by C. Louis S.
Leon was utterly exhausted when he got home. He plodded in the front door with a gnawing at his stomach.
Kali passed him on the way to the dinner table. She was walking instead of floating just above the ground.
“What’s with you, Kali? Why aren’t you flying everywhere anymore? Sick of gloating?”
She looked at him confused and angry. “Nice to see you, too.”
She turned and continued to the table. Mother was just putting down the casserole on the table.
“This again? Geez. We never have good food.”
Father looked up from his phone and stared at Leon.
“What?” asked Leon.
“Bad first day of training?” asked Father.
“No, it was awesome.”
Father looked confused. “Then what’s wrong?”
“You wouldn’t get it.”
Father shrugged and went back to his phone.
As the meal started, Kali was staring at Leon.
“What?”
“Nothing. It’s just Micaela’s coming over tonight to teach us more.”
“Too bad,” Leon said. “I’m going to be practicing my powers.”
“Alright, geez. Just asking. No need to bite my head off. She said she wants to tell us about the plan. I thought you would be interested.”
“What plan, honey?” Father asked.
“Oh Dad, you should listen. I don’t really know, but it’s something about the reason for everything. Like why we’re here.”
“Here?” Aidan asked.
“Yeah, like why we are alive. That’s what she said at least. Will all of you listen with me?”
“Of course, sweetie. You’re really getting into this White Light stuff, aren’t you?”
“True Light, Dad,” Kali said smiling. “Yeah, I’m trying to not use my powers anymore, because, um well this is kind of important, Dad. I already told Mom, but I want to be immersed at the castle.”
“Immersed? What does that mean?”
“You believe that stuff?” Leon asked.
“You should too, Leon. You felt it. Remember the fruit?”
“Whatever. They don’t have powers, Kali. I don’t care.”
“But Leon don’t you remember the music?” Kali pleaded.
“So?”
“What music?” asked Aidan.
“Just somebody playing the piano. It’s nothing.”
“That’s not true, Leon, and you know it. Flynn says you can hear it when you are following the light.”
“I follow the light. Green, red, blue—”
“But Leon—”
“I said I don’t care.”
“Hey, that’s no way to talk to your sister,” Mother said.
Leon looked down at his food and picked at it with his fork. There was an awkward silence. Man, everyone is so annoying today. I thought I could feel better at home, but I just wanna get away from them, all of them.
“What did you mean you want to be immersed, Kali?” asked Aidan, ignoring the glare from Leon.
“Oh, so I don’t know much, but it’s a beautiful ceremony where I officially become a follower of the True Light.”
“That sounds like a big decision, dear,” said Father. “I’ll have to talk about it with Mom.”
“Oh please, Daddy. I really want to do this.” She pleaded with her hands clasped and in such a sickeningly sweet tone.
Father laughed.
“Doesn’t that mean you’ll lose your powers forever?” asked Leon. “You’ll be a freak, like Micaela.”
“Finally you won’t be the only one, Leon,” Aidan laughed.
Everyone laughed, except Leon. He just shook his head and scowled.
“Oh come on, Leon,” said Mother. “Now that you’re training on the Junior Firebolts, you can’t laugh with your family?”
“Not when they’re laughing at me, but guess what, Aidan? Kaz gave my phone this thing where I can have all the light I want in any color, whenever,” said Leon with all the boasting he could muster. “That’s right, Aidan. You heard right. Being on the leaderboard isn’t that cool anymore, because I can get all the light I want.”
Aidan shrugged.
“What? No smart remark?”
“What has gotten into you, son?” Father asked. “You come home from one day of training with that man and now you think you’re better than everyone? Huh? What is your problem?”
“Randall.”
“What?” asked Father.
“Randall’s my problem. Kaz Warwick lied to me and now Randall’s on the Junior Firebolts and my one chance to show the world that I’m special, that I’m somebody, is ruined. That’s what’s wrong.”
There was silence.
Leon stood to go up to his room. Before he made it to the living room, Father spoke in a soothing, comforting tone. “But son, you are somebody to us. You’re important and talented and amazing. We love you.”
Leon turned. He could hear the sincerity in Father’s voice. He felt for the first time in a while that he was truly loved by the four people at the table. They all looked at him with concern. Concern and love aren’t enough to be special in this world. You have to be powerful.
“But Dad, you can’t even fly.”
chapter 22
Mist and Light