felt a warm liquid flow down her arm. Instantly she felt dizzy and faint. Look down she told herself look at your cut. She forced herself to turn her head to catch sight of her side in the mirror. She began to feel sick and looked towards her bed. The sheets were dyed crimson with blood. She took a slow step towards the window, and reached it, her head spinning; opening it as high as she could without lifting her arm. Kevin clambered in and scooped her up, and laid her on her bed. He bent down, tearing her shirt upwards, to reveal the deep, long gash in her skin.
“Why did you not tell me?” he whispered, looking at the gash in wonder.
“I didn’t want you to worry” she mumbled, the pain intensifying with each syllable.
“How’s that working out for ya’?” he said sarcastically
“Not well.”
He laughed and bent down close to her ear, “I need to take you to a doctor, one that won’t ask questions.”
“Justin”
He nodded and scooped her up again, pulling her blankets and pillows together, to make it look like she was asleep. Then he locked her door. “We can’t risk your mother coming in and finding a blood soaked bed, now can we?” he whispered climbing out the window and onto the ledge. The ledge was four feet off the ground and he dropped to the grass easily. Then he ran. When he reached his car at the end of the street he grabbed a blanket from the back and wrapped her in it, carefully laying her down in the passenger seat. He started the car, and let it come to life with a roar, then swung down towards the city where Justin lived, about half an hour away. “come on” he urged the car, his hand stroking Ava’s hair, his heart beating faster than it ever had in his life.
***********************
Kevin knocked on Justin’s apartment door, and then pounded.
“I’m coming, I’m coming” Ava’s brother shouted through the door,
Kevin held Ava tightly in his arms; whispering over and over again “Stay with me Ashes, stay with me.”
Every time he said this Ava would come out of a half un-conscious state, then slowly sink back in; to be jolted back again by Kevin’s voice.
The door swung open and Justin stood there, in boxers and an undershirt. His wife Azalea (a senior Alt-grader) was standing in the shadows behind him, clutching his arm. Justin stared at Ava; her clothes saturated in blood, and then waved them inside.
“What happened” said Azalea as a baby began to cry. “Ugh, she’s awake again.” She disappeared before Kevin had a chance to answer.
Justin waved him over to the counter in the kitchen. “Put her here.” He yanked the layers of cloth off her, till he could her side. He stared down in disbelief and turned on Kevin. “How did this happen?” he demanded, walking towards the living room, where he picked up a briefcase. Then dumping the contents on the counter and beginning to unwind a long gauze bandage.
“I’m not sure” Kevin replied “we had to go to Salt Springs to take care of a Paranormal and I didn’t see her get hurt. Then we had plans to go to Magi’s castle, because he’s missing and I came in to her room and found her asleep, covered in blood.” He took a deep shuddering breath his eyes swimming with tears.
Justin nodded as Azalea came into the room, a baby in her arms, singing softly. “Hush little Allie, go to sleep, Mommy’s got to save your Aunt Ava”
Kevin laughed nervously and walked over to Ava’s side. Her eyes were rolled up into her head, so that only the white of her eyes could be seen. “Ashes” he whispered bending down close to her ear. She groaned and her arm flailed, catching Kevin on the face.
“Ouch” he muttered, rubbing his cheek. And then laughed a large booming laugh. Justin and Azalea stared, not understanding the hilarity that he saw so clearly. “She always told me ‘Kevs if you start crying at my bedside when I’m dying I’ll slap you.’” Then he gasped, realizing what he had just said. “She’s not dying is she Justin?” he said, his hands shaking.
Justin turned, medicine bottles in his hand and a bandage wrapped around his arm. “ I don’t know Kevin. I don’t know.”
