ALL NOVEL Reality Hits Hard
172. Reality Hits Hard
Chris
Juliet was next to my bed or in it the whole day, every day in the infirmary, as I liked to call it. Some days, Caleb would be there with Aries. Mom and Son really got along well. It seemed that what had happened to me had changed something between them, and their relationship was growing. The boy had a mind for family and keeping it together. My father had also been there and, strangely, making an effort with Sammy, taking her with him when he needed to return to Shumaan or helping Juliet look after her when she was there with me. I didn’t know if he had told the people that I had another child or not. He wasn’t talking to me about the succession anymore or anything happening there.
I had fought the idea of being a stay-at-home dad for so long. I had sealed my own fate and taken away any chance I had of progressing and climbing the corporate ladder. Ira and I had spoken about it. I would work myself up to general and lead until I could take over from him. My goals changed when I had Juliet and Zoreah. I thought I could do both and have a purpose in my life. I would mean something and have Juliet. I was back to plain old Chris. At least I had a job.
***
It was early in the morning, and I was sick of the place. I could eat and do most of what needed to be done by myself, although it left me feeling drained. My wounds were slight traces on my skin. I was getting dressed to surprise Juliet before she came to En-gannim. “Are you going home?” Michael asked.
“Yes. I have to get out of here, or I’ll go mad.”
“Do you mind if I leave with you?”
“Of course not. How do you feel?”
“I’m better. My wounds are almost healed… It’s only my bruised ego… that’s all.”
“Why you haven’t said one word to anyone in all the time you’ve been here.”
Michael nodded. He got up as well and pulled on his black t-shirt.
“I remembered getting whipped like that. Jamal and I hung on that pole next to each other.”
“Silvanus has a mean swing.”
“Brutal… I didn’t talk to Ira a lot when I was there. Sometimes for years. He treated me like a child, and I hated every moment of it. But that is what we are. A bunch of children.”
“I can’t really blame Louis… We’re not in a human society where our rational minds are always in control. Creatures have to be governed differently. Each to their culture.”
“Not that humans act rationally at all. You have all four… It’s a lot, Michael. No one is expecting you to do everything right.”
“Just to try.” I laughed lightly. Michael opened his arms, gesturing for me to jump in. “Should I travel us?”
“Let’s take the normal ones. The two of us would have given up everything for it. So we might as well use them… You need to conserve energy anyway.”
“Chris…”
“Don’t… We are family… and I love you just as much as Louis and Marcus. I wasn’t trying to...” My head lowered to the ground, thinking about what I should say. “It was a way of showing you that you belong here. I accept you. Neither you nor Juliet is alone anymore.”
Michael seemed guilt-ridden, but we traveled anyway; all that was left was to move forward. They had not changed any of the stations on the compound, and we needed to take a car to the estate. The last time I was there, Marcus was driving. It seemed like a lifetime ago. When we got to the main gate, a few women stood guard. I thought it strange to have so much security. Most of them recognized us. I had taken some of them to Avrio’s island. They wanted to report our arrival and drive us up the lane, but I wanted to walk to really get a sense of the place. It would be different to go to Marcus’s home with no threat lingering over our heads. Michael agreed, and we made the walk together. The sun was rising on the horizon. The sky was dark, with slivers of orange and yellow.
Before I opened the red gates, I could hear weapons clanging, voices grunting from exertion, and Marcus giving directions. They were already up and training. My breath caught when I saw Selena with that plate over her mouth. She and Jamal were fighting each other. My gaze flickered over to Ira and Silvanus. I didn’t think he would allow Selena to join Juliet’s army. I didn’t know how I felt about it either. She was lethal, giving Jamal all his days. Her Riphath form had changed somewhat, and her eyes were not grey anymore but a foggy white. Marcus was in control and directed her. I could see the difference in her combat immediately.
Caleb and Kubra were next to them, fully manifested and going at it hard. His teleporting was swift as he moved around Kubra. Marcus saw me first and waved. It felt like I had broken down the bond Marcus and I had built up. Louis and Marcus had come to the med bay a few times that week. Although they were making an effort, it felt strained. A push and pull all around. He pointed to a room in the corner of the place. “Come, I’ll show you.” I followed Michael down the corridor. He stopped at a door and pointed to another next to his. It was closed. As I slid it open, I drew a breath, taking in all of the room. Juliet was alone in bed. I didn’t know their schedule. There was a light on, and I stepped closer to the bridge and saw Louis in the shower. My eyes went from the bed to the bathroom. I sat down to take off my shoes with a full view of Louis. It felt strange. The setup was a whole other story. The courtyard to my right caught my eye. I followed the stream out, watching the water fall down the rocks from the mountain.
I had not given Juliet anything. In all the years that we were together, I had not provided for her, nor was I ever really there. We had so little to cling to. Katty was at her feet. I stroked the black and white fur. She responded, curling into a donut. I picked up the covers and moved in behind Juliet, pulling her against my body. Her body started shaking. “Oh, please don’t cry again.”
“How can you keep saying that? Don’t you regret it?”
“No. I made a decision. Maybe I did for a second… But that was all my human nature… We had to give them the ability without losing ours. If only for that. I’ll do it again.” I pulled her shoulder over so I could see her face. The sun was slowly making its way in under the curtains. A slight sliver was shining down on the mountains. “This room is magical, Juliet… I don’t know which is better? Louis’s house or Marcus’s.”
She pulled my lips onto hers. I closed my eyes, lingering and reciprocating. Her hands ran through my hair, down my neck, pulling me closer.
“How is the schedule going?”
She climbed on top of me. My hand ran over her midsection. There would not be a bump for a while. My head rested back on a bent arm. “How far along are you?” Juliet was undoing the button of my pants. “Where does everyone sleep? Will I have my own room the rest of the time?” She shook her head slowly, tugging on the hem of my pants and underwear. “I don’t have the energy.” Her shoulders slumped. She fastened my buttons again.
“And I don’t want to see you guys going at it,” Louis said, walking into the room.
Juliet checked her watch. “Shouldn’t you be going to work?”
I heard another door open. The shower went on again, and Marcus got in. I cocked an eyebrow. “You haven’t seen anything yet.” She stood and opened doors that I thought might be her dressing room. There was another room. I gasped, getting up.
“You probably spend all your time in there.” My eyes took in all the books and ladders on wheels that could reach the top of the roof. My gaze traveled out to Marcus. Then it dawned on me. That was where Damian watched her.
Marcus jumped out of the shower and came to get dressed, watching us all. Louis was in and out. Juliet had gotten back into bed. I was still looking at everything. “You don’t mind?” I asked Marcus.
“No! Please make yourself at home. I didn’t get to show you everything the last time we were here. And my room is just as open as Louis was in France….”
“You planned all this?”
Marcus shrugged. “I have a beautiful wife. What can I say.” He pulled on a slim-fit blazer. “I’m done, Marcus. I’ll have a smoke outside.”
“I’ll be right there. Juliet, make sure you follow the exercises. No more slacking.”
She groaned as I got back into bed with her.
“Bye, baby. See you tonight.” She waved Louis away with a hand in the air.
Marcus leaned over her. For him, she lifted her lips. He kissed her properly and licked his lips, hovering and thinking. “Think about what I said.” She plopped down on the pillow. Juliet was also weird with him. His eyes caught mine on them and nudged me to the door.
“Didn’t I just get into bed?”
“You best exercise with her. The sooner you get going, the sooner you can start your training. Get your strength back up.”
He got up to leave and waited at the door. Reluctantly, I followed him. “Walk with me.” Marcus loudly pounded on Michael’s door. “You have one day. Tomorrow, I want you back at The Tower.”
When we were out of earshot, Marcus turned to me. “I asked Fahan for a meeting. He will only meet with you.”
“Why?”
“Juliet doesn’t want to give Aries back. Your son wants revenge. And I need to see where the guy’s headspace is at.”
“Caleb?”
“I promised… he can kill all those scientists.”
My eyes blinked a few times, taking it in. “Okay…”
“But I need Caleb to do some recon before we get that far. I thought if he went and had at least one other person there for backup.”
“I won’t be any backup.”
“No, but you can keep Fahan busy. Michael and Caleb will go together. I have all ten coordinates on Palmyra. And I’m sure they are stuck on that island with their heavy bodies. Kubra said it took forever to get them into the palace.”
“What do you want to trade for. He’s going to flip out about Aries.”
“Look, they have Palmyra, and there is not much we can do about it.”
“You have to start aligning with him somehow.”
“En-gannin doesn’t have half the resources they do. It’s taking its toll. We always traded with them.”
“Okay. Tomorrow then.”
“See you later.” He clapped me on the shoulder and jogged lightly down the corridor. Caleb was running out of his room, Kubra in tow, and they all got in a car.
I went back to Juliet. She was sitting on the edge of the bed, away from the door, sniffling. I shook my head. “You can always take it back. Go with them.” She shook her head. Katty had climbed into her lap and was rubbing her chin. “Even the cat knows you’re unhappy.”
She picked up the cat in her arms. “Come, I want to show you everything. I need to go get Aries. Maya had him last night.”
I tugged on her shirt as she passed me, unable to pull her down anymore, grab her, teleport her to the bed, or stop her from doing anything. “We have to talk. I’m so bored. Tell me what’s going on in your world.”
“Liam and Soren have all Palmyra’s books… Every last one on that was on the planet… They are going through the oldest and most sacred writings first… My only goal is to see your powers restored. So, they send over everything they get on a tube. So I read a lot.”
“You didn’t fall in love with me because I was a creature? You addicted to the power?”
“If you want to stay like this… It’s fine with me. I will have you all to myself. You can be my sex slave.”
“Juliet… Why did you mention me branding Selena? Why does she have a plate on her face?”
“We don’t know what it would do if two Riphaths branded each other. I would rather do anything. Maybe it would be like with a human. Something else would happen… The plate was not my choice. She wanted it… Why? Do you have a problem with her being able to cross-breed?”
I smiled. At least she was all there with me. Jealous and clingy. “Why do you think I’m in love with her?”
“A gut feeling.”
“I won’t do it… The only thing it would do is leave her with a scar.”
“Is it because you think she’s not in love with you or…”
I put my hand over her mouth. She gave me a laugh. “No! I’m not in love with her. And if I didn’t do it for you… There is no one else in the universe that could make me. Not even for the chance of getting back my manifestation. What if it cancels out the teleportation swatch?”
“You haven’t been able to Manifest?” She kissed my hand. I ran my fingers over her cheek. I shook my head slightly. “I was thinking….” My eyebrows lifted, watching her. “You could move into my room. There is enough closet space. Or should I show you the only room left?”
I took the cat from her and put her on the ground. “Come show me my closet space and where my toothbrush will be. And then, I want to get in that bath with you.”
***
That was how the rest of the day went. Juliet and me on the bed, watching Tv. Aries with us. Juliet gave me a glass plate, and I started reading to catch up. Outside, Selena and Jessy were on the patio or in the kitchen. She was studying, and Jessy was helping her. They were spending all their time together. Warden was there, and we talked for a bit. He didn’t leave Sammy’s side and brought her in to spend time with us on the bed. Liam was there in the background. He also came in to sit with us. If he wasn’t there. The three of them went to En-gannim to work at The Tower. Warden used that time to take Sammy to see Cindy.
When I was too tired, I closed my eyes and took a nap in Juliet’s arms. A physio came in to help me. Tell me what to focus on. Juliet was in the water. After that, she did some yoga. I joined her, but we ended up laughing more than being productive. Jessy, Selena, and Maya watched us and laughed with us, getting into the weirdest positions. It felt good being with her. It was like old times.
When the sun was setting, Jamal and a bunch of the girls relieved Jessy and Selena. He was glad to see me, and I was happy that he had also decided to join us for good. We all sat on the patio around the fire that was always blazing and had a beer. Michael’s door was closed. I assumed he was hiding, but later that evening, he came in at the red gates with his helmet in hand. He had been gone the whole day. I glanced at Juliet. She had seen, but Jamal and Silvanus were keeping her busy. At that moment, it didn’t seem to have bothered her. It bothered me. His eyes were on the ground. He went to his room and closed the door behind him.
It wasn’t long after before the whole car of people stopped again. It felt good being with family. Everyone together. “See Ira. Species can mix.” Juliet laughed properly for the first time. Her boisterous, vivacious self.
The next day, we needed two cars. We had all gotten up early and trained. The routine at the house was flowing. I expected the rest of the day would also be like that. First, they took me to the tunnels, and we had our meeting. I had a lot to catch up on. After, we had to make our way to En-gannim. I had fleetingly seen Juliet’s office before. Back then, I didn’t think much of it, but at that moment, I stood at the door, taking in its enormity. All the ideas she had for her family. The dreams she had to give up. Marcus took his seat behind the main desk. Louis and Michael were at different tables. There were two open seats. I groaned. All of them stared at me. “Nothing we can do about it. Choose one.” Marcus said, knowing how we were all feeling. We had let her down.
I chose the closest to Marcus. “You going to let Soren sit there?” I eyed the open table next to me. Soren was in the corner next to Marcus. His head came up, and he shook it slightly. I wondered how the boy was doing. They were both so young.
Louis dumped a whole bucket of black tubes on my table. I groaned again. “Nothing we can do about it… Don’t say anything,” Louis whispered. I didn’t understand what he meant. It wasn’t long before the doors opened. My head came up quickly, and I reached for the first tube. My hand paused mid-air. A woman was carrying a tray to the conference room. The doors slid open. Caleb was in there studying. She placed it down and came back into the room, shuffling to the corner. Her eyes briefly came up to meet mine. I had seen so many pretty women on Zoreah that she didn’t really compare. I suddenly understood why Soren was there at all and why Juliet was the way she was. I looked back at the boy. Soren forced a down-turned smile and shrugged his shoulders. I nudged my head toward the girl and put two fingers together. Soren put his finger into his mouth and faked a gag. Louis chuckled under his breath. Michael didn’t even see her, notice our exchange, or care about anything going on around him. He got up to leave. I asked Louis in my mind to find out where Michael had been the previous day. Murderous eyes met mine, and his lips pulled in irritation. [ You’re slacking already ] I thought. He growled low in his throat.
“Fahan is expecting us in an hour,” Marcus said with the glass plate in his hand. I nodded but was not quite really ready to meet my maker.
***
We were ready to travel. I stood in the cubicle. Michael was about to get in next to me. “Caleb first.”
“Always.” He shook my outstretched hand. “With my life.”
“Leave me if you have to.”
Michael bobbed his head.
Caleb came over and wanted to take hold of him. Michael grabbed his upper arm. “Not today, buddy. If at any time I let go of you. You better get out of there. That’s the condition.” Caleb agreed. He was just too happy to be included.
The two got in next to me. Marcus and Louis stood, ready to bring us back. First, they teleported Fahan from the palace to the platform. They sent us next. We landed, and Caleb tapped me twice. He and Michael would teleport to the palace. I sighed, knowing even if Juliet was invisible. I had not lost all my faculties. Sure my creature would surface again.
“Where is my child Chris?”
“You know where he is.” I sat down at a big table that stood out in the open. It had a few seats around it.
“You do not look well,” Fahan stated.
“No kidding.”
***
Michael
Caleb and I landed in the garden. We made our way quickly through the palace. There wasn’t much place they could have set up shop. All they had was the equipment they brought with them. I was almost sure they would be close to the teleporter.
Caleb and I watched the five men for a while. Followed closely as they moved back and forth. Writing on paper. I scoffed. It would take them much longer if they had no computers to help them. Caleb watched me. “Are you going to tell me what you’re thinking? Will you ever speak to anyone again?”
“I promised myself I won’t until I can talk to your mother. Properly… This time.” Caleb smiled so genuinely. He was such a good kid. I ruffled his hair.
“Everyone thinks you’ll leave.”
Although my emotions were filled with exasperation, I tried to hide it from Caleb. That’s what Juliet had asked me. If I’m going to leave her. The worst was that I had… thought about it. A few months ago, I told Chris I would never, not even if she died. Becoming a creature had changed every resolution I had once thought was a fixed certainty. Caleb tapped my shoulder. The five men were huddled over some papers in the corner. I recognized most of the core formulas for each planet. It was working out the exact spots that took time. The equations on the papers they were discussing already had a complete location written down. It was nothing I even recognized.
# 1 [ I know Fahan told us to work on getting the coordinates close to the compound. And that’s where our source said the baby is… But…. ]
# 2 [ Wouldn’t it be easier going back to En-gannim and getting Rana to teleport us out to this one location ]
# 3 [ Even if he doesn’t want Ahasuerus vault… It will contain everything we need… As soon as we are dispensable, he will kill us all. We need to get out of here ]
# 4 [ Shhh ]
Dimitrios came into the room. “Are you guys working or talking?”
The men moved away from the table. Caleb took out a device and started taking pictures of each sheet. I turned to listen to the conversation.
“It’s difficult doing this all by ourselves. We got lazy on En-gannim with all the computers.”
“Computers?” Dimitrios asked.
# 1 lifted up a glass plate into the air. “Things like this… Devices. What does all the work for you.”
Dimitrios sat down at the table. His heavy hand played on the hilt of his sword. “You think it will be easier doing it on En-gannim. Quicker… Too scared to tell him that you want to leave.” The guy was sharp. “And I guess you have coordinates for En-gannim.”
# 2 “Yes! Many! Not to mention that we have allies there. If Fahan would only use them.”
“And you can go there from here?”
# 3 “From here, thirty entities at once. Just like we came in.”
Dimitrios played with his pointy ear, pulling it through his fingers. Caleb pulled on my shirt. Jade was standing at the door. The dragon stood up and walked over to her. “Please, Dimitrios. Let one of them go. Even if he doesn’t come back… Does it matter? He could get the coordinates for Earth sooner.”
“You forget that only Fahan can make it work. He made sure that Avrio taught him everything about how the ability is activated and how to keep control of who can use it.”
Her shoulders slumped, and her eyes conveyed more emotions than I had ever seen on any of the Chadari. Jade fell down on a chair. Her big hands ran over her face. Missing Aries was taking its toll on her. “Do none of you know?”
All five of them shook their heads. # 5 “Only the King knew. Ahasuerus only told Avrio because of Juliet. Avrio wouldn’t have told anyone else either.”
“Are you certain? Can you not even bring anyone here?”
The five men exchanged glances. # 5 “Avrio… did have a son. He doted on the boy. Sent to the camps early and did really well… If Avrio did tell anyone… It could be him. And yes… We could bring someone without Fahan.”
We already knew Ian was the biggest problem against En-gannim. If Ian met with Fahan it would be even worse. Dimitrios held out the communications device to the closest man. They changed some settings and checked some papers. We were hovering while Caleb recorded. We would know where Rana’s brother was hiding when we got home.
# 3 “I sent the message, but it will take a day or two for him to reply. Or even consider coming and taking the risk.”
Jade complained. The five men left into one of the back rooms. Dimitrios sat down next to Jade. He lifted a hand to rest it on her shoulder for comfort but stopped mid-air. He turned away from her. “Please help me, Dimitrios. You once wanted me.”
“Then you turned away from me for Fahan.”
“Ohhhh!” Caleb murmured next to me. “Seems like we have a way out of everything after all.”
“Nothing that motivates one more than passion.”
“You mean jealousy.” Caleb retorted. I laughed lightly and picked Caleb up, and we left. We landed next to Chris. Caleb tapped him twice on his shoulder. Chris strummed his fingers on the table. It was our sign that he was almost done.
“Okay, Fahan. I’m getting tired, and you won’t make a decision… You either start trading with us, or you’re people will be stuck there.”
The man smashed his fist down onto the wood.
“You have no choice… When Aries is back, you will eventually have to start dealing with the vamps. There is a lot Brylee got from En-gannim. You can’t wait till then. And you know he’s fine.”
“It is hard to trust you, Chris. You told me she would give him back.”
“Fahan, look where you are. Look at what I lost. Even if it was only Palmyra, you know it was worth it.”
There was a low rumble in Fahan’s chest. An almost feral growl. His chest lit up. There were no weapons allowed, but I wasn’t going to take the chance. Caleb and I stood closer to Fahan to protect Chris.
A wry smile formed on his lips. The man was looking for trouble. “Seems like your son is not so valuable to you as we thought. You’ve already made the decision that it was worth it. If Aries makes it… It’s a bonus to you.”
Fahan pushed out of his chair and stood. “Remember what I told you… Caleb will feel my retaliation, and then we’ll see who’s laughing.”
Chris scoffed. “I don’t know what you think you can do. The boy can disappear before you can make a move. Above that, he can teleport and fight… He’s not an infant… like your son… Why don’t you leave him with us? Aries can make the decision when he’s older.”
“She has no intention of giving him back!” Fahan’s voice was raised. “Does she?!”
“I told you it’s fifty-fifty. She’s a little pissed off that you did what you did. Juliet won’t get over it quickly… I told you. Caleb told you. She was open to negotiations, and you attacked us in our home… Fahan… The problem with the primitive species we come across is that you can’t change into a human. Reason. We have a saying on Earth. Don’t burn your bridges.”
“What you are now? It is not impressive at all.”
“The location of your son is on Earth… Filled with humans… Like me. They don’t use abilities. Or swords that glow. They have machines that fly in the sky and send down fire that wipes out anything in its path… And before you say you are immune to fire. You won’t be from that. It’s not the same as a scolding poker in a flame… Earth will stand with En-gannim. And when we teleport those flying machines here. Your precious Palmyra will be gone. Your people stuck on an island will be gone… Tell me have you tried to go into the water yet. Do you sink or swim?”
“Chris, get off my Planet!” Fahan yelled. “You made your point!”
Chris lifted his hands into the air and stood, taking out a plate of his own to not look suspicious. We got into the cubicle and traveled.
On the other end, Caleb and I went ballistic. I picked Chris up and shook him in front of me. Caleb clapped him on the back. “That was awesome, dad!”
“I think you should go into politics, Chris. The guy didn’t know what to do….” I shook him some more. “He didn’t know where to dig his grave.”
“Okay! Okay!” Chris tapped me on the back. I put him down gently. Chris staggered a bit when I let go of him.
“Get him home. Will you, Caleb.” Marcus ordered. Caleb took him back into the teleporter.
***
The three of us went back upstairs. I had so much to tell the guys. It had been such a productive morning that my spirits were restored. The doors opened, and I stepped through. I felt like going somewhere and getting drunk. I paused. I wouldn’t be doing that anytime soon. A shiver ran up my spine. Louis scoffed under his breath behind me. “If you had taken her with you. It wouldn’t have been a problem.”
Soren caught my eye. Had he been there the whole morning? Did I not even see him. I shook my head. Didn’t really know where my head was at. I had taken one step, and my gaze darted to the corner. I was in front of the girl in an instant, towering over her, and manifested into a Vampire. My black nails wrapped around her neck as I picked her up. Her feet dangled at the bottom. She was short, like Charlene.
Marcus and Louis went to sit down. “Who are you?” I hissed. What are you doing here?”
“Ra… na… she croaked out.”
I let her go. “Is that supposed to mean something? I asked… Who are you?” The girl was petrified, almost shaking. “If you’ve hidden behind a veil for so long, why did you get out of it?”
“I wanted a job. Isla helped me.”
My head snapped around at Soren. “This is Avrio’s daughter?” I asked.
Soren nodded. “I remember you… You were there that night.” I leaned in to smell her neck.
She shook her head violently. “I don’t know what you’re talking about?”
“Oh, I was in the kitchen with you and your mother. The man that smelled so bad… That happens to vamps that do not have a rich daddy.” Her eyes widened. “Not so smelly anymore… You were supposed to marry Marcus?” I scoffed. “Don’t tell me that’s why you’re here. That ship has sailed, sweetheart.” Her hand clutched her throat. She didn’t dare look at me. “But you don’t even know what that means. You can’t read or write. You can’t rub two thoughts together… Why do you think he chose her. She’s strong, and you think your pretty face can come close to that….” I grabbed her behind the neck. “Get out, Rana… but don’t go far. You’ll stand in the corner and know how you’re lacking for the rest of your life. Your father was always on the wrong side.”
The girl burst out in tears, running out the door. I had to shake myself. My manifestation didn’t want to disappear. “What the hell is wrong with me?” I stared at my black hands and nails in front of my face.
“Do you want another whipping?”
I was instantly back in human form. “Frak. You know if adrenalin brings on these bouts. I’m going to have a hard time.”
Marcus was scowling and thinking. His eyes bore into mine, contemplating. I didn’t know what to do, hoping he didn’t want to send me to a camp. Louis stood up uncomfortably and moved over to the couch. Louis picked up a pillow to cover his crotch with, groaning and rolling around on the cushions. “Marcus, stop thinking! Right now!” Louis yelled.
“Sheese Louis… You hardly ever want to have sex. After your body count, I didn’t think it worked anymore… If you’re actually getting it up. Shouldn’t you go home?” I mocked.
“I can’t… Marcus said once a week till the end of her second trimester… She’s already had her once a week.” Louis’s eyes were the barest of slits as he and Marcus stared at each other. My gaze traveled to Marcus. “What the hell are you thinking about? Louis groaned even louder. “You know she has a mouth,” I said.
“Watch your tongue, Michael!” Louis’s features changed in an instant. “First, she’s a brat, and now you want to use her like a whore.” I took a step back. Everybody’s impression of me was falling… Down into a ditch. Would I never be allowed to just be human?
“F-!” Soren yelled and got up. “You know it was okay when you needed me to go to Palmyra and collect those books. Organize them and force me to be reminded of where I am. Or be here to keep an eye on Rana when you guys are gone… But this… It’s too much.”
“Oh, sit down, Soren. It’s not all fun and games all around. Look at the pain Louis is in. And nobody told you not to move on… I watched her for fifteen years before I even met her. Your few years and one time… does not compare to any of us. If you love her that much, then commit anyway. That’s how a harem works… Or move the f- on.”
“Yeah? Well! She wasn’t stolen out from under you… was she? Be around her and not have her… I’d rather die.” The boy stomped out of the room. Just before he left, he turned and looked at Marcus. “And don’t forget what would have happened if I fought just a little bit.”
The two men stared at each other, and Soren turned and left.
Louis’s hands ran through his hair. “He’s half right… And you’re half right… I’m going home to beg.”
“You have an hour, Louis. You better be back we have a lot of work. And don’t you dare!” He waved his hand in the air.