Sketches

~Stories~

I started this last night. I just felt like writing and this is what I got. There are a few things I'm still working on trying to figure out, but I like the direction this is going in and plan to continue working on it.

~The Coucnil~

~Chapter 1~

The short girl with long curly black hair and blue eyes sat in the back of the room, legs crossed, arms folded. Joss�s head tilted forward so her hair created a curtain around her face, shielding her eyes from view. She wore a long leather coat with silver buttons over a tight black tank top and black leather pants; tall black leather boots with four-inch heels were strapped on her feet.

There were at least twenty people sitting or standing around inside the large dark room referred to as the Council room. The flooring was black marble; pillars of the same black marble were lined along the wall, with black satin curtains draped in between them, hiding the outer walls from view. It was an oblong room, with a black marble podium at the front and large heavy black marble doors at the opposite end.

The people in the room were dressed all in black like Joss. Most of the rooms occupants were men, and occasionally someone would look around, catch sight of her in the back and glare, then turn and stare determinedly ahead of them, at the man standing at the podium. He was tall, with platinum blonde hair and deep green eyes; he wore a tight short sleeve black shirt and baggy black jeans. Chains dangled from his jeans and wrists. His ears were pierced and he had a stud in his left eyebrow. His name was Krell; he spoke with power and confidence. Everyone listened intently as he began speaking.

�This is a time of great sorrow for us, my brethren. One of our greatest has passed from our midst.� He paused and looked down at the podium, then looked back up at the group tears shined in his eyes. �Mika was a great man. All who knew him thought highly of him and thought of him as a brother or friend. Never a harsh word escaped Mika�s mouth. He spoke with wisdom that few have.

�Mika was killed while trying to protect an injured comrade. His death was quick. If we have any choice in it that�s the way we should all go.� Krell paused, his eyes flashed and he glanced at Joss. �I loved my brother. You all know that. But I do not and will not lay the blame on anyone other than myself.

�I thank you all for your support and ask for you to continue in your work, do not let your grief cause you to become careless and lose your own life. Now, please, enjoy the food we have prepared as you mingle. I know it has been long since we have been gathered and this is a sad reason to do so. I ask one more thing of you all, a moment of silence for Mika.� The room became instantly silent, all thinking back on the tall black haired green eyed, well-built man with a kind heart and a sweet smile named Mika.

�Thank you.� Krell said after a moment, he then stepped down from the podium and began to speak with the other council members seated at the front of the room. People stood and stretched, conversation filled the room with noise as people moved towards the long tables along the sides of the room where food and drink were set.

Joss stood and quietly moved towards the front of the room, avoiding the gaze of the others in the room. She paused and stood quietly near Krell as he spoke with another Council member.

He turned towards her and the smile on his face faded. He nodded in the direction of a small door behind the podium. And then whispered in her ear. �Wait there for me, Joss.�

�Come quickly. I don�t have all night.� She answered in her quiet voice, then slipped away and stepped through the door into a much smaller room. It was much like the larger room, black marble floor but no pillars lined the walls; they too were made of the shining black marble. There was a couch along the wall to Joss�s right, two chairs with a black table and brushed steel lamp situated in between to her left. Straight ahead of her there was a painting hung on the wall, two small lights focused on it. Joss stepped closer and looked at the painting.

It was a large painting, with the members of the council painted in a group around one man in a large plush armchair. His name was Ryel. He was the founder of the Council. He had sandy brown hair and pale brown eyes with deep tan skin. Krell stood on his left side, Mika on his right. Six other people stood around them.

Joss focused on Mika. It had been he who introduced her into the council. When the other council members insisted that she was to young, Mika threatened to leave the council unless she was allowed in. That was why the others hated her so much. But in the end the council had agreed and Joss had been allowed to take part in the Council.

Joss heard the door open behind her and turned slowly. Krell stood there, he looked at her for a moment and pushed the door shut behind him. He wandered slowly over to the couch and sat down quietly. He glanced at her and sighed, patting the seat next to him on the couch.

Joss stood silent and still. She took a deep breath and moved quietly towards him, pulling her coat off and draping it over the arm of the couch. She sat next to him, as far apart as she could manage. They sat in silence for a moment before Krell scooted closer.

�Joss. I know what you�re going to say,� he looked at her, putting a hand on the side of her face and making her look at him. �The answer is no. I�m not going to cut you from the Council. Not after all Mika did to get you in.� He leaned back and folded his arms across his chest, looking at her.

�Its not that I�m not grateful for the honor of my position on the Council, Krell.� She leaned forward, setting her elbows on her knees and clasping her hands together in front of her. �I know what Mika did for me. But I can�t do this anymore. I can�t, I won�t do this to anyone else.�

�What do you mean, Joss?� Krell asked calmly.

�Mika died trying to protect me. I should have died instead of him. You can�t deny that his death is my fault.� Joss said coldly. Almost instantly Krell was kneeling in front of her with her hands in his, looking into her eyes.

�Never say that, Joss. Never blame yourself for a taken life unless you took it with your own two hands.� He said reassuringly. �Mika loved you more than anything. He cared for you enough to give his life to save yours.� Joss pulled away from him and stood, pulling her coat back on quickly.

�Blessed am I?� she had a fierce look in her eyes and her voice was cold. �Blessed enough to have to watch the one person I ever dared to love be murdered in cold blood while all I could do was scream?� Krell still kneeled on the floor, looking up at her now as she moved towards the door. �Fuck you, blessed.�

Joss pulled the door open and left the small room quickly. She walked quickly across the now empty Council room until she heard Krell call after her.

�I�m sorry, Joss. I know you suffer.� Krell said loudly, his voice echoing in the empty room. �I know he loved you, more than anyone else in the whole of the world. Remember that, Joss.� His voice wavered. �Remember that he loved you enough to abandon the rest of us who loved him.�

Joss turned back slowly to look at Krell, only to see him shaking, tears falling steadily. He leaned on the wall and slid down until he was seated on the floor, crying quietly. Joss walked back over to him, and sat on the floor next to him, pulling his head onto her lap as he cried.

After an hour or so Joss pulled Krell up and wrapped an arm around him, walking him towards the door. He leaned on her as they left the room and walked down the hallway towards the Council member�s rooms. Joss pulled open the door to Krell�s room and walked him inside.

Krell�s room was fairly good sized, the flooring black marble, the walls covered in the same black satin. His room was empty but for some clothing in the closet and a bed pushed against the far right wall with a nightstand that looked like a large black box with a drawer sat next to it with a lamp and picture frame.

Joss walked Krell over to the bed and sat him down, she pulled open the drawer in the nightstand and pulled out the bottle of vodka she knew she�d find there and opened it, taking a quick drink herself, she passed the bottle to Krell.

�Don�t know why you keep this shit around, Krell.� Joss said quietly as he took a long drink from the bottle.

�Makes everything go away, Joss.� He said, taking another drink from the rapidly emptying bottle.

�For a moment maybe. But it always comes back, Krell.� She looked at him and he looked back at her. �You have to face it someday.� Krell stood quickly and threw the bottle; it shattered all over the wall. He stood in silence then sat back down on the bed, next to joss, holding his head in his hands.

�I�m sorry, Joss.� He sighed quietly. �I hate to break down on you like that. I just miss him is all.�

�I miss him too, Krell. I miss him too.� Joss stood and headed for the door. She set her hand on the doorknob and turned, pulling the door open.

�Good night, Joss,� Krell said staring at the floor. �And thank you.�

�Thank you? For what?� Joss answered, turning back towards him, halfway out the door.

�Never mind, Joss. Good night.� Krell said shaking his head.

�Good night. Krell.� Joss said after a moment, then stepped through the doorway and pulled the door shut behind her.

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