by Lola StVil
Lucas reaches out and gently brings my face up to look at him. He drops his hand when my eyes meet his. We stand there that way, looking into each other’s eyes, a million words hanging unsaid between us.
“Summit,” Lucas starts, breaking the moment. “I’m sorry for what I said earlier.”
I shrug. “Whatever,” I say.
“Please,” he says, reaching out to brush a strand of hair from my face, his face twisted in pain.
I step back. I can’t keep letting this happen.
“Just forget it,” I say. “Too much has happened between us to dwell on one angry moment.”
My voice trails off.
“We didn’t even get the eggs,” I whisper.
“Huh?” Lucas says.
I cringe inside. He wasn’t meant to hear me.
Oh, what the hell. I might as well tell him. It’s not like it’s going to change anything.
“Whenever I watched TV, and a couple had sex for the first time, they always ate eggs for breakfast. If we were human do you think that’s what we would do? I guess it doesn’t really matter, we won’t make it through breakfast.”
I snort out a bitter laugh.
“Are you saying we’re over?” Lucas asks.
“How can this be anything but the end for us?” I say, fighting back the tears.
I see the pain on his face. I’d give anything to take it away, but I can’t. It had to be said…OUT LOUD. We have to get out of this awkward limbo and move on.
He takes a step towards me, reaching for me. It takes everything I have, but I take a step back, keeping out of his reach. If he touches me, caresses me, I’m not strong enough to stand by my words. And I have to stand by them.
“Lucas, throughout history, the women in my family have made huge sacrifices for love. And maybe they shouldn’t have had to.”
I turn away from him. I can’t bear to drag this out any longer.
“Summit, I never meant to hurt you, I need you to know that.”
I turn back and smile sadly again.
“I do know that. And that’s what hurts the most,” I tell him.
“Please ju—”
“I also know that my sister isn’t the only one who loves someone she shouldn’t.”
I leave the kitchen before he can respond.
I go back into the lounge. Parker crosses the room to meet me as I enter.
“You know you said you wanted to track down Davis?” she says.
“I did?” I ask, still distracted after my talk with Lucas.
“You did,” she confirms. “Summit, are you okay?”
“Yeah. Yeah, I’m fine,” I say, forcing myself to focus.
I did say that. I want to warn this loser to stay away from my sister. I’ve failed Dylann once because of the whole Lucas drama. I won’t do it again.
“I know where he is, I’ve done some digging. Come on, I’ll take you to him,” Parker says proudly.
I shake my head.
“It’s okay. Just tell me where he is and I’ll go. You don’t have to come.”
“I kind of want to get out of here, and I love Dylann like a sister too,” Parker says, her voice breaking slightly.
I follow her gaze and see Nix and Fish standing on the balcony. The door is closed and I can’t hear what they’re saying, but it looks pretty deep. They stand close together, not taking their eyes off each other.
As I watch, Nix reaches out and wraps his arms around Fish.
“She came by and asked to talk to him. Alone,” Parker says.
“Some company might be good. You can stop me from killing Davis,” I say.
Parker lets out a little laugh.
“Deal,” she says.
I follow Parker as she zips through the air, finally coming down to land in front of an old house. The bricks are crumbling away and there’s no glass in any of the windows.
“You sure this is the right place?” I ask Parker.
She nods.
“Yeah. This is where Davis’s crowd hang out and get off their faces. How did Dylann ever get mixed up with this idiot?”
“I wish I knew,” I say.
We enter the building. There’s very little inside of it. Half of the walls are gone, and the ground floor is one big room, a half-gone staircase leading up from it.
A dirty mattress lies on the floor in the far corner. Two guys sit on it, marveling at something in front of them that only they can see. All around the room, people sit or lie in various states of drug-induced hysteria. One or two of them look unconscious.
The whole place smells of stale urine and unwashed bodies.
I step closer to the people, the acrid smell burning my nostrils. I resist the urge to retch and put my hand over my mouth and nose.
I look around at the faces. I have no idea what Davis looks like.
“There,” Parker says, pointing to a figure that sits slightly away from the others. “I didn’t know him by name, but I vaguely recognize him from school.”
The guy she points to sits with his back against the wall. His eyes are glazed over and he’s laughing maniacally at seemingly nothing.
I walk over to him, so angry I feel like I will explode. Parker walks beside me, mirroring my angry steps.
“My sister is in jail because of you,” I shout as I reach him.
He doesn’t even glance in my direction.
“Hey! I’m talking to you,” I say, bending down and forcing him roughly to face me.
“Huh?” he says.
“Dylann. The girl you’ve dragged into your meaningless life? She’s in jail. Because of you. And you’re just sitting here stoned out of your goddamn mind. Did you even realize you haven’t seen her today?”
“I…” he says and trails off.
A string of drool runs from his mouth and over his chin. Something about the sight of it pushes me further into anger. I can feel myself losing control.
I slap him. Hard. His head flies to the side, a stark red handprint standing out against the pasty whiteness of his skin.
It’s like I didn’t touch him. He doesn’t stop laughing. His hand comes up and points at something that isn’t there. He slaps his leg, his laughter getting more manic by the moment.
I slap him again. Harder this time.
Finally, his eyes focus slightly. He reaches up and rubs his face.
“What’s your problem?” he slurs.
“My problem is my sister wasting her time on lowlives like you,” I say.
Parker pulls me to one side.
“You’re wasting your time,” she says. “He’s so out of it he doesn’t even know what you’re saying.”
I know she’s right, and some of my anger leaves me.
“I’ll take him to the clinic and get him dried out,” Parker volunteers.
I know I should say I’ll go instead, but I don’t trust myself to be alone with Davis. I really think I’ll end up killing him for what he’s done.
Parker sees my hesitation.
“I’m not ready to go back to the house. Not while Fish is there,” she says.
I nod.
“Okay, you take him to the clinic. If he gives you any problems, snap the idiot in half.”
Parker laughs. It fades away. She looks like she wants to say something but she doesn’t.
“What is it?” I ask gently.
“What do you think Nix and Fish were talking about? It looked pretty intimate,” she says sadly.
“Maybe he was thanking her for saving Nikki,” I say, trying to save her feelings.
“Do you really believe that?” she asks.
Sadly, I shake my head. I don’t, and she knows it. I’m not going to keep lying to her. Although the look of hurt on her face makes me regret being honest. This is killing her.
I don’t know what to say, but she saves me from having to think of anything.
“I’ll get going then,” she says, forcing herself to smile.
I nod.
“Thanks, Par
ker,” I say.
I want to say more, but instead, I pull her into a tight hug. She hugs me back.
By the time I return to the house, my anger has mostly gone, replaced with a deep frustration. Something tells me that even cleaned up, Davis isn’t going to be in a hurry to go and sacrifice himself to get Dylann out of jail.
I go in and everyone turns to look at me.
“Where did you go? Where’s Parker?” Ryder asks me.
I quickly fill them in on what happened with Davis.
“Where’s Lucas?” I ask, noticing there’s no sign of him. “Is Nikki okay?”
“He’s gone to see our parents about something, he wouldn’t say what,” Nix replies.
“Oh my God, that’s it,” I shout, jumping to my feet and pacing the floor.
The team look at me like I’ve gone nuts.
“Your father,” I say to Nix. “He’s the king, right?” I ask, excited.
Nix nods.
“Yeah,” he says slowly, still not understanding my excitement.
“He can get Dylann out of jail. Remember? That Veronica woman said the king could pardon her.”
“Oh of course. I should have thought of that,” Nix says, his excitement matching mine.
“Will you ask him to do it, Nix? Please?” I beg him, grabbing his arm.
“It has to come from you. Or at least a member of Dylann’s immediate family,” Nix explains, “but I’ll give him a call now and ask if he’ll see you. It’s only a formality really. When you explain what’s happened, he’ll say yes, I’m sure of it.”
“Thank you,” I say, hugging him. He’s slightly taken aback by my reaction. Unsure what to do, he slowly hugs me back. When we pull away I plop onto the chair behind me feeling an overwhelming sense of relief.
Nix disappears from the room and comes back in a couple of minutes, smiling.
“He’ll see you whenever you’re ready, Summit,” he says.
“Thank you,” I say again.
Nix tells me his family is in their official castle, in Germany, and explains to me how to get there.
Things are finally looking up. Surely the king will see that Dylann is just a lost kid? And surely it helps that she’s practically family to his two sons. Nix said it himself: it’s just a formality.
I feel a swirl of excitement run through me.
I’m going to get my sister back.
It’s not long before I touch down in the courtyard of a large castle. It sits alone on a small island off the German coast. It is so high up and the views are breathtaking. The castle itself looks like something out of a fairy tale.
The brick is a grey color, the turrets reaching for the sky, their tips lost in the clouds. What should be an imposing, unwelcoming façade is made softer by the dancing lights that swoop and swirl around the turrets, lighting them up red, green and then gold.
I stand for a moment, staring openmouthed at the sight before me. I try to imagine what it would have been like growing up here. It’s like another world. It is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.
I’m nervous suddenly as I approach the entrance. This isn’t just like talking to my friends’ parents. They are actual royalty.
I realize I have no idea of angel etiquette. Do I bow or curtsey? Do I call the king your highness?
I guess I’ll just have to wing it. I could text Nix and ask him, but I’m suddenly afraid that if I put it off, I won’t go in.
I step forward and ring the large bell. Almost instantly the door is pulled open by a smartly dressed Quo.
“Good evening, ma’am. May I enquire as to the reason for your visit?” he says with a welcoming smile.
“I… My name is Summit Case. I have an…um…appointment. With the king.”
I can see behind his perfectly manicured smile that he doesn’t believe me. Why would he? I hardly look like someone who would be dropping in on royalty.
“Nix, his son, arranged it for me,” I add, hoping the name drop will work.
It seems to at least convince the Quo I’m not a complete lunatic.
He steps back and motions me to enter. I step in.
“Please wait here,” he says politely.
He gives a half nod, half bow in my direction and hurries away.
I look around, my jaw dropping in awe at the inside of the castle. In comparison to the decadent inside, the outside looks decidedly shabby.
The décor is all sleek glass and shiny white. The floor is thick white marble, polished to such a high shine that I can see my face in it. The walls are bathed in a soft greenish light that comes from the orbs that dance along the ceiling.
The ceilings are so high I almost can’t see them, but I can make out the huge chandeliers. The chandeliers don’t appear to be attached to anything; they float freely in the air. They are hung with delicate crystals and adorned with small flying creatures that emit a warm glow.
The widest sweeping staircase I’ve ever seen runs from the center of the foyer. The stairs aren’t fixed to anything—each one hangs in the air, the spacing between them perfect. They emit a pink glow that I can’t help but think is a much nicer touch than a red carpet.
“If you could follow me please, the king will be with you shortly,” the Quo says as he reappears at my side.
I force my attention back to him and follow him down the passage.
He leads me to a large room filled with portraits of angels. He motions for me to sit down on a large red couch that materializes before my eyes, and I do, my back straight and my knees pressed together awkwardly.
“Would you like anything to drink?” the Quo asks.
“No thank you,” I reply.
He nods curtly again and leaves the room, pulling the door closed behind him.
I can’t resist looking around. The room is like something out of a museum. Glass display cabinets stand around the edges, each displaying a treasure of one kind or another. I wander between them, looking at the items and reading the cards that float in the air over each one.
The first one I read claims to be the original Heirloom Seal of the Realm. Next is the Patiala Necklace, with the biggest diamond I’ve ever seen.
The next case houses Llewelyn’s Coronet, something that I vaguely remember learning about in history class before I joined the Marcus Cane Academy. It was believed to be a legend.
I glance over a few more cases, reading about things I’ve never heard of.
The artifacts in this room alone must be worth close to a billion dollars.
My eyes fall to rest on a large samurai sword. The sword isn’t in a case, and I reach out to touch it.
I hear someone clear their throat, and I jump back like the sword burned me. I glance around, but I’m alone. I decide I’ve seen enough treasures for one day and back away from it.
As I back away, I hear raised voices. I glance around, expecting to find two portraits arguing with each other. Instead, I spot a door that is slightly ajar. I know I shouldn’t eavesdrop, but I can’t help inching closer. I’m sure I heard one of the voices mention Lucas.
I hear a man sigh.
“Lucas can’t understand that sometimes, when you’re in charge, you have to make difficult decisions. And sometimes, those decisions seem like betrayals, when really, you’re just doing what needs to be done.”
Amen to that.
“He’ll never forgive you for this, you know. I’m not even sure if I can.”
She sounds more upset than angry. I inch closer, standing so I can see through the gap but hopefully can’t be seen.
The king and queen stand in the center of the throne room, in the middle of what I can only call a heated discussion.
I wonder what the king has done that Lucas can’t forgive him for. I wonder if he’ll ever forgive me for what I did to him.
“He will have to learn to, and you will too. What I did, I did for our family. Us two, Lucas, and Nix. It was the only way, and once he matures a bit, I hope he’ll come to see that himself. You s
hould already be able to see that this was the only way.”
The queen straightens up with an accusing look on her face. She is definitely angry now.
“And if he doesn’t? You realize what you’ve done could backfire on all of us.”
“That was a chance I had to take. I…”
He stops mid-sentence when a beeping sound cuts through the air. I realize with horror it’s my cell phone.
I fish it out of my pocket to shut off the sound, but not before the king and queen spot me in the doorway.
I open my mouth to explain I was just looking at the portraits. As I shut off the noise from my cell phone, I see enough of the text I’ve received that what comes out isn’t in any way an explanation.
I’m still no wiser on royal etiquette, but I’m pretty sure when I blurt out “shit,” that isn’t it.
The king raises an eyebrow.
I don’t have time to explain. I run back the way I came, ignoring the raised voices calling out to me from the portraits.
Once I’m outside, I launch myself into the air, already knowing I’ve screwed up any chance of having Dylann released.
I come down to land a couple of minutes later on the German mainland. I pull my cell phone back out. I must have misunderstood the text message. I need to read it properly and then call Nix and explain what happened and have him beg his parents not to have me beheaded or something.
All thoughts of the scene I’ve just caused leave my mind when I reread the text message.
I didn’t misunderstand.
It’s worse than I imagined.
The text is from Milo.
Meet us at the training ground. Now. Lucas got his powers back and he’s going to set The Jackal on fire…
I land at the entrance to the training ground and quickly slip inside, terrified of what I might see. I can’t get the image of Lucas being dead out of my mind. As I step inside, I spot him. He’s battling with someone who is so huge, he looks like a giant straight out of a fairy tale. He’s at least seven feet tall. His bald head glints in the light that filters through the dusty windows.
I feel a shudder go through me as I take in the sight of The Jackal. Lucas is struggling to hold his own against him, and I feel another rush of sympathy for Nikki. If Lucas is having trouble with him, what must it have been like for tiny, fragile Nikki? She didn’t stand a chance.