Emotionless: (Prototype: Zero book 1)

by Shaina Anastasi

  “You always get scared when Eileen is away from you. Hopper, you seriously have some attachment issues. Is it because Eileen pats you behind your ear and you enjoy it.”

  “I do not get attached to my Mistress,” he said, and his face turned bright red. “And I do not like being scratched behind the ear.”

  “Really,” Donte said in a slight voice and flickered a look up.

  As always, I can never have my guard down around Donte and Nixon. They are diabolical demons sent from the Joker to cause humiliation for all who are around them.

  Nixon dropped down from the ceiling. Hopper pounced, morphed into rabbit form and hopped over the counter. Nixon must have drunk something because he learned how to dive elegantly and was a step behind Hopper, who unfortunately for him, had Donte who was already setting a trap. Nixon was pushing Hopper to a place they had already set up. Lifting his hands, he threw a brown crystal the shape of an octagon at to where Hopper was heading in the living room. As soon as it touched the carpet, a dome shape jail cell the size of a medium-sized dog burst to life. Streams of darkened magic slithered up like smoke with the motion.

  “Sucker,” Nixon straightened up and slipped a potion into his mouth. “Prepare for the cuddly patrol.”

  “Don’t like being pet behind the ear?” Donte grinned wickedly. “I find you guilty of that statement. Prepare for your punishment.”

  Hopper stared daggers at them. His red eyes narrowed with profound displeasure at the notion of Nixon and Donte scratching at his ear. Staring intently at the altercation, I found amusement as Hopper lifted his back paw and tapped twice on the ground. A dark black hole warped into focus underneath him and he dropped. The hole made a sucking noise as it closed.

  “Shit . . .” they both dragged out the word with annoyance. “What a stupid crystal.”

  “Where’s Hopper?” Isilies who was in the shower came out dressed and with a damp towel over his hair. He narrowed his silver eyes at the spot Hopper disappeared from only seconds ago, “Is that my crystal?” he demanded.

  “You shouldn’t leave things lying around,” Nixon and Donte said.

  “My crystals are in a metal box underneath my bed with four different locks, two with crystals and two with rune locks. How could you possibly unlock that?”

  “Goes by fingerprint,” Donte shrugged. “It was easy.”

  “Why? Why was I born into this family,” he mopped, dragged towel from hair, wrapped his scarf around his neck and walked out.

  Maybe I should do the same. As they turned, looked at me, their smiles were spreading into something that resembled demonic. I decided to leave as soon as they walked into their room. I didn’t fully trust either of them without Hopper or even Isilies home. They can stay in their room or find some other person to annoy. I need to find Lawliet; there is something I need to say to him.

  Through the cafeteria, the chill dragged up my spine. It was morning, students on tables and the atmosphere has no tension as it had done late last night. It is light, airily and the wafting scent of breakfast lingered in the room. It was completely different to the dead cold silence of a betrayal enactment.

  Crossing the cafeteria, I was waiting for a slithering shady greyish blur to pop up at my feet with those eyes that cut through me like a blunt knife, twisting the despair little by little.

  “Eileen!” Charlie shouted my name. Her arm extended high above her head, and she waved enthusiastically at me. “How was your date?”

  Why do they all think it was a date? I thought. Confusion withered inside my head at her words. Can’t two mages have a coffee without everyone else believing it was some strange type of date? I don’t understand the notion nor will I ever.

  Going up the flight of stairs, I ignored the daggers from Rebecca who came down. Her shoulder slammed into me, and I stumbled down two steps and thudded against the brick walls. Her eyes glowered, lip curled, anger and hate registered on her face. I ignored her, and I kept walking up when I noticed Head Mage was strolling down the hallway on the right. Glancing up at the stairs that are narrowed and lead to the east tower, I looked back to him who was walking further away from me. Tightening the hold on my Grandfather's book, I turned away from the flight of stairs and towards Head Mage who evidently slowed his pace.

  “Little doll, has Lawliet agreed to the excursion?” he asked once I caught up to him. I nodded, and he smiled knowingly. “I find he is maturing. Just a little, but enough to let someone in, however, this isn’t what you wanted to talk to me about. No, you’re not the type to be smug nor the type actually to ask for anything. Then it is a question.”

  I find it tough to talk to Head Mage when he is analysing like this. Breaking apart and disclosing information as we walked. I have seen the strangest side of him and the most comfortable side is the playful side I see him talk to Lawliet in. Mika right now is unnerving.

  “What would you like me to answer?” he asked.

  “Ghosts, first,” I murmured.

  “Yes, they told me,” he nodded. “Don’t be frightened. They don’t want to harm you. Some are very in your face, personalities that are headstrong. Lawliet calls them stalkers. It is very amusing. He hates going through the kitchen at night because one enjoys stalking him. If you have never seen a ghost before, it's hard to understand them. Their wavelength is deeper, lower. A soft monotone. If you erase strange guilt, depression and anxiety, you will be able to hear what they’re potentially trying to say to you. I rendered the cafeteria out of bounds at night, doors locked and lights out in the dorms. Except in the tower you and your family reside in, it's hard to keep people - especially you - out.”

  “Sorry,” I apologised.

  “It is fine if you enjoy long, in-depth stories about the betrayal,” he said and my curiosity brimmed with excitement. He knew it would. A tug of a smile twitched on his face when he stopped walking from around the corner and stood at a flight of stairs that leads upwards. “You have another question?”

  “My Grandfather. Did you know him?”

  “Yes. I found him interesting. The way he talked and his books, almost as if you were drawn into an in-depth riddle that was nearly impossible to figure out. ‘If time could stop at a three-way path and you only had a second response, which route would be the one you would go? Towards your desire, the truth or safety?’” He took a step up the stairs and said with a straight face. “My answer to your grandfather was the truth. His answer was a standstill.”

  “O . . . Why?” I asked.

  “When we were at the funeral after the betrayal, he said, ‘a man of few words told me he would rather stand still, wait for time to pass and be killed because the truth he ran to was not a happy one’. I was lost. He didn’t elaborate, and till this day, I still have not figured out what he was implying besides the fact that the truth wasn’t what he expected it to be.”

  “How can my Grandfather talk when his voice was severed at the betrayal?” I asked, suddenly suspicious.

  “Huh, interesting,” he mused.

  What does that mean?

  “What would you choose?” He asked suddenly. It attracted my attention once again at what he was speaking about before.

  “Desire,” I answered.

  “Interesting. Why?”

  “I desire the truth. Instead of running to the truth, I would like to know the answers and reasons before I go there.”

  He nodded with a smile and mumbled, “Same answer as Lawliet. It seems I have made the correct choice to place you in the same class as Clarintine.”

  “Why?”

  “Two polar opposite personalities coming up with the same answers, can you imagine what else they could do and find if they would trust each other.”

  “I trust him.”

  “Little doll, I wasn’t born eleven years ago, if you’re going to deny, do it better. Now if you excuse me, I have to order some crystals your brother has ever so kindly asked me to do.”

  I do trust him, don’t I?

  Pus
hing open the door and seeing Lawliet laying there, head resting on the table, the answer came almost openly. I don’t know Lawliet, so how can I possibly trust someone who could potentially let me fall without a second thought. But I have to find it because he is the only one I believe I can trust with this secret with my Grandfather.

  The scarf. Soft woolly fabric twisted around and around the slender nape of the neck. Hunching shoulders, scrunching the cuddly red material, a breath of frosty air escaped lips. My Surroundings were thick and cumbersome with the cold mist. The outline of the deck was unfocused and hazy. The sounds of hushed voices carried with the soft alluring lapping of icicle water that sloshed against the wooden panelled wharf. The coloured lights changed to light blue and green instead of the darkened shade. The lights gleamed in the early morning, sparkled along the water’s edge as we wait for the sound of the train that chugged into view. The ice cracked. The breaking of it sounded like thunder crackling in the distance. Steam sweated the brisk cold mist as the chute came out and smoky bubbles floated in the air. Not the same train is coming through to Sorcerer City. This is most definitely an Academy train specifically for students. Green and blue, it shined beautifully with the contrast of the dull white surroundings. It was a vibrancy of colour that exploded and heightened my field of vision. It made me long for more bursts of incredible atmospheres.

  Tightening the hold of the bright yellow suitcase, I stepped forward, almost to the edge and watched the train, as it advanced towards Sorcerer City. While I looked at the train, I tuned out the others that were surrounding me until it was too late. I heard their voices, familiar to my ear, only just hearing it when I woke. However, they started to become argumentative. Rokk pushed Donte with their heated discussion, Nixon arched up and shoved Rokk back. The hostile look in his eyes made me realise Nixon wasn’t himself.

  On the wharf, surrounded by mages that despise us, probably not a good idea to start an argument. Evidently, I ended up moving without knowing again, because now I was standing beside Nixon with my hand on his shoulder. He twitched and noticed my presence. Donte behind me hissed a breath out. He didn’t like how I was in the middle of this tension.

  I rarely get in the midst of my brothers’ arguments. They are always strong at heart and can weasel their way out of anything. Except, this involves me because if they get in trouble, I do not want the teachers to cut the trip permanently. Even knowing Lawliet disagreed to do anything I wanted to do, I mapped out various locations to go when Lawliet is sleeping during the day. Considering there is a buddy system, it was no surprise when Mika came to us the day before with a suspicious grin telling an annoyed Lawliet and I that we will be in the same hotel rooms but apparently ‘separate beds’. He emphasised on that especially to Lawliet who narrowed golden eyes. He didn’t believe a word that came out of his mouth. It made me think the same thing as well because his attitude was not Head Mage-like. He was certainly being a playful guardian who enjoys messing with Lawliet.

  I feel sorry for Lawliet. Mika sounds as diabolical as Donte and Nixon.

  “I am cold,” I murmured.

  “Shit,” Nixon stepped back, turned around to Donte, and smiled. “The train is here. You will be in the warmth soon.”

  “Ok.”

  “You really are something else,” a chuckle came from behind, and I turned to notice the mage I was thinking about behind me. He was standing awkwardly with a backpack that was slung over his shoulder.

  “Fellow students!” bellowed Head Mage who stood on the top of the train. Lawliet groaned, his eyes were barely open. If anything, he looked as if he wants to drop to the ground and sleep away whatever Mika was going to say. “You have assigned rooms. Make sure to remember that when you step indoors. Deda and Jeff will scan your eyes to get your room number and key. This excursion is a day under the ocean, three on land and a day trip back. I pride myself on these excursions. For the past week, I even have considered cutting it because of the ongoing tension. However, I believe this trip will do a lot more good than bad. Get to know one another. Be in rooms with mages you would never consider being with. This trip to the wonderful town of Cremar will be a bonding session. Form a line, no pushing, and we will be on our way.”

  Almost immediately, the rush of students created a line without shoving one another. I slipped in smoothly between Donte and Nixon. My barriers are of protection. I marched forward. My suitcase was being carried by Donte who seemed to be moving his head left to right and was anticipating an enemy to pounce at any given moment. Or a particular rabbit to come out from hiding.

  Donte, after the line diminished slowly, stepped into Deda’s door and he held up a flashlight and shined it into both his eyes.

  “Room thirty-seven.”

  “Eileen,” Nixon whispered. “Make my room thirty-seven.”

  “Ok.”

  Nixon shuffled forward and moved in front of me. He grinned at Deda for a second when a light shade of amusement hit me. Deda stepped aside, and a child slapped the flashlight in his hands and looked up at me first. I knew I couldn’t manipulate for Nixon.

  “Hello, students. Can I please scan Eileen’s eyes and then I will be on my way?”

  Shuffling forward, Nixon whispered in my ear, “Can he be manipulated?” I shook my head. “Plan E.”

  That was an idea I have never heard in a very long time. Plan Eileen hasn’t been brought up since we were children. Usually, if my brothers told me to tell someone to do it, I can easily. However, when it came to Mum and Dad, they would do Plan E. It worked when I was seven, younger and adorable. I doubt Plan E can collaborate with a Head Mage who looks as if he can see right through me.

  Stepping forward, I took a deep breath when pressure came down on my shoulders. I panicked and let my veins throb to the surface.

  “Activate, defence level two,” I murmured almost instantly.

  Nixon pushed off and flew forward into Donte. With the chaos of the shield and Nixon that was flying away, they exchanged the key between one another while I stepped towards Mika.

  “My arm, it hurts,” I said to the Head Mage.

  His head snapped towards me and away from Nixon that was going down the hallway. Donte straightened up and apologised profoundly. He stated that he ‘tripped with the motion of me moving forward and him behind’. I said, as always, ‘it is ok’.

  “Alright, Nixon, step forward,” Head Mage, said while he waved the flashlight. Going forward, he scanned his eyes and said, “Thirty-seven.”

  “Thanks,” he grinned, grabbed the keys and walked off.

  “Oh, Nixon,” Mika said as I stepped forward. Donte turned around, and Mika smiled. “Thank you.”

  “For what?” Donte asked.

  “Showing me Plan E,” he said as he flashed the light into my eyes. “Room thirteen.”

  Dropping the keys into the palm of my hand, Head Mage gave the flashlight back to Deda and strolled down the strip walkway. Students that came through the other entrance quickly shut their doors or pinned themselves against the wall to stay clear of him.

  My room was on the first floor and in the second cart. Looking at the key, Head mage's words about bonding with new people popped in my head as I opened the door and stepped in. My bright yellow suitcase wheeled in behind me.

  The door tapped against the wall, my stomach churned, and I instantly darted my eyes away from the blond tumble of curly hair. The sound of the magazine flicked along with a disgusted gurgle of noise. It looks as similar as it would if she drank curdled milk and the sour aftertaste hit her as well as the cloggy chunks.

  “Greeaaat,” Rebecca drawled.

  Chapter 15.

  Eileen – Unlikely friend.

  The worst possible thing to do was to place me in a room with someone I distrust the most. A mage who can have the potential to kill me in my sleep. Not as if I will ever sleep in this room, however, when I turned around away from the door, it closed and not even the key will open it. Baffled, being caged in a room with a girl
who spread rumours and called me a droid isn’t how I expected to spend the excursion. I turned back around and avoided eye contact.

  “Get out, little Highborn,” she spat vividly without looking up from her magazine.

  “It won’t open,” I responded softly, and she snapped her magazine shut and glared at me. Her eyebrows shot up a second later as well as a dumb stupid look on her face. “It is locked,” I elaborated.

  “Bullshit,” she stood quickly, her movements, as much as I want to disagree, were elegant and catwalk smooth. Grabbing the handle, she turned towards me with a cocky expression and pushed the handle down. Well, at least she tried. Angered, she turned her back towards me, grabbed the handle with both hands and struggled to move it the slightest with her vivid angered arm movements of someone who looks as if she can lift weights. “WHAT THE FUCK!” she screeched.

  Her voice wasn’t the only one. We heard another outburst that was coming from various rooms along with banging, and I assume magic as well as kicking. Everyone seems distraught while I found the bed that didn’t have magazines, makeup and expensive clothes sprawled all over it. Lifting legs to chest, I leant against the wall and knew that the one who did this to us was Head Mage and there was no way of escape.

  “This is a bonding exercise. I had already explained this before you entered the train. You may be put in positions you clearly do not like,” Mika said, his voice didn’t come from outside of the room. It was as if it was floating strangely inside my head. He wasn’t speaking loud but as if he was talking to me from right in front of me. As I sat there and listened, Rebecca whirled around distraught. “If you do not wish to bond, sit back and relax. However, I am warning all the student body. I do not condone discrimination against anyone as well as violence. Any instigation with the two, you will be sent back by a paddle boat with the delightful Mrs Robertson.”

  Rebecca groaned loudly, and she wasn’t the only one. It was a symphony of groans towards Mrs Robertson. I have seen her once in the cafeteria, and it was merely by passing. I have never been in her class. I do recall Charlie and Lollie were complaining about her in the girl session I never wanted to have. Mrs Robertson seems to be a boring chatterbox. It would make sense, considering her classes are theory work on mage history. To relay that on a paddle boat back to Sorcerer City would be intriguing to me. Buying rune books trump that.