Chapter Four: Daydream

For reason outside my knowledge I told Darren about my dream, about my mom, and about my escape from the orphanage. Once I started speaking I couldn't to stop, and he listened. He didn't interrupt, he didn't tell me I'd been stupid or belittle what I'd experienced, he just listened. Darren didn't have to, it's not why he'd gone to my room, but he did it anyway. I guess that's when I decided to give into my gut feeling and trust him. Mistake or not I figured it was the least I could do after he sat there and listened to me spill my goud.
The original reason Darren had come to my room was to help me find my way to the mess hall for dinner. It was the first time I would meet everyone and I was petrified. What if they didn't like me? Would they throw me out, or worse, sell me out to the Cables?

"Relax, you've got nothing to fear." Darren said placing a hand on my head. I looked up at him trying to return his smile. I took a deep breath trying to feel confident and secure before walking into the dining hall.

As Darren opened the door all eyes turned toward us. Everyone was already sitting enjoying their meals meaning we were the last to arrive. I cursed my stupid emotions and unruly tongue. It wouldn't have been so awkward had we shown up on time for diner.
"Lilly!" Suddenly a short Asian man jumped out of his seat. He was by far the oldest of the group, but his voice was not quiet. I jumped at his outburst and froze as he started to move toward me. The man latched onto my arm shaking it furiously as he spoke in rushed nonsense.

"That's Ching," Darren whispered in my ear. The name rang a bell, wasn't he the one Travis had mentioned?
"Calm down Ching, you're scaring the poor girl." A deep authoritative voice called out. I traced the origin of the sound to a man sitting at the head of the table.

"Sorry Roger, Sorry Lilly," Ching apologized releasing my hand and moving back toward his seat.

"You two grab some food, we can start introductions once you're seated." Roger said, turning toward us. He wore a friendly smile but I barely noticed it over the bizarre colour of his eyes. They were these perfectly silver orbs that seemed to glow. Had not been for Darren's hand on my back guiding me to the food I would have foolishly gawked at the man.

They must think I'm rude I thought miserably while filling my plate. What a terrible first impression to make. I vowed to behave better while eating, I would do no more gawking.

Once Darren and I were settled into the last two available chairs Roger regained focus over the group. "As you all know we have a new member in our midst. Lilly will be staying with as from now on as one of our comrades. To be comrades one must first know the person's name so I'll make this simple. In a clockwise fashion you will introduce yourselves. Name, Power, and whatever else you care to share with our guest, but make it short I would like to eat sometime this century." The Roger said standing as he looked around the table; everyone nodded their understanding, I just sat there staring. Had I heard that right? Did he just say power? "My name's Roger, I am Malachi Half Demon and founder of this organization." Taking his seat, he nodded to the person on his right.

Next to him sat Julia whom I had already meet. "Hi I'm Julia, I am a Witch, Earth Demon hybrid." Her beauty stunned me as it had when we'd meet in the kitchen, but I found I could barely focus on her. Witch? Those don't exist, unless… no that crazy I thought stopping the thought. It crept in anyway; what is the unbelievable truth mother wrote about was this, the supernatural?

"I'm Clary," A little girl no older than six said. She had the most beautiful silky blonde curls I'd ever seen. Her azure eyes shone with happiness as she smiled brightly at me. It was a smile I couldn't help but return. "And I'm a witch." Her voice held pride as she identified her power. Could this be real? Could there really be such things as witches and demons? This little girl's smile sure said so.

Next to her sat a man with the same blue eyes. His hair was a shade darker and gut very short. "I'm Mark, Clary's father, I'm a Shaman." He gave me a kind smile before turning to look at his little girl was the most affectionate look I'd ever seen.

I was sitting next to him; it took me a minute to realized it was my turn. By the time I spoke anxiety had caused my heart beat to escalate and a stutter to take over my speech. "Um...I'm l-l-Lilly, and um...ugh," I froze, I didn't have a power I didn't even believe in magic powers. I couldn't say that, but I had to say something they were all waiting. "I...um...I'm a … ugh… I don't know," I finally admit hanging my head in embarrassment. It was better than saying I didn't believe in what they were.

"I'm Darren, and I'm a vampire." Darren's voice came from beside me. Shock broke my cloud of humiliation. Darren was a vampire? Those exist! Does that mean that water bottle Darren drank from earlier was…?

"I'm Travis, and I'm also a vampire." Travis voice broke thoughts. I felt less shock this time, I suppose it was natural since they were twins. I wondered how old they were? Wrong question I chastised myself. I was starting to accept this. It was too fast but it was as if it were something I'd already believed in. I was losing my mind.

Next to Travis was a man with pitch black hair. He was massive and a scar marred the right side of his face. His voice came out as more over a grunt, making me doubt that he spoke often. 'Derek, werewolf." The shock was minimal, if there were vampire why not werewolves. Why couldn't they all exist, what made me so sure that they didn't. I didn't have answer for that.

"Good, now let's eat!" Roger said excitedly digging into his food. Everyone else followed suit, but I found my earlier appetite had disappeared. I stared at my plate pushing the delicious looking food around as my mind spun in circles. It was too much for me to handle. It wasn't so much what they were saying or the mention of it that was making my mind swim but how eager I was to accept it all.

"Lilly? Are you alright?" I flinched at the sound of Darren's voice. Darren the vampire, the blood sucking vampire. Did he kill people like a modern day Dracula or did he kill animals like in new aged teen books? Darren noticed my flinch, and although he concealed it fast I say the hurt as it danced through his eyes.

I instantly felt horrible. Here was this guy who had just listened to my word vomit problems, who had just held and comforted me while I cry, hurt because I couldn't handle the fact that he could be something other than human. "I'm fine, just not as hungry as I thought I was." I tried to smile at him, but I knew the action looked forced. He nodded his head not prying any further.

Roger pulled me aside after the meal, and guilt washed through me as I felt relieved for having an excuse to avoid Darren. He'd been nothing but kind to me, he saved my butt and held me when I cried, not once had he looked at me as food and yet here I was treating him like dirt just because I found out he wasn't some regular non-human person. I sighed, my cheeks puffing slightly before deflating as I breathed out.

"The only way our system works here is by everyone pitching in. We have a chore chart; the chores rotate so you should know what you've got based on what you did previously. We all live together as a family, and families help each other out. You haven't really had a chance to find your place yet and I'm sure you'll need a guide just to keep up with all the happenings so I'll have you shadow someone for the next week or until you feel comfortable." Pausing, his silver eyes assessed whether I was following along with his speech. I nodded my head in confirmation. At the orphanage I'd never had chores, only extensive training and classes, I just knew I would be a mess if he'd just thrown me into the fray. Shadowing someone would be so helpful. "I noticed you seem rather close with Darren I'm sure he wouldn't mind -" He cut off and he noticed me frantically shaking my head. "Alright," He said slowly, confusion shining in his magnesium orbs. "I could always ask Julia; she's always complaining about needing an extra hand. Any objections?" He turned to look at me, guilt washed through me again as I realized I'd have preferred Darren, I was just too chicken to face him now that I knew. Julia had seemed nice when we'd met before supper, she would have to do until I could muster up my courage to talk with Darren normally again. "Alright I'll talk to her, for now head to the training room you can watch the spell training it can be quite interesting." Humour shone out of his eyes as his mouth curved up into a smile, he handed me a small map with instructions to the room written down.

After a series of lefts, rights and roundabouts I finally found the door labeled Training Center; they were 9ft, double black doors with a keypad to the side.

I clicked the OPEN button, causing the massive doors to slide into the walls releasing blinding sunlight into the hallway. I stepped inside the room with one hand shielding my eyes, the two doors slide shut behind me leaving a seamless scenery and a floating keypad behind. The scenery looked so real like I could reach out and not feel the cold steel of the black doors. My hand was poised to reach out but before my fingers met the door a child's shriek pierced the air. I spun toward the noise my eyes taking in more breathtaking, realistic beauty that made up the room. In the center of what appeared to be a tiny clearing in an endless forest was Julia, Clary, and Mark. Clary the young witch was a puddle of screaming tears, beside her Mark was trying to calm her his hands rubbing circles into her tiny shoulders. Julia stood to the right of them hands at her side, her face twisted with exasperation as she stared down at the toddler.

Without a moment's thought I walked over to the troubled trio, and knelt down next to the sobbing blonde. "Hello Clary, I'm Lilly. Are you having trouble with something?" I asked. She looked up at me her big blue eyes swimming with tears.

"I c-can't s-sa-say t-the w-wo-words w-wight." She said hiccuping as she tried to speak through the sobs.

"I often have trouble with words to," I told her. "When I was little I stuttered really bad, all my words get jumbled and mixed up. People would treat me really bad for it, but with practice I eventually got it under control. And I know that with practice you can get this word right to, and cast the best spell ever." I smiled at the little girl who looked up at me with shock.

"Y-you had trouble t-too? Y-you think I-I c-can d-do it?" She sniffed her nose, her eyes searching my face for signs of a lie or disbelief.

"I absolutely think you can," I replied tucking a hair behind her ear. She smiled up at me the tears stopping.

With her eyes still red and swollen she sniffed on final time. "I'll try again," I could see a determination in her eyes as she faced Julia ready to master the words she needed to cast the spell. Looking away from her I noticed Mark staring at me.

"What?" I asked self consciously.

"I've never seen someone handle Clary so well since her mother passed. She doesn't listen to anyone when she gets like that." Mark said as he rained in his shocked expression. I looked toward Clary who was working on a vowel sounds, all presence of the early tears forgotten.

"I think she just needed to know success was possible and that someone outside her family, someone unbiased believed in her. I remember how hard it was for me to learn Latin at her age." I said, the memories of all the hours I'd been drilled by merciless professors. It was so different than the way Julia was teaching her and the support Clary had from her father.

"You were taught Latin? As such a young child?" Surprise once again marred Marks features.

"Yea, the orphanage I grew up in taught me all sorts of languages, and drilled me in all sorts of Pagan practices. I'm fluent in Latin, Greek, and Hebrew." I said as I sat down against one of the trees. Mark looked at me a little longer with his mouth age before he turned back to watching his daughters practice. As we lapsed into silence my mind began to wander, wondering what it would be like to be a witch to be able to call forth the elements to do my bidding.

I stood in the clearing alone, I could feel the earth, the wind, all of their life and energy. Their power filled me and mixed with in me. I felt invincible, confident, and connected. If this is what it was like to be a witch how she would love to feel like this all the time. I decided to flex the power I felt within, calling upon my memories of all the rituals and speeches I had been forced to learn. First I called upon the Earth asking it bend to my will to follow my desires and molding it into a small mound 3ft high, the ground surrounding the base indented from the movement of earth. Taking a deep breath, I focused on drawing the energy out of me and focusing it into my hand asking the universe to grant my wishes and allow me to tap into its power. Within moments a crackling ball of wild energy swirled within my hands. Calling for the universe to grant my bolt speed and accuracy I released the bolt sending it flying toward the mound. As it made purchase the ball expanded weaving an intricate pattern into the rock and then exploding debris flying in all directions away from the point of impact. It was at this point that a scream woke me from my daydream.

I spun toward the noise, seeing Clary - mouth still agape - held by her father, Julia sitting behind them sheltering herself. Confused I turned back, trying to find what they were so afraid of. What I found was the chard base of an earth made mound surrounded by indents matching perfectly from my dream.

I'm so sorry guys, I totally forgot about my promise to update. It's been sitting in my word bank for a year now, I figure even though its not down being edited and is in its rough phase I owed you guys something. Hopefully I can finish editing it and finish the next chapter before September for you guys. I think I've got enough time this summer to make that goal, but be sure to leave me a review if its coming to the end of august and I haven't updated at all.

Again my apologizes for the ridiculous wait. And regardless of the rough unedited nature of the chapter what do you guys think? Was it okay, are the other characters good or do they need something? Drop me a comment with your thoughts, critics, and (if you feel generous) your praise.

Hopefully I'll catch ya guys in the coming months.
~TLD

P.S. There is a rough image of the keypad that is supposed to go a long with the chapter but if you want to see that you'll have to check out the story on wattpad 35539123-lilly-saunders-daydream
If there is a way to add a picture to the document on Fanfictions site please let me know cause I love using photos to spice things up every once in awhile.