Obsidian Sky (10 page)

“Maybe they’re gasping because you wouldn’t wear a tux to a formal event.”

“I’m sure that’s what it is,” Aidan said as he noticed someone angrily approaching them from his left.

“Greetings,” the black-haired boy said, his massive fists clenched tightly. “I notice you have Leah on your arm.” A couple of similarly aged villagers, sporting spiked Mohawks, joined their friend. Aidan, Leah, and the intruders stopped walking as the rest of the crowd continued forward, taking silent bets on what would happen next. Aidan smiled, took his arm from Leah, and then wrapped it around her back, hugging her hips tightly and pressing her side up against his. She pursed her lips into a curt smile and then leaned rapturously onto his arm. The black-haired boy grit his teeth.

“Why are you with this hot head?” he asked her. Leah gave no reply. She knew Aidan had enough to say for the both of them.

“She said yes when I asked her out,” Aidan replied, softening his face. “Simple as that.”

“Yeah, right.”

“No, it’s true. It’s not my fault you took forever to do it. Maybe you would have had a chance if you didn’t stay up all night rehearsing your poetry.”

“Be nice,” Leah said, smacking a hand on Aidan’s chest. He nodded and continued.

“But don’t worry. I’m not going to harm her. I don’t hurt women. Just prepubescent boys who claim to be men. You’re not one of those, are you?”

“You think that because you’ve lived out there, you’re tough,” the black-haired boy spat, inching closer to Aidan’s face. “But I’ve seen guys like you before. You never last. Because you’re not strong enough to take it.”

“Take what?” Aidan scoffed. “The rules? The uniformity? The relaxation?”

“The discipline. Your kind always get banished. If it wasn’t for Bailey covering for you, you wouldn’t even be here tonight. I would watch my back from here on out if I were you.”

“Well,” Aidan chuckled. “I have this lovely lady on my arm to watch it for me. Personally, I like to take a more direct approach.” In the next second, Aidan ripped himself from Leah’s embrace and grabbed the black-haired kid’s right hand. His friends started moving forward but Leah had already called forth her obsidian fan, the blades staring each of them in the face. The black-haired kid went to punch Aidan with his free hand when he suddenly stopped. He stared down at his clasped palm, so red it was as if it had been sitting in the midst of a fire. He slowly glanced back up into Aidan’s eyes.

“I wouldn’t move if I were you,” Aidan replied with a steady voice. “One wrong move and I could set you ablaze.”

“You wouldn’t do that. You would be expelled.”

“So would you…technically. What’s your name?”

“Trevor.”

“And how do I know you, Trevor? You look familiar.”

“I used to be in Bailey’s class.”

“Oh yeah, that’s right. Didn’t make it past day one.”

“Everyone who isn’t there now didn’t make it past their first day.”

“Good point. But let me ask you something. Do you know what happens next, Trevor?”

“You set me on fire.”

“Is that what you want?”

“No.”

“Good. Because I don’t want to. You see that beautiful woman over there with the bladed fan?”

“Don’t ask stupid questions,” Trevor spat. Aidan raised the intensity of the heat coursing through Trevor’s palm. He winced and squinted his eyes. “Sorry. Sorry. I see her.”

“She’s my wife,” Aidan declared for all in earshot to hear. A few walking past halted for a moment in shock, but then hurried forward, ready to pass along the information. Trevor, however, seemed to gain more of a reason to hit his captor.

“That’s a lie,” he said, his face tightening at the center. “And if it were true, you probably coerced her into it.”

“Afraid not,” Leah laughed. “It’s true.”

“But why?” Trevor asked in disbelief. Aidan took his free hand and pressed it against Trevor’s cheek, guiding his eyes from her back to him.

“It doesn’t matter why. What I want you to understand is that it’s true. There’s nothing you can do to change that. So spread the word to all your buddies and anyone else who’s been lurking in the shadows as a secret admirer. The dream ends tonight. I would rather get this out of the way now than speak to each of you individually. Got the message?”

“Yeah,” Trevor replied, dropping his head. “You’re married now. I get it.”

“Good,” Aidan replied, letting go of Trevor’s hand and face. Leah closed her fan and put it back in the holster that was resting on the spine of her dress. She walked up and patted Aidan on the back.

“You didn’t have to scare away all of my admirers. I kind of like the attention.”

“You’re a fool,” Trevor shouted at her as he and his two friends backed away. Aidan began to move forward but she clutched his arm.

“I’ll handle this,” she said. She strolled up and placed her hands on her hips, looking inquisitively at each of them. “What’s the problem?”

“Why did you
…
marr
y
this guy? All he’ll do is try to control you.”

“You got it all wrong,” she laughed, glancing back at Aidan. “I let him do all the speaking because he gets to play off the trouble-maker image that he’s already established. And that works for me because I get to remain sweet and kind. But don’t misunderstand me. I allow him to speak on my behalf. So next time you think of me as the damsel in distress, just remember – I’ve already saved myself from the danger. You’re better off pursuing one of these other ladies who are vying for attention.”

“But that’s the thing,” Trevor cried. “I don’t want another lady. I want you. You’re different from the others.”

“Why? Because I’m pretty?” Leah scoffed. She grabbed the fan on her back, whipped it open, and cut off a chunk of her icy blue hair. She threw it in to the ground. “Because I’m an Elder’s daughter? Don’t think I don’t hear the rumors. How gaining favor with my father might give you an exemption. Don’t think I don’t remember the days when I was anonymous and I would barely get more than a swivel of the head. I chose that man –” she paused to point back at Aidan, “–because from the beginning I knew that he thought of me as an individual and as a partner, not as property. He has no intention of using me to gain favor with the Elders, nor does he look at me as a trophy. I’m a woman, not a pet.”

“I don’t get how he could treat you any different than we would.”

“And that,” Leah said, slamming her index finger into his chest, “is why we’re not an item. You don’t get it at all.”

She left the boys standing there speechless and went back to Aidan, grabbing his arm and leading him to the grand hall. Much of the crowd had already gone inside, but nearly a hundred were still scattered around the ivory steps, leaning against the white pillars and talking excitedly amidst the backdrop of the percussion instruments. A few glances were cast Aidan and Leah’s way, but the for the most part, they stayed to themselves. The married couple proceeded forward and entered the grand hall. They were nearly blinded at the sudden change from darkness to light.

Out of all the structures in Lowsunn, this building was the one that stood out above the rest. It was a futuristic-looking polished structure that looked like it had been created for the Judge himself.

The grand hall was designed as a foyer fit for kings and queens. Boasting a ceiling that stretched upward for a half-mile, it was held up by pillars that were carved in the shape of muscular men and women, carrying the burden of the roof on the palms of their outstretched hands. The gold that made up their bodies only further enhanced the bright lights coming from the thousand-candled chandeliers that were greater in number than the people down below. The floor was of the finest polished marble and the walls were painted with epic scenes from the stories of old scouting missions, all in fine oils and exquisite pastels.

The villagers were all dressed in their finest attire, outfitted with custom-made suits and gowns devised by Luca Lorde himself. Feeling equal to the Elders for once, they mingled with each other like distinguished guests having been invited to a royal ball. Wine filled their glasses and pint-sized hor d’oeuvres were passed around. Here and there, villagers were flicking fingers through their hair, blushing, giggling, drinking enough wine to have flushed faces. Hiccups and fits of laughter could be heard – the moment Aidan witnessed the atmosphere firsthand, he felt sick to his stomach. Without realizing it, he pulled Leah closer to his side. She responded with an amused grin.

The crowd and the music all stopped once they noticed the couple standing in the entrance to the grand hall, but Aidan refused to avert his eyes, no matter how exposed he felt. Leah was the one to clutch his arm tighter this time.

“Are you sure about this?” Aidan whispered. “I can already see the real threat rising to his feet.” Indeed, the couple’s eyes weren’t on their peers, but rather the handsome middle-aged man in the far back. Sitting on a stage with a diamond podium were seven chairs, and in them sat the seven revered Elders of Lowsunn, all of them outfitted in dark blue two-piece suits, even the women. All of them had the same light brown hair, the same blue eyes, and the same icy composure. Their stares were as chilling as their reputations, and it seemed like their body compositions were more in line with the structure of the building than the villagers before them. Like statutes they watched, silent and hidden in plain sight. All except one.

Standing with his eyes facing the couple, his voice boomed throughout the foyer.

“Leah, come,” he ordered, already striking a nerve with Aidan. Though Leah moved to obey, Aidan held her back.

“I’ll go talk to him,” Aidan whispered as the crowd backed away from the invisible void between the young couple and the standing Elder. Aidan walked forward slowly and methodically as if he were approaching a throne, his hooded robe flowing behind him, caught in the grip of an untraceable wind. As he reached the stage, the Elders’ heads rose, while their faces fell, their lips sneering and eyebrows curling. Aidan’s eyes smiled as he stared at his father-in-law.

“I asked for Leah, not you,” the man stated, his disgust bridled only by his reputation.

“I wanted to speak with you in private,” Aidan replied respectfully. “So we don’t cause a scene.”

“That is rich, coming from you,” Leah’s father scoffed. “You know if it weren’t for your mentor, you would have been banished long ago?”

“I’m told that everyday.”

“Apparently it hasn’t sunk in. Otherwise you would be more conscientious of your pitiful behavior. You would channel your energy into more productive pursuits.”

“I’m sorry…pitiful behavior?”

“It’s obvious you’re vying for attention. Perhaps it has to do with the lack of discipline you received in your parents’ absence.”

“They were murdered,” Aidan said with a heavy sigh.

“That is unfortunate…for your development.”

“I see what you’re trying to do. You want me to lash out at you.”

“I’ve schemed nothing of the sort. It is only your violent nature that brings up such barbarian notions. But I grow nauseous of this conversation. What are you doing with my daughter?”

“We’re together,” Aidan said, staring at the man. From his right he could feel the burning stare of the other Elders boring a hole through his skull. How dare he taint one of their children?

“Together,” Leah’s father said flatly. “And what does that mean exactly? Elaborate.”

“It means that we’re in a relationship. A consensual relationship.”

“Hmm. And I take it you understand the consequences of your actions.”

“Yes. The fact is there are none. There’s no policy in place that says a villager can’t date one of the Elders’ children. You can’t kick me out for this.”

“Again your stupidity astounds me. Of course I can’t kick you out for that. Nor would I want to. In the past you were just a nuisance that I was forced to endure. But now? I want you to stay here under my wings, and enjoy the flavorful plans I will concoct for you. You are putting on a good show for the sake of my daughter, but I know your kind, Mr. Serafino. Even before Advent you lived in filth. You know nothing of decency and etiquette, and I’ve just decided to take it upon myself to teach you a lifetime’s worth.”

“I like that,” Aidan said with a mischievous grin. “Planning on torturing me without a means of escape? Seeing how long I can withstand your games?”

“If you can handle it,” Leah’s father said in concern. “I don’t want the infamous Aidan to be broken and forced to run from Lowsunn of his own accord. With his tail, planted firmly between his legs.”

“Do your worst,” Aidan said boldly, looking over at the other Elders. “None of you scare me. I’ve endured more than you could ever know.”

“You are a strange fellow,” Leah’s father laughed. “And once again, you fail to understand how serious this situation has become.” He stooped down so that his face was level with Aidan’s. “Outside of these walls, everyone is just like you. And that is why you cannot know the very enemy who is in your face right now. Sure the wild man’s imaginations may be dark, but they hardly have the time or the patience to execute it on its optimal level. They don’t have the time to develop a plan that will bring forth the most pain, and inflict the peak level of suffering. We, however, have plenty of leisure at our disposal, and thus our execution style has become tasteful and refined like an aging wine. If you believe that you have seen suffering, that you have known loss, then I truly feel sorry for you. Because that means you have no idea what your breaking point really is. You may think of yourself as a phoenix, having rose from the ashes of unimaginable turmoil. When in fact, you’re just a child, spouting off words that you’ve only heard in the distant memories of your dead mother’s bedtime stories.”