Riley's Box

Part 51

"It would only be wise for us to work out exactly where it is we're going first. Then, we can plan strategy. The other Sins will bring their weapons along with them, of course. It's the only way we're going to have a real shot of capturing the others. Besides, it's worked the last few times. The first shadow spirit was caught by Invidia's net. The next one was stopped by Ira's bullets," Avidicci explained, then, in answer to my unasked questions. "If we are more prepared, then it shouldn't be a problem getting the other two," he said. Avidicci really was intelligent. I could understand that he was the leader of the Sins for a good reason. "We are going to have to wait. It won't be easy for me. If patience is a virtue, then it is one that I haven't truly discovered yet," he said. "Nevertheless, I think that waiting for the two of you is worth it." 

I felt my heart warm at his kind words. 

Avidicci's forehead creased, as he noticed my expression. 

"That doesn't mean I like you or anything," he said. 

I smirked. 

Yes it did. 

If it didn't mean that, then he never would have brought it up. 

We both knew as much. 

Although Avidicci tried to look so serious, for a couple moments futher, he ended up smiling a small smile in our direction. 

"We are going to find these final shadow spirits. We must," Avidicci resolved. "If we need to, we will fight them," he continued. "Don't worry, Riley. I promise that things will be back to normal faster than you can say cheese toasties." 

"Cheese toasties," I said on instinct. 

I felt Jason's chest vibrate with a laugh, beside me. 

Guttur spoke next. "Maybe not that fast." 

I met Avidicci's gaze again and his expression was reassuring. I had a feeling that I could trust him. I needed to trust him. On the other hand, the Sins needed to trust me that we were going to get the shadow spirits back and restore peace to the world. 

At that moment, Jason flicked on the television. 

Otius walked into the room and slumped down on the couch. 

The news report wasn't exactly good news. 

There had been an attack. 

A woman had been scratched and bruised by an unidentifiable figure. 

I watched as Jason's hand clenched up into a fist. 

Instinctively, I reached out to take his hand in mine. It slowly unclenched. He turned to me with a frown. 

"Hey, it's alright. She's still alive," I said, nodding towards the screen. 

His expression relaxed, but only slightly. 

"Do we think this is the shadow spirits?" he asked. 

Avidicci spoke again, then. 

"I have a bad feeling that it might be," he said. "Unidentifiable." 

"How come the shadow spirits can be seen but you can't be?" I asked, at that moment. I was aware of the fact that it was a pretty random question, but it was one that I was curious about anyway. 

"The shadow spirits are very careless beings- they don't take the time to disguise themselves with potions and spells before coming to Earth in the same way that we do. They merely walk around and try to cause destruction. I thought that there now only being two more shadow spirits nearby would mean that their powers would die down a little, but in this instance, I fear I was wrong. We need to find them and soon, before something worse happens," Avidicci explained, his eyes flitting towards the screen for a fleeting moment. 

His expression then became thoughtful. 

"We'll stand guard," he said. 

My eyebrow shot up in my bemusement.

"The shadow spirits are bound to locate the source of our presence sooner or later. That means that they might try to come to this house. They might try to break in," he told me. 

My muscles tensed with worry. 

It was Jason's turn to squeeze my hand, now. 

"I'll stand guard here," Avidicci said, already walking towards the front door. 

Guttur, Jason and I followed after him. 

"Guttur will go to the cafe," he said. 

"You don't have to tell me twice," Guttur said with a grin. 

"Do not eat all of the cakes in my absence, alright?" he asked. 

Guttur nodded. 

"Don't worry about him," another voice spoke then. 

Guttur's eyebrows crinkled together. 

"Oh, please don't make her come with me," he said. 

"Too bad, Guttur," Invidia said with a mischievous smile. 

Avidicci then started to tell the other Sins where they would be going, too. His plan was to have them all leave by the end of the next morning. 

"I need some brain fuel," he said at last. "Do you have any more cheese toasties?" he asked. 

"Coming right up," Jason said. 

I really, really, liked him. 

"And I'm getting a headache. It's been far too long since I last held some gold or had any on my possession," Avidicci complained. 

I grabbed my old golden watch from the table nearby and handed it to him. 

"You can have it," I said. "Something to remember me by." 

"But we-" Avidicci started to protest, but I interjected. 

"You're going to be able to go home, Avidicci. I promise. I'll work this all out," I said. 

My voice was confident enough for me to believe myself. 

Adina wandered over to me then with a friendly grin. 

"Guess who's coming to school with you tomorrow," she said. 

Joy. 

I formed my features into a perfect smile. 

"Take care of her, Adina," Avidicci told the both of us, with kindness behind his eyes. 

Invidia frowned. 

"Hey, how come Adina gets to go to school with her? I'm smart, too. I should be able to go to school with her, too," she complained. "This isn't fair." She then placed her hands on her hips, looking rather sassy, as she did so. 

I tried not to scoff.

Avidicci and Invidia engaged in a staring contest for a few moments. 

At last, Invidia gave up. 

Jason had brought her a cheese toastie, too, as a consolation for her not being able to go to school with me. 

She perked right up after that.