Mechanoids Of The Realm

4

Rovena's Pov

The door to my room slid shut behind me, a small sigh leaving my lips. How I managed to dodge that bullet, I do not know. I chewed on my cheek and glared at no one in particular.

"I know you're here, show yourself, little twerp," I commanded in a hushed tone. I was met with an unyielding silence which only seemed to fuel my rage.

I heard a suppressed grunt, followed by a soft rustling sound as something lightly brushed against the floor. A nearby lamp teetered, its base clinking as if nudged by an unseen hand, before it tipped and crashed to the ground with a dull thud. The room fell silent again.

I placed my hands on my waist, tapping my legs on the cold magnetic flooring.

"I saw that you know." I seethed.

Then, the air seemed to ripple, like a distortion in the very fabric of the space. A subtle figure began to emerge, barely perceptible at first, as if the shadows themselves were taking shape. Slowly, the outline of a person solidified, his form materializing from the nothingness, until he stood before me, quiet, with a goofy smile.

"Hi." He grinned. I did a facepalm, letting my hand rest on my face for a minute more, watching him from the space of my fingers.

"What the hell kid? You want to die or something?" He shook his head with an infuriating pout.

I sighed tiredly. "Why did you follow me home? Do you know what you are? You'd get killed if anyone saw you." I told him bluntly. His green eye looked scared for a second.

I hadn't realized it, even when I saw his fangs. But I had my suspicions confirmed when he appeared a few minutes ago, the short ridged horns. He was a phantomlith, one of the most dangerous and hated creatures in magic lands.

They're said to be very tricky and unmeasurably stealthy, and they would go to extra lengths to get what they want from you. It would take an extra amount of effort to get them to reveal themself to you. This little one had done that accidentally.

But what does he want from me ?

People in Arcane might not even spare him a second glance, I wouldn't have known what he was, if I wasn't living with two magical-obsessed beings. I had way too much Information than I would ever need on forbidden creatures like this one. The devil spirits, as Jirl called them.

"But I can't go anywhere else."

"What do you mean you can't go anywhere else? What about your mom ?" He shook his head.

"Don't have one." I frowned.

"Dad?" He shook his head again.

"Sister? Siblings?" He repeated the same motion, his green eye glistening, a disturbing smile tugging at his small lips.

"Nope." He prompted. I sucked in a shaky breath, chewing on my lips at the only resort in my mind.

"Goldfish?" He shook his head and started toward the window. He fell on the mattress, I watched as the softness pulled him in.

I walked over slowly, a dull memory of my dad, convincing me that it's okay to own a wooden bed and that humanity would go extinct sooner if we zeroed out every single thing that isn't tech. Even though he loved technology a bit too much for a powerful magic wielder. 

I glared at the little guy, he wouldn't listen to me. Phantomliths are the most stubborn creatures in existence so I have heard, and I'm slowly confirming. You'd have to do something monumental for them to listen to you.

"What do you want twerp?" He grinned showing off his uneven fangs that hung on each side of his mouth.

"My name is Paneva, and I just want..."

"And I was about to applaud you for sneaking a guy in." Levi's voice erected the hair on my neck and it took everything in me not to jolt at her sudden appearance.

I gritted my teeth as her eyes left mine and rested on Paneva. She licked her teeth, disgust creeping up her pale face.

"You're an even bigger creep than I imagined sis. Are you pedo by chance ?" She let out a scruffy, breathy laugh as she crossed her hand against her chest.

"Get out of my room, right now." Levi was as irritable as this little boy, only difference was that I could stand him, whereas her...

One look at the unopened door and I could tell she had gotten in through magic.

"Is this your sister? She's so pretty, but I like you better." I eyed Paneva, and thankfully he pressed his lips together, making a zip-up gesture with his hands.

"Tsk, what is this Rovena? Who's that little boy? Can you please be less creepy ?"

"What? Why are you so concerned?" I answered her question with one of my own. She let out another mocking laugh, her brown eyes twinkling with mischief.

"I would rather die than care what happens to your worthless self, I just needed to feed my curiosity, and I was right. Why is that boy in this house? Tell me or I'll be letting Reign in on your little secret."

"Get out of my room, right now Levi."

"Or what? We both know that with a mere flick of my finger, I'd do fatal damage to your puny skull. You want a crazed battle with me? Wanna die by my hand Rovena? "

My patience was running low and I could feel my anger bubble up. I've always been temperamental, and back when my dad was alive, he got me hooked with a therapist, because whenever I lost it, well...

Levi barely had time to blink before I was in front of her, my dagger pressed against her throat. Her breath hitched, the shock evident in her widened eyes. She tried to look unphased, but the slight twitch of her eyelid betrayed her calm facade.

I kept my hand steady, just enough pressure to draw a thin line of blood. She froze, her gaze flicking from the blade to my face, realizing too late that I wasn't the helpless, defenseless person she might've thought.

Her magic was powerful, no doubt, but that didn't matter now. In this moment, I had the upper hand.

"Can't wait, Levi." I hissed bitterly.