Life - Life & Death Book 1

Chapter 17 - Zivena

"Wait, wait wait!" A voice crashes through the trees. Mictain quickly materializes from the darkness and trips over his own feet. "Zivena, it's me."

     Why hadn't I sensed him? I shake the question from my head and try to hide my laugh at his scared face. "Whoa. That was like, super graceful."

     "Cute." Mictain shakes the leaves off as he stands. "Were you seriously about to throw a fireball at me?"

     I shrug. "Yeah, why not? Someone was lurking, a girl needs to protect herself."

     "I wasn't lurking."

     "I never said you were," I glare at him. "Hang on, how long had you been watching?"

     Mictain stares at his shoes and mumbles, "I was about to leave when you came after me."

     "Mmhmm, sure." I smile. A giddiness rises when I see him nervous. "So why are you out here?"

     "Training. Trying to fit more time in when I can." Mictain shrugs. "What about you?"

     I groan. "Trying to remember whatever Hod found." Which reminds me. "I'm really sorry, by the way. About what I said to you the other day. I don't—"

     "Think before I talk." Mictain finishes the sentence with me.

     "I'm sorry, Mictain. Honestly." I raise my hand to touch him when I realize how close we are. I take a quick step back.

     He looks at me and smiles, even though it's weak. "It's alright. You coming?"

     "Sure. Just give me a quick second."

     I rush back to the small clearing to gather my things. While I'm here I take a few deep breaths and try to compose myself.

     "Apple?" I hold one out for him.

     He takes it. "Thanks."

     I bite into mine and follow him towards the path. As we walk beside each other, me munching on my apple and him throwing his back and forth, our arms brush slightly. Even through layers of clothing I can feel the heat and energy course between us.

As we near the Hub, Mictain becomes quiet, turning in on himself. Determination floods him.

"Before coming here I lived in a small town in Wisconsin. Plain. I went to live with my Aunt Julia when I was six. I didn't go to school — I didn't really want to," he indicates his scar, "so my aunt taught me pretty much everything I know. She's human," he adds and his next words are filled with pain. "My Uncle Crevan was a Guardian and he fell in love with her.

"He never told Aunt Julia about what he was or where his family came from. He lied to her about his job and his past." He looks down at the apple in his hand and I notice that it had turned black, rotten. "Model of a healthy relationship." He scowls and throws it into the shrub next to the path.

An old mark reopens and starts to weep. He loves his aunt and he misses her. I look at Mictain. The pain that had been there for the past three months has eased a little and the stress that balances on his shoulders relaxes. For the first time, I see someone vulnerable.

He looks at me suddenly and studies my face. My cheeks flush.

"So, what did your aunt teach you?" I ask, trying desperately to push the attention back on him.

"The usual stuff. English, maths, geology, history, science and music."

"Music? Wouldn't have picked that," I mutter, "Did you learn to play something?"