Saphire by S. E. Gutierrez (read e book .TXT) 📕

stayed in the same area, but this was teh first family that actually cared. I've only been wiht them a few days, but i have a feeling this isn't going to last, but this time, I'll leave for a different reason.

"I didn't hear that what did you say?" Zane aske, accusation dripping in his voice.

I shook my head. "You don't need to know." i said.

"I don't need to know? Saphire this is not

the time to be keeping secrets. Don't you get that yet?" I heard the anger flare up in his voice, taking me back to the previous foster family.

I shook my head, trying to clear it. I felt the unfamiliar feeling of tears pricking at the corners of my eyes. "I told you, Zane, you don't need to know. This doesn't concern you."

He looked at me like i was a fool. "Doesn't concern me?" he laughed bitterly. "All of our kind have learned that one secret can kill us all. Don't be an idiot Saphire."

I felt like my eyes were about to pour. Getting up, I slowly and deliberatley walked to the girls' bathroom. As soon as the door closed, I dahsed into the closest stall, tears already breaking my hold. Silently, I let the tears fall. When my eyes were dry and no longer puffy, i left the bathroom. Walking past Zane, I opened the door to the resturant, hearing the bell ding, I walked out.

I was halfway down the street when I heard footsteps running after me. I looked over my shoulder. Zane.

"Can't you take a hint? I need to be alone. Just go home." I said, my voice breaking a little.

"Saphire, didn't we just have a conversation on our kind's saftety? If I go home, you're coming with me."

He was closer now. I just kept on walking, keeping my pace even. He grabbed my shoulder. Spinning me around, I slapped his hand away.

"You don't know a thing about me, Zane! Just, leave me alone. Leave me alone." I commanded.

Images of those messed up families ran through my mind. No matter what I tried to think about, they just kept creeping up on me. Fights, fists, words, everything just converged on me.I started feeling dizzy, lightheaded. Closing my eyes I tried to clear my head. Instead, the memories kept coming faster.

I saw black creeping in on the edges of my vision. I was clammy, my throat dry.

"You okay Saphire? You look kind of sick." Zane said.

That was the last thing i saw. The black closed in, and I felt my legs buckle. In the blackness, I remembered the feel of old bruises, scraped knees and arms, and makeup used to hide all of it. I remembered the sting of foundation on a cut, the severe cold of adoptive siblings icing injuries. Those years of pain all built up had finally managed to shatter the walls around them.

When I finally came around, I was laying on Zane's sofa, and he was poking my face. I snatched his hand.

"Unless you feel like being Captain Hook, I'd suggest you stop."

He let out a relieved sigh, wrapping his arms around me. "You have no idea how bad you scared me. You were just standing there, then you just, fell. Don't ever do that a gain."

I moved over a little bit, giving him some sitting room. "You don't have to worry about that. I don't plan on that happening anytime soon."

He squeezed me tighter. "You scared me so bad. I thought a monster had gotten you. Fire, do you have any idea, at all, how horrible that would be?"

I didn't answer. Taking that as a 'please furthur explain' Zane held me even closer. I just let him, feeling my walls crumble even more. I closed my eyes. Deciding to make use of my closed eyes, I felt Zane's lips on mine. Before i had time to react they were gone.

I surpriesed myself when I felt kind of sad. Doing the unthinkable, or so I thought, I reached up, and wrapped my arms around Zane's neck. Zane to the hint, and teh warm pressure of his lips on mine was back.

It only lasted a few minutes before we were interrupted by a loud thump and 'ow' coming from my room.

"Expecting anyone?" I asked.

He nuzzled my neck. "Stay here, I'll go see who it is."

"Jake?!" I hear Zane shout.

Standing up, I went to go check on Zane. Leaning on the door frame, I saw Zane giving this Jake kid a nuggie, ruffling his hair. Jake looked to be no older than seven, yet he looked like a boy that's seen horrible things, but still got through them. I tilted my head back and laughed. Zane was just full of surprises.

Zane looked up, and whipped his arms back to his sides. "Um, Saphire, this is Jake. He's another mix, Athena and Apollo. The mixed older kids get 'little siblings' or younger mixes assigned to them. JJ here is mine."

Bending over, I put my hands on my knees so I was Jake's height. "Hi there Jake, I'm Saphire."

His eyes took on a yellow hue, and he waddled away from Zane and over to me. He rambled out something that sounded like an ancient language. After he finished, he wobbled and nearly fell over had Zane not caught him.

I felt my hands go up to my mouth, taking a step back. "What, just, happened?"

Zane set Jake down on my bed. "He's a son of Apollo, and his mother was a psychic. Because of that, his gift from Apollo was Oracle, whereas most are Muse. He's still training so, sometimes he gets really exhausted, and he still can't controll it that well."

I nodded. "What did he say?"

"He gave you your Greek name, Saffiria. It means gemstone." he replied.

I nodded again. "Hmm, cool, what's yours?"

He blushed a little. "Um, Zosimos. It means survivor."

"Aww, that's so cute. You do tend to survive a lot of things. Why do we have greek anmes?" I reply.

"We usually go by our greek names when we are around any of the Olympians, other demigods, or around greek people. That and when we are around Mythologicals, or the things like Circe, satyrs, and centaurs. Oh, and the House leaders. Especially the House leaders." he answeres.

"Huh, so I guess I got by Sotiria now. Can I, like, go by a nick name for that?" i continue my questions.

"Sure, at the House most the leader just call me Zo."

"Hmm, well, this is kinda cool. Is it still okay if I go by Fire?"

"Considering it's nearly the same name, I'd say so." he answers, smiling.

Chapter 13

Jake decided he need to crash, so I let him sleep in my room. Zane and I sat on the couch, his arm around my shoulders, and my head resting on his chest. We sat there talking.

"Saphire, if it wasn't a monster, then what was it that happened outside of Mae's?" he asked in a quiet voice.

"Well, I haven't necessarily had a nice life, and I kind of freak a little, I guess." I responded.

"Mind explaining?" He murmured back.

"I'm adopted, obviously," I started. "And let's just say that some of the foster parents weren't exactly the best. What happened at Mae's was just that, well, the walls I thought I had built of stone turned out to be paper. And the false feeling of safety was the blade that destroyed them." I whispered, choking up a little.

Zane leaned closer.

"It's okay," he whispered into my ear. "That it hurts. It's okay to be hurt, Saphire, and I'm am so incredibly sorry for what ever happened. I don't know what it was, or what it did to you, but I swear I will never let you experience anything like it ever again.

His breath tickled my neck, and sent shivers through me. I leaned on him, feeling the memories I locked away surge back. I flashed back to an old, awful foster family.

She was horrible, that last foster parent. She was cruel, and terrifying and ancient. Her son the same, as well. I grimaced as I smothered yet another scrape from her gaudy ring in cover-up. The scratches barely left scars, and even if they did, the little white marks were hardly noticeable. I peeped out of my bedroom door. Thomas, Cruella de Vil's son, was watching the hall. I shook. There was no way of sneaking passed him, and he would surely give me a new bruise. I tried anyway.

He stopped me in my tracks, raising his hand to strike me. Then, his mother came up behind him. She told him to stop. That she would do it. That she found a new strategy. I shook even harder. The mad woman grabbed my upper arm, yanking me into the bathroom. I was greeted by a tub filled with icy water, as the door locked behind me.

I shook myself out of the memory. I glanced at Zane, his face full of concern and worry. His chin was still on my shoulder, his arm around me, and his other hand had found one of mine. I was shaking.

"Are you okay?" he whispered, wiping my cheek. Apparently tears had fallen without my permission.

I shook my head no, and leaned my forehead against his. I felt his arms encircle me, and melted into his embrace. I'd only really, truly known him for a day and a half, and he's already become my rock. Zane kissed my forehead, and rubbed my back as I hiccuped. The sun was still suspended int he sky, casting a yellow glow everywhere.

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Text: Yes, I know, another unfinished