Shadow Thief

Chapter 9 - Ali's perspective

Overcome with emotion, I lay on my bed, staring blindly into nothing. Kail. I couldn't stop thinking about what he told me. It was gut-wrenching, shattering my heart into a million pieces, and I couldn't even hide it.

The broken look in his eyes.

My day had been going well. Meeting Wren and Elra had been a highlight, but when Kail told me about what happened the day was overshadowed by that pain that no human or borcan should ever endure.

He told me he had been young at the time, around 10 years old, still a child. His father - Evren - had been a warrior. While away in war he fought many times and in one particular battle he had slaughtered this orcan, as it turns out that orcan's husband had been right there witnessing the life leave his loved one's eyes. Driven by an unquenchable thirst for revenge he had tracked Evren down with the intention to kill him.

Apparently it hadn't been his intention to harm Kail, but Kail got in the way and a blow meant for his father hit him.

His young body had been young; the hit had been powerful and during the surgery to stop the bleeding the inexperienced doctors had messed up damaging his vocal chords. But his story didn't end there. Even after unintentionally scarring a mere ten-year-old for life, the attacker's rage wasn't sated. Consumed by his desire for revenge, he struck Evren dead, forcing Kail to watch his father die the same way the Orcan lost his husband.

Losing his father and voice to the bloodshed, Kail vowed never to fight. He dedicated his time to studying, cast aside as weak, and bullied during his teenage years. Yet he never gave up or hit back, never once breaking his promise, even when pummelled into the ground.

It had been a surprise when he laid his entire life story at my feet, opening himself up for whatever I might say. When I questioned him, his only response was, "You aren't a bad person. You just act it, but you should know that you aren't the only one who has suffered."

A solitary tear trailed down my cheek and a sob caught in my throat. I wanted to go home. Not Paris home, but home in England. Back to my family. Engulfed in my thoughts I drifted into the realms of sleep.

–

Ayanna came to greet us barely allowing us to eat our breakfast before pulling us along, a never ending stream of words blabbering out of her mouth about how amazing it was that she could show us around.

Following the obvious pattern of the borcan style, pastel purple domes filled a clearing but a lot of the area was based more with an outside approach. Empty, just like at the Balten, you could see the space that was meant for workers.

'Well we have two options, I can get someone to lecture you on the way everything is built or you can come with me and help repair one of our domes. The choice is yours.' she offered.

I shared a look with Andre and I think we both agreed - neither of us really in a mood for a lecture.

"We will help you repair it." He replied to us.

'Great. That is the better option.' A contagious smile appeared on her face, 'I didn't think you guys would be lame enough to want a lecture.'

Again she sped off, her blue short wavy hair bouncing behind her.

Shocked by what I saw would be an understatement, 'What the hell happened here?' I gasped.

The beautiful pastel purple construction was in ruins, the only thing remaining was a heap of glass and the broken bones of the building.

'An accident.' she replied vaguely.

"What accident can cause this?" Andre pressured. She ignored him, instead picking up a tool unlike anything on Earth and throwing it at me. Luckily, I managed to catch it, unlike Andre, who fumbled with the tool she threw at him.