Scars of Blades

6

The next morning I take the longer path back to the Swarm for no particular reason.

The street to get back to the Swarm is crowded with people I don't recognize briskly walking in all directions. To my fascination every once in a while a person walking down the street will discreetly slip into the yard of the Swarm house.

Feeling rather uneasy I slip unnoticed through the front yard to the back of the house where to my shock the strangers I just barely saw come back here are being let quietly into the basement, through the cellar door.

Kent is the man letting all of the people in, he sees me and offers up a smile as he lets me in behind the strangers.

The basement is hot. Full of the extra body's of people I don't know.

Frowning I push my way through the crowd until I finally find a person I recognize.

Unfortunately it's Leela.

"What's going on?"

Leela's head snaps up at my words, and seeing my face her whole demeanor darkens,"there the people from Conrad's other gangs, duh. They're going to help us with the attack, remember?"

My face darkens too,"if I had remembered I wouldn't have asked you...duh."

Her eyes flick up and down the length of my body,"obviously."

She shoots me a tight lipped smile,"now get out of my way."

She pushes past me and I glower.

All day people arrive.

All day the basement gets hotter and smellier and louder.

At noon I try to go into my room only to find strangers sitting on my dresser looking through my clothes and sitting on my bed.

They're all my age but dressed in the styles of the small towns up north.

One of the boys glances up at me, "do ya want somth'in?" He has a northern drawl.

"Why are you in my room?" My voice comes out with an edge.

He shrugs, "there wasn't much space to be out there. I reckon we have as much right to this room as ya."

I bite down hard on my lip forcing a smile,"well no actually. Because this is my room. So get out. Please."

He looks up at me."and what makes you so special that you feel you have the right to this room?"

"Because it's mine you-"

"Is there a problem dear?"

Everyone in the room goes quiet and I watch the young man's eyes whip to the man standing behind me. I don't even need to turn around to tell it's Conrad.

Slowly I turn around shaking my head,"no sir."

"Really, your voice did sound rather...heated."

"I was just asking this man to get out of my room."

Conrad's eyes flash and the young man literally cowers,"get out now. All of you." His voice contains so much steel that the boy doesn't bother to remain any longer, not waiting for any of his friends.

Soon the room is empty.

I should be grateful for the quiet but with Conrad's predatory eyes stalking me it's hard to relax.

"Would you like anything?" I ask my voice barely a whisper.

"Yes, in fact." He smiles all the edges,"I want you to come with me to kill the King when the time comes."

My heart sinks wondering how this will affect what me and Jax plan to do. But there is no use in fighting.

"Alright."

"And?"

It takes me a moment to figure out what he's asking.

Finally it hits me,"thank you for this honor."

"Anytime."

The rest of the day is followed with more self righteous people, being shoved, and pissed off.

When I finally think that my breaking point has come, Quincy finds me.

She takes one good look at me and raises her eyebrow," darlin, for the safety of everyone here I think you might want to call it a night."

I roll back my shoulders,"no, I can stay. I just don't understand why everyone from all of the other gangs are so conceited and-"

Quincy raises a hand to shut me up,"I suppose Jax is still sick?"

My eyes drop to the ground,"umm yeah."

I know she doesn't believe me but she doesn't push it either,"alright then, why don't you go check on him for the night to make sure he's doing alright, huh?"

I'm stuck with the urge to give her a hug but I ignore it,"okay. I'll see you tomorrow."

With a hand on her hip she gives me a nod,"don't stay up too late, and I'll try an get those no good slugs out of your bedroom again."

"Thanks."

"Love ya sweetie."

All I can give her in return is a smile.

Since it was burning hot in the basement I'm surprised to find the sky low and overcast when I get outside.

By the time the tower is within my vision it's raining so hard I can barely see anything.

I race up to the top room expecting a warm room only to remember all the painless floor to ceiling windows.

Both Jax and Tay are racing about the room picking up the blankets and pillows we've been sleeping on.

"Ishy help!" Tay screams at the top of his lungs in real despair as he tries to pile all of the small pillows in his tiny arms.

Jax even in the midst of a storm smiles at the little boy as though the world isn't a rushed thing, he glances to see me in the doorway as he takes one of the pillows from Tay, he gifts me with a smile too.

It's funny how I think of smiles as gifts, only given when truly deserved. While Jax on the other hand seems to give out smiles as if they don't change the directory of the sun. As if one smile from him doesn't fill everybody who sees it with light, as if it cost him nothing. But I suppose a smile coasting you nothing is normal... I wonder if my smile makes anyone else be filled with light?