Author Games: Path of the Guildpact

Task Five Entries: Dimir-Rakdos

Mars

Home.

It was a simple word, but one that meant the world to Mars in that moment. True, he wasn't home exactly. If he had really been home he would've been back in his room upstairs arguing with his brother Hunter over if he was allowed to play two cards in a row. Dimir, though, was a nice substitute.

At least until he factored in what they were currently doing. His fingers tapped against his thigh in a worried fashion. Every so often, his hands would would fidget and he would lose the delicate rhythm he had been building. Listening to the tap, tap, tap of his fingers against soft fabric, he glanced up at the world around him.

The hallway felt empty. Black marble tiles ran along the floor, interrupted only by the light dusting of white they held within themselves. No footprints were tracked across. No scuff marks or spills were worn in. It was as if no one had been down here before. A white ceiling stared back at the floor in defiance, the opposites making the hallway seem even larger. Between them sat a dark blue, carvings ever so often interrupting its smooth flow.

On either side of him sat other tributes. Until now he had somehow managed to drown out the noises, but when he looked at them, the sounds all came back. They slammed into his ears and suddenly he could hear the loud arguing of the two standing closest to the door, the hushed whispers of the others, and all of the constant shifting, moving, tapping. He blinked, momentarily overwhelmed. Even with the noise and the bodies surrounding him, the hallway still felt empty. There was no one to talk to.

Sighing, he cupped his chin with his free hand and rested his elbow on his knee. It had been a very long string of days. His hair fell down from where he had tucked it, yet he didn't bother to fix it even when it blocked one of his eyes. Mars stared out into the hallway and let the silence wash over him again.

"Marigold?"

His fingers stumbled, the rhythm lost. Wide eyed, he glanced up to find a familiar face. The Vedalken scowled down at him.

"Would you follow me for a moment?"

Mars suppressed a smile. He recognized the harsh tone better than most, and could see the hint of a happy expression in his brown eyes. Nodding, he pushed himself to his feet and quickly checked that none of the other candidates seemed to mind nor notice. Following the older man, he tried his best to keep his back straight and his expression neutral.

It was only when they had turned the corner and were out of sight that the man wrapped his arms tightly around Mars. The boy's face instantly broke into a smile, excitement bubbling out of him. It felt far too long since he had seen a member of his family and the surprise was more than welcome. Only when the man pulled away was he finally able to gain enough air to breathe.

"F-" he paused, carefully remembering to avoid the word father. He had steered clear of using the title as a kid, he would seem stupid to use it now. "Coran, what are you doing here?"

"I came to see how you were doing," he responded, placing a hand on the boy's cheek and tilting it up to look for injuries.

Mars shifted awkwardly, not wishing to be rude and bat the hand away. "I'm fine," he mumbled, blush spreading across his cheeks.

Coran nodded approvingly, letting him go. He looked back the way they came and frowned. "I don't really have much free time. I should go back."

"I understand," the boy responded. The man had never been around much during the day when he was growing up, always having a lot of work to do. "Tell everyone else I say hi."

He nodded, giving Mars one last hug and then heading off. The vampire watched him go for a few minutes. He felt a little better, his hands having gone still all on their own. Ignoring the nerves of the task ahead, he walked back into the other hall. Most of the other candidates had disappeared and before he could even sit down again, a young woman popes her head out from behind the door frame.