by Melanie Ray
Yed had less problems in the talking department. He laughed in a quirky fashion. "A ha, yeah. Well, you can't really guard dancers without knowing at least a thing, or two or three, and that was fun, but you know, I really need to look over one of my old books in my room, that is located upstairs, so you know I'll see you later tomorrow tonight."
Ezra watched as Yed dashed up the stairs.
What the heck did he just say?
Yed hit his room and looked at the cover of his Understanding and Ignoring Female Attraction. He threw it on the floor and banged his head on his study table. "It doesn't matter. Why even bother anymore?" He looked over at a picture he had recently taken with Ezra. She was smiling so brightly, so perfectly in that photo. He laid his face on the desk. How? He thought back to the conversation with Muin on the phone earlier that week.
"Eeee-wronnnng. I knew it. That's why you won't find anyone." Chanting could be heard through the other side. "You’re in love with Ez-ra, you're in love with Ez-ra."
"What are you saying?" Yed scoffed, that was ridiculous. "I'm her Protector, I'm not in love with her."No way, Muin couldn't be right, I am not in love with her, am I? Yed whined and groaned at the same time. He grabbed his head feeling so confused. "I read the book every time I dwindled. That's supposed to be enough, it's always been enough. Eight decade, eight decades learning to cope with feelings." He smacked his feet against the ground. I am not in love. "It can't be." He groaned. "Protectors can't protect someone when they’re in love, they just can't."
Just then, he heard the sound of a vase being knocked over.
Yed’s heart started to beat as if it were ready to explode out of his chest. He saw Ezra looking at him with a bizarre expression. He had been in such a rush to get away he forgot to close the door. How much did she hear?
Ezra made no movement to pick up the vase pieces.
Yed sat on the chair. How much did he say out loud before she showed up?
"You know..." Ezra slowly breathed as her fingers twitched. "...about my feelings?"
Yed felt his eyes widen as he heard that statement. Ezra had been in love with him?
Chapter 13
BETRAYAL
"Thanks for helping." Ezra smiled at her brother. "I wish at the time I had ordered two." She watched Xiam wipe his forehead and looked at the crib he helped assemble.
"Yep, I did pretty well,” Xiam admitted, “but you should have asked Zaria. He put together two cribs already." He looked across to Yed's room where the door was closed. "I'm guessing there's a reason you didn't ask Yed, right?"
Ezra knew he was bound to ask, but ignored the answer for now. "Thanks for your help."
Ezra heard Yed open his door but continued to stare at the crib, even as he approached.
"I've gotta go for a few days. Protector meeting," Yed said simply as he walked away.
"That's it? Protector meeting?" Xiam walked after him.
Ezra stood and stared at the crib as she overheard their conversation.
"Where you going?"
"Classified."
"Yed? What's going on with you and Ezra?"
"Nothing. Marni may come over asking for a date soon. I've looked him over. He's a good candidate. Make her accept."
Ezra squinted her eyes shut. Indifferent. Cold. All my fault. After the incident a couple days ago, her and Yed drifted apart. She knew it would happen, and it hurt every time she stole a glance his way. She had kept her feelings in, trying to convince herself it was only a crush, but everyday she was falling harder.
He was a Protector, forbidden, he’d never share those sentiments back.
Love was cruel.
Yed strutted over to his car and tried to get it to start. "Dammit. Not now." He groaned as he tried it again. The weather was getting colder but he tried to work with it.
"Hey there," came a familiar voice.
Yed looked out the window. Oh, his freebie client. "Zaria Furtop." Yeah, that’s who he wanted to see right now.
"Need a lift?" Zaria asked.
"No. I'm going to a Protector's meeting. It'll take-" Yed tried to start his car again. "all day-" He tried again. "Maybe even two or three days, dang it. Will you just start?"
"Perfect." Zaria grinned at him strangely.
Yed didn't quite understand why it was perfect. "Can I borrow your car for a few days?"
"No way, are you kidding? If I tag along I can get away from Muin without sounding like I'm running away." He wiggled his tail happily. "Besides, I still owe you for helping me out. I'll be back in just a few minutes."
Yippee. Company. Just what Yed always wanted.
Zaria came back and escorted Yed to the passenger seat while he drove. They had only been driving about thirty minutes, in silence, when Zaria had to break the ice. Something Yed hadn’t wanted to do.
Zaria breathed on his hands and rubbed while he steered. "So, Yed? How come the big meeting?"
"Protector Yed," Yed corrected him. "I don't know and it's classified anyway." He opened up his laptop and placed it firmly on his lap as he hooked his phone up with it.
"I.D. Number?" a mechanical voice spoke.
Yed tried to turn the speaker off but it was broken. "Lousy piece of..."
"Incorrect I.D. Number. If incorrect again, enforcement shall be notified."
Yed just groaned. "51295." He glared at Zaria, Muin’s hub now knew his number. "Don’t say anything."
Zaria shrugged his shoulders. "Okay."
"Official password info?"
"Yeducavich Zuffel Zinfan Smilliat. 51295. The best password is just to use password with a lot of other stuff before and after the word," Yed said clearly.
Zaria chuckled, probably at his password.
"Accepted. Coordinates being sent. Have a nice day Protector Yeducavich." The computer voice spoke once more.
Yed closed his laptop. "Head for Watercrest."
"Aye, aye." Zaria looked over at Yed. "So Protector, I was wondering. Is there was some reason you've been really cold lately?" Yed tapped on the window where snow was falling outside. Maybe he could distract him? Zaria apparently didn’t buy his enthusiasm at the snow. "You know what I mean, Yed. You haven't even been following Muin’s sister around like you're supposed to, so what gives?"
"That is none of your business," Yed said firmly. He continued to stare out the window.
Zaria looked at the road again. Smart guy. "What's wrong? Did she figure out you were in love with her or something?"
Nope, dumb guy. "Will you just drive?" Yed growled.
"I am driving," Zaria said smiling. "Is that it though?"
"I am not in love with her." Yed turned his attention from the window to his laptop. "I am a Protector and I do not fall in love."
Zaria looked ahead at the road again. "That's not what Muin says. Although she could be wrong, but you and Ezra have always been strangely close since I've known you."
"Incoming message." His laptop beeped again.
Yed opened his laptop again. "What?"
"Message from King Sheward. Does anyone suspect anything yet? Another high class is now available as per your request of me."
Yed cursed his old laptop again as he noticed Zaria’s suspicious look. What was he supposed to say with Zaria right there?
"Message from King Sheward: If anyone suspects that you are the father then the other high class will be sent out at once. Please respond."
Yed didn't get any time to respond though as Zaria slammed hard on the brake. The car swerved in a 360 before coming to a jolting halt. Looking at his severed connection between the phone and laptop, Yed knew that wasn't the only thing wrong anymore.
The car idled for a few minutes as Zaria sat, appearing as if he was trying to piece everything together. "Yeducavich, you're the dad?"
Yed couldn't reply.
"You were the guy that night?" Zaria stared at Yed. "Tall, lanky, strange tail....you changed your voice."
Yed couldn't reply again, his mind trying to figure
out how to get out of this one.
Zaria blinked. "Wow. I never took you as the type, Yed."
"I'm not the type, will you just drive?" Yed growled.
Zaria put his hands on the wheel. "You'd never mistreat Ezra though, so what-"
"It's classified, just drive," Yed yelled at him again. His heart beat fast, what could he do now? Muin’s husband would tell unless he did something to him. Hurting others without warranting it though wasn’t something he could do.
"And the king was involved." Zaria nodded his head. "I get it. You were used too, weren't you?"
Yed crossed his arms. "Classified."
"You're the father of Ezraponia Cattral’s children," Zaria repeated. "Stop using classified already, why won't you tell her?" He tapped on the wheel. "I mean, if you were both duped-"
"I was not duped," Yed said as if he were rehearsing a line. "It was of my own accord."
"No it wasn't," Zaria disagreed. "You're a nice guy and you'd never hurt her like that."
"Will you stop acting like you know me?" Yed said as he turned his attention back to the window. "I was the guy that night. I felt bad so I started protecting her, That's it."
Zaria shook his head. "No, or the king wouldn't be as concerned." He leaned back in his seat further. "Something's keeping you from telling anyone. You've helped Ezra through everything and you can't even tell her the truth?" Zaria bent over and wrote on Yed's window. "After everything you've been through...this has got to be why, isn't it?"
Yed looked at what Zaria spelled on the fogged up window:
TREASON
Zaria shook his head sadly as he went back to placing his hands on the wheel. "The only way she could know is-"
"Is realizing I was slime who took away her good name in one night. Yeah," Yed said bitterly. "I could never do that. She'd never forgive me."
Zaria drove off again, pulling them out of their awkward stopping position. "So you'd rather find her an unconditional and let him raise your kids and be with her? You know, I don't see a win/win either way."
Yed rubbed off the word TREASON on the window. "No one ever said there would be."
"If you told her, you'd at least have rights," Zaria stated.
"If I told her about this, she wouldn't want me near them. I wouldn't fight her back." Yed laid his head on the back of his seat. "Knowing how the king works, the pardon he gave me would become invalid and I'd lose everything. For what?" Yed turned to stare out the window again. Watching the snow fall was better than dealing with the discussion in the car. "For truth? It'd be even worse."
Zaria sighed and stared ahead. "Geez. Your life sucks, Yed."
Yed didn't have to reply. That fact was obvious as they arrived at Watercress.
"I've got your number so go do something for awhile," Yed said as he shut the door behind him. He had arrived in Watercress but he couldn’t allow Zaria near the meeting place. "I don't know how long this will take." He watched as Zaria nodded and took off.
Yed looked around at all the cars parked there. This was definitely an important meeting. As he went in, he was guided to a giant auditorium where he saw several other Protectors. In meetings he was concerned in only A,B, and C classes would be there. As he looked around he saw Protectors of almost every class. Even an old Z he barely recognized. What gives?
"I'm glad you all could make it," King Sheward said as he came into the auditorium. "Welcome."
Yed stayed silent trying to figure out what was going on.
"I'm sure you've all heard the news of our treaty with the Waryes Kingdom," King Sheward began. "They seem to actually believe that us warnos are really that dumb, and that we would actually gather the purest lineage up for them in a row for them to destroy. Saying no to the treaty would arouse suspicion of our current actions, therefore I did sign it."
Yed crossed his arms. This didn't sound too good.
"I've no idea when they will strike, but every year the waryes get more powerful against us," the King continued. "We must start to make a stand soon or I fear what will become of us." He opened up a treaty his royal guard handed to him. "As of next month, the kingdom will be informed of all the extensions to the treaty. The most important is our black spray." The King rubbed the hair on his head and Yed watched it change from black to red. "The manufacturing of our hair spray, covetall, has been ceased and outlawed."
Muttering, comments and anger could be heard from the crowd.
"Anyone caught wearing or storing covetall will be sentenced to a maximum of three years in jail," the king sighed. "The waryes proclaim they have a right to know who is who. I fear it is the first step of our destruction." Even more bitter comments could be heard. "Silence. I had no choice but to sign," the king yelled. "If I had not signed, a war we were not ready for would be forced upon us immediately! I signed so we would have more time to gather our forces." He gestured to the crowd. "You are but a small sample of warnos who know and are willing to fight back."
Yed didn’t move an inch. He knew they didn't have much time left, but it didn’t look like they would even have a whole year.
"Three weeks from now, all Protectors of the past and present will gather in different locations and discuss strategies," King Sheward explained. "We will not give in without a fight."
"Stop here," Yed said abruptly as Zaria drove on an old dirt road.
Zaria stopped and looked around. "There's nothing here though."
"Just stay here, I'll be right back." Yed shut the door and walked deeper into the forest. He marched intently knowing what he must do. He hadn’t been blind like a lot of other warnos. In fact, he was very prepared for the day the waryes attacked. His planning was logical and without flaw.
Well, that's what he hoped at least. He marched forward until he came to a wall. It was the wall separating the kingdoms. He followed alongside it for a few minutes until he found what he was looking for: A hidden panel.
He placed in a code and the wall trembled. He watched as parts of the wall moved inward, separating from each other until they were each opened like gates . He proceeded to run up to a house that was sunken into a hilly depression and looked around for his keys to open it up.
Really bare. Yed walked across the flooring. He needed to get some furnishings for it. If anything bad happens I could take... He stopped. Forget the feelings, if anything bad happens Ezra and the rest of them have to come here. He went upstairs and looked around the place. Nothing here either? I wasn't as prepared as I thought. He dialed up some numbers placing in large orders of assorted furniture and appliances. If they had to stay there for some safety for a month, or maybe even a year, he had to get ready.
Zaria watched as Yed headed back. "What took so long?"
"Nothing," Yed said as he got in the car. "Just drive."
Zaria drove away again. "Hey Yed, can I ask you something?"
Yed rolled his eyes. "What."
"I understand your whole family deal has got you messed up." Zaria looked over at Yed. "Why are you being so cold now of all times? If you aren't in love with Ezra, then what's the problem?"
Yed looked out the window. "You're not gonna leave this be, are you?"
"Hey, you're already getting to know me well," Zaria said laughing.
"Ezra thinks she's in love with me," Yed told him.
Zaria grinned from ear to ear. "That's great."
"She's confused," Yed disagreed. "I have been around her twenty four seven and a shoulder to lean on. Protectees are known to think they are in love with Protectors because of this," he explained. "So, I have to follow procedure and remove myself from the situation."
Zaria blinked. "She told you she loves you. She's carrying your children and she says she loves you?" He stared at Yed with his jaw hanging down. "Are you insane? Sure you can't tell her they are yours, but if you become her unconditional then you can stay with them and her."
"There are more important things to worry about right now," Yed said stopping Zaria’s reasoning. "I want yo
u to watch Muin and Xiam real close when I leave."
Zaria rolled his eyes and groaned. "You are in denial so much you're giving me a headache."
"Look," Yed let out a soft sigh. "Just call me if anything bad seems to be happening. All right?"
"You just can't leave." Zaria disagreed. "You can't leave your kids all alone, Yed."
Yed stared out the window.
Zaria cleared his throat. "You know...wouldn't it be funny if your kids first word was say...Marni?"
Yed clenched his fists tighter, Zaria had better not aggravate him.
Zaria chuckled, "If you can't even take that, then how do you really suspect you'll-
"T-R-E-A-S-O-N!" Yed yelled at him angrily no longer able to contain himself. "I may A class, but one less Protector will not matter in the grand scheme of things." He looked back out the window. "The last warno accused of treason was injected with viruses that made his body do things that, if I repeated, would make you vomit. Treason is not exactly heartwarming."
Zaria didn't say anything to him after that.
Ezra was downstairs, a good place to be as Yed gathered his things. The new Protector would be coming soon. He looked briefly at Understanding and Ignoring Female Attraction. Later he’d pitch it in the castle’s fireplace, where it belonged.
“Ow!”
Yed’s instinct overran him as he heard Ezra’s yelp. He dropped the book and ran downstairs as fast as he could. When he reached the bottom he saw Ezra on the phone and figured it out.
Ezra was feeling her tummy and chattingwith Xiam on the phone. "It is, it really is. I can’t believe they’re kicking. I’ve felt flutters before, but they are finally giving me a real good wallop in the tummy.”
Kicking? They're kicking? Yed let his focus rest on her tummy. If there hadn't been so much dissonance he could have gone over and felt it too. His tail lowered as he heard her excitement on the phone. Just the first of everything I'll miss. He turned around firmly. No. I'm a Protector, not a dad. I need to forget about it. "Ezra, I'm leaving now," He announced firmly. "You're new Protector should be coming soon."
As soon as he spoke, her happy smile had faded away. He knew it’d be hard, but it was for the best. As he heard a knock on the door, he answered it expecting to see the new Protector taking his place. Instead?