Children Of Deurom

Chapter 10| Something Nice

            Aidan sat back and enjoyed the air conditioning of Ian’s car as he sped down his street. He had left his spare clothes at home and needed to get them, much to the annoyance of Joan who seemingly wanted to get to training as soon as possible. But she sat in the backseat next to Chloe as Ian decimated the speed limit.

            “Shouldn’t you slow down?” Chloe meekly asks, Aidan turned to see her looking a bit upset.

            “Surely the speed of this contraption doesn’t bother you?” Joan asks her.

            “I get a bit car sick.”

            “Sorry.” Ian apologizes. “We’re almost there and then I’ll make sure to cool down on the speed.” Ian pulls up in front of his house, the screeching of his tires alarming Ian’s father, who was washing his car outside. Ian puts the car in park and runs out and attempts to get into the house, only to be blocked by his father. Aidan rolled down the window in time to hear the earful Ian was getting about speeding in his neighborhood. Aidan chuckles and rolls the window back up.

            “He’s getting reamed out,” Aidan informs the girls in the back seat. “We might be here a while.” Chloe lets out a sigh of relief and rolls her window down while Joan scoffs in annoyance. I wonder if she’s in such a hurry because she’s meeting with Arminius. Aidan turns fully around in his seat and glares at Joan, who is glaring at Ian. “What’s the big rush anyway?” Joan turns her attention to Aidan.

            “Young man, weren’t you just taught a lesson about the importance of being on time?” Joan asks.

            “Yeah, whatever happened with that?” Chloe asks. “I mean are you ok? Did you guys—” Chloe begins to inquire, but Aidan’s curiosity cuts her off.

            “We hashed it out. No big deal.” Aidan replies. “And even so, you’re the teacher, you’re here with us. But you seem to be in such a hurry to get us to the warehouse. Why?” Joan looks at Aidan as though he had just spit in her face.

            “It is none of your concern,” Joan replies. “We are the teachers, we make the rules. End of story. You don’t get to question us.” Aidan locks eyes with Joan and just as he was about to make some remark that would probably get him in trouble, the driver's side door opens, and Ian slumps into the front seat, tossing his bag at Aidan’s feet. Ian sits down and slowly pulls away as Aidan begins to sit right in his seat and buckles up.

            “Oh, man am I in trouble.” Ian mopes. Aidan chuckles in the seat, prompting an agitated look from Ian. “It’s not funny man. My dad was not happy.”

            “You were going like twice the speed limit,” Aidan replies.

            “In a residential neighborhood.” Chloe chimes in, her head sticking out the window.

            “All this talk is pointless.” Joan comments. “Ian, if you merely explain to your father that you were trying to get to your destination, of which its importance outweighs that of mortal speed limits. You will likely not be punished.” Aidan chuckles lowly to himself as Chloe sticks her head back into the car purely to give Joan a stern look.

            “Yeah, Joan,” Ian says. “I’ll just go up to him and be like ‘Hey dad, sorry I was speeding but I really needed to get to my training for this whole death battle thing I’m supposed to take part in.’ I’m sure that’ll go over really well.” Ian begins to pick up the pace a bit and they finally arrive at the warehouse. They walk in to be greeted by Nolan who is waiting impatiently in the middle of the room.

            “Your late.” He scolds.

            “Wallace’s child had to return home for some belongings,” Joan explains.

            “Well let’s get started then” Nolan instructs as he walks over to a table and retrieves three wooden swords and hands Aidan, Chloe, and Ian one each.

            “In the spirit of fairness, I demand Ian be chucked across the room.” Aidan jokes. Ian gives Aidan a wide-eyed look as Chloe tries to hide her laughter from an unamused Joan.

            “Very funny Aidan, but let’s get started shall we?” The next thing Aidan knew, he was thrown against the facing wall of the factory along with Nolan, Chloe, Joan, and Ian. Aidan scrambles to dig himself out of the debris that had now buried him. What the hell was that? Aidan thought to himself. Was it Lucas? Did he finally find us? Instinctively, Aidan shoots out a flame and quickly climbs out of the debris, following it up with another fireball towards the door. Aidan’s first glances were to his side where he noticed everyone had begun to dig themselves out.

            “Everyone ok?” Aidan called out, only getting groans in response. Ian crawled out of the debris and looked towards the door, a look of terror paints his face and mumbles.

            “Oh fuck.” It was only then that Aidan turned his direction to their assailant, realizing who it had been. He only saw him the one time in his apartment, but Aidan clearly recognized the hulking figure.

            “s**t,” Aidan whispered to himself. The footsteps of William Wallace grew closer and closer as one by one; Nolan, Joan, and Chloe crawled out of the debris.

            “Wallace.” Nolan groaned, throwing an empty paint can to the side. Wallace grabs Ian by the collar of his shirt and drags away from Aidan, dropping him onto the floor.

            “Hey!” Aidan calls out. He steps towards and irate Wallace who turns to face him, but is cut off at the pass by Joan.

            “Don’t even think of it,” Joan whispers. “Challengers cannot attack trainers and vice versa. It’s against the rules.”

            “He can’t treat him like a ragdoll.” Aidan hisses.

            “Ian is under his watch,” Joan replies. “Unfortunately, he can.” Aidan turns his attention to Wallace who hasn’t broken his gaze from Aidan. “If you provoke him, you’ll only make things worse for your friend.”

            “This is bullshit,” Aidan growls. Wallace takes an agitated step towards Aidan when Nolan diverts his attention.

            “William.” Wallace turns to face Nolan. “We can talk about this. There was no need for violence.” Wallace puckers his lips and shrugs.

            “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He claims. “I was merely employing a surprise attack on my fighter. Keep him on his toes and whatnot.” Ian finally crawls to his feet and looks around the room, his eyes sincerely apologizing for the actions of his mentor. “You all just happened to be in the way.”

            “If you want to train, we’d be happy to have you join us.” Nolan offered. Though it came out genuine, Aidan could tell by the way his teacher stood that he was not happy.  

            “Don’t blow smoke up my ass, spirit.” He snarls. “You aren’t even supposed to be here.” He strides towards Nolan, puffing his chest out with the intent of intimidation. But Nolan doesn’t back down.

            “I was never called back,” Nolan informed him.

            “But you’re aware that the deceased aren’t allowed to assist in the games. Technically, Arminius could be disqualified for such an invasion.” That’s when he turns his attention to Aidan. “How does that make you feel boy?” He asks. “To know that you could be struck down at any point—”

            “That’s enough.” Joan interrupts. “There’s no need for this talk. If he wasn’t called to return, clearly there is no objection to him being here.”

            “Unless the council doesn’t know.” Wallace snarked. He starts to look around the room, wagging his finger at everyone in the room,

            “One, two, three, four.” He counts. “Where’s Arminius?” That’s when Nolan starts to sweat a bit.

            “He had to leave on business,” Nolan replied, Wallace snickers in response.

            “Then I’ll be back and sort my grievance with him then.” Wallace gestures for Ian to follow him as he begins to make his towards the door, Nolan attempts to stop him.

            “Wait Wallace—” Nolan was cut off in an instance. It was so quick that Aidan had almost missed it by a blink. Wallace turned to face Nolan and let out a powerful yell. Nolan flies backward into the wall, his body embedded into the moss-covered cinderblock of the warehouse. Wallace sneers at his handiwork before leaving the warehouse. Aidan began to chase after him but a slow shake of Ian’s head stopped Aidan in his tracks and he could only watch in anger as Wallace and Ian got into Ian’s car and drove off. Aidan stands nearly lifeless in the doorway, trying to calm himself before returning to the others.

            This will work itself out. Aidan thought. You have to calm down. Don’t let your anger get the best of you. It won’t help anybody.

            “Aidan.” Chloe’s voice breaks up Aidan’s thought. “We need your help.” Aidan paces back into the warehouse and towards Nolan, whom Joan was attempting to pull out of the wall. Aidan rushed over and grabbed Nolan’s other arm, his hand feeling warm and wet. Nolan shouts in pain as Aidan and Joan free him from the wall. Nolan’s skin looked as though it had been torn, blood ran from his head down his face and shoulders.

            “Jesus,” Aidan exclaims.

            “I’ll get the first aid kit,” Chloe informs then running off.

            “Is he going to be ok?” Aidan asked Joan as she observed Nolan’s injuries.

            “He’ll be ok in a day or two,” Joan informs him. “This body is a formality, it will heal fast. Wallace knew this which is why he didn’t use restraint in his attack.” Nolan’s breathing was labored and sounded restricted.

            “Can he—” Aidan makes a slashing motion towards his throat. Joan merely gave him a puzzled look.

            “I do not understand.”

            “Can he…die?” Aidan whispers. Joan shakes her head as Chloe approaches with the first aid kit.

            “No, his body will heal remarkably but he can’t die.” She assures him. “He’s already dead.” Joan takes the first aid kit from Chloe and begins to wrap up Nolan’s injuries. “We’ll conclude today. We should allow Nolan to rest, I will contact Arminius when he returns.”

            “Where did he go?” Aidan asks angrily. “He should’ve been here.”

            “He had business,” Joan replied.

            “That’s not a good enough answer.” Aidan snapped. “He practically threw me against the wall for being late and here he is completely missing practice.” Not wanting to just stand there in silence, Chloe begins to help Joan wrap up Nolan. “My best friend just got dragged off by Braveheart and my teacher is lying broken on the floor of a warehouse, I demand to know where the guy who claimed he was going to keep me alive is!”

            “Aidan—” Joan starts.

            “Where is he!?” Joan shoots up in aggravation.

            “I don’t know!” Aidan and Chloe look at her in shock, this allegedly all-powerful warrior, clueless.

            “What?” Aidan asks.

            “Joan, you guys are supposed to training us together.” Chloe states. “You should know where he is.”

            “I trust in Arminius,” she replies.

“Screw this,” Aidan shakes his head at her and storms off.

“Aidan wait!” Chloe rushes after him as he leaves the warehouse. Aidan pulls out his cell phone and dials Arminius only to get his voicemail. He hangs up out of frustration and slides the phone into his pocket, trying to keep his composure as Chloe catches up to him.

“Went right to voicemail,” He groans. She comes up and puts her hands on Aidan’s shoulders.

            “Aidan maybe we should worry about this tomorrow?” She suggests. “When Arminius gets back I’m sure he’ll explain himself and then we can worry about getting Ian back,” He wasn’t sure what it was about Chloe’s soft-spoken voice, but it cooled his anger.

            “I’m sorry about flaring up in there,”

            “No worries, kinda got the impression you were a bit of a hothead,” They both chuckle as the warehouse doors open, and Joan staggers out, lugging the unconscious Nolan around.

            “I do not mean to interrupt, I know you both are heated with me at the moment but could I ask for assistance with Nolan? He’s quite heavy.” Aidan rushes over and grabs the other side of Nolan. They start carrying him over to the car when the sky opens up and begins to downpour.

            “Just great,” Aidan chuckles. Joan runs back to the warehouse to close the door as Aidan begins to position Nolan into the passenger’s seat. Chloe and Joan slid into the backseat with Aidan hopping into the driver’s seat.

            “You can operate this thing?” Joan asks.

            “Oh yeah,” Aidan assures her as he speeds away from the warehouse back to his house. “I’ll drop Nolan off at my house and then take you guys home.” He looks at the old clock on Nolan’s dashboard which read: 4:52. He still had plenty of time to get ready before the auction. But as Aidan drove up to his long driveway, he realized a terrifying sight. His brother’s black muscle car. “Oh, s**t,”

            “What’s up?” Chloe asks.

            “My brother’s here,” Aidan informs them. “I can’t take Nolan inside with him there, he’ll ask too many questions.”

            “I can loop the car around and wait for him to leave,” Chloe suggests. He looks at Nolan, whose face had been beaten up from being thrown into boxes. Aidan looks through his backpack that he had thrown at Nolan’s feet and pulls out an old baseball cap and puts on Nolan’s head, tilting it down to cover his face.

            “Better idea, just hop in the driver’s seat and wait for him to leave. I’ll get him out quick.” Aidan rushes up the yard of the house and through the front door. “Hello?!” he calls out.

            “Hey! In here!” Adonis cries out. Aidan follows the voice into the living room where Adonis was playing a video game. He was dressed in dark jeans and a thin hoodie. “Hey hope you don’t mind.”

            “Nah of course not,” Adonis shuts off the game and hops off the couch.

            “I gotta say, I’m really proud of how well you’ve been up-keeping this place.”

            “Thanks,” Adonis walks over and picks up the picture of Aidan and him with their mother and takes a fond look at it.

            “I uhh just wanted to come by and make sure you were still coming tonight?”

            “Yeah of course,”

            “Ok good,” Adonis puts the picture down and addresses his brother. “This is kind of a fancy auction so suit and tie.” Aidan hadn’t worn a suit since his mother died, did he even still have it?

            “Understood,” Adonis walks towards the door with Aidan in tow.

            “And tell your date obvious she’ll need to wear a short tight dress,”

            “You know you’re talking about someone 10 years younger than you right?” Aidan chuckles.

            “Hey, it’s called wing-manning.” Adonis jokes. “Wouldn’t be a good brother if I didn’t try. But in all seriousness, dress.”

            “I figured,” Adonis throws up his hood which practically covers his whole face as he opens the door.

            “Who’s outside?” He asks, looking suspiciously at the car.

            “Those are just some friends of mine, we’re doing a study group and I left one of my books here.”

            “New friends?” He asks.

            “Kinda,” Aidan replies, relieved to be telling his brother some kind of truth. “The one driving is actually the one coming with me tonight.

            “No s**t?” Adonis chuckles. He stares at the car and sucks his teeth. He takes his keys out of his pocket and hands them to Aidan.

            “What’s this?”

            “Common bud, I can’t let your date pick you up.” Aidan cautiously takes the keys from his brother. “Take my car for the night and go do your study thing. I’ll wait here and get a ride.”

            “Are you sure?” Aidan asks, a stab of guilt piercing his voice.

            “Absolutely, go on.” Adonis playfully shoos Aidan out the door.

            “I just gotta grab my book.” He runs into his room, grabs one of the textbooks he had left in there, and rushes out of the house.

            “Aye yo!” Adonis calls back. Aidan turns, holding the book under his shirt in an attempt not to get it wet. “No eating alright?” Adonis tells him. “I wanna take you two out after the auction.” Aidan snickers and gives him a thumbs-up before running and hopping back into Nolan’s car.

            “You sure got rid of him,” Chloe jokes.

            “He’s uhh. He’s gonna wait here a bit. Just park down the street.” Chloe shrugs her shoulders and moves the car onto a side road where they watch as about 20 minutes later, a car comes and picks up Adonis, still wearing his hood to keep out of the rain. “Alright, we’re good.” Chloe pulls the car back into the driveway behind the black muscle car. Aidan runs out into the pouring rain to pull Nolan out of the car. Joan swoops up behind him and the two follow Chloe into the house. “Just lay him on the couch,” Aidan leads them to the living room where they gently lay Nolan down on the old couch. They breathe a sigh of relief as Chloe quickly shuts the door.

            “Thank you for the assistance,” Joan sighs as she sits down on one of the chairs in the room,”

            “You guys want anything to drink?” Aidan asks. Joan shakes her head in response,

            “Water if that’s ok?” Chloe asks. Aidan reaches into the fridge and pulls out two water bottles and hands one over to Chloe.         

            “I should probably drive you guys back soon,” Aidan says looking at the clock.

            “You could do that, or we can get a ride while you get ready?” Aidan looks at the clock again, 5:34.

            “Crap,” He swears. “I didn’t even think it was that late,” Chloe giggles.

            “She already called her mother while we were in the car,” Joan informs him. “She’ll probably be here any minute,” Aidan laughs to himself.

            She saved us both some serious time.

            “She was out running errands or she would have technically been here sooner,” Chloe tells him. Her phone lights up in her pocket and after a quick check, they were headed out the door.

            “I’ll be there in about an hour,” Aidan tells her.

            “Try to be there earlier ‘cause my dad will wanna grill you,” Aidan laughs until Chloe cheekily raises an eyebrow.

            “Oh, you’re serious?” Joan shakes her head as she walks out of the house, Chloe laughs and follows her out with Aidan lingering behind in the doorway. Chloe runs back up to the door,

            “I forgot to ask, is this like a fancy auction?” She asks, “Like do I need to dress up?”

            “My brother told me it’s formal,” Aidan replies. “Suits and dresses etc.”

            “Ok cool, I think I have something,” She replies.  “I’ll see you tonight,” Aidan watches as she runs off to her car. Aidan closes the door and sits on the ground in disbelief. For the first time in weeks, he wasn’t exhausted, in pain, or dreading the next morning. He was looking forward to tonight. For once, he was excited.