In All the Other Worlds

An Outing with a Superhero.

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"Annora, I swear if you hit me with a damn sword one more time, I will light you on fire. And you know I mean it." 

Cassian's voice and a flame hush the entire training mat. The little kids had just left to help the Resha's with air prep, and we older ones were left to our own devices—an event that rarely had good consequences. 

"My money's on Cass!" Santi's icy voice rang out from the top of the pilings. As always, he was one to instigate feuds on the farm. I think it's because he has been trying to get in Mr. Andali's good graces for battle prep. He's aggravating, brilliant, and as icy inside as he sounds. 

"Santi, could you please not encourage arson? I am not in the mood to clean up after grown-ups. Plus, Anni still owes me twenty bucks from our last outing. I need her alive and not a ball of ashes for that." 

I don't say that I'd be sad if my 'sister' were to be incinerated. I leave those feelings to myself. She isn't my sister, so what does it matter anyway? Ezra and Santi always remind us that they are, in fact, the only blood ones.

"Well, sweet Blair," His sword and himself slam down next to me in a cold frenzy, and I am suddenly reminded that he can move at the speed of a flash, "How about we even the score and take another little outing tonight? Adults have a ship prep meeting, and I can get the littles to cover for us."

The Fulhom boys love nothing more than entering the real world. They like the bars, the women, the excitement, the fear, and, most importantly, the chaos. I think they fail to realize that if anyone knew who we were or what we were, we would be dead or lab rats in the blink of an eye. And I'd blame both of them. 

"You know I'm in, and Blair, I'll buy you some drinks and pay you back. Promise. Let's have some fun. We've been worked to the ground lately with all the prep an--" 

"You mean to prep for us to go home, which is what we've wanted since we were sent here? To see our families?" 

What I really wanted to say was that I didn't want to be reminded of how different we were. How abnormal. How unwanted. It's what I always want to say...what I never do. The bars make me uneasy until I've had shots of tequila poured down my throat and music louder than my thoughts rings in my ears. 

The burn of the liquor resembles the burn of the fire within me that I desperately try to tame. 

"Lighten up. It's been fine every other time, and it will be again this time. Plus, it's not like you couldn't protect us, princess. You pack a mean punch when you want to." The wink Santi sends my way would make girls faint. It has made them. But they haven't had to spend the last twenty-something years of their lives with him, Ezra, and their habits. 

"Whatever. I'm going to go shower before dinner. Treehouse at nine, I guess?" 

The shower is the only thing on my mind as I take the trail back to the main house. Giada and Luca chase each other around the animals; they are so innocent, I envy what they don't remember. They were so young when our parents sent us away, and when the Adults found us, they began to call them their parents and got mad when we didn't.