by Indie Gantz
Cal nods next to his brother. “Dad’s waiting for us. Come on, Luc.” He gestures towards the hill, but Luc’s eyes are still hard on mine.
“Just wait, girl,” Luc threatens, “I’m going to figure it out.”
Whatever temporary insanity made me think I could take this guy is now cowering away in the back of my mind. I don’t step back, though. I don’t say anything either, afraid my voice will waver and give me away.
Luc’s threat hangs in the air a few moments until he allows Cal to pull him away, leaving us to watch as they make their way up the hill. We all stay silent for a few moments, watching as the boys reach the top of the hill, until Kor and Vi join us with the children.
“Well, that could have gone remarkably better,” Kor says. We all turn around to face him. Tirigan bows his head, obviously embarrassed by his behavior.
“I’m sorry,” he says carefully. “I shouldn’t have.”
“No,” Kor replies with a laugh. “You really shouldn’t have. But what’s done is done.” He turns his gaze to me. “Give anything away, did you?”
“I don’t think so,” I reply. “My eyes went purple for some reason when I was squaring off with him. I don’t really know why. He can’t prove I didn’t have an Eidikós hidden somewhere that helped me change my eye color. So… it’s not too bad, right?”
“Could be worse.” Vi shrugs.
Bo’s eyes wander back behind us and towards the hill. She looks puzzled for a moment, but then shakes off whatever it is that’s troubling her. “Well, I’m famished. I think it’s our resident alien’s turn to cook, too.”
I shove her playfully. “Alien? Really?”
“Where’s the lie?” she replies with a smirk.
“I was born here you know, on Earth.” I respond, sending a dirty look to Oleander who laughs at Bo’s joke.
“Yes, but you got all that alien blood in you.” She looks at her father. “What say you?”
Kor gives me a once over and stokes his chin thoughtfully.
“Alien hybrid,” he says with a nod. “Definitely.”
I try to balk, but I end up laughing instead.
It’s no longer going to just be difficult for us to leave. It’s going to feel downright impossible. I feel good when I’m with these people. I feel happy and lighter than I should considering our circumstances. Leaving now is the last thing I want to do, but we have to do it. Sooner now, because Luc is obviously suspicious, and I just made it ten times worse.
I turn to Tirigan, who’s silently conversing with Avias. The rest of the group starts up the hill, but I pull Tirigan back with my mind. He must tell Avias to go on ahead because the older boy smiles at me politely, then turns and follows his family up the hill.
We should talk about this. I don’t like-
“We will,” Tirigan cuts me off aloud. When I step back a bit in surprise, he opens his mind. Just not right now. I’m hungry. Let’s eat.
Me too, I reply cautiously. I’m just saying—
Not now, Charlie. Tirigan shuts me down again, and it feels like, once again, I’m floundering to understand him.
My brother doesn’t wait for me to reply. He simply turns around and runs after Avias up the hill, leaving me alone on the sidelines of the football field.
Interlude IV
Day Forty- Three: Tirigan
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
A Battalion of Sorrows
Several events occur expeditiously.
Kor becomes aware of the new arrivals and stands in front of Charlie and Calor. With a quick rotation of his wrist, Avias turns the vehicle sharply to the right, blocking Calor, Kor, and Charlie even more from view. Oleander climbs over the backseat, decidedly landing in Bo’s lap, and exits the vehicle as it spins at Avias’ command. Bo follows behind Oleander, leaving Avias and I alone in the vehicle. I do not look back at him to see what he plans to do next. I open the door and exit as well. Avias follows quickly after.
The sound of vomiting stops just as Celosia’s color begins to return to her face. Even from several meters away, I can see her visibly strengthen.
Kor walks steadily around the car and meets Calor’s family as they approach us. In pristine health once more, Calor quickly composes himself and falls in step behind Kor. Charlie presses at my mind.
Open mind: Charlie.
What do we do?
We wait. The situation with Calor and Celosia could be the distraction we need to escape.
What’re you talking about?
Avias steps around us and joins Kor and Calor in their walk to meet Calor’s family. I turn and lock eyes with my sister.
We are close enough now. We can travel the rest of the way on our own if need be. If this dissolves into a fight, you and I should disappear from it quickly.
Tirigan, we can’t—
We must. This doesn’t concern us.
No, but this family has risked a lot to help us. Calor has risked—
I know what he’s done. It doesn’t change the facts.
What about the other reason Calor’s family might be after us?
I haven’t forgotten.
Well, what are we supposed to do about that? They know—
They know nothing. Not for sure.
Well, I guess we’re about to see. I’m not about to let them fight our battles for us. Charlie stomps away like a toddler incapable of objective reasoning, leaving me alone on the other side of the vehicle.
Calor may have helped us get out of town in time, but he also led our pursuers straight to us. Although, looking through the windows of the vehicle, I do not see the entirety of the Collective’s Enforcement Unit bearing down on us. I see three people. Only three Téssera, and none of them are actively attacking us at the moment.
Following in my sister’s footsteps, I round the vehicle and join the rest of the group.
“Calor,” Calor’s father says quietly, his eyes on his son. I don’t have a name for the older man. “I know you think you know what you want, but you’re acting irrationally.” His posture implies great physical strength, but his eyes betray the presumed purposefully aggressive stance his body has adopted. Soft. Imploring. Reasonable. Calor’s father’s eyes are far kinder than what he displayed on the football field the first time I saw him.
“Dad, I’m sorry but, I can’t go through with this,” Calor replies carefully. His gaze shifts. His father. Me. Charlie. His father again. “Is that why you’ve come?”
My eyes are on Avias instead of Calor. My friend is engaged in a very heated staring contest with Luc. Odd. Surely whatever antagonism Luc holds for Avias has been overshadowed by the malice he now feels for me and my sister. It is logical to assume his presence here is stimulated by what occurred on the football field less than a week ago. However, he has yet to even glance my way.
“Of course,” Calor’s father answers blankly. “Celosia’s been in a lot of pain. You must return with us, Calor.”
“No,” Calor answers quickly, confusion still covering his face. “I-I’m sorry, I can’t.” He eyes his father warily, obviously perplexed about the lack of aggression as well. After a moment he turns to his betrothed. “Celosia, I’m sorry but I can’t marry you. I don’t... I just can’t.”
“But, you promise. You say you marry me. You say I safe now.”
“I know, but... if I married you,” Calor pauses briefly. Inhale. Swift exhale. “It wouldn’t be real. I can’t do that to you.”
“You promise. You say I safe.” Celosia’s eyes fill with tears. “I no go back. Don’t send me back! Please!”
Why aren’t they attacking us? Charlie’s question feels out of place. I’m surprised she isn’t more affected by the dramatic scene in front of us.
I don’t know, I reply. Luc hasn’t looked at either of us that I’ve seen.
No, which is so weird considering what we did the last time we saw him. Cal said they knew—
“Celosia, I’m sorry,” Cal says again, this time taking the girl’s hands in h
is and cutting off the rest of Charlie’s thought. “I wish I could help you, but I can’t marry you.”
Calor’s father continues to look at his son. Disappointment radiates off him. Carefully controlled caution seeps between his breaths.
“This is your final answer?” he asks.
Calor nods. His eyes are on the ground between our groups. Celosia begins to sob.
“Really? You’re going to choose that instead of her?” Luc threatens, eyes finally on his brother but his finger pointed at Avias. “I thought you were a man, Cal. I thought you were better than this.”
Calor faces off his with older brother. “I’m not choosing him. I just don’t want to get married. I don’t love her.”
“I no love you either,” Celosia cries. “I just want out. I no go back. Freo will kill me! Cal, please!”
Calor wavers. Conflicted heart. Kor stiffens beside me. Shock. What is shocking? The name. Freo.
“You’ll have to have the bond severed,” Calor’s father announces over Celosia’s tears.
“There are Desmos casters where we’re going,” Kor jumps in. “Celosia can join us on our travels.” Both Avias and Calor snap their heads in Kor’s direction, eyes wide. “If the girl is in danger, we cannot knowingly send her away.”
A loud grumble comes from the youngest of us all, her eyes rolling as her arms cross over her chest.
“Oh sod this,” Bo interjects. “Is anyone else just a wee bit confused by all this?”
“Bo,” Kor chastises, but she ignores him.
“Was it not, like, four days ago that Luc was tryin’ to take Charlie’s bloody head off? Are we goin’ to deal with that or not?”
“Who?” Luc startles. His brow furrows as he turns away from Calor to look at Bo.
“Um, the pretty brown girl right there?” Bo points at Charlie. “What? By-gones? Is that what we’re doin’ here? Cuz after the lickin’ Tirigan gave you, I’m surprised we’re all just standin’ here.”
To anyone paying attention, it is obvious that Bo is looking to make up for the fight she wasn’t allowed to participate in yesterday.
Luc’s eyes travel over to my sister and then to me. The large Fotián suddenly looks very lost.
“You’ve finally lost what little bit of your mind you had left, little girl,” Luc answers. He sounds more confident than he looks. “I’ve never met either of ‘em.”
Charlie’s surprise is written all over her face, but I know my own expression is blank. Shock does not lend well to working out a problem.
Luc claims never to have met either of us, but we have indeed met and made quite an impression both times. He looks genuine in his assessment of our acquaintance, so I do not believe him to be lying in order to hide an ulterior motive. He legitimately believes he’s never met us. Interesting.
I search Calor’s face, but I do not find the confusion I expect. Instead, I find something else. Warmth. Gratitude. Love. His emotions are directed at his father.
“Well, if you’re going, you should be on your way,” Calor’s father says, his gaze locked with Calor’s. “Your journey should be clear.”
“Thank you...” Calor whispers. “Dad... I don’t know what to say.” The young Fotián takes a few quick steps forward and pulls his father into an embrace. The image is as unsettling as it is familiar. The older man allows himself to be hugged.
“You know what this means,” the man says quietly. “You can’t come back, Calor. Not now. Not ever.”
“I know,” Calor nods as he pulls away. “I understand. Thank you for this, Dad. You have no idea what you’ve done.”
“Yes, I do,” he responds steadily. His eyes shift to me, then my sister, before returning to Calor “The path you’re on, son... it’s not what you think it is. Be careful.”
“Whats going on?” Luc interrupts. “Are we fighting or—”
“No,” Calor’s father answers. “You and I are going home.”
Kor steps forward. Offers his hand. “Thank you, Ren.”
Calor’s father, now named Ren, takes Kor’s hand and shakes it once before letting it fall.
“I hope you know what you’re doing,” Ren tells him.
“History would suggest otherwise,” Kor responds. “But I think I’ve got a good handle on things at the moment.”
Ren regards Kor for a long moment, then steps back and places his hand on Luc’s shoulder. He gives a small smile to Celosia, who is still silently crying, and then they are gone.
I look over to Charlie to make sure their sudden disappearance had nothing to do with her, but I find her looking expectantly at Calor.
“What was that? How did he not remember us?” Charlie asks him.
“My father is Gyan, Charlie,” Calor explains with a sigh, eyes on Celosia. “An extremely powerful one.”
“So? What does that have to do with—” Just as I am about to begin mentally assaulting my sister’s slow processing, she interrupts herself and reminds me not to underestimate her. “Memory loss. Sulfur.” Charlie stares incredulously at Calor. “Your father altered Luc’s memory? Why?”
“Why indeed,” Kor responds. He begins to walk back to the vehicle.
Calor merely shrugs, already moving past my sister. He walks to Celosia. Trepidation. Stands in front of her. Repentant. Places a hand on her shoulder. Compassion. I turn away from the display.
He must not see a need to contribute to a conversation that can be had without him. I find this unexpectedly wise. From what I’ve read, it is unusual for a human being to not add their opinions or suggestions to a conversation happening in their general vicinity, even when those judgements would be better left unsaid.
This particular conversation is not worthy of more than a few spoken words at the moment. As a group, we would be better to think of our own questions, categorically eliminate those that we deem unnecessary or self-answering, and then come together again to discuss. To vomit out our theories at this moment would be a waste of everyone’s time.
The fact that Luc’s memory was altered isn’t nearly as interesting as the reason why it happened. Did Ren want to protect Calor? Or did he want to protect me and Charlie? There was something in his eyes, something in the way he looked at us. The man does not trust me or my sister, and yet he allows his son to follow us. His final words to Calor were very intriguing as well. This path you’re on is not what you think it is.
Several pieces of this sentence need deconstruction.
“We should be on our way,” Kor announces from behind us. He slides into the driver’s seat of the vehicle. “We’ve still got a couple days to go.”
“Yeah,” Charlie replies beside me. “Let’s go.”
Before Charlie can start towards the vehicle, I step out in front of her, cutting off her path so that I can reach the vehicle first. I ignore my sister’s protests as I take the passenger seat next to Kor. He doesn’t look in my direction, but I can feel him assess me. An invasion. I do not like it.
The rest of the group piles into the vehicle, every seat now taken. When the doors are closed, Kor pulls out onto the road and leads us west. Despite my intention to keep my mind closed unless entirely necessary, I press at Kor’s defenses, hoping that he will allow me entry.
Open Mind: Kor.
A surprising turn of events, Kor’s mental voice is noticeably tired, but surprisingly still clear around the edges.
Are you?
What?
Surprised.
Yes. Ren’s not a heinous man, but he’s not known for his tolerance.
Tolerance of what? I ask.
Calor’s sexual orientation.
Is that common among Téssera ? Intolerance?
It depends on which faction you belong to. Efforos believes in the repopulation of Earth. For humans, that means man and woman. In the Dynami faction, reproduction is heavily regulated... And homosexual relationships are treated equally, if not slightly superior.
Is it odd that Calor is Efforos but prefers the company of
men?
He’s not Efforos, his father is, Kor clarifies. And Cal prefers the company of Avias.
Is there a difference? I ask. Barely interested.
Yes.
I do not see it.
You wouldn’t, he replies. Not yet.
Are you anticipating a breakthrough on my part?
Yes. Kor laughs quietly.
Surely you have a better use for your mind.
Surely not. His lips curl into a smile.
Perhaps you could enlighten me as to why you think Ren would have erased Luc’s memories of us, I suggest, hoping Kor understands my need to change the subject.
What makes you think I have a theory?
You seem to always have a theory.
Hm. I didn’t know I was so transparent.
You aren’t. I am just learning how to read you.
Kor doesn’t respond right away. It irks me to not have access to his mind to the same degree as Charlie’s. He can give ample thought to something while I am in his head, without sharing any of it with me.
I don’t know for sure, Kor finally replies. But Ren seems to be motivated by something outside of fatherly love. He protected you and Charlie. That would imply what?
That he is aware of our species’ existence, I answer immediately. That much is obvious.
Yes, I would think so.
Do you think there are many people who know?
Perhaps. Either way, we’ll know more soon.
I hope my lack of faith in his statement is reflected in my expression.
Day Thirty-Nine: Charlie
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
Though He Risks Everything
“It was a good match, guys,” I congratulate as I scoop stew into bowls and pass them around the table. “Sorry it ended up the way it did.”
“Yeah. Sorry boys,” Bo joins in, slurping broth into her mouth as soon as her bowl is in front of her. “Ave may want to work on his throw-ins.” She shoots her brother a mischievous smirk, and Avis pretends to laugh across from her.