Cairo

Chapter 20: Distorted Truths

A long sigh brushed past Dr. Savas' mustache, causing it to tickle his skin. He leaned back into his chair, taking deep breaths as he waited for the sharp pain in his back to pass through. His attention lingered on a small parcel on his on desk, his eyes eyes locked on it in a deep stare. He was in the middle of debating on what to do with with it when a young woman walked into through the door. She placed a steaming cup of tea on the table next to his desk. As she went to leave, Dr. Savas picked up the paracel and called to her. He handed it to her, asking she see it sent off to the address specified. She smiled and waved as she left, closing the door silently behind her.

His attention was brought back to his desk. Without the parcel, it was displayed in its full messy glory. The surface was filled with many different papers, clippings, and folders all spread around on top of each other. There was no telling what went with each project he researched at this point. Another sigh escaped his mouth as his eyes drifted to the far back corner of his desk. He spotted his CDP and picked it up, scrolling through his contact list until he found Cairo's name. His finger hovered over call button as a thread of doubt started to eat away at him. He wondered it it was nonsense, if he was wrong or delusional. It could all just be a waste of time or could know already. What would be the point then besides sounding like a crazy man? Deciding that it was better to act then not to act, he went to hit the button. .

From behind him, a voice yelled in protest. His arm was pulled back behind him, the CDP clattering to the floor. Pain shot through his arm and shoulder as he cranked his neck behind him. His eyes went wide and his mouth went dry. A fiery mass stood behind him—a glowing body encrusted in flames. The glowing molten hardened as more defined features came to life. Fingers grew around his arm as a face took shape.

"You are the fire Kleptos," Dr. Savas whispered. His voice shook like an earthquake as he looked at the Kleptos he couldn't believe was there.

Fia's eyes scanned his face before they slid over to the desk. She tilted her head, releasing her grip on his arm. Walking in front of the desk, she picked up a clipped newspaper article. It was printed in black and white with the title CAIRO'S LITTLE ANGEL printed in bold heading at the top. A picture of a young, smiling girl dressed in long, elegant robes was shown under the text.

"You know about her?" Fia asked, setting the paper back on the desk.

"I had always thought she wasn't the fire Kleptos," Dr. Savas said, staring down at the many papers scattered about his desk. "I never had any basis for that fact, so I dismissed it at the time. Never would I have thought she would be so deeply involved in all of this."

"There are numerous things that you don't know," Fia snapped. "You are an ignorant flea trying to understand what's above and beyond you. Never knowing or thinking of the consequences of your actions, all you of you filthy things pursue knowledge you will never understand or be able to have."

Dr. Savas slammed his hand on his desk, snapping his broad shoulders forward, the muscles on his arms flexing. "I pursue the knowledge of the things in front of me! Kleptos have been coinciding with humans for generations and yet we know nothing about them," he snarled. "I want to know about the things around me and nothing will stop me from doing that."

"Why do you think that is?" Fia's voice was poison to the ears. "You do not listen. You do not look. If you cared about us, we would care about you! But you destroy, you hate, and lie instead of searching for the truth because you don't want to understand. All you want is something to explain. It doesn't matter if it's right or wrong; it will be true—it will be the concrete evidence to fortify your pathetic existence." She stopped to stare deep into Dr. Savas' eyes. "If you want to save that girl, do not tell her what she really is. Ever. She must figure it out herself."