In Between

Chapter Seventeen: Draven's Plan

Kieran had never enjoyed being the center of attention because he'd known that he was different since his very first day of school. He could only remember being described with regards to his abnormal hair, skin, or eyes. He had been called everything from the "strange colored boy" to "the general's freak son." And now I'll be the know-it-all, or the shaman's psychic kid, Kieran thought. He supposed that people would be questioning him everywhere he went once word got out about this new abnormality.

No, these are my friends, he reminded himself. They wouldn't tell anyone. This thought cheered him up a bit, and besides, who would believe them without proof? Nobody but Apryl or Bri could confirm that what he said about the ostrich was true. Kieran decided to forget about the whole unusual discovery and focus on that night instead. "It's going to be getting darker soon. Should we decide what we're going to do at the prison?" he asked.

Draven nodded curtly and got straight to business. "Kieran's right. If you're all still set on visiting his dad than we'll need to go over a few rules so listen up," he announced, looking at Apryl and Bri.

"Who said that you get to be in charge?" Mel snapped under her breath. She seemed unusually passive towards Draven for the moment, and he had likewise barely said a thing to her since everyone had run into Gilda. Of course, that meant that they were eventually going to have to make up for those few hours of peace in between cups of tea and pastries.

"I'm in charge because I'm the smartest," Draven answered in provocation.

"The smartest at what?—finding new ways to get charges pressed against you?" Mel asked in reference to Draven's various close encounters with the law—many of which Kieran likely didn't even know about.

"In street smarts. I doubt you'd be surprised to hear that I know my way around the prison," Draven explained, shrugging.

"I didn't realize that you'd been. What were you in for...vagrancy?" Mel asked sarcastically. She knew that Lieutenant Ivan Blake had tried countless times to arrest Draven for this so called offense. What she didn't know was that Draven was more sensitive to that particular issue than some might think. His narrowed eyes burned with hatred for her which contrasted with his forcibly nonchalant expression.

"It wasn't because of vagrancy," Draven said patiently.

"Then what was it for? We hang around the same crowd, so I'd like to know if I should be concerned for my life with you around," Mel explained.

Kieran sighed. He wished that she would let it go instead of trying to instigate a fight. If it wasn't Mel trying to get on Draven's nerves than it was sure to be the other way around.

"Oh, you should definitely be concerned," Draven told her acidly, "but not because I'm a jailbird. Believe it or not, I was never at the prison to do time."

Mel glared at him in wait for an explanation that would never come. Just as she opened her mouth to demand one, Apryl decided to cut her off. "Come on, Mel," she said gently. "It doesn't matter why he was there as long as he's willing to help us get to Kieran's dad. Let's just decide what we're going to do and then go do it."

For once, Mel took the offered advice and turned to address Gilda instead. "You were the one who spotted Apryl's hair under that hood. How do you think we can disguise her dead-giveaway features?" she asked.

Gilda stroked her chin, deep in thought, and stared at Apryl. "I can't think of anything we can do about your eyes at the moment, but I may have an idea for your hair. What if I said that I could change the color?" she suggested.