the game

kassie

in my pocket i have two whistles. one is to deploy the griffy. the other is for the menta. these two groups have agreed to help me on the condition that when i become the head of council i make the council accept their chiefs as valid members of council as well. it would be a hard thing to persuade my mother to do but it will be the first time in a long time i will be stating my own opinion. the thought is jarring. i gulp.

i only have to make good on my claim once i become head of council after all. There's this gnawing at the pit of my stomach that this thought brings. There's a reason I never ask my mother for anything, there's a reason I don't keep her informed. Her responses break my heart every time. It's better not knowing someone would say no than ask them to clarify why.

School is a nightmare. Those who turned against Tigris are known as the scum that threw the win streak off kilter. Although they don't know what exactly happened Terrence filled me in. He is forming a list of members that will be on our side. I just have to keep my head down for now and keep trying to gain followers.

And that is currently what I am working on when I bump into Terrence hard. He stabilizes me with his large warm hands.

"I need to talk to you," he states urgently. A flush comes over me. There's still the heat we used to have, only I choose my career.

"Kassie," he corners me and a shiver runs down my spine, this is different.

"Tigris's father is on the council currently, correct?" There's a menacing glint inside his eyes.

"No it's her mother," I correct him, trying to show him a smile to counteract my actually feelings.

"I'm sure he does something useful in the capital," this conversation is somehow making me uncomfortable.

"And you're sure?" He continues.

"What's wrong?" I can't take it anymore, clearly something is not right.

"Her crystal is almost as big as Katie's for one thing. It is by no means the same but it quickly overpowers most of the members of our team," he sounds completely deranged.

"What is your point?" I'm feeling almost angry.

"I think her family has to do with Ken's parents' deaths," he whispers this lower than anything yet. "Think about it, a void had to transfer their power in order for the machine to work, she has to be involved!

"And if she is?"

"Then she knows who killed my dad," he snarls. Another quiver passes down my spine.

"How do you figure that?"

"Whoever is trying to take over the world using that wretched machine is on the opposite side of my dad. Which means I need you to do something for me, I need you to find out everything you can about Tigris' family. I will make you head of council, but this is the cost," It's the first time I've ever heard this bartering tone in Terrence's voice.

"Find them," And then just as abruptly as he began the conversation, he walks away. How could I have ever thought he meant to rekindle what we used to have? And why do I still care?