I hadn't forgotten he was here, but the story and his part in it . . . it was almost too much to bear to even look at him.

I slid out immediately, obediently.

"See you tomorrow, okay?" checked Ikovos, his tone assuring.

I nodded and he lifted a hand.

Anything I could think to say wasn't enough . . . I just followed Jaden quietly out of the room, trying to keep myself composed. It didn't seem, after all, his ideal that I find out.

He lead the way forwards at a slow and even pace. His back turned, with no opportunity to catch his expression. When we got to the room he waited for me to unlock it, then went in to check it . . . for the third time tonight.

I walked over to the bed straightaway, expecting him to leave without word when he'd finished. As I pulled back the blanket, his voice came behind me.

"You're probably going to have nightmares now."

I spun around. He was standing a couple feet away, smirking slightly. It seemed so arbitrary given the situation.

I frowned. "I'm sorry that I-"

"It's fine." He began to walk forward, eyes intent. "Vos was right, you deserved to know."

I faltered a bit. "But I thought you-"

"I didn't." He was still moving closer.

"But, then, um . . . Is the room safe?"

He nodded. Very near now. I was forced to back up till my legs hit the bed.

"Th-then what are you still doing here?"

He took my hand firmly, causing my chest to rush. "Getting your mind off of what you just heard."

When he lifted my palm up, a purple flame was floating brilliantly. I had to force my gaze away from his dark eyes to rest on it. Still, as soon as I did, I felt better . . . comforted.

He let go. "Helps, right?" He asked it lightly.

My features twisted for just a moment, then I forced a smile, head bobbing. "Yeah . . ."

He backed off then, eyes distant. "Night, Eve."

Before I could even get up the courage to reply, he was gone.

The click of the door felt like an emotional release. My eyes turned foggily towards the fire. I must have been wrong about the rain stopping because it sounded very loud now, even behind the curtains, light could be seen flashing.

I dropped into the bed, eyes still glued on the flame.

This is a good. A good distraction.

I slid myself back till I was braced up against the pillows. I don't remember turning the lamp off. But the only light was my purple flame, so I must have.

With the storm thundering around me, I squeezed my body closer, cradling my hands around the fire.

Ikovos was right, they were okay now. Just look at all they do to help others because of what happened . . . The flame flickered. An image of their families flashing through my mind.

They're okay.

Tears filled my eyes. I squeezed closer.

"They're okay."

The flame dimmed smaller. My lips quivered.

"They're-"

It vanished, and in the next moment I broke into sobs, covering my face with my hands.

I went on like that for a while, eventually falling asleep cradled up on my side. Tanis cuddled up beside me too for once, he'd been staying up all night usually. When I awoke in the morning he was still there.

My hand lifted up to my eyes reflexively. The skin around them felt all puffy and moist. I sniffled once, then leaned up, trying not to wake Tanis in the process.

When my eyes moistened again, I immediately reprimanded myself. This was a new day, I really didn't need to be all weepy throughout it . . . that's not what the boys would want.

I walked into the bathroom without turning the lights on. I was right about my puffy eyes. They were blotchy too. I rubbed them a couple times, then rinsed water into them, sighing when I looked up. Even the pink on my lips was starting to wear off, that at least would have helped distract from it. This thought got the slightest smile out of me, though it almost just as quickly turned into a contorted frown.

I put my dried clothes on, then straightened the bathroom up dutifully. . . . I was just going to have to deal with being a little over-emotional today.

When I walked back into the room I pulled the curtain back, streaming light across the area, then went over to pat Tanis.

"Come on, boy, you gotta wake up at least long enough to get into your pack."

He didn't budge. I sighed.

Thirty minutes later I was making my way down the last story of stairs. Before heading down, I'd cleaned the room and packed all my bags, but forwent checking on the boys. I didn't want to wake them if they were sleeping, and knew they'd find me soon if they weren't.

I was a little surprised when I hit the first floor just at how packed the place was. There was a sign hanging above the right wall that read "continental breakfast" below which ran a long table piled with food and lined with people. The smell was mouthwatering. Almost all of the couches and tables were full of eating people.

I stood at the steps, mouth agape. Wow.

When a group coming down forced me to move, I made my way into the back room. The band wasn't there any longer, but the fireplace was, a long couch was open right in front of it. It reminded me of my favorite spot in the lodge library. How lucky.

I headed over to it, very cautiously . . . All of these people were more than a little intimidating. I kind of wished now that I'd waited for Ikovos and Jaden. . . .

After sitting down for a while and watching the fire, I opened up my pack and tried to get Tanis to come out.

"Tanis," I whispered.

He didn't move.

"Tanis, please come out and keep me company."

Still nothing.

I tied it begrudgingly. "You're such a lackluster friend." Then I crossed my arms grumpily and looked back to the fireplace.

I made no other motion till I felt someone sit on the other side of the couch. Then my eyes slid over. It was a boy. He was looking at me. I widened a bit, then turned back, ignoring him.

When he moved closer and addressed me I had to acknowledge.

"Pretty crowded, aye?" He gestured around.

I turned to him, smiling shortly. "Yeah." Then back.

He continued. "That was some pretty crazy weather we had last night. . . ."

I didn't reply this time.

"So, are you from here?" he asked.

I looked over at him. He had dark hair and blue eyes. He seemed like a nice enough fellow, but he was giving me an obviously interested smile.

I winced then dropped my head in closer to him. "You better go," I whispered.

He chuckled at this. "Huh? Why?"

I bit my lip, glancing around. "I'm sure you mean well, but if you stay here any longer and my friends come they're going to get the wrong idea."

He laughed openly now, moving closer to me. "I think I can handle mysel-!" His face went wide when a hand wrapped around the back of his shirt, lifting him out of his seat.

"Alright, fun's over." It was Ikovos. He had a placid, intolerant expression on his face.

I just winced.

The boy took a step back immediately, eyeing him. "Jeez, okay. I didn't mean anything by it."

Ikovos nodded disapprovingly to him, then walked past to face me in front of the couch.

"Good morning," he said sweetly.

"Good morning," I replied, then looked to the boy and back to him. "He really was just being nice."

Ikovos shrugged apathetically. "You're just lucky it was me instead of Jaden. He's gonna kill you for coming down alone again."

"What?" I made an innocent face. "It's daytime."

His head shook, then he put out his hand. "Come on."

I grabbed it, lifting up and pretty much just feeling very glad to be with him.

"So how did you sleep?" he asked, starting a conversation that continued all through breakfast, where Jaden joined us, and on until we were walking down the road towards the parts shop.

Chapter 17.

Interrupted "OKAY, SO AFTER that, you take ten steps?" questioned Jaden, attempting to understand a game I'd been describing to them.

"Yeah." I nodded. "And, you know, whoever gets there first, wins."

"That's how it usually goes," commented Ikovos.

Jaden shook his head. "I don't get it. . . . Where do you learn all these games anyways?"

I looked down. The cobble street we were walking was brightly lit.

"I don't really know . . ."

He smirked, then stopped suddenly. "Be right back," he said, before disappearing inside of a tall shop right off the sidewalk.

I noticed now that the river was running alongside us, past the buildings to our left.

"Is that the part shop?" I asked, looking to Ikovos lightly.

He nodded. "Yeah." He was wearing the same white t-shirt as yesterday. Lucky for him the rain had stopped in full force. Now the sun was shining down like a death beam.

"It might be a while," he continued. "Do you wanna go check out the river or something?"

I nodded happily, then followed after him down a path that led to the water's edge. The river itself was about six or seven feet below ground level, very wide across. It sparkled quite beautifully, almost glowing with the sun's light, and reflecting the puffy-cream clouds above.

The whole scene reminded me of something.

"Ikovos, have you ever heard of something called a Gaeln?"

"A Gaeln? . . ." one of his eyebrows lifted contemplatively as he glanced out over the water ". . . I don't think so. Is it a type of animal or something?"

My eyes turned back out disappointedly. "No. Well, I don't think so . . . They're supposed to be able to talk."

He looked over then. "Talk?"