Flynn City, one of the busiest cities around the the globe was lit with lights much brighter than the stars that dotted the sky. The streets were filled with noises: the chatter of people and honking of vehicles. People walked by, carrying bags of papers branded with the most famous shops around the city. Some held them by the hands, some by the elbows.
The night is darker tonight.
The thought lingered in Adam Vinewood's mind for a long moment. It was long passed midnight and still...
Mortals were full of activities.
Bustling all around.
The wind blew at his face. From atop the Clocktower, the city spanned all around them, streaming with yellow and red and blue and green lights. The clothes he wore didn't do a great job on keeping him warm. He shivered when a cold breeze swept the back of his neck and back.
"Is it going to take any longer?" he said.
Far beyond the stone banister that bordered the edges of the balcony, Natasha Grayhound floated in the air. She was a sylphid, carried by her winds. The the skirts of the mothdress she wore, along with her hair, danced around with the mighty gusts.
She turned, facing Adam. A frown was pasted on her beautiful face. "The winds come empty-handed." Her hair, as shiny as silk and as soft as cotton, was a mix of pale lavender and silver atop, and transparent toward the edges. She had big eyes, with the likeness of a hawk's. They were like steel, as if metal was molded to be her irises.
Adam fought the will to sigh. Instead, he said, "It's alright. You have done enough by dissolving the rain."
"I say we wait longer." A voice sounded from behind.
Adam turned around. The penthouse loomed before his eyes. The archways that served as its walls were covered in shadows, as if monstrous creatures lurked behind them. Leaning by one of the pillars of the archways, Adam could make out a figure.
"Kerby." He nodded.
The dark figure started to walk towards him. A shorter boy clad in black.
"What are you wearing?"
"Its called compression shirt and pants." The moonlight gleamed over his yellow hair. "Its the new trend."
"You mean your new trend." Tasha was suddenly on Adam's side, landing soundlessly. Her winds, Astra and Livo were whirling around her as they gently placed her on the stone ground, did not seem to affect her like it did Adam.
I would be bothered if winds carried me all the time.
Her skirts laid in a pool around her bare feet. Her straight her spread over her back and around her figure, like a thick curtain of silver and water. She turned to Adam.
"There is no need to wait. The winds have spoken. The blood pirate has arrived the Neville Twins." She had a very elegant face, one that belonged to queens.
Born to rule.
"Thank you, Tasha." He smiled. "Come, Kerby. Dust."
Kerby stood close to Adam and reached inside the pouch at his weapons belt. It came out with a handful of pixie dust. He looked over at Tasha, "Eager to have my dust on you, I assume."
Tasha gave an exasperated cry. "Never in a million years, halfbreed. Your dust makes me itch." She stepped back.
"Oh. You wound me, dear."
"Oh, I wound a lot of people, Kerby. You adding to the list does not make a even a little bit of a difference." She grinned.
Kerby was about to say something smart-ass but Adam had to speak before a verbal showdown occured between the sylphid and halfbreed. "Kerby, we don't have all night."
"Right." Kerby looked as if he just remembered that they had an errand in the city. "Dust." In a swift motion, he raised his hand and threw the contents of his hand into the air. The pixie dust glittered in the air.
Gold.
Bright as Kerby's hair.
As if carried by an unexisting wind, the pixie dust spiralled around the two boys, bathing them in golden powder.
Without another word, Adam ran towards the balcony, stepped onto its stone surface.
And jumped into the sky.
The midnight air was cold on his face. He had always liked it. It made him feel as though he had everything under control.
He heard Kerby shouting, "Wait up!"
But Adam didn't stop. He glided through the air, circling around the Clocktower. Its four-faced giant clock hovered like a setting sun.
Then he flew away. He touched the clouds. His hand came out wet, of course. He wanted to dive into them. But did not dare. Performing the idea would wash the pixie dust off him. And falling freely was not a very appealing concept.
Far ahead, he could see the Neville Twins. It was a couple of tall buildings with a residential purpose. But through the hazy fog, the Neville Twins looked like a pair of swords facing the sky, daring a giant to fall on them.
Upon reaching the building, he quietly stooped down towards the floors that hosted balconies. As silent as cats, they landed on the highest balcony. Floor-to-ceiling windows lined the walls that led inside the residence, curtains hung lifelessly beyond them.
The wide space of the balcony was decorated with a table, its legs an intricate tangle of metal. The chairs, too, had the same arrangement of legs. On the black table was a vase of roses. The brightness of its red suggested that it was recently placed there. Along the railing, potted plants of the same kind were lined in intervals.
The room inside was dark. Adam guessed that whoever lived in there was fast asleep in their room or better yet, it was an empty residence. He wished for the latter.
The tall windows, as it seemed, were actually sliding windows. Carefully, Adam opened one of them. The window didn't budge. Of course, he realized.
"It's locked," he said quietly.
Kerby, his companion, placed a gentle hand on his shoulder.
"Here, let me."
Adam gladly stepped aside. He watched as Kerby brought out two pieces of thin metals. One of each was curved in a way that would probably help him unlock the window.
"Are those paper clips?"
"Yep," Kerby said. He was so focused on what he's doing that he did not care to glance at Adam. "Why do mortals have these?" He wondered as he kept twisting the paper clips inside the keyhole.
"For security, no less."
Adam studied the long balcony. It was unnaturally longer than the others beside it. The sliding windows were arranged by twos. And every one of a pair seemingly could be opened.
Adam started at the windows, trying to slid each open, only to be answered by the rattling of the metal frames. He tried to be more careful on the next few windows, so as not to wake the tenants inside. When the one before the last perfectly slid open, he gave a silent cheer on the small victory. At the same moment, he heard Kerby release a quiet cry of joy. His companion had successfully unlocked the window.
They glanced at each other and grinned. Adam gestured for Kerby to follow but the golden-haired boy had a question mark on his face and mouthed, "What about this?" He indicated the window in front of him.
Adam rolled his eyes.
"Just go," he whispered loudly.
With his hands, he gestured that Kerby go in through the window he unlocked and himself will be going in the window he opened.
When he stepped in, heat made its way to his cheeks. He saw a king bed with dark sheets and crumpled blankets over two people. The man, shirtless, snored while the lady slept silently in his arms. Adam walked towards them, wondering if, the next morning, they'd notice that their home had a break in.
On the bedside table was a framed photograph. Ever so careful, Adam lifted it to his view. Both persons looked to be around Adam's age, and were equally beautiful. The man, who was actually just a boy like him, had blond hair and a pair of faint grayish blue eyes. He seemed to be as tall as Adam and was built like an athlete. In the photograph, he wore a perfectly fitted suit, the tie was a dark shade of indigo. His elbow was linked to a young lady's. She wore an intricately designed dress the same shade of indigo. Her brown hair was tightened in an intricate bun, some wavy strands framed her face. Her eyes shone like emeralds and had the same rich color. They looked tame and kind. But the smile on her lips was another story.
Elegance and authority.
She looked confidently beautiful.
He replaced the frame on the table and glanced at the young lady in bed, facing his direction. Even in her sleep, her hair was clasped in a bun, though now it was loose and tangled. Her face was so delicate and kind.
So beautiful.
Adam shook his fascination and stepped away, towards the door.
The knob gave a metal click as he unlocked and turned it. He heard the young lady groan as he closed the door behind him. The large living room stepped into view until...
"Took you long enough," Kerby said, suddenly in front of him. His eyes bore into him. A pale shade of blue, like a wispy sky.
The piercing glare.
His companion often gave him the same stare when he was worried or when Adam did a thing he didn't like.
"You chose a different way in, mind you," Adam pointed out. "There were people inside."
He paved towards the door he knew that would lead them out into a corridor. He opened it and and stole a quick glimpse outside.
"Clear."
Kerby was beside him. "I already checked."
"Then come on."
Adam was about to slid out the door but Kerby pulled him back.
"What?"
Kerby handed him a crumpled piece of black cloth.
"Please, wear this before we step into the open."
His eyebrows rose. "What is this?" He uncurled the thick cloth.
"It's called a bonnet," Kerby said. "You put it on your head. To hide your ears."
"That's racist."
Adam wiggled his pointed ears and furrowed his brows.
"Your ears are pointed as well."
Kerby crossed his arms over his chest. "But not as pointed as yours. I can always pass as a mortal if they will not stare at my ears and find the pointed ends." He was right. "Just wear it."
Adam rolled his eyes and pulled the bonnet over the mass of messy auburn hair and over his ears, muttering about his companion's current mode of clothing. He heard Kerby say "perfect" just before they slid out the door. Their boots were met by a plush green carpet. Carpeted corridors. The floor looked neat and complimented the cream-painted walls.
"Do you remember which floor is it?" Adam asked.
Kerby looked above the doors along the corridors. "The unit numbers on this floor begin at fifteen. We must be in the fifteenth floor." He began walking towards the end of the corridor. "Come, we have a lot of floors to climb."
Adam knew what he meant.
Stairs.
He stopped in his tracks.
"No. We're taking the elevator."
Without waiting for a reply, Adam strode down the corridor to where the elevators stationed.
He remembered the last time they took the stairs. They had forgotten which floor they were on and were long tired before they reached the target. Ten years of training did not prepare any of them for hundreds of flights of stairs. When he reached the elevator, he pushed the button with an arrow pointing upward.
"You know I hate elevators," Kerby said when he caught up.
"Not one forbade you on using the stairs. I know how you feel about cages, Kerby. But elevators are not cages."
The halfbreed sighed. "They feel just the same."
They heard a high-pitched ding and the doors to the elevator opened. Adam stepped in first, followed by a hesitant Kerby. But he stepped in, anyway.
"Which floor?"
Kerby pressed the button with the number 25. It glowed red.
"My thanks," Adam managed to say.
"Mortals are weird," Kerby said, annoyed. "Having these metal cages invented."
"Really?" Adam asked, sounding and looking too innocent. "You are half mortal."
"And half fairy," Kerby retorted.
"A half pixie."
Kerby glared at him. "I hate you."
Adam grinned, remembering that glare of annoyance everytime he reminded Kerby of the fairy blood ran in his veins.
"Hate me as much as you wish, but you are still my companion. You are sworn to guard me with your life. So unless you decide to be an oathbreaker, you are required in all my presence."
Kerby was about to say something smart-ass but the elevator dinged once more and the doors opened. The space beyond the elevator doors were unimaginably dark, like a rectangle of pure black abyss had been shaped into the metal frame. He whistled in amusement.
Adam said nothing, but he could not deny the surprise he felt. Abruptly, he pulled out a long dagger, carved ancient runes ran along its blade. He stepped out into the dark hallway.
"Goodness," Kerby said, following his heels. "I take it something's not quite sorted."
"I can see that."
The doors to the elevator closed behind them, imprisoning both boys in a realm of pure darkness. He felt utterly blind.
"Blimey! Now, I cannot see a thing."
He heard Kerby's soft footsteps over the carpeted floor, guarding the rear.
"Well, no one really warned us about a black out."
"Well, no one really is going to warn us if we are not under orders," Adam pointed out.
"Oh," Kerby realized. "We are not?"
"Do not pretend to be unaware."
His eyes had adjusted, though his vision was still obscured, like a thick dark aura had surfaced around them. Blood pirates did not have auras. Unlike faeries, their enemies were mutated mortals.
Still mortal.
It was a reminder. He began walking to the right.
Behind him, he heard a quiet crash followed by a groan.
"By the ancients." It was Kerby.
Adam turned around and faced him. Through the darkness, he could see a faint unsure smile on the halfbreed's face.
"Lights please?"
"Let me see what I can do."
Adam reached for the seeds in his pocket and fished one out. They were random seeds he scooped from the crops room. Normally, he'd eat them like candies. But sometimes, when the moment would require it, he'd use them in various ways.
He placed the seed on his palm and closed his fingers around it. He put his remaining hand over the closed fingers and began to speak in his mind.
I command you.
I command you to bring light.
He breathed as he carefully opened his palm and let the seed breathe in the air he exhaled. At first, nothing happened. But a moment later, finger-like tangles of roots and soft stems grew from under and over the seed, covering it like a sphere as the seed began to illuminate a greenish white glow.
It wasn't as bright as Adam had expected. But it was all he could do, considering the unfortunate circumstances that happened years before.
He frowned.
"I know it is not as bright as anyone would expect but--"
"It's perfect," Kerby said in contained fascination. "And fancy."
Adam held the ball of light ahead as they began to explore the long, dark hallway. The light painted the cream walls green and complimented the carpeted floors very well. The doors that lined the hallway were polished burnt sienna. Above them were four-digit numbers, all beginning with 25.
2516, 2534, 2517, 2535.
Adam read in his mind as his eyes bounded from left to right. At the end of the corner was a door ajar.
Adam and Kerby exchanged a knowing glance as they walked towards the dark opening with more silence, likes cats. Adam peeked at the number.
2546.
He pushed the door fully open. It gave chilly creaking cry as it swung forward.
Like the hallway, the residence--units, Kerby had called them--was just as dark. The living room sprawled just in front of them. There weren't much furnitures, just a set of television and speakers, a couch across it, and a low table between them over a few carpet. On the table were a sprawling of books open in what seemed like random pages.
Adam started toward the books. He noticed Kerby inspecting the surrounding as he studied the open pages. On one page, he saw illustrations of...
Fairies.
He felt his heart skip a beat. His eyes narrowed in suspicion. But as he looked closer, he realised that the books weren't really about them.
At least not exactly.
It was those kind which mortal parents read to their young ones.
Fairy tales.
Adam saw different versions of Cinderella, Peter Pan, Sleeping Beauty, The Ginger Bread Man, The Little Mermaid, Snow White, Rapunzel, The Little Red Riding Hood, and many more he couldn't name.
"Not as scary as I assumed, I must say."
Kerby was suddenly beside him, leaning over and eyeing the Pied Piper of Hamelin with a mixture of disgust and interest.
Then they heard footsteps from the hallways.
Blood pirates.
