Misunderstood (House Of Night)

The Past Can Come Back To Haunt You!

Jazmyne

I shook my head not wanting to think about the memory. It was the memory of the daughter I never got to hold; the daughter that I died for to allow her life. In my last life, I’d been betrayed by one of the girls in my circle. Kara had possessed the Earth dragon as she does in this life. In a fit of jealousy and rage, she’d turned to Darkness and because of Darkness she caused me the ultimate pain. She cut my dragon’s wings weakening me for two years until the pain finally took my life. In those two years, a human decided that I was the best thing for him and he raped me. I became pregnant but chose not to abort. The young girl’s birth was my death. She saved me by helping me die but I never named her. Her father named her one of the names I hate, Amenika, which means the forbidden fruit.
        
David knew none of this and I didn’t want him to know so I walked away for the group. Richard followed me and said, “You remember her, don’t you. That’s who you dreamed of, Isn’t it?” I nodded and said, “I remember giving birth and knowing that it was the end for me. David doesn’t know and for right now let’s keep it that way. The others don’t need to know either.” He nodded and said, “You cannot keep freaking like that. You woke everyone up with your screams. Man, I thought you were dying. I freaked out myself.” I bowed my head and said, “I never meant to wake them. I didn’t even realize I was screaming out loud.” Zoey came up behind us as we reach the ladder. “Are you okay, Jazmyne?” I nodded and said, “I’m fine I just need a moment.” I climb the ladder and pushed the crate and went outside. As the breeze brushed against my skin, I began to feel calm. I knew that everyone would eventually find out about me but I wasn’t ready to let that happen. I stayed up there so long that the next thing I knew I woke up to the sun going down.

I drop back in the tunnels to find Lenobia standing there. “Jazmyne,” she started, “What happened early?” I shook my head not wanting to talk about it. She said, “Well, you have my class, so eventually you’ll talk to me. Just know you can talk to me about anything. I want nothing but the best for those on Nyx’s side.” I nodded and walked away. As we climbed on the bus, I saw David look at me with eyes that ask the question that his mouth refused to ask. I shook my head, not wanting to answer. When we got to the House of Night the whole school was there surrounding the statue of the goddess. We took our seats as Thanatos came up behind us. She stood in front of the school and said, “House of Night, many things have change around here but it’s time we got back on track. I called this meeting because many people have been hurt by things that have happened here and it’s time those who were hurt get the healing and closure they need and desire.”

I looked around as she spoke Neferet was standing almost in the shadows but as Thanatos spoke; I saw a look of desperation cross Neferet’s face. Thanatos started to speak again when I was suddenly tossed across the yard. I flipped and landed on my feet. I looked around to find everyone staring at me. I felt a sudden pain across my back which could only mean one thing. Then I heard the words, “This time you die and leave us the keys.” I pulled away and whirled around to find her. I spoke the ancient words so she would show herself to the vampyres. As she materialized the Vamps and fledgling gasped. She was a little older than me but most of our features were the same with the main exception that her hair was jet black. She said, “We want the keys.” “Never, not along as I’m alive.” I retorted. She said, “Why is it so hard to kill you? We think you’re gone and you pop back up, just like that daughter of yours.” I heard the gasps behind me but I didn’t turn around instead I said, “Where is my daughter? If you touch her, I’ll forget who you and the others are and hunt you until you’re done. I don’t care how immortal you are. If she dies all of you will regret it. I’ll forget the promise I made to our mother.” “She’s going to die eventually, she’s mortal.” “Half-mortal!” I yelled at her. She stepped back and said, “You’ll kill a sister?” I looked at her and said, “Angelica, I wish you no harm but you made your choice when you choose him over us.” “He’s my father!” “And she’s your mother, I’m your sister, He’s your brother and my daughter is your niece. You have more family on this side and between the two of us the scale is tipped. I don’t want to harm you.”

“And that’s why you’re wingless. You try to reason with too many people.” “I’m not wingless, you idiot!” I yelled as she pulled out her sword. “Not yet…” she said. I backed away from her as she swiped at me with the sword. “No more being nice, this time you die and at the hands of Anika the forbidden flower. Your own sister will kill you.” I back away from her again and she nearly hit me. I didn’t want to fight her but she was leaving me no choice. “Fight me you good for nothing miss goody two shoes. Remind me why I left all of you; remind me that I’ll always be second best to you according to everyone we know.” “You’re not second best to anyone. Not me not Richard not anyone. By the way, I won’t be tricked into losing myself again this time around I have a task to finish and I plan on finishing it this time. So if I have to fight you, I will remember that.” With that she swiped at me and grabbed me and said, “So fight me I want to see who’s strongest.” I said, “You asked for it Angelica, now you’re going to get it.” I unsheathed my sword as she swipe at me again. This time I blocked the blow and using very little strength pushed her away from me. I knew the whole school was staring at us but I couldn’t think about that. Suddenly I felt someone behind me. I whirled just as I felt something pull at my neck.

I felt the sudden change in power and I instantly knew that the necklace I wore around my neck to keep from using my angelic powers had been pulled off. I had trained myself for centuries not to give in to the power and while I would feel the effects later on, I wouldn’t become an angel in front of the students. I look at my sister and said, “You can’t do a job by yourself you always got to have backup.” Then her companion revealed himself and said, “Amelia, I didn’t come because of her. I know where some people like to hang out. But you and I will never be and I am glad I was never bond to you.” With that the guy tried to kill me with a starshot. I managed to move and then he said, “If you are truly Amelia, then you know how to stop the rest of what is inevitable.” I knew what he meant but I didn’t want to do what he wanted. But knowing that he wouldn’t stop until everyone knew I said, “The only way you will leave me alone is if I prove to you that no matter what you do you can’t get rid of me.” With that I took a breath and walked away. I stopped and looked up at Nyx’s statue and said quietly, “No matter what I’m always on the side of the light.” Then I looked at him and said, “Matthew, The Summoned One, you and I were once to be bond for all eternity. You chose a different path.”

I closed my eyes and look to the east and said, “From the east, the sun rises and begins each new day. You fill each of us at the beginning of our day and stick with us until the end of our day, so it is only proper that I call you Air to my circle.” As the air blew around me and I turned right I heard several gasped of wonder. “From the south, I am reminded of the warmth. The warmth reminds me of the fireplace in the cold and I call you, Fire, to my circle.” The sudden heat engulfed me and I bit back my laughter as I turned right again. “From the west, as the sun sets and as the moon comes out the tides begin to move. The cool night always is nice and I call you, Water, to my circle.” Once more I turned right completing my circle. “From the north, I seek the comfort of knowing that this element will not desert me. Even if I fall, you, Earth, will catch me, so I call you to this circle.” This time I turned and opened my eyes. I stared straight into Matthew’s eyes as I said, “Though pain and pleasure, Harm and hurt, you’ve been there. Even when I doubted myself you, Spirit, were there, so please complete this circle.” I looked away from Matthew as spirit filled me. I could hear him muttering something but I didn’t care.

Instead I turned to David and said, “David I never meant for you to find out about me like this. What I said to you twenty-four hours ago still stands. I still love you and I always will.” “The two of you can never truly be, Amelia, you know that.” Matthew said, interrupting me. I turned to him and said, “Sadly, that’s true and I know it’s true but I love him more than anyone and I would give everything to be with him.” “Everything?” Matthew questioned with his mischievous eyes. “No, Matthew, not that; at least not to the wrong side. And I wouldn’t go and be bound to another man.” “He’s not a man, he’s a little boy. I was bound to another woman because I didn’t want to be with you no matter how much I liked you.” “He is just as much a man as you are. He can admit when he’s made mistakes and so can I.” I could feel the pull of my wings as we spoke and I knew I needed the necklace before I changed into my true form. “Give me my necklace and you can leave. I can’t help you anymore; we’re not on the same side now.”

David said, “How about you tell me about that daughter of yours? You’re only seventeen; how do you have a child?” It was clear that he was still in shock from that information. I couldn’t go hug him and tell him everything would be okay. I couldn’t go to him period. The circle was the only keeping me from changing and my strength was failing. “Matthew, give me the necklace!” I heard my voice shaking and knew I was losing control. I felt a familiar heat flowing across my back and dropped to my knees trying to keep the pain from getting to me. I was trying not to cry when Richard said, “Matthew, You once cared about her now I don’t know what happened but do this one thing for her. Give her the necklace.” Neferet said, “What’s so important about a stupid necklace?” I looked at her as the threads of Darkness surrounded my circle of elements. Then one somehow broke through and lashed at me. I screamed as the pain overcame me and knew I couldn’t fight anymore. “Run, sis!” I looked at my brother who was using some serious telepathic skills to get through to me. “Get out of here and I’ll bring the Necklace to you.”

I shook my head at him and said, “No, this time, I have to fight my own battles, I know you’re just trying to do your job but this time the fate is mine. I’ve allowed you to help me but now it’s my job.” I stood up and faced Matthew, “You and I never saw eye to eye, but you will not stop me from falling in love. I love David and nothing you say or do can stop me from loving him. You and I once thought we were right for each other but now we know that it’s better that we go our separate ways. So do both of us a favor; give me my necklace and then leave.” “I don’t think so.” He retorted. His next words were cut off by someone tackling him. “Give her the necklace, Matthew, and come home!” I looked as Sherita, The Angel of Love, shook herself off and grabbed Matthew. Then she grabbed him and said, “I thought you were over her.” He laughs and said, “I’m over her, I’m just trying to get what by birth is rightfully mine.” I shook as my magic tried to overcome me. Sherita saw me and said, “Give her the necklace before she loses control. The only reason she hasn’t kicked your butt yet is because she respects you and herself.” He laughed and walked away. Sherita ran and jumped on him; they wrestled and she managed to get the necklace. She tosses it to me and I fixed the chain and slipped it around my neck. I sighed as I regain control. I fell into a wall, suddenly exhausted but my day has yet to start. Sherita said, “Matthew let’s go now. We’ll finish this another time when she’s not so damn proper. Her humanity is what’s going to get her killed.”

Then they left and Richard came up to me and asked if I was okay. I nodded and pushed myself off the wall. It is then I realized just how exhausted I am. I lean on Richard heavily fighting my exhaustion. David said, “Who’s this daughter of yours?” I looked at him and said, “David, we have to talk but now is not the time or place. He just brought that up because I have a debt to his master that I will need to pay.” Richard moves so quick that I nearly fall. “What debt do you owe Darkness? Why do you even owe a debt?” I shook my head repeating that this isn’t the time or place. He looks at me and says, “No, tell me; what did you do?” “I made a deal with the black and white bulls that guaranteed that I would see Cherish again!” I screamed at him, suddenly enraged. I watched him step back and realized I was out of control. I took a breath and step back. “I’m sorry, I’m exhausted and that’s no excuse. I’m worried about a young girl that never knew her birth mother. I’m worried about everyone I care about. I’m worried.” I became aware of the school staring at me. I looked up to find Zoey’s eyes staring at me but there was no hate in her eyes. I breathe a sigh of relief and stumbled back to my seat. After a few more minutes the meeting was over. I walked slowly to my first class. My class happened to be the class where Thanatos was the professor.

As I sat down, she walked in and called me to her. Then she said, “Everyone, this is Jazmyne Sanders. She is just starting here and I trust you will give her the same respect you give each other.” One boy said, “What’s the freak doing here? Didn’t she nearly get her ass kicked today?” Before Thanatos could speak I said, “This ‘freak’ has a name and I did not almost get beat. If you knew who I truly was, you would think twice before judging. I could have easy finished what they started but I have more dignity and respect for myself. Don’t judge or disrespect me for you don’t know me one bit. I could easy finish you off but I won’t. It’s my first day; let’s be nice.” He shrugged and Thanatos said, “She like Zoey can call and command all five elements so remember that Dallas.” And I’m immortal, I added silently. Then I took my seat. Thanatos started on a lecture about imprinting and Blood. I heard the boy named Dallas say, “What would the freak know about imprinting or blood?” I almost confronted him but instead ignored the comment. He continued to make remarks until I turned and said, “Dallas, Shut up.” Then he said, “Shut up had a brother named Trouble.” I looked at him and said, “UH?” not understanding at all.