The Enemy Beside Me + The Liar Beside Me (Book 1 and 2)

Chapter 22

I CAN'T REMEMBER when I'd fallen asleep, but when I open my eyes, everyone is gone from the study room. The last thing I can recall was Declan and Eien's reunion. Then we gave them privacy by watching old films. Alasdair chose this classic Japanese-French film that has too many sex scenes. I like some action, but not that much. Alasdair said the film was artistic if only we focused on its message. What message? Cheating on your wife with a new girl is OK as long as the sex is good?

And oh, have some orgy with the lesbians too while you're at it! Alasdair, if you're a pervert, don't hide it; be proud!

Crisps and cans of fizzy drink had littered the table. Now it's all been cleaned. I don't have to guess who did the cleaning since I can see my reflection on the long study table. It's as shiny as Fumihiro's desk.

When I open the door, I can hear the idiots rustling plates and glasses in the kitchen. My feet automatically bring me there. I let my eyes adjust to the bright lights.

'Oh hi, sleeping beauty. Glad you're awake,' Declan says. He passes me a plate of newly baked cake.

I take a huge bite. 'Wow. This is so chocolatey. Who made this?' There's no way this is bought. This slice is still warm. Declan nods to Noritaka, who is already eating half of his portion. 'What? You know how to bake?'

Noritaka throws Declan a look that says, he didn't get my question. Then it occurs to me that I haven't brought my phone with me. I excuse myself.

'Hold on,' Alasdair says. 'Why don't you try familiarising yourself with the language without Cupcake? This could be a good start.'

I shake my head. 'No way. We're not in a class. I don't fancy stressing myself when I'm supposed to be relaxing.'

His lips form a thin line as he focuses on Fumihiro. He says something, and they all laugh, except for Eien. I love that kid.

'OK, what the hell?'

Alasdair chuckles. 'Oh, nothing. Why don't you get Cupcake and ask for her help? Repeat to her what you've heard, and then she will translate it for you. Easy.'

'Haha. Jaxon can only speak and understand one language. How funny.'

'How white, you mean,' Declan butts in.

'Excuse me? Is there something wrong with being white?'

'Nobody's telling you that, so stop frowning. I'm just saying it's so white of you to refuse to learn another language. Times have changed. Sure, there's Cupcake, but she can't be with you all the time. What if something happens and you can't explain yourself?'

I scoff. 'I thought the reason why we enrolled in this school is that we don't have to worry about speaking the Zone 1's language.'

Alasdair stabs his fork into the cake. 'That's not it. That's not even in the brochure. Have you read it?' When I don't answer, he sighs. 'Our school is for foreign students. Mostly. I'm sure you know how we're being treated here in Zone 1. And before you point it out, I know my privilege as a Yamato. I'm also aware of what they think about my mother. I'm aware that they all talk behind our backs; that I should have been pure and some more stupid opinions that should not matter. But they do matter here.'

I tell myself to say something. Not any snarky remarks I usually fire...just something. In the end, all I say is, 'I'm sorry?' and it sounds so useless.

The redhead laughs. 'Don't worry. I'm not blaming you. I'm merely telling the truth.' He braces his elbows on the worktop. 'My father built this school for me. For people like us. He wanted to protect me. He wants to protect us.' Pride flickers in his eyes. Part of me wants to remind him of the ridiculous rule that almost prevented Eien from enrolling here and that he used it to blackmail us.But it's all done now. I can't bring myself to be an arse tonight.

I tap my fist against my waist, musing about what I should do. Without a word, I sit beside Eien. I eat my piece quietly while listening to them talk, Eien chewing and Noritaka humming as he washes his plate.

'I'm thirsty.' Eien says. He then faces me and explains how to say it in his language. 'But I'm indeed thirsty,' he pipes, which takes me by surprise since I've never heard him speak like that until now.

'Don't worry, little prince! Here comes your freshwater from the magical well.' Declan raises his hand and points at the tap. The faucet coughs and then clear water streams down. He says some words to Eien, but not only I don't comprehend them, but I also can't believe what I'm seeing.

My mouth hangs open as well as Eien's. The difference is that I'm shocked whilst Eien is waiting for the water to hit his mouth, and when it does, he drinks it calmly.

'Hey, close your mouth. That water is only for Jian.'

'I'm shocked, OK?' I say. I run my fingers through my hair. 'And you shouldn't be doing that! What if—' I become aware that everyone's staring at me. At us. 'You...you all know?' Alasdair nods, and Fumihiro, as well as Noritaka, follow suit. 'Wow. So I guess everyone here has superpowers?'

'Yeah. Jian told us yours whilst you were sleeping.'

'What? Eien, you can't just do that!' I ease my ire with the chocolate cake. As soon as it lands in my mouth, I forget how I'm supposed to be upset for a moment. Noritaka is a genius!

Declan turns the tap off. 'You can trust us. Nobody knows about this thing inside of us. I mean, my parents know that I can manipulate water, but you know...'

I give myself a minute to digest what I've heard, and when I'm (kind of) ready, I say, 'So I have pyrokinesis. You have hydrokinesis. Noritaka has electrokinesis, Eien has aerokinesis.' As my gaze dances over Alasdair and Fumihiro, I see them differently this time. 'What about them?'

'Watanabe is a shape-shifter. He's been working on small insects and, get this: humans. Since, technically, humans are animals. But it takes a lot of energy.' Fumihiro frowns, but I don't think he understands what Declan has said. He frowns every time he hears his name.

'Speaking of energy,' Alasdair interjects, scrutinising me as though there is something wrong with me. Maybe there is. 'I was, let's say, taken aback when Uchiyama-kun told us that you could manipulate fire.'

'What's your point? That I don't look like it?'

'No, no. You see, my power is to turn any living thing into dust.'

'A what now?' My knees wobble. Thank God I'm sat down. Here I am, speaking to a person with the power that can kill me in an instant. 'Do you have to, like...touch?'

'No. I only have to sense energy and determine whether to spare life or...' he tilts his head and smiles. 'But don't worry. I only do it with insects. I'm not a murderer. Well, I used to practise with animals. At first, I'd thought I could only snap their necks, but then their necks crumbled into specks of dust until nothing of them was left. I'm sharing way too much, aren't I?'

I meekly nod. 'Yeah, sure.'

'Now back to the energy topic. I discovered theirs because their energy was abnormally high, as opposed to normal humans. That was when I'd figured out I could locate gift wielders. Again, too much information?'

'Go on.'

'Yet when I met you, I didn't feel or see it. You were normal. That's the easiest way to put it.'

'Oh.'

'I also didn't expect that Uchiyama-kun had aerokinesis, although I'd suspected that he was more than meets the eye.' I glance at Eien, and what do you know. He's still nibbling on his slice of cake. I guess he blocks everything when he eats.

I chuckle. 'Oh yeah. This kid is something else. He's so weird that I didn't like him when we first met.'

'What makes you like him now?' Declan asks, his voice challenging me. I silently gulp. Now that they've reunited, I'm sure Declan will be protective, if not overly protective.

'Well, he has healed me. Several times. I figured, why should I hate someone who did nothing but help me, right?'

'He healed you?' Alasdair interlocks his fingers together and props his chin on his knuckles. When I nod, a faint smile paints his lips.

Maybe it's just me not trusting rich people entirely, but the glint that quickly passes in his eyes makes me think that I've made a terrible mistake.