Looking For A Legend (Book 1)

Looking For A Legend Chapter 8 - Elijah

            Swimming laps at the local community pool was usually a great way to clear Eli’s mind after something stressful.  It wasn’t working.  The sound echoed through the pool as Eli slapped his hand against the concrete.

            “Hey, Eli, it’s been three hours. I’m getting hungry.  What do you say we dry off, put on pants and grab something to eat?” Levi called from the bench, a towel around his broad shoulders.  He was always confused for being the younger Coates brother.  Eli was that serious.  While he didn’t get along with his parents, Eli always looked up to Levi, and his brother always looked out for him.  It was thanks to Levi that Eli found his way to Denvellia at all.  Levi was delivering furniture to Dr. Utkin’s office.  That was how Utkin heard of Eli, Levi talking up his brother’s talents and passion for study.  A week later, Eli received a letter from Utkin inviting him to Denvellia. 

Levi lived in town, in a loft apartment above Proctor’s Antique Furniture Restoration and Sales, where he also worked.  With bigger, more developed muscles than Eli, Levi worked as a truck driver and furniture mover, as well as all around handy man.  He also lived alone, while Eli stayed in Denvellia’s meager dormitories.  Levi had invited Eli to share the apartment, and he was always disappointed when Eli turned down the offer.

“My mind isn’t settled.  I don’t feel any better,” Levi could hear a deep voice in his mind: Eli’s thoughts.  Levi’s support for his brother had fostered a more profound bond between them.  Though Elijah did not communicate well with others, he found Levi’s mind receptive to his own, and could speak telepathically to his brother.  Levi was started at first, and their parents didn’t believe them, but the brothers were happy.  Levi still didn’t mind the strange looks he would get when conversing with Eli in public.

“Well, let’s go grab some food and we can talk about it.  Anywhere you want, it’s my treat.”    Levi said as he stood up.  The brothers look very similar, as brothers would.  Both had lean, muscular bodies, though Eli had a swimmer’s body, and Levi had a bulkier upper body.  The Coates both had dark hair, and were naturally handsome, though Levi smiled more frequently.

“Can we go to that soup and sandwich place?”  Eli asked, in his brother’s mind.

“Yeah.  I mean, if it’s still open.  It is nearly nine.” Levi threw a towel in Eli’s direction as his younger brother climbed from the pool.  “Or we could stop at the market.  I’ll make you some soup back at home.”

“You said any where I wanted.” Eli protested, following Levi in the locker room.

“Yeah, anywhere you want that is still open.  Hey, why do you always dodge even just going to my apartment?” Levi asked as they wandered to their lockers.

“It’s a slope.  I come for dinner, and then I live with you.  Next, I’m working in the shop with you.” Eli paused for a moment as he changed back into his cornflower blue shirt and navy pants. “I just want to be independent, Levi.  I don’t want to need you to take care of me.”

Levi dressed casually, particularly compared to his brother.  He pulled on a tee shirt representing the furniture store, and wriggled into his jeans.  He slipped on his shoes and slung his duffle bag over his shoulder, looking over at Eli. “It’s soup, Eli.  I’m not adopting you.”

“Okay, Levi.  You can make me soup.  Chicken and spaghetti, please.  Also known as the Levi Coates special.” Eli laughed telepathically.  Levi laughed out loud.

It was a short walk back to Proctor’s, and up the creaking staircase to Levi’s loft above.  It was a modest apartment, mostly all one common room with exposed brick throughout.  Levi hadn’t made his bed, or apparently heard of a laundry basket.  For living above an antique furniture store, most of his furniture was new, mismatched and inexpensive.

Eli sat down at Levi’s dinner table-desk-dresser-filing cabinet while his brother milled about the kitchen to start the soup.  Levi looked over his shoulder to watch Eli play with a piece of paper.  His brother looked sullen, which was not exactly out of place for Elijah. He called out over the sound of running water, “So, what’s got your mind so stressed out?”

“I had to cut students from the program, but I’m not sure I cut the right people.” Eli admitted with a sigh.

“Well, if the students you cut really want back in to the program, they’ll work really hard and reapply in the spring.  It’s nothing so mad to get worked up over.” Levi assured him.

“It’s not those I cut that I’m worried about.  I’m not sure I kept the right people.  There are these two students…”Even mentally, Eli couldn’t find the words to express himself.  Though he communicated telepathically, he spoke with the same cadence as if he vocalized normally.

“What’s wrong with them?  Is their research bad?  Do they slack off during study time?  Talk back to you during lecture?” Levi set the soup to boil, and then joined Eli at the table.

“It’s not that.  Well, not entirely.  There are two, as I said, and one is probably the brightest students in the group.  She is doing edgy work, and is very independent.  Valentina, that’s her name.  The other is coasting by.  He’s an idiot, crass, boorish.  His name is William Duke.  And he is dating Valentina.” Eli mentally and physically sighed.

“Tell me about Valentina,” Levi smiled at Eli.

“Valentina? She’s gifted, Swiss, and blind.  She’s researching a history of violence against gifted citizens.  Apparently her dad was a victim, when he was a young man.” Eli told his brother, getting up to fetch two bottles of beer.

“And she doesn’t speak to you at all?” Levi asked pointedly as he twisted the cap off of the beer.

“Well, she’s blind, so she can’t see me sign.  I’m mute, so she can’t hear me speak.  When she does need me, which is practically never, she usually brings that God-awful William Duke with her.  William doesn’t sign either, so I have to write on paper.” He complained into Levi’s mind.

“You are jealous of William, aren’t you, Eli?  He has something you deem he is undeserving of, and it irritates you.” Levi unraveled his brother’s mind so easily.  It came with that profound bond.  Eli went red with embarrassment.  While Eli stewed in his thoughts, Levi went to check on the soup, and then wandered away.

“Here, I got this for you.” Levi said when he returned, putting a newspaper wrapped parcel on the table in front of Eli.  Eli looked up, and Levi nudged it toward him. ‘Go on.  I saw it and I thought of you.”

Eli slowly reached for the gift and peeled the paper back.  He found two books, tied together with string.  One was a text book, published in another language; the other was a cracked, water-logged-and-dried hard cover notebook.  The initials M.C. were carved into a corner of the cover.

“Do you think it’s the same M.C.?” Eli dared to be hopeful.  A smile crept across his face.

“Could be.  I thought you’d be happy.” Levi beamed.  Levi was caught off guard as Eli lunged into hug his brother.  His laughs came out in a choke. “Love you too, Eli. Now c’mon, let me go.  The soup is almost ready.”