The Swords

Chapter 4

Both Zara’s parents were diplomats, so they weren’t home very often. This allowed her to throw parties or invite friends over whenever she felt like it. She just had to clear everything up afterwards, task with which I’ve helped her a few times and it is not a pleasant experience.

“Elijah Turner and Christian Willis.” I’ve told the bodyguard with the attendance list, guarding the enormous golden gate leading into the courtyard of the residence. He looked through his papers for a couple of seconds. When he was done, he went through them one more time.

“Is everything alright, sir?” Chris asked him.

“I am sorry gentlemen, but I can’t seem to find your names anywhere.”

“No need to look, John. Let them in.” the bodyguard lowered his list and opened the gate at the sound of Zara’s voice.

“If I didn’t know you Zara, I would say that you intentionally left us out.” I’ve said grinning while we were walking on the red stone alley into the courtyard of the mansion. A feeling of emptiness took over my stomach, but this time it was a good one.

“Maybe I did, you will never know.” she said playfully, her green eyes gleaming, like a cat’s at night. However, knowing her I should have been the first person on that list. This was a clear sign that something wasn’t right. Scanning Zara, I’ve noticed nothing wrong, though. She was wearing high heels, making our heights equal, while the rest of her outfit was covering as much as the one, she wore at school, but it was more elegant. Her blue blouse was made from fine fabric, which however, was almost transparent, her b*a being highly visible. The purple short skirt she was wearing was in harmony with her high heels, highlighting her thin, waxed legs. Her floral scent was so powerful that it could be sensed from a distance of several steps, filling my nasal passages with joy. This picture was weird in a funny way, since she always loves playing with her hair, which was now tied up in a bake. Noticing Chris starring at her, I couldn’t help but chuckle. It wasn’t hard to understand how she could charm everyone, but this wasn’t making it any less entertaining to watch her wrapping people around her finger. She had by all intents and purposes a legion of servants. I stopped two steps away from her and we stood there for several seconds watching each other’s gleaming eyes with piercing looks, being like a battle neither of us was willing to give up.

“I hope this isn’t another one of your pool parties.” Chris said a bit aggressive, interrupting our starring. “I didn’t dress for one.”

“Her outfits never offer any clue.” I said as we began walking towards the house.

“Why not wear something that would suit any kind of party, if you can do it.”

“Or nothing at all.” I grinned.

“That is a fashion of its own, Elijah. However, I don’t expect you to get that, while being dressed like that.” She loved making fun of my outfits. However, she left me with the impression that this time she was really bothered by me showing up in a t-shirt and a pair of jeans, especially after the talk we had earlier. Chris was wearing one of my finest suits, being fit for a gala, just like Zara requested.

“It’s not about the clothes, Zara, it’s about who wears them.” My confident tone was trying to cover the fact that my reasons were completely different. It seemed to hold with Zara, who simply kept walking, a small smile on her face. Of course, I couldn’t excuse myself by telling her that my outfit was chosen so it would allow me to move properly in a fight. Realizing Chris’ question has not been answered yet, I asked:

“Did you invite the new guy at this pool party of yours?”

“First of all, it is not a pool party, it is a Heidelforg specialty.” Which meant that there were more parties mixed into one. “And second, of course I’ve invited him. I have to decide whether he is worth my attention or not.”

“You mean whether you can easily get him under your thumb or not.”

“Spare me the details.” She waved her hand as if she was dismissing me and then chuckled. Often enough I find myself wondering why she maintains such a good relationship with me, but I guess every rule has its exception.

“Is he here now?”

“Yes, he arrived, a couple minutes ago. Last I saw him by the bar.” She paused, inhaling. “Why are you so interested in him, though?”

I took a deep breath, stalling for time in order to come up with an idea.

“Well, I can’t just let any guy hang out with you, can I now?”

“What are you now? My boyfriend?” we both laughed, giving each other a look with the corner of our eyes. My heart was pounding quite intensely, this back-and-forth play of ours was always so much more fun when we both meant it. Chris let out a sigh, which made it impossible for me to contain a smile. When we reached the entrance to the mansion, one of Zara’s girl friends called her over. She rolled her eyes and said.

“I’ll be with you in a few minutes. You know how to find your way around.”

We nodded and opened the door of the two floors mansion. We got past the small hallway and into the kitchen just as three people were climbing down the stairs to refill their glasses from the bottles on the black counter. We politely greeted them and then started climbing the stairs leading to the first floor. A long hallway with a red carpet with yellow tassels was at the end of the set of marble stairs. The walls were covered in wood planks, with all kinds of pictures on the wall, some being portraits of important political leaders from different countries and eras and others portraying different diplomatic events from history. I’ve heard Zara’s parents calling this hallway a masterpiece, but besides the feeling of being in a museum, it didn’t stir anything within me. However, what was behind the first door on the right was definitely putting me through different moods. In this instance, I knew that after stepping through that door, the plan I’ve devised since leaving Merizar, was going to be put in motion. Chris opened the door and after taking a deep breath I stepped in the room.

Unlike other areas of the mansion, this was a quiet room. There was no loud music and no stupid high school games. Every time Zara was throwing such a party I would retreat here with my friends and we would hang out and play billiard for hours. The first thing anyone notices when entering this room is the smell of alcohol, but it’s a pleasant one, like smelling a freshly made cocktail. The smell comes from the bar occupying the entire wall opposite to the entrance and containing every possible drink one could imagine. The barman is a family friend of Zara’s parents, but most of his earnings are made at Zara’s parties. We walked over and ordered two cocktails, while some people were watching us from a distance, others greeted us politely and some were so immersed either in conversation or in billiard that they didn’t even notice us. Waiting for my drink, I scanned the room, looking to see who else was already here. The new guy was at one of the billiard tables, playing against Mark, one of the only guys who were able to put up a fight with me when it came to this game, while at the pool table next to them, two of Aria’s classmates were competing, the last pool table being free. In the far corner, opposite to where we were there was Aria and her group of friends. Since she was here, it meant that this was one of Zara’s bigger parties, in which case, half of the school was here. I muttered a swear word.

“What was that?” Chris asked me, as apparently, I spoke too loudly.

“Nothing.” The barman returned with our order. After thanking him and taking a spit of my drink, I continued. “Can you do something for me, Chris?”

“What is it?” he asked as he swallowed an olive and took another sip of his cocktail.

“Could you go and make sure Zara is alright?” he almost chocked with his drink. I smiled. “And in case she isn’t save her from her guests and bring her back here, please.” He raised an eyebrow, probably wondering what my game was, but knowing how some of the people in this school were, he indulged me.

“Alright, but I can’t make any promises about the time.” He said while grinning.

“Don’t worry, mate, if you manage to be here later rather than sooner for the reasons you are implying, I will make a move on Aria.” Chris was always telling me that all I had to do was show her that I was into her, but for whatever reason I couldn’t bring myself to do it.

“I will hold you to that Turner.”

“No doubt, you will.” I shook my head and took a deep breath as he was leaving. All my friends needed to be in my sight. Protecting the hundreds of people in this building was impossible, but I had to keep my closest friends safe and this was possible only by being sure that I could react fast enough to any incoming attack. Taking out the threat was another possibility, but even though I had my suspects, it was impossible to know for sure. In case there were more assassins involved, then it would be impossible to predict their move, but since this wasn’t something anyone should be able to learn about in such a short time, I was counting on the fact that there will only be one swordsman involved. And the perfect plan to rat him out is to blend in and wait for him to act. After taking the final sip from my drink, I stood up and went for Mark’s pool table, just as he was losing the game.