The First Wielder

Chapter twenty-eight: Insanely Drunk? Yes

TWENTY-EIGHT

The loud clink of half a dozen glasses echoed through the living room space. The once silent home was now filled with cheers of delight and sighs of relief. Another chorus of clinks was heard before each owner chugged their glass.

It was Klaus' idea to have a small celebration after another out of the agenda mission set to them by their deceased father. No one among his siblings disapproved, seeing this as a chance to unwind and finally relax. And as soon as each agreed, Klaus was quick to grab all of the alcohol stacked in their father's alcohol cabinet.

"What?" Klaus eyed his siblings with a raised eyebrow. "You think I'd waste such delectables on dust?"

That night was an unusual gathering, different from the chaotic family meetings at the pair of couches in the living room. Klaus was on the coffee table swaying his hips, Luther was screaming at the fourth sibling to get out of the furniture as he protected his drink, Diego was howling in laughter when Luther tripped on one of Klaus' flamboyant outfits, Allison giggled from her seat, and Vanya fought a laugh as she played on her violin.

Five watched the events unfold from his side of the couch, one leg over the other and a glass of brandy in his right hand. He rolled his eyes when Klaus downed a bottle of a Malcan 1962 with Diego cheering from his seat. The boy was sure the two were drunk (not surprised) and he refrained from throwing an empty bottle at them to pass out and shut up. The boy half-filled his glass with whiskey and looked around.

Vanya, who stood closest to him, noticed this. She followed his eyes to their siblings, Pogo and Grace smiling at the background before retreating to their quarters, and the nooks and crannies of the spacious living room. She giggled when she heard him huff.

"I asked her to join us but she refused," Five turned his head to his sister, who was closing her eyes and playing her violin. "She climbed up the window after that."

Feeling his stare, Vanya opened her eyes and smiled at her brother. "She looked cold."

As if he developed a new power of super speed, Five chugged his drink all at once before placing it on the coffee table and grabbing a clean glass. He poured tequila on both glasses and placed a piece of large ice on each. He disappeared the moment he was done, catching his siblings' attention.

"Now where is he off to?" Klaus whined. "He shouldn't leave a brother behind!"

"Just drink your bottle, Klaus," Allison replied as she and Vanya glanced at each other. "He has some things to do."

"If I hear Abigail scream, I'm heading straight for Five's bedroom."

"Just drink, Klaus!"
  
  
The stars that night weren't that many.

From where she sat, she counted their number only to have to start again after realizing she pointed to the same star twice. The girl snorted and pointed her finger at the star on the top left.

"One, two, three, four..."
 

The cold breeze nipped her exposed skin as punishment for not grabbing a jacket and the rough tiles of the Academy's roof asked her if she felt comfortable sitting on them. The windows on most buildings near her were dark but the streetlights illuminated the city streets for those who needed it. Since it was late at night, a few to no one were walking along the streets possibly on their way home or just in the mood for a stroll.

This night was peaceful after all.

When did she have the time to sit cross-legged and count the stars? The girl asked herself.