King Of The Skies

Chapter 7

Jasper, Mess Hall 7 Floor 8, Base Nidus, 7:50 pm

"Can you stick up for me at least once? We're twins for crying out loud!"

"Can you not do something so idiotic you might get jailed for it?" Jackson fired back.

"We have been over this! I didn't realise it was the Prince," Jasper was torn between rage and disbelief that his own twin wouldn't stand up for him.

"Then again, it's your fault. How can you not realise you were fighting a Peregrin Falcon? Is your eyesight really that bad, or are you just that incompetent?" Jackson kept pushing Jasper's buttons.

"It was dark and his face was covered," Jasper growled.

"Then you should have put two and two together, it's not that hard," Jackson leaned back in his chair.

Jasper, Nathan, Jackson and Kage were sitting in the middle of Mess Hall 7 on Floor 8. After letting go of Angelica, Kage doubled back to the library to pick up Jackson. Kage then dragged them all up five flights of stairs to Floor 8. He didn't budge when Nathan asked to find a balcony to fly out of.

Now, all four of them were waiting for the girls, Jasper and Jackson were having their usual banter battle. Rules: last one talking wins.

"Why do you criticise every little thing I do wrong?" Jasper had his hands on the table and was almost standing. His small wings spread to create a false image of large size.

"I don't criticise everything, Jasper, just maybe I might get twitchy about you stabbing the Prince of Avinetta in the face," Jackson said, his calm expression was slipping.

"For the last time, it was a scratch, if I stabbed him in the face I would have finished the job," Jasper regretted saying it, but his mouth moved too fast.

Jackson leaned forward, inches from his twins face. "I wouldn't say that too loudly, you don't know who could be listening in."

"You really don't care about me do you?" Jasper needed to hear his answer, he's put up with Jacksons snide remarks for to long.

"You're my twin, I have no choice. We're stuck together," Jackson said. It wasn't the answer Jasper needed.

"Stop avoiding the question, Jackson," Jasper growled.

"Stop being an idiotic adrenaline junkie that sneaks out of an army base, Jasper," Jackson said, his calm facade sliding back into place.

"Why are you like thi-" Jasper started but Kage cut him off.

"That is enough, from both of you. You can finish your verbal duel later. We have some very important things to go over when you're all here. So please, just shut up for five minutes," Kage was massaging his temples and had his elbows on the table. The twins were either side of him, he was caught in the crossfire.

Jasper relaxed and settled back into his seat. Almost moulding himself into a mirror image of Jackson. Nathan was sitting next to Jasper, gazing out the window at the end of the room.

Eva and Lyn walked in, Eva tried to hide her tired eyes with a warm smile, she settled next to Nathan. Lyn scanned the room and sat down next to Jackson.

"Angelica?" Kage asked.

"She'll be here soon," Eva said.

Kage nodded and gestured vaguely to the containers laid out on the table. "Well, pick your poison, I, frankly don't know what's in these so feel free to share and swap."