A dark-haired girl was eying Benjamin curiously as the three of them walked down the main path of Ferince, her icy blue eyes scanning his form. Ellie was seeing things, because she thought the girl’s eyes were scarlet for a second.
The girl smiled, and suddenly had her hand wrapped around Benjamin’s forearm. “Change for me.” She said to him softly. It was just loud enough for Ellie and James to hear, but not others nearby.
Benjamin’s head jerked to face her, panic etched on his face. “W-what? I-I don’t know what you’re talking about…”
She just gave him a faint smile. “Alright.” She let go of his arm and started to walk, before glancing back. “I think I’ll call you “Gill”. See you around.”
***
Not a word had been spoken until they reached Mr. Theodore’s bakery, and Benjamin still looked shaken. Ellie felt the way that he looked, but she was determined not to let it show.
The door opened when they had almost reached it, and a middle-aged man looked happy (if somewhat confused). “I only saw you a few hours ago, boy.” He said to James, and gave him a short hug. He let go and smiled at Ellie when he saw her, picked up her hand, and kissed the back of it. “You must be Elise.”
She smiled back. “You can just call me Ellie, sir.”
He laughed at that. “Only if you call me Ted. None of that “sir” business.”
Ellie seemed confused at that. “But James calls you Mr. Theodore.”
“James is a very polite boy who does not like calling adults by informal names.” He told her. “But I much prefer to just be called Ted.”
Ellie nodded. “Alright, Ted.” She agreed.
Ted smiled at the three of them again, but it quickly faded. “Benjamin, is there something wrong?”
Benjamin looked like he had just come out of a trance when he heard his name, and looked up. “W-what?”
“You look like you just heard a banshee, boy.” Ted told him. “Something the matter?”
He quickly shook his head. “I-I’m fine, sir…”
“Benji is like me, Mister Theodore.” James suddenly spoke up, which caused Benjamin’s face to pale even further.
Ted looked around for a moment, before quickly leading the three inside. “I think soft tones may be a good idea right now.”
***
Ted led them upstairs to his living quarters, above the bakery. “James, do you know what you are?” He asked once the door was closed.
He said nothing for a few moments, before looking down at his feet and shaking his head a little. “No… But I know I am special. Mom said I was.”
Ted led him over to the bed and sat him down. “She was right. You are special. That’s why I always told you that you couldn’t live with me. Normal folks don’t like people who are special, James. They’re afraid of people who are different. Benjamin knows that, and I’m sure Ellie does as well.”
“I’m not special.” Ellie spoke up. “I’m just human.”
Ted smiled a bit and looked back at James. “Ellie and I are of a rare breed.” He said. “We don’t fear folks because of what they are. If Ellie is anything like me, she only fears folks who would bring harm to those that she loves.”
“I… I do not think I want to be special anymore.” James said softly.
“Don’t say that.” Ted put a hand on James’ shoulder and gave him a warm smile. “You are special for a reason. You may not know what that reason is yet, but there is one, I promise.”
