The Border of Light, Four (2)

The tea was growing cold in my hands. I could tell by the fading warmth of the pretty porcelain cup. It was a simple cup, thin and delicate, with golden flowers weaving about the surface. But I wasn’t marvelling at its mastery, I hadn’t even given it a second look, for my eyes were locked upon the woman sitting across from me. Atlanta. The current leader of the Guardians. I had been sure I could handle this. Just talk to her. Pretend everything was all right, and leave the past behind me. But now, with her before me, I wasn’t so sure about that, for she hadn’t even spoken yet and the blood already hummed in my veins.

She carefully lowered her cup, amber gaze meeting mine across the glass coffee table. “How are you feeling?” she said after what had felt like an eternity of silence.

“How should I be feeling?”

She leaned back into her armchair, not a wrinkle or a frown soiling her tanned face. “I can understand why you might be-”

“Can you?” I said, my eyes boring into her for another long, silent moment. “Let’s cut the crap, Atlanta, if I’m here there must be a reason. What do you want from me?”

Finally, a twitch to her brow as she shifted in the vintage-looking armchair. Her soft, yellow dress shirt, blended nicely with its golden motifs as if it was made just for her. “I called you here,” she began, “because I wished to talk to you.”

“If you wanted to talk to me, you could’ve come yourself.” I uttered, fully losing interest in the sweet smelling tea.

“It’s not that simple-” she said as I left the cup on the table.

“Oh yeah?” My glare shot to her once more. “And why did you even think I would want to talk to you?” my voice rose a note above what was appropriate and Clare shifted on the sofa between us. “Or did you just assume you could order me around like everyone else under your command?” I said and Atlanta’s lips parted to speak, but I stood to hover over the table silencing her with another glare. “I am not under your command. And you have no right to extort my presence.”

She rose as well, easily towering above me, her eyes stormy but face calm. “I understand that you’re angry-”

“No, you don’t.” I said. “You drag me here... Against my will. You don't let me leave, like I’m some kind of prisoner, and then you expect us to have a friendly chat over tea? Who the hell do you think you are!”

“Skye!” she called out, a gleam to her amber stare. Coming to my senses I relaxed my muscles, feeling the curtains drop behind me as the prickles faded.

“If you know what’s good for you,” she spoke calmly, “you will sit back down and listen to what I have to say.” Her voice was loud, and strong, though never cracked into a yell, and under the heaviness of her gaze I dropped back into the armchair.

“Do you have any idea what’s happening out there?” she said as she lowered herself into the cushion. “Borders are being redrawn, alignments are shifting,” she flipped a strand of long golden-blond hair over her shoulder, “things are changing, rapidly, and you do not wish to end up on the other side.”

“If that was supposed to be a threat,” I said, “you really need to work harder-”

“It’s not a threat,” she said, one arm landing on the rest and the other into her lap, “it’s the reality of the situation.” Her chin rose ever so lightly as she said it.

“So?”

“So if you have any intention of surviving, you need to-”

“I’ve survived on my own well so far.”

“Skye…” she said, reaching up to her temples. “Things are not so simple anymore.”

No, they weren’t, not now, not in this world, with the powers back.

“No, I guess they aren’t.” I uttered more to myself, suddenly interested in the cup of tea again.

“Look,” Atlanta spoke, “dismissing you was a mistake, I realize that now, but times were chaotic, and-”

“You couldn't trust one of your own.” My eyes shot to her. “What’s even the point of the Order then?”

A furrow came to her brow. “I am powerless to change the past.” she said. “All I can do is acknowledge my mistake.”

“Good for you.” I said, eyes locked on the cup in my hands. It was too cold to drink now, but I liked how the violet liquid reflected the lamplight.

“We spoke to the Council.” she said after a moment. “They’ve agreed to reinstate you.”

I left my face blank, though on the inside I was scowling. Since when did the Guardians need approval of the Council when choosing their members?

“So?” I let slip when she hadn’t spoken for a while.

“I thought I made myself fairly clear-”

“So did I.” My gaze bore into her with new intensity. "In case Terra forgot to mention, I told her to go to hell, feel free to follow."

She heaved a sigh. "You’re not being rational." she said, a subtle shake to her golden locks. "Think about this. Think about your clan." Her eyes came to me wide and expectant.

My fingers froze about the cup, and I slowly lowered it to the table before it broke. I felt a new tightening in my stomach, and this time it wasn't nausea. "What about my clan?" I said, voice flat. I could see her tense under my glare. She had gone too far and she knew it. "They’re gone.”

“Skye…”

“No, Atlanta. As much as I’d love to see you beg me, the answer is no.”

A flame blazed in her amber eyes. “I don’t think you understand your position.” she said. “I advise you to reconsider your answer.”

“Or what?” I said, neither of us willing to look away. “What do you think you can do to me that hasn’t already been done?” Her lips parted to answer, but I spoke first. “You betrayed me, Atlanta. What did you expect I’d feel? Gratitude?”

And so the silence dragged, as we stared at each other, no words left in me to tell her.

“Do you honestly think you can keep living your normal life?” she spoke first. I didn’t see why not since she was the only foil to that. One hand come to her chin as she studied me with calm amber gaze. “You lift your shield when the car hit you.” she said and the blood froze in my veins, for I knew where she was going with that. “The curtains rise every time you speak.” She slipped a glance to the windows behind me. “Tell me,” she said, gaze narrowing, “how good of control do you think you have?”

“Good enough.” I muttered eyes slipping from hers.

“Think about the safety of the people around you.” she pressed on. I knew what she was doing, and I wasn’t going to let her manipulate me into guilt. “What about society at large? We’re not ready for the world to learn of our existence-”

“Remember.” I corrected. “They used to know. Now they’ve forgotten.”

“So are you willing to take responsibility?” she continued regardless. "You have to come back.” she concluded. “It's for your, and the good of those around you. You have to regain control, and you can only do that among your own."

“You’re not my own.” I said. “Now, if that was everything, I wish to leave.”

“I really suggest you reconsider-”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah, no. Can I go now?”

I could see her jaw tighten. “If that is indeed what you wish.”

“It is.” I reiterated. “Or are you planning to lock me away somewhere?”

She gazed at me for a long, heavy, moment. “I will have someone take you home.” She said as she rose elegantly to her full height. “Clare.” She ordered and the priestess stood. Flashing me a single pinched glance goodbye Clare followed her to the door.

A moment passed before I realized that I was finally alone. Exhaling, I eased into the chair, neck arching over the backrest. My skin still prickled, though it all soon faded to numbness. Good job, I had done a good job, I told myself. Yet the thought of the future weighted on me, for I knew this wasn’t over.

No, I was a small fry, no one would care to try and conscript me again.

I hoped.

They knew of my existence, a new thought came with suffocating intensity. I couldn’t stay here, not for long, for they knew where to find me. Both sides knew where to find me. This wasn’t good. This was so not good. I let my eyes close for a moment.

I failed to notice when the door opened again, a voice calling me back to my senses. The man spoke again, and I nodded my head back down. Silent, I stood, following him wherever he was heading with heavy steps.

He was from Roaring Thunder, Atlanta’s clan, too, I could tell by the blaze in his aura, but other than him and the distant dots of the two women I could feel no one in the dark house. And its silence was eerie, absorbing the sound of our steps into the depths of its long, darkened halls. So many doors, so many rooms hidden behind them, and not a single soul. Clare said it was a Roaring Thunder safe house but they clearly weren’t using it, I could tell by the sterile, woody smell of new floor. To be fair, I wasn’t surprised, it was far out of their territory.

The stairs creaked softly as I descended, the sound muffled by the soft carpet. My heartbeat slowly rose as we approached the door, outright racing when we reached it. With trembling hands I took my shoes, that were neatly placed by the threshold and tied them on. I wanted out. I couldn’t wait to get out and into the refuge of the cold night air.