Washed Away

Chapter 14 - Playing Cupid

I don't think I've ever heard Ky's family be so quiet before.

Syrena kept her eyes on her chores and didn't even spare me or Amara a glance as she passed the dishes over to us for drying. Her mouth formed a tight line; her lips practically vanishing. Amara wasn't much better, though she did try to smile once or twice even though it was forced and her eyes held no sparkle of happiness.

Lena and Milo's bundles of energy seemed to have finally dissipated as they slouched on the sofa, a whimpering Frost nestled in between the two. He could sense the tension in the air and would try to lick their hands as comfort, but it was in vain.

Outside there were major repairs happening and several new houses being built. Every so often there would be a huge bang which made me jump out of my skin, but it turned out that someone had carelessly dropped a piece of scaffolding. I made Milo and Ilaria promise me that they wouldn't go anywhere near the construction sites, fearing that they would get squashed flat.

There were a few short knocks on the door and Amara handed me the plate she was drying before bounding off to answer it. I strained my ears as I wiped the plat dry to see if I could figure out who it was. My question was answered when Damon strode into the kitchen.

"Hello Syrena!" He greeted, giving her a two-fingered salute. Syrena gave a small smile and flipped her dishcloth over her shoulder.

"Damon! What a pleasant surprise." She said. "How are you?"

"Not so good. Part of my house got burnt down and Dad injured his leg badly."

Syrena's smile instantly vanished and she gasped. "Oh no! Is he doing okay?"

"Actually, that is why I came here. Do you have any bandages Mum could borrow? We have run out and Dad needs his bandage changed." Damon asked.

Syrena nodded. "Of course! Let me just go and get some." She rushed out of the kitchen leaving Damon, Amara and I alone. I couldn't help notice that Damon's cheeky smile was strained today and that he was slouching rather then standing up tall like he usually would.

As I put away the plate I'd dried I noticed that there was an peculiar tension between Damon and Amara. She wouldn't stop fidgeting with her hair and neither of them would look at each other. I decided to drill her for answers later on. Suddenly, Syrena hurried back into the kitchen with her arms loaded with bandages and medicines. Damon's eyes widened at the sight.

"Syrena! There is no need for all of this!" He insisted.

"We can not have your poor Father in his state at this time! Not when the city needs him!" Syrena said forcefully. "I will come over with you to change his bandages personally. No offence to your Mother of course but I believe that I have more experience then her."

I could see Damon struggling to come up with an argument, but he sighed when he could find none.

"Have fun trying to persuade Mum." He joked, stepping out the way so that she could go through.

"Amara, you are in charge. Make sure Milo and Ilaria stay inside today." Syrena ordered before marching out. Damon gave me a quick smile but ignored Amara as he followed Syrena out the front door. When it snapped out I turned to Amara.

"What's going on between you and Damon?" I demanded, crossing my arms. Amara winced slightly and hugged her elbows. "Don't you dare think of lying to me!"

"He asked me out and I rejected him." She blurted out, turning bright red in embarrassment. I stood before her, my jaw seeming to have become dislocated as it hung open.

"Why did you do that?" I gasped, coming over my shock. "I though you liked him!"

"That is the problem!" Amara snapped, before taking in my confused expression and sighing. "If I do go out with him and find my vita socium, then I will have to break up with Damon!"

I cringed at the thought and rubbed my arm subconsciously.

"Do you have to stay with your vita socium?"

Amara nodded sullenly. "There is no chance of Damon being my vita socium now. It has been to long since we both came of age."

"How long do you usually have to wait before you find your vita socium?" I asked.

Amara looked at me curiously. "It depends. Some find theirs straight away while others may have to wait years. There have been a few cases where some have never found theirs but it is very rare. Why do you ask?"

"Well... why don't you two just go out for the time being? I mean, it can't hurt to give it a shot and if you two do find your vita socium, then you can just become friends again. It'll be neither of your faults if it does happen."

Amara seemed to ponder it over in her mind, twirling a piece of hair round her finger as she did so.

"We could try it I suppose..." She eventually said. I grinned and gave her a quick hug before stepping back and winking at her.

"Better go and get him them." I teased. She rolled her eyes at me but gave me a grin.

"You are so lucky that you have someone."

My smile slipped from my face as I thought about Ky. "But I don't have lux navitas. How could he be my vita socium?"

Amara returned my wink and turned around.

"Not everyone's lux navitas is visible." She called over her should before stalking out, leaving me to work out what she meant.

However, my thoughts were disrupted when Ilaria walked in, Frost at her heels.

"Have you seen Milo anywhere?" She asked. I shook my head.

"Why? I thought he was with you." I said. Ilaria's eyes suddenly swam with tears and she sniffed.

"I have not seen him for the past hour!"

My eyes widened and I sprinted from the room yelling for Amara. She thundered down the stairs, gathering her hair into a messy bun.

"What?" She questioned.

"Milo! He's gone missing!"

She froze, her hair slowly falling from her clutched and framing her face. We stared at one another for a long, agonizing minute before she rushed back upstairs, screaming Milo's name. A sudden flashback came to me where I was standing next to Milo as he gazed upon some Servatores. If it was a cartoon, a light bulb would've flashed above my head as I ran upstairs to Amara, Milo's words ringing clear in my head.

"I am going to be like them one day."

"Amara! I know where Milo has gone!" I yelled.

*_*_*

Have any of you figured it out yet? All will be revealed in the next chapter =P

.... Okay, I know you all probably hate me for not updating for ages and I'm so sorry! I hope this chapter makes it up to you! Despite how short it is -_- 

Thanks for reading and don't forget to vote and comment! Much appreciated! =D xox