by Lola St. Vil
“What’s inside the plate?” He asks her.
“It says “Marcus & Bianca. Always.”
“Let me see it.”
She hands it to him; he studies it closely.
“It’s crap. Why do you still have it?” He wonders.
“Why would I throw away?”
“It’s from your ex’s wedding. Why would you keep it?”
“I don’t know. It’s…nice,” she says carefully as she walks away from him. She is looking at the maps, but even from this distance I can tell she’s faking interest.
“Why is the plate important to you?” Rage asks, not fooled for a minute.
“It’s not,” she lies.
“Cree was being destroyed, you sought out a freaking plate and saved it. Why?”
“What’s the difference?”
“Wait; are you still in love with the Tic?”
“He’s not a Tic anymore.”
“I ask you if you are still in love with another guy and that’s your answer?”
“I’m not in love with him anymore. You know that.”
“The only thing I know is that not one but two of your exes are here. It takes everything in me not to drown them in an ocean of flames and dance on their ashes.”
“I know it’s hard, Thomas; I appreciate you trying.”
“I don’t need your appreciation; I need to know what’s so special about the stupid plate.”
“NOTHING!”
“Good,” he says, snatching it from her.
“Give it back, Thomas. I’m not in the mood to play.”
“I’m not playing either. If this isn’t important, then I can break it.”
“Thomas, why are you being such an ass?”
“Why are you lying to me?”
“You want to throw it away, fine. Whatever,” she says, clearly irritated.
She puts all her attention on the maps, once again. Rage hands it back to her. He starts to head towards the entrance but before he gets there, she calls out after him.
“It’s not about Marcus,” she swears.
“Then what the hell is it about? You know I can’t do the mind reading crap you chicks dig so much.”
“I just like the design; it’s nice. It’s like what I would choose for my…” She falls silent.
“For your what?”
“Nothing,” She replies.
“I FREAKING HATE THAT CRAP! JUST SAY WHAT’S IN YOUR HEAD, DAMN IT!”
“Fine; it’s how I pictured my wedding ceremony. Marcus and I never got to have one because we had to prepare for the mission. Then, I was with Wolf but we didn’t get that far. And now…”
“Now you’re in love with a Demon who doesn’t have a Rah and can’t marry you.” She lowers head. He looks over at her and his face darkens.
“You said you were okay with that,” he reminds her.
“I don’t what? I am okay with it… I don’t care… It doesn’t matter… I am…?”
“Then why the hell are we having this conversation?” He says in a serious tone.
She shrugs. He shakes his head, clearly pissed. She goes over to him and tries to touch his shoulder but he shrugs her off.
“Thomas, it’s just a stupid plate. It doesn’t mean anything,” she says.
Then, to show her sincerity, she drops the plate on the ground and steps on it. Some plates are unbreakable; this one is not. It smashes into pieces.
“See; means nothing,” she says causally as she stands on her toes and embraces Rage.
He holds her but all of his attention is the on the now shattered wedding plate.
“Hey, can I talk to you?”
I turn around and find Rio standing a few feet away. I head over to him, glad to have a reason to turn from the bizarre scene of a Guardian and an Akon interaction.
“What is it?” I ask.
“The soldiers have a lot of waves.Excitement, nervousness, worry…”
“That’s normal. They’re about to go to war,” I reply.
“Yeah, but there’s this Quo - he’s scared.”
“They all are, to some extent,” I reason.
“Not like this. Marcus, this kid is petrified. Having him in the field is a bad idea,” Rio warns me.
“Where is he?”
Rio points to a small boy who looks to be about thirteen. He pulls nervously at the robe he’s wearing. He summons a power ball. It’s the size of a lemon. He tries again. It’s now the size of a grape. He does this a few times with very little success.
“Why did Dalce let him in?” I ask.
“If they’re eleven and can summon up a power ball, they have the right to join the army if they wish.”
“You’re right, we have to pull him out,” I reply, in agreement with Rio.
“He looks like he’s going to wet himself.”
“Is there anyone else feeling this way?”
“Everyone is nervous but they’ve managed to keep it under control. Actually, some are even cocky.”
“Well, that’s a lot better than scared.”
“Yeah. I’ll tell him he’s out so he can relax and head back to base camp,” Rio offers.
“No, I’ll talk to him.”
I head over to the frail ‘bean pole’ of a soldier.
“What’s your name?” I ask.
He turns to answer me but once he realizes who I am, he’s frozen.
“What’s your name?” I ask again.
“Marcus Cane.”
I look at him, perplexed.
“I mean…you’re Marcus Cane. Like, the Marcus Cane...Marcus…Cane…leader...Guardians…” he says breathlessly.
I’m about to reply when I realize this kid is literally breathless. He begins to hyperventilate.
“Kid, calm down,” I order as I help him bend down to his knees, still struggling for air.
“Big…fan…me…you,” he mumbles.
“Yeah, I get that. But right now, I need you to stay calm. I’m gonna count backwards from ten and when I get to one, you’re going to stop acting like a groupie and start acting like a soldier , got it?”
He nods his head ‘Yes’ and I begin to count. I have no idea if this will work but it’s worth a shot. Luckily, as I begin to count, he starts to let in some air. By the time I’m down to three, he’s standing once again.
“Two…one.”
“Thank you, Sir. Sorry about that. Sometimes, I get too excited,” he says still looking at me like I’m wearing a cape of some kind.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” I ask.
“Um…yeah, I mean, yes.”
“Good. What’s you’re name?”
“Ty, sir” He says unable to keep his voice from shaking.
“Ty, you look like you might not be ready for this.”
“No, sir; I’m ready. My whole family is back at base camp and they are so excited I made the cut.”
“What did you have to do to qualify?”
“I had to summon up a power ball and show them my other power.”
“What’s your other power?”
He disappears instantly before my eyes. Then, a few moments later, he reappears.
“Good; what about the power balls?”
“I can make big ones with a force that could knock out an entire block,” he says proudly.
“I was just watching you…”
“Yeah, it turns out, when I’m…about to do battle, they kind of shrink.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know. But it’s not because of fear. I’m Quo. We don’t fear things,” he says mostly to reassure himself.
“How old are you?”
“Twelve and a half.”
“Why did you want to be here?”
“My dad told me all about your adventures. How you took on a bunch of evil dudes like Akons, the Hun and even Kairo. I want to fight along side you guys.”
“You’re not afraid of Angels, given what the Sage has said about us and what the Council has done to your kind?�
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“My dad said not all Angels are bad. And since you killed all those evil guys, it means you and your team are the good guys, right?”
“Right.”
“Well, I joined the army because I want to help you guys. Actually, I want to be a Guardian. But I heard you have to be human, suffer, and die in a horrible way so…I guess that’s out.”
“I guess it is.”
“But you guys let other beings into the team, like the First Akon. He’s on the team, so I figure I have a shot.”
“Rage isn’t really— never mind. Look, Ty, you seem like a good kid but you’re not ready. There’s no shame in wanting to go back to base camp.”
“Back? Why would I go back—I’m not scared.”
“I didn’t say you were.”
“Sir, I can do this,” he says, eagerly looking up at me.
“Your power balls couldn’t harm a fly.”
“I’m working on it. They just get small when I’m—”
“—when you’re ‘not’ scared?”
He shakes his head. Shakes or nods?
“Ty, we can’t use you.”
“Sir, I’m the only one in my family with an active power. Ever since my dad found out I could form power balls, he’s talked about me joining the army. I can’t let him down. He’s my dad.” Damn this kid. The second he talks about his dad, I flash back to mine. I remember wanting to prove to him that I was though. I was in pee wee football and this kid who weighed about four hundred pounds ran into me. I hit the ground - hard. The pain was intense.
Everyone ran over to see if I was okay, including my dad. As soon as I saw him, I somehow willed the tears to stay back. I forced my body to understand that boys don’t cry. Looking back, I’m sure I didn’t fool anyone because my lips were trembling uncontrollably and my face was twisted in agony.
I tried to hold back the crying for as long as I could. But once I got up from the ground, the pain intensified and the tears came. I was sure my dad was ashamed of me. I had let him down and now he wished he had a better son; a stronger son.
Later that night, my dad told me about falling off a tree once and crying so loud the whole neighborhood knew about it. He said crying wasn’t a big deal as long as I didn’t allow it to stop me from playing again. I was so relieved to still be worthy in his eyes.
I look over at the kid as he summoned up yet another mini power ball. The smaller they are, the more frustrated he gets. The more frustrated he gets, the smaller the power balls. It’s a vicious cycle.
“I’m glad you’re not scared. But if you were scared, I’d tell you that it okay because the other guy is scared too.”
“Really?” He asks incredulously.
“Everyone in a battle is scared. No one wants to die. So, what the other guy does is focus on something else to keep from being scared.”
“Like what?”
“Like what he’s fighting for. That’s why you have to make sure you’re in a fight that’s worth it,” I reply.
“This is worth it. My dad says we can have a future with the Angels.”
“Ty, don’t fight because of your dad; fight because you think it’s the right thing to do. I know your dad believes in us, but what do you believe in?”
“I like the humans. I don’t think they should be forced to worship the Sage. And maybe some Angels are bad but not all of you guys. So, he shouldn’t be allowed to kill you all. I mean, yeah, The Council treated us like we were accidents and locked us away, but you guys aren’t like them. I know the Guardians like us. I mean, for Omnis’ sake, you fell in love and married one of us.”
“Yeah, I did…” I say, almost to myself.
“So that’s what I’m fighting for.”
“You’re fighting for the humans and the lives of thousands of Angels. That’s a good reason, Ty.”
“Yeah, them too, but mostly I’m doing it for you and Bianca. I can’t believe you married a Quo. For so long we were told we were insignificant but now…you and Bianca…that’s what I’m fighting for.”
Damn…
I clear my throat like it will somehow take the guilt away.
“Hold out your hand,” I instruct. He does as I say.
“Now, when you summon the power ball, it will be big and powerful because you, Ty, are powerful. Got it?”
He summons the power ball. It’s the same baby power ball as the other ones. He shakes his head, frustrated. I order him to try again. He does, and this time the power ball is bigger, but not by much.
“ARGH!” He shouts.
“Ty, focus.”
He closes his eyes and when he opens them up again, a massive power ball forms in his hands.
His eyes widen in shock.
“It’s never been this big, ever!” Ty declares.
“Keep practicing and remember: focus.”
“So, you’ll let me stay?” He asks filled with hope.
“For now.”
“Okay, thank you. Thank you.”
I smile reluctantly and hope I haven’t condemned a little boy to his death. As I walk away, he calls after me.
“Sir?”
“Yeah?”
“Do you think a Quo could ever, somehow, become part of your team? I mean, if he worked really hard and practiced all the time?”
“Um…yeah, I guess. Maybe one day,” I reply, unable to think of a better answer.
He grins broadly and goes back to practicing.
“How did it go?” Rio asks from a few feet away.
“You weren’t reading my waves?” I ask as we head back.
“Yeah, saw a few interesting colors. So I take it you’re not sending him home?” Rio inquires.
“He really wants to be here,” I reply.
“And that’s all it takes?”
“Rio, the Quo allow children to fight. That’s not my rule, it’s theirs.”
“I’m just saying, he’s a kid. He thinks this is a video game or something.”
“He’s gonna be fine.”
“How can you grant that?”
“I’ll look after him.”
“How? You’re leading the team,” he says as if I need reminding.
“Yes, I am leading this team. And since that’s the case, maybe you could have a little faith in me then and not question me every five minutes. Can you do that?” I ask bitterly.
“I don’t think I’m asking anything unreasonable. That kid needs to go home.”
“If we lose this, everyone will be affected, including Ty. So if he wants to fight, let him.”
“He’s fighting for something that’s not even real. He thinks you and Bianca are some type of symbol of Angel and Quo harmony, but you’re not.”
“Just because the two of us aren’t…it doesn’t mean that we can’t get along with the Quo.”
“I know that. But you guys are perpetrating a lie. And that kid is putting his life on the line for that lie!” He shouts.
“Keep your voice down!” I scold.
“This kid is being lied to,” he says in a lower tone.
“This isn’t about Ty. It’s about you.”
“Me?”
“Yes, you. No matter what happens, you always find a reason to be pissed at me.”
“That’s not true.”
“Rio, I don’t need your powers to know you’re lying. Ever since we were in the light and Ameana rejected you, you’ve hated me.”
“Ameana has nothing to do with this.”
“She has everything to do this. But what I don’t get is why you’re still hating because, incase you didn’t notice, I’m not with her anymore.”
“I told you this isn’t about her,” he says tightly.
“Then what the hell is it about?”
“This is about a kid who’s gonna get himself killed because he believes in you.”
“If I tell him the truth about us, I might as well tell the whole army. Then what? Who will help us then?” I snap.
“I think it’s wrong for you t
o let him stay,” he replies, shaking his head.
“So you’re just gonna keep pretending this is about Ty?”
“I’m not pretending. I’m doing what you should have been doing: looking out for these people.”
“You always act like you know better than me.”
“It’s not an act,” he sneers.
I stop walking, and turn to face him. My face is stone and my voice is steel.
“Rio, you wanna run this team? You wanna lead this war? Fine. I will relinquish complete control of this team, if you answer one question.”
“Marcus, you’re being crazy.”
“No, I’m not. For the longest time I knew you felt Omnis was wrong to make me First Guardian. Maybe he was, but it’s done. The only way you can lead the team now is if both Ameana and Miku die. Or if I willingly relinquish my title to you.”
“Why would you risk your leadership like that?”
“It’s not a risk. I’m certain you won’t have the balls to answer the question.”
“And if I do?”
“You won’t.”
“But if I do?”
“Then I will step down as First Guardian. Ameana will remain the second in command but you… will lead.”
He studies me to see if I’m serious. I remain perfectly still and never break eye contact.
“Rio, I’ve been trying to steer this team down the right path and all you’ve been doing is judging and condemning me from the backseat. Come on up to the front; see if you like the view from here.”
“This is crazy,” he replies, still studying me.
“You wanna lead so badly, fine. You answer the question I ask, and you will be the new First Guardian.”
“You’re serious?”
“Read. My. Waves.”
“If I give you an answer to this question, I’m in charge?” He restates.
“Did I stutter?”
“What’s the question?”
“Why did you try to kill me?”
CHAPTER EIGHT:
STEEL & PAPER
I’ve never seen Rio look so shocked. My question renders him without speech… his face is flooded with emotions. Most are too mixed to really read. I wish I had his power right now; I would give anything to know exactly what he’s feeling.
“Yes, Rio, I know it was you that night on the New River Bridge in West Virginia.” He turns away, but I don’t let that stop me.
