When I look back now, I wish I could have told five-year-old me that she didn't need to know the truth because truth is a painful thing. Sometimes things are better left unsaid, or it will spread like wildfire and burn away at one's soul until there's nothing left. That day I learned that not only was I more than different but also more than I wanted to be. Adam was trying to save me but ended up destroying me instead. It was the first time I looked at myself as a girl who could never win against fate or my father…
Ria, "O-Okay, tell me the truth…" Adam inhaled a breath so large she was surprised it didn't suck the oxygen from the air, in her gut she was begging her legs to run but in her mind she was fixing them to stay.
Adam, "Ria…Nephilim are usually a combination of good and bad, heaven and hell but you…will always be bad no matter how hard you try to push it away. Bobby never told you what your birthmark meant did he?" Overwhelmed with sadness and despair she shook her head; did that mean she didn't have a chance at all?
Adam, "The rose crest on your body means that you are an Anti-Christ, which is the rarest of supernatural beings on earth. An Anti-Christ is responsible for rebirth of the earth, your sole purpose is to wipe away all the good in the world leaving nothing but evil. That's why your so important to your father, Lucifer will never stop until he finds you. In fact, he's probably searching for you this very second." Ria wobbled to her feet and back against the tree tears streaming from her face, Adam looked away in guilt seeing just how devastated she was to find out her destiny.
Ria, "Y-Your lying right *hic* that's not why I was born!" Adam avoided her hand as she slapped him in fury, how could she not know this while his very blood ran through her veins.
Adam, "I'm sorry but it's the truth. Bobby is trying to change that desperately, but it won't work. As soon as you grow up your true nature will take over." Ria blocked her ears panting heavily, she regretted this so much it hurt her heart like a sharp dagger.
Ria, "I won't be like that. I'll never become a monster like him, I'll die before that happens!" Adam gripped her hands sorrowfully as she sobbed her little heart out. Ria was letting out of energy unintentionally like an emotional release but if she let out too much it would attract superiors.
Adam, "I don't want you to become like that either, you're a kind girl Ria and I want you to do good things, but you can't do that here. You need a real teacher to help you control this thing inside of you, I know a place where you and Ethan will be safe." Ria pushed him away violently.
Ria, "I'm not going anywhere this is my home! Who I'm meant to be and who I am are entirely different how dare you tell me what I was born for the only person who gets to decide that is me and only me!" Adam huffed and gritted his teeth; he wasn't expecting such an emotional outburst, but this hurt him for some seeing her trying so hard to be normal.
Adam, "Your being naïve Ria! Think about this what will you do when your grown up and you gain your real powers, you won't be that kind little girl anymore you'll be—"
Ria, "I'll be Ria, that's who I'll be I'm sick and tired of people telling me who I am. I don't care if you've got future vision, I don't care if the whole world is against me. I will never ever become like him! Screw you and your prophecy." Ria began storming back to the house when Adam caught her wrist and pinned her down.
Adam, "I'm doing this for your benefit, if you stay here, he will take you I've seen it. Not only will he make sure your exactly what he made you to be, but he'll take away every slither of kindness from your heart. You have no idea how horrible he is Ria!" She struggled effortlessly against his strength, but she didn't want to hear it anymore, it was too painful. Feeling her chest fill with rage she couldn't help but push with all her might to keep her power locked inside.
Ria, "LET ME GO!" She screamed loudly and before she could control it Adam was forced back against the tree pinned unable to stand. Ria looked at her burning hot hands and gasped, she didn't mean to use her powers, but she was so angry it had forced its way out. Adam rubbed his head and looked up at the crying girl in shock, her eyes were glowing bright violet in the moonlight.
Ria, "Leave. I don't want to hear it." Limping to her feet she unsteadily made her way back to the house leaving Adam in a slump. No matter what he needed to get her away from here but was useless against her telekinesis, it was much stronger than he thought people usually started with pencil levitation never mind human.
Ria barged through the door her head filled with more than one source of agony, those words whirled around in her head until she had to sit down from dizziness. It was so overwhelming she began hyperventilating and yet again her nose gushed blood. Just when she was getting better, she was right back where she started. Aggravated and upset she slammed her hands on the table and began sobbing the hardest she'd ever done in her life. Ethan wandered out to see his sister curled up in the chair wailing away, he quickly ran up and shook her arm, but she didn't respond. Suddenly, as her high-pitched whines filled the house the roof began shaking vigorously. Bobby rushed from his room hearing sounds he'd never heard Ria make. Ethan was stood terrified watching the paper peel from the walls.
Bobby, "Jane! John! Get out here right now!" he rushed to her side trying to look at her face, but it was like her head was glued to the table. Jane and John stumbled out of the bedroom feeling the whole house shake.
John, "Jesus Christ what is going on!" Ethan tried to shake Ria again, but she wouldn't make a peep.
Jane, "Oh my God, Ria! Ria please look at me baby!" They all attempted to move her, but her body wouldn't budge. Blood from her nose spilled over the table onto the tile floor. Ethan ran behind his father scared in-case the house caved in on him.
Bobby, "RIA! LOOK AT ME!"
It was the first time I'd lost control not only of my powers but of myself. I hated the blood running through my veins, I hated those eyes that stared back in the mirror, I hated everything about myself. To me hearing from the man that I counted as my own kind, that I was made for ruin only ruined my own self-image, my own self worth and I was never the same after that day. I don't remember clearly what happened that night and my family never spoke of it either and we tried to carry on with life like normal, but my heart was darker and so was my thoughts. It remained that way until I was seven years old, after years of training and self-discipline, I finally became a hunter my grandfather could be proud of. However, refusing to listen to Adam until the end would haunt me for the rest of my life.
Ria, Age 7.
Ethan had grown taller than me, and my parents overprotectiveness increased tenfold believing it was my grandfather's trip out that had sent me over the edge. I never spoke about what Adam had told me, I kept it all inside for two whole years eating away at me. Though my smile covered every ounce of misery I had, no one inquired about my feelings or my thoughts afraid I would blow up again.
Jane, "What should we do she's been training for six hours straight." John and Bobby watched as she perfected every move not even stopping for a drink of water while Ethan ran after the butterflies. The differences between these two with identical faces became apparent more every day.
Bobby, "There's nothing we can do, she's a hard worker that's all I can say." That was a lie he wanted to say much more, since her outburst Ria hadn't stopped working, little by little she was starting to use her telekinesis in moderation enough so it wouldn't harm her. Not only that but she'd even set herself up a training ground filled with old flower bags hung from frees and wooden boards used for kicking and punching. Sometimes she worked so hard she'd either collapse or come back with cuts on her body from training.
John, "No this isn't just hard work, it's an obsession. Ria hasn't taken a day off in two years, I bet she could take us down without a second look. I don't know what to do with her." He sighed and sat by the window watching her stretch her body unnaturally so her muscles could perform the moves she wanted. Jane had also noted she wouldn't skip a meal as if she was storing energy for something, it was painful to see her choke it down, but they were glad she was eating something. As a result, her body was no longer scrawny, she'd developed some muscles and tones to her pale skin. Now her long white hair which curled at the bottom reached the bottom of her back.
Jane, "I can't watch this anymore, I'm stopping it for today." Her mother stormed out with her hands on her hips, Ethan was watching Ria do flips and high kicks over and over again when Jane caught her leg mid-air.
Ria, "Hey, what was that for?" Unfortunately for her parents as she grew older her stubbornness had increased too.
Jane, "You've been at it all morning sweetheart it's not good for your body." Ria huffed, they worried too much she loved training more than anything.
Ria, "Neither is sitting around all day. Really mother I'm fine." Jane shook her head and took her hand grabbing Ethan along the way. John and Bobby watched Ria's unenthusiastic expression as she trailed reluctantly behind.
Jane, "Nope your both helping me make dinner today so grab a knife and get peeling." Ethan and Ria both looked at eachother and sighed, there mother was always like this. If you didn't conform, she would force you too.
Ethan, "Ria what were you doing today?" She was playing around with her knife instead of helping with dinner still focused on getting better at wielding.
Ria, "Today was karate, why?" Ethan tried to imitate her, but he was no way near her level, Ria could slip the blade round each finger and throw it up to 30 metres. Jane glanced at them disapprovingly, she brought her daughter inside to get her out of that headspace.
Ethan, "What was that kick that you did, the quick one." Ria tried to recall which one he meant.
Ria, "Oh! That was a snap kick. Watch, you bring your strongest foot up to your knee then snap forward leading with the ball of your foot. The retract it just as quickly so your enemy can't grab it. It can wind them if you kick hard enough." She demonstrated slowly so her brother could see, he looked on in amazement. Jane also watched seeing her form was perfect, back leaned at a 45-degree angle and the knee bent at a 90-degree angle.
Ethan, "Then why were you doing arm strength?"
Ria, "That's for when people get you into a headlock. Turn around I'll show you." Nervously he toddled around when Ria's arm wrapped itself strongly around his neck.
Ria, "Now then if they place their arm on your chin it means they didn't get a tight enough hold in which you duck under and bite them with all your might. But if they wrap it around your throat, you have ten seconds to get free before you lose consciousness. In this situation you pull your head forward and snap it up as hard as you can, if they are an amateur you should break their nose but if their a professional you stamp on their toe, elbow them in the ribs and lunge forward snapping free." Ethan pulled forward and snapped back, Ria let go before his raven hair smacked her in the face.
Ethan, "Like that?" she giggled and nodded, he was still a baby in her eyes.
Jane, "Alright that's enough, get cooking." They both moaned and started peeling potatoes. After helping together, they all sat down for their daily family discussion because they couldn't simply sit in silence much as Ria wanted too. Ethan gobbled down his food like a gannet, Ria watched him shove it down and within minutes a meal that took an hour to make was gone completely.
Ria, "You'll get a bad stomach if you eat so quickly." Ethan gulped down his water.
Ethan, "No I won't. Why haven't you started eating yet?" Ria looked at her plate in dismay, every day she had to nauseatingly choke down food to keep her body in top shape. As she began eating, she could feel eyes burning in the side of her face. She looked up curiously to find Bobby looking at her strangely.
Ria, "Can I help you with something?" he shrugged his shoulders and continued eating, Ria rolled her eyes. There were words she wouldn't like about to slip off his tongue, she could feel it. Jane gave her father a look as if asking what he was doing. A while past to where Ria dismissed it when he dropped a bomb shell on her.
Bobby, "Never guess who I bumped into at town after all this time?" Not bothered Ria simply glanced and nodded her head for his to continue.
Bobby, "I ran into your friend Adam." Suddenly Ria dropped both her cutlery and froze, she hadn't heard that name in a long time, 2 years to be exact. They all squinted worriedly at her reaction as she placed her hands on her knees and squeezed them tightly.
Jane, "Really? What did he say?" Ria felt like blocking her ears, she didn't want to hear anything that came out of that man's mouth, Bobby furrowed his brows staring solely at Ria.
Bobby, "Well, we just caught up and he was asking how Ria was doing…after her outburst." Ria shuddered and kept her lips sealed, surely Adam didn't tell them about that night, he couldn't have.
John, "Outburst, what are you talking about?" Bobby was suddenly very serious, she wondered why he'd been watching her closely since he returned. Ria wanted to leave as soon as possible, get away as far as her legs could carry her.
Bobby, "That night." Blunt and cold Jane almost choked on her food and glared at him with panicked eyes, her whole body turned to jelly hearing he'd brought up their most taboo subject.
Jane, "Were not talking about that!" Ethan jumped hearing his mothers stern voice, Ria begged they would just leave it at that, but she wasn't the only stubborn one.
Bobby, "Oh yes we are. Ria…did you meet with Adam that night?" Ria trembled and went to stand up from the table when Bobby pushed her shoulders down, there was no escaping this.
John, "Bobby she doesn't want to talk about it, leave it alone." Bobby chuckled and shook his head tauntingly.
Bobby, "I'm not ignoring this anymore, if Adam hadn't of dropped her in it, I wouldn't be asking. We all know what happened that night, it's time she knew it too."
Jane, "Why are you doing this now? It's been two years she hasn't had an incident since just stop!"
Ethan, "Grandfather don't say anything else your upsetting Ria." Bobby slammed his fists on the table startling everyone into silence.
Bobby, "That's enough! Ria needs to know what she's capable of, or she'll never learn. Adam said something to you, didn't he? About your nature?" Ria looked up giving him the deathliest glare he'd ever seen as if daring him to keep talking. It made his blood run cold.
Ria, "It's none of your business. I'm not talking about this."
Bobby, "Oh yes you are. You still don't remember what happened that night do you?"
Jane, "No and she doesn't need to know either. Ria go to your room sweetheart." She didn't take a minute's notice and quickly went to scarper from the dinner table when Bobby caught her arm. Ria gripped his hand and twisted it into a lock, so Bobby grabbed hers and did the same thing.
Bobby, "You almost killed us, did you know that! Ria I'm not blaming you for what happened, but you need to know that you can hurt people. Adam said you threw him against the tree, what did he tell you!" Jane sprinted from her seat trying to separate them, but they were holding on tight.
Ria, "Nothing! I don't remember let me go!" Ria let her grip go falling to the floor, yet again that hot feeling in her hands returned, she was losing control.
Jane, "That's enough, Ria go get a cold bath! John take my father to cool his head." Ria took no chanced and sprinted into the bathroom locking the door behind her. Bobby was panting in disbelief; he couldn't believe he'd done that to her…John shuffled him outside firmly while Ethan tried to get into the bathroom to see if his sister was alright.
John, "What the hell is wrong with you, pushing her like that! You could have put us all in danger again." Bobby was shaking with anxiety; he didn't know what had come over him. He never wanted Ria to feel cornered, but it was like all the emotions from that fated night came flooding back.
Bobby, "I didn't mean to hurt her, I can't explain it…Adam told me they talked and all of a sudden she had a meltdown, but I don't think that's the whole story. Ria never cries or uses violence, she found out something she shouldn't have." John sighed and sat down on the grass looking up at the peaking moon.
John, "Your probably right but Ria can't help but listen to what others say. Ever since she was a small child, she was always insecure of who she was. Maybe one day those insecurities got a hold of her and broke her down. I'm not trying to lecture you into sugar-coating your feeling, Ria's strong in a lot of ways. What I'm asking you is to not lose hope in her. I want her to grow up knowing that despite her blood, she has the capacity to be kind." Bobby listened with teary eyes to the wisdom of her father, seeing just how sincere he sounded, he knew that John had every hope in his daughter to be great. Great in a good way.
Bobby, "Your right…I know how hard she works everyday the same as I know she's not working for herself but for us, so when the day comes, she can keep us safe." They both smiled and watched her punching bags swinging in the wind along with sweat soaked grass.
Meanwhile…
Jane, "Ria baby can you open the door?" Ria sat in a slump on the ground with her legs pulled up to her chin, tears streaming down her face.
Ria, "I didn't mean to hurt anyone…I'm trying my best okay!" Ethan felt his eyes tingle hearing the pain-staked voice of his usually strong sister.
Jane, "I know you are honey; I see how hard your trying. This isn't your fault, I promise you." Ria didn't response and instead buried herself into her legs, she didn't want to hear anything more. Ethan watched his mothers face sink hearing no response. It was the first time he'd felt such heaviness in his chest and strangely all he wanted to do was reassure his sister that everything would be okay.
Ethan, "Ria…you always tell me that we'll stay together and that makes me really happy like all of my worries have washed away. You also make me really proud when you eat all of your dinner and when you practice all day long. The way you buy me books instead of yourself. And how you always let me sleep in your bed when it's cold. No matter what I'll always be on your side so…can you open the door." Ria was stood up in surprise feeling every word melt her heart, Ethan had never been so caring before and then she was crying for an entirely different reason. Jane looked at her son in a different light as he practically clung to the door begging for Ria to emerge when the familiar click startled them. Ria opened it slowly stunned it was actually her brother saying those words, Ethan didn't even stand awkwardly or shy away he immediately wrapped his arms around her. Ria stood still in his warm embrace and like a dam had broke she squeezed him back with all her might and cried into his shoulder. Jane watched the heart-warming scene between her children and even shed a tear of her own.
Ria, "Thankyou for that Ethan. I really needed it…"