Star Beings: Dawn

Fire, Shadow, and Rot

About a month passes. A month of training, sarcasm, and relative peace. Leigh and I never bring up that night. We never have to. Life goes on as normal, and for the first time in a very long while I feel... Happy.
But then Natalie, early one morning, called a meeting. She asked if I would bring Leigh, although the healer was not happy to be woken up at five am sharp. When we arrived at the meeting room, however, there were only two people inside; Natalie and Hade. The latter seemed just as confused as I was as to the location of the other Star Beings.
But then it clicked.
We had been tricked. Bamboozled. Played for suckers.
The others aren't here because they aren't coming.
"So this is how you get the three of us in a room together? Trickery? I'm insulted, Natalie. I mean really, you could have just asked."
Hade's expression shifts as they realize what I mean, as well as why we're all here.
"Oh you little shit. And I do put emphasis on the little."
Natalie, without her smile ever fading, grabs Hade by the collar and yanks them down to her level.
"Watch your damn mouth, you freak of nature."
She lets them go, Hade straightening up like a soldier at attention.
"You're fucking terrifying."
"I'm fully aware. Anyways," Natalie turns back to Leigh and I, "you three are here because I need something done and two of y'all, whom I will not name, need to learn how to get along."
Hade and I make direct eye contact.
"What do you need done?" Leigh pipes up, breaking the tension.
"I'm glad you asked. I mean, It's really no big deal but..."
She smacks down a large piece of paper on the table.
"Anai seems ready to begin her mission. And, instead of teleporting to the Shadow Lords' location, I figured that a nice peaceful journey may be good for the three of you. Your ship inland departs tomorrow, giving you just enough time to pack and say your goodbyes."
It grows quiet enough to hear a pin hit the carpet.
"You're fucking kidding," Hade hisses.
"I assure you I am not," Natalie replies, looking at each of us with a face that very plainly states "try me".
It's clear that there's no debating this. Despite that, Hade persists.
"I"m not gonna do it, Nat. You can't make me. I'm not going on some life changing trip with a bitch I hate," Hade motions to me. I gotta say, it kind of stings. How can they still hate me after weeks of training? "and her stupid healer friend."
"Excuse me?" Leigh growls, her lip curling into a sneer as she stares at Hade.
"You heard me, curls," Hade snarls.
Leigh begins to laugh. It's the kind of laugh that stands a warning. The kind that tells you that you definitely just fucked up.
"I can kill you, you know. I can take you out and use your dead body as my own weapon just as easily as I can snap my fucking fingers. Hell, I wouldn't even need a weapon to do it. I can make your heart quit beating. Or I can make your throat close up and strangle you without ever even laying a hand on your pale ass skin. I can even make you have an aneurysm if I was so pleased to do so. But I won't. I'm not in the mood."
She takes a few steps towards the living nightmare that is Hade Carson.
"However, when I am in the mood... well, if I were you I'd avoid spewing such ignorant remarks from that ash ridden hole that you call a mouth."
With that, she turns to Natalie.
"Are we done here?"
"Yes, we are."
Leigh nods, turns on her heel, and leaves. Hade watches her, mouth agape.
"I think I may have just discovered something about myself," Hade mumbles.
"What the hell does that mean?"
"I think you know, Nat."
Realization dawns on her face.
That's it.
I'm going to kill them this time.
"Will you ever learn to shut your damn mouth?"
"Probably not. Unless you wanna make me," Hade smirks, their eyes narrowing in a challenge. Natalie steps between the two of us before I can attack.
"Nope. We're not doing this. Anai, go get packed. Hade, you do the same." "But-" "Oh, I'm sorry do you want me to have a talk with Maxine? Because I can tell her all about your little habit."
Hade's mouth snaps shut.
"That's what I thought. Have a good day, you two. I need to head back before Axl accidentally burns down the apartment."
"Who's Axl?"
Natalie hesitates before answering.
"My dumbass roommate."