The Realm of Question

Chapter 21

I stood on the sidewalk in front of the school, small white crystals falling softly around me, some landing and melting on my upturned face. My lips turned into a small smile as I let my tongue slip out to taste them. Upon hitting my tongue they turned to water and I had to stop myself from bouncing in glee. My legs had small splatters on them and the toes of my Uggs were wet. I wriggled my toes, hoping to chase the chill from them. I shivered gently, my teeth making a light chattering noise. I twirled around in a circle my hair flying, capturing the perfect fragments. Each one looked so different.

Maybe theses flakes of ice were like the people of the Realm of Questions. All different¼ in looks as well as actions¼ among other things of course. I thought of the differences between the Hunter's, myself and the Sabbeth's. I shivered, having nothing to do with the puddle forming in my socks. So, were all different? No all good, all bad, all ugly, all magnificent, all smart, all dumb, all black, all white, all good, or all evil. Maybe, there are parts of those in everyone¼ But in the end we're all¼ice flakes? Nah, that probably didn't sound right. But maybe, just maybe, in some alternate universe, everything I just thought made some sort of sense.

As I saw the silver Saleen S7 Twin-Turbo, I clutched the book to me more protectively, fearing his wolfish senses could know I had it and be used to take it away. If that were to occur I couldn't unravel the mystery of the book as if it were the golden thread inside of its pages. He pulled up frowning at me. I gave a slight guilty smile shrugging my icy shoulders and shaking out my mane of hair watching some remaining flakes fall to the ground. I opened the back door dropping my stuff on the seat before opening the passengers door and climbing in ungracefully.

"Hey," I said reaching forward to turn on the radio only to have my wrist grabbed.

"Do you have any idea how worried I've been? I thought that the zombies ate your brain with a side of fava beans," he said, rubbing at his eyes with his fist.

"He doesn't eat brains and what in cereal's name is a fava bean?" I asked cocking my head to the side.

"It's from a movie." He pushed his hair back with trembling fingers.

"What movie?" I asked curiously, reaching for the radio again.

"Can't you just drop it?" he snapped grabbing my wrist again.

"I'm sorry¼" I said, turning my face toward the window. I heard him let out an aggravated sigh. I could see his reflection in the tinted window, his eyes were purple and he had large bruise like shadows under each eye, his normally beautiful skin was pale and the normal flush on his cheeks was absent. It all fit together; the Hunters leaving early today, the snappy attitude for a day or so, all affecting appetite. Tonight was a new moon and he was pushing himself to the brink, to make sure I got home safely. The stomach knife called guilt went to work in my abdomen.

I kept my head facing outside, white powder mixing with the wind as if a small piece of paper had been placed in a blender and put it on puree. I reached one hand across the imaginary border he'd drawn and placed my hand on top of his. I felt his hand twitch as if to escape. Dragging the pad of my thumb down his rough knuckle I sent a small glance of apology in his direction. He lifted his eyes to mine, the car never deviating from the yellow lines of the road.