A Walk to Greater Worlds: Aeriel Trilogy #3

Chapter 80

It was two-thirty in the morning, and Ruban stood on the roof of his apartment building. The cool night air brushed his face as he braced himself against the parapet, elbows resting atop the glazed brick coping.

The city sprawled beneath him, a tapestry of twinkling lights stretching out as far as the eye could see. A cigarette dangled between his lips, tendrils of smoke curling upward into the darkness.

He clutched the lighter in one hand, the cold metal biting into the clammy skin of his palm. In his other hand he held an Aeriel feather. One of Ashwin's. One among the many he'd nonchalantly bestowed upon Hiya, over the years.

Soft and silvery, the feather glimmered faintly in the moonlight. Almost impossibly fine to the touch.

With a sigh, he brought the lighter closer to the feather. His hands not entirely steady, he applied pressure on the ignition lever to spark the flame.

He'd tried everything he could think of, in the last twelve hours. But had not been able to find Ashwin. So despite his misgivings, here he was, resorting to the only method he was sure would yield results.

A sharp click as the flint struck steel, igniting the released butane with a tiny pop. A small, bright flame burst forth and danced at the lighter's tip.

Wings rustling in the cold night air, Ashwin materialized behind him. Half a second before the tiny flame kissed the feather.

His shoulders stiffening, Ruban released the lever. Letting the flame sputter and die. "Did you kill her?" he rasped, voice tight. Not daring to turn around. Not yet.

"I thought about it." Ashwin answered after a beat. "In excruciating detail." He drifted closer, finally joining Ruban at the parapet. "But no, she's still alive."

Ruban closed his eyes – whether in relief or disappointment, he didn't know.

Dhriti Pathak was still alive. He supposed he should be glad of it. But try as he might, he couldn't muster up the emotion. Only a slow unwinding of built-up tension, leaving him spent and strangely hollow. He pocketed the feather, thankfully unscathed. At least Hiya would be happy.

"Does-does Safaa know?" He took a shaky drag of his cigarette, then stubbed it out on the parapet.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Ashwin give a slight shake of his head. "Not yet. I've spoken to Shehzaa. They'll try to keep it off her radar for as long as possible. Which probably won't be very long at all, knowing my sister." After a beat, he turned to Ruban. "Does Hiya know?"

It was Ruban's turn to shake his head. "Simani had Vik collect her from school, as soon as we saw the video. Sri too. They've both been at the Vaz residence all day." He exhaled tiredly. "They're sharp kids, both of them. I daresay they've realized something's going on. But they don't know what it is; haven't watched the video. Not yet."

"They'll have to go back to school, eventually." His face impassive, Ashwin surveyed the moonlit city below. "There won't be any hiding it, then."

A brief silence ensued.

"What do you think will happen..." Ruban spoke at last, stealing a glance at the Aeriel. "When they do find out? What is it you're worried about?"

Ashwin's lips twisted into a sardonic little smile. He said nothing.

Ruban didn't press him for an answer. His voice soft and eyes fixed on the nocturnal cityscape below, he continued. "She adores you, you know. Hiya, I mean. Spends hours in the balcony, any time you haven't visited for more than a couple of days.

"Those feathers you keep giving her, she treasures each one more than life itself. And not because of their skyrocketing market price." His lips quirked. "Surely, you know all this. I practically had to fight her for the feather I was going to use tonight, to get your attention." His fingers grazed the velvety feather nestled in his pocket. "There's almost nothing you could do to make her stop looking at you like you hung the moon. And at least sixty percent of the stars. Believe me, I've been trying. For nearly three years, now. It doesn't work."