The spirit of Devfronds

20. A Change In The POV

 Alex trudged behind his mother. He, his mother and his father had immediately gotten a new job after getting fired by Finney. 

And he was really happy for that. Finney definitely wasn't the most pleasant person to be around and he made everyone uncomfortable around him, like a ticking time bomb that could blast any time.

He often touched places Alex knew was wrong and made his mom uncomfortable but there was nothing they could do about it.

They couldn't go to the government, because Finney was the government. 

As they walked over to the McKays his mind kept going over and over the conversation he had with that noble. The boy hadn't been rude, as far as he could remember. He hadn't even done anything, but Alex had still snapped at him.

He felt sorry. Sorry for his behaviour, and also for what he said, about the McKays. Turns out, his family and all other servants had been relocated the very next day. The McKays had taken care of it. 

What more, they were going to the be working at the McKay residence!

If Alex ever got the chance to meet that boy, he would apologise for his behaviour. 

He hadn't told his parents about his encounter with the noble boy. They would've skinned him alive, if they knew he had been rude to a noble, not because they respected nobles so much, but because they were afraid of consequences. 

They walked to a huge residence that was now going to be their home. 

They didn't have much luggage. His parents barely had any, and his stuff was mostly the bare minimum required for school. 

He had heard rumours that the McKay kid was also in his school year. He was probably supposed to wait on him. That's probably why the McKays chose their family. 

If they had been working for Finney, he at least would get a break when he went to school.

He considered the probability that the kid was nice, (which was basically a false hope) but he didn't want to assume, given recent events.

His father walked to the room they assumed to be the main room and pulled the string that rang the bell. 

The door opened in a few seconds and a woman jumped down, opening her wings a little so she landed softly on the balls of her feet. 

Her features were sharp, eyes cautious and alert, scanning Alex up and down. She was beautiful, in the way a goddess is beautiful- idealistic and intimidating. 

She radiated an aura of authority. 

Alex didn't know how he could tell, but he knew that she was the head of the house. He noticed that her clothes were normal, nothing that told you that she was a noble. Nothing flashy, no fancy frills, no extra accessories except for her McKay badge. 

A man flew down immediately after her, with the same aura of authority as Lady McKay. Both his parents bowed down to them and Alex hastily followed. It was a posture ingrained in him with practice. 

'Bent at the waist, eyes on knees.'

Lady McKay smiled and said, "No need to for these formalities. We're living together now."

To say that Alex was startled was an understatement. For a noble to say not to have any formality, especially one almost as important as the royals is an unbelievable idea. 

It was probably good that he was looking down, because his eyebrows disappeared into his hairline.

'Maybe the McKays are actually like what the rumours tell them to be...'

"Hey! You're that guy from the school!" A voice said from the doorway. The voice was familiar. He looked up to see, even though he knew with sickening certainty. It was the boy he had to talk to in school.

Shit.

He bad mouthed the McKays to their son who they are working for. 

They are as good as jobless now. 

The boy, apparently unfazed (or angry) at finding him continued with enthusiasm, "Mom, remember that boy I told you about yesterday? The who worked at Finney's? Oh yes! You said you hired from his staff. Should have connected the dots earlier." Unfortunately, Alex couldn't reciprocate his enthusiasm.

"I see you are already introduced." Lady McKay said, "Well, that saves a lot of time. We've got to get going then."  

She turned to Alex's parents, "That one and the one beside it are your rooms," she pointed to two rooms, "and I've put everything you need to know in a note. David?"

Lord McKay nodded and waved his wand. Two golden circlets appeared in his hands. They placed it on their head. 

They should've looked ridiculous on anyone, what with the small golden leaves poking out at the edges, but if anything, it just increased her goddess factor.

As for Lord McKay, well, a sparrow could make a good nest out of his hair. Alex stiffened a smile, figuring it would be rude.

 The boy, Calvin asked, "What are those?"

"Circlets." Lord McKay replied. 

"I figured that out myself, funnily enough." he replied sarcastically.

Lord McKay rolled his eyes and replied, "They symbolize that we are direct representative of royalty." 

Alex noted that Finney never wore one. 

"Goodbye kiddo." They spread they wings and flew away in strong strokes. 

The boy jumped down. He still hadn't unfurled, so his legs had to bear all the weight of the jump. It wasn't too tall to break his legs. However, he still managed to look like a swimming bird. Alex bit back a laugh.

After standing awkwardly for a few moments, he rubbed the back of his neck and muttered, "Well, this is awkward. Here, let me help you put your stuff away. I mean, It's not really a lot, but...I'd offer to take you around the house, but even I don't know my way around, mostly. Okay, I'm ranting. I think I'll leave you guys alone, yeah. I'll be in the library." 

He climbed up the ladder (back to where he jumped from) and into the house, leaving behind three dumbstruck and confused people. 

"Well...let's go to our rooms, shall we?" His mother asked, trying and failing to sound collected. 

POV CHANGE

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She really didn't know how long it's been. It might be one week, it might be one month, it might be one year, or it could be a century. Sun didn't shine in her cage, food was given at random. Sometimes, she thought she was going days without food, and sometimes, it was as if she had just eaten. 

What was left of her wings fluttered lifelessly at her side. It had hurt, a lot, when they had cut her wings, but now, they were dead and numb. She couldn't feel anything. 

It seemed forever now.

Forever since she had the vision.

Forever since Sally's son died in labour compilations. 

Forever since she had shoved her own son in Sally and David's care and asked them to escape to the human world.

Forever since Finney's betrayal.

Forever since Finney allied with land kingdom, and kidnapped her and her husband.

Forever since she had heard the spy tell her about the land king getting jealous of the truce between sky and sea, and plotting against them. 

Forever....