《The Price of Freedom》


 Prologue: The Garden of Durm

    One last and divinely cursed


    Thirty-two millennia ago, the worlds were at war. They warred not amongst themselves but with a witch. Her aim was to destroy the worlds along with their inhabitants, and so the worlds retaliated for their survival.


    - Lukaryos Arieu, A Recounting of the Reglidition


    ¡°The seers were right, after all.¡±


    Those were the words the queen¡¯s advisors had said seven weeks ago. Back when she believed what they had presented to her was merely another specimen for the garden. Back when she wondered why the queen herself had come to visit hours later to examine it and request that she investigate it.


    What the seers had actually said to prompt the fairies to go to another world to unearth this newest discovery, Scarlet had no idea. But she knew it was important enough to warrant the weekly visits of the queen and her advisors. And now¡­


    Soon darkness would fall. Soon it would begin twitching.


    Scarlet closed the door behind her and silently watched her charges. Dangerous specimens, they all were. Yet they paled in comparison to that thing.


    The royal greenhouses had been virtually empty today because of the holiday, yet she was among the few servants who remained to work. Her subordinates had insisted earlier that she relieve herself and join them for the festivities¡ªit was the Radvikari after all¡ª but she had turned them all down with a regretful smile.


    Those well-intentioned fools¡­little did they know she similarly had to decline her ownThis text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    family¡¯s invitation, even after they had spent days traveling with the masses to come here to the capital. It had taken great pains to convey her reasons: that as the head gardener of the Garden of Durm, it was her obligation to oversee the dangerous specimen and their volatile behavior daily. Even today, on the first night of Radvikari.


    If only that was her primary reason for being here.


    It was a shame, though. A servant had informed her just an hour past that Queen Cyllenar had conceded to her request that a replacement come and relieve her. Which¡ªgiven the queen¡¯s general benevolence in their exchanges¡ªScarlet couldn¡¯t say she had not been expecting. But with such a belated dismissal, how could she possibly inform her family now of the turn in events, the turn in fortune?


    Fortune indeed. It was then she noticed the incessant tapping of her fingers against her leg. Why was she letting herself get antsy? Oh, she well knew why. Part of her wanted to go back outside and inspect the other plants again. Loath as she was to shirk the task her queen had given her, staying in this glasshouse hours on end with such an oppressive, chilling aura was insufferable. True, some of the other plants held dark auras of their own¡­but nothing akin to this special charge that could hardly be called a plant.


    Yet she still found herself walking down the sixth row of plants. Yet she still had to inspect that blasted thing once more. Her fingers moved like clockwork as Scarlet stroked the leaves of some the dark flora surrounding her and infused them with sedative spells. But this time, the routine was less for settling the wrathful plants, but her own nerves.


    If only that thing was as manageable. If only she could finally discover how to subdue it. The scholar in her was nettled at her continuous failures in that endeavour, and moreso that she had allowed an object of study to unsettle her so.


    Even so she managed to press onward, each step increasing the tempo of her heartbeats. When at last she reached it, she stared with dread at a lone table where lay the specimen encased in enchanted glass, the plant that was not a plant.


    It was a black rose. A mere passerby would have admired it for a simple and beautiful flower on the verge of blooming. And they would have walked on, ignorant to the fact that its origins were far more complex and horrific.


    But then she too was ignorant. Still, if only she could know the extent of her own ignorance. Why did the queen insist on keeping sil¡ª?


    Scarlet took a sharp breath. Staggering back, she somehow managed to quell the urge shrieking at her to take flight and call for a servant. No, she would have call by scryglass, because she could not leave such a thing unattended now.


    Because she knew she had not imagined it.


    The whisper had spoken within her head in the Kriaan tongue. Three words had hissed into her brain like a rush of steam. No¡­like a dying snake lusting for vengeance.


    Free me, Scarlet.

 Chapter 1: The Artifact

    Today marked the anniversary. Today also marked the seventh week of the terrible task she had been forced to assign Scarlet. She remembered the weeks since as fragments. She remembered the hours involving that wretched artifact as eternity.


    A small sigh passed through her lips. She should not allow that thing to burden her thoughts today. But then this was a day of solemnity and reflection.


    Even though she could hardly reflect when she could hear her two advisors squabbling outside in her antechamber.


    For now, she had to treasure this rare moment of solitude until its inevitable end. She vacantly stared through the windowpane at the masses that had gathered outside. Purples and silvers and blues muddled together until their mergence resembled a waterlogged painting¡ªor a painting viewed through teary eyes.


    Fairies throughout the kingdom had been flocking to the capital for the last few days for the annual Radvikari. Storytellers, musicians, and performers benefited from the throngs by recounting the ancient war they all had come to commemorate. But only at night. In daylight they would only tell stories prior to those events, the golden times when everything and everyone prospered. It was a time before darkness descended upon all throughout the worlds.


    A time before the witch came.


    After all these millennia, the past still haunted and affected them like a stubborn scar. A scar now festering with that artifact close by¡­and ever closer in her thoughts.


    Great Kaira above, we have been through enough. Why does that witch insist on inflicting upon us more torment?


    Her lips wrinkled into a grimace as she watched on. There would be no merry dances to the jigs playing outside the castle walls if her subjects were to know the secrets within.


    The blissfulness of ignorance was a very effective thing, indeed. Envious, even. But also dangerous if taken for granted.


    A knock came at her door. And there ended her reflection.


    ¡°Yul,¡± she said to permit entry, bracing herself as she turned to face her visitors.


    The two advisors entered like approaching thunderclouds. It was ironic if anything¡ªas much as the two of them claimed to adhere to their stoic beliefs of Guhulen, the debates between them grew heated to the point that she could swear their auras were charging the atmosphere. Her first advisor, Cia, was a woman older than her and¡ªif she remembered correctly¡ªwas nearing her third thousandth vitany. Those years of life were already beginning to show by the wrinkles creasing that stern face, her dulling wings drooped.


    ¡°Cyllenar Kuea,¡± said Cia, that wrinkling face now taut as her lips like in her younger days, ¡°igenthur jin re brentoli ru lirico.¡±


    Of course Cia would tell her she didn¡¯t believe it would be safe in that place anymore.


    Surely she knew she was aware of that? Cyllenar¡¯s gaze drifting to the door from which they had entered, she conveyed that very thought in their native tongue of Slabisk, ¡°Guerotu jim.¡±


    Her second advisor, Aru, was a blond-haired man who was currently staring at her with icy blue eyes. His diaphanous wings matched the color of those eyes, and they now quivered behind him in barely concealed agitation. ¡°Ferut Kuenjim, sem iriyulli ni?¡± he asked, his voice more composed than his body. ¡°Ujagik luwyurshem shenra nui ujukul vuk re inibrento re krisla.¡±


    A muscle in her jaw twitched. Why did she do nothing, he asked? Why did she needlessly entangle herself with an artifact that shouldn¡¯t be in their domain? Perhaps because if she truly did do nothing, this very artifact would eventually bring calamity to their domain one way or another. Still, she remained silent.


    ¡°You needn¡¯t keep it with the fairies any longer, Kaibril,¡± Cia agreed in their language, using the honorific given to the Fairy Monarch. ¡°The elves have already offered to take it from our hands. I would think it wise to accept their proposition.¡± She took a step closer to Cyllenar and added lowly, ¡°Think of this. The addition of another artifact will only make us a more attractive target in that witch¡¯s eyes. Forget not what has passed several hundred years ago.¡±


    ¡°Believe me, I do not forget those events as I do not forget the events we observe today. But the seers have already confirmed that the witch has knowledge of our discovery, and have seen ominous repercussions if we were to relocate that object,¡± said Cyllenar.


    Cia tilted her head at her. ¡°And if we were to keep it?¡±


    ¡°The odds are more favorable if we were to keep it here.¡±


    ¡°Will you leave your kingdom to the whims of the Fates, then?¡± Cia asked with a slight note of reproach. ¡°The Fates have been known to be unkind, Kaibril.¡±


    ¡°Yet Kaira commands them, and he is not unkind.¡± Cyllenar rubbed her brow, her head aching. ¡°My actions may seem mere folly, and yet¡­one could also counter that shifting its position the span of a thousand miles is also folly. Only through teleportation devices could such transportation be deemed prudent. Yet for weeks the portal stream has been severed.¡± No doubt by the witch¡¯s doing. When will these chronologists finally fix it?


    Aru¡¯s wings fluttered. ¡°So you will keep it here, Kaibril?¡±


    ¡°For the moment, yes.¡±


    ¡°Then what of this Assembly you have now called for?¡± he asked with a steely gaze.


    ¡°The Kriaan Assembly has been summoned so we monarchs of this world may decide the artifact¡¯s ultimate fate. If it is deemed that it should not stay here, it shall be done as decreed.¡±


    He regarded her silently for a heartbeat. Then he said, ¡°You should know I also came to report that we have word from Nexura.¡±


    Cyllenar tensed. ¡°What word, exactly?¡±


    ¡°Nexura will not be able to attend this¡­Assembly. And if you had already entertained the thought, do not call for a universal conference as of yet. Only the world of Kriaa, at the moment, will be involved with the artifact,¡± Aru reported.


    The first part did not surprise her. That eldritch being was unfathomable.


    Cia was furrowing her brow. ¡°Why contain this problem in Kriaa? That demonic thing was not discovered in this world to be begin with, neither were its origins here. Kaibril, this is, if anything, absurdity on our part,¡± she said, addressing the last words to Cyllenar.


    Aru nodded his head. ¡°My queen, I am in accord with Cia. Should¡ªFates have mercy¡ªthe artifact reactivate, we shall undoubtedly be caught in the crossfire. Nexura does not possess the final word, and neither is that being in charge of your¡ªour¡ªkingdom.¡±


    Cyllenar laughed mirthlessly. ¡°Great Kaira above. Our kingdom¡ªalong with the other worlds¡ªmay very well fall into peril if this matter is not attended to, and if the witch should come to retrieve it.¡±


    As Aru opened his mouth to yet again interject, Cyllenar held up a hand and continued, ¡°Aru, please respect our differences and do recall that I am a firm believer that every action¡ªor inaction¡ªthat I do, that we as a kingdom do, will be balanced in a reward or a punishment. Such is the way of the universal scales.¡±


    In any case, Nexura had often supported her throughout the years of her reign with sage counsel. If only that being would have advised her what to do with the artifact now¡­ ah, what a na?ve wish. She should know by now never to be dependent on such an evanescent being.


    Clear notes, like the hum of crystal glasses, suddenly filled the lull in the conversation. Cia went into the folds of her robes and produced a crystal disc emitting a maroon glow, no larger than her palm. The advisor stared at the glow a moment before rubbing the surface with the knuckle of her forefinger.


    The crystal¡¯s surface had until then reflected Cia¡¯s face in a maroon-tinged light. After Cia had rubbed it, the reflection began to muddle and ripple as though her knuckles had touched water. When the disc cleared, a dark-haired woman stared back at Cia with wide brown eyes.


    ¡°I must speak with Kaibril,¡± she whispered. ¡°Is she with you?¡±


    Cyllenar froze, clutching at her robes. Cia, of course, took no notice as she promptly passed the disc to her. With barely a second to compose herself, Cyllenar gazed directly into the woman¡¯s eyes through the crystal and whispered, ¡°What is it, Scarlet?¡±


    ¡°Many apologies, my queen, for interrupting your preparations, but I¡ªI must report a change in the artifact¡¯s activity.¡±


    Ah, so much for composing herself. She could feel the blood draining from her face. ¡°What has passed?¡± was all she could utter. Then Cyllenar held up a hand. ¡°No, wait. I must see it for myself. We will finish this conversation when I get there.¡±


    Scarlet held a breath. ¡°Truly?¡±


    ¡°Yes. I will see you forthwith. Until then.¡± Cyllenar rubbed the knuckle of her forefinger into the glass, the image wavering until the glow flickered out. When the disc¡¯s surface stilled, Cyllenar saw only her reflection.


    She turned to Cia. ¡°You are far more adept than me at the art of teleportation, I believe.¡±


    As she had expected, Aru protested with, ¡°There is hardly time to visit Scarlet now. You must perform the annual ceremony.¡±


    ¡°I have half of the hour remaining,¡± she told him, ¡°and this most certainly cannot wait.¡± And believe me, Aru, I wish it could.


    Cia eyed her before heaving a sigh of submission. ¡°As you wish, Kaibril. I will take us to the greenhouses.¡±


    The advisor spread out her hands then and murmured a few words, the silver lights of time magic flashing within her palms. A silver ring glowed into existence at their feet, expanding as it hummed the arcane and ancient tune of magic. The light engulfed Cyllenar until she could no longer see Aru¡¯s disapproving frown nor the room they were standing in.


    The spell lasted only for the fraction of a second. When the red spots stopped dancing before her eyes, Cyllenar saw that she was no longer in her chambers. In fact, she was not in a room at all but a passageway¡ªglass walls to both sides with doors leadings to different rooms.


    The Garden of Slu. On any regular day, these greenhouses would be bustling with gardeners, and these walls would serve as windows for the nobility who wanted to come and view the plants. But today was not a regular day. Both the nobility and most of the gardeners had gone to observe the Radvikari, and her visit today far from a pleasurable stroll.


    With an exchange of glances, Cia and Cyllenar began their wordless walk down the passageway while preoccupying themselves with the displays through the glass. Plants of all kinds could be found here¡ªrare to common, exotic to native, beautiful to grotesque, tropical to arctic. The rooms they saw were structured to receive varied doses of sunlight, some rooms operating under spelled sunlight when needed. Cyllenar saw a gardener through the glass tending to a bulbous plant in a room with light snowfall. The frost on the pane of glass framed a large, ivory flower bud that appeared much too large for the delicate leaves and stem that supported it.This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    If only they had come for such a mundane plant. She was somewhat relieved Cia had not teleported them the whole way. Whether she wanted to save her energies or give her queen peaceful scenery, Cyllenar did not know¡ªnor care.


    As they continued walking, she found she desired conversation, even though Cia wasn¡¯t a woman to offer one. Recalling her recent discussion with her two advisors, Cyllenar muttered, ¡°You Guhuleni and your lack of empathy.¡±


    Cia chuckled to Cyllenar¡¯s mild surprise, and she knew it wasn¡¯t for her sake. Cyllenar added humoredly, ¡°I suppose that¡¯s one thing I can appreciate about your set of beliefs: you would hardly ever be a sycophant.¡±


    ¡°Ah, Cyllenar, I¡¯ll agree with you to a degree. Aru is far more zealous than I, so he cannot understand why you would allow your compassion for foreigners to sway your judgment in your responsibility to your people.¡±


    Cyllenar rolled her eyes slightly. ¡°Yet he, too, is swayed by emotion. That is one of the many things I will never understand of your philosophy.¡±


    Cia tilted her head. ¡°Mmm, mortalkind is a very complex set of beings, my queen. And so mortal-made constructs like ideas will also be very complex and nuanced. Still,¡± she said, and Cyllenar sensed the return of the dreaded subject as Cia lowly continued, ¡°this is why I urge you again to consider relinquishing the artifact to the elves. We already have one demonic artifact in our care¡ªanother which is not tied to our world. Until your great-grandfather decided to bring it within our walls when pressed by the universal conference. You know full well how dearly we paid for that decision. The magic in these walls are meant to protect, not to imprison.¡±


    ¡°We shall find a way to destroy it,¡± said Cyllenar, wishing she could feel as confident as her words.


    Cia must have caught that discrepancy, because she challenged it with, ¡°Destroy it? How would you propose that, when many a mortal who meddled with such affairs¡ª?¡±


    She gently held up a finger, and Cia stopped. ¡°It is best,¡± Cyllenar said softly, ¡°not to speak of such matters in the dark.¡±


    The lighting about them had darkened, for they were no longer in the Garden of Slu, the greenhouses that held the plants that flourished in light. But not the plants here. That alone was why this part of the greenhouses was called the Garden of Durm.


    They encountered no one as they walked down the passageway that had veered off its straight path and now winded left and right into murkiness. So dim and dank had their surroundings become that Cia placed heat charms on both of them and guided with a small white orb of light she produced from her raised palm.


    As soon as she had created the light, rustles came from the glass walls on both sides of them. Cyllenar looked to her right and caught glimpses of thick red vines slithering across the glass. She realized then that the vines were slithering away from the two of them¡ªfrom the light. Their revolting movement made her inwardly shudder, and even though she did not see any more of the dark flora, she still heard the scrabbles and hisses in the darkness, smelled the vile sulfurous odors. No matter how many times she visited, she could not understand how they could be plants when they loathed the light and warmth that gave life to their familiar counterparts. But such were the twisted properties of black magic.


    At long last they stopped at a certain glass door, soft light bleeding through to brighten their dusky surroundings the tiniest fraction. Cia stepped forward and pushed the door open for her.


    What Cyllenar first registered was the room¡¯s warmth and brightness. The glasshouse she entered was a domelike structure dazzled by the light of the ending day. She knew this to be the true daylight, for twilight had been fast approaching when she and Cia had left her chambers.


    Gardening tools and loam sacks lay strewn on the floor near them, soil spilling out from one sack. Looking further in, she saw countless plants hanging from ornate pots overhead and others arrayed into rows upon tables of polished oak. She spotted one plant with a gaping mouth of scarlet teeth-like petals, another with elongated black thorns on vines constantly groping for prey to impale.


    Cyllenar was still looking at the strange specimens when she heard fluttering wings within the rows of plants. Scarlet burst through the plants, hovering several inches above the ground. Even when she set herself down, it took a few moments for her wings to cease their anxious flutter. Huffing slightly, combing at the strings of dark hair plastered to her sweaty face, Scarlet smoothed her blue gardener robes before bowing her head with, ¡°A good evening


    to you, my queen. I must apologize. I¡¯m dreadfully indecent.¡±


    Cyllenar offered a smile she did not feel. ¡°Nonsense. Your line of work demands much.¡±


    After the exchange of pleasantries, Cia dismissed herself with a bow, giving Cyllenar the creeping notion that her advisor sensed her anxiousness to privately speak with Scarlet. Still, Cyllenar gave her assent and requested her scepter be brought to her for the ceremony.


    The scepter¡­in retrospect, Cyllenar should have brought it with her. The ancient relic was a wonderful supplement to her magic and would have given her the security she wanted. Her father had wielded it before her, her grandfather before him¡ªand before him her great-grandfather, the one who¡¯d taken the other artifact into his charge. She pondered on Cia¡¯s words, wondered if he would have approved of her decision to take another one into the fairies¡¯ care.


    Kaira above, not even the scepter could destroy that thing. Great-grandfather Aresti¡­grandfather Ethri, dear Father¡­guide me now. I fear I have only let more black magic into our house¡­and I fear the witch will come again to retrieve that magic.


    Suddenly her prior spark of desire for conversation withered in the shadow of the looming topic. Glancing about the room, she asked, ¡°The others are off at the festivities, I presume?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Kaibril.¡±


    ¡°Ah, Scarlet. Your dedication to your work is admirable. I thank you.¡± Cyllenar turned her gaze to the light filtering through the glass. She asked, ¡°I am curious, Scarlet. If the Garden of Durm houses plants of the darkness, why does the light enter this room?¡±


    Scarlet¡¯s wings were fluttering in edginess. Nonetheless, she answered, ¡°This glasshouse holds the plants of twilight, the plants that desire little light. The twilight is a period of transition, my queen¡ªa period in which many species of the light and darkness may coexist. During the high daylight hours the glass is spelled to dispel the light. Only around this time and the early morning hours is the spell inactive.¡±


    ¡°I see.¡± She¡¯d only ever seen this glasshouse at night. ¡°Would the spelled glass also possess the properties to dispel sound from within?¡±


    ¡°I suppose it should¡ªah.¡± Understanding dawned on Scarlet¡¯s face, and then regret. ¡°Kaibril, I am not acquainted with¡ª¡±


    ¡°Oh Scarlet, please disregard proper etiquette. If you know not the magic, then I shall perform it. I will not collapse of fatigue as decorum likes to imply,¡± said Cyllenar.


    She then raised her hands to the glass walls. The hum of magic could be heard, but its usual glow unseen. The air began to tremble and the glass began to vibrate, causing the dwindling daylight to flicker and shimmer before their eyes.


    The Spell of Soundlessness was completed within seconds. Scarlet¡¯s fidgeting stilled with the air, folding her hands at her waist as she waited upon Cyllenar.


    Cyllenar then realized her own rigid posture. Forcing her muscles to relax, she proceeded to walk down the sixth row and softly asked Scarlet, ¡°What has passed?¡±


    Scarlet clenched her robe, her eyes downcast as she recounted what had transpired.


    Dear Kaira, it was awakening. Cyllenar uttered lowly, ¡°It spoke to you in Kriaan?¡±


    ¡°Y-yes. My father is Kriaan, so I know the language, my queen.¡±


    That would explain her Kriaan name. Cyllenar dismissed the fleeting thought. ¡°Did you feel compelled to do so?¡±


    ¡°Certainly not, my queen. Whatever resides within the¡­rose is fortunately not yet capable of compulsion.¡±


    That revelation, at least, was a stroke of fortune. Cyllenar smiled weakly. Every person


    knowledgeable of the rose tried to call it anything else, as though acknowledging its presence would bring misfortune.


    Scarlet whispered, ¡°Dear queen, what have you given me? Forgive me¡ªyou told me of its ties to the ancient war, but you plainly spoke not all. How am I to investigate this specimen when you tell me so little?¡±


    Cyllenar tried to keep her voice even. ¡°My silence is not out of churlishness, Scarlet, believe me.¡± Scarlet was too involved with that thing as it was. Deeper knowledge would only further ascertain misfortune¡¯s gaze upon the gardener, and consequently the kingdom. Now she had the misgiving that she should have aimed the Spell of Soundlessness within the glasshouse rather than around it.


    She could sense its presence even before she reached the end of the row, its chilling aura far more intense than the cold she had encountered on her walk here. When those lustrously dark petals came in sight, encased in its enchanted glass prison, she could only think how feeble a prison it was, although not for its physical fragility.


    ¡°I understand your research is impeded,¡± Cyllenar spoke finally, ¡°but all the same, have you come upon any findings? Any theories as to how it may be¡­destroyed? I had hoped your dealings with plants of black magic might aid your study of this particular specimen.¡±


    Scarlet shook her head ruefully. ¡°I regret to tell my queen that I have not. It is like holding a living viper to dissect without being struck. I have never encountered a specimen like this. It is not a plant. It is¡­unnatural.¡±


    It was unnatural. Staring at the flower, she couldn¡¯t be relieved when she found no alarming signs of surging power. ¡°It is not enough,¡± Cyllenar said, shaking her head. ¡°Alas, time and not I wishes to press you, Mistress Scarlet.¡± What lies within desires to awaken¡ªyearns for freedom. Cyllenar put a hand on the woman¡¯s shoulder, giving as much reassurance as she could


    through the contact as she added, ¡°I know overseeing this artifact is dangerous. No harm shall


    befall you. I will see to it that the number of guards posted here is doubled.¡±


    Scarlet bowed her head. ¡°I thank you, Kaibril.¡±


    She pitied the woman. Scarlet was sworn into secrecy while secrets still were kept from her. All the same she labored to discover a way to destroy the rose¡ªa task Cyllenar was increasingly afraid she had given her in vain.


    Cyllenar somberly smiled and murmured, ¡°Go spend the rest of Radvikari with your kin, Mistress Scarlet. I believe I appointed someone to take your stead.¡±


    Scarlet blinked. ¡°Nightfall approaches, my queen¡­and surely after this incident, that would be unwise?¡±


    ¡°It is undoubtedly. But it is far more unwise to leave you in your fatigued condition.¡±


    Scarlet¡¯s shoulders relaxed, obviously expecting her to have agreed with her. She bowed deeply. ¡°Kaibril, I am indebted to you,¡± she said, the edge softened from her voice.


    ¡°I should say I am far more indebted to you. But I must now take my leave of you,¡± she responded. ¡°The ceremony must be conducted.¡±


    ¡°Of course, Queen Cyllenar. As every year before, you look ravishing.¡± Cyllenar hadn¡¯t even looked at herself ever since her maids had finished dressing her, so absorbed had she been in her brooding. She noticed now that they had gowned her in flowing purple robes and elaborately braided golden thread into a couple of her scarlet locks, leaving the rest of her hair to cascade down her back. The maids had done her well¡ªshe preferred the looser attire.


    ¡°May Kaira go with you,¡± said Scarlet as she escorted her to the door.


    ¡°And may the Fates be kind to you,¡± Cyllenar responded.


    She raised a hand, and the air quivered again as the spell was dismantled. Scarlet opened the door for her, and there waiting was Aru with her scepter in his outstretched hands. Cia had wryly predicted as much before her dismissal. Apparently the woman just might have the power of foresight.


    ¡°My queen,¡± he said to her, bowing as he held out the scepter.


    ¡°Aru.¡± She wrapped her fingers around the smooth silver rod, pulling it close to her. The encrusted diamond-cut amethyst flashed radiantly when the light touched it. ¡°You must have flown with swift wings,¡± she said with some amusement.


    Aru had never been one for humor. He frowned and replied, ¡°Fly, Kaibril? In the enclosed space of the castle? I should never be so ill-mannered. I had a teleporter acquire it for me. And as I was already on my way to see you, the trip was not long.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± said Cyllenar, fingering the large jewel absentmindedly.


    With that, Aru escorted her out the twilit greenhouse, and together they departed for the ceremony.


    ¡°We must make haste, my queen,¡± said Aru when they were well away from the glasshouse. He provided a light with one hand when the dimness enclosed them, the other hand at his back. ¡°The ceremony is to begin in seven minutes.¡±


    ¡°Very well, Aru.¡±


    Something in her tone must have caught his attention, because now he stared at her. ¡°You


    are troubled. What has Scarlet told you?¡±


    ¡°There is far more than I dare tell here. I will explain the rest when we all congregate.¡±


    He nodded then and offered no more conversation. Meanwhile apprehension was slowly


    building up like a torrent within threatening to drown her. She could not help but quietly utter to him, ¡°Thirty-two thousand years, Aru. And still we are ordering the chaos.¡±


    ¡°You never told Scarlet what would happen if it reactivated, have you?¡±


    ¡°¡­no.¡±


    ¡°Then you only told her that it was an evil relic of what happened thirty-two thousand years ago?¡±


    ¡°Yes, but¡­even I am not fully certain that the legends are true to what they say.¡±


    His upraised arm stiffened. ¡°The legends are too vague to be reliable.¡±


    ¡°That is why I relied upon Nexura¡¯s counsel.¡±


    ¡°Nexura was there when it was locked away,¡± said Aru. ¡°How does that being not know how to destroy it?¡±


    ¡°Nexura never discloses all, and never discloses why. Though sometimes I wonder, Aru, if the artifact is not for us but the humans to destroy as the legends stated.¡±


    Aru lowered his hand and extinguished his glowing sphere, for light had welcomed them again as they reentered the Garden of Slu. Yet somehow they were still wandering through the dark passageways of the Garden of Durm.


    He gave her a critical look. ¡°Then all our preemptive measures have been for naught, Kaibril. And if matters are dependent on the humans to destroy the object that threatens them, then it will be too late for them and possibly us.¡± Aru paused, glancing ahead at the path before them. ¡°It simply seems too long for old scars to tear and wound anew, Kaibril. And yet¡­¡±


    So she once had thought. But since its discovery, it occurred to her that perhaps they and the other worlds had fallen into complacency in this period of security. The original intention of the Radvikari to keep them vigilant, to keep the war¡¯s memory, was on the cusp of fading before that complacency.


    It was why Cyllenar now gave him a mirthless smile and finished his statement.


    ¡°And yet history tends to repeat itself.¡±

 Chapter 2: A Game of Poker

    He watched the chaotic scene before him and felt he was in his element. It was a stupid feeling, really¡­and even more stupid of him to stand out here on the balcony watching it.


    But the thrilling chords in the thunder, the percussion in the rain, the energetic dancer in the lightning¡­he always found their performance exhilarating. He could¡ªand often did¡ªlie in bed enthralled by that dissonant concert.


    ¡°Chris, what the hell are you doing out here?¡±


    He turned his head, broken from his reverie. A slim young man stood behind him with a befuddled expression, his form framed by the pulsing lights from the glass door he had just closed.


    ¡°Well, look who made it,¡± Chris said with a languorous grin. ¡°Last I heard, Jonathan, you weren¡¯t coming.¡±


    Jonathan strode over to join him at the railing, ebony skin glistening with raindrops.


    Chris¡¯s grin nearly widened to see his friend¡¯s eyes darting around at the rumbles of thunder before muttering, ¡°Good thing I did. Otherwise you¡¯d still be out here like some hammered idiot. Bro, the party¡¯s inside, where your wet ass should be.¡±


    Chris shrugged as he ran a hand through his dripping locks. Although he had been watching it the whole while, he strangely hadn¡¯t even realized that the storm had gotten progressively worse. ¡°I like watching the storm,¡± he said simply.


    Jonathan cast him a quizzical look. He glanced down at Chris¡¯s half-empty bottle and promptly questioned him, ¡°How many d¡¯you have?¡±


    Chris sent him a sly grin as he took another swig. ¡°Go get me another and it¡¯ll be four.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s low for you, man.¡±


    ¡°Night¡¯s not over yet.¡±


    His friend let out a grunt. ¡°All right, guess I can¡¯t argue with that.¡± There was a brief lapse in the conversation, a moment in which he was suddenly aware of the muffled beats beyond the door pulsating throughout his body like an external heart. Or maybe it was the drinks that had that effect.


    Then lightning struck close by, and Jonathan swore and said, ¡°Look. I try to play along with some of your dumber ideas¡ªeven if Hiram mostly drags you into it¡ªbut you¡¯re not about to drag me into this crazy shit you¡¯re doing. I¡¯m going back inside, and you oughta too if you know what¡¯s good for you. If I didn¡¯t know any better, I¡¯d say you were wasted already.¡±


    Chris only chuckled as he followed Jonathan back inside. The penthouse, the heart of the music, was thickly warm within as though it truly did beat blood, forcing him to now notice the stark contrast that was his cold wet skin. The partygoers that saw them looked at him strangely, and he humoredly figured he must have been a sight.


    Jonathan was also appraising him before shaking his head and remarking, ¡°Why¡¯s it that these parties come down to me looking after you and Hiram like I¡¯m a goddamn mom? Nine times out of ten I gotta stay sober for your guys¡¯s sakes.¡±


    ¡°And we appreciate you so much for it,¡± Chris said with a simper. ¡°But bro, it¡¯s not like we tell you to. You choose to. It¡¯s not our fault you don¡¯t wanna go all out.¡±


    Jonathan scratched his forehead. ¡°Anyway, this round I come here and find that idiot dancing in front of everyone after he¡¯s pulled down his pants, and then you¡ª¡±


    Chris threw back his head and guffawed. ¡°Damn I wish I¡¯d seen it. Please tell me you got that recorded.¡±


    Jonathan pulled out his cell and waved it suggestively, raising a single brow. ¡°A whole two minutes worth. And that¡¯s not counting everyone else who had their phones out.¡±


    That only made him smile wickedly with delight. ¡°Send that to me. Where the hell is Hiram, anyway?¡±


    ¡°Who knows¡­probably doing some stupid shit again. But anyway,¡± Jonathan said, ushering him towards the bathroom, ¡°dry up, bro. You stay like that any longer and someone¡¯s gonna have to get a wet floor sign on your ass.¡±


    He laughed. ¡°All right, all right. Hey, you have any idea if we¡¯re still on for poker tonight?¡±


    ¡°Should be.¡± Jonathan was already walking away, hollering back as Chris closed the door, ¡°Anyway, I¡¯m gonna go look for that¡ª¡±


    Chris didn¡¯t catch the rest with the drop in the music coupled with the door shutting behind him, but a small smirk tugged at his lips as he figured out the last part of the sentence.


    He was vigorously drying his hair and face over the sink when his cell rang. Pulling the phone out of the pocket of his jeans, he let out an amused grunt when he saw the caller ID. He answered the phone with, ¡°Dude, Jo-Jo¡¯s looking for you.¡±


    ¡°Looking for me? When the hell¡¯d he get here?¡±


    Chris snickered. ¡°You mean to tell me you don¡¯t remember being a stripper?¡± He was surprised it was pretty quiet on Hiram¡¯s end of the phone and figured he must¡¯ve stepped out into the hall. Or maybe went to one of the bedrooms for some other reason, as Hiram usually wasn¡¯t that practical.If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    ¡°Huh?¡± Hiram sounded genuinely confused. Chris wouldn¡¯t put it past him in his state.


    ¡°Looks like he¡¯s got a video to show you. He recorded you before saving your ass¡ªbefore you showed it, better yet.¡±


    ¡°Oh yeah¡­he did,¡± said Hiram, although he still sounded disconcerted. ¡°Man, whatever. Show me later. I¡¯ve probably done worse. Anyway, I was gonna say my friend¡¯s setting up the game in a few.¡±


    ¡°Cool. Hey, does he have a shirt I can borrow? Shit, what am I saying? I should be asking you. Sounds like you won¡¯t have any use for it tonight, anyway.¡±


    Hiram¡¯s following retort made him snicker again. Then he asked, ¡°The hell you need a shirt for?¡±


    He glanced down at his blue button-down shirt. ¡°Mine¡¯s soaked through.¡± He noticed a hair dryer hanging from the wall and said, ¡°Nah, screw it. I¡¯ll just dry this one up best I can.¡±


    As he expected, Hiram wasn¡¯t interested enough to inquire further¡ªwhich he was grateful for, since he didn¡¯t care to explain his own stupidity. ¡°All right. Later then, bro.¡±


    ¡°Later.¡± He hung up and reached for the dryer. After he was satisfied enough with his relatively drier shirt, he stepped out of the bathroom and promptly spotted Jonathan seated on a couch towards the middle of the room. As he walked over, Jonathan held up a beer and handed it to him. ¡°There¡¯s your fourth,¡± he said shrewdly.


    ¡°Thanks, man,¡± Chris said as he opened it, sitting down beside him. ¡°Found Hiram yet?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Jonathan replied, nodding his head straight ahead at the food tables. ¡°He¡¯s grabbing a bite.¡±


    ¡°Seems like he forgot that he got a stripper gig. He called me and barely remembers the whole thing.¡±


    ¡°Gig? Who in their right mind would pay him?¡± asked Jonathan with a grunt, eliciting a chuckle from Chris.


    ¡°Yo, Jo-Jo!¡± They both looked up to the holler, Jonathan muttering something under his breath and Chris suppressing a grin. A young man was seconds away from them, holding a plate of food in one hand and a drink in the other. Those brown eyes were undoubtedly twinkling with stupid thoughts circling in that head of curly dark brown hair.


    While Hiram was still out of earshot, Jonathan grumbled, ¡°He says it like it¡¯s a goddamn catchphrase.¡±


    ¡°Well, he¡¯s pretty drunk. You¡¯re gonna hear it a lot more tonight.¡±


    ¡°I know. That¡¯s one of the reasons why I recorded him.¡±


    ¡°So you¡¯re not gonna guess what happened to me tonight,¡± Hiram cut in as he reached them, sitting across from them.


    ¡°Well, we already know most of what happened to you tonight. I don¡¯t see how it¡¯ll get better than that,¡± Chris teased with a grin.


    ¡°Screw that. I¡¯m talking about this chick I met. So we were having this drinking game¡­¡±


    The hour is fast approaching.


    Chris blinked. Hiram and Jonathan, along with the scene around him, were suddenly blurring at the edges. The lights muddled into bright blots, the music muting in his ears, the beat falling to a slower tempo along with the hazy figures walking past him.


    Only one figure didn¡¯t move at the same pace the others did. It was an indistinct pillar of darkness wading through the pulsing pools of lights. It strode across the room until it stood before him.


    Funny. He didn¡¯t recall drinking this much.


    What price would you pay for freedom, I wonder¡ªfreedom from this monotony? I doubt gambling is all you¡¯ll ever be content with, boy. Your true nature belies that, I think.


    He was pretty sure it was a man¡¯s voice. He wasn¡¯t sure why he couldn¡¯t form the words to reply. Not that he would know how to respond to something like this. His own thoughts were jumbled and sluggish in his head.


    After all, continued the man¡ªat least, he figured it was a man¡ªshe would not have chosen you otherwise.


    ¡°What?¡± he managed to splutter.


    Even now in her prison, she¡¯s looking for you.


    ¡°The hell¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡±


    ¡°The hell¡¯s what supposed to mean?¡±


    He blinked again, and realized Hiram was addressing him. Or actually, responding to his question with a question. When had everything reverted back to normal?


    ¡°Spaced out during my story, didn¡¯t you?¡± Hiram asked with a cocked brow. ¡°Heh, figures. I knew you couldn¡¯t hold a beer.¡±


    He¡¯d reoriented himself enough to retort with, ¡°Not my fault you ramble.¡±


    ¡°Hey, I ramble ¡®cause I¡¯m Puerto Rican. I got an excuse. What¡¯s yours for spacing?¡±


    ¡°Tch. Chris, you missed nothing, anyway,¡± said Jonathan.


    ¡°You wanna say that again?¡± Hiram asked. Though there was a challenge in his tone, they both couldn¡¯t take it seriously with the additional hint of a drunken slur.


    Still, Jonathan humored him, ¡°Yeah. He missed nothing, bro. You do that all the time. And me, as always, have to pretend I¡¯m listening.¡±


    It must¡¯ve been in my head, Chris thought as he watched the light banter that ensued between the two. Of course it had been. What person here would¡¯ve talked like that, like some old English professor? He blamed it on the drinks¡­not that he¡¯d ever tell Jonathan and Hiram. But still¡­


    ¡°Looks like they¡¯re finally setting up,¡± Hiram said, drawing Chris out from his thoughts. He nodded to the group of people moving couches in the corner as he stretched. ¡°Your asses¡¯ll be sore as hell tonight. If you know what I mean.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t swing that way, bro.¡±


    ¡°Gotta side with Chris there.¡±


    Hiram laughed. ¡°Then don¡¯t lose to me. But let¡¯s face it: that¡¯s not gonna happen. You might have a chance with them tipsy chicks.¡±


    ¡°Yeah? We¡¯ll see about that,¡± said Chris, standing up.


    ¡°Wanna bet right now?¡±


    He hated to admit it, but Hiram did win a good majority of the time when the three of them played poker. The guy was good. Still, he¡¯d be damned if he backed out of a challenge.


    And like he was about to submit to Hiram¡¯s arrogance. ¡°What¡¯s the bet?¡±


    ¡°Whoever wins the most rounds. Loser pays up a hundred. I¡¯ll even let you and Jonathan team up against me.¡±


    ¡°That cocky, huh?¡± Jonathan asked dryly.


    Chris held his hand out, and Hiram shook it. ¡°You¡¯re on.¡±


    I doubt gambling is all you¡¯ll ever be content with, boy.


    He couldn¡¯t help but ponder on those odd words even as the three of them headed over to the table. Why did they bother him so much? Was it because they made him think of his band breakup last year¡ªof how he looked through ¡°backpacking in Europe¡± videos last week at work, of how he lost the contest to win music festival tickets just earlier today?


    Life could really be a cruel game at times. Even though he still found himself playing halfheartedly, even though he dreaded another day of humdrum, even though he wanted to change this game and its rules. What other option was there for him but to continue playing? But that wasn¡¯t to say he was ¡°content¡± with it. Far from it.


    It was all a game, a game of poker he just hadn¡¯t found a way to win. He tried not to dwell on that thought.


    ¡°Stupid.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Chris asked Jonathan, realizing that he had been addressing him, as Hiram had walked on ahead of them.


    ¡°Hiram. He¡¯s stupid. He could¡¯ve bet on more things than money.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, well, we both know he needs it.¡±


    ¡°Not that. If he¡¯d been smarter, he would¡¯ve made the bet us deleting that video.¡±


    He couldn¡¯t help but smirk. ¡°No. If he won, he¡¯d have us delete it and record us doing the same thing. Probably have us moon at the camera while we¡¯re at it.¡±


    Jonathan just laughed.

 Chapter 3: Old Friends

    Chapter 3: Old Friends


    ¡°So I want my money by next week.¡±


    ¡°Look, man. I don¡¯t get my paycheck till next Friday,¡± Chris protested as he and Hiram strolled along the sidewalk. Here he so nicely met up with Hiram at the bus stop, and the damn guy couldn¡¯t wait one minute before he had to bring up that embarrassing loss.


    ¡°You should¡¯ve thought about that before you bet me,¡± Hiram said with a short laugh.


    ¡°That desperate for money, huh?¡± Chris remarked dryly.


    ¡°Psh¡­like it matters. Who won the bet, huh?¡±


    ¡°You still lost a lot to everyone else.¡±


    ¡°Shit, we all lost out.¡±


    Chris winced internally at the memory of last night. Jonathan hadn¡¯t won a single round, Chris only winning once. Hiram had won twice with a straight and then a full house, the latter win which just had to have been an amazing stroke of luck¡ªor cheating, as everyone had a considerably weaker hand that round. Still, not including his debt to Hiram, he had to pay up not only a hundred dollars but his wristwatch, as well.


    Ugh¡­maybe I should¡¯ve drunk more last night, after all.


    Hiram appeared to deliberate before saying, ¡°I guess I¡¯ll be nice this time and say the money¡¯s split between you and Jo-Jo.¡±


    Chris was half-surprised that he¡¯d actually relented. But he wasn¡¯t about to question it. ¡°So where we going?¡±


    ¡°When¡¯s the last time you had Bo¡¯s Burger Joint?¡±


    ¡°That diner? Been a couple years. Didn¡¯t Nadya work there?¡±


    ¡°Still does. I grab a bite there sometimes to catch up with her.¡±


    ¡°How¡¯s she doing? I haven¡¯t seen her since graduation.¡±


    Hiram whistled. ¡°Damn. That¡¯s like, what, a year now? Time sure flies. She¡¯s doing good, I guess. Been looking for another job last time I heard from her. And I¡¯m pretty sure she wanted to change her major¡ªI think it was premed or something.¡±


    ¡°Guess I can see why she thought it was for her. She was always that type: wanting to help people.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Hiram said, brushing his nose slyly. ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m not gonna lie: sometimes I try to talk her into giving me a pity-burger.¡±


    ¡°Man, how cheap can you get? Get a job already,¡± he teased while suppressing a laugh.


    ¡°Sure, when I can just win my money and not have to bust my ass like you? No thanks.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, and who¡¯s the one who had to take a bus to get here?¡± Chris quipped. Hiram performed an affronted expression, and he only grunted in response as he added, ¡°Besides, I get good tips at the hotel. And it¡¯s not like I¡¯m keeping that job forever.¡±


    A laugh burst out from Hiram. ¡°That¡¯s what my uncle always said as a security guard. And fifteen years later he¡¯s still working long nights at the hospital.¡±


    Chris shrugged, though it did nothing to shrug off the words from his mind. Knowing


    Hiram, he hadn¡¯t really meant to add an underlying depth to his words, but it was there.


    It was a scary thought, slaving himself away for that long as a bellhop. It was also a possibility that had been haunting the hinterlands of his mind. However, it was also a thought Chris refused to let gnaw at him.


    So he changed the subject and asked, ¡°So does that trick of yours ever work on her?¡±


    ¡°What trick?¡± asked Hiram.


    ¡°The pity-burger thing you were talking about.¡±


    ¡°Bro, she knows me. What do you think?¡±


    ~?~


    There were upsides and downsides to having a slow day at the diner. The upside was that she could relax a bit and chat with a couple friends who might have shown up that day. The downside was that she was mostly left to her own devices for the greater portion of the day, performing every possible minute task, then any possible leisure task like checking for notifi-cations on her phone, until the only thing left for her to do was to look up at the clock as she twisted the long dark strands of her hair.


    Today was one of those days. Her two coworkers had already gone out ¡°to get some air¡±¡ªeven though she knew the truth from previous times of the pair returning reeking like a casino¡ªafter they¡¯d seen the slow business and hadn¡¯t returned yet. A small handful of customers had trickled in since then, but nothing unmanageable¡ªor occupying. Nadya was now fiddling with her dark brown ponytail, watching her last customer finish his burger. Then she went through a mental checklist to make sure she hadn¡¯t forgotten any possible thing she could have done. She¡¯d already cleared the tables, restocked the napkins, checked up on inventory, asissted in the kitchen, and notified the cooks about the waning business. Then she had rechecked inventory and wiped down the tables again for good measure.


    Drat, I guess that is almost everything, she thought, glancing at the door and hoping she¡¯d hear it swing open again. Ugh, come on. If I¡¯m gonna be on the clock, let me do something. I guess I could check up on that assignment that¡¯s due tomorrow¡­


    Then the door did swing open again, and those thoughts flew out her head as her heart leapt. And it proceeded to do a second leap when she saw who walked in.


    A thin young woman wearing jeans and a black tank top contrasting her light skin leisurely strode into the diner. Her short, straight jet-black hair was tied into a small ponytail on the top left side of her head, leaving only side-swept bangs to fall over her left cheek.


    She¡¯d recognize that hair style anywhere.


    ¡°Naomi! Long time no see,¡± Nadya greeted with a relieved grin. ¡°How are you?¡±


    ¡°Could be better. School¡¯s beaten the living crap out of me, and then that Floridian summer heat out there nearly killed me,¡± Naomi complained rather wearily, dark eyes lined with eyeliner and weariness as she plopped herself on a chair by the counter. ¡°Just glad we¡¯re done. I had no time for that load of bull when I had other stuff to do that¡¯s arguably more important.¡±This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    ¡°Maybe a burger might help with that. What¡¯ll it be?¡±


    Naomi leaned forward, resting her elbows on the counter as she said with a straight face,


    ¡°The meatiest thing on your menu.¡±


    Nadya chuckled. ¡°We have a double steak burger piled with two layers of bacon. Your choice of curly or cheese fries.¡±


    ¡°Real bacon?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s an all-American diner that serves burgers. Of course it¡¯s real bacon.¡±


    ¡°Sounds fattening. I¡¯ll take it. Curly fries for me.¡±


    ¡°Sure,¡± Nadya replied, ¡°Anything to drink, Nai? Wait, wait, let me guess¡­either green tea or coffee. Judging by your look, I¡¯m gonna go with coffee.¡±


    ¡°You know me so well.¡± As dry as those words were, Naomi cracked her a smile.


    After Nadya had put down the order, she brought her coffee. As Naomi blew on it, she questioned, ¡°How have you been?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve been all right, I guess. Glad school¡¯s done. Doing that volunteer trip to Guatemala I told you about. And probably not doing premed anymore,¡± said Nadya, keeping a watchful eye at the door. ¡°Now I¡¯m not sure what I¡¯m gonna do.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ve just finished our freshman year. Don¡¯t worry so much about it if you haven¡¯t gotten it figured out.¡± Naomi took a sip of her coffee. ¡°Hell, I¡¯m still undeclared.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I guess you¡¯re right. I just want to do something worthwhile, you know? Something I enjoy.¡±


    It was just as she said them that she wished she could have retracted her words. Nadya inwardly winced as Naomi¡¯s sharp gaze met hers, and she had a fair guess what her friend was thinking. Her eyes darted to the door again, suddenly hoping it would open once more.


    What was worse was Naomi¡¯s silence, because it never meant that her mind was silent. The gears were turning with some analysis in that brain, and Nadya didn¡¯t think she wanted to know what it was.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go check on your burger,¡± Nadya said abruptly, turning to leave.


    ¡°Nady,¡± Naomi called after her. And despite herself, she froze in mid-turn. Her head tilted back to Naomi like a reluctant marionnette.


    Naomi tapped her nails against the mug. ¡°You know what I¡¯m gonna ask.¡±


    Sometimes she hated that steady gaze of hers. It could really be unnerving. ¡°Nai¡ª¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not the one hounding you, Nady. She wants to know your answer. You¡¯re part of this, whether you like it or not.¡±


    She scowled. ¡°Well, that¡¯s thanks to who?¡±


    Naomi shrugged. ¡°Me. I¡¯m not gonna deny it. I thought I was doing you a favor. Still do. Or did you not just hear yourself?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Nai¡­¡± She wasn¡¯t sure what she was going to say, but she was forever grateful that she didn¡¯t have to complete that sentence. Because it was right then that the door opened and two young men entered.


    And was she ever so glad to see them.


    ¡°Hiram!¡± she exclaimed, rushing up to meet them a bit too eagerly. She hugged him and saw the young man behind him. ¡°Chris?¡±


    ¡°Hey, Nady. Been a while,¡± he said with that small, crooked smile she had always thought made him look more attractive.


    ¡°A while? It¡¯s been forever!¡± She hugged Chris quickly before releasing him to inspect him. ¡°Well, at least you haven¡¯t changed much.¡±


    ¡°That supposed to be a compliment?¡± he asked lightly.


    ¡°I sure think so,¡± she said with a smile. ¡°How¡¯ve you been?¡±


    ¡°No time to chat, woman. We¡¯re hungry and you¡¯re supposed to be working,¡± Hiram said with a raised eyebrow.


    Nadya stepped back to appraise him, crossing her arms and imitating his expression. ¡°Nice to see you, too.¡±


    ¡°Of course it is. It¡¯s always nice to see me.¡± Hiram sat at the counter a seat away from Naomi, Chris following suit.


    Nadya returned to her place at the counter so she could face them. Glancing at Naomi, who was texting on her phone, she wasn¡¯t able to deal with the awkwardness a moment longer. Nadya indicated to her and said, ¡°This is my friend Naomi. We were in the same dorm together last semester.¡±


    Loath as she was to admit it, it was a tiny revenge on Naomi, because Nadya knew well that she didn¡¯t care to talk with new people. And maybe Naomi might have been aware of that, because she actually put down her phone and smiled¡ªsmiled¡ªat them. ¡°Sup,¡± she said in a shockingly genial voice.


    ¡°Sup,¡± Hiram responded. ¡°Name¡¯s Hiram.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s a name I haven¡¯t heard before.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what happens when you had a mom that knew the Bible but no English.¡±


    Naomi grunted with amusement. As Chris introduced himself, Nadya placed two menus down before them. ¡°Let me know when you¡¯re ready, boys.¡±


    ¡°No need. I already know what I want,¡± said Chris, pointing at the menu. ¡°I¡¯ll take the triple steak and bacon burger. Extra pickles and grilled onions.¡±


    ¡°Same here,¡± Hiram concurred. ¡°Leave out the extra pickles, though.¡±


    Naomi silently raised an eyebrow. Nadya smiled sheepishly at her and mouthed an


    apology. That burger was relatively new. It hadn¡¯t crossed her mind when Naomi had asked¡ªand clearly meant¡ªfor the meatiest thing on the menu.


    After she jotted down their complete orders¡ªand revised Naomi¡¯s¡ªshe darted back and forth in an attempt to finish quickly and get some downtime to chat with them. But those two guys only ordered more. Two triple steak and bacon burgers, extra curly fries, drinks, and now an appetizer of onion rings? She¡¯d almost forgotten how much food could be eaten between the two of them.


    She couldn¡¯t be too annoyed with them, though, because they were a welcome distraction from the pressing matter Naomi wanted to confront her about.


    Nadya returned to the counter with their drinks and appetizer first. As the two of them dug in, Hiram glanced in Naomi¡¯s direction, then down at the onion rings, and then back at her. He pushed it towards her¡ªmaking Chris¡¯s fingers fall out of reach of an onion ring.


    ¡°Bro, you just¡ª¡±


    ¡°Want some?¡± Hiram asked Naomi.


    Naomi looked amused. ¡°Based on what I¡¯ve heard of what you can eat, I¡¯m surprised you¡¯d offer.¡±


    So am I, Nadya thought, observing Hiram with a slight smile and roll of her eyes.


    ¡°What can I say? Guess I¡¯m feeling generous today.¡±


    Chris exchanged a look with Nadya, indicating to an object with his eyes. Catching on, she grabbed it and handed to him, all the while trying not to grin.


    ¡°Thanks, but I¡¯ll have to pass on that,¡± Naomi told him.


    Hiram shrugged. ¡°Suit yourself.¡±


    Naomi¡¯s eyes glided to Nadya, who suddenly felt wary. ¡°Nady, mind if I talk to you for a minute?¡± she asked.


    Of course she did. But damn it all. It wasn¡¯t like she could avoid it forever. She wouldn¡¯t put it past Naomi to stay there even after both Chris and Hiram had gone.


    She resignedly walked over to Naomi and murmured, ¡°Just give me a second. I want to see this.¡±


    Naomi grinned devilishly. ¡°So do I.¡± Nadya couldn¡¯t say she was surprised. Naomi had often scared her times before with how observant she could be.


    A string of curses came to their left seconds later, and the two watched with stifled laughter as Hiram spat out his food and quickly reached for his coke. He chugged desperately as Chris snickered.


    ¡°When the hell¡¯d you switch the sauces?¡± Hiram demanded to Chris after he had recovered.


    ¡°While you were busy,¡± Chris answered shortly with a smirk.


    Nadya giggled. ¡°All right, we can go,¡± she said as the two continued their lighthearted bicker, contented while simultaneously bracing herself for the inevitable.


    Naomi went with her to the back, close to where the bathrooms were. Nadya watched her lean against the wall and cross her arms. She, meanwhile, was wrenching her hands as she told Naomi, ¡°Nai, I know what you¡¯re going to say¡ª¡±


    ¡°Really? I was going to say that it¡¯s sort of cute that you had a crush on Chris.¡±


    Her mouth hung open. ¡°How¡¯d you¡­¡±


    Naomi only smiled shrewdly. Why had she even bothered to ask? Of course Naomi would know. Even when she claimed she was just half-listening¡­


    ¡°Was it that obvious?¡±


    ¡°You say you haven¡¯t seen him in a while at the same time you¡¯re giving him a goofy smile. Charmed by those green eyes of his, are you?¡± Naomi asked, that damned smile only widening.


    ¡°Oh, shut up. Just get to the point,¡± Nadya muttered. ¡°That was in high school.¡±


    ¡°Gotta give it to him: the guy¡¯s got good hair. I should know. His thick hair makes the fringe work. Spiky-ish on the front and messy¡ªthe good messy¡ªall over.¡±


    ¡°Oh my God, Naomi.¡±


    Naomi snickered. ¡°Just trying to lighten you up.¡±


    ¡°I swear you have snake eyes,¡± she grumbled.


    ¡°Hawk eyes, you mean?¡± Her friend looked only humored.


    ¡°No¡­I think snake eyes suit you better,¡± mumbled Nadya.


    ¡°Sorry to disappoint, but I have human eyes. I just use ¡®em.¡± And then, without warning, the teasing was over. Her expression darkened, and Nadya tensed at the sight. Seeing her reaction, Naomi dismissed her concern with, ¡°I¡¯m not about to say what you think I¡¯m about to say.¡± And yet from her tone, Nadya sensed it would be far worse.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± asked Nadya uneasily.


    ¡°Nady,¡± Naomi began lowly, ¡°There¡¯s a possibility that running away can¡¯t be an option for you anymore.¡±


    She bit her lip. ¡°And why¡¯s that?¡±


    ¡°I got a call from her yesterday. And¡­well¡­¡± Naomi paused, and then her voice lowered further as she continued. Nadya¡¯s skin prickled as she heard her next words.


    ¡°¡­something was found a few weeks back in one of the other worlds. Something that could threaten all of us.¡±