Believe (1) - The beginning....

You finish your lunch and sit, waiting for Sade to return, you can hear him on the phone in the next room, he seems to be fighting with someone.

"No! You listen! Shut up and listen to me! No, we will wait. We know they are back now and they know where we are." He growls, his voice so far from the soft caring Sade you've known these past two days.

Your curiosity is getting the better of you; you can't help but wonder who he is talking to and what he is talking about...

"Hmm, that might work. Alright. We try that. But make sure you're careful; I don't want to give the game away." Sade's voice lowers and you can't hear what he is saying without moving closer.

You resist the temptation, that would be rude and the conversation has nothing to do with you. "First star?" You whisper, Sade's words bring back to mind the rhyme from earlier, "Seven stars Orion make, first star history's veil will break..."

You pull your English book and pen out of your schoolbag, as you stare at where the missing page should be a picture comes into your mind, "Seven stars..." You whisper and the page seems to swim before your eyes.

The picture in your mind becomes clearer and clearer, like the angels you saw earlier, but this time the picture is of a wide plain, a lone figure holding a sword stands against a star-struck sky, a brilliant full moon sitting above him, as the picture becomes clear you can see blood streaming down his back and two black wings lying on the ground, severed from him. His sword drips blood but you can not tell if he is the one who cut the wings or if there was another. But the image seems to burn itself into your mind. So much so that you don't even hear Sade calling you until you feel his hand on you shoulder shaking you gently.

"Rune! Rune!" There is obvious worry in his voice, "Are you alright?"

The book before you slowly swims into focus, as does the picture you have drawn, as with the angel picture it could have been a black and white photo, the detail is amazing, showing exactly what you have just seen.

"Well, well, well...." Sade whispers, more to himself then to you as he looks at the drawing over your shoulder, now his attention does move to you, "I didn't realise you were an artist." He says with a smile, "But you look awful, let me get you some water."

Your body is shaking and you can feel yourself about to faint again when Sade returns.

"Drink." He commands gently and you do so, the water tastes funny but it stops the room from spinning and when you finish you no longer feel as though you are about to collapse.

"Thank you..." You say, looking at him with a smile, "I don't know what came over me... I just felt faint all of a sudden."

Sade grinned, "It was probably because of the ride here.... I should have been more careful with you."

"My friends are coming to pick me up, they should be here soon." You say with a smile

"James and Ren..." Sade whispers his eyes moving past you

"Huh? Do you know them?" You ask, confused.

"Oh, no, I don't, I heard you mention their names on the phone." Sade says, blushing slightly, "Sorry, that must have sounded weird."

You smile, "Yeah... it did kinda...."

Sade's blush deepens although he tries to hide it, "Sorry about that...." His eyes move back to the drawing in front of you, "So.... I didn't know you were an artist."

"I'm not really." You reply, "Call it.... A flash of inspiration."

"Really?" Sade asks, his voice soft, something seems to be hiding just behind his tone, something he is just controlling, what it is you can't tell, but it makes you shiver slightly. "Are you cold?" Sade asks looking down to you.

"No, someone just stepped on my grave." You say jokingly

Sade smiles gently, "You should not joke about such things." He says softly, once again that something is hidden in his voice, "But anyway, I should give you the grand tour of the house I suppose." And suddenly he is the Sade you 'know' from school; his voice is gentle and friendly once more.

You look up at him and give a nod, slipping your book into your bag and you pen into your pocket.

Sade walks you around his house, the top story has three main bedrooms as well as a spare, a living room, a dinning room and kitchen, and two studies. Down stairs is the garage as well as another living room with a projector and screen set up for watching DVDs, he also has a very nice surround sound system which must have cost a fortune.

With a smile Sade leads you to the backdoor, "You're not scared of dogs are you?" He asks looking to you, "I thought you might like to meet Zelot. Don't worry, he won't hurt you."

"I didn't know you had a dog." You reply, "Dogs are awesome."

"Cool then." Sade says opening the backdoor and stepping out "Zelot!" He calls as you step out after him.

His backyard is huge, several acres at least, from the shade of a clump of trees you see a shadow move and then come flying out towards the two of you. The dog, Zelot, is massive and looks more like a wolf then a dog. His coat is black, maybe a little brown as well and you can see that his eyes are a deep blue and very intelligent looking. He stops a little way from the two of you and sits, his eyes on Sade, his tail flips back and forth lazily as he watches, waiting for some sign or command.

Sade gives a small nod and Zelot springs forward with a bark, he jumps at Sade, knocking him to the ground and licking his face, tail wagging madly.

"Git off!" Sade says laughing as he tries to fend off the dog and his tongue.

You laugh as Sade manages to push Zelot off himself and get back onto his feet, wiping dog slobber from his face and brushing dirt from his school clothes.

Zelot seems to take an interest in you then, he sniffs you curiously and cocks his head as he looks up at you, as if to say 'I don't know you. What are you doing here?'

You reach down and let him smell your hand before running your hand through his, surprisingly soft, fur, his tongue lolls from the side of his mouth as Zelot sits at your feet, looking up at you, clearly enjoying the attention.

Sade grins at you, "I'm surprised, normally he doesn't take to strangers this well. He really likes you."

"I've always been pretty good with animals." You reply with a grin.

"I'm impressed." Sade said with a smile, looking down at Zelot, "I didn't want to scare you, but Zelot's a guard dog, he's trained to attack anyone who comes outside unless one of my family is with them. I'm very surprised he's warmed to you."

"Really?" You ask looked down at the dog who is currently drooling as you scratch behind his ears, "I would not have expected that."

"I don't know what's got into him today... but he does seem to have taken a shine to you." Sade says with a grin.

Suddenly a car horn blasts through the air, "That's probably my ride." You say with a smile as you look over to Sade, "I'll just run and grab my bag."

You give Zelot one last pat before the two of you move inside and head upstairs, you sling your bag over your shoulder before walking to the front door, Sade opens it for you and you step out.

The figure you see leaning against the side of the ancient, dirt-brown car in the driveway and the one actually siting on the roof of the car make you give a smile of happiness, "James! Ren!"

"Rune!" James calls, pushing off the car and running over to you as you run down the stairs. He literally sweeps you off your feet and swings you around in a small circle before placing you down, he hugs you tightly before letting you go. "I've missed you." He says with a smile

Behind him Ren gives a cough, "Dude, you totally just stole my idea..." He says jumping down from the car roof and walking over to you.

James lets go of you instantly and steps away blushing furiously.

Ren gives a laugh stepping forward to embrace you, "How've you been? Keeping yourself well?" He asks as he lets go

"I've been alright, missing you guys." You reply

"Of course! Who wouldn't miss a couple of handsome rogues like ourselves? All you've had to look at is Raven!" Ren replies with his trademark grin

You give a laugh and then look up to the front door, only to find it closed, "Huh?"

"What's wrong Rune?" Ren asks

You're about to reply when James cuts in front of you, "Whose house is this? You never even spoke to anyone at school, let alone get to know them well enough to be invited over."

"James!" Ren says sharply, "That was harsh."

You grin, "Actually that's true. It's a new kid's place, he only came to school a couple of days ago his names-"

"Get down!" James snaps and you obey instinctively, he never snaps at you, ever, for James to take that tone with you it must be serious.

"Well well, look what we have here." That voice.... No.... it couldn't be...

"The little human once again with her companions, but what is this? Only two of the four?" Delran says with an amused tone as he lands on the landing of Sade's house, right next to the front door, "My, and such a passionate reunion as well. James, I did not think one such as you could blush so red. And Ren, how does it feel to know you are so quickly pushed aside?"

The two boys look slightly confused but neither seems to really care about Delran's words.
"You seem to have healed from our last encounter." James asks softly, his voice hinting at humour, "Now what are you doing here?"

"Yes... I thank you for that...." Delran says bitterly before a grin slides smoothly across his face, "Am I not allowed to go where I wish? Are you going to stop me human?" he gives a light, mocking laugh, “Ah yes, but I forgot, you are not really human are you, James Heartstrike?"