Shackled Serenity

by Leon Logos

  “Great,” Lyla groaned. “More brats in the house.”

  “You know them?” Serenity asked.

  “Of course I know them—we get the same guests every year,” she replied. “Though, every year is a new one; some people don’t show up, sometimes new people show up. This family is too big.”

  “Wait, so everyone that’s coming is part of the family? There’s nobody from any allied families? Like family friends?”

  “Huh?” Lyla said puzzledly. “Everyone that’s coming is Aurelian. Christmas is supposed to be a time for family, in case you didn’t know.”

  “Forget what I said,” she said sheepishly. “I guess the Dining Hall is gonna be packed these next couple of days.”

  “We’ll expand it like we always do,” said Lyla. “It’ll look like Hogwarts. You know, the Great Hall? You ever read Harry Potter?”

  “I think I’ve watched one of the movies at a school once…”

  “What?! You haven’t seen the movies? Or even read one of the books?!”

  “I’ve never had the time to read or watch movies, okay?” she said defensively. “I have read a couple of books in my lifetime, but not Harry Potter. Why? Is it really that good?”

  “You’re missing out, I’m not even going to answer that question,” Lyla scowled. “By the way, I heard you dropped out of school.”

  “You mean Mrs. White’s class? Yeah, it wasn’t for me…”

  “I wish I could drop out,” said Lyla jealously. “You don’t realize how lucky you are that you could. I don’t get how Lily loves it.”

  “I noticed you didn’t look very happy,” Serenity said. “I guess kids all around the world hate school. Not just in America.”

  “I’d rather attend an American public school than our stupid, boring home school,” said Lyla. “Did you like school in the States?”

  “Yeah, but mostly for the social aspect of it. Academically speaking, American schools have their shortcomings. You’d learn way more here than at your typical American high school.”

  “Please tell me Troy Bolton isn’t entirely a lie?” Lyla smirked.

  “Who?”“Jesus, aren’t you American? Troy! From High School Musical?”

  “Never watched it,” Serenity sighed. “Who’s Troy?”

  “Forget it,” Lyla said curtly. “You’re no fun.”

  She made no attempt to disagree, aware of her dearth knowledge of popular culture. It did surprise her, however, how much the Aurelian children knew about pop culture. She had expected them to be living in a bubble, confined in an insular life. But they were essentially normal adolescents, which should’ve been clear to her from the start.

  She spent the rest of the afternoon with Sixto, after a lively and exuberant repast in the Lunch Hall with all the newly arrived guests. They sat on the training grounds bleachers. There was an obstacle course just ahead of them. He continued to ask her about two nights ago, hoping to obtain an answer different from what she spoon-fed him last time. But her response was invariable: “further questioning.” This time, Sixto inquired deeper, soliciting for the details. She made up more lies on the spot.

  “They just asked me where I was on the night the intruders attacked, and other random questions,” she said. “At the end, I proved my innocence.”

  “Riiight,” Sixto said, unconvinced, dragging on the word. “Anyway, what do you think about the guests? Christmas time gets busy, right?”

  “It’s a bit noisy,” she shrugged. “All the guests aren’t even here yet.”

  “Most of them are; I think some families like the Prewetts, the Calebs, and the Fisks aren’t coming this year.”

  “Who? I thought everybody coming are Aurelians.”

  “They are! But we like to refer to them by their former surnames. It’s easier to identity them, you know?”

  “Are their last names changed legally?”

  “I think so,” Sixto said, equally as intrigued at the question. “It’s not hard to change your surname. Especially if you’re high in social status.”

  “I don’t doubt it,” she said. “It seems like money and power can get you anything on the planet. The world does run on those things, though.”

  “Don’t get all philosophical and anthropological on me,” Sixto scoffed. “I can’t stand that stuff.”

  “I bet you wouldn’t last in Mrs. White’s class, then,” she said.

  “Definitely not!” Sixto grimaced. “I’m shocked you lasted ten minutes.”

  “Well, I’m glad I’m not the only who feels this way about her class,” said Serenity. “I thought I was just being childish.”

  “Nope, more like rational,” said Sixto. “Her curriculum is tedious. Good thing you left. You would’ve strangled her to death after one of her speeches about the ‘antiquity of institutionalized education.’”

  “Don’t make me imagine it,” she laughed.

  They watched a flock of birds fly past them overhead during a momentary period of silence. “I still don’t understand how the Aurelian initiation thing works,” she said randomly. “You guys aren’t even blood-related.”

  “We don’t have to, we’re like a fraternity,” he said. “We just have that connection. And yes, there’s an initiation process.”

  “Really? I don’t remember going through one.”

  “That’s because you were born Aurelian.”

  “Oh yeah…” she said, feeling dumb. “So Christmas is in two days. Wow, it’s weird remembering last year’s Christmas. Seems like a decade ago.”

  “The Carlisles celebrated Christmas?” Sixto asked, in interest.

  “Definitely not—at least not regularly,” she said. “Last year, instead of Christmas caroling, I was dragged into driving by people’s houses and throwing rocks at their windows…”

  “WHAT?! You’re a delinquent!” Sixto snickered.

  “No, I wasn’t doing it! But I was in the car, and my idiot brothers were doing it. And they were doing it behind my oldest brother’s back, too. And instead of presents, we got two extra hours of training…”

  This was all true. For last year’s Christmas, she was in Salt Lake City. And she really was dragged into partaking in delinquent activities. Inevitably, the cops were called on them, and it was a miracle how they managed to escape them.

  All this reminiscing of her former family reminded her that two of them were currently locked in the jailhouse, just a fifteen-minute walk away. It instantly killed her mood. She sighed, downcast. Her shift in demeanor was appreciable. Sixto pointed it out quickly.

  “What’s with the change? You feel all right?”

  “Yeah…” she said wistfully. “Just have some stuff on my mind.”

  “Well, don’t keep secrets,” Sixto pressed. “Talk to me.”

  She was just reminded of something at the word “secrets.”

  “Hey, I remember you telling me about secret passageways?” she asked, needing clarification—or rather confirmation.

  “Damn, did I?” Sixto said, looking morose. “Yeah, I know a couple. Why are you asking? I regret telling you. I don’t need anyone else knowing.”

  “Well,” she said, sliding closer to him, “I remember that you mentioned one that leads to the ja—”

  “HEY, GUYS!” Lily screeched, running up to them from behind. Serenity flinched, startled at her abrupt arrival. For a second, she feared it was a Councilman. Sixto directed his attention at Lily.

  “Where’s your little friends?” he demanded. “Not with you?”

  “Yup, they went inside,” Lily said happily.

  “Listen, don’t hang around those kids,” Sixto warned. “You hear?”

  “What?” Lily frowned. “You’re not my father. You can’t tell me that.”

  “I’m your older brother,” Sixto refuted. “Aren’t we taught to obey our elders? Exactly, so listen to what I’m saying.”

  “You’re beginning to resemble Destiny,” Lily said pointedly. “No wonder she likes you the most.”

&
nbsp; “I do not resemble Destiny!” Sixto denied fiercely. “What do you want here anyway? Lunch isn’t in another hour.”

  “I wanted to ask Serenity to play with me,” Lily frowned, not meeting Sixto’s eyes out of mild spite. She averted them to her.

  “She’s not a child,” Sixto grunted.

  “We’re one short on hide-and-seek, you wanna come?” Lily asked her, ignoring Sixto entirely. “This is the best place in the world to play it.”

  Sixto was right to an extent. These childish games didn’t appeal to her. They never did. Growing up, she never had anybody to play them with. Even during the few times she attended elementary schools, not many people were willing to play with her during recess due to her social awkwardness. She did play “games” during her childhood with the brothers, having been involuntarily dragged into them. But these were unorthodox “games” completely unsuitable for any child (or even adult).

  It was fortunate she was given coats, jackets, and insulated clothing. The weather was beginning to get frigid, the temperature plummeting day by day. According to Sixto, it could get as low as subzero some nights.

  Lunch came around quickly, which solicited no complaints from her. The Lunch Hall was crowded and rambunctious, filled with the many guests that had arrived today. They had extended the table, adding a considerable number of chairs. The kitchen staff was doubled, bringing twice as much food at a more expeditious rate. It intrigued her how some of the conversations that overlapped each other were carried out in different languages. She could figure out that there was a distinguishable disparity between German and Italian. Many of the foreign guests primly greeted her in broken English. Alistair must have told them about her, or word had disseminated that there was a new member of the family. Serenity feasted on Kaesespaetzle, which she was told translated to “cheese noodles.”

  She watched Sixto as he conversed with her, not paying attention. The whereabouts of this secret passageway still entertained her curiosity. In order to avoid suspicion, she needed to bring it up casually as if she was only mildly interested. Giving the impression she was eager to find out would evoke suspicion within him. She knew if that she conveyed the idea that sneaking out at night intrigued her, he might divulge her without any issues or convincing.

  “These sandwiches were better last year,” Sixto commented.

  “Huh?” she said absent-mindedly.

  “You all right?” Sixto said. “You’ve been staring into my soul for the past ten minutes, but not registering what I’ve been telling you at all.”

  “No, I was listening!” she lied. “W-what did you ask again?”

  “You’re a terrible liar,” he said chuckling.

  “I disagree; I can lie well when I have to.”

  “Nope, I can see through you,” Sixto disproved, taking a huge bite of his sandwich. “You’ve been lying for a while—about what happened a few nights ago with the Council.”

  “What if I’m not allowed to tell you?” she said warily.

  “Then, so be it. I’m not going to force you to speak.”

  Serenity glanced fleetingly in all directions, making sure nobody was eavesdropping. Everybody was absorbed in conversation and dining, and it was too noisy for anybody to overhear them anyway efficiently.

  “I could tell you,” she said cautiously, “if you promise not to tell.”

  Sixto put down his sandwich, nodding vigorously and leaning closer to her. Excitement and anticipation lit up his eyes as he gazed at her expectantly. Serenity kept her mouth shut, afraid to tell him the truth. Anybody could be watching or listening, and she wouldn’t know. This was a risky move. She didn’t know how trustworthy Sixto was when it came to keeping secrets. But she did trust him greatly. This was enough.

  However, before she blurted it out, she remembered what she needed from him. This was her chance to extract. But the prospect of being caught by anybody from the Council was overwhelming. This wasn’t the right time or setting to be doing this. She leaned back, focusing her attention back on her meal. Sixto receded from her, looking disappointed.

  “So, you’re not going to tell me,” he said dryly. “Thanks for playing me, Serenity. Not like I was interested.”

  “Not here,” she said without looking at him. “After lunch.”

  “Fine,” he said, finishing his sandwich. “If it’s that confidential, I get it. Meet me at the bleachers—no, my chamber after dinner.”

  “Why after dinner? Why not right after lunch?”

  “Patrol duty the rest of the day,” Sixto said drearily. “Love it.”

  Serenity nodded, figuring he was right. His chamber was as private a location as one could get. Privacy was one thing that was needed in order to divulge to him, especially since the residence was more packed than usual.

  She spent the rest of the time before dinner with Lily, playing ‘Go Fish’ in her chamber. Serenity had never played card games before, not finding anybody willing to play with her. She learned the rules quickly and even won the first round. Her mind was preoccupied with dinner and the scheduled meeting with Sixto. Lily perceived her win as beginner’s luck and set up a rematch. Serenity obliged, not having anything else to do.

  “Christmas is so close!” Lily pined, looking like she was going to explode in a monstrous joy of euphoria. “I can’t WAIT!”

  “I feel the same; I’ve never had a proper Christmas,” she replied truthfully. “Is it true they set up a huge tree in the middle of the courtyard?”

  “Yeah, it’s beautiful at night,” Lily nodded. “Wait till you see!”

  “I can’t wait…” she replied, her voice fading.

  She wanted to be excited about Christmas, but she just couldn’t find it in her to feel it. Something was irking her, troubling her to a vexing degree. What else could it be than the arrival of Desmos and Kyler? She had to meet them again, at least once more, in order to allay her uneasiness. They were not going to hinder her capacity to enjoy herself. It annoyed her when she thought about it; they were the reason her cheerful spirits were ebbing.

  “It’s going to snow so much this year, which is great,” said Lily. “I remember the snow was, like, four inches high two years ago!”

  “I’ve seen ten inches of snow,” Serenity bragged. “In Syracuse.”

  “Where?” Lily asked curiously. “It’s a city in New York,” she explained. “New York, the state, not the city. It snows a lot during winters in New York.”

  “Wow, I’ve always wanted to visit New York City,” Lily grinned. “Big cities always fascinate me. Sometimes I dream about walking through busy streets, with packs of people of around me.”

  “It’s not that fascinating,” Serenity said, amused at her quaint fantasy. “You just get pushed, touched where you don’t want to be, and pickpocketed. Pickpockets are everywhere in the cities.”

  Serenity recalled a time someone had tried to pickpocket them when they were in Manhattan. It was early in the morning; they were walking down a semi-packed street, and a man believed he could steal from Desmos. Of course, Desmos noticed that the man had reached into his pocket inconspicuously, but he did not act immediately. He waited until the man had turned into a dark alleyway as they followed him. It was a miracle the thief survived. She still could remember the first couple of plaintive screams that blasted out of his mouth before Desmos silenced him.

  One other time, when she was alone with Kyler on the streets of Chicago, walking back to their hotel that was only a couple of blocks from the 7/11 they went to, somebody had tried to rob them with a gun. Before she could obediently take out the cash in her pocket out of fear, Kyler immediately resolved the predicament they were in. He had disarmed the man of his weapon, subsequently stabbing the man twice in the throat and three times in the heart. They were only fourteen at the time, but even Kyler was a professional killer at that age.

  “How many places have you traveled to in your life?” Lily asked.

  “Too many to count. Pretty much every region in the
US, and a bit of Europe. Even Japan in Asia.”

  “Japan? WOAH!” Lily said in awe. “Did you see any Shiba Inus?”

  “Shiba-what?” she asked blankly.

  “Inus! They’re a dog breed, and they’re so cute. I heard every Japanese family has one. There’s a bunch of videos on YouTube of Shibas.”

  “Oh… Well, I don’t remember much, but I do remember seeing a lot of the same dog. Maybe they were Shibas.”

  “So why did you travel a lot?”

  “My previous family made me do it. We lived an ‘itinerant’ lifestyle.”

  “You never told me much about them. Were they nice?”

  She nearly laughed out loud at this question. Was Lily this uninformed about the Carlisles? She replied with a shrug, conveying that she didn’t want to talk about it. Doing so might compound the vexation she was feeling. But Lily wasn’t going to yield to her disinclination.

  “I heard your other dad was a monster,” she said matter-of-factly.

  “You’re not wrong…”

  “Did he—like—ever hit you?” Lily asked uncomfortably.

  “Sometimes…” Serenity said quietly.

  “Wow, that’s awful,” Lily said sympathetically. “I’m glad you’re with us now. My father would never hit me.”

  “Yeah, I believe you,” she said, aware of her winsome uncle’s kindness.

  Alistair was too gentle of a soul to hit anyone. She had never seen him angry, irritated, or upset before. He was perpetually calm and high-spirited, placid in nature. The prospect of an abusive Alistair was inconceivable, and Lily was too adorable and obedient of a child to punish anyway. Then again, Serenity had been obedient for the most part with Gunther. Her incompetence and impotence engendered her excessive punishment.

  The Dining Hall was, as she expected, packed. She took her usual seat with the Alistair family and began eating, starting with another foreign entrée. This time, there was a band of musicians stationed at the back of the room, providing entertainment with classical jazz. The ambiance was comparable to that of a fancy restaurant in the 1900s. The walls of the dining hall were now adorned with banners emblazoned with the Aurelian insignia. If she was to make an estimate, there were about two hundred people in the Hall. The noise level was at its apex.