The Evanescent

Chapter Five

Rhi reappeared a few feet from Torn in the main room of the HQ. He turned, looking at her with an indifferent expression. She walked over and pat him on the head, "Hi Torn, gotta go."

She hurried off to her room, grinning from ear to ear. She made it to her room and opened the door, catching sight of Deitonin sprawled out on the bed with a foot hanging off the bed with the covers tossed on the ground.

The Daemon's eyes fluttered open, looking over at her with hazy eyes, "Rhi...? Is that you...?"

Rhi moved forward and placed a hand on his forehead, feeling a harsh warm against her hand. He was running a serious fever, "Dei...why didn't you tell me you were sick?"

He looked away, closing his eyes, "I don't want you...to worry..."

"But Dei..."

Deitonin sighed, "I'll be fine soon...Just keep Torn...away..."

"You sure?"

He extended a hand to her, setting two large pearls in her hand, "Go now...let me rest..."

Rhi leaned over and gently embraced him, "Good night..." she pulled away, seeing that he was already asleep. She slowly left the room, silently shutting the door behind her and going out into the main room.

Torn was still in the main room when she came back into the main room, "Bye Torn."

Jak was coming out of the elevator as she walked toward it, Rhi waved before she clapped her hands together, disappearing before him...

<(>W<)>

Rhi reappeared in Haven Forest, the wind whipped past her as she dropped into the stream like a sack of potatoes. She swam to the surface, spitting water as she waved to Mae, who was sitting nearby.

"Hi there!"

Her friend lowered her hood and smile.

Rhi climbed out of the stream and reached into her pocket, removing the large, marble sized black pearls and handed her one, "Here. Dei gave these to us."

Mae looked at it in awe, "It's beautiful..."

"I know..."

She watched her looking at her warped reflection in the pearl. Mae gently set the pearl down while Rhi put hers in a safe place in her satchel, "How are you doing?"

Mae started rummaging through her satchel, "Good. How's Dei?"

Rhi twiddled her fingers, "He's got a high fever, but it isn't fatal."

Mae paused, "Oh...okay..."

She looked down at her hands, frowning, "Yeah..."

Mae then picked up the pearl and set it gently in a burlap pouch.

"You know, I don't think Dei likes Torn very much anymore..."

Mae shook her head in response, "I don't think so, either."

"Yeah...he told me to keep him away..." Rhi said crossing her arms.

"Torn doesn't seem like a likable person..."

"Yeah..." Rhi sighed, "So, what'd you want to tell me earlier.

Mae looked up from the pouch as she shut it, "About what?"

"You just said you would tell me later, when we were at the bar."

Mae paused, seeming to be thinking about something.

Rhi looked over to see a Metalhead Scout drinking from the stream on the other side, his mouth opening and shutting as a rough red tongue lapped up the clear water, "Wow..."