“We need to lay low for a while until we can figure out what to do with her.” Kain looks at me like I’m a broken thing he doesn’t know how to fix.
No one asked him to fix me. If I had my money right now, I would be well on my way to a new and improved life.
An involuntary smile pulls at my lips as Agatha’s frail hands skim against the smooth span of Chaos’ chest. Her fingers push over his shoulders, feeling at the hard muscle there before veering down. Chaos tilts his head at me, but he lets the woman feel her fill.
I set Bobble’s bowl on the counter, pushing back a mound of old newspapers to make a little space for the fish. He wobbles in his little glass home as he looks out at the towering papers above him. Before he even starts to drift up, I push the slick scales of his back and send him right back down into the safety of his water.
“It’s been a few decades since I’ve had young men in my life. Want to make sure I get a proper fit for you boys.” Blindly, she feels along until her palms are pushing against Rime’s body. He watches her closely, and I have to admit, I’m a little jealous she has an excuse for her blatant fondling. She moves on to the next one. Kain all but bites her hand like a dog as he glares down on the little old woman who’s stroking down his abdomen. When her fingertips skim his hips, he jerks back from her. “Hmm, I guess that’s enough to go on.” With an arch of her slender fingers, and a turn of her wrist, clothes fall from the ceiling. Jeans, shirts and boots land in a heap of a pile on the old dusty floor.
“Why couldn’t you do that?” Kain looks to me, and I am really proud of myself for not sticking my tongue out at his condescending tone. I’m honestly too exhausted from all the magic I’ve used today to fight with him. “You’re this powerful mage, right?”
I don’t tell him how tired I am from everything that’s happened. I also don’t mention how much my magic has been hidden way nearly all my life.
I’m not weak, not really. But I’m not as powerful as Aggie either.
My lips part but Agatha jumps in. She turns to him, her long silver hair twirling like a cape behind her.
“Magic progresses with age and studying, boy. Do not talk down on a young mage, for when she is an Elder, you will surely fear her.”
“So, in fifty years, you’ll be a force to be reckoned with?” Kain cocks his fucking fiery brow at me.
Agatha grew up in a society that embraced magic; that fed from it, and trained it, and empowered it. She’s told me tales how she was the most loved woman in all of Minden once. And now she hides away from the very people who once cared so much for her.
My magic has been hidden away all my life. It’s been hidden and saved up even more in the last five years since I’ve been running from my demons. Literally.
I can’t find it in me to reply to him. My throat tightens as I realize I’m barely a mage at all most days. What a waste of power. This is how it was when I was a child, and this is how it is now that I’m an adult. I’m still hiding myself. Nothing has changed.
My feet skim against the flooring and, in just three quiet steps, I’m outside. I pull the door closed behind me and lower myself down against the cottage. Dry dirt pushes through my fingertips. A hum of a whine catches my attention, and Grim circles next to me before lying down and settling his massive head in my lap.
I stroke his warm fur slowly, letting the ash coat my palm as I delve my fingers into his thick hair.
A mess of thoughts circle my mind.
The men finally got what they came for; a mage. Now I’ve dragged them into my problems. I should leave. I should sneak out tonight and give them the easy way out. But I know that’s not the easy way. I don’t know why they owe Kreedence, but he’ll never let them free until they do what they agreed to do.
So, we’re all fucked.
Black boots stand at my side, and I don’t look up at him as he pulls the door closed. Chaos’ shoulder skims against mine as he lowers himself to sit next to me. Neither of us speaks and it’s nice. I like the silence right now. I like the way the sky is a slate of white with a hue of pale orange emitting within it. Everything is beautiful on the surface right now. A beautiful evening, a beautiful man, and a beautiful woman.
It’s what’s beneath the surface that’s ugly.
“I’m not like Rime or Kain.”That’s for sure. I keep my snarky comments to myself as Chaos continues, “I can’t seem to take life serious enough, and it gets me into so much shit. The only reason we met you is because I picked a fight with Kreedence. He bet me he could win in a fistfight. I didn’t ask what the winner would win.”
“You didn’t?” What an idiot.
“No, I was drunk at a pub a few cities over, and he said, ‘you’re not nearly as tough as you think you are.’ Or something. Then he said, ‘I bet I could beat you in a fist fight.’”
His hands clasp together, his arms settling against his bent knees as we look out at the washed-out skyline.
“What did you say?”
“Nothing. I fucking hit him.” There’s a hint of a smile against his lips, and my fingers leave Grim’s fur, hesitantly touching Chaos’ arm.
He is definitely an idiot. I can’t believe he picked a fight against a demon.
And lost.
He’s not one to back down, I suppose.
