shadows

an unexpected discovery (1)

“Ah. You’re here. Welcome to the annual battle of the greens. For the uninitiated, the ignorant and the plain lost, shut up and pay attention. This is going to be fun.”

Borges, the man on the mike, was smacked in the back of the head. Sending his face crashing into the desk with force enough to crush his nose and paint him red. He shut up instead. He was glued to the desk a whole minute. And when he sat back up, the nose was healed. The bleeding stopped. But the red remained. The healing was no cleaning spell.

“Be proper,” Anika growled. She stood tall against the wall. Hands folded. Palms rubbing. Revelling in the sensation. The back of Borges’s head was truly inviting. And preparing too, for the next slap.

“Yes ma’am,” Borges said meekly. And continued. Speaking into the mike much more confidently, exactly like before. “Ahem. That’s what will happen if you don’t keep those lips glued.”

Another smack sent him down. Brought another interval.

“Be proper,” Anika repeated. The grin stayed longer on her face.

Outside, everyone listening snickered. The duo was popular. So popular since the first time they volunteered as commentators five years ago that they had grown to become an integral part of the celebration. Borges volunteered. He loved the sound of his voice. He loved talking. And it was inevitable that he discovered great affection for the job.

It was no secret that Borges had no filter, or stopper. Someone had to keep him from going overboard. No one did this better than Anika. And so, she volunteered too. He would speak. She would slap him. And they were both very, very good.

Milan was complaining loudly in the penthouse of the second building. “I need to be down there. Can we do this later? Whatever this is. It cannot be as important as the greens.”

“Are you participating?” Krom asked. His face deadpan. His voice deadpan. If he paused his breathing, he could easily pass off as a life-like statue. But that was him. This was no secret either. And so, no one would dare to make a statue. For the good of all elementals.

Milan shot him a glare. “Yes,” she spat.

“Is she participating?” Krom asked without missing a beat, this time his eyes on Anton sitting quietly by the side.

Anton shook his head without as much as looking in Milan’s direction.

“Traitor,” Milan spat at Anton. And then continued glaring at Krom. “He doesn’t know. It’s a surprise.”

Krom nodded. Then sighed, pulling on a sad look. “You will be absent. AWOL. Too bad.”

“That’s not your call to make,” Milan persisted. And though she was loud, it was clear to everyone present that this was her way of putting up a false front. Because she knew very well, it was his call. She could scream and complain, but in the end she had to do as he said. As he commanded. Because he was on the council. He was a commander. One step short of having a seat on the council. One step short of elder. And she was an ordinary elemental. But even more importantly, she was younger. And he was her elder brother. Though, a half brother. “What is it?” She asked when she got tired of the pointless screaming.

“I need you to come with me,” Krom said.

“Where?” Milan asked, moving over to Anton.

Krom understood what she was going to say. She couldn’t leave Anton. She made no secret of her feelings for Anton. And she was popular enough for everyone to care about what she did and who she cared about. And he was hesitating even more right now because he needed not just her, but the both of them. “Him too,” he said. “I need the both of you.”

“No,” Milan said without hesitation, and showing no intention of even allowing Krom to continue. She even moved to stand in between them, blocking out Anton from Krom.

Krom was still a full minute. Patient. Before continuing. “Hear me out Mill.”

“No,” Milan cut in again, even stronger. “I will stand with you. As I promised. I love you. Probably the only one in all of the family I love. Or I will ever care about. But not even for you will I change. Don’t drag Anton in. He’s mine. Not the family’s.”

“I promised you I would never let that happen,” Krom said. He was absolutely serious too. “And that will never change. Let alone him, I won’t let you be dragged into the family’s battles either. You know that. Just as you say he is yours, you are mine. Not the family’s. You believe that, don’t you?”

Milan didn’t answer. But she wasn’t as stiff. And that told all that needed telling.

Krom allowed the faintest smile. Shook his head. And continued. “This isn’t about the family. Yes, it is for me. But not for you. No one will even know I dragged you in. In fact, coming with me is the safest option for the both of you. The best way to stay out.”

“Are you for real?” Milan asked.

“You know I am,” Krom answered.

Milan stood unmoving, biting her lips, while she considered. In the end, she was moved. Nodding lightly, she stepped to the side. And then rushed back, to stand by Anton. Holding his hand.

“Good,” Krom said. He looked and sounded pleased. “Pack your things. We’ll be moving. Not permanently, so don’t rush into another burst of rage Mil. A few days, at most. No more than a couple of weeks. You will be going in as a friend. Not mine. Emerald’s. You will stay with her. Keep her company. Protect her. Protect the relationship. The agreement.”

“The agreement?” Milan asked.

“Emerald’s and mine,” Krom answered. “It’s a long story. I’ll tell you on the way. It’s going to be a drive a few hours long. Pack up. We’ll leave right away.”

A half hour later, they were leaving. Milan dragged them to the broadcasting room. The greens had begun. Borges had the best view of the stage. This was a competition for showcasing the most visually stunning and otherwise most useless spells that the elementals had created in the last year. Naturally, this wasn’t a competition for everyone. The council of elders certainly frowned upon it. But they could do nothing about it. They didn’t want to in the beginning. They turned a blind eye to it. Frowned upon the participants. And it made no difference because the participants were the weirdos, those with no paths to higher positions. The elders were more than happy to leave them be. And by now, the competition had grown too big. And it was pretty much impossible to stop, without facing endless complaints. Which would be so much more annoying considering the fact that it would be the weirdos, who were loud enough normally. They would be deafening when screaming complaints.

Milan waved at Borges, who screamed into the mike.

“Friends, we’ve got a special friend in her with us right now. Dear Milan just walked in, with her dear Anton, of course. Like that even needed saying.”

“Hi everyone,” Milan said into the mike. “Don’t be boring.”

“And with that, the next spell please,” Borges screamed. And the competition continued.

Milan dragged Anika just far enough away, before telling her what was going on.

“It’s going to be safe, isn’t it?” Anika asked Krom seriously.

“Yes,” Krom promised.

Only then did Anika let them leave. She stood by the door until she could see them no more. Then, turning back in.

Krom led them to his car. He sat behind the wheel. Milan sat in the back. Anton sat beside Krom. And they drove away.

This wasn’t the first greens Milan had missed. But she couldn’t shake off this nagging feeling that this might be the last. There was just that something in the air.