BLACK AND WHITE

III

The carriage reflected brightly as the boys walked past,the mesmerizingly polished streaks of gold shone all over the compound while the sturdy looking stallion stood dutifully at a spot.The boys easily distinguished the seal on it as one of royalty and this perplexed the boys as to what member of royal standing would visit their home.Eliott looked towards the orphanage and back at Dylan whose eyes met his at the same time.They both nodded and walked through the pavement into the house.

The two were met by Julianne who was in the living room area talking with two strange guests.Julianne walked over quickly to give the boys a hug pulling them both into her warm bosom and Eliott could have sworn he noticed a tear roll down her cheek.He then moved to scanning the other two people sitting in the far end of the room.Their awkward posture made it clear that they were uncomfortable and they weren't used to such humble settings.They rose as Julianne pulled away from the boys and strode slowly towards them.The first one was a man who looked in his late 60s.He was bald and looked like a butler with his fancy suit and elegant posture.What was particularly noticeable though was the yorkur loader sticking out from his suit pocket which lead Eliott to believe he was a yorkur tamer.Eliott watched for an expression from him or any form of emotion but he stood there pale and unmoved.

The woman however was wearing a long sleek flowing silver gown that glistened all over the room.Her walk was hypnotic and she strutted with class and dignity,resonating power.Even without saying or doing anything one could tell she wielded a great deal of influence. The kind that made strong men quiver.

"You must be Eliott."she spoke with a voice both loving and stern showing a barely visible smile.Eliott looked back as a number of possibilities as to what was about to happen crossed his mind."I am".

She locked fingers and nodded once to acknowledge the youngster."I can see that already without being told".She shot a quick glance at Dylan standing in the back as if to insult and belittle him before looking back at Eliott."How would you know?"questioned Eliott,equally eyeing her in return.

She then turned her gaze to Julianne and signaled with a single motion."Eliott,I would like to talk to you".

"We're talking already,aren't we?"Eliott brushed her off.

"Alone!"

The woman looked at Julianne again who simply turned and placed her hand on Dylan's shoulder."Hey,sweetie,can you help me out in the kitchen?"

Dyland locked gazes with Eliott and the whole morning just seemed to play in front of them again.They were positive the other felt it too.Like some natural spark playing before their eyes.Dylan nodded to his bestfriend who returned it then followed Julianne up the stairs.

When they were out of sight,the woman moved closer to Eliott,followed closely by the butler.

"So?"asked Eliott.

"Shall we sit?"

Julianne continued to remain silent long after she and Dylan started doing the dishes, simply washing and throwing them in a bowl of clean water for Dylan to rinse and dry.And as she stood there, thinking about all that the strange guests had said since they came, her heart became heavy.She was more concerned though about how Dylan would take the whole thing.She had to get him away from the strangers and Eliott's conversation downstairs because it was going to be a huge twist for everyone involved.If she hadn't called to him,she knew Dylan would have stayed with his bestfriend and that wouldn't have been a good idea, considering what Eliott was probably hearing downstairs at that moment. But for all it was worth she felt that Dylan still needed to know.He would find out in a few minutes either way if she didn't tell him so it was probably best she found a way to tell him in the most subtle manner possible.

Dylan himself just stood there silently, only throwing occasional glances at Julianne hoping she would say something.At this point he already knew that something was wrong but what it was,he had no idea.Seeing this usually cheerful boy looking gloomy, Julianne was moved beyond doubt to talk to Dylan

"Dylan,I want to ask you something."She picked up a rag and started to wipe her hands.The boy turned,giving her his full attention, his red eyes staring up and searching for answers.

"Now what I'm about to say isn't quite easy but I feel you need to know............Well,we're not fully certain yet so we cant say for sure and there's every guarantee that it wont happen at all but..."

She hesitated for a moment as she looked at the boy then she sighed and resumed."How would you feel if Eliott had a family take him now?".

Dylan thought for a minute,considering his bestfriend and the possibility of a loving family adopting him and showering him with love and a better life."Well,I guess that would be great.I mean,if anyone were willing to take kids our age into their home at this point,they'd be really wonderful people.And Eliott's the best so they would be no....."It was at that moment a thought raced past Dylan's mind."Wait,hold on a minute. Do you mean those fancy looking guests downstairs are here to adopt Eliott?"

He had expected Julianne's face to light up with positivity and announced that Eliott would indeed be adopted by the guests.So he was a bit let down when her face went a bit blue and she moved closer to him."Oh Dylan.!"She pulled the boy into a warm hug,sadly."They're not here to adopt Eliott.They're here for him".Dylan looked up in confusion."They're here for him?What do you mean?".

"Well,you see,the woman downstairs is actually......".There was something about the way the words hung in the air and even though he didn't know what it was,he had the feeling that what was coming next would deal him a huge blow emotionally and he wouldn't be able to fully prepare for the impact of the words.And he was right,for the moment Julianne said the next words, he felt blasted with waves of emotions that he didn't even know what he felt anymore. ".......Elliott's mother".

Dylan had stood for about a minute before realizing he had been standing there frozen in thought.

"Huh?You knew Eliott's mother all this while?"

"No,but this really is Eliott's mother.I have no doubt about it"

This was big news indeed and he tried to contemplate how he was feeling. He was both sad and happy.Hurt and pleased.Positive and negativity ran through his mind.Was this really true?Does this mean Eliott had to move?Was she really serious gonna take Eliott away?Why did she leave him in the first place?.

"How can you be so sure?What if shes lying?Did you ever think of the possibility that she may be trying to get Eliott for some unknown reason?"Dylan questioned.

"I thought so too but she cleared my doubt with proof"

"Proof?.What proof?"

"You see,you boys dont know this but on the night Eliott was brought to me,he was brought here by a certain woman.At that point,I didn't know who she was so I never mentioned it to you boys and regretfully,not to Eliott"

Dylan watched on as Julianne had a flashback,the entire scene playing before her like a hologram."I didn't name Eliott,Dylan.He was placed on my doorstep in a stretch and wrapped around a woolen cloth.His name was on it already sewn in fine linen.I was right on time to catch the woman who had brought him.She was wearing a long cloak and half of her face was covered.But I saw a bit of it.She was also wearing silver gloves.They were so beautiful I couldn't forget them in over 16 years.They are the same gloves on the woman's hands downstairs.The same woman who's face I saw in part,unmistakable because of the tears as she stared back at me,those eyes begging me to take care of the child.I was about to stop her and invite her inside because there was a wind storm.But she was gone as soon as I stepped down the porch."

Dylan was short of words.He stood there sulking and staring at the floor."You know the first things she said to me when she came in?"continued Julianne.Dylan stared up sadly preparing for another blow."That she wanted to see Eliott.I hadn't mentioned his name but of course she would know.She brought him here afterall.And when I asked who she was,that was when she told me she was his mother.Helen,she said her name was.Also she told me she had come to bring Eliott back home"

Dylan shook his head not willing to accept the fact that some woman would just show up to steal his bestfriend. A woman he didn't know anything about yet and surely didn't trust a bit."Well,why now?Of all the times in the past years she just abandoned him,what's so special about now?Why?Why?Why did she have to come NOOOWWWW?"

Julianne could hear it clearly in the boy's voice.He wasnt upset about the womans timing or her suspicious claim.No,Julianne could see that Dylan was sad that he was about to lose his bestfriend.She pulled him consolingly into a hug."I dont know,honey!I wish I did.But for some reason she said she couldn't discuss with me,she didn't let me know why she came back for Eliott"

"Well,if it's like that we're not gonna give Eliott to her then.If she cant explain her reason,then we're under no obligation to give him back to them."

Julianne shook her head."No Dylan,there's more to it than that.These people are royalty and there is a high possibility that they ARE Elliott's actual family.If we try to withhold him from them and they decide to charge us to a court, we wouldn't be able to fight them back.We have no legal backing.I really really considered it and as much as it pains me I just decided that I'm going to wait it out"

Dylan sulked again,tears coming to his eyes and a heat rising in his chest."So we're just gonna give Eliott over to them and let them take him away?"

Julianne pulled Dylan into her even more and patted his back."Well,Eliott is a smart young man of his own so we're going to see what he makes of this and let him decide.And all we have to do is watch and hope that whatever happens, it's all for the best,especially for Eliott!"

Dylan sighed and calmed himself a bit seeing reason in what Julianne said.Maybe Eliott would remember Julianne and the kids and him and what they've been through and not go with the strangers.Maybe he would remember their goals and dreams and stay at the orphanage. Maybe.......

After a while Dylan went downstairs,having being comforted by Julianne.He felt quite positive as he highlighted down the wooden stairs.Dylan would never had realized it but this moment would mark a turning point in his life.But not just his.Eliott's too.They would look back to this day,years to come.There Eliott was standing in the middle of the living room with his back to Dylan.It seemed that they just finished talking;he and the guests.Dylan smiled and called out to Eliott.But when Eliott turned his head back,Dylan saw what he thought was the most coldest pair of eyes,even from within his spectacles.Dylan had never seen such eyes before.They were so lifeless and cold that Dylan felt it was untrue.

"So was everything she said true?"Eliott's eyes shifted from Dylan to up the stairs where Julianne,who had just come down was.She wanted to give a reply to Eliott,opening her mouth and wishing that the words,the right words,would fly out on their own accord.But nothing came out and a lump hung in her throat. She felt her eyes flooding up and all she could do was look down,trying to hide from the world.

"I see,"Eliott said.He looked forward again away from Dylan and Julianne.At this point even Eliott's voice was sounding so cold,like he was addressing someone he met for the first time. "I have an important duty I must see to.Dont try to get in my way.......especially you!"Then those eyes turned to look straight into Dylan's eyes.All he could do was stare back wide eyed.There was no way he would believe that this was Eliott and that he had just said that to him.

"I'm leaving now.Dont try to come after me or you'll get hurt."Eliott turned towards the door and walked away. Dylan was shattered.His fear worse coming true and worse still,it seemed like it was Eliott's desire.He didn't know how or why it came out when it did but without thinking he screamed."What about brothers forever!?We made a promise,damn it!You wrote it with your own hands"

Eliott paused closed to the door.Dylan's heart went up in joy,realizing he'd finally snapped Eliott out of his stupid resolve.However.

"That was a childish moment.Little children do childish things.Grown men do mature things.I will no longer be bound by the actions of a child.I will become........a man".

Dylan saw no one else in the room neither did he see anything else.The whole world was covered in light and nothingness. There was only one thing there in the light though. A figure.Eliott's figure.He was walking away towards some unknown destination.Dylan saw himself chasing after that figure,hands stretched but he never seemed to move from that spot.No matter how hard he was trying or how much effort he seemed to be putting in, he wasnt catching up. The helplessness he felt as Eliott walked away was too much and the tears he had been holding back came gushing out.He had no idea what was going on around him.All he saw was Eliott and all he heard was himself sobbing and trying to reach out as if to grab Eliott's sleeve hoping to pull him back.Back to Julianne,to the kids.Back to him.

"If there's nothing else that we need to sort out,we'll be taking our leave"

"Miss Julianne if you please,my lady and I would like to offer our last thanks to you for..."

While lady Helen and her butler dropped their last statements,Dylan watched Eliott walk away into the light,seemingly lost forever.