...A LITTLE BIT...
~KIERA~
I didn't allow myself even a wink of sleep. I was afraid that something might have happened to me if I had been unconscious for another five days.
Last night, I had believed Reed when he said the Reds wouldn't approach carelessly, but he was a liar. Reds of all shapes and sizes came to visit me throughout the night. Dozens of them, maybe more, their shadow-black bodies melting into the night beyond the glass sliding door. Only their red eyes were visible, glowing faintly, following every move I made. They didn't come inside, but they sat on the balcony and watched me for hours.
I closed the curtains, hoping to block them out, but the thin white fabric barely softened the glow of the two moons. Instead, it turned the room into a pale lantern, making the eyes outside look brighter. I tried my best to ignore them and pretend I didn't see them.
The pills would have made it stop. I wouldn't have seen them. I wouldn't be in bed, counting every breath, wondering if I was still awake, or if I had slipped into a dream without realizing it.
Raven had taken the meds my parents prepared for me, and without them I was stuck seeing the Reds. The pills weren't just to keep me from seeing them. They did more than that. They kept me level, kept my head quiet, and most importantly, they stopped the dreams from bleeding into reality.
Without them, everything was too loud. Too sharp. I couldn't tell where I ended, and the world began.
Reed had warned me that eating Maki would make me drowsy, and he was right. My eyelids were so heavy, my body begged for rest, but I refused to sleep. So, I forced myself to stay awake. If I went under now, I wasn't sure when I would come back.
It was around dawn when the sun began to rise when the Reds finally left me alone. It was like that at home. They never stalked me during the day, watched me from the shadows, and only followed me around at night.
Somebody battled the doorknob, filling my ears with an unpleasant noise. I was too tired to tolerate nonsense, so my head snapped to the door. I was ready to give the person a mouth full of words for daring to disturb me so early in the morning. Then a small head poked inside, and my anger melted away.
"Good morning, big man," I said softly, feeling ashamed that I was about to blow off at a child. I started to sit up, but my trembling muscles made the task difficult. My hands brushed a few curls sticking to my cheeks behind my ears. A tear fell off my face and I realized that I had been crying.
I attempted to lighten the atmosphere with a smile, but the boy slipped back into the hall and disappeared. My face faltered. Maybe I looked scary. My eyes were bloodshot and baggy. My hair was a mess too, with curls sticking up in every direction.
I glanced down at my legs. They ached down to the bone. I wiggled my toes to determine whether it was safe to stand on my feet. The shattered sensation I had felt yesterday was still present, in fact I felt worse than I had the day before, but a bit of pain wasn't enough to keep me in bed.
The door opened wider, and the small boy returned. He waddled up to the bed, placed a box of tissues into my lap, and then zoomed out of the room again. He hugged the doorway and peeked inside, watching me with bright eyes. I noticed the beauty spot under his eye. Riki.
"Thanks, big man."
I freed some tissues, wiped my face, blew my nose, and calmed down. When I looked back up, there were two boys, instead of just one. I didn't know the other boy's name, but I knew Riki was the twin with the adorable spot underneath his left eye.
They were small. Like three-year-olds still moving around awkwardly, not yet having the muscle strength to move around with precision. I raised the blanket and struggled out of bed. I was about to greet the twins, but when I glanced at the door again, they were gone.
I left my new bedroom. I couldn't move very fast, and it took me a while to descend the stairs, but when I made it to the first floor, I heard dishes being clinked together in the kitchen. I walked over, expecting to see Reed, but there was somebody else in front of the sink.
The person was tall and lithe, dressed in navy blue jeans and a cream-coloured sweater with red slip-on shoes. His thick bed of black hair hung well past his waist, masterfully braided with not a single hair out of place. His slow and elegant movements had a certain grace to them.
"Uh…" I started softly, too shy to speak up. "Good morning..."
He paused what he was doing. His head slightly turned in my direction. A moment of silence passed but he didn't return my greeting. Instead, his head moved back toward the plate he'd been scrubbing. He dipped the cream-colored ceramic into clean water, placed it into the drying rack, and immediately began scrubbing another.
I read the room. I was always quick to pick up on social queues. I was used to being ignored. At school, everyone treated me like I didn't exist. I wasn't popular. I had friends, sure, but even in our circle I never felt like someone important. That may have bothered some people, but I didn't mind. In fact, I preferred it. Being alone made it easier to pretend that I wasn't crazy. That I wasn't seeing things others couldn't.
I approached one of the cabinets and began searching for a glass. I wanted something to drink before taking a walk outside. I splayed my feet and stood up on my toes. My legs threatened to throw me down, but I kept them steady enough to keep me from falling over.
I moved my head back to get a better angle. Inside were stacks of plates. I moved to another set of small doors and repeated the process. It was filled with different-sized bowls. I was about to investigate a third cabinet, but the black-haired boy sighed and reached for a glass on the drying rack. He placed it down on the counter.
"Oh, uh, thank you..."
"Gis merne, Ren," I heard Reed say. I turned to look at the door just as he entered the kitchen. He was sweaty, dressed in baggy grey sweatpants, a pair of running shoes, and a white T-shirt that clung to his skin. He smiled when he noticed me.
"Hi," I said and picked up the glass.
"Good morning, Kiera." He crossed the kitchen with measured steps and opened the refrigerator. Without looking fully away from his task, he spoke over his shoulder. "Would you care for something to drink? Water, perhaps? Or tea? I can brew coffee as well, if that is your preference."
"Water..."
"Just water?" He raised one brow. I nodded, deciding there was no need to answer verbally. "Very well, we keep glass bottles here for a reason. Do avoid drinking from the taps. The water is not safe for consumption, as it contains mana that you cannot afford to absorb right now."
He pulled a large glass bottle out of the fridge and placed it on the counter. I thanked him with a smile and walked over with my glass, which he took from my hands and insisted on filling up himself.
I stared at his calloused hands. His fingers were long and thick, with three veins visible underneath his olive skin. Small scars on his fingers reminded me of my own, and I consciously stopped my hands from resting on my stomach.
"Ys'l ab ski'ste, Reed," his brother said. He was very soft-spoken with a quiet and gentle voice. I wondered what he said but felt too awkward to ask.
"Okir, Ren. Ys sal sie Aesi le'a," Reed replied.
His brother, Ren, dried his hands and walked out of the kitchen without sparing me so much as a glance. Reed handed me the glass of water, which I raised to my lips and started drinking. I paused, tasting a hint of lemon, cucumber, and mint. It was refreshing.
"I trust you slept well?" he asked and loosely crossed his arms over his chest as he leaned against the fridge.
"I'd like to go outside for some fresh air if that's alright?"
I didn't want to talk about last night or bring up the subject of sleep at all. I just wanted to get out of the house, breathe fresh air, and ask the questions stuck on the tip of my tongue.
"I will give you a tour of the grounds if you do not mind waiting a short while. I must see to my own appearance first." His tone was courteous, almost apologetic. "I shall not be long."
'Translation: I can't go anywhere without him.'
"I think I should do the same." The messy curls hanging over my chest were filthy. Blood, dirt, and other oils ruined my honey-blonde hair, making it look icky and gross. That was without mentioning the fact that I was still covered in my blood.
"Excellent. Return upstairs and make use of the washroom as you see fit. I took the liberty of preparing some garments for you last night. You will find them laid out on the desk in your room. Please change and meet me here again in twenty minutes."
I nodded and watched him leave. Despite his muscular body, he walked as if he weighed nothing. I found myself feeling attracted to him. What girl wouldn't? His body was well taken care of, and he had a friendly, approachable aura, and a cute smile. But I didn't allow myself to judge him too quickly, so I shoved the thought into the corner of my mind, and sipped on the water.
Afterward, I struggled back upstairs. The valours watched me. I was too sleepy to notice before, but now that my mind was on high alert, I noticed their eyes following me around the room.
'Earth spirits huh? Were they ordered to keep their eyes on me? No. Let's not overthink things. Ignore them. They're just like the Reds. If I ignore them, it's like they aren't even there.'
The washroom was easy to find. Located between my bedroom and the next. A large square bathtub stood in the right corner, and a spacious shower was directly next to it. A grand mirror with a delicate golden frame was on my left, with a potted plant on either side of the polished pearl-white sink. Like in the bedroom, the walls were smooth sandstone slabs, and the lighting was warm, orange, and welcoming.
I pulled off Cain's clothes and stepped under the shower head. Not wanting to keep Reed waiting, I rushed to wash my hair and scrubbed the gunk off my body with a bar of soap. I cringed when I saw brown water disappear down into the drain.
A few minutes later, when I was finally clean, I wrapped myself in a black towel and stepped out of the washroom. I noticed there had been no toilet and made a mental note to ask Reed about its whereabouts later.
Clothes were ready for me on the desk just as Reed had said. A baggy pair of baby blue jeans, a pair of white socks and slip-on shoes, and a cute frilly peach-colored blouse with long sleeves.
'When did he bring this? No one came into the room last night, so he must have dropped it off while I was showering...'
Deciding not to question it, I got dressed and picked apart my curls as I made my way down the stairs. My entire body was starting to feel stiff. I never realized I used that many muscles when running. I thought only my legs would hurt, but everything hurt, even my face. Or maybe it was because of what Reed said last night. That I was in pain because I was overexposed to mana.
I sat on the last few steps and waited for him to arrive. My fingers combed through my hair and twirled around my curls to retain their shape. I was busy for ten minutes, watching the ferni up in the dome racing around the tree's foliage before I heard the door at the top of the stairs swing open.
I stood up, dropped my hands, and stared at Reed. He was dressed in straight-leg black jeans, a decent fit but not skinny, a white T-shirt with three orange stripes on his left sleeve, and a pair of white shoes. A white jacket, much the same as the black jacket I had borrowed yesterday, was draped over his arm. It was the same outfit he had on yesterday, only this time it was a white variant. His hair was a mess of wet waves which he brushed out of his face as soon as we made eye contact.
"My apologies for keeping you waiting," he said. "If you would follow me, I will show you outside."
He walked ahead of me, taking the lead. My eyes gravitated to his back, where a sword had been secured with straps. It was a little weird, but I didn't bring it up, choosing to ignore it instead.
We walked down the short hallway, located between the two giant valours, leading to the massive front door with the wolf carved into it. I stared at the carving. The wolf had horns, four eyes, and twin tails legs. I have seen three variants of the same Red. But then again, I had seen different variants of the cats, birds, and foxes I had glimpsed over the years too.
The door eerily creaked and groaned on its hinges as Reed pulled it open. We stepped outside into the light. I glanced up at the sky. It was clear, with not a cloud in sight and only one sun burned brightly above the trees. I half expected there to be two but was relieved to see only one shining in the sky.
"This way. I believe you will appreciate the view," Reed said and moved down the steps.
I followed him to a waist-high sandstone wall. Reed jumped up and sat down. He placed the jacket over his thigh and gestured for me to join him. I glanced at the wall nervously. It was thick.
"Do not worry, Kiera. You will not fall, and if you do, trust that I will catch you."
I slowly pushed myself up on my arms, plopping down next to him. His hand hooked around my elbow. Wondering what he was planning, I eyed his fingers as they tightened around my arm, and then he pulled me closer to him. I felt awkward sitting a hair's breadth away from him. Last night he'd been considerate enough to give me space, but for some reason, he chose to stick close to me this time. I felt his warm legs brush against mine as he hooked them over the edge to get comfortable.
I looked down at the view. A pink tree towered over sandstone buildings hidden underneath its canopy. In full bloom, the wind swayed its large branches, and pink petals blew in the breeze like sprayed confetti. Sunlight hit at just the right angle to reveal the faintest colored swirls on top of the tree, making out the shape of a gigantic bubble encapsulating the academy below.
"Wow! It's like a snow globe," I said and smiled.
"Pardon?" he said, finally turning his head, his expression betrayed his confusion.
"Oh, uh, nothing." I brushed the hair from my face. "You said last night that you'd answer my questions."
"To the best of my abilities, yes," he replied, offering a nod.
"Am I allowed to leave the island?"
"No."
"If I run away, will you chase after me?"
"Yes."
"And you'll bring me back here?" I glanced over my shoulder to look at the sandstone building, making it clear that I was referring to it.
"Yes."
I groaned and dropped my head into my hands. "Can you please answer with more than one word? I'm going to need a little more information than just yes or no."
Reed leaned back on his hands and let one boot heel tap lazily against the sandstone wall. "Very well. I shall try my best with your English." He fell silent for a moment, as if searching for the right words. "It would be foolish of you to run. In the state you are in right now, my sword would pin your leg to the wall before you manage to stand."
I swallowed, unsure whether that was a warning or a promise.
"Then, if I cannot leave the island, can I at least go down there to see the tree up close?" I pointed toward the sprawling roots below.
"No."
"Then what?" I threw up my hands. "Am I supposed to stay up here forever?"
He didn't answer.
"So, I am a prisoner?"
"No, you are not."
"Then why am I here?"
"I do not know." He shook his head. "All I can say is that you are Cain's honored guest. If you want more information, the answers lie with him and not with me."
"Do you know when he will be back?"
"I do not. It is common for Cain to be sent away on missions. All I can say is that he returns within three weeks. He always does."
"So, I could be stuck here for three weeks?"
"Yes."
The word landed like a stone in my stomach. I didn't know these people, didn't know this island, and the more I tried to get answers from Reed, the more questions I ended up with. His calmness only made me feel more trapped.
'It's fine,' I told myself. 'Let's endure it for now. As he said, there's no point in running. I have nowhere to go, and I don't even know where I am. I wouldn't know how to get home.'
"Then… can you tell me more about this place?" I asked, at least wanting to know where I was.
Reed shifted, but even the way he moved was notably different that I was used to seeing. His elbows braced neatly on his knees, back straight, chin slightly lowered as if he'd been trained to sit that way. Every motion of his body had the precision of someone raised under strict guidance, like he was playing a part that had been drilled into him since birth.
"I forget you are from another layer," he said after a pause, voice calm and unhurried. "Then I shall start there. Layers are different worlds layered on top of each other. Some layers run on magic, others on science, and a rare few use both. Some are modern and others are primitive. All are bound to the First, and the farther away a layer is, the faster time moves within it. We call this accumulation of worlds the Stack and refer to each world as a layer, respective to their position within the Stack."
I tilted my head, trying to follow. "So Ri'elle is… the eighty-sixth layer in the Stack?"
A sudden gust of wind whipped my curls into my face. I blinked them away just in time to see Reed's arms raise in one smooth motion, not a single wasted movement, and drape his white jacket over my shoulders.
"Yes. Precisely." His tone carried no hesitation. "Wear this. I do not wish you to fall ill. I can mend wounds, but I cannot heal illness."
I slid my arms through the sleeves, the fabric warm from his body heat. "Okay, old man."
The faintest curve of a smile tugged at his mouth, once again flashing his stubby fangs, though he didn't relax his posture. "How unjust. You call my little brother 'big man,' yet I am labeled 'old.'"
"Oh stop! Wait… how do you even know that?" My face warmed, and I felt ridiculous for letting him see me flustered. It was just... a cute nickname for a cute kid. Nothing more.
Reed's lips curved into a subtle smirk, one he seemed almost too well-mannered to allow. "Believe it or not, he ran down the stairs to catch me during my morning jog. He wrote on my arm, 'She called me BIG man!' and waddled back inside to go tell Ren. Everyone else calls him cute," Reed said, the faintest trace of amusement in his voice. "He dislikes the word. In his mind, ten years is far too old to be called such a thing."
'What? He's ten years old? Why does he look three?'
"Reed! Gis merne!" Arena called behind us. We turned our heads to look at her.
"I assume she said good morning?" I asked as she approached us.
"She did, yes."
"Hi, Gis merne…" I said softly, not confident that I could pronounce it properly on my first try.
"Aesi re le'var li klas," Arena said, ignoring me.
"Gis merne, Ari. Kiera n'he srek Dren, sii kien verste. Srek Inglisse. Un… Rivian es nit hir. Ys aver nit sien Hibi."
"Doa? Sii ken lehrn. Una Ys'a nit hir vie Hibi. Wir shul gis. We should go. Wilka wants to see her."
Reed glanced at me, the faintest lift of his brow betraying amusement. "It appears this old man may escort you to see the tree up close after all. You have been granted permission to leave the mansion. Cain holds a particular fondness for you."
"I guess if he kidnapped me, he must have had some sort of interest." Reed chuckled. I did not feel offended that he thought this was funny, and did not want to ruin the mood, so I let him laugh.
"He liked you enough to keep you alive, at least, even if you are the daughter of a traitor," Arena said bitterly, aggressively glancing up and down my body.
"A traitor?" That caught me off guard.
"For your sake, I hope you're ready, because down there—" she pointed at the academy, "—everyone is your enemy."
"Ari," Reed started, calling her by a nickname. "I do not think the time or place for this discussion is appropriate. Watch your tongue."
"Fine. Whatever." Arena rolled her eyes and whirled around. "Let's go. You know Wilka hates wasting time. Follow us, Kiera. We will take you to see our Headmaster."
***
DENGR'VERE TRANSLATION:
"Gis merne, Ren," (Good morning, Ren,)
"Ys'l ab ski'ste, Reed," (I'll be upstairs, Reed,)
"Okir, Ren. Ys sal sie Aesi le'a," (Alright, Ren. I shall see you later,)
"Aesi re le'var li klas," (You are late for class,)
"Gis merne, Ari. Kiera n'he srek Dren, sii kien verste. Srek Inglisse. Un… Rivian es nit hir. Ys aver nit sien Hibi." (Good morning, Ari. Kiera can't speak Dren, she doesn't understand. Speak English. And... Rivian is not here. I have not seen him.)
"Doa? Sii ken lehrn. Una Ys'a nit hir vir Hibi. Wir shul gis'e –" (Why? She can learn. And I'm not here for him. We should go-)