Blood of the Skies and Shadows - Chapter Eleven

Hey everyone, yes I'm sorry I promised this chapter would shortly follow number ten. Actually I have a couple of chapters finished but they're in 'edit mode' he..he so I'm still fixing them here and there, and I currently have a working laptop but no working internet unfortunately. Yeah, I know when I have something fixed another important thing knows how to magically stop working and give you guys and myself huge problems. Writer's block isn't what's stopping me now ha..ha. I'll get as many completed chapters out as possible but I will be at least two weeks until the next chapters, sorry!

Okay no more blah, blah, blah problems! I have a dilemma so I need all your help! Okay, so if any of you have read the comments on the latest chapter, you'll notice a sort of an argument between some fans wanting a love scene - yes, physical okay?- and some disagreeing strongly! Check it out to see what's actually happening, anyway there will be a poll down the bottom so please check what you want and vote because I want to decide what do truly write because I'm sort of an unknown! -.-" he..he...

Enjoy this sort of long two-chapter! Please comment your thoughts too! Especially this one, after reading this!

Caelia.
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Lexi.
The morning after I'd talked endlessly with the wolves and Lucas, on top of explaining to Demetri, Annelise and a group of vampires about what had happened, repeating my story more detailed, at request, each time after another I'd realized I'd missed three days of class. Even though Demetri and Annelise continued to argue against it, I finally won the right to go to my classes, though I had no idea why. I guess classes weren't as bad as doing nothing but lying around all day. My body despised inactivity and the result of unconsciousness the last three days were proof of that. I grunted in pain as I hastily threw on a thin white V-neck sweater.

"Slow down, you're going to give Annelise something to use against you in argument again." I chastised myself while resetting my plain gray shoulder cast in place again. Unsurprisingly my voice sounded hoarse and raspy. I was sure it was bruised with repulsive purple finger shapes where the vampire had held of me. Just when I remembered I wrapped a black cotton scarf around my neck. It was spring but no one would question a thin scarf in Seattle really.

I pulled on some pale blue skinny jeans and slipped into flat knee-high black leather boots. I raked my fingers through the hairline of my disobedient hair to keep it from falling over my eyes as I rummaged through my draws. If Demetri hadn't said that he adored my 'long chocolate brown locks' I would've grabbed a pair of scissors myself and started hacking at it until it barely touched my shoulders. Guys, even after turning into the undead they preferred long hair, but it was fine, my hair looked pretty good it was just inconvenient. I pulled my favorite gun 'Black Rose' and another anti-shadow gun from my draws and stashed them in a double gun belt hidden under my sweater just under my chest and a pocket on each of my sides. It was day, and shadow creatures usually weren't very, or couldn't be, active until night but you can never be too safe when vampires could walk in the daylight, though it bothered them, and since I wasn't the only human working with shadows a.k.a shadow creatures. I figured the poison on the bullets can do shadows damage and the actual bullets do humans damage if I were their elimination target.

I slung my backpack over my shoulder, groaning at the sudden impact on my sore back as I went. I sighed and headed out my room, only to find a stern looking Annelise awaiting me. She stood clad in her maid uniform, the ones with the lace-like cotton and frills but were actually very practical for house work and chores. But anyone who'd fantasized about French maids and their uniforms in an adultery way or even made fun of them should be very afraid if they ever met Annelise.
"You should have called me to help you dress Miss. Lexi." She scolded a frown pulling at her gentle features. I rolled my eyes playfully and continued walking, knowing she'd be right by my side. A few vampires standing guard in the large hall saluted Annelise and I respectfully. Sheepishly I put on my blank mask and nodded back in acknowledgment.

"You should be the resting, you'll need the energy. Besides I'm wounded not a vegetable. I don't need to be tended to every minute." I mumbled as I started down the shining white marble steps. She skipped down right next to me, looking much more graceful than I.

"It is not I who needs to be resting," she eyed me purposefully, not even needing to look where she was going as we glided into the dimly lit dining room. "a normal human with your injuries would have gladly taken six weeks off and you have barely taken four days. Also Master Demetri has instructed for me to accompany you to campus since you insist on attending your classes." She finished tersely, pulling the stainless steel dome plate off my warm breakfast as I settled into my seat. I stifled another sigh and bit into a healthy-tasting banana muffin. Annelise disappeared into the kitchen with the dome plate while I spoke.

"Like I've said a million times, I'm not normal. Anyway, where are Demetri and the others?" I asked before scarfing down two pieces of steaming toast with jam. She stepped into view again and gently placed a cup of warm coffee beside my now empty plate. I smiled gratefully and sipped the sweet coffee. You'd think I'd like black coffee and salty foods but I like sweet tasting stuff.

"Thank you, I'll need it."

"I know." She replied with a smirk quirking her pale rose-pink lips.

"And Master Demetri is out gathering more information with Christian, some others and the wolves. While Master Lucas has returned home. He asked me to inform you he will pick you up after your classes finish." She shrugged and handed me my backpack. I was surprised and with that surprise I felt my eyebrows rising and my eyes widening.

"And you're letting him? After what happened a couple of nights back?" I thought she would lock me up in my room, but I didn't say it aloud, because she might reconsider after all. She nodded, but looked rather unhappy about it.

"Master Demetri insisted you should stay with Master Lucas and the wolves, when he is not able to accompany you, from now on to find out more on the current situation. He said they too are somewhat capable of protection you, though I have to disagree." She said aloofly. Her lips were a set line and her pearl gray eyes were sullenly cloudy. I guess she wasn't exactly alright with me being involved with the mysterious pure evil monsters after three nights ago and I couldn't blame her. But I felt lighthearted because Demetri was letting me help. I'd do it even if he hadn't let me, but still it felt better to know he was supporting me rather than against me. I felt myself smiling at that as we drifted out to the shadow world gates.

Lexi.
"Alexia you may have the excuse, not to mention the nerve, to miss three days of classes and to be late with your paper. And I'm not allowed to fail you or even deduct any marks this time only because your guardian is bribing the university. But it won't happen again. I won't tolerate your arrogant tardiness even with the school's permission and a ridiculous private reason." My political science professor, Professor Dearborn, 'explained' as the rest of the class filed out impetuously. They shot me pitiful and apologetic glances because they couldn't help me.

I turned back to Professor Dearborn, with a blank face. Her scowl practically screamed 'I'm trying to scare you to death because I hate you for avoiding my punishment methods'. Demetri had bribed the school a small amount, probably all the while explaining logically with a believable story that led to my tragic injuries, therefore unable to hand in any assignments or attend any classes.

I forced and exasperated sigh back down my poor scathed throat and focused my eyes on her again, trying to be somewhat respectful, but failing because of the way she was, well insulting me. Her beady slanted brown eyes were narrowed as she glared up at me, which didn't hide the way her chin was held high in a disdainful proud way. Her thin sausage lips that were unevenly smeared with bronze lipstick were sneering at my face while her long red plastic nails obnoxiously tapped the smooth surface of her desk. I'd faced abnormal, even for the shadow world, monsters that were overtaken by even creepier monsters that came to life from pools of sludgy black venom, if you could even call it that. I was not going to be afraid of my political science professor for not handing in a paper when I was lying unconscious for three days, with wounds she couldn't even begin to imagine tucked unseen underneath my clothes.

Okay I didn't usually feel sympathy for myself after a battle, but I was straining a little to keep the heat and angst leftover from the battle from leaving my system via my attitude. Harshly, I bit the inside of my cheek and for once thought 'to hell with it'.

I bent down a little and got right in her face to glare back. Immediately she shrunk back into her chair, retreating from me, but her pride or something must've gotten in the way of her fear because she continued to glare at me with a scowl set on her weathered face.

"As you've known for the past semester I have never been late with any work you've given Professor. I understand it's my fault for being late but my 'ridiculous private reason' as you call it, was that I was severely injured and I was unconscious during my absence because of a horrible accident," though that nightmare was nowhere near an accident. ", if you blatantly haven't noticed my obvious cast and wrist brace. I was advised to rest for six weeks but I came to my classes today because I felt regretful that I had missed a lot of classes, hadn't handed in my already completed work on time and I also came out of respect for my teachers. But because your conspicuous pride lets your attitude take over your mouth before your mind can logically understand that my situation isn't normal, resulting in telling me off as an arrogant and tardy student in an impolite way, and so you've lost any respect I had for you as my professor." I paused, letting my calmly spoken words sink in with the cold desolate glare I gave her.

Though my voice was gruff and just short of a whisper, my aura seemed to be more than threatening enough to scare her into immobility. I had half a mind to use some ruder words, courtesy of Lily, to say what I wanted but thought better of it. My anger wouldn't do me any good if I wanted to intimidate her. I'd just make myself look like a brat. It was bad to think like that anyway but I couldn't help feeling irascible and her attitude wasn't helping. "I don't feel any particular prejudice towards you as a student and I hope that as an educated professor you'll do that same thing and grade my paper fairly. Have a nice day, Professor Dearborn." I said with a sort of finality and briskly turned my back on her, leaving her shocked beyond belief and from what I glimpse off her face, strongly frightened, not to mention agitated but I didn't want to ruin this triumphant exit. I'd bet she'd heard rumors that I was an outcast or as least an anti-social girl, but never expected me to be intimidating, vexing, edgy and scary.

I sighed as soon as I was out the doors. So I'd found a way to blow off some steam on someone who'd deserved it, but I was sure I was going to cop it from her later in class. Luckily for me Annelise made sure that I was a student with good grades and excessive concentration.

Walking down the crowded hallway leading towards the exit of this wig from the corner of my eye some of my classmates spared me curious longing looks but I kept walking, pretending not to know. The hallway was somewhat beautiful and matched the old English castle look of the entire campus. The walls were shining smooth dark red wood and the doors to the classrooms were four columns of small pieces of square-shaped glass lined equally side by side down the door but each were separated by a thin lining of the dark wood of the walls and framed the doors. The ground of the hallway was different sizes of smooth cream-gray stone limestone instead of wood. Except for the ceiling you'd think you were in a high-class private academy in England somewhere.

I glanced down at the notes I'd been given by some classmates who'd take notice to my absence, most of them were shy and a little frightened, but curious and interested. Some of the nicer ones had written about work that been handed out while I was away. I'd smiled and thanked them sincerely while they said 'no problem' and asked if I'd like to hang out with them sometime, I'd said that would be nice but I knew inside it probably wouldn't happen and I felt moderately guilty about, even though I was glad I would never. While I pondered this I'd been absent-mindedly flipping through the notes and walking straight ahead without looking, hoping people would just avoid me. Unlike Annelise I couldn't be deep in thought while walking without watching the space in front of me and I didn't look the least bit graceful or even fluid. Before I could stop, I walked head on into a guy who was reading a book and had big headphones over his ears, headphones that were playing loud music.

I made a noise that sounded somewhere between a gasp and plain 'oof'. Back I went, my injured shoulder heading right for the smooth stone ground. On instinct I spun around as quickly as my body could take me. My face now facing the hard cold ground instead. I braced myself, dropping everything, I held my arms out in front of my face, ready for impact. It hit but what I hit was warm, strong and much softer than the hallway ground I'd expected. I gasped in surprise to see the arm of the guy I had walked into in my face. He'd cushioned my fall. He groaned in pain, but didn't snatch away his arm like I thought he would. With effort I propped myself up on my elbows which shot pain up to my broken left shoulder-blade. I bit down on my tongue to shove away the urge to cry out. Apologetically I glanced down at my rescuer. Surprisingly I thought he looked familiar, really familiar but I was sure I'd never seen him in my life. Then I recognized why he looked so familiar. He looked like a slightly younger and different version of Demetri.

Lexi.
I didn't mean he was a younger replica or something, just that they looked peculiarly alike. This person's hair was short and sleek, raven black that seemed unnatural but not dyed. His side fringe was flopping over his eyes, the color and style were worlds apart different from Demetri, but it had the same soft silky texture, my hands were on either side of his head and look. His eyes that gazed up at me were strangely obsidian black but since I was so close I could see that inside that obsidian were thin gold streaks, they seemed so dominant that I was sure he was wearing contacts. His eyes were the same almond-shaped with long lashes and perfectly arched brows above like Demetri's.

His cheekbones were high and defined, his nose was straight, long, neat and above all perfect and his skin was pale, but not like mine, his pale complexion was pretty and resembling clear cream, all features that Demetri had. Where they differed just scarcely was that this person had a defined jaw too but less angular than Demetri's, therefore making him look more boyish than the average college student and his lips though just as full and the same color of light blush , his bottom lip was more pouty, but not alarmingly so, just enough to seem kind of cute. Unlike Demetri, this guy wasn't wearing a suit or even familiar brand sports named black sweat pants with a tight muscle-showing t-shirt. He was dressed in ripped withered black jeans, a loose plain white shirt, a large old black leather jacket with sleeves that reached below his fingertips and classic black converse sneakers.

My eyes widened when I realized I'd been staring intently at him while he was returning my stare with one of his own, doing the same thing I'd been doing. Studying the other. I back off him hastily and crawled away. Each movement made the pain in my shoulder throb. Around us, people murmured quietly and stared but seemed too wary of us to approach to offer help. Curiously I shifted my attention back to the Demetri look-alike. The minute I did, I felt a surge of guilt. My backpack had been zipped shut and my notes were safely shielded in a folder, the only other thing I'd dropped was a textbook. At that second I was truly glad I had refused taking a laptop to university from Annelise. I was fine with old-fashioned hand written notes and only using the computer at home when I needed to. Thanks to that I didn't break anything that would cost a fortune, though I was sure to Demetri and for Annelise, probably any vampire for that matter, that money was a trivial issue, if not, no issue at all.

The person I'd bumped into, on the other hand, was less fortunate. He had an open backpack which held stacks of paper and books. He also had the book he was reading in one hand and several other textbooks and notebooks, with loose pieces of paper sticking out, scooped up in his other arm. In addition to knocking him to the ground and landing on him, I had scattered everything. At least he didn't have a laptop at hand.

Stiffly but promptly I thrust my stuff off to one side and began gathering the scrambled papers into a neat-ish pile in one arm and carried whatever else I could with the other. I scurried over to him just as he stowed away into his black backpack the other papers and books I couldn't pick up. When he looked up at me -he was crouched down picking up his stuff there wasn't any offhand or even surreptitious contempt in his eyes at me for spilling the contents of his arms and whole backpack across the floor with a hundred pairs of eyes around us. He rose to his feet, his gold-streaked obsidian eyes flickered around us, the commotion seemed to have died down relatively but on occasion we'd get a quaint stare or hushed whisper or both really. I handed his things back, unable to hold them any longer because my bones felt like they were grinding together. He relieved my arms of his things but didn't speak and just kept staring.

"I'm sorry. I wasn't watching where I was going and now yours papers are in disarray." I croaked, my voice sounded grumpy but I wasn't, just sore, but even to my ears I sounded insincere. I remained staring at him somewhat in awe and to a certain degree, off guard. I scraped up my books and bag from the ground and turned back to him. I touched my covered throat readily and smiled to prove I wasn't insincere just injured.

"Sorry, I'm not being disingenuous. I just hurt my throat," I almost blurted out 'and every other muscle in my body' but stopped just before it slipped. ", in an accident. It's sore and hurts to talk a lot." It wasn't a lie, just not entirely the truth. My throat was tender and tired but it didn't hurt to talk, I mean croak. And I wasn't in an accident, though it would seem like that to a human. I shut away my internal babble and tried to make sense of the person in front of me again. He smiled back warmly, a full grin. His grin showed a full set of perfect white straight teeth.

"Hey, it's cool. And I kind of noticed." He nodded his head at my shoulder brace, his warm grin turned amused and his grin said he was harmlessly teasing. It was hard to keep my guard up, since I'd seen this grin on Demetri so many times when we were alone. I smiled back and realized I was being a mute.

"Right." I said, looking briefly at the thing. I didn't really have anything else to say, I was mystified. Before I could say something that would've made me sound mentally challenged, he spoke.

"I'm Matt. Lexi right?" He held out his hand, his grin had subsided to charmed little smile. I hesitated but his black eyes just looked eager and just plain friendly. I slid my hand to his and smiled in defeat.

"Yeah. How'd you know?" I asked, no helping the suspicious twinge in my tone. He seemed to register that but his warm smile stayed intact as he gestured for us to keep walking. Obligingly I followed, listening attentively and feeling curious.

"We have some classes together." He paused, dimples appearing at the corners of his mouth. He had an awkward kind of smile now, like he was trying not to smile but failing horribly. He may look like Demetri but they seemed like polar opposites. The corner of my lips twitched in a tempting urge to smile back childishly.

"You don't seem to hand out with any particular group though so it's not surprising you don't know me. You don't strike me as the type to remember classmates you don't talk to anyway." He said, chuckling a little. I was flustered for a second, embarrassed actually.

"Uh...sorry. I'm not used to people, though I know it sounds stupid, I mean I'm surrounded by college students, most social people out there. But anyway, I guess I'm not really popular." I mumbled, pushing the doors open and stepping out of the building to under the warm blanket of the bright spring sun. The sunlight again refreshed my skin. I'd never particularly liked summer or spring, since I burned easily, very easily. But when it was spring and I wasn't out too long, the warmth was refreshing and relaxing. Then I realized what I'd said. I was kind of shocked I told him that but couldn't continue that line of thought when Matt threw his head back and burst out in laughter. It was the kind of amiable laugh that could make you relax no matter what. Like Lucas' laugh. I looked at him, my eyes unblinking with surprise.

"What is it?" I asked, a curious smile playing mischievously on my face. His gaze reverted back on to me and his laughter was gone but not a knowing grin.

"Lexi, you can't be more wrong saying you're not popular." He said. After a moment his ecstatic grin was gone but in place of it was a devout smile. His dark eyes sparked.

"I know what you mean about not being 'used' to people. But there are people like you too, like me. Except I kind of scare people." He winked and I smiled. He grinned and his eyebrows rose.

"But even unpopular me hears stuff about you being pretty and unattainable everywhere; and how everyone wants to know how your personality really is." I laughed, to my surprise but he just seemed pleased.

"Look around, we're misunderstood but there are others exactly like us, uncomfortable socializing with the majority. But if we all hang out as a group I'm sure we would at least be a group of different. Instead of particular individual outcasts." Suddenly I saw a decision coming towards me and I had to figure out what to do soon. I stopped short, ending up behind him as I stared at the back of his head. He turned to stare into my eyes.

"So, do you want to start the group of different together now?" He asked. He looked positive and as if he was feeling considerably good about this. Though I was pretty sure if he was anything like me uncomfortable with other humans, I knew he'd never done anything like this before. I hesitated, elongating the moment. I needed balance in my life, I knew that. But balance never seemed to fit with me. Normal meant shooting things that went bump in the night that tried to eat humans. He smiled, this on I knew. Completely warm, happy and at peace. When I'd lain next to Demetri in his bed, thinking I was asleep he stared at me with this expression. Except Matt showed dimples and there was only friendliness in his smile, no love. He coasted his hand to mine again.

"Hey, I thought it's the least you can do for tackling me to the ground and pouring my books over me." He laughed again as I gave in. today was a 'to hell with it' day, not sure if that was a good idea at all. It felt good but you never know what might happen.

"Okay, you're right and sorry about that." I said a little overwhelmed. Just at that moment my phone decided to vibrate. I flinched, grimaced and fished it out of my backpack. I flipped it open to see Lucas' name. I pushed the green button and recalled he was picking me up.

"Hey Lexi. Where are you?" Lucas' bright voice asked. I smiled sadly, he was probably worried.

"Coming now." I answered.

"Alright, see you out front." He replied friskily and hung up. Matt gazed at me with an amused smile.

"Modern technology is useful but pretty strange." He agreed. I smiled thoughtfully. He sounded as if he was from another century. His eyes looked reminiscent for a second but when I blinked he was simply genuinely warm.

"I guess we'll have to hang out another time." He blew out a puff of air, causing his side fringe to fly up. I chuckled at the sight.

"I'll see you in class, Matt." I called gruffly as I dashed away. Okay that hurt my throat. I glanced over my shoulder wonderingly and he waved transiently and walked away. I thought I spotted a triumphant and formidably cruel smile just as he turned away. Was I imagining things? I shook my head vigorously and started off before I could second guess my decision.