BLOODS ( THE SILVER CABARET #1)

AN UNLIKELY SAVIOR

"What have you being doing Kisima? I thought I will have to end him." Tanus weary face emerges in the dark of the room. Did something happen? He continues walking to where I stand back against the door, a few inches from me, he halts nose wrinkling in disgust, nausea wells in him and he backs away.

" I know, not the best perfume in the world! But it will have to do when chased by damn Akuras in the forests."

" No!" Tanus tan face goes grey, his nearly rusty hair, darkens for a moment, his eyes flared red, then dimmed back to their familiar grey ones. He scrubs the back of a hand on his face, and sighs.

"Come on its ok, we need to get this in Appa first I will fill you in on the Akuras, I need to get this stench off me." I hand the witch-hatch to him and hurries to the bathroom. I strip off the cloak, my clothes soon follows, I stared at myself in the mirror, the Shraks face fills my vision for a moment, and I still dont know why it did that. Saved me? I search for many answers in my head, but find no answer why it will do such a thing unlike Shrak behaviour.

I stared at the meter showing our quota of water for today, theres enough for a little shower, and some to drink until tomorrow. I sigh and step into the shower, the water was cold and unwelcoming. But thats what I needed to wake me up and realise what just happened. I have forfeited my life when I defied Appa, now I just have to wait and see when they find me or go on the run. Going rogue isnt as easy as many make it seem like. Not when you have so many things out there beyond the protection of the Akuras. I closed of the shower and tried to wipe off the fishy-metallic scent clinging to my pores. I dressed in a sweater and shorts and went out to check on Appa.

Tanus head snapped in my direction his runes swirling to life, his eyes not so weary like before. Hope shone in them, hope that lifted the guilt weighing down my shoulders. How's he?

"He is responding to the witch-hatch. Any idea which cabaret they're from?"

" One of them is from the Silver cabaret."

The blood drains from Tanus face, his eyes snapped to mine. He shakes his head, hands gripping my shoulder. " How did you survive."

" A Shrak saved me."

"What?" Tanu shakes his head in disbelief.

I know what he thinks, none of it makes sense, Shraks are wont to wreak havoc and add to their numbers than save a human. Theres no humanity in them, I thought about their leader, and how fast and strong he was. I open my mouth to tell Tanu about him, but stopped myself, perhaps its just a fluke, an anomaly, shraks arent known for their intelligence, once in a while you get one thats different but you find out in the end its nothing, an image of the intelligence that shone in its eyes flashes in my mind I shook my head and dispel the image out of my head, I have more pressing matters to deal with.

Appa coughs, and opens his eyes. They soften on us, and then hardened on me. I cringed.

Kisisma, what did you do this time?

Appa.I

She had a run in with Akuras, and one of them is from the silver cabaret.

Appa raises himself on elbows, trapping me in the disapproval of his gaze, I bit my lip and stared at my feet. One of his hands shook, he quickly stuffs it in his pocket. His anguished eyes tell me how scared of the news he is, I stride to where he stood, and snatch his hand in mine. I will turn myself in, I will own up to my doing. I threaten one of them, it was the only way to get the witch-hatch here in time.

No! Youll do no such thing. Pack some food, tomorrow early light I will get you of here to your aunt Edna, I shouldve done this a long time ago, Fares-way town isnt as tightly controlled as orbswell.

But Appa, I dont ..

Nor do I Sima, but The silver cabaret is not to be trifled with.

I swallow the somber knot thats choking my throat, and nod to Apppa. Slowly he turns his back to me, trying to hide the trembling of his lower lip, but I know him too well. I lay a hand on his shoulder, and he glances back.

Cant we all go to aunt Edna? Tanu asks hope shining in his eyes.

No, that will bring them on us faster than hounds, only Sima must go, I will take her to the edge, she must make it past the Nog-zone alone, I cant go for too long.

Tanu nods helplessly, I could see the doubt and fear in his eyes, that I wont survive the Nogs, considering I have never gone past my foraging place, this would be a challenge for me. I will see how I fare evading death at every corner, atleast now I have the chance to find if the place was the real deal or not.

Already loneliness has started creeping into my veins, eating at my confidence, and filling it with anxiety and uncertainty. I wish I had Eliad with me here, hed insist that hes coming with me no matter what. A sad smile curves my mouth. I wonder how he's doing right now, unease fills me, and I wiped the sad look off my face, and hug Appa, and Tanu, wishing them goodnight. I jump in to my tiny bed, and pulled the covers over me, thinking of what I have to do.