ALTERNATIVE

51.Confidence

"She is Char." Dulcet pointed at her. "What is your name?"

"Zephyr Fervent." He shook hand with Char's friends as they introduced themselves. Finally he shook her hand too. Sparks flew when their skin met. Char's knees suddenly became wobbly causing her to fall down, almost.

"Char can stay here. I am the only one who is staying permanently here. There is room for one more person. I won't mind." The smirk on his face was giving of lethal look.

"NO!" Char cried out. Her friends gave her a weird look that said 'what now!'

"I can not stay with a complete stranger. We cannot trust him. What if he is an informer of the Colony? We cannot afford him especially when our lives are potentially in danger." Char shouted. Char did not know why the strange guy intimidated her. His eyes, nose, face and all around appearance petrified her.

"That's right we can not trust Char with Zephyr." Force stressed.

"We have on other option. Zephyr is Salient's son. We can trust him." Gray pointed out.

"But we can not believe what he say. What if he is an informer?" Force chided.

"There was a lady here earlier. Where is she?" Dulcet hummed.

"Who? Tinder? She is not living here. She lives in the Covert. This is the underground headquarters of LeOfEa not a dormitory. Let's get something clear. I am the only son of Salient, believe it or not. Covert does not have space to put up more people, that is why I am living here. Char can stay here only if she like. She has nowhere else to go. This is the safest place the Colony after Covert. No one other than those whom we allow can get access to this place. You people cannot stay any longer here. The Castle has employed more personals to search for Char. They do know that you are her friends so if you are not found in your own place I am sure they will come for you. It is better for you to go. I will cause no harm to Char, I promise. I am not a spy or agent. I am as illegal as Char. I escaped the personals before they could catch me. Ever since then I am living here. I received a death sentence few days ago. The final list of unlawful people in Styx has being prepared and I am on the top ten. Seeing you here, angered me initially because I thought you are personals." Zephyr explained matter of factly. 

The friends exchanged looks. They discussed in private about the present commotion and despite Char's worry they decided to allow her to stay with him on one condition.