Unusual Love #9 Part One
#10 of Unusual Love
Thursday morning, the sun had just come up. However, Lucy had not had much sleep. What had just happened was constantly filling her mind. That crazy woman, arranged marriage, the letter, and the symbol. They were all connected to Sam, but he didn't tell her who he really was. "I can't wait any more. I have to call him." she said to herself.
Lucy scrambled over her bed to her cell phone and dialed Sam's number. It rang once before someone answered, "Hello..."
"Sam! Are you okay? What's going on? Who was that girl?" Lucy practically screamed in the phone.
Sam took a deep breath on the other side then said, "Fine. I'll tell you what I can without getting you involved." Lucy wanted to protest, but something in his voice told her that it was better not to. "I am fine. Meteor is strong, but not stronger than me. She couldn't kill me if she tried. As you have probably read in the letter," Lucy felt ashamed, "I am part of an old clan that has more power in the world than the government does. I am the heir to the entire organization. We do just about everything, but I specialized in... it's best that you don't know. Listen, I just need some time... to sort things out...please don't try to contact me through today, It is for your safety."
Lucy was startled, "W-what do you mean 'my safety'? What the hell is going on?!"
Sam took another breath, "You have to trust me on this one. Please, for me." Lucy sighed, "Now, if you happen to see anyone in your yard or stalking you, call the cops and make it sound convincing. When they leave, call me. Now... please leave me be for a while." he hung up.
Lucy was completely confused. She found Sam hard to understand before, but it seemed that she didn't know a hundredth of who he really was. Lucy stood up and started to pace around her room. She wondered what he was talking about, who he was, why she was even attracted to him in the first place, and who could help her find out about him. A spark in her head gave her an idea (I know! Marlene and Jen! They must know something!) Lucy grabbed her phone and dialed Marlene's number. She waited for a while, they a sickly voice answered, "Hello?"
"Jen? Is that you? Where are you right now?"
"U-um, we're at the library. We're reading up on some things before tomorrow. Where are you, Lucy?" Jen replied.
Lucy grabbed for some clothes and threw them on. "I'm on my way to meet with you right now. I need to ask some questions." Jen gave directions, since Lucy had never been to the library in her life. She didn't even know that there was a library close to her. She ran as fast as she could. (I have to know what they know. I have to know anything that can help me.) she thought.
It was a surprisingly short distance, Lucy hadn't realized it, but the brick building she passed going to school was the library. She shook her head and tried to focus. She went inside to find it cool, but empty. A few random people were roaming around the many shelves, but for the size it was barren of life. Lucy kept a frantic pace, looking up and down isles for the girls, but with no luck. A voice came from behind her, "Hey, if it isn't Lucy. How's it goin'?" It was Marlene, with Jen following her.
Lucy spun around, then let out a sigh of relief, "Where were you two? I was looking all over... and I need some answers."
Both Marlene and Jen looked at Lucy skeptically. Jen spoke up, "You know, even though we can study with you, we can't do your homework for you." her weak voice was perfect for the library. Lucy shook her head no, with a serious look on her face. Jen asked, "What is it then?"
Lucy walked with them over to a table with a stack of books. Most of them with titles related to games and strategies. Lucy noticed, but didn't care in the least. She waited for them both to take a seat, then asked, "What do you know about Sam? I need to know everything about him." her question confused the girls.
Marlene was the first to speak, "Well, he is kinda quiet and doesn't open up much, ya know? Let's see... he human, he likes games, he's smart, funny, and always calm and cool. Oh! He's one hell of a fighter. I seen him take on those three jocks last Friday, they were all on the ground before they could throw a punch."
Jen looked lively for once, "He's wonderful! He's like a superhero to me. He helped me with my homework, he even taught me how to play some games. He's always around when you need him, always ready to help no matter what is happening with him... ahhh..." she drifted off.
"Slow down there, fan club. I swear, if you had been brave enough to ask him out, we probably wouldn't be having this conversation right now. But yeah, that's pretty much what we know 'bout him. Jim doesn't know much more. We could give him a call and ask something about him, if ya want." Marlene said.
Lucy was deep in thought, "No... he doesn't want to be called right now...(What is going on with him?)"
Jen leaned over the table, "Hey, if you ever want to do something freaky with him, let me know. I'll come over and help out."
Marlene grabbed her and pulled her back in her seat, but Lucy didn't even slightly notice. She was so concentrated that she didn't even feel the tapping on her shoulder. Marlene looked up, "Hey, Lucy. Is that a friend?"
"Huh? What?" Lucy spun around to meet the person tapping on her. She stood up so fast that it knocked her chair over and moved the table. It was that girl, Meteor. "Wh-wh-wh-what are you doing here?"
The human laughed, "What? Wasn't our meeting yesterday enough to make us firends?" She eyed Marlene and Jen, who were now standing behind Lucy. "So... you three are the ones standing in my path. You know, I don't need any of you alive, so I'll give you a choice. Suicide, or Thorn her?" She reached behind her back and pulled out a black wicked and twisted blade. It had thorns all along the curvy edge.
"Lucy? What is going on?" Jen whispered, fear laced with her words. Lucy wanted to give an answer, but she couldn't think of one. All she could do was slowly walk back, pushing the two with her. Meteor just stood there, caressing the weapon.
Lucy yelled out, "What do you want from us?! We're only high school students! We haven't done anything to you, we just live normal lives, so please let us go. I don't know what's going on, so why do you want to kill me?!"
Meteor tilted her head back and laughed maniacally, "Why? Simple... you are not worthy of being his queen. I thought he had high standards, which is why he ignored me, but now I see that I wasn't to low for him, but too high. After I take care of you, I'll make him see who he is meant to be with." A smile crossed her face, one of a psychopath. (She is like Sam...) Lucy thought.
Just before Meteor charged at them, a voice boomed throughout the library, "Minami Sakura! Stow your blade, else lose your title!" Everyone looked around, only to see a cat with dark fur and a mask concealing all but his eyes standing only a shelf. Lucy wasn't sure why, but she felt like he was following her the whole time. He jumped down, over twenty feet, and landed calmly with his tail falling last. He stood up and walked towards the girls, "You should know that you are not authorized to take any lives that are not threatening you own." His voice was gruff, and displayed just how experienced he really was.
"Oh, come on! Why do you have to say it like that? It's Sakura first in this country, my lord. And besides, if they are out of the way, then The marriage will happen sooner! See? It's for-" She was cut off, but it was clear that she feared this man.
"You have been given strict orders! Return to your quarters, you are sentenced to a punishment of three days. Dismissed!" He was stern, but not unkind. Meteor left like a broken soul, she had lost all of her fight. The man watched her leave, then turned to Lucy, "Are you alright, madam?"
Marlene and Jen looked at each other while Lucy struggled to think. After a few seconds, she said, "Yes... what is going on here?"
The man stood still as he examined Lucy up and down, "My master has ordered me to protect your lives. He is wise beyond his years and predicted that this would happen. I feel the same disgust for that woman as my master, but I understand it's necessity. Without a wife, he can never become the Leader, and the entire clan will fall into chaos. For the time being-" Lucy's bravery kicked in again.
"It can be anyone, right? It doesn't have to be her, right?" the man nodded, "Alright then, so if... I wanted to become his bride, this clan would be restored to order and that girl won't come back here ever again, right?" Lucy wasn't sure what she was saying, but she was pretty sure she was asking Sam's hand in marriage, through a ninja.
To be continued