Stranded Star

Festus

"Ahh," Festus grabbed Cal by the collar and pulled him close. Cal could feel his hot breath against his face. "You wouldn't even be alive if it weren't for me."

Cal tried to pull away but Festus forcefully grabbed his chin. "If I didn't have my own motives for wanting the shadows to go down, I would have killed her the moment I saw her." Zeke stood up, nervously watching the confrontation.

"You always have been the jealous type," Cal spat through his squeezed cheeks. In an instant Festus had pulled the fire from the hearth and the flames surrounded the two of them suspended in the air.

"Stop it!" Astrid screamed. Zeke reached for Festus but Cal stopped him. "Don't bother."

Breathing heavy, Festus pushed his face aside and the flames went out with a snap. He looked coldly back at Astrid before rushing out the door.

Festus slammed the door and faced the bitter cold. He wanted to get as far away as possible from them and quickly. If he stayed any longer he was afraid of what he might have done. When he arrived here, he was alone, and he preferred it that way. If he was going to work for the shadows, he'd rather do it with his head down and no one knowing his name. At that time, he was ready to forget about Cal and Zeke and home. He had done all he could to protect them and now he was just another pawn to the shadows. It was for their own good that he wasn't in their lives anymore. At least that's what he would tell himself.

The wind picked up and white dust floated from the snow-covered ground. He pulled out his lighter and attempted to make a flame but it kept getting blown out before he could do anything with it. Cal could have easily redirected the wind with nothing more than a flick of his hand. Festus hated himself for wishing Cal was by his side.

"You don't need him," he said out loud. "You'll only hurt him."

He kept his hands stuffed in his pockets and his collar pulled up around his ears and trudged through the snow and wind until a small light appeared in the distance. As he approached, the knot in his stomach grew heavier.

He walked up to the building and the guards turned towards him, their conversations going quiet. "What the hell are you looking at!?" He yelled threateningly.

They were all sitting around a table playing a game of poker. There wasn't much to guard here except the food supply, but anyone who dared tried to steal any was killed immediately. The shadows were ruthless and blindly followed every command Ruse gave them.

Festus walked in the door, grateful for some warmth finally. He headed directly back through the house to the boss's office and knocked on the door.

When it opened, Boss stood in the doorway and another man sat in front of the desk.

"Oh good you're here! I was wondering when you would be coming back."

Festus scowled when the seated man turned around and he saw who it was - it was Boras - father of Cal and Zeke.

"What the hell is he doing here?" Festus spat.

Boras only smiled. "Don't be like that," Boss said. "This place is his creation after all."

That was true, Boras was the creator of this prison, but Festus didn't have the heart to reveal that to Cal or Zeke yet. It was just another level of shit that he had to deal with on his own.

"I'm here to talk to you, actually," Boras gestured to the chair next to him.

"I'm fine, I'll stand." Festus didn't want to be any closer to that man than he had to. "What do you want?"