Inheritance

Chapter 21

"I broke up with him." She says, trying to sound matter-of-factly, but failing horrendously at keeping the slight wobble out of her voice. "I got that much... Why? What happened? What did you mean he lied and used you?" A light knock at the door interrupts us before Ami can answer. "Katei? It's Alia, can I come in?" I stand up and open the door and let her in, good thing too, her arms were laden with plates piled high with
chocolate...crêpes? I thought there were KitKat pancakes for breakfast? "Crêpes? What happened to the pancakes?" Alia's face is painted with confusion. "Pancakes are crêpes... Wait. America. What you call pancakes we call flapjacks. If it's a problem I can always take them back..." I grap one of the plates from her as she finishes her sentence. Nobody is taking my breakfast from me, especially not if it's chocolaty."Okay... Aymisita? I got you a plate as well." I snicker silently at her pronunciation of Ami's name. Not that I'm one to talk. Of the 10 years we've been best friends it took me two to pronounce her full name and surname correctly. Ami shoots Alia a small smile and pats the covers next to in invitation. "It's Ahmisitya, but thanks." Alia's already dark skin darkens even more with slight embarrassment. "Sorry," she whispers, her head bowed. "Don't worry. Just gimme," Ami says making grabby hands towards one of the plates in Alia's hands. "Happy to oblige," her honey eyes glowed orange.

We sat cross-legged on the bed eating KitKats and crêpes in relative silence. "So..." Alia says awkwardly, "What was that?" After a pregnant pause she rambles on."Like if you don't wanna tell me I completely understand, I'm a complete stranger. I'm just worried, you seemed quite upset." Ami sighs and puts her empty plate on the end table. Okay here we go.

"So after the stuff at Kat's house I was totally freaking out. Thinking that they kidnapped her and that she was going to die. So, when Chris caught me on my way into the house he picked me up and carried me to the car. After strapping me in he locked the car and wlked over to this oldish guy. I rolled down the window, 'cause how dare he just pick me up and lock me in the car when my friend is in danger! Anyway, so before I could rip him a new one I overheard them talking, the other guy was fighting with Chris about something that sounded like i kori mou. Chris grumbled something and then stormed back to the car practically pulling the car door off and then sealing it again as he climbed in. We just sat there as the man disappeared right in front of our eyes! Like woosh! Gone! Of course I freaked out on him. My best friend was missing, strangers were in her home and to top it off one of those strangers just fought with my boyfriend and just disappeared in front in front of my eyes! After a couplr of minutes of me, admittedly shouting hysterically at him I got tired of getting no reaction out of him and tried to climb out. He grabbed my arm and started to talk very softly, I'm not even dure it was English, but afterwards this strange calm washed over me and I sat back again. Then he started to tell me the story. He told me he was a Guardian, a Protector of the Cores, an orphaned semigod raised to protect the Cores until his dying breath. He said that he was sent last summer to keep an eye over you and to let the higher ups know whenever he thought you might be coming into your inheritance, to warn them so they can prepare properly. He said he failed his mission. He said that he lost focus the moment he met me, that he couldn't solely focus on protecting a Core when he had met his soulmate. He was supposed to have reported that he was compromised so they could send out a new Guardian, one that could fulfill his objective of getting close to you, even dating you if possible, but he didn't. Instead he reasoned that if he dated his charge's best friend, he'd be as close as he could get, even closer than he probably would have managef on his own. So his deception began. He lied to me about where he came from, who he was, what he was, all to keep an eye on my best friend, to 'protect' her. While he tell's me all of this I'm just sitting there, cool as a cucumber, he cast a spell I guess, one to keep me calm. He took my hand and the it felt like the world got turned inside-out, we were suddenly at some radom beach. It was like I broke through the surface of the calmness and I just lost it. I just ran into the ocean, I'm not even sure why, I just wanted to get away from all this craziness. The water was actually warm, you know, for being an ocean and all. I just kept walking into the waves, not even trying to swim, I think I might have passed out then, because I swear I just kept walking, breathing underwater, leaving Chris behind. Anyways, it must have been a dream, because the next thing I remember I wake up while Chris is carrying me into a strange house. I tried to jump out of his arms and he didn't stop me. I'm not even sure what I asked him, but I think it was something about you, Kat. He told me something about not knowing where you were, and not caring as long as I was safe and I just lost it. I think you guys probavly heard the rest..."

The room is silent for a moment as Ami's voice trails off. The next thing I know Alia has me and Ami in a massive bear hug, her cocoa-coloured arms surprisingly firm and strong. "I am so sorry. So, so sorry," Alia whispers, sounding heartbroken and pissed off. "For what?" I try and ask past all the hair in my face... and now mouth. "That this is all so... Clucky." She lets us go. "What do you mean?" Ami asks, voicing my thoughts exactly. "This entire thing. We thought we had more time before Katei would come into her inheritance, her Guardians hadn't noticed anything and Sofia hadn't either. It was only at Trys's insistance that the House allowed him and Rex to go check up on you. Good thing too, who knows what wod've happened otherwise. That boy's instincts have always been good, now they're even better." Wait... What?
Before I can ask Alia what exactly she means by... literally all of that, Rex pops his head into the room. "Katei, can you come with me? I think it's time we explain things to you. Kidé and Monés will be here soon." Alia practically pushes me off the bed and Ami nods at me reassuringly. I get up to follow Rex. I reluctantly close the door behind me, I don't relish leaving Ami's side so soon after getting her back, but at least I know she's with someone I can trust, and strangely enough, I do trust Alia. There is something achingly familiar bout her. With that revelation I fall in step behind Rex. Goodness knows I'm ready for some proper answers.