He sighed and pulled me into his arms. I sighed and didn’t fight him. There was no point. “It’s going to be okay.”
“No, it’s not. Look at what I’ve done. I’m a horrible person. The others don’t deserve this.”
“Eira, stop,” he growled. “You’re not a horrible person. This is going to get fixed.”
I shook my head. “It’s not, and I’m going to have to leave again.”
Raikidan’s grip tightened. “You’re not going anywhere. You hear me?”
He’s wrong. I pulled away from him, but as I was about an arm’s length away Raikidan pulled me back. I yelped when I fell a little farther than I expected and then blinked with surprise when something beneath me cracked. I looked up at Raikidan, who looked as confused as me. When I realized my feet felt different from each other, I looked down at them and half-laughed at what I saw. When Raikidan noticed what I was looking at, he let me stand on my feet.
I took off my left shoe and held it up. The tiny heel had snapped and hung loosely from the bottom of the shoes. Raikidan began to laugh.
“You broke my shoe!” I accused.
“Not like you mind,” he told me through his laughter.
I joined him. He was right and I was glad I didn’t have to wear them now. Once I had my laughter under control, I took off the other shoe and tossed them both somewhere. I leaned back on the railing and looked out at the city.
Raikidan moved closer to me and copied how I was standing. “Feel better?”
I shook my head. “No.”
He sighed and touched my chin with his finger, forcing me to look at him. “It’s going to be okay. Believe me when I promise you this.”
I pulled away. “Even if it does miraculously work out, what these soldiers have said… really hurt.”
“Eira, they don’t know what they’re talking about. They don’t know you.” He forced me to look at him again. “They don’t know you like I do.”
I blinked as my cheeks warm a little. I didn’t know what to say. Then I did something I didn’t expect. I smiled. “You’re right, they don’t.”
Raikidan grinned and let go of my chin. He looked out at the city. “So you’re name means peace, huh? Didn’t know humans put meanings behind their names.”
I nodded. “Most have some sort of meaning, but I don’t deserve mine.”
“Why do you say that?” he asked, looking at me again.
I gave him a long, stern look. “When have I brought peace to anyone?”
He smiled. “You’ve brought it to your friends, for one. And, I can’t believe I’m going to tell you this, but you’ve brought it to me, too, and I’m glad for it.”
I looked at him funny. What did I do to bring peace to his life? Certainly not enter it. I never made anyone happy or peaceful. He’s just trying to make me feel better. I sighed with a shake of my head and looked back out at the city.
“Eira, I’m being serious,” he told me.
“Raikidan, I don’t bring peace to—what is that?”
Raikidan blinked and looked at the billowing black smoke I was pointing at. It looked far off, like it was coming from Sector One.
Raikidan furrowed his brow. “What in Lumaraeon?”
“Either that’s a really bad fire or something is going on,” I stated.
“Stay here.” Raikidan dashed off before I could say anything.
I watched him speak urgently with some soldiers who took one look at the smoke and dashed off into the mansion. The sounds of soldiers shouting below me caught my attention. Soldiers, now in full uniform, rushed down the driveway and into the city. Only time would tell what was going on.
Raikidan came back and stood by my side. He looked at me for a few minutes and then looked out at the city.
“What?” I asked him.
He shrugged. “Nothing.”
I grunted and went back to looking for something better to look at. The sky was uneventful. The light and air pollution blocked out most of the stars. “You haven’t tried to compliment me on how I look tonight.”
Raikidan looked at me. “Uh, is that a problem?”
I shrugged. “No, just an observation that’s all. I know I don’t look all that great.”
“Eira, don’t say that,” he said. “You look great.”
I eyed him. “Then why haven’t you insisted on complimenting me? I’ve become accustomed to you trying it at least once and since you’re stubborn, I never imagined you’d give up trying so soon.”
He sighed and looked down at his hands. “Honestly, I was going to but I couldn’t find the right words. The ones I thought of either sounded like something Blaze would say or couldn’t justify how you really looked.”
“So, you’re being picky,” I teased.
He scratched his head. “I guess so. I’m trying to figure out the most appropriate human way of explaining it.”
“Then why not describe it in a way that would work best for you and not me or another human?” I suggested.
Raikidan thought for a moment. “You… look like a gem.”
I fought furiously to stop the flush that wanted to burst onto my face and tried to keep the burning of my ears down. I knew what that type of compliment meant for him. Dragons thought of treasure for their hoards. They thought of gems and other priceless object to own and being compared to a gem had to be one of the better compliments he could have thought to give me, not that I deserved it.
Afraid I wouldn’t be able to hide my embarrassment, I went to look away but Raikidan grabbed my chin with his fingers and made me look at him again. “The only thing that has to be done with you is to polish that makeup off. Then you’d be a perfect gem.”
I couldn’t hold back my embarrassment anymore. His gaze and the conviction in his voice made it too difficult. Raikidan’s thumb caressed my cheek, setting my body’s temperature ablaze and my heart racing, but I didn’t stop him. I had no willpower to do so, as if I was being hypnotized or compelled by some unknown force.
I snapped out of my daze when a masculine voice cleared his throat. I looked to see Zo and the officer who had accused me of being a rebel standing near us.
“What do you want?” Raikidan growled.
“To apologize,” Zo said. “That smoke you two saw was from a rebel group who chose to destroy a small military compound. The woman Eira was accused of being was with them.”
I blinked. How was that possible? This couldn’t be right.
Zo nudged the other officer. “Don’t you have something to say?”
The officer swallowed as if he were swallowing his pride. “Miss, I owe you an apology. I was quick to accuse you of something without proof. I’m sorry I’ve caused you so much grief this evening.”
I stuck up my nose and turned away. I was not going to accept it.
Raikidan chuckled. “Eira holds grudges and they don’t end within a few days.”
“You sound like you’ve been on the receiving end,” Zo commented.
Raikidan grunted. “She didn’t talk to me for five months.”
“You deserved it,” I replied.
He snorted. “Hardly.”
The officer cleared his throat. “Well if you two would excuse us, we have work to do, thanks to those rebels.”
Zo and the officer excused themselves and I allowed myself to relax. I was off the hook. I didn’t have to leave, and I could finish what we started.
Raikidan chuckled low. “You’re welcome.”
I looked at him. “Raikidan, what did you do? What’s going on?”
He chuckled again and moved closer to me. “Seda and I created a fake you to throw the military off. It just took longer to implement since they raided the house.”
I blinked in disbelief. They had done that for m
e? They went through all that trouble to get me to stay?
“You’re welcome, Laz,” Seda quickly messaged.
Without any thought, I wrapped my arms around Raikidan’s neck and gave him a tight hug. Raikidan tensed in shock but soon returned the gesture.
“You’re welcome, Eira,” he whispered.
“Hey, guys, don’t mean to interrupt your hug-fest, but we gotta go!” Ryoko yelled to us as she ran out onto the balcony. “Zane got back with the car and he says we really have to see the damage.”
I sighed and pulled away from Raikidan. I was not looking forward to this.
Raikidan folded my arms into his. “It’s going to be all right. We’ll get everything fixed.”
I sighed. “I hope so.”
Raikidan guided me back into the mansion and then down the front steps to the car where everyone was waiting for us. Blaze was now dateless, and I could only assume the woman ran off with some soldier during all the commotion.
“I can’t believe you broke those designer shoes,” Ryoko grumble.
I snorted. “Designer my ass. They were uncomfortable and not made to be walked in.”
Ryoko sighed in aggravation and got into the car. I followed close behind her and Shva’sika was in next after me. The boys climbed in after us and before they were seated Zane was driving off. Raikidan and Rylan were the unfortunate two who were still standing up, and Ryoko and I were the two unfortunate victims to be fallen onto.
Raikidan looked up at me as he partially lay across the floor and partially across my lap. “Sorry.”
“It’s fine,” I replied tersely.
“Crazy driver,” Rylan muttered. “Sorry about this, Ryoko.”
She laughed. “Not your fault.”
The two tried to get up and sit down in an actual seat, but the limousine hit a bump and the two fell back on our laps. They attempted to get back up again, but Zane took a sharp turn and they fell once more, only this time Raikidan took me with him when he fell on the floor. Blaze, Argus, and Shva’sika found great amusement in this, and weren’t afraid to laugh the whole time it was happening.
I’d barely managed to climb back up on the seat before having to hold onto the back of it when Zane took another sharp turn. “Zane, slow it down! Stupid old man.” When Zane didn’t listen, I pounded on the window blocking us from him. When he didn’t listen to that, I smashed it with the flat side of my fist. “Zane, slow the fuck down before I wring your neck!”
“I’m trying to get home,” he defended.
“I don’t care!” I bellowed. “You’re driving like a crazy old lady. Now slow it down or you’re going six feet under.”
He sighed and took his foot off the accelerator.
Argus snickered. “Whoever sad violence wasn’t the answer never met Eira.”
Everyone laughed. Even Zane and I were laughing. It was a good thing. It was lifting up our spirits and we were going to need it to deal with the problem to come.
Chapter 29
Iwoke to the early morning sun peering through the skylight, much to my displeasure. After we had gotten home a few nights ago and assessed the insane amount of damage the military had caused to the house, Genesis had sent me out on an assignment, which turned into three more, and five more after that. I was lucky to get a quick nap between requests.
I had initially taken the first one since she had told me to. Then I took the next few assignments in hopes it would make me feel better, but then it got out of hand after that.
Raikidan and Seda’s effort to keep me here was well-planned and thought out, and it worked like a charm, putting me in a better mood and all, but with the ridiculous number of assignments Genesis had insisted on piling on me, accompanied by my missing necklace with broken promise, and previously torn-apart house, their gesture had become insignificant.
I snuggled deeper into my new soft pillows. Thanks to Shva’sika, most of the damage done to the house had become a non-issue. I didn’t know her family had been so powerful until she explained it to us. Apparently, she came from a wealthy working-class family who made the best hand-carved products in all of Lumaraeon, and many of them were also highly sought-out contractors.
She’d never told me her family had come from the North, or that she had actually been born there when her father and mother had been visiting family. It didn’t bother me, though, because I was so grateful she was willing to speak to her family about the matter. I had gotten a new bed out of it, as well as an exceptionally well-crafted dresser and nightstand, and an enormous walk-in closet. I wasn’t the only one who had received this treatment, but because I had been gone so often on assignments, I never found out what everyone else had received.
My stomach growled and I sighed. Apparently I wasn’t getting my way this morning. Sitting up, I threw my hair up into my hairclip and headed for the door.
“Well good morning, sleepyhead,” Shva’sika greeted as I entered the living room. “Tea?”
“Let me just grab some breakfast,” I said as I entered the newly renovated kitchen.
After preparing a bowl of cereal for myself, I sat down on the couch next to her and accepted the cup of tea. The sweetness of the honey and pomegranate tantalized my taste buds and I sighed with content. “Where are the others?”
She shrugged. “I believe Ryoko is still sleeping, and Rylan and Raikidan might be downstairs. The rest, I’m not sure.”
“Figures Ryoko would be asleep. I am surprised however, that Rylan and Raikidan are working together.”
“Ever since you left for those endless string of missions, Raikidan sat around doing nothing, unsure of what to do with his free time,” Shva’sika explained. “So Rylan figured he’d teach Raikidan a few tricks to using the guns and from then on they’ve been doing all sorts of things down there.”
I almost choked on the tea. “You make them sound gay.”
Shva’sika laughed. “Well from some of their sparring matches it would make you wonder.”
We were both laughing now. It was such an absurd idea but that was what made it funny.
“What’s so funny?” Ryoko was now in the room, rubbing her groggy eyes.
“Well good morning to you too, bright-eyes.” Shva’sika smiled and held up her cup. “Tea?”
Ryoko shook her head and shuffled her way to the kitchen. “Coffee…”
I snickered. Ryoko could not function well in the morning without her cup of coffee. My attention was brought to the basement door by the sound of footsteps. Rylan and Raikidan came through the door, shirtless and sweaty.
“Looks like you two had fun,” I remarked as I took a sip of tea, although I wish I hadn’t. Shva’sika giggled, causing me to choke. I glared at her. She looked at me apologetically but couldn’t control her giggles, which then made me start giggling, too.
Confused, Rylan and Raikidan looked at each other, which made us go from giggling to full out laughing. We were horrible people.
Someone behind us cleared their throat, causing us to calm down rather fast. Turning, I almost dropped my cup of tea when I saw the young man behind us.
“Laz, who’s the young man?” Shva’sika asked. “A friend of yours?”
“Ryder…” I whispered.
“What are you talking about, Laz?” Ryoko questioned. “Ryder is like ten-years-old, or at least, looks that young. This guy is definitely not that young.”
“Hey, mom,” Ryder greeted, proving Ryoko wrong.
I stood up slowly, taking in his appearance. I guessed him to be around seventeen, with white hair, an athletic build, and unique blue-green heterochomic eyes with rings around the pupil. It’s definitely him.
“What are you doing here?” I asked.
“Jeez, don’t sound so unhappy to see me,” he said. I gave him a long, stern look and he laughed.
“I’m kidding. I came to see you. I figured you needed to see what they figured out and also I had a favor to ask of you.”
“Do you realize how bad of an idea this is?” It sounded a little harsh, but I didn’t want him hurt, or worse.
“Calm down, mom. No one is going to find out about this. Now can I be welcomed in?”
I sighed and waved him in. “Get your ass over here.”
He smiled and joined me on the couch.
I put my arm around him. “Now you said you had something to share?”
Ryder rolled up his pant leg and removed a long, plastic canister strapped to his leg. He handed it to me. “They figured out the problem.” I opened the canister and slid out the rolled paper. Unrolling it, I looked at the symbols scribbled everywhere. “This is only a copy, and it wasn’t easy for the scientists to smuggle it out.”
“You know I can’t read,” I reminded him as I looked at all the strange writing.
“It’s the code to enable the aging process in experiments like me. I’m the first they tested it on, and in a week my body aged seven years. Auron says they’ll put me under another test to bring me up to a more appropriate-looking age, but they want to wait a little so my body isn’t put under too much stress.
“I remembered you saying someone else was like me in that sense so I figured this may be of some use. I know you guys don’t have the high tech equipment the scientists used with me, but you’re all smart enough to figure out how to use it without them.”
“Thank you, Ryder. This will be a lot of help.”
He smiled. “Good. Now I was wondering if I could borrow the dagger I made you. I promise I won’t have it long.”
“Um, sure.” I went to reach for it but realized they weren’t there. None of my daggers were. I shot a questioning glance at Raikidan.
“On your dresser,” he stated, tossing his head in the direction of my room.
I entered my room and grabbed the dagger from the dresser. Remembering I still needed materials to make the gift I promised Shva’sika, I rummaged through my dresser for a pencil and paper and scribbled down a checklist. When I came out, Ryder was waiting near the doorway and he took the items gratefully when I handed them over. “If you could, I need these supplies for something. If it’s too much to ask for don’t worry about it.”
Pieces Page 34
