Quinneth. . .The Martyr

Parking my car in the driveway of my house, I walk up the walkway to the front door. Before I’m able to knock on the door it slowly opens up on its own. Before me the house is filled with darkness, the wind whistles through the cracks of the window. I get an eerie feeling that sweeps over my body, something isn’t right.

Slowly, my footsteps inside the house, then the other one comes along. I look up the stairs not seeing any light from coming up there. Silence fills the house; the only noise is from my feet and the erratic breathing of my heart.

“Hello?” I say out loud. No one answers me, that’s good I’m alone. Maybe someone came in and stole something, but I can’t see anything due to it being pitch black. The light comes from behind me, but it’s the street lights outside.

I rush over in the living room, quickly turning on the lamp. Once the lamp is on the light illuminates the whole room. Nothing looks missing or out of the ordinary. Pulling my phone out of my pocket I check the time, it’s 8:30. I need to hurry up and grab this necklace so I can go back to Alexander’s apartment. With it being in San Francisco, it was an hour drive here and an hour drive back. Traffic is going to be hell; I can feel it.

Standing still in the living room, my phone starts to ring. I jump from fright, god who could that be? It is my grandpa calling me again to ask if I’m ok. He acts like I’m a 11-year-old that has been in summer camp for 2 months. Checking the caller ID, I see that it’s Alexander.

“Hello.” I hear him let out a grunt, it sounds like he’s getting into bed. Or moving something around.

“Hey, you there?” He asks.

“Yes, got here like 5 minutes ago.” I didn’t tell him about the door being open, and someone may or may not be in this house right now. He would run over here so quickly, and it might be nothing. There have been many times when grandpa would leave the door open. He’s so absentminded, I think it’s where I get it from.

“Just wanted to make sure you were ok. I’m going to bed, just wake me when you come in.”

“Ok, love your bye.”

“Love you too.” I hang up the phone, and stuck it in the back pocket of my jeans.

Maybe there is nothing suspicious going on here, grandpa just probably left the door open. If you don’t think of scary thoughts, there won’t be any scary thoughts. Let’s just get the necklace and head back to Alexander’s apartment.

Walking out of the living room, I see a figure standing in the foyer of the front door. There legs were width part, arms were hanging lazily on the sides. I couldn’t make out the identity of the figure, due to us being apart and it’s rather dark where they are standing. But just a little light was shown from the streetlights. I could tell it was a woman, the hair sits quietly on their shoulder. A few strands blow from the wind coming from the door.

“Who are you?” I say to the mystery women. She doesn’t move, and doesn’t say anything.

As I walk closer, I hear trembling coming from the person’s lips. Wait, this is not who I thought it was? It can’t be, I won’t allow it to be. I turn on the light above the door, the unknown person identity is now known to me.

Irene.

Her eyes are blood shot red, tear stream down her not so fair skin. I can see the trembling of not only her upper lips, but her fingers. Her hair looks erratic, like someone ran a million hands through it. When she looks at me, her eyes tell me to leave. To get out of here, a great evil is coming this way.

“Irene, what’s going on.” She doesn’t answer me. Her head shakes erratically, not wanting to voice any words. Not wanting to feel the eerie silence around us. “I can’t help you if you don’t say anything.”

Around her comes a figure, it’s a man. He’s tall, wearing a long trench coat. Just from his wardrobe I instantly knew who it was, King Yount. His tall stature makes me and Irene feel like dwarfs.

“She can’t talk. I silenced her.” He said his hands roaming over her short, dark hair. “She’s a screamer, this one.” I didn’t know what to say, or do. I can’t stop him from doing anything, he’s way stronger than I am.

“What do you want with her? I thought we had a deal, I would wake up the First Power, and you would leave everyone I love alone.” His head swiftly looks at me, those beady eyes carve in my face.

“We did, but now things have changed. Not after what you done.” He moves his hands away from Irene, she lets out a huge breath. I have no idea what he’s talking about, I haven’t done anything. That I know of.

“What I- what are you talking about. I’m confused.” He leaves Irene’s side and comes up close to me. His breath breathes on my hair. It moves my curls ever so gently.

“Your boyfriend’s pack attacked my Kingdom. In return they killed most of my guards. I NEEDED those guards and now they lay coldly on the ground floor.”

“I- I don’t know anything about that.”

“You must have told people about our deal. About you waking up the First Power.”

“I didn’t I swear.”

“DON’T LIE TO ME!” His voice booms, sending bitter chills through me and Irene. I see new tears trickling down her face. The only person I told was. . .Lyra. But Lyra hasn’t talked to anyone around this kind of stuff ever. I never told my grandpa nor Alexander. The only thing my grandpa knows is that I talked to Piper, but he doesn’t know what about.

“I’M NOT! Please, leave her alone. She’s innocent.” I tell him pleading with him to save her.

“She was, until you messed up. Now, I have to do something I don’t want to do.” I know exactly what he’s talking about. I don’t want to say it, it may come true. “I mean, your boyfriend did kill my daughter. This is simply revenge.”

Irene looks at me, scared of losing her life. “Don’t worry Irene.”

“You should Irene.” He says her name in a mocking tone. “You should be very afraid.”

“Stop this, you don’t have to do it. You have my word, I’m loyal.”

“You're not. From me doing this will whip everything into shape.” In an instance, his big hand reaches into Irene’s chest. A loud gasp leaves her mouth, it’s the most noise she’s made all day. Her eyes are widening, shocked by the mystery guys hand in her chest. He lets out a grunt, trying to maneuver around in her.

“What the hell are you doing? Stop.” I scream at him. Horror filling up my throat, letting my words come out all wonky.

“Sorry, can’t.” Quicker than the breath that escaped my lungs, Irene’s heart was now in his hands. A few beats came from it, then it stopped. Blood dripped on the hardware floors, seeping into the cracks. Her head turn towards mine, eyes fill with fear and sorrow. She drops to her knees, and her body then falls over. I see the life, the wonder, the hope leave her eyes.

“What did you do.” I whisper through the whimpers.

“Don’t blame me, you forced me to do this.” He trudges towards me, the heart that was once in Irene’s chest still held in his cold hands. The free hand grabs my face, blood is now on my face dripping down the nape of my neck. “Now this is what happens when people cross me. Your still waking up The First Power for me, someone will be coming for you on Wednesday, be ready.” His grip leaves my face, I move my jaw around.

He holds out my hand and puts the heart in it, steps over Irene’s body and walks out the door. I just stand their, confused by it all. I close my eyes tightly, hoping it was a dream. I open them, the heart is still in my hands and her body still lays lifeless on the ground. I did this, I caused this.

I’m the real martyr.