by Mazhar, S
“I don’t know about that,” Aaron said. “They’re not exactly the friendliest bunch.” He thought specifically about Skyler and the crowds of mages that sat at the table and stole glances his way, but never spoke to him. “Other than Mary, no one’s even bothered to speak to me.” He paused before adding, “Correction, Skyler spoke to me but I would much rather he just ignore me like the rest.”
Rose shivered. “That’s the boy who moved us?” she asked. “He gives me the creeps.”
“That’s ’cause he is a creep,” Aaron said. “Reminds me of Matthews. The same attitude, the same smirk, the same I’m-gonna-beat-you-to-within-an-inch-of-your-life type of look in his eyes.”
“Let him try,” Sam glowered. “There are three of us against him.”
“He has a whole gang, Sammy,” Aaron pointed out. “All the same as him – big, with more muscles than brains, I bet.”
“I don’t know about that,” a voice said from behind them, making all three turn around. A young boy with copper-brown hair pulled back in a tight ponytail stood smiling at them. “Skyler’s pretty smart and, unfortunately for the rest of us, he knows it.”
Aaron recognised him. He was the boy who set the table with flying plates. Aaron had seen him do the same every day for all three mealtimes.
“It’s rude to eavesdrop, I know,” the boy continued, his sparkling hazel eyes crinkling in amusement, “but I couldn’t help myself.” He stared at Aaron. “You’re Aaron Adams, aren’t you?”
Aaron nodded slowly.
The boy rubbed a hand down his shirt before holding it out.
“It’s a pleasure.” He smiled. “Alan Kings.”
Aaron shook his hand.
“I’ve been wanting to introduce myself for a while now,” Alan said, “but Logan’s been sitting with you, so I’ve not dared.”
“Drake?” Aaron asked. “Why would Drake’s being there stop you?”
“Logan’s warned everyone not to speak to you,” Alan replied.
“What?” Aaron asked with surprise. “Why?”
“So no one badgers you with questions, I suppose,” Alan said with a shrug. “It’s all everyone wants to know. Where have the Adams been? Why you didn’t come back?” He smiled at Aaron. “Which, judging by your dumbstruck expression, you wouldn’t know how to answer. Seems like it’s a good thing Logan’s scared everyone into keeping quiet around you.”
Aaron silently agreed. It would drive him insane if everyone kept asking him questions he wanted answers to himself.
“Why’s everyone scared of Drake?” Aaron asked.
“You’re joking, right?” Alan asked with a grin. “Logan was a Hunter. You don’t mess with Hunters. You do what they say and you do it with a smile. Which brings me back to Skyler.” He stared at Aaron for a long moment. “Don’t get in his way, and if you wanna talk about him, do it behind closed doors.” He gave a sweeping glance to his surroundings. “Right now, this place is Skyler’s playground. Him and Ella are the ones in charge. To them does most of Salvador’s allegiance lie.” He looked back at Aaron. “Of course, now that you’re here, they have to give you back your share, but until you gather a few friends, don’t invite Skyler’s wrath by talking about him.” He nodded at Aaron before stepping back. “I better get back. Mother Mary will have my head if I don’t get these to her in time for dinner.” He gestured to the basket full of potatoes sitting by his feet. A twitch of his fingers and the basket rose into mid-air.
Aaron watched, wide-eyed as the basket floated next to Alan. Sam and Rose let out choked sounds of surprise.
“Shattereds,” Alan chuckled. “So easy to spot.” He grinned and set off down the path, the basket of potatoes floating behind him.
7
The Hunters
When the residents of Salvador gathered around the table for dinner that evening, Aaron took his seat opposite Rose and Sam. He waited, head turned, watching the path that led from the orchard. He ignored the stares and whispers from the others. His peripheral vision told him he wasn’t the only one being stared at. Sam and Rose were shamelessly gaped at as well, leading to Rose self-consciously pulling at her top. Aaron looked over at her. Meeting her eyes, he shook his head.
“You look fine,” he assured her. “It’s not your fault they can’t stop staring.”
The eavesdropping mages looked away and Rose smiled gratefully at Aaron. Skyler and Ella walked over together and sat down, roughly twenty or so chairs away from Aaron. The rest of Skyler’s group spread around him. Next to approach the table, was a single line of ladies in flowing robes, all fair-haired with pale blue eyes staring ahead and hands resting on the shoulder of the woman in front.
Rose and Sam noticed them too.
“Are they...?” Sam started.
“Blind,” Aaron confirmed.
He had known the moment he first saw them. Their unblinking gaze, staring unseeingly ahead, and the way they came to sit at the table made it obvious they were without sight.
Alan appeared at the head of the table, stacks of plates hovering at either side of him. He met Aaron’s eyes and grinned. “Heads up,” he warned before throwing out a hand, sending a line of plates flying along the length of the table.
Aaron watched Sam and Rose as the surprise, shock and overwhelming disbelief crossed their faces. Both gave a little jump as two plates came to a clattering stop before them. They looked up at Aaron, meeting his smiling gaze. Aaron shrugged and couldn’t help but chuckle as an awestruck Sam watched Alan set the plates on the other side of the table.
“Ava’s not here yet.” Alan grinned, meeting Aaron’s eyes again. “So I’m taking a shortcut.”
He lifted a hand and rolls of forks, knives and spoons wrapped in white paper napkins rose into the air. A flick of Alan’s hand and the sets of cutlery raced along the length of the table. For a moment, the sets hovered above everyone’s heads, before they fell onto the plates with a clink. Alan nodded, seemingly happy with his work. He turned, picked up the empty cutlery bucket and walked away.
Sam and Rose turned to Aaron with wide eyes and gobsmacked expressions.
“That was...Wow,” Rose breathed. She leant towards Aaron. “Can you do that?”
Aaron was quick to shake his head. “No.”
“What can you do?” Sam asked. “Other than crack open the ground, that is?”
Aaron’s heart quickened. “I don’t know,” he replied.
He caught sight of Mary and her kitchen helpers, trays in hand, heading to the green-doored cottages. Aaron watched as they knocked on the doors and handed the trays of food to the solemn and tired looking individuals that answered. He realised with a painful lurch of his heart that Mary was delivering dinner to the humans – the Shattereds, as they put it – that had arrived at Salvador today. He remembered Mary telling his mum that it was against protocol for mages to eat inside the cottages. There were different rules for humans it seemed.
Aaron turned to look away from the depressing sanctuary cottages, not wanting to dwell on what must have happened to the humans for them to come to Salvador.
The sight of Drake Logan, making his way towards the table, distracted Aaron. He saw the surprise flit across Drake’s face when he spotted him. Drake obviously wasn’t expecting to see Aaron already seated at the table. Drake’s gaze moved to Sam and Rose and a look of understanding flashed on his face. When Drake sat down next to Aaron, he spoke to him for the first time in three days.
“I see your friends are out and about.”
Aaron nodded. Even though Sam and Rose were seated across from him, Drake’s voice was so low only Aaron could hear him.
“It was going to happen eventually,” Aaron replied.
Drake nodded, unfurling his cutlery from the napkin and setting them on either side of his plate. “I wasn’t expecting them out this soon,” he said. “Shattereds take their time.”
“Why do you call them Shattereds?” Aaron asked.
Drake met his eyes but quickly loo
ked away. “It’s the name mages give to the humans who have to leave their realm.”
“But why the term Shattered?” Aaron asked.
“Because,” Drake replied quietly, “only those who have nothing left, whose lives have become shattered, leave their world behind to come to this realm.”
Aaron’s stomach clenched with disgust. “Don’t you think that’s insensitive?” he asked.
Drake smiled a little. “You’ll find mages aren’t the most sensitive of beings.”
Mary arrived at the table with her helpers lined behind her, all carrying large platters of food. A delicious aroma filled the air, making mouths water and stomachs rumble. Silver trays heaped with grilled chicken, dishes of fried rice, and bowls of crunchy, colourful salad were lined along the table. A platter of potato skins stuffed with cheese, and another dish overflowing with roasted vegetables were placed directly in front of Sam and Rose.
Aaron and Drake ate in silence as the others chatted amongst themselves. Even Rose and Sam were whispering to each other, discussing the richer taste of the food. Aaron glanced at Drake, taking in the sight of the quiet, serious, dark-haired man.
Logan was a Hunter. You don’t mess with Hunters. You do what they say and you do it with a smile.
Alan’s words spoken that afternoon echoed in Aaron’s head. Swallowing his mouthful of chicken, Aaron cleared his throat. “Drake?” he said softly. “What is it you do?”
Drake looked over at him. “What do you mean?”
“Like a job,” Aaron said. “What do you do for a living?”
Drake smiled, just a slight lifting of the corners of his lips. “Things don’t work like that here,” he said. “Nobody works for a living.” He gestured to the table. “Everyone uses their powers to live. Some grow food from the ground, others manipulate the water for our gain.” He shrugged. “We all live together, taking care of life’s necessities.”
“You work in the orchard,” Aaron said. “So is your power to make things grow?”
Drake chuckled, surprising Aaron and the surrounding mages. They all turned to stare at Drake, as if seeing the man laugh was a rare sight.
“Yes,” Drake said, after calming down a little. “I make things grow.” He shook his head in amusement.
Aaron shifted in his seat, knowing that Drake’s little laugh was at his expense. “Have you always worked in the orchard?” Aaron asked. “Or did you do something else before that?”
Drake’s amusement quickly left him and he turned to look at Aaron, his eyes once again serious. “What do you mean?”
“I heard you were once a Hunter,” Aaron said.
Drake’s eyebrows shot up, disappearing under the strands of the wavy hair that fell across his forehead. His mouth opened but he took a moment to speak. “Where did you hear that?”
“You hear a lot of things around here,” Aaron replied. “Is it true?”
Drake seemed to be fighting the urge to answer. “Yes,” he said at last.
“What did you hunt?” Aaron asked. Somehow, he didn’t think mages shot down wild animals.
“Everything that needs to be hunted,” Drake replied.
“Tell him straight out,” a voice called from down the table. Aaron turned to see Skyler smirking at him. “Tell dear Adams what it is Hunters do.”
“Stay out of this, Skyler,” Drake said at once.
The table had hushed to silence, watching either Skyler, Drake or Aaron.
“Oh, come on.” Skyler cocked his head to the side, icy blue eyes fixed on Aaron. “He wants to know. It’s obvious daddy dear hasn’t told him.”
“Skyler,” Drake warned.
“You wanna know what Hunters do?” Skyler asked Aaron, ignoring Drake. “Hunters do what mages were created to do.”
“That’s enough,” Drake said.
Skyler gave him a single glance, before looking back at Aaron. “We hunt and destroy demons.”
“Demons?” Aaron asked, with a furrowed brow.
“Demons,” Skyler confirmed. “Entities that exist solely to cause death and destruction.”
“Skyler! Enough!” Drake rose to his feet, face twisted in anger and eyes blazing. “Don’t say another word!”
“Why?” Aaron asked, turning to Drake and rising to his feet too. “Why won’t you let him tell me anything?”
“Because Chris doesn’t want you to know!” Drake snapped.
Aaron stilled. Silence fell across the table.
“Why?” Aaron asked.
“Because,” Drake breathed deeply, in an effort to calm down, “no one knows if you’re staying. What’s the point of learning about a world you’re never going to be a part of?”
***
The lanterns floated above their heads, casting a warm glow over the two boys, but Aaron still shivered as the night’s cool breeze washed over him.
“Why?” he asked, his voice soft and filled with honest confusion.
The boy turned around to look at him, blazing green eyes narrowed in agitation. “What do you mean, why?” he snarled. “Because it’s up to me, that’s why! It’s my choice and I’m saying no.”
Aaron swallowed. A painful stab of disappointment swelled in his chest. “I thought you would help me,” he said quietly.
The boy glared at him. “Why would you think that?”
Aaron shrugged. “I don’t know. I just...I felt like you would.”
The boy shook his head. “It’s not my job to help anyone.”
Aaron nodded, his heart twisting with misery. “I get it,” he said. “I have to do it myself. I’m on my own.”
The boy stared at him, the vivid green of his eyes darkened a shade. “We’re all on our own, Aaron,” he said quietly. “It’s time you got used to it.”
Aaron jolted awake, his gasp echoing in the dark room. His frantically beating heart reverberated in his mouth. He forced out a long, deep breath. It was just a dream. Another strange dream of the same boy, but this one left him with an ache in his chest. He couldn’t understand why. The dream hadn’t been horrific. Nothing happened in it. He was just talking, or perhaps they were arguing, but even that shouldn’t leave him feeling so...heartbroken.
“Aaron?” Sam’s sleepy voice carried in the dark.
“Yeah?” Aaron answered.
“You okay?” he mumbled.
Aaron swallowed, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath in. “Yeah, just a bad dream,” he replied.
The sheets ruffled as Sam shifted his position on the sofa. “Don’t worry,” he whispered. “Go back to sleep.”
Aaron nodded, even though Sam couldn’t see him in the dark. He turned to the side. Drake’s words kept spinning in his mind. So that’s why Drake hadn’t bothered to speak to him. Why make the effort to get to know him when Aaron might not be around much longer? As quietly as he could, Aaron dug his mum’s letter out of his pocket. It was too dark to read it, but Aaron just held it in his hands, wondering where his parents were at this very moment? How long would they be away?
The door creaked open.
“Aaron?”
Aaron sat up in bed. “Rose? What’s wrong?” he asked.
The door opened wider and Aaron heard her come further into the room.
“I heard you and Sam talking,” she said. “I can’t sleep in there.”
“Why?” Aaron asked.
“Don’t know.” Rose sounded afraid. “Think I can sleep here?”
“No,” Sam interrupted. “You wanted the separate room. Deal with it.”
“Please, Sammy?” Rose used that voice, the one Aaron knew would win most of the arguments with Sam.
Sure enough, Sam’s sigh of resignation echoed in the room. “Fine.” The sheets rustled as Sam sat up. “I’ll sleep in there.”
“I’ll sleep on the sofa,” Aaron offered.
“I have another idea,” Rose said, stopping both boys.
Ten minutes later, all three were pushing the bed from next door into the first room. It might have bee
n easier if they could have seen what they were doing, but the lanterns hanging from the ceilings didn’t have any switches so they were left in the dark.
“Go to your left – the left!” Sam snapped.
“There’s no more left...left,” Aaron protested.
“Alright, to the right then.” Sam groaned and pulled the bulky bed to the other side.
Somehow, pushing and shoving, and amidst a lot of yelling, they managed to get the bed situated somewhere between the first bed and the sofa. The room was cramped but none of them cared. They settled into their respective beds and sofa.
“Better, Rose?” Aaron asked.
“Much better,” she replied. A few minutes passed in silence, but all three were still awake. “Aaron?” Rose whispered.
“Yeah?”
“You reckon what Drake said was true?”
Aaron paused. “Why would he lie?”
“Do you think your parents are going to leave this realm?” Rose asked.
Aaron let out a sigh. “I don’t know,” he replied. “According to Drake, it’s unlikely we’ll be sticking around.”
A pause, then Rose asked, “What are the chances they’ll take us along with them?”
Aaron faltered. He honestly didn’t know what his parents were planning.
“We don’t need them, Rose,” Sam said. “We’ll be fine.”
“I don’t know if mum and dad are planning on taking you both with them,” Aaron said, “but I’m not going anywhere without you two.”
“Thanks, Aaron,” she whispered and Aaron could hear the relief in her voice.
***
The days passed with Aaron and the twins busily exploring the City of Salvador. They found the place wasn’t small, not by any standard. First there was the farmland that stretched for miles. Past that was a whole clutter of small buildings. They looked like shops, stocking everything from clothes to books, but there was no one running them. They were just left there, doors open with stacks and stacks of merchandise on the shelves. Aaron and the twins had a look around, but didn’t touch anything.
“I bet you it’s alarmed,” Sam said, eyeing a leather jacket suspiciously.
