The Resistance

I have been writing on book three lately and I'm stuck between two versions of the book. Along with writing a bit on another young adult novella, my mind seems to be everywhere but here.

The third book of The Resisance I have two different ways to go, the beginning is the same but the story itself is different. I am not sure which way to go and if I keep going back and worth I'm afraid I will be confusing parts and mixing the stories. I have two very vivid stories and I can't mix them; I don't even think I could put the two stories together as one since they differ so much. So I am going to post both beginning tales and you tell me which you think is better.

Version One:

Chapter One

And though she be but little

She is Fierce

She begged for forgiveness but with every breath she cried out was in vain. Trying to be there for him wasn't working, he meant more to her than just a friend but that didn't matter. Everyday she tried helping him see how wonderful he was however she wasn't HER and HER was all he cared for.

There was nothing left of her pride as she sat on the ground crying beside the lake. Nothing could help her now, she lost her friend. The pain wasn't a stranger to her but that didn't make it any better of a feeling to endure.

“Tomorrow is a new day, I must move forward, pretend everything is just fine. Right now I'm not fine but soon I will be,” She repeated this like a mantra.

Watching the sky turn dark she knew that it was time to move, go inside, but the indoors felt like a prison with the walls closing in. So she kept still, holding her knees to her chest, watching the fish jump for their evening meals.

“You need to smile,” she whispered to herself, “Don't worry about the sadness, you are stronger and worth so much more.”

Walking in the door of her new home Baylee could smell dinner, delicious comfort food that normally would have her drooling.

“Hey everyone, I'm home!” Baylee called through the house.

Renee came out from the kitchen not expecting to see her daughter back home so early.

“Wanna talk about it?” Renee asked, knowing her daughter all to well.

“Honestly mom, I want to scream but that won't solve anything.”

Renee chuckled, “I doubt it would help but sometimes a good scream is all you need to feel better for a little while.”

Baylee walked to the over used couch plopping down with no judgment on distance making her fall more of a trust fall exercise.

“Fine pout all you want but don't break my couch. Living without help from Patrick is a bit rough. I can't afford a new couch or any other new furniture for that matter,” Renee sighed walking back toward the kitchen.

“Dinner will be done in ten minutes.”

Baylee's phone buzzed in her pocket, pulling it out she saw his name.

Damon: Bay I'm sorry I don't want to fight anymore

Then a second text popped up.

Damon: Good bye

Tears streamed down her face again. This night just needs to hurry up and end; she couldn't take much more.

“Garritt, I'm all packed, will you hurry up?” Baylee called up the stairs.

Thump thump thump

Three duffle bags were thrown down the stairs toward Baylee's feet.

“If you're trying to hit me, you missed.” Baylee smiled up at her twin brother.

“Trust me if I wanted to hit you I would have,” growled Garritt from behind a large pink duffle bag, “I have no clue why I am carrying your crap down the stairs, but you're welcome Bay.”

“Awe you're so sweet Garritt,” she grinned.

Renee walked in the front door noticing what she had not for a long time, both her children were smiling. Renee turned waving for Sorley, catching his attention he rushed to her side. He also noticed the smiles from his children; he missed so much from them growing up, then he caused more pain for them when they discovered he was their father and not Patrick. Sorley was glad to see some happiness on their faces.

Version Two:

Garritt

“Garritt you have to go, it isn't an option. I can't sit on Grimm Summit,” Renee sighed.

It came in the mail, my first real experience as a clan leader. Granda didn't seem excited about it like I did. He wouldn't tell me anything except that I need to have the clans' best interest in mind. This was a week ago, the more they refused to tell me about the summit the more I thought I shouldn't go.

“Why won't one of y'all just tell me something about this summit thingy,” I grumbled.

“Lad, you will understand when you get there.”

“Why can't you go?” I asked.

Renee shook her head, “I've told you a million times, Granda passed his spot down to you, not me.”

I slammed my luggage down by the front door. Every head in the sitting room turned toward mom and me.

“Lad don't be a pain, you're taking my place up there. I know you will do our clans here proud,” winked Granda.

“Wait a second so I'm not over all the leprechaun clans?” I inquired.

“No, just over the local leprechauns in our county,” smiled Grams.

“Grams please tell me what this Summit thing is, mom and Granda won't tell me much,” I pleaded.

Grams' smile faulted for a minute, “Sorry my young lad, this is one you must find out on your own.”

“Ha, Ha.” Baylee chuckled at me.

“Shut it Bay or you can go too.”

“Nope, sorry, no spot for me there,” Baylee's smile was so wide I thought it might get stuck that way.

“We are twins, I handle the leprechaun relations and Bay handles the elven relations. So why am I the only one going?”

Sorley chose that moment to walk in the room; all the eyes that were on me changed quickly over to him.

“What did I do?” Sorley held his hands up in surrender.

“Your son wants to know why Baylee isn't going to the Grimm Summit, even though she now handles the elven relations,” softly spoke Renee.

Since Baylee's 'vacation' the truth about Sorley being our real dad has now been a common topic around the house.

“Ah,” nodded Sorley, “Garritt why don't I help you with your bags and we can talk about it.”

Sorley grabbed my bags with ease throwing them over his shoulder. I was left with nothing to carry.

“This is crap! Enough with the games, why isn't Bay going?” I hollered.

A cab waited out front, it was an old fashioned black car with a yellow strip running down the side of the vehicle.

“I'll help with those bags,” crooned the cab driver.

Sorley handed over our bags, I was waiting for Sorley to explain why Baylee gets away with not going to this Summit thing. I can't find anything on the internet about the summit, I keep asking everyone about it and I have gotten no information at all. I don't even know where the Summit is being held.

“Are you going to talk to me or is this just another elf silent treatment?” I snarled.

Sorley whipped his head so quickly sending me a death stare nodding toward the cab driver, “You need to be more careful of what you say, you might be in Ireland – land full myths and legends doesn't mean you need to go running your mouth all over the country.” Sorley whispered.

Sorley breathed deeply, “I am still head of the elven clans around here. I want to be sure she is okay before I put her up before those at the Summit. Right now Baylee still needs to heal, she acts fine but I sense she is hiding something.”

I nodded in reply.

“Now say goodbye and make your Granda proud. I need to say my goodbyes as well,” beamed Sorley.

It took us ten minutes to say our goodbyes and be on our way.

“We need to stop to grab Emma,” I sighed.

“Sure, sure your protector, no problem.”

“Knock it off, she isn't my protector,” I growled at him.

Sorley laughed at me, “Yeah she is but, I understand pride, you don't want anyone to know that part of your relationship.”

“It's not part of my relationship.”

“Most leprechauns fall for their protector, it's instinct. Did you know Patrick was your mom's protector?”

I stared out the window of the cab, Dad was Mom's protector, I wonder if she actually loved him or if he was just a better option? Sorley stared at me, I could feel his eyes on the back of my head, I was afraid he would know I still don't consider him my dad. I know Baylee does, and I'm sure she has her reasons but he was never there for us. Emma might be considered my protector but she has always been my best friend, thing is now we are in a relationship.

“Come on Emma, we are going to be late now!” I yelled up the stairs.

I paced the living room waiting for my wonderfully late girlfriend.

“Oh chill out Garritt, the summit isn't going anywhere,” Emma said walking down the stairs. “Well Mr. Impatient, how do I look?”

I was staring at Emma, frozen in place, she looked beautiful in a light pink dress. I held out my hand to help her from the stairs, still speechless I just kept walking toward the door.

I take that as you like my outfit?” Emma giggled.

I smiled at her, “Of course Spider Monkey you are always beautiful.”

“Dork.”

“So...” I laughed at her.

The car ride was interesting, Emma and I talked about what we thought was going to happen at the Summit, while Sorley chatted away with the cab driver.

It didn't take long before the cab driver whistled.

Our cab reached a gravel drive that began to swirled toward a hill top; where there sat a large resort. This must be where the Grimm Summit is being held. I wasn't sure if the whole resort was being bought out or if only the conference areas were. I'd have to be careful to watch my size, its been months since I was around normal people; it didn't matter if I shrank in front of family but in front of strangers, might not be a good idea.

“Here is your stop, enjoy your stay,” the cab driver called out.

Sorley and I grabbed our bags , then headed into the resort. Once inside I had blinked to three or four times. The entrance was massive, there were two crystal chandeliers that lit up the entire entrance. In front of us were two spiral staircases one on each side of a grand desk. While walking up to the counter I could see the stairs were made of marble. The staircases were filled with guests going up and down, some carried luggage while others rushed around talking on phones or to the person next to them.

“Pay attention, we need to drop our stuff off then go to the woods, we are late,” whispered Sorley.

“Woods? Aren't we meeting in a conference room?” I asked confused.

“No, Grimm Summit has always been held in the woods, and will stay that way.”

“Gentlemen, I can take your luggage if you are running late,” A man in a bell hop uniform spoke to us.

“That is a great idea, here are our bags we will return before dark.” Sorley turned toward Emma, “You can't go sweetheart, why don't you go relax in your room or see the local sights?”

I followed Sorley out a set of back doors, walking across the freshly manicured lawn toward the woods in the far back part of the property.

“Do you know where you are going?” I inquired.

“Yes same spot every time we are summoned to a Grimm.”

“So is this a yearly thing?”

“No only when major occurrences take place.”

“Major occurrences, so something big happened. Any idea what happened to bring everyone together?”

“No, but you should know I won't be around you in there. You will be on your own to defend or make whatever decision you think is best for your clans,” Sorley looked severely serious.

“Oh that doesn't make me feel nervous at all.” I whispered.

We found ourselves in a clearing already crowded with people sitting on tree stumps and bare spots. In front of the rows of people stood a vast tree cut in half, long ways to act as a table for four people.

“Settle down, settle down, we need to get started. Do we have all sixty-four representatives here to begin?” A woman at the table stood speaking over the crowd.

Most of the people around me nodded while taking their seats. I sat toward the middle of the crowd hoping I had a good enough seat to hear everything going on.

“I now call this Grimm Summit to order, will the accuser please step forward and speak,” said a man at the far end of the table.

“Oiy! That would be me,” spoke another man to my right.

The woman at the table waved him forward.

“I have a complaint about a family of elves. They moved into my clan's territory. We are all pure here, I don't want my family living near creatures like that it might cause more mix breeding!”

As soon as the man said mix breeding there was an uproar of agreement. Many people were shaking their fists, nodding and some were even spitting on the ground.

The man began again, “I should have the right to kick them out of our land. The elves don't deserve to be around our people.”

Without thinking I stood up, “Excuse me sir, I have yet to hear what these people have done to be kicked out of their homes.”

Every eye turned toward me, most were angry looks and more spitting on the ground this time in my direction.

A man toward my left stood shaking a fist at me, “I don't want my elven blood to be soiled by leprechaun scum.”

“Leprechaun scum? Who are you talking about, you elves are all the same; believing you are better than everyone else.”

Suddenly there was an uproar all around me, people yelling across the open space at one another.

“Hey, Hey! No one answered my question.” I yelled over the crowd.

“Mix breeding is our problem, our blood is to stay clean not dirty like yours.” A man toward the back spat at me.

“Dirty like mine, I'm not sure what it is you are calling dirty but I'll have you know I'm proud of who I am. I take pride in my heritage and the people that depend on me.”

“Son, the only reason you're allowed to be here is because your Granda refused to send anyone else in his place,” the woman at the table said in an icy voice.

I nodded, I have no clue how to respond to this kind of attack. I'm a mix blood because I'm a leprechaun and an elf, shouldn't that make me special not an outcast?

“We will take a break for tonight, everyone be back tomorrow to continue this topic,” a man at the table spoke who had been silent until now.

Slowly people rose to their feet going their separate ways or talking to those around them. I tried to seem calm as I walked back toward the hotel for some alone time to think.