Chapter 14: Chapter 14: Manners

Virgil sat alone, a single light overhead in the cavern of the Sanctuary. His eyes brooding on Eve’s file. A glass of water sat next to him, the ice melting to condensation along the outside. Having not moved for hours. Thinking. Contemplating on how to find out more. This was the only file. His curiosity leads to stealing David’s ceremonious sword. Opening the forbidden doors every day as if answers would magically appear. He would read over and over again, “The incident lead to the deaths of Watchers and Guardians: Gabriela Locklear, Wilson Adams…” The name repeated in his head. He was always told by his mother that his father had died fighting for the Order. A lie. Why?

How would he even ask his own mother the truth? He could never ask David. Not without risk of David demoting him and whatever punishment would follow. Would David have him executed? Virgil rubbed his temples with his finger and thumb. Blowing air from his nose in a light sigh. The same questions in his head, what tore him apart is he will never be able to get a straight answer without ridicule. Reaching for the glass sitting next to him. Grabbing it, taking a swift sip of water. Launching the glass into the wall across from himself. His eyes glowing a hot green. Lowering his head into his hands.

“Woah, that was extreme for you,” Kevin had been standing in the kitchen. Making food.

“How long have you been there?” Virgil asked, his head still resting in his hands.

“I came in and said hi to you,” Kevin answered, “That file is eating you up isn’t it?”

“We should have never gone in there,” Virgil said.

“You shouldn’t let it eat you up,” Kevin put the food into his bowl. Virgil remained silent, how did he expect Kevin to feel the same as he did? Let alone sympathize. His parents weren’t involved. Kevin had joined them later on. Virgil held a weight on his shoulders. “David and Gabe always said Eve was dangerous. Never would’ve thought she was that dangerous. No wonder Liam wanted to use her though. You want some mac and cheese?” If this was any other time, Virgil would’ve accepted the offer.

“You’re so insensitive,” Virgil muttered, “My father died. And Eve is the one who killed him. How the hell am I supposed to accept that? What kind of monster does that?”

Kevin took a bite from his spoon, “She had to be three or four years old.”

“And? David made us befriend her this entire time without telling us the truth.”

“Has Eve ever given you any problems?” Kevin asked, then suddenly thinking of her mishap with the Silver Arrow maintenance, “Lemme rephrase, has Eve ever shown you anything other than kindness?” Virgil thought about it, not a single moment has caused him to think of her in a negative light until now. “Exactly. David has spent countless hours training her, probably to make sure this never happens again.”

“Still…”

“Still what?”

“I want to know the truth, I want to know all the details.”

“What are you going to do? Fight Eve for something she may or may not have done intentionally? The minute you ask David, he’s going to put you on house arrest and demote you down to Guardian level one. And I’m sure he would take away your flight privileges. Is never flying again worth your curiosity? And that’s only if David finds out you’ve been in that room. If the council finds out, what good are you if you're executed?” Kevin asked the hard-hitting questions. Virgil needed to think before he was to make a move.

Virgil sprung from his seat, “You don’t get it! That was my father she killed!”

“And you now have a little brother, how do you expect to take care of him if you’re dead?” Kevin asked. Slamming his bowl on the countertop. Virgil got into his face, Kevin had never seen so much anger in his eyes. “C’mon man, you want to dance?” Virgil hesitated, looking away and back at Kevin. “I know you’re not a fighter. You have a better chance of getting anger out on me. Try to take this to Eve or David, hell Gabe knew too. They will eat you up in a fight. Show me what you’re made of.”

Virgil turned around, storming off towards the elevator. The doors couldn’t open quicker, all he wanted was to fly away. Kevin shook his head, he should’ve never had encouraged his curiosity. No one had ever seen Virgil this upset before. There was a fire in his eyes. Once Virgil made it to his osprey, he swiftly climbed inside. Starting the engines. Grabbing the tablet off the console. Checking for David’s and Eve’s trackers. He stopped. Closing his eyes and opened them to the three pictures on his dashboard. His father, mother, and him on the dashboard. A picture of him and his brother at the playground. The final picture of the new Watchers, David had forced them all to be a part of when Eve passed her first trial and David’s knighting. She hadn’t taken a shower in between the events. Covered in dirt and scrapes. Carlos was still there. Maybe he would’ve been able to understand how he was feeling.

He could always count on Carlos to be there when times were rough. Even when he wished to be alone, Carlos would be there to offer some help. Virgil sat back in his seat. Looking at the countdown. The engines were spinning up and ready to fire at any moment. Just under it was the cancellation option. Five, Why would she do this? Four, she was just a kid. Three, why did one of his best friends hide the truth? Two, was he doing to protect her? One, look at me? Did he do it to protect us? Zero, Virgil slammed his hand on the cancelation. The engines fell back into their cooldown phase.

A blood hurdling scream fell from his throat, slamming his hands against the flight controls over and over again. The sounds only being deafened by the engines. Ripping the picture of the new Watchers off of his dashboard and onto the floor. Pounding his fists until they busted against the throttle. His knuckles bleeding down his forearm. He kicked the footwells, screaming again. Going to stand up and walk into the bay, Virgil tripped on the seat falling face-first onto the ground. His anger fell to a halt. Blinking slowly, the picture sat in front of his face. They were all smiling in the picture. He was smiling. Virgil understood after looking at himself smiling in the photo. He was smiling that day, Eve was smiling. There wasn’t a hint of pain in anyone’s face except David’s eyes. Virgil knew from that point, David kept it a secret, so no one would have to live with the pain he knew. Just from finding out about it was enough to drive him to insanity.

He brushed his long hair from in front of his face. He laid there for the next couple of hours. Hoping no one would bother him until David was to come. Virgil didn’t care what would happen to him, he just needed to be patient.

----------------------------------------

Gabriel sat around a plethora of melted candles, conducting tricks and maneuvers around the courtyard. The fire danced around him. When Gabriel shut off his mind, closing off thoughts from those around him. Listening to the worms crawl through the soil beneath his legs. The leaves brush against each other on the trees in the calm wind.

Allison sat alone in the common room, drawing random lines. Hoping to help her fight her boredom. The door slid open, Richard walked into the room slowly, she quickly spoke. “Any word from Jasmine?”

“No,” Richard answered, “Chris and Ethan haven’t been able to get ahold of her. So they left to find her.”

Allison sighed, setting the pen on the table on top of the paper. “Think she’s alright?”

“Not a doubt in my mind, but you can never be too careful,” Richard sat down on the other end of the table. His body was healing though his knees prolonged the action. He let out a grunt.

“How are you feeling?” Allison asked.

“A little better,” Richard answered, “You seem like you’re having a blast.”

“I’m losing my mind,” Allison brought her voice down to a whisper. “I just want to finish this mission and go home already.”

“From how things are going, Gabe probably won’t leave until he learned how to conjure fire from his butt,” Richard said. He laughed to himself. Allison peered her eyes up to him. Joining his laughter with a small chuckle. “What’s on your mind?”

Allison tapped her nails on the table, “Something isn’t right here,” She hesitated, “I need to know what it is.” Thinking to herself, “But Gabriel…”

“He’s going to get upset for undermining Aiden?” Richard assumed, knowing the answer already.

“Yeah…”

“Ever notice that every time we see Aiden he’s always walking into the forest or from there?”

“I have,” Allison whispered, “Do you ever wonder how Aiden found us at the same moment we were attacked?” Richard sat back and thought about it.

“You and me, we’ll go into the forest tonight,” Richard offered her.

“You’re in no condition to be doing any of that,” Allison told him.

“Yeah, but you’re not going alone. Plus, I can suck it up for a fight,” Richard smiled.

“I have a question for you,” Allison smiled.

“And that is?”

“Sir Janice,” Allison started.

“Please don’t even start on that,” Richard’s face became red. “It’s never going to happen.”

“Why because she’s four years older than you? Or because she’s a sir and you’re a guardian?”

“Both, plus she hasn’t paid me any attention,” Richard looked down at his legs.

Allison wasn’t sure what to say. She understood the girl's mind but not the boy's mind. Not sure what they wanted to hear. It was obvious, Janice hadn’t paid him any mind before. Nor had she paid any mind to any of the Watchers, for the exception of David, Gabriel, and Eve. She sighed.

“Got nothing smart to say?” Richard asked seeking some help.

“If you want attention from a girl like that, you’re going to have to do something heroic or something,” Allison wondered, “I don’t know, buy her flowers.”

“Buy her flowers?” Richard laughed, “Ah yes, let’s buy the warrior lady a bundle of roses.”

“Think about it,” Allison put a finger to her chin, “People buy her things based on her job; banners, swords, or whatever. Has anyone bought her regular girl things?”

Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

“I assume not,” Richard thought about it further. “When we get back, you’re going to help me.”

“Sounds like fun. I think I’ll buy Gabe some flowers too,” Allison said.

“Flowers for a boy?”

“The only time a boy gets flowers is at a funeral,” Allison told him.

“I suppose you’re right,” Richard laughed. After he was finished, Richard looked at Allison, “So tonight?”

“Tonight,” Allison nodded her head.

----------------------------------------

David and Eve finally reached Seattle, she slept peacefully in the passenger seat. David reached over and shook her enough for her to wake. First, in defense, she drew her hands up. “Relax, we’re here,” He reassured her.

Eve rubbed her eyes, clearing off the gunk from her eyes. Looking out into the distance, Eve took into view of the city. David looked at her, hoping to see her eyes fill with joy, they weren’t. She had expected to feel excited to see her old home. This wasn’t the case. She didn’t know why she felt the opposite, this wasn’t her home. Living here had all been a lie of a previous life. Like a stranger on the road. This city only filled her head with annoyance.

“Calm down, your excitement is getting overwhelming,” David sarcastically.

“I just,” Eve paused, “It’s only been a year since I’ve been gone. This just doesn’t feel like my life anymore.”

“We can always turn around or go somewhere else,” David offered. The idea felt tempting but Eve felt obligated to be here. Especially forcing David into this trip.

“No, I already told Jessica that we would be there,” Eve said. “It’s probably just me being nervous.”

“I wasn’t planning on turning around anyways,” David said. “What do you want to do first?”

“Food?” Her eyes pleaded as much as her stomach. “The party isn’t until tomorrow night, so we can just relax for the night.”

“That’s a good idea,” David stated, “I didn’t bring anything nice to wear.”

“You never been to a party before, have you?”

“The Order held a Christmas party a couple years ago.”

“Okay, something less formal?”

“Not really,” David answered. “I didn’t have time to be a kid.”

“I was wondering,” Eve stated, “The day I met you at school. You were annoying, you seemed like an entirely different person. Was that a cover?”

“Our first interaction? English class, right?”

“Yeah.”

“I wasn’t all too different. You just hated me,” David chuckled.

“I didn’t hate you specifically. I hated everyone.”

“I know,” David said, “I was just trying to get a read on you. Being more forward than normal.”

“The teachers mentioned you were annoying?”

“Because I would leave class to fight bad guys,” David said, “But you can’t really say that.”

“You used your real name at school and on the battlefield?”

“If someone was trying to fight us, they would know where to find us. It was easier to hunt if they came to us. Plus that’s not even my real name.”

“What’s your real name?” Eve looked at him confused, “C’mon you said no more secrets.”

“If I tell you, you have to tell me not to calm me by that name ever.”

“Pinky,” Eve pushed her hand in front of him with her pinky finger extended.

David accepted, taking her pinky with his. Locking their hands together. “It’s…”

----------------------------------------

The sun fell on the mountainside. Gabriel walked up the stairs with Aiden into the room. Both smiling and laughing. Before saying goodnight to each other, they bowed respectfully to one another. Aiden shut the door behind himself, Gabriel gently smiled. Thinking he has finally found a respectable teacher that he could depend on to train him properly.

Gabriel turned around and slid the door open, Allison was sitting with Richard. “Finally done training for the day?” Allison asked him. She stood up to greet him with a hug, “How are you feeling?”

He couldn’t help but feel jealous that the two of them were together alone for so long. Gabriel looked at Allison, “How long have you guys been up here?” He asked.

Allison looked at Richard and back at Gabriel, “Maybe an hour or two, why?”

His suspicion grew, “Weird, what have you guys been doing all that time?”

Allison’s mind filled with confusion, “Just talking really. Are you okay?”

“Weird,” Gabriel said. Unsure of what to think or trust. He had been gone for so long what may have happened here.

“Weird?” Allison asked, she looked back at Richard, “You think I? Gabe, I will drop my guards on my mind and you can read it to see if I am lying or not.” She grabbed his hand which was covered in bandages and blood. “Are you okay?” She began to heal his hands swiftly. Gabriel pulled away from his hands.

“Drop the guard on your mind first,” Gabriel said annoyed. Placing his bloodied hand on the top of her head. Allison instantly felt disgusted that he would do that. Regardless, she gave in. Gabriel learned what he needed to clear his suspicions. He released his hand from her hand. “Okay.”

Allison shoved him with all her might, he fell down onto the floor. Her eyes filled with rage, “How dare you not trust me,” She scowled. “Give me your stupid hands!” Gabriel held his hands out in fear. Allison snatched them, a green aura poured into his wounds. Closing and clearing the damage from his skin. “You should be good,” Allison threw his hands back to him. “Goodnight, dude.” Allison stormed out of the room.

Gabriel watched her walk out and slam the door behind herself. He turned back at Richard who was lost in looking at the wooden wall. “Why was she so mad?” Gabe asked.

Richard started chuckling, “I don’t even know how to talk to you dude. She has been up here for the last two hours telling me how much she appreciates you and you go and do that.” Richard stood up from the table in the center. Limping over to his comforter in against the wall.

“How was I supposed to know?” Gabriel stood up and dusted himself off.

“Nah dude, you don’t trust anyone. You’re learning how to use magic fire, but can’t even learn how to trust your teammates, let alone your own girlfriend,” Richard laid down in the bed, “We lost sight on the mission, Eve and David are in danger and we have made no progress being here. We were going to talk about leaving tomorrow and you stay and train while we knock out this mission.”

“So you guys are just going to leave me here alone?”

“Did you miss the part where we said that your brother and Eve are in danger?” Richard asked.

“I’m starting to wonder where that’s my problem. I’ve finally found someone to complete my training, and you guys keep talking about David and Eve.”

Richard rolled over, looking at the kid from afar. “Your life isn’t actively in danger. David and Eve could be attacked at any moment, outnumbered, and killed.”

“David could just rise from the dead again and kill them all. Then they will be safe, that’s why I knew he was perfect to protect her.”

“Ever consider that David might not rise from the dead again or?” Richard asked. Gabriel remained silent, never thinking that it was possible for David to die. It was easier to think that way. “Last I checked, Eve can’t rise from the dead.”

“Eve can hold her own,” Gabriel muttered, knowing the truth and extent of her powers.

“Maybe against two to three nobodies, but not against a group of assassins,” Richard said, “I’m leaving tomorrow. I’m pretty sure Allison will want to now as well. We’ll come back when our mission is done or come to find us when your training is over. Goodnight bro.” Richard shoved headphones into his ears and closed his eyes.

Gabriel shrugged off the criticism. Walking out of the door to the room Allison was staying in. Attempting to open the door, finding it to be locked. He listened for any noise in the room. “Ally?” He asked, but nothing. Shaking the door handle again desperately wishing to speak with her. “Look… I’m sorry, I just.. I’ve been stressed with all this training and I just didn’t know what to think. I’m a fool..” He said, waiting for a response. Still nothing. The silence was a deafening reply to the young boy’s ears. “Please just say something.” He pleaded to only find the same answer as before. Silence. “Fine be that way I guess.” Gabriel’s thoughts were filled with impatience. Walking off back into his room to sleep.

Although Allison’s room was emptied, her window opened. Left behind was a single rope used to repel down to the ground. Her mind was still furious, but her curiosity raged ever higher. She couldn’t wait for Richard to investigate with her. If this had been any other time, she would’ve asked Gabriel to accompany her. Eve would’ve been a perfect help with her visual ability.

Allison looked around, unable to see any guards or bystanders this late at night. She sprinted to the tree line past the stone that hosted the rift, taking in a deep breath. Second-guessing herself, if she were to enter past these trees. She would be breaking Aiden’s rules. If she were to get caught, Allison wasn’t sure of the extent of her punishment is. She felt the heavy hand on her shoulder. Richard greeted her. “Gabe fell to sleep almost instantly,” He whispered lightly.

“Alright,” She acknowledged.

“You doing alright?”

“Fine,” Allison answered, “Are you ready?”

“Yeah, let’s go.” Richard hurried with her into the trees. The forest was dense, both careful not to set off any traps. If they had been caught. Richard wasn’t sure if he could take a fight with anyone in his condition.

Both continued down a dirt path, they could tell this road was used every day. Aiden’s footprints were the only steps left etched into the dirt. Allison led the way, finding themselves on a hill, overlooking the field below. She fell to her stomach in a prone. “You see anything?” She asked.

“Nothing yet,” Richard replied, “Hold on.” Richard could see an area of the forest, void of light. Pitch black compared to the rest of the forest. Piercing eyes of red and black looking into Richard’s very soul. “Is that what I think it is?” He asked.

“I’ve never fought one of these, we should go,” Allison said quickly.

“No wait, it’s not looking at us,” Richard said, “There’s some movement I see around it. Figures.”

“You think we can get closer without setting it off?” Allison asked.

“Probably,” Richard answered, “I can’t tell the type of sin.”

Allison stood up and walked further down the dirt path. Richard joined her, following Allison until they can see everything clearer. The whole field was apparent. There were dozens of tents, people moving around below. But what caught her eye, was the flag in the center of the field. It bore the brotherhood sigil of a closed fist raised to the sky. A dragon wrapped around the wrist. Next to it was the flag of the Wolves. A dagger and a Sakura blossom. Allison’s eyes widened in pure shock; this is what Aiden had been up to. It all made sense to her now, that was why Aiden knew where they were on the night of the attack. If that’s true, the assassin who Gabriel had told of David and Eve’s whereabouts must have told Aiden.

She sprung to her feet, “Richard we need to tell Gabe now-“ She turned around to find Richard being choked out by a group of masked men. Allison drew her sword only for a flame to hit her palm, freeing her sword to the ground behind her. Panicking to retrieve it, Aiden stood behind her like a shadow. His foot was placed firmly on top of her blade. She went to swing her fist at him, but it was too late. Aiden blocked and grabbed her neck. Raising her from the ground.

“I did tell you not to come here,” Aiden said as Allison flailed trying to free herself. Slamming her fists against his wrists did nothing. The vision around her eyes began to fade into darkness. Allison felt her mind grow lighter into the air. She was losing oxygen and fast. She tried to think of a way to be set free. Richard had succumbed to the blood rushing to his head.

Allison reached out with her open palms; she wasn’t going to die like this. Allison waved her hands pushing Aiden away with a push. Dropping to her knees, gasping, and choking for air. Allison grabbed her sword from the ground. Waving it like a bat out of hell. Aiden blocked her attacks with ease, smashing his fist into her temples and then his knee into her nose. Knocking her out on the floor.

“What should we do with them, my Lord?” One of the assassins asked.

“Tie them up. If they try to get free, make them submit,” Aiden smiled. “I have more important things to attend too.” Aiden walked back up the trail as the others began tying up the two Watchers, alone and quickly defeated.