Enter the Shadows: Book One of the RTS Series (First Full Draft)

Chapter Twenty-Three

Daniel

The move to America had been simultaneously the longest week of Daniel's life but also felt like no time at all. It still felt somehow wrong to be fleeing the only home he'd known most of his life, but deep down he knew it was safer in America. The plane trip was the most uncomfortable experience for him, and he sat in the aisle seat away from the window. Daniel was never afraid of heights, but the idea of being trapped in a small metal rod hovering thousands of feet above the ground wasn't a comforting thought.

He was surprised by how big America was compared to England. He had some knowledge as to what the country was like, but actually seeing skyscrapers and lights below was very surreal. He had seen a few photos, and had read a few things before leaving, though seeing it was both extremely off... but almost familiar. Perhaps it was because England and America were somewhat similar, or perhaps he was familiar with a small handful of the culture from the books he read, but it was less alien than he was expecting.

He was also surprised when they finally reached Raiter City. He was expecting it to be a very small and densely compacted city, but he was actually very surprised. The entire city was surrounded by mountains, and while there were plenty of people walking around the night of their arrival, it wasn't nearly as crowded as London. While in cities like New York, where the air almost smelled electrically charged with humidity, the air here was dry and extremely hot. Granted it was late summer, but he didn't think that the temperature could reach to almost a hundred degrees in a day. It was rather displeasing.

The apartment Astra had arranged for Daniel and his mother was a comfortable size; it had everything they needed, albeit smaller than what Daniel was used to, and after a day of the two of them moving things around and setting a few markers in the corners of the room, the place was safe enough.

Though that didn't stop Daniel from occasionally checking the windows, expecting to see cloaked figures wearing masks waiting outside for them. He hadn't sensed any strong Esoterics yet, not in Raiter City at least, but he still felt a bit paranoid.

Natalie had easily secured a job teaching piano lessons, and within the week she already had a very long list of students. Both younger children and adults wanting to learn how to play the instrument. Because of that, Natalie spent a good part of her time out teaching. Because school wasn't due to start for another week, Daniel was left to either read over the few books he had managed to hide within his things, or to just wait for Natalie to return.

Until one day, when he got fed up with just hiding away like a criminal and decided to become more familiar with the city around him. After mentally covering up his own theurgic energy, he walked throughout the area close to where he lived, making sure to write down the address on a piece of paper so he wouldn't get lost.

He did either way, irritated with both the weather and the layout of the city. He had developed a small headache from the heatwave and from not being able to use as much theurgic energy as he was used to.

After walking around for a bit, he got so sick of the headaches that he, against better judgement, reconnected the link with that energy. It soothed the pain briefly, but not by much.

Astra better be right about this. He thought begrudgingly.

Though despite his internal complaining, he was a little curious about the city. While looking around, and paying more attention to the smaller buildings, he noticed a few places of interest. One of which seemed to be some kind of tea house that was hidden away from the noisy streets, and the atmosphere inside was calm and not very busy that time of the day. Something gratefully welcomed to Daniel.

There were only a few people inside; a man Daniel assumed was a manager of some kind, and an elderly couple talking to the previously mentioned manager. Neither of which paid him much attention. Not having anything better to do, Daniel took up space in an empty booth further in the back, feeling absolutely out of place.