by A. R. Crebs
“It’s been many years, Dovian. She’s more than capable of handling her own weapon.” Karter had spent far too much time with Lita, training her on the bow. Dovian knew that Karter had a soft spot for his little cousin and wondered if the young man wasn’t merely trying to appease her.
“Do you see this damage?” Dovian motioned to their surroundings.
Karter held up a hand. “She wants to see results, Dovian. If we expect her to learn how to control her energies, she needs to know how effective her attacks really are. By giving her a weapon fully melded to her DNA, Lita can finally recognize how potentially dangerous she can be.”
Dovian sighed, peering down at his filthy cousin. She was breathing better, fiddling with the electric string on her weapon. Petey panted. The lizard plopped beside his owner, snorting and creating a cloud of dirt. Lita pouted, feeding Dovian her best puppy-dog face.
The silver-haired man sighed, his shoulders slumping. “Fine.”
Karter’s expression brightened, as did Lita’s.
“You mean, I can finally make my own weapon?!” Lita exclaimed, hopping to her feet.
Dovian nodded. Lita squealed and slung her arms around his chest, squeezing the air out of him.
“Now, which weapon are you going to choose?” Dovian asked as he gently pried the woman off him.
Lita stared at the bow and chewed on her lower lip. She had practiced with the bow the most but was also proficient at the staff and had recently picked up sword skills, her favorite being the falchion. She gave an unsure shrug. Nearly every weapon she had practiced with was enjoyable, except the mace. That weapon seemed a bit too brutal for her taste.
“Think about it. Once you create it, only you can use it, understand? It will be bound to your DNA; thus, only you can generate power and spell work from it,” Dovian explained.
Lita bobbed her head, her smile wide. “I can’t wait! I’m going to rush home right now and work up some designs!”
Being of Emerald status, Lita was skilled in art and design. Dovian was eager to see what detailed illustration she would create from her imagination. No doubt it was going to be over-the-top.
Lita shook out her wings and lifted into the air. She turned to Petey and whistled, pointing in the direction of her home. Petey snorted and spun, quickly stomping in the given direction. Treats awaited him there; he had no time to waste. As Lita readied to follow the giant lizard, Karter called out to her.
“Uh, Lita.” He paused, his hand reaching toward her.
She peered over her shoulder, giving him an inquisitive look. He gawked, silent.
“Yeah?” she asked.
Karter quickly moved to rub the back of his neck. “Uh, good job today.”
Lita beamed. “Thanks!” And she flew, chasing after Petey.
Karter watched Lita fade away into the distance. Dovian stared at him with a lazy expression. The younger man shuddered beneath his gaze and then sighed.
“I believe that was a good opportunity,” Dovian muttered.
Karter winced. “Yeah.”
A grand ball event was to occur during the upcoming week. Sorcēarians spared no expense when it came to festivities. This year’s theme was to be a masquerade. More than anything, Karter wanted Lita to be his companion for the event. However, he had failed at every opportune moment the past few weeks. Dovian had even encouraged the man to join him on Lita’s lesson. Three opportunities that day were wasted on the poor man’s babbling and incoherent speech to which Lita merely giggled or made fun. At this point, all hope seemed lost.
“The ball will be here before you know it, and you’ve barely uttered a word to her,” Dovian said.
“I will. I just have to find the right way. Whatever way that is,” Karter said in a dejected tone.
“Have you thought about writing her a letter?”
Karter pondered for a moment. Dovian waited in silence as Karter worked things out in his mind. Soon, the young man gave a curt nod.
“I think I will give that a try.”
Dovian laughed. He leaped, and his wings of ivory sprouted from his back. Karter followed his actions, and they drifted toward the city. A letter would be the best way for Karter to express himself. He was still a bit shy despite all the trouble Lita had put him through over the years. And what was a good way to request that she accompany him to the event? Being of Emerald status, Lita would appreciate creative ways of being asked to the ball. He smiled at his sudden idea–personalized flowers. Karter had spoken to I’Lanthe about breeding his own flowers before. Now seemed like the perfect time to try it out. Lita loved blue. Her favorite smell was apple cider. Karter could infuse that scent with the blue flower and tie a note with his request to the stem. A small chuckle escaped him. It was a perfect idea.
As soon as Karter reached his home, he rushed through the grand marble halls, giving a quick wave to his parents who were enjoying afternoon tea and cookies.
“Karter? Aren’t you going to join us?” his mother called out.
Karter awkwardly skidded to a halt. “Ah, no! Sorry! I’ve got some important things to handle real quick! I will see you at dinner!” And he took off further down the corridor.
“My, he seemed to be in an awful hurry,” his mother softly spoke.
“It’s because he’s in love,” his father responded, sipping.
“In love? You mean? You think he’s finally got himself a girlfriend?” The woman clapped her hands.
“With the masquerade coming up, he’s sure to have one in mind.”
“What makes you so sure?”
The older man chuckled. “Because I was the same way when I first asked you to one of the grand balls.”
The woman blushed. “Oh, maybe we will get grandchildren after all!” She wiped at her eyes, to which her husband rolled his.
“He hasn’t even asked her to the dance yet!” the man scoffed. “But it’s about time he got himself a girlfriend.”
Once in his room, Karter grabbed a stack of books and his notes from his sessions with I’Lanthe and his genetic-engineering courses. After shouldering his bag full of labware, he rushed from the room toward his family’s greenhouse. The glass-encased dome covered a garden of exotic plant species. Toward the back were the flowers. The man wrapped his foot around the leg of a nearby desk and pulled it toward the daffodils. Lita loved daffodils if memory served him right. Dropping the books atop the table, he scooted a stool and took a seat. He chewed on his pen tip, eyeing the flowers. Making a blue flower was simple enough, but making it smell like apple cider was another story. Karter pressed his finger against his wristband.
“Mother?”
“Yes, dear?” her muffled voice replied.
“Can I get some apple cider?”
“Right away.”
He waited a moment, jostling some notes along the edge of one journal. There was a quiet whoosh, his mother’s hand appearing out of thin air toward him, a mug of warm cider in her grasp. Karter quickly grabbed the item.
“Thank you!” He waved.
His mother’s hand wiggled in return, and the portal closed.
Using a dropper, Karter suctioned a sample of the cider. From there he separated the ingredients and various scents. Using alchemy and various skills learned from his genetics courses, he infused the scent within a flower seed. The project took up the remainder of his day. After a few trials and errors, he placed yet another seed in an incubation chamber which forced the flower through its growth cycle. At this point, he had grown a little tired, worried that the flowers would never be quite right.
“It’ll never be good enough,” he mumbled as he dismally plucked the blue daffodil from the chamber.
Giving the flower a small sniff, Karter gasped. It smelled like freshly made apple cider. There was a tingle in his nostrils which made him salivate. Curious, Karter looked over each shoulder before he stuck out his tongue, lightly licking a petal. He laughed. It tasted like apple cider!
“She’d better hide this
from the Pete monster. He’ll eat the thing!” Karter was tickled.
He held the blossom up to the window, watching the rays of the lowering sun pulse against the soft petals. Inside was a dim sparkling glow from where a small amount of heat emanated. It was a masterpiece. He stared at his creation in awe. Yes, it was like Lita–beautiful on the outside with a fiery spirit. And then he thought of the taste, and his thoughts traveled to places he had not intended. Did Lita taste like apple cider?
Choking on the idea, the man cleared his throat and immediately went back to work on finishing his letter. He wrote with delicate handwriting in glowing ink. Just as he was about to sign, Karter’s mother entered the greenhouse.
“My, it smells lovely in here!”
Karter sputtered and twirled around, quickly folding the letter and hiding it within his palm.
“Are you working on something special for someone?” she asked as she lifted one of the failed experiments. “Why, they smell like cider.”
“I, I wanted to try breeding my own flowers. Wanted to…to m-make something unique.” Karter stumbled to the side, his sight darting across his untidy lab table.
“Can’t say I’ve ever smelled an apple cider daffodil. And a blue one at that!” His mom sniffed each one. “I like this one. It’s subtler.”
Karter nodded. “Go ahead and have it then,” he offered as it was one that he thought wasn’t good enough for Lita.
His mom smiled. “You’re just like your father!”
“I…what?” Karter’s face fell. That was not exactly something he wanted to hear. He thought he was far from being anything close to his cantankerous father.
“Oh, yes. He was a hopeless romantic when he was your age.”
Karter sighed. “I’m a failing romantic.”
“Oh, dear. With something as wonderful as these, who wouldn’t love it?” She pinched his cheek, giggling with excitement.
Karter wrinkled his nose. “Okay, okay. I got some things to do.”
“Of course. I came to tell you dinner was ready.” She turned and walked away, sniffing the bud.
“Let me finish this task, and I will be there,” Karter called out, quickly attaching the note to his favorite daffodil. The smell was much bolder than the others. Bold, like Lita. He wished he could be as daring as she.
“I’ll have a glass of your favorite wine ready,” his mother called out.
Karter gaped at the flower, nodding slowly. He heaved a weary sigh. “Good.”
Finishing up with a thin blue ribbon of a lighter shade, he gaped at the mess of flowers he had deemed unworthy. He couldn’t let them go to waste. The path to Lita’s home passed the cemetery. He could always leave the extra flowers there for anyone who could use them. Karter grinned. Not only had he created something that would hopefully bring a smile to Lita’s face, but his endeavor could benefit others as well. Always the philanthropist.
Gathering the daffodils, Karter made his journey toward the Gaius compound by foot. He had met Lita’s father before, mostly at meetings. They had barely exchanged more than a few words over the years. Frankly, Gaius II was a terrifying man. Despite what others told him about Lita’s father having a great sense of humor and carefree attitude, Karter had his reasons to fear the man. For one, he was secretly helping Dovian teach the girl the ways of the Scarlet warriors, the one thing Gaius II was adamant Lita never learned. That alone was reason enough for the giant warrior to end Karter. Good natured or not, you never cross a member of the Gaius lineage. The thought alone made him shiver. Perhaps he should rethink this entire thing.
“No, you daft fool. You can’t keep going around circles like this,” he mumbled. “It’s now or never!”
“Do you always talk to yourself?” A familiar deep voice asked from behind.
Karter spun, gasping. “Euclid! Ha! I didn’t sense you.”
“Naturally,” Euclid scoffed, stepping around the younger man to enter the cemetery.
Karter noticed Euclid had arrived empty-handed.
“Visiting your mother again?” Karter asked.
Euclid paused, his shoulders tensing. “And if I am?”
Karter gave a nervous laugh. “Would you like some flowers? I have extras.”
The raven-haired man gave Karter a cold glare, his icy eyes lowering to gaze upon the blue daffodils.
“Interesting breed. Your own?” Euclid dryly asked.
Karter nodded. “Yeah. Just a recipe I was messing with.”
As the two men stood in silence, the tension seemed to rise, and Karter suddenly felt uncomfortable.
“Ah, well. No worries. You don’t have to take any. I will just put them in the vase at the entry for anyone else who would need some.” Karter stepped forward but was halted by Euclid’s hand on his arm.
“I would like to take a couple. It’s been a long time since I brought her any. Careless on my part.” Euclid’s hardened expression suddenly faded into one of grief.
“Of course!” Karter said with cheer.
Euclid took a few and gave a short nod to Karter in thanks. Not another word was uttered as Euclid followed along the path into the cemetery. The other man placed the rest of the flowers, save the one meant for Lita, in the vase at the entry. His heart felt lighter already. Of all people, perhaps he made Euclid’s day a smidgeon better.
Karter skipped into the air, his wings taking him further to his destination. The sun was beginning to set, he was already late for dinner, but eating was the last thing on his mind, as rare as that was for a Sorcēarian. He’d gladly give up food to spend time with Lita. What would she say? He wondered about her smile. Would she laugh at him and think he was silly? Or would she fall absolutely head over heels for him? Karter shook his head. Lita wasn’t sappy. She’d most likely make fun of him.
As he arrived at the Gaius complex, Karter’s hands started shaking. He hadn’t planned to make it this far. How would he pull this off? Should he knock or simply enter like he always did? Perhaps he could get Dovian to drop the flower off for him. He quickly dismissed that idea as cowardly. Maybe he should talk to Lita’s father.
“It’s just a dance, you fool. Not a proposal,” Karter berated himself. Realizing he had spoken aloud once again, he looked over each shoulder, making sure no one had heard him.
Heaving a sigh, he soared to Lita’s office window. Sometimes she was inside reading or playing fetch with Petey. Finding her not there, he moved toward her bedroom. He had been in her room a few times, mostly waiting for her to finish doing her makeup before she dragged him all over the world for a night of dancing and bar hopping. His heart sank as he saw that she was not there either. She must’ve been out. Sometimes she took Petey for a walk or a swim before sunset. Karter suddenly realized he knew Lita’s entire routine. Did that make him creepy or just a very close friend? He’d settle on the latter.
One of her bedroom windows remained open. Checking to make sure no one was watching, Karter opened it further and slid inside, folding his wings behind his back. Suddenly, he recognized that he just let himself into Lita’s room without invitation. That may be a bit creepy. He decided to work fast. Cautiously, he tiptoed to her bed and gently laid the flower on her pillow. He obsessively tweaked the bow and note, making sure everything was perfect. Next, his eyes fell onto the teddy bear resting on the edge of the bed. It was one of Lita’s favorite stuffed animals from when she was a small child. Giving a quiet breath of a laugh, he set the bear atop her pillow and then tucked the flower within its paws. Adorable.
Quite pleased with himself, Karter made his way toward the window but halted as he heard a booming voice.
“Lita! It’s long past dinner!” It was Gaius II.
Karter’s blood ran cold. He jumped to the side, hiding behind one of Lita’s dressing screens near the open window. Just as he did so, the door to the girl’s room slammed open.
“Do we have to do this every night?” Gaius II growled in irritation. The room was silent a moment. “Ah, of course, you’re
not even here.”
Karter held his breath, yet his mind whirled. Gaius II talked to himself as well. It gave him some form of relief.
“What’s this?” Gaius moved into the room.
Karter peered through a small crack between the dressing screens. He cringed. Lita’s father leaned forward, eyeing the teddy bear and flower. Usually, Karter only saw Gaius II in a seated position whether it be at church or during council meetings. Now, he could fully understand the man’s monstrous height. Gaius II was nearly twelve feet tall. His chest alone was so wide that Karter found it hard to believe he’d even be able to wrap his arms around the large man. His long silvery hair was partially braided, much like Lita’s. Karter’s curious mind wondered—did Gaius II ever braid Lita’s hair? Did she braid her father’s?
“She’s got an admirer. She’d better not be running amuck with boys instead of coming home for dinner,” Gaius grumbled.
The thought of Gaius being a gentle giant fled from Karter’s mind as he suddenly remembered how frightening it would be to be on the receiving end of the giant’s anger for even thinking about dating his precious little Lita.
Gaius sniffed. “Smells like apple pie in here….”
Apple pie? Karter’s face paled. It was supposed to smell like apple cider. Then he mentally shrugged, was there much difference?
“Wonderful…now I have a craving for pie.” Gaius pondered to himself. “Pretty sure there’s a slice left. If that blasted daughter of mine hasn’t fed it to her dinosaur.” The giant man turned and exited the room, closing the door behind him.
Karter finally released his breath. He chanced a small look around the screen corner and then leaped gracefully out the window, his wings carrying him across the lake. That was far too close for comfort. As he sped toward his home, his thoughts also traveled to pie. Hopefully, his mother had made some for dessert. With a gentle flap, he passed by the cemetery, his thoughts only on food. He didn’t think to look down at the beautiful graveyard where Euclid had finally taken his place before his mother’s crypt.