Chapter 2: Chapter 2

This scene is after the previous chapter(previously on Within The Cave-Originals)

Nicklaus and Rayne in media. (Unedited)

I have no reason to blame Nicklaus though. This is mostly all my fault. I should have left him when he told me to, or even before I feel this attracted to him. Now Lydia is chasing me, wanting to kill me. I have to be kept safe like Bella Swan. This is so frustrating and insane, but what choice do I have? It's either I continue on this path I've indulged myself into, or go back. No. I can't go back, if not seeking for death. I know not why, but I give Nicklaus an agreeing nod.

"Okay. Tomorrow, I give you my conditions." I say.

"Yes, ma'am." He replied. I check where my car is to find it melted completely into dried molten on the other side of the street. The fire is enough to do that though.

Nicklaus bends his back for me, and knowing the indication, I climb his back, hold onto his shoulder, clasp my hand around his neck, hook my legs around his waist, place my head on the back of his neck, which is tilted to a side and tell him to take off.

The air, as usual fans unmercifully on my face, sprawling my hair wildly and forcing me to close my eyes. Occasionally, Nicklaus will tell me to hold onto him harder, then I'd feel us jump. It took me long before I realize it's a jump over some log, obstructing the way and not flying since he'd go really high with his air bending abilities. Sometimes even higher than the tallest of the trees in this woods. I'd open my eyes and take a sharp look at the wonders. The flamboyant leaves beneath us while in air makes it look like a grassy carpet. Beautiful. I try to dispatch all thought that's make me not enjoy the moment.

We come to a halt, and Nicklaus puts me down in front of a beautiful cabin. The space is wide, filled with nothing but greeneries. I think the wood led us here. Nicklaus gives me not so much chance to take in the beauty before he takes me inside. I wonder at the depth, unrealized part of me if dangerous animals won't be coming in, but then, I recall what they are. What could be more dangerous than there are?

The inside is amazing, even as little as the cabin is, they manage to fill the place with exquisite furnitures, along with flower pot at either sides of the front door. It's such an alluring view.

"You'd meeting the Originals." He says to me, chuckling lowly as he leans closer to my ear. He leads me through the living area to the dinning room where his families are all sitting. They stop their conversation to look at us...or rather at me. Adeline cocks a smile that's similar to his brother's. I don't know what it means, so I just smile back at her.

Mr. Aaron Originals, Nicklaus Father, walks over to me, Nicklaus still beside me and shake my hand. "Hey, how are you?"

"Fine?" Myself is not so sure.

"Yeah, I get you. The situation presently is critical. It's so unfortunate that we have to get to introduce ourselves to you at this time. Come in. Sit." He urges me to come and sit on the dining table and I did. Nicklaus takes the seat next to me, which I appreciate.

"There's nothing much for me to introduce since you know most, but, I'll like to correct one thing. Don't call me Mr. Aaron Originals, or doctor Aaron, just call me Aaron." Noticing the look on my face, he snicker. "Yeah, I read your head."

"Cool." Is all I say, because it's all I can tell him.

"Here's my mate; Anastasia." He turns to Nicklaus' mother, grasping her shoulder in a playful manner.

She smiles at me, and outstretch her hand which I take and shake. "Call me Ana. It's nice to meet you. You must feel odd in here, right? That's because we don't very much relate to humans."

"It's no problem." I say in a small voice.

I turn to Adeline, thinking she'd want to say something to me, but she just flips her hand and makes a high-pitched, "nah,"

"So, mother, what did you see?" Nicklaus ask, calling everyone's attention back into the work at hand.

His mother turns her eyes on him, a tiny glow on her eyes as she start. "His memories are a little hard to break into, but I was able to get some information. Lydia is a mate to the second-in-command of the leader of the Ryder's territory."

"That explains much now. That's why she's able to send a Ryders into risking his life for her revenge. She must have mate with her beloved then." Nicklaus says, frowning with some sort of anger I don't really get why.

"That's right, brother. And that claims her the gift to creating an army of Vampire hybrids?" Adeline enters into the conversation.

"No, she can't. She can only create Vampires, without the hybrid power." Nicklaus explains.

"Well, that explains the luck behind us."

Nicklaus nods at her as a response. Aaron runs his hand down Anastasia's back, calming her in a sense. She gives him a smile and I notice that the room is waiting for her to proceed.

"She also has the power of an armourer, I...I think that's all." The glow on her eyes flunctuate, as she stammer in between her words, uncertainty settling in.

"Mother don't stress yourself fighting the barrier." Says Nicklaus, and she stops...and lean into Aaron. "I think Lydia is becoming more than we think. She's able to get a strong enemy of ours into fighting with us, even before the fight is suppose to begin. She has the wit to manipulate preternatural beings, making them do things for her. I have no doubt here's another work of a Vampire hybrid, creating a barrier so we wouldn't be able to know her plans. She has both Ryder's and some Vampire's support." Nicklaus finishes, his eyes darting through the occupants in the room.

After few more talks about how dangerous Lydia is, armies she could make, news they've heard from their main territory — which is pretty an alarming stuff— that Lydia's been killing people this might lead to an implication for them. At first I thought the implication were the Wildlings — known as their killer when they do bad thing, or so I think — coming after them, but then, they said something about some creatures called; Hunters. From the way, they've talked about them, they seem like a really bad people that can frighten Vampires or Originals, I should call them. Well, that's where that stops, then another statement about leaving for said main territory. I make a mental note to ask Nicklaus about it.

When they are done with the conversation, all while, I'm left out as an odd, Nicklaus takes me away to his room, passing by an ermonously designed hallway.

In his room, such a nice, cute place, a bit cramped though. The wall at other end of the room is made with an all-glass window, down to floor kind, while the rest are made with wooden structures. Opposite the TV, whose area is designed with stereo system, an opened-cabinet just sidewall, below the hung TV is some set of cassette...so far his room has astound me. I never thought I'd meet a stuffed room like this being owned by a Vampire hybrid. And the most amazing part is the bed, opposite from the TV area.

"Seriously?"

"What?" He ask, been noticing me since I started accessing his room.

"You have a bed?" I rather question, though I know not why.

"Yeah. I do sleep. Wait...what do you think, like I was some sort of lifeless log?" He's smirking, his lips tugged up a little. I try to retort the incoming blush. I failed.

"You said that yourself. Well, I thought you were dead. Dead people don't sleep, right?"

"You really need to be taught things about us." He says. A part of me is happy that he'd probably be thinking of teaching me in the nearest future.

I let out a cough. "What were you guys talking about, er, traveling to "the main territory"." I mirror the way Aaron had put it. His name fit quite well, than doctor Aaron or Nicklaus' Father. Those were cliché.

"I can only tell you that tomorrow when you've decided on your choices." He tells me calmly.

"Oh." Is all I say. Another important thought. "We... never actually talked about my schooling. How was I able to pass my studies when I don't go to school?"

"I have that covered. It'll be like you never left. And sure you can go sometimes." He says and I nod, despite my inner gut wanting to against. I better not ask him more stuffs, because he's sure solved them already.

"You should get some sleep."

"Sure." I respond and look at the western side, searching for the bathroom. I need a cool shower to cool my head, and have a cool sleep.

"Over there." He points to a door, right next to the bookshelf. One wouldn't have noticed there should be a door there.