Bearer of the Stars

Chapter 04: Secrets

Night sat silently in front of Zeark, carefully chewing the sandwich he had laid in front of her. He was blissfully ignorant of the things she had just learned, and was in fact humming a merry tune as he put away his own dishes.

"Hey Zeark?" Night asked quietly. As she spoke, she couldn't even look at him, she simply stared out the window, focusing on the rain patter. "I have a question."

"About?" He asked half mindedly. Night's courage began to dip, and she wondered if she should even ask.

"What do you know of the history of Ethos?" She finally asked timidly, and since she was looking away she did not see her brother stiffen, or the dark look that crossed over his face.

"Like, I heard that there was a big conspiracy..." Night tried quietly, trying not to seem like she was prodding. But she really wanted to know if the book was correct, even vaguely. It had opened so many questions. "Is it true that Druide murdered a king to get where he is?"

Night jumped as a dish clattered to the ground, breaking apart on the tile floor. Zeark swore softly under his breath, which he never did. Her brother was literally the ideal child, and hardly ever swore. It felt odd hearing it come out of his mouth.

"Night..." He said, his tone startlingly strict and cold. She looked at him in surprise and saw a glare, but it wasn't aimed at her. "You shouldn't ask questions like that. They will get you in trouble."

"But-" She started, but she was immediately cut off by Zeark's growl.

"No Night. Don't ask. Don't wonder. It will get you in trouble. If they throw pokemon away for simply failing an idiotic test, then they will have a noose around your neck before you can blink if you go around asking questions like that." He said, quickly beginning to pick up the shattered pieces of plate that were all over the floor.

"I-I'm sorry." Night's voice caught in her throat. Her brother had never been so hard on her before and it scared her. She had never seen him like that before. He looked over and his gaze fell upon her for a moment and guilt flashed across his face.

"Night I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap." He abandoned his task of cleaning up the plate and came to her side, nosing at her. "But those kinds of things really will get you in trouble. I would know, I'm the person who puts those people away." Night stared at him in shock, and more guilt clouded his eyes.

"I don't want to, of course, but you know... I really don't have a choice. It's part of the job, and, well, leaving the force before you time is up is considered a heavy offense. B-But anyway, I know what happens to the people who talk like that and it isn't pretty. Just promise me that you won't keep asking question like that anymore, please?" He nosed at her again, his sharp blue eyes pleading.. Begging her to promise.

She bowed her head to her brother. "I swear I won't." She agreed, but he looked at her strictly again. There was such a seriousness with him now.

"You swear you won't what?" He was very somber about this all. He was actually making her truly promise that she would never. She sighed quietly; it must of meant a lot to him.

She put a paw over her heart. "I promise on the behalf of being a Kimberwick and the fact that I'm your sister that I will never, from this day forward, talk about another conspiracy theory of, or about, the empire of Ethos." She muttered in a tone that almost sounded like a solider. She almost didn't recognize herself.

"Satisfied?" She asked, after she was finished.

"Yes. Now... I actually have to go do stuff for Dad. He wanted me to come in and train some trainees. I hope you don't mind being home alone?" Night grinned, her coat prickling with mischief. If no one would tell her about these secrets, then she would figure them out herself. She hadn't promised not to look for them; just not to ask. And there was a book full of secrets upstairs.

"I don't mind at all, brother." She smiled and he gave her an apologetic frown.

"Don't get into too much trouble." He nosed her a good bye against the cheek and hurried off, leaving the shattered pieces of plate behind.

Of course the numb nut forgot to clean up his plate. Night rolled her eyes and hopped off her stool, grabbing a small dustpan from the cabinet.

She watched him head down the path from the window, which was against the wall of the kitchen. He walked hurriedly down the path and turned left, which was odd, because the military base was to the right. Squinting, she watched him, and even though her muscles twitched and told her to follow, she stayed still.

She trusted her brother.