Keeping Up An Image

Rhyme walked through the old malls lot, it was the new teen drinking area. She hung out around here a lot, ever since she ran away. It was her home and everyone here new what she could do. They'd fought and bickered with her until they learned that she would always over power them. Now she just keeps things in check. She walked to her corner and stood there, grey eyes on the crowd.

Unsure of what to do around here, since being around people was one thing I wasn't good with dealing with them. I started to wonder why I was here as I walked around and made sure to not get to close to anyone. I see an empty corner and decide to sit down there and look at my things.

Rhyme stared at the boy in the corner alone. She walked over to him, with her arms folded. "You aren't from around here. I haven't seen you before."

I look up a bit startled, not expecting anyone to come up to me. "Um, n-no I'm n-not." I cover up my healing potions and all of that stuff and try to cover my face. "I, I've been wandering the world helping people a-and came here recently."

Rhyme sat next to him. "Don't be shy around me kid. It's not a good thing. I won't hurt you, unless you start shit around here."

"I-its um, just, I'm not much of a people person." I scoot away from her a little bit, and put my potions and ingredients away.

"Then why come here? Especially at night." Rhyme eyed his potions with curiosity.

"I, I didn't think this place would be active, a-and I wanted to get familiar with the area." I feel my heart begin to beat faster then I ever felt before. "Um, m-may I ask what your name is?"

"Rhyme. Yours?" She stared off at the people dancing with drinks in their hands.

"D-Damien." I look away, into the woods that is barely just visible. "Um, why is everyone drunk and dancing?"

"Because that's what teens do these days. It keeps them from remembering the war." Rhyme's voice turned bitter at the mention of it and she grit her teeth.

"Oh, I wouldn't know." I look away, trying to think about how to get away from here. "My parents died when I was a baby and I was brought up by wolves."

"I lost my family too." Rhyme knew she might regret it but she grabbed his arm. "Come on. I know some place calmer." She took him behind the mall and went inside the back door. Easily she conjured a fireball to light their way and led him to her"home." It was a simple futon with three black pillows and a black comforter. "I won't hurt you."

Not knowing what else to do, I follow her to her place that seemed to be inside the run down mall. "Um, w-what are we doing here?" I hold my things closer, prepared to run if I need to.

"Talking." Rhyme lit a lantern to light up her room. "It's not much, but this is where I've been since I ran away from home."

"I-its more then what I have." I look that the futon and stand there, unsure of what to do. "W-what do you want to talk about?"

"Why you aren't with the wolves. I thought they were taking care of you. So what is an Angel doing alone?" Rhyme raised her eyebrpw curiously.

"I'm ah, um, n-not a people person." I look away shyly and blush a little. "And I c-couldn't spend my entire life with them."

"I know the feeling. I couldn't spend my life with my father." Rhyme sighed softly.

"At least you know him..." I sit down on the futon and puts down my bag. A common ingredient fall out and rolls, hitting Rhyme's foot as I don't notice and lean back*

Rhyme bent down and picked up the ingredient. "You use the same things my uncle used..." Her face saddened as she stared at the ingredient, memories of helping her uncle before the war flooding her mind.

"Your uncle?" I sit up as I see the ingredient is in her hand. "Who is he?" I look eager as it seems that he is like me.

Rhyme smiled a little. "His name is, maybe was, Bastion Priyis. He was the leader of the hybrids. He married my aunt Essence, leader of the demons. Essence was my moms sister. Aunt Essence and mom died in the war. Mom died to save us all." Her smile faltered at the thought of her mom and a single black tear fell from her eye.

"I sure wish I could have met him, he could have helped me with alchemy." I smile and look to the ceiling.

"He disappeared after the war. I haven't seen him since." Rhyme sighed softly.