Together as Half

Goodbyes

Nidara

The leader's son was on fire. Not metaphorically in the way that I sometimes felt as if I was on fire, when anger and frustration consume me fully, but actual flames trailing up his arms. Flames that you would think resemble real fire, but upon looking closer you would see it to be more red than orange, and you'd see how it doesn't destroy everything it touches unless the bearer instructs it to.

I had always been intrigued by the fire-faeries. Out of the four elements, fire is the least common for one to possess, but also the most looked down upon. It is said to be the most dangerous, but anyone with a brain would know that is simply not true. The water-faeries are perfectly capable of drowning someone without a second thought. Although, it is the air-faeries that I believe to be the deadliest. Suffocation, constriction or isolation are just some of the ways they could take a life, all the while defending themselves by forming a solid wall of air.

Edin Blayke's flames seemed to calm down at the exact moment his eyebrows slightly rose, and he looked towards the stage.

At me.

His red eyes were glowing with anticipation as he looked to me as if in understanding. In understanding that we would be going to Earth and we would be going together whether we liked it or not.

I had never seen that level of humanity from the leader's son. I had always thought him to be cold and distant just as his father, but looking into his eyes, I could somehow feel that this was not the case. I could sense that, unlike his father, there was more to him than what he allowed people to believe.

I managed a slight nod, as if in invitation, and Edin made his way to the stage.

I could have sworn disappointment flashed across Daris's features, but it was gone before I could blink. Whether or not Edin noticed, I couldn't tell. His face gave away nothing of what he was feeling. Did he even want to go to Earth? It was tempting to ask, to demand he gave the vaccine to someone else if Earth was not what he wished for. If Earth was not what he dreamed of day and night just as Aki and I had.

I had gotten onto my knees and cried and begged for an hour before my father had finally caved and added Aki's name to the bowl extra times. It was wrong, I knew that. But Aki is my family, and there's nothing I wouldn't do for her.

Daris dismissed the bunker with a wave of his hand and beckoned us to follow him.

"Where are we going?" Edin asked his father.

No reply.

Ellias huffed. "Don't play innocent, Edin, we know that daddy's the only reason your name was called."

I remembered the flash of disappointment on Daris's face when his son's name was called as if he wanted Edin to suffer, and I knew that Edin's name being called was pure luck.

Edin glared at Ellias. "That bastard," he pointed to his father, "didn't even bother to tell me of the vaccines. That gathering was the first I heard of them. So no, he certainly is not the reason my name was called."

The air around us seemed to heat up with each of his words.

Daris whirled on Edin, coming face to face with his son. His fists clenched tightly. Edin flinched ever so slightly that I doubt anyone else noticed, but his face showed no surprise. None whatsoever.

"What did you just call me?" Daris snapped as looked up at his son. Daris, being human, didn't exactly have the heigh advantage. I nearly laughed at the thought.

Edin smirked, clenching his own fists. "Need me to spell it out for you?"

Daris grabbed the front of Edin's shirt with his fist, but immediately stilled and looked to the rest of us, as if remembering we were here and backed away slightly. His face was the epitome of anger. "Don't ever call me a bastard, boy." Daris drawled, and then continued leading us to the other end of the bunker.