Lowell

Chapter 4

They had to pretend to be strangers when they went through towns. A Krytian man and a pregnant woman were easy to spot. Society didn't like Krytians much. Progressive movements had made them more tolerated but they still suffered scrutiny. Krytians were a secretive bunch and secrets bred fear.

Hanna had accepted the man for all his secrets. Lowell was a good person even if he didn't like aspects of human governments. He'd keep her safe. He didn't care about the rest of humanity. They could all die by the Adephagos if it kept her safe. As long as Lowell had Hanna he didn't care what happened. He would die before Hanna would suffer.

And that was kind of charming.

So when she walked through the small town her eyes would drift to him. And his to hers. Then they would return to being strangers.

It was one of those days. One where Yuri had to lie and say he fell or any other excuse he could come up with to explain the bruises. Norien always asked about them. Most he could laugh off and play as being clumsy. The ones on his face were another story.

It shouldn't have mattered what the woman thought. But, Yuri liked Norien. She was kind and never said anything mean. Once she asked if he had wanted to come home for dinner. Yuri had said no to the offer, but still, nobody ever offered something like that before.

He was afraid of her still. So few people were kind to Yuri. So few that it had started to mess with his young head. Norien had started to notice this as well. Yuri didn't want her to find out because then it would hurt Olive. The elderly nun was one the few good things he had.

Yuri didn't go to see Norien that day. Instead, he played in the alleyways and tried to be invisible. It was fun but lonely. He liked to pretend everything was fine and that his body wasn't sore. He didn't like going home, but he had to. And he had to face Merlwe again.

She didn't always hurt him. Merlwe sometimes was nice. But, often she got angry. So he would fear going back. In this fear, he'd run away for a day before going home to an angry Olive.

It was a cycle.

Flynn was cautious kid compared to most in the Lower Quarter. Maybe, the caution was what made his eyes sharp at times. He often saw his mother talking to Yuri. He thought it was weird. But, he also thought his mother was weird. Sometimes his eyes would follow Yuri when Flynn spotted him lurking around.

Sometimes, Flynn would see the bruises. They were usually on the arms and legs. A few times they were on the face or once they were on his neck. Flynn knew that bruised came from falling. That's how he got his. But, he wondered how Yuri fell on his face.

He saw him that day. The large bruises on his face stood out on his skin. Flynn let curiosity get the best of him and followed Yuri. The blonde was confused. Yuri played on his own and did small feats that were acrobatic in nature. At least, to a five-year-old.

He didn't seem clumsy at all.

Flynn looked on and wondered about the bruises. The boy was violent so maybe he got into a lot of fights. Accidently, Flynn stepped on some broken glass and Yuri snapped his head towards him.

Flynn tried to laugh it off and back away. Yuri was already growling at him. "What do you want?" He barked.

"Nothing... I just..." Flynn stammered as Yuri was now right in front of him. "How you get hurt?"

A small look of shock crossed Yuri's face before he went back to scowling. "None of your business!"

"Did you have a fight?"

"I said; it's none of your business!" And Yuri bit him again. Only this time Flynn fought back with ferocity. The two wrestled till they were exhausted and Flynn went home with a black eye.

His mother had a cow. Flynn told her everything. He expected her to be mad, but when he mentioned how Yuri always seemed to have bruises her face paled. Norien left Flynn off with a warning and went to writing his Father. About what he wasn't sure.

Norien was a woman who cared for children. All children. She needed proof that this was what she thought it was. That Yuri was fine. So she set to ask the orphanage if she could take him in for some time. That part was easy. Getting Yuri out the door was the hard part.

Yuri insisted on staying and ran off every time Norien looked away as she tried multiple times to drag him home. When she finally pushed him through the door the child froze as he saw her son.

In a strange turn of events, Yuri tried to hide behind Norien while Flynn looked in disdain. "Mommy, what's he doing here?"

"Yuri is staying with us. Isn't that great?"

"He bit me!" Flynn yelled. "Twice!"

"And he's very sorry," Norien said and pushed Yuri in front of Flynn. "Right?"

Yuri pouted at Norien in annoyance before looking at the cautious blonde. "Not really."

Norien laughed. "He's just kidding "

Yuri looked up in confusion. "No, I'm not."

Norien grit her teeth. "Yes, you are." The child just stared innocently. "Right?"

"Sure." It was completely insincere.

Flynn glared angrily at the other child. "Flynn take Yuri's clothes to your room. He'll be staying with you."

"WHAT!" Flynn threw the tiny bag on the ground. "I don't want the halfer in my room!"

It was the first time either child had known Norien to be violent. Flynn knew his mother as a woman who stoked fear in hearts through kindness. Never violence. It left him stunned and crying. As he rubbed at the cheek she'd slapped. "Flynn, you will never use foul language like that again!"

"It's okay Miss Norien," Yuri said trying to make himself smaller. "It's fine." He'd heard worse.

But, Norien was having none of this. "No, it's not." She gripped her son's face. "You know better. Don't say things like that. Ever!" She turned running a soft hand through Yuri's hair. "And you should never be okay with people insulting you. It's bad for the mind."

Reluctantly, Flynn guided Yuri with him to his room which was really just a large closet. "Don't touch my stuff. Don't sleep on my bed. And if you break anything I'm telling."

Yuri just rolled his eyes and growled. He didn't want to be here. No matter how nice Norien was to him Yuri had a fear of going to new homes. "Whatever."

"You can't say that! Mommy says that's a bad word!" Flynn shouted in distress.

This guy was a moron. Yuri had heard worse words from Olive on a daily basis. "Whatever."

Flynn glared vividly. "Stop."

"Whatever." Yuri mocked.

"You're being rude."

Yuri feigned pain. "Oh, I'm sorry." A large grin on his face. "Stupid." He blew his tongue out.

Flynn felt himself boiling inside and he grabbed Yuri on the shoulder where the two were wrestling once again. Norien peaked inside and giggled to herself. "They're having so much fun." Flynn pulled on Yuri's long hair and the boy recoiled in pain. Realizing that he couldn't yank back Yuri did the first thing that came to mind.

He bit Flynn again.