Trev sighed deeply and wrapped his arms around Kalon, pulling him into a tight hug. “For the umpteenth time, thank you, my friend… Thank you for this.”
“Anything for you. And anything for Luna,” Kalon said quietly, awkwardly stepping back from the embrace. He wasn’t the type to wear his emotions on his sleeve, so seeing him like this was quite endearing.
“Luna…” I unwittingly repeated her name, staring at the Visentis emblem on Trev’s shoulder. Kalon usually wore his on the belt.
“Yes, she was named after our dynasty sigil,” Kalon confirmed, sadness lingering on his face for the briefest of moments. “So, Trev. Are you ready for the next step?”
He definitely didn’t want to talk about Luna, then. Perhaps another time, I thought. Another day, when everything wasn’t shrouded in so many secrets and so much death.
“I’ve reached out to my Red Thread contacts,” Trev said. “I’m meeting them tonight for an introduction to the Darklings. As soon as I have something, I’ll be in touch.”
Kalon nodded and handed him a steel flask. “Just in case you get peckish,” he replied. “Remember, only a few drops. Just enough—”
“To take the edge off. Yeah, got it.” Trev cut him off, laughing lightly. “I’m good, Kalon. I really am.”
“Be careful,” Kalon advised, as Trev made his way to the door.
“I will. I promise. Bigger things at stake here. I’ve been preparing for this for years,” Trev said, trying to reassure Kalon. “Trust me to make it happen.”
Personally, I had faith in the former Rimian. He’d lied to us, sure, but I understood why he’d done it, and so did Kalon. Bidding us both farewell, Trev left the room, and I felt a knot forming in my throat. I worried about him, too.
“He’ll be okay,” Kalon murmured, staring at the closed door.
“Yeah. He’s a tough one.”
“Resourceful, too,” Kalon said.
Somehow, we were incredibly awkward together, in this moment, in this room. There was something in the air, perhaps, or a screw loose in our heads… but Kalon and I… we couldn’t even look at each other. My heart was racing, the distance between us shrinking as he moved. I realized exactly what was making this so weird.
I wanted a certain gesture from him. I’d thought about it, though I hadn’t dared to voice it or even dwell on it for too long. But as he walked past me, briefly glancing my way, and as I inhaled his musky scent and felt my skin tingle all over… it hit me. A kiss. What would a kiss be like, coming from his lips? What would it lead to?
Kalon stopped in the doorway, looking at me over his shoulder. “You coming?”
“Where?” I managed, still reeling from that fleeting little thought. A yearning was brewing inside me, but what the hell was I supposed to do with it?
“There’s a full moon tonight. I thought we might do a bit of training in the gardens,” Kalon said. “I doubt I’ll get much sleep until we hear from Trev. Besides, it’s been a while since you and I have had some time alone.”
There was meaning in his words, but I couldn’t bring myself to untangle it, to make sense of it, to identify the hidden emotions he was trying to convey. To be honest, I was simply afraid that I might’ve been overthinking all this. That there was nothing more than a good friendship between us.
Maybe I’d convinced myself that what Kalon and I had transcended the platonic barriers. It had been a while since he and I had had some time alone, though. I wasn’t a fool. I certainly wasn’t going to turn him down.
Smiling, I walked out with him. We headed to the training room first to collect some sparring swords. My heart was already singing, and I had no way of controlling it. Whatever this was between Kalon and me, I would enjoy every second of it, regardless of what it entailed.
Nethissis
For more than two days, I had been running and hiding. Whenever I’d thought I’d escaped that wretched ghoul, it came around. It found me. Every damn time!
The only advantage I had was that I wasn’t tired—not physically. The absence of a body had helped. I didn’t need sleep or food or water… what a crappy silver lining this was, given that I was still running for my life.
I’d roamed through the city from north to south, from east to west. I’d hidden in attics and basements and preserve pantries. I’d screamed for help, but no one had heard me. I couldn’t even move a friggin’ glass to let somebody know that I was there.
My soul was weary. I thought about Rudolph and the other Reapers, not knowing what had become of them. The black guards had Reaper scythes… that meant they must’ve taken them somewhere. Maybe they were being held captive, much like Seeley. Oh, and Seeley! He was probably going insane, not knowing where I’d gone or where Rudolph was.
“What about Death?” I wondered aloud. “No one’s heard from Rudolph. Shouldn’t she be worried? Shouldn’t she be sending more Reapers in? What the hell is she waiting for?!”
I kicked my way through the palace garden gates. The night stretched over the city with its indigo sky and trillions of twinkling stars and that one full pearl-shaped moon. Constantly looking over my shoulder, I allowed myself a deep breath. The ghoul wasn’t anywhere in sight—at least for now. That was better than nothing. Whatever respite I could get, I took it. It was only a matter of time before the bastard would track me down again.
It felt so weird, being on my own like this. There wasn’t a single other lost soul out there. Visio’s veil was thick, yes, but it was also empty. Except for me.
The clanging of swords made my ears twitch.
Somewhere in the middle of the garden, beneath the exterior lamps mounted along the trimmed hedgerows, I could see Esme and Kalon Visentis. They were sparring, using dull swords and dancing around one another, looking for a way in. I smiled, wishing I could just reach out and touch Esme. Wishing I could tell her that I was still here… that I needed her help…
Heartache notwithstanding, I was glad to see her. It meant that she was okay. The way she looked at Kalon when he wasn’t paying attention surprised me. There was longing in those deep green eyes. A wanting. And she seemed worried, too, that maybe Kalon didn’t reciprocate. That was a familiar feeling for me. I’d experienced it a lot since I’d died and seen Seeley again.
But little did Esme know, when she wasn’t looking, Kalon was gazing at her, as well, the corner of his mouth pulled into a secret smile. There was something here, something between them. Something that neither of them dared to act upon.
“Use your feet,” Kalon told her.
“I am using my feet!” she replied, slightly frustrated.
“Well, you’re not using them well enough!” he said, bolting past her and smacking her hind with the width of his blade.
“Ouch!” she screeched, making him laugh, and making herself laugh, as well.
They had no idea that I was out here, trying to find my way back to safety, back into the world of the living. There was no time for me to ponder things, though. No time for me to linger here in the gardens, either. As long as the ghoul wasn’t around, it meant I could at least get back to Seeley.
I’d been running for too long. Maybe Seeley had a solution against the fiend.
