Lowe and Gray: The Atavistic Box

Chapter Ten - Tea and Torture

ZARINA RAVENMARK WAS like a china doll, Aurora had decided. She was so still, so elegant, her legs crossed at the ankles, her palms flat against the arms of the chair. Aurora watched her, as a medic patched up her shoulder. Jace was roaming somewhere in the collections, touching everything of interest to him.

"Don't touch that!" Zarina snapped, then turned back to Aurora, her features soft. "How can you be sure it was Malignant?"

"I-what?" Aurora said exasperatedly. "Of course it was Malignant! Jensen literally said 'Malignant it's been long.' I mean, who else would it be?-Ow!"

"Easy on the shoulder," Zarina soothed. "We just have to be sure it is him."

"I am sure. What are you going to do?"

Zaina rose in one graceful movement. "I will see to the matter. You, my dear, should go home. You look dreadful. You could do with a rest."

Aurora scowled. "I'd rather stay."

"Would you not be more comfortable in safer surroundings?"

"I'm not leaving while Jensen is in trouble. He's the only one I trust."

"Yet you came to me," Zarina mused. "Very well. Stay. Although I'm not too happy about the... Warlock boy. I must leave, but I'll return with news, I presume. Help yourself to tea."

"Can't I come?" Aurora pleaded.

Zarina smiled. "I'm afraid not. And even if you could, you were shot."

Aurora nodded, hiding her disappointment, and Zarina left. Aurora stood up, groaning. "Jace, do you want tea?"

"Sure, I'll have tea," he shrugged, walking back to Aurora. "As long as it isn't Earl Grey. I can't stand the taste of the bergamot oil. It smells like flowery oranges," he shuddered.

"You don't like bergamot?" Aurora frowned.

"Is that a problem?"
She laughed. "I think you're the only person our age that knows what bergamot even is."

He grinned and shot her a wink. "Well, I'm not like other guys."

"I know," she murmured.

Jace glanced at her. "Sit down. I'll make the tea. You're injured."

"How considerate."

He shrugged. "Not really, you'll take longer to do it if you're hurt."

"You're so..."

"Charming? Attractive? Witty? Tell me when you hear one you like."

"You know, my favourite thing about you is your modesty."

He smiled. "You can't have just one favourite thing about me."

"I don't."

"Correct answer."

"The tea will be in the apartment," Aurora told him.

She took out her sketchbook from her backpack, extremely glad she had brought it, and hunted around for a pencil. Jace nodded, disappeared, and came back with the tea a few minutes later. Aurora placed a couple of sugar cubes into her tea, and frowned as Jace drank his with no milk or sugar.

"You look tired," Jace stated.

She smiled as she drew. "I think that's the nicest thing you've said to me."

He laughed softly. "You should lie down. Go to sleep."

"I can't sleep. Jensen's still out there."