The Solstice Daughters

chapter 9

"Cheater!"

"Just because I won twice in a row does not mean I'm cheating, Ley." Madox raised an eyebrow, collecting the chess pieces into a pile and closing the board. Mikov watched them with a blank expression.

Huffing, Ley threw her arms in the air dramatically and collapsed on the grass. "If I say you're a cheater, you're a cheater." Madox followed suit, shifting to avoid the tickly blades. "Mikov, join us, my friend." She pat the area beside her, not taking her eyes off the sky.

The boy carefully molded into the spot and gently placed his hands, over his stomach, one clutching the other. The wind howled around them, whipping his shoulder-length silver hair around.

Ley turned over to pinch his cheeks between her fingers and made a baby voice. "Oh stop that frowning, slap a smile on that sweet face of yours."

"You do realize he's not a child, right?" Madox said. Mikov sent him a silent thank you with creasing eyes but Ley could not be phased."I know but his cheeks, Madox! I can't get enough of them."

Madox shifted upwards and wrapped his hands around his best friend's upper arms, pulling her back onto the grass and away from the frightened boy. "Alright, that's enough now. We don't want to scare our new Evrearian friend away."

Mikov didn't laugh. He hadn't made a sound from Monday until what was now Friday unless asked a question. Even then, his answers were short.

"Aren't Evrearian's supposed to be like, rays of sunshine?" Madox had whispered to Ley as the three walked home from the school the day before. The girl had just shrugged. "I don't think there's any specific rule, Madox."

"I'm aware but you know how it usually is. The Csenwyth are big strong buff fighters, the Kryadios are mischievous, overly talkative and annoying, and Evraerian are all sparkles, sunshine, and nature."

Another shrug. "Maybe they changed the curriculum in his kingdom." Madox had shoved her, playfully.

The three lay in silence now, listening to the stray trees hustling and while they watched large marshmallow clouds float across the aqua sky. Madox knew the silence wouldn't last very long because Ley might as well have been a broken record so he enjoyed the serenity while it still existed.

"So, Mikov," Ley started, eyes wide with glee and curiosity.

"Here we go." Maddox sighed.

"What're your big three? Mine are Libra, Aquarius, Capricorn. I mean obviously, they match with my personality and I generally am a fan of air signs. Don't know if I can tolerate earth signs to be honest but here we are with my moon sign being a Capricorn-" She was so rambling so fast, Madox struggled to keep up with what she was talking about.

"Anyway! Your big three?" She'd shifted onto her belly now, elbows pressed into the dirt so her hands were up to cup hold her chin. "Wait! Let me guess...Gemini, Aries and Aquarius-"

"Scorpio, Scorpio, Scorpio." Mikov stated.

Ley stilled while Madox stifled a chuckle. "Well, that's just plain terrifying." Her face creased, exhaling heavily." A crackle of thunder burst from the clouds, making all three of them jump. Madox dusted his clothes and stood up. "We should get to Ley's before it rains. Unless, Mikov, you gonna head home or?"

He extended his hand towards the boy to help him get off the ground. Mikov looked at it warily but eventually took it, dusting himself off as well. As he lay his arms to his side, Madox noticed him flex the hand in and out. A flash of lightning struck the sky at the same time as both his and Mikov's pockets started buzzing.