Fan Fiction ❯ Earth's Reflection, My World ❯ Storm ( Chapter 1 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

She walked behind her twin brothers to school as they argued back and forth about something or other, and she was just staring at the dark gray clouds.
Her sensitive nose caught the smell of electricity, and the air grew thick with the energy that was to be unleashed upon the earth as a storm. Her first instinct was to flee, to hide and find shelter from the rains that she knew would pour down mercilessly. Hard, and cold, the rain would fall, pelting her tanned flesh tender.
Her sensitive ears pricked to the sound of distant thunder, rumbling like the growl of a massive beast. Not far off, her dark eyes caught the sight of thunder preparing to strike down, as it still flashed in the sky. She sighed with relief, and took a deep breath.
She called to her brothers who were ignorant to such delicate signs. "If we hurry, we can make it to school without getting wet."
The older twin turned around and tossed her a teasing smile. "Afraid people will see you looking like a drowned cat, Neouri?" His eyes were more hazel as he laughed at her blush and frown.
"Puh-leeze!" She snapped, kicking a rock at his shin. "You two will look like you do right after practice- drenched in sweat!"
The younger twin turned around, his eyes were a brilliant green. "The women don't seem to mind."
She snorted. "Until they get a good whiff of what I deal with everyday walking home."
The two brothers laughed. "Dear Neouri, you contradict yourself!"
Neouri stared at her brothers.
Vance, the her eldest brother smiled warmly at her as he made the teasing remark. There was something different in his gaze today. Like he couldn't wait to get to school.
Darien, the younger brother, seemed to notice this too. He kept glancing at him nervously, as if he wanted to know why he was in such a good mood. He lagged behind, Vance didn't notice this, and continued walking.
Darien leaned down to his shorter sister and whispered, "What do you think it is."
"He has a girl friend." Neouri answered.
Darien nodded. "Seven days."
"Five."
The bet was on.
They smiled at each other.
Darien actually knew the cause of his brothers happiness, but he wouldn't share it with his sweet younger sister.
Darien studied her.
Her hair was atop her head in a tight bun in a fashion that hid her unusually shaped ears. She always complained that the ebony locks got in her way, but she never wanted to cut it. A few tendrils had escaped, and framed her heart shaped face where two, mystical eyes stared out. Her eyes were the most unusual, and catching feature she had. They were the deepest shade of blue, swirled in with lavender, her pupils were rimmed with silver, that expressed her happiness. The happier she was, the more her eyes seemed to glow.
He body wasn't bad either. She was petite with an average chest, and well rounded hips. Her legs were long, and shapely. Muscled calves and thighs. Her arms were lithe, and threaded with muscles. He's been on the other side of both her fists, and though they seemed delicate, with her arms, she packed quite a punch.
What he liked most about his sister, was her personality. She was one of those people who had to touch to learn, to know, to feel.
But, she didn't like to be touched.
He was proud of her, and proud to be Neouri's brother.
And by all that he was, he would protect her from Vance.
* * * * *

Neouri had been right when she told her brothers they would make it to school on time to avoid the rain. It seemed that the moment they reached the cover of the facility, a sheet of water fell to the ground, soaking those who weren't fortunate enough to have Neouri warn them of the danger.
Neouri separated from her brothers, and went to her locker.
A note was sticking out.
She grabbed the note, stuffed it in her backpack, and opened her locker.
The school was fashioned with halls that lead every which way, and stairs at both ends, and the center of the halls, the stairs leading upwards towards more classes, and another case of stairs that led to even more classes, and another stair case that led to even more classes.
Unfortunately, that wasn't the only building with four floors.
There were two more like it on the school grounds. Each of the three buildings had different names, and housed different subjects. Beside the three buildings, there was an office building, a gymnasium, a cafeteria, a field, a pool, and a physical center.
The school was very large.
The lockers were all red, considering it was a school color. The tile on the floors were black, the walls were washed white, and the ceiling was white.
Neouri smoothed out her black pants, and fixed her black shirt, ignoring the sneering gaze of one of the 'bubblegum girls.' They laughed at something they said, and three of them walked over to her.
Neouri had just closed her locker, and was preparing to leave when she turned around and saw the three girls.
One had straight, platinum gold hair with highlights, sea green eyes, a pink halter top, and white shirts. Her two friends had brown hair, one cut stylishly short, the other left it long and flowing. The one behind the blonde on the left wore a baby blue tank, cropped to reveal her belly, and low slung jeans. The other one behind her on the right wore a yellow tube top with a skirt.
The blonde one spoke. "Why do you bother fixing your hair when no one even bothers to pay attention to you?" Her voice was filled with curiosity, and feigned innocence.
Neouri rolled her eyes, and turned around, the icy look in her dark eyes suggested they leave her alone.
Too bad they weren't smart.
"Hey!" They called out. "I asked a question."
Neouri sighed. "I'm not up to answering a stupid question."
"Stupid?" One girl said.
Neouri turned around. "You know, like you three?"
They gasped. "At least people like looking at us!"
Neouri scowled. "Who says I need the acceptance of incompetent people such as yourselves?" She gave them a look of mock interest. "Pray tell, why do I need people to tell me I'm beautiful?"
The blonde's eyes widened and she laughed. "Why would anyone tell you your beautiful?"
"Because it's truth." Someone said.
Neouri, and the three girls turned around.
There, was a boy with pitch black hair, and eyes as gray as the storm that raged outside. He was tall, with sun kissed skin, and roped muscles. His arms beneath his shirt rippled with the raw strength he had. His legs moved with an easy sway that suggested he could move as quick as lightning if h had too. His wide shoulders were relaxed, his slim hips slightly tilted as he relaxed his stance.
The girl's eyes ate him up, and they shivered with the power that overwhelmed them. The essence of pure male, that was him.
Neouri was by far, more affected than they were. Her heart raced when she saw the color of his eyes. They were ever changing gray. Cloudy gray, cold gray. . . Within his eyes was the soul of a storm. His scent invaded her senses, dizzying her mind. She saw in a flash, heated flesh, her ears drowning out the sighs of other girls, replacing, instead, the sounds of wind, rain and thunder.
As if on cue, the thunder and lightning reached their school.
The windows lit up for a moment with the lightning, before the thunder crashed, and knocked Neouri out of her fantasy.
What was that!? She blinked, and realized she was panting, a sheen of sweat on her brow.
The girls gushed all over the new comer.
"Hi," They said in husky tones. "You must be the new boy-"
He cut her off. "I'm merely a visitor. My brother is the new student. I heard the bickering over here and decided to see what was going on." His eyes narrowed. "I would expect better treatment to a fellow classmate from girls."
The blond girl batted her lashes. "We were just playing around with our friend. She knows that."
He glanced over to the girl clad in black.
She wasn't where she was supposed to be.
"Don't ever talk to me again."
The girl was suddenly beside him, facing the opposite direction as she walked where he had come. It was obvious to him that a lot of the students either feared, or respected her because they moved aside to form a path.
From the look in the eyes of the other students, it was obviously fear.
* * * * *

Neouri sat in the back of the class where she knew few would suspect her of being. A top student, she was usually in the front area, or the middle. But today, she was in the back.
Although intelligent, Neouri knew her classmates feared her. They knew something was different about her, but what?- they did not know. It wasn't because she was a bad ass, not that, because even the biker boys make room when she's coming through, yet they welcomed any others like her. She knew it wasn't because she was smart. The brainiacs didn't go near her. She didn't know what it was.
She was daydreaming about nothing in particular when the teacher announced a new student for their homeroom.
"This here, is Eedenro Suriyo." The old teacher said n his raspy voice. "Give him a warm welcome."
Neouri looked up and noticed how he looked a lot like the other one that had come to her rescue.
She stewed over that, and growled. She didn't need him to make a comeback! She was well and thoroughly pissed with that man! Her thoughts shouldn't even be wasted on a nameless jerk who thought women were always in need of help!
Eedenro smiled to the class, and greeted them.
Neouri found herself smiling back at him.
"You can sit next to Neouri if you have any trouble." The teacher suggested.
He nodded as Neouri stood up, and pointed to the empty seat beside her. He walked over to her, and heard the sighs of the girls he passed.
Neouri knew he was a looker too, but wasn't vain at all.
His hair was just as black as his supposed brother's was. His skin was a lighter bronze, and his eyes were a dark blue. He had a sort of innocence around him as well, for he was smiling to everyone, and that smile was contagious. He wasn't built, but he wasn't skinny or fat either. He was tall too, and not lanky. He was just as graceful as his older brother, but didn't seem as dangerous.
Eedenro sat down beside her, his smile never faltering. "Hi!" He said cheerfully. "Call me Eede, what's your fancy?"
Neouri blinked. "My name's Neouri."
Eede nodded. "Neouri." He gazed into her mystical eyes, not ashamed of his reaction as he said, "You have the most unusual-yet beautiful- eyes I have ever seen. You know that?"
Neouri tilted an eye brow.
"Your eyes are like the color of a night sky, and the silver is like the moon." His eyes took on a glazed look as he continued to stare into them. "But your skin is the color of a perfectly fine cinnamon bun."
She blinked.
"I could really go for a cinnamon bun right about now!" He said in a whiny tone. "Why, if my brother hadn't been in such as rush to get to this blasted school, I probably would have gotten it too! By the way, how's for my first time here, one guy tried to take my money! I was well, and upsettingly pissed off, of course, and I nearly knocked him one!" Neouri found that hard to believe. "But I remembered one cannot just run around knocking people out. It just isn't done." He shook his head. "I believe it makes things more simplistic, but simplistic here is just not so." He sighed. "How I long to return home."
Neouri's brain was capable of hearing what he had just said, but she wasn't so sure if she understood the how's and the why's of it all, so she did what would have been natural for anyone in this situation.
She laughed.
Eede gave her a tilted look. "Find that funny do you?"
She nodded. "Immensely."
Eede's eyes brightened. "That's always good to know!"
They hit it off just like that, swapping schedules to find out that they were both in the same classes all day, all week. They were overjoyed, and found many, random, and spontaneous things to talk about.
Anyone who listened to their conversation was dizzied by their fast speech of inconsequential things. They were also confused by the swift switches in topics, or annoyed by their rhyming games wile they spoke of the same topic.
"Do you think it's going to rain?" Neouri would ask, staring out her window.
Eede would shake his head. "Perhaps, but that would be a pain."
"Very much so, I believe." She would sigh.
"If it won't, I'll be relieved." He would answer.
"What are you doing today?"
"Sleep the rest of it away."
"Wanna hang out after school?"
"Das cool."
She'd smile in an attempt to stop her laughter. "Give up?"
He smile back and reply. "Wanna bust me up?" His deep blue eyes would turn into irresistible puppy dog eyes, and she'd burst into laughter
The two were close friends for nearly two months.
And she still didn't trust him.
* * * * *

Eede arrived home, his lips still curled in a smile from talking to his new best friend, Neouri. He walked into the living, took off his shoes, backpack, and jacket and tossed them to the floor.
His brother's voice called out to him. "Home so soon from your friends hose, Eede?"
Eede grinned, even though no one could see it.
He and Neouri were close. She was actually the only possible true friend here in this new town, and his brother knew it, even if he had gone out on more dates here than anywhere. When ever he said he was going to her place, his brother would ask him how many days he would stay there.
Only three years older, his brother was more immature around him than he was with others. Eede discovered that his brother was not the silent type. He was just edgy.
"Want me to go back, Xelvarde?" He sensed his brothers irritation from the kitchen, and heard his curse.
"Not until you do these dishes, Eedenro ." His brothers voice sounded surly.
He frowned. "You're no fun Xel!" He whined.
"Quit your whinin' pup!" Xel snapped. "We're not here for fun."
Eede turned serious. " I found it."
Xel's head popped up from the kitchen doors. "Where?"
He leaned back lazily, "Here."
Xel rolled his eyes. "Why won't you tell me?"
"Because, it's far more precious than we first believed."
* * * * *

Neouri was doing her homework in her room, on the second story of her home when she heard the knocking from downstairs.
Her mothers melodic voice called out from below. "I'll answer it!"
She imagined her father was in the living room, or his study, doing his work, or reading the latest news. Her brothers were more than likely studying, and her sister wasn't planning on visiting today.
She was tackling a most difficult math problem. She glared at the paper for a long moment, and kept on reading the problem.
The square root of seven hundred fifty-two, over X, divided by six cubed. . . What the hell does that mean!? She thought as she looked at the rest of the problem. Is that even possible!? She continued to watch her paper, the first problem on her paper already driving her insane.
"Hell with this!" She muttered, and rolled over, off of her bed, and over to the side of her room to sit on the windowsill.
She stared out at the weather.
It was raining today. It was so sunny earlier, but it was raining now. The sky was clouded dark and light grays, the rain a slight drizzle.
She sighed and closed her eyes. She was so tired lately, so sleepy. It was no wonder why she never heard her eldest brother call her name.
He stood in her doorway, his arms crossed over his chest, and his legs crossed over themselves as he watched her sleep.
He had never seen her like this. Asleep, and peaceful.
Her dark hair flowed about her shoulders, passing her breast, to touch her hip in her sitting position. One leg was drawn up to her chest, bended at the knee, the other balanced her body off the floor. Her chest barely moved with her soft, even breaths. She looked dead to the world, but he knew she was asleep. And his instincts told him she was dangerous, even when her guard as down.
He stayed where he was and whispered her name.
Her eyes fluttered open, and she looked at her brother, sleep still in them. She smiled sweetly. "What is it Vance?"
"There's visitors here for you." He said, not mentioning it was two men.
"Okay then, I'll be right there."
* * * * *

She arrived, and saw that her mother was in a complete state of distress, her father was comforting her, and her brothers were shooting green fire at the two strangers whose backs were faced towards her.
They were at the dinner table, her mother across from the two men, and her brothers behind them in the living room.
Her protective instincts took a hold of her. "Mother? What's wrong? What have they done to you?"
Her mother looked at her, and more tears came forth, and sobs racked her body. Her father looked up at her, and a tear fell from his warm eyes. Her brothers saw her and their eyes weighed heavy on her. They were sad, defeated eyes.
"What?"
The two strangers turned around.
"Eede!?"
* * * * *

He saw betrayal flash in her eyes for the briefest of moments, and then anger. "What is the meaning of this?" she demanded. He flinched from the chillingly cold tone in her voice.
Eede couldn't stand it. If his brother hadn't grilled him on the reasons why they were here, she'd have lived a normal life. A happy life. The life other girls dreamed of here.
She was his friend, and he would have moved heaven and earth to keep her happy.
Instead, he would sacrifice her so that their world could live on.
* * * * *

Neouri had a feeling that Eede was behind the reason her family was hurt. She would hate him if it was his doing, and hate his brother if it was his.
"Xel," She nodded greeting to the older man. "Nice to see you again."
His cold stormy eyes never looked away from her eyes.
Eede was unusually quiet, and he never lifted his gaze from her chin when she greeted him in the same stoic voice.
Her mother was proud of her. She knew what her daughters thoughts were. She though that those men had hurt her family, and even if one was her dearest friend, she would die first before letting either know they hurt her. Instead, she gave them cold indifference.
Her father knew his daughter was upset. She always got like this with him, her brothers, or her sister if any of them did anything to her that made her mad. But, this time, it wasn't the men before him who was to blame.
Vance and Darien wanted to run to their sister and hold her to them so that she could never leave. They loved her too much for that. But, the saying was true when they said the truth hurts.

"Neouri," Her mother said, patting the chair beside her. "Sit down and I'll tell you."