Young Writers Society

Delta Thread, Chapter 10

“Very well. Shadow, please escort these two Demis back to their group, and begin the search.” Kira said. Shadow nodded once and left with the two charges. Kira sighed and turned back to Caden. “Well, that’s over. Now everything can go back to normal.”

“Almost everything.” Caden said. “We still haven’t found out what happened to Seth.”

“Why didn’t you ask the Demis?” Kira said.

“Because they didn’t know.” Raven said from the doorway. She walked into the room and stopped a few feet from Kira and Caden.

“Good to see you decided to come chat.” Caden said, smiling.

“Where’s Obsidian?” Kira asked.

“He’s with Lori.” Raven said, motioning vaguely behind her. Kira looked at Caden for clarification.

“One of her Sisters.” he said, frowning slightly. “Though I’m not sure which. I know it wouldn’t be Lin, and Amber isn’t here, so…”

“Don’t worry; she’ll come in later, after Dad tells her what to do with the mutt.” Raven said, grinning.

“So what about Seth?” Kira asked.

“Well, he didn’t finish his training, but he’s back.” Raven said. “He and Enna are back at the Settlement.”

“I’m glad to here that.” Caden said. “I was afraid you wouldn’t survive him.”

Raven stuck her tongue out at Caden, an act that made her look even younger, then said, “It was the other way around. I could barely get him to stay on his feet.”

“I’m glad you two know each other, but I’d like an introduction.” Kira said.

“Oh, I’m sorry.” Caden said apologetically. He walked over to stand beside Raven and bowed dramatically, sweeping his arms out in front of her as if to escort her. As he bent over she simply thumped him on the head hard enough to knock him off balance. He recovered and glared at her, and said, “Allow me to introduce Raven, youngest of the Daughters, and the most well-behaved of them, as you can see. She married my oldest brother, who is an absolute cherub when compared to his wife,” a statement that earned him a swift kick to the shin, “and has a son, who is just as well behaved as his mother.”

“My father is Cress, the Red Sage.” Raven said to Kira after hitting Caden in the arm for the comment about her son.

“Cress is also known as your pet cat, Fe.” Caden added, and Raven backhanded him lightly, yet fast enough to catch him before he flinched away.

“He is not a pet!” she said, trying to be both offended and amused. Caden took a step away from Raven and held his hand in front of his mouth to comment to Kira.

“She is the baby of the family.” he said, smiling. “She’s a little spoiled.”

“I am not spoiled!” Raven said, jumping over and tackling Caden. He rolled away from her, laughing. Raven jumped up, and bared her teeth like a wolf. “Don’t mess with me, Cadence. I’m still a kitsune.”

“Oh, I’m sorry.” Caden said in mock apology. “I thought you had become a Koneko when you came into this world.” Raven’s eyes flared, and she charged him again. This time, he simply sidestepped her and spun towards Kira.

“All right, Caden, I think you’ve teased the poor girl enough.” Kira said as Caden ducked behind her.

“Thank you for your support.” he said from behind her. “I’m in mortal danger of a rabid fox changeling, and all you can think about is how I’m treating her.”

“Well you deserve it.” Kira said, stepping away from Caden.

“Yes, he does.” Raven said. “But I’ll be generous and forgive him… this time.” She smiled. “Oh, it almost slipped my mind. Caden, my sister told me to tell you she was coming here tomorrow.”

“Which one?” Caden said, his eyes lighting up. Raven crossed her arms and glared at him.

“Which one would ask me to tell you that?” Raven said. Caden tapped his chin thoughtfully and looked at the ceiling, as if the answer were written there.

“Your favorite sister, Dark Lin.” he finally said, smiling.

“Ha-ha, you’re very funny, rogue.” Raven said.

“What time will she be here?” Caden asked seriously.

“Whenever it’s convenient.” Raven said. Caden threw up his arms triumphantly.

“Who’s coming?” Kira asked.

Raven smiled and said, “Someone very special: his wife.”

“I can’t believe I’m lying in the same cell I put Kira in just a few days ago.” Obsidian muttered at the ceiling. Raven had chained his hands and feet after slipping a needle-thin shard of Override Crystal into the small of his back. Growling, he tried to reach around and rub the irritated portion, but the chains didn’t allow him that far of a reach. “Stupid Moderators.” he complained, rolling back onto his side. As he did, a slight distortion on the cell wall caught his eye, and he readjusted to get a better view. There was a bright glint, like reflected sunlight off a mirror, then a rent tore the air, and a familiar face looked back at him through the tear.

“You’re, you…” Obsidian began, and the face looked just as startled to see him. They both said, “You’re me!” and then looked at each other in even greater surprise.

“How are you me, and what in the world got you into that fix?” the new version of Obsidian asked.

“I might ask you the same thing, although you’re not bound in a cell right now.” Obsidian said.

“Ha, I knew it.” the other Obsidian said. “You’re not me; you’re just my reflection, although perhaps not a perfect one, since you seemed to have failed.”

“And I suppose you’ve triumphed with your great scheme, since you’re just talking to your reflection.” Obsidian challenged. The other’s face clouded over briefly, then his smile returned.

“Listen, I have a proposition for you, one I hope you’ll agree to.” the other Obsidian said.

“Only if it involves getting me out and back in control of my Demis.” Obsidian replied.

“What are Demis?” the other asked, and Obsidian smiled.

“Allow me to explain…”