by Lola StVil
“Hey, don’t leave out the human who only got a C in Spanish.”
“I was just telling the Guardians I can’t believe how close I am to the map,” she says, leaning in to study my eyes.
I smile and try not to feel weird about her being so close. I fail. This is totally weird. It’s like being on display.
Please stop looking at me…
“Does it hurt?” Isabelle asks.
“Not really, no.”
Please stop looking at me…
“When you blink, can you feel it move?”
“No.”
Please stop looking at me…
“What happens when you wash your face?”
Why can’t I be invisible just for a few minutes?
Rio and Marcus sense my discomfort because they rescue me.
“Isabelle, we heard you know ‘all things Kairo,’ is that true?”
“No one here or in the Light has done as much research as I have,” she says proudly.
“And what have you learned?” I ask.
“Most Demons have a desire to cause physical pain, but for Kairo that’s only secondary. His first priority is anguish. He likes to make his victims die a thousand mental deaths before he actually kills them.”
“So we’ve heard,” I reply.
“I’m fascinated by Kairo; always have been. For example, did you know that while Lucy created him from a number of depraved mixtures from Hun’s market, she also added a human component?”
“And what was that?” Miku asks.
“No one knows. Lucy destroyed the Seller who gave it to her. All that’s known is that somewhere inside that body of evil and malice there’s one human element.”
“Well, from what I’ve heard about him, it’s not mercy,” I inform Isabelle.
“That’s the question posed by historians everywhere: What kind of human emotion does Kairo have? Can it be used to nurture a more humane, understanding version of him? Is he evil because he was created this way or because he chooses to be?”
“You sound like you admire this guy,” Ameana says, put off by the thrill Isabelle’s voice.
“The more we know about evil, the easier it is to destroy it,” she defends.
“How close have you gotten to destroying Kairo?” Rio inquires.
“Not close at all. I’ve read accounts of his terror but I’ve never seen it firsthand. I can’t help but feel that if I was able to study him up close, I could get the info I need to know what he’s really like.”
“How do you feel about seeing him in person?” Marcus asked.
“Very funny.”
“He’s serious,” I add.
“You guys are going to Pyron?”
“Yes. Kairo has something that belongs to some friends of ours. We need to get it back. You would be extremely helpful on this mission. If you need to think about it—”
“I’m in!”
“You understand this isn’t a road trip to Los Vegas, right?” Miku asks.
“She knows and she’s excited,” Rio confirms.
“Look Isabelle, reading about a Demon and taking him on face to face is different,” Marcus warns.
“I know it sounds crazy but I think I could really help you guys. I’ve been looking for this opportunity for many Cycles now. I can do this.”
“We don’t doubt that. But we want you to know about the danger you will face,” I plead with her.
“I’m ready. I want to help.”
“Are you sure?” I ask again.
“Yes. When do we leave?”
“Later tonight.”
She smiles. Jay, who’s been surprisingly quiet, asks a question.
“You’re the first Angel I’ve met that wears glasses,” Jay says.
“I read a lot.”
“Yeah, ok. But Angels have perfect eyesight. I mean it’s like a trillion times better than humans. How many books could you read to actually require glasses?”
“A hundred thousand, give or take.”
“Damn! So, what, you don’t ever get to chill?”
“That’s how I ‘chill.’ What could be more fun than a book?” she asks innocently.
Jay looks dumbfounded. I playfully jab him in his side. The rest of the team holds back laughter.
“Yo, I would love to show you what’s more fun than reading,” he says slyly.
“No thanks.”
“Oh, you’re seeing someone?”
“No.”
“Then, what’s the problem?” he pushes.
“Well, um…”
“You don’t date Guardians? You think we’re all players?”
“Honestly, just you,” she says, looking around at everyone at the table. From that point on, the two go at it as if we weren’t there.
“Yo, why you try’n to do me dirty? You don’t even know me,” Jay says, highly offended.
“I’ve read about you in the Splash.”
“That mess is garbage.”
“So you don’t read it?” she asks.
“No. Well…I browse.”
“Well, it’s not just them. Everyone says you’re the love’em and leave’em guy.”
“Who says that?”
“The ones who’ve loved and left I guess. Look, I’m not trying to be mean or anything, it’s just that I’m looking for…”
“For what?”
“A guy who’s…ugly.”
“What the hell does that mean?”
“I mean, you’re a very handsome, attractive guy; too much so. You look like the centerfold for ‘hot n perfect.’ Everyone knows, the hotter the Angel, the bigger the jerk.”
“True,” Miku agrees. Her eyes widen. I don’t think she meant to say that out loud. Jay glares at her and returns his attention to Isabelle.
“So you aint feel’n the kid cuz he’s fine?” Jay admonishes.
“I’m just saying I date guys who aren’t so…polished; guys who haven’t practiced smiling in the mirror.”
“First, I don’t need to practice; this is all natural. Second, maybe if you’d stop being so judgmental, you’d be able to do more than read about peoples lives. Maybe, you’d actually have one.”
“I’m sorry if I’m not gushing all over you, Guardian. I know you’re supposed to be the Justin Bieber of the Angel world but that just doesn’t get it for me.”
“Seems like you haven’t ‘gotten it’ in awhile.”
“Is your ego so small that rejection from a stranger causes you to lash out like this?”
“What about your ego? You think you’re a better Angel than me just because you don’t get around like I do?”
“Who says I don’t?”
“Oh, I’m sure you and the other librarians get really crazy. I heard you guys have even been known to dog ear the page!”
“Why don’t you just go off and do like your kind usually do: flirt with some brainless girl who has to write directions to the Light in the palm of her hand so she won’t forget.”
“I’d rather her be dumb than uptight. I mean for real, it would be easier to get Lucy into the Light than to get you to loosen up.”
“Look, I don’t date guys like you. Nothing you say will get me to change my policy.”
“Yo, I don’t even want you no more!”
“That took five minutes. I’m guessing that’s the longest you’ve ever been with a girl?”
“Say what you want but just so we’re clear, I don’t flirt with every girl.”
“Ha! You’ve scoped out every chick in here, including the one on the poster.”
“She’s holding cake. I like cake.”
“Yeah, I’m sure you do…”
“ARGH!” Jay barks.
Best. Argument. Ever.
Jay is absolutely livid. He stares back at Isabelle, who is fuming. The two stare at each other as if to kill the other. Then Isabelle leans back in her chair and smiles.
“So, you’re saying you’re not the kind of Angel who flirts with everything that flies?”
“That’s right.”
“Care to prove it?”
“Hell yeah.”
“You’ll have to go the rest of the day and not flirt with anyone.”
“You gonna follow me?”
“No, I have a friend who makes Truth Stones. It’s a very basic version of Rio’s powers. It looks for one emotion: Desire. I have one here.”
She takes out a small bracelet with black stones strung together.
“It’s held by Samson string. So only my hand will be able to untie it from your wrist.”
“This is gonna monitor how much I flirt?” Jay asks.
“Yes,” Isabella says, just as she exchanges a quick glance at Rio. I look at Rio as if to ask what’s going on. Rio suppresses a smile and shakes his head.
“We just met and you’re already try’n to tie me down…” Jay says.
She places the string of black stones around his wrist.
“How does it work?”
“Every time you feel desire, one of the stones will turn blue. There are twelve stones in all. If we meet tonight and all the stones have turned blue, then I was right.”
“Fine, but when we meet up and all the stones are still black, I want an apology so heartfelt, it would make Omnis weep.”
“Fine, whatever,” she says, as she gets up and heads out the door.
“Can you believe that chick? How dare she act like I can’t control myself?” Jay asks.
We all look away from him.
“What y’all try’n to say?”
“Nothing. It’s just that you’re very…friendly,” I say gently.
“C’mon baby girl, don’t do me like that.”
Before we left the diner, three of the stones had turned blue.
* * *
We ignore Jay’s ranting about how the stones must be defective and head over to Tony-Tone’s shop. As usually, he has on an obnoxious Hawaiian T-shirt and chain. He greets us with his arms wide open. No one on the team is eager to hug Tony-Tone, but I don’t have the heart to leave him out there with his arms wide open. So I hug him back.
“Hi Tony,” I say, as he squeezes me tightly.
“You know, I gotta be honest, I didn’t think you guys would remember,” Tony says to us.
“Remember what?” Ameana asks.
“Ha, ha, very funny. Like you don’t know today is the anniversary of my original death.”
“Tony, we didn’t know,” Miku tells him.
“Oh. So you never got the evite?”
“Ah, no,” Rio says.
“I guess that’s what happens when I’m in your spam folder.”
“Sorry,” Miku says.
“Oh. And I’m guessing there’s no gift?”
“No.”
“I see,” he says, trying to hide his face.
“We need to talk to you about our mission,” Marcus says.
“Yeah, I’m sure you do, but I’m not interested. You need to go to another Seller.”
“Why?” I ask.
“Why human? Because Tony-Tone is tired of being pushed aside. I send you emails, I call, and I text. Nothing. It’s like we’re not even friends.”
“We are your friends, Tony,” I insist.
“Yeah, that’s what I thought, too. That’s why I set up all your Facebook accounts. You guys can fly around the world, take on Rage, take on the Hun, but you can’t respond to a friend request. Unbelievable.”
“Look, Tony—”Marcus starts with a firm, no-nonsense voice. I signal for to him to remain calm. We need Tony to come with us. And yes, Marcus can force him, but it’s much easier if Tony comes willingly. I think Marcus agrees because when he speaks next, his tone is much softer and controlled.
“We know that you’ve done a lot for us, Tony. We appreciate all of it.”
“You should. I can’t tell you how many Demons have come to me looking for a way to kill Emmy.”
“You didn’t sell them anything, did you?” I ask.
“No, but they can just go somewhere else. You’re in real danger this time, no lie.”
“That’s why we came to see you.”
“We need you to go somewhere with us,” Ameana says.
“Me? You guys really want me to come along?” Tony says, flattered.
“Yeah.”
“It is far away?”
“Well—”
“It’s okay if it is. I have a killer road trip playlist. It’s got all the greatest. If it’s an overnight though, I’ll need to go home and get a few things. Let’s see…my silk eye mask, sound machine, lavender face scrub…”
“We’re going to Pyron,” Marcus informs him.
“The only thing in Pyron is—”
“Kairo.”
“You want me to go with you to see Kairo?”
“Yes.”
“Just because I can die and come back doesn’t mean I want to die again. What if this is it for me? What if I’ve done too many bad things and my Cycle runs out?”
“We’re not trying to get you killed”
“You know that guy doesn’t just kill. No. No way, I’m not going. I like my limbs.”
“Tony, we really need you to do this for us,” I say to him.
“Sorry, no. I can’t do it,” he insists.
I am about to protest when Marcus signals for me to let it go. The team heads for the door but Marcus makes sure before we go, Tony-Tone overhears him:
“It’s better this way. We need a Seller who knows everything there is to know about items from Hun’s market. That’s not Tony.”
Rio catches on and joins in the conversation.
“You’re right. We should ask that other Seller guy.”
“Yeah, what was his name? Something with a D? Don? Dan?” Miku asks.
Tony-Tone interrupts us.
“Dale? That weeping oil salesman doesn’t know anything. He’s only come back to life twice. He’s a newbie. You need a Seller who’s died many times. A Seller who’s at the top of his profession.”
“We’ll manage. And when we come back having fought Kairo, everyone will want to know the story. We’ll give Dale all the credit. Dale can have his picture be on the front page of every Splash.”
“Front page?” Tony asks.
“Yeah, he’ll be making history. The first Seller to ever to be part of an epic takedown.”
I can practically hear the wheels turning in Tony’s head.
“Look, I think I should go with you guys. I mean, I know how much the team depends on me,” he says.
“You’re the backbone of this whole this mission, Tony,” I assure him.
“I know. It’s a hard role to play, but what are you gonna do?” Tony says, shaking his head.
“So, you’ll go with us?” I ask.
“Yeah, why not?”
“Good, bring any items you think might help us get to the castle at Pyron,” Marcus instructs. “I’ll text you where to meet us.”
“Okay, but when we get back, if we get back—”
“We’ll friend you,” we all vow in unison.
When we head out of the shop, Marcus tells Ameana it’s time to call Wolf and ask for his help. Ameana is showing an emotion I’m not used to seeing from her: nervousness. She shifts her weight, tugs on her earlobe, and fixes up her already perfect hair. Marcus makes her put it on speaker in case Wolf has questions for the team.
“Hey, it’s Ameana,” she says awkwardly.
“Guess my Karma’s been good. Hey, Princess.”
“Um… hi. I was wondering if you…well…we were wondering—”
“What is it?”
“I need your help. I know it’s—”
“When?”
“What?”
“When do you need me?”
“Tonight.”
“Done.”
&nbs
p; “Don’t you want details?”
“You need my help. There’s no other detail. See you soon.”
Wolf ends the call. Ameana looks at us as if she’s not sure what just happened.
“Um…I guess he’s in,” she says, trying to recover.
Marcus orders everyone to find a park or anywhere quiet and recharge before it’s time to meet up and take off for Pyron.
“Hey, I’m gonna go home,” I tell him.
“I’m coming with you.”
“You’re afraid something will happen to me?”
“That’s one reason. The other one is I don’t want you to be alone when you say goodbye to your mom.”
I look at him, puzzled.
“Emmy, ever since your mom’s death, you never open her bedroom door. You’ve made it into a shrine for her. Since we’re going somewhere filled with danger, yet again, you fear you may not return. So, you want to go home and say ‘goodbye.’”
“You think I’m crazy.”
“Crazy looks good on you.”
He takes me home. I walk into the kitchen and the same memory floods my mind. Only a few weeks ago, I came in here and found my mom’s heart had been ripped out by Lucy. I fight back tears and avoid the spot where her body laid. Marcus stands behind me and wraps his hand around my waist.
“You okay?” he whispers in my ear.
“Yeah, the kitchen is always…”
“I know. You ever think about moving?”
“No, I can’t leave her.”
“I know the feeling.”
I turn to face him.
“What about you? Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m just grateful.”
“For what?”
“I’m grateful the team is behind us. Grateful The Sage gave me the book of fairytales so I could read about Isis and Demetri. And I’m grateful you’re in my arms. When we come back, we have to go put my Rah in the mountains.”
“But I don’t have a Rah to place alongside yours.”
“Its okay, we’ll put an item that really matters to you.”
“Okay. The Sage, he said you had a question you wanted to ask me.”
“Figures he’d bring it up.”
“What is it?”
“I wanted to know if you ever felt…sorry that I entered your life.”
“No.”
“I mean—”
“I know what you mean. The answer is no. You asked me once before and the answer is the same.”