War of Praisers

Chapter 18

As the sun began to set, and as the mosquitos and the crickets came out to play, Ora kept us active even after we came back from the beach. She leads us to the back of her house and forced the guys to build a fire, and us to get out the marshmallows and drinks.

I sit in the kitchen watching everyone getting everything ready for the bonfire until it is just Ora and I left in the kitchen. I can clearly see the illness taking a toll on her. Her strides have less spring and her face tired. But not once does the sparkle leave her eyes.

"Why are we doing this?"

"Because it's fun."

"That isn't what I mean." "I can see there is a reason behind this. I just want to know why."

Ora doesn't look at me and her head is still lowered to her chest. "You and the guys are going to the Clear Court tomorrow, you are heading directly into danger."

"I don't follow."

"Every time my father left, I would make sure that I did something to remember with him." Her eyes burn with tears. "Because when he left, he would head into danger. I know he isn't the most important person out there, but enough to have enemies. And that's enough to get him murdered. The hardest part about that though is that it will most likely be a Praiser who will kill him, my kind. Our kind." Her voice drops to a whisper.

A tear escapes from her eye, dropping into the counter. I watch her while she tries to keep the tears in and holding onto the sobs. I don't think it's the fact that he has enemies what makes her cry, makes her worried and upset but not cry. It's the fact that her father isn't here and no one has any idea where he is.

I have no idea how I can comfort her and hope that just by listening to her that it might help.

"I guess the reason I am doing this is because you are heading out into the mid of the war and none of us know if you will come back." She has more power in her voice now but it's still hurt. "I want to make some good memories with you." She finally smiles again and she wipes her tears from her cheeks.

"So does Mike." I add in hope, because I don't know what to say, it might make her feel a little better.

Her smile widens and I am proud that I am the cause of her happy nature returning, even if it's just for that moment.

"I'll see you at the fire." Taking the marshmallows from the counter she leaves me alone. I can hear the far off chatter and laughter of our friends clearly having a good time. I can't seem to manage a smile. What she said made me think about a lot of things. Ora may have had luxurious and loving life, but her life was also filled with constant fear and rejection. Fear of her father leaving and never coming back and leaving her alone, and the rejection of living normally because she was a Praiser. Of course not everyone knows she exists and that she is a Praiser, but knowing deep down that you are not human and will never be accepted into the society is hard.

She clearly knew the danger of her father going, and because a war is brewing and Yakov is a obvious target, it is worse for us. It is far worse for Yakov, especially when he doesn't want to hide and protect himself.

A squeal of laughter suddenly jerks me out of my thoughts, I sigh deeply and decide to join the others. I leave the air conditioned house and step out into the warm air of the night, the moonlight helps he find my way to the back safely. Not that I desperately needed it, I have better vision than the humans and the light of the bonfire would have been enough. I stand in shadows of the night watching them before I decide to actually join them. Everyone was huddled close to the fire, many roasting marshmallows over the fire. I almost snort aloud when I watch Mike burn his until its black and Ewan even looses his in the flames.