2.3

Come morning, Haven would be flying out. It was just school. It was only a few hours away by air. And yet, there was just something in the air, something strange, a kind of finality. It was affecting the nerves.

The night before, the final night, was, inevitably, eventful.

*

Gwen and Petra were in Haven's room. Petra watching as Gwen made sure, for the hundredth time, Haven packed everything.

"You know there's no Wendy's in Jorges. Don't you? I checked," Petra said.

"It's okay," Gwen said. "If he misses something, we'll just send it over."

"Better, I'll take it over," Petra said.

"I'll be fine with what's served," Haven said. "Didn't you check? Jorges has great food. Stine even more so. I'll be well cared for."

"But I won't be there," Petra said. "Wendy's is great. But going there with me makes it just that tiny bit better. And that tiny bit makes a lot of difference."

"Yes. My little darling makes everything so much more awesome. I'll really, really, really miss you. Don't you ever doubt that."

"I won't. I know."

"Still, if you feel wanting for anything, just call," Gwen said. "You don't have to be short of anything."

"Yes mama. I know."

"This feels so much like the day you were born."

Gwen was due in a few days when she went to Osham's temple in the town of Osham. It was a promise made just about two years ago. The Orion family, Monwort in particular, as a minister of the council had personally invested and spearheaded the project of renovating the ancient temple of Osham that had fallen into disrepair due to elements more than lack of proper care. It was a temple that was hundreds of years old. And when the project was approved in the council, the town requested for Monwort, the man who made it happen, to be present for the reopening of the temple, not that the temple was closed during the period of renovation. Devotees could visit during the day. Work was done through the night. And now that the work was done, the town had invited Monwort. Unfortunately, Monwort wasn't in the country. And Gwen was going in his place. She was certain the gods enshrined in the temple would bless her unborn son. On the way back, thirty kilometres from the city and sixty from the town, Gwen's water broke. The convoy was pulled over. And by the time the ambulance arrived, the baby was delivered in the car.

"How does my going to school remind you of me being born?" Haven asked.

"It just does," Gwen said.

"Yeah, it just does," Petra said.

"Okay, it just does," Haven said.

And the three burst out laughing.

*

"I hope he does better there," Pete said.

He sounded calm, his voice was steady. But he was on his feet, pacing between the wall and the chair. Across from him, Gavel was calmly studying, doing a much better job.

"And why do you say that?" Monwort asked, from behind the table.

The three were in the study, that had once been Monwort's, but was long since shared between father and sons.

"Because," Pete said, pausing a while, and continuing in a much sharper tone, "being dismissed from one school is enough. Another would only be shame."

"Shame?" Monwort said, slowly, in a low voice.

Gavel closed his book and looked at his younger brother. "Pete, enough."

"What?" Pete said, trying to sound stronger than he felt.

Gavel stared back until Pete broke his eyes away toward the floor.

"You better stay quiet later," Gavel said. "Be mindful of your words."

Pete stomped lightly, and nodded. He couldn't argue with eldest brother. Any other day, he wouldn't. Today, however, he wasn't sure what was wrong with him. After a minute, and a few laps, he stopped facing Gavel with a defiant look.

"What did I say that was wrong? Was he not asked to leave?"

"No," Monwort said before Gavel could. "He wasn't. He chose to."

"He chose to because that would be better for him than being asked to, which was obviously what was going to happen."

Pete couldn't look at father. And he couldn't stop himself.

"No," Monwort said again. "He wouldn't be asked to. He simply chose to, even though that wasn't even an option presented. That's how he is."

"Yes. That is how he is," Pete said.

"It's fine that you don't understand," Monwort said. "What isn't fine, what isn't at all acceptable, is you speaking like this about your elder brother. Listen to your eldest brother. Be mindful of your words. Let it be so you never spoke and I never heard anything. Clear your head and come down for dinner."

Monwort left. Pete was rooted where he stood. Shocked. Mouth hanging open. Staring at father's empty chair. And then, at eldest brother.

"Father's right," Gavel said.

"What did I say wrong?" Pete asked, like a cat that got its tail stepped on.

Gavel sighed. There were things he understood. And things he didn't get. He was still not as grown up as father, or mother, or as he would like to think he was. And so he couldn't give Pete an answer that Pete could find palatable.

"See," Pete said, "you can't think of anything. That's just to say, I said nothing wrong, isn't it?"

"Pete, you shouldn't speak ill of your brother," Gavel said. "That's not right."

And Pete couldn't argue that.

"I know. But why can't he be more like you, or father, or anyone else? Why can't he be what he is capable of? Why does he have to be so bad?"

"Pete," Gavel asked, realizing something that shocked him. "Are you embarrassed of your brother?"

Pete looked back mutely. But he might have been screaming his answer.

*

Dinner was slow. Especially the desserts.

"Are you ready?" Monwort asked.

"Oh yes," Haven answered. "Mama and Petra checked a hundred times." He was himself, like nothing could shake him.

"Good," Monwort said. "Good. I heard a lot of good things about Stine Academy. It's as alternative as it gets. I'm sure you'll love it."

"Oh yes," Haven agreed. "I've been in contact with prof Winse. Ironing out a few finer creases. I already love it. It's going to be great."

Monwort smiled indulgently.

"Just short of perfection," Petra added.

"Of course," Haven said.

"Of course," Pete said.

Though the words were the exact same, they couldn't be more different. Petra glared at her twin brother, something that happened so rarely, the times it did in the last eleven years could be counted on one hand. And that was what made it so terrifying, because there was no doubt that Petra was a devil when infuriated.

"Of course," Petra said, her tone dangerous and her actions even more so as she grabbed the fork and stood it on its teeth like it was stabbing the table. "Of course," she repeated, dragging the fork so, so slowly across the table that it might not have been moving at all.

Haven put his hand on hers. And instantly, the air about her changed, as smiled lovingly at him.

Unfortunately, it was far from over. From Haven's other side, Gwen bent her head so she had an unobstructed view of her youngest son. With her head bent at a right angle, and her eyes wide and expressionless, almost lifeless, and her lips curled in a tiny smile that wouldn't fool anyone, she looked far more frightening than Petra.

"Of course," she said, slowly, voicing every syllable with perfect clarity. "Of course."

Pete had turned into stone. He had seen his sister like this before. And every time it concerned her favourite brother. How could he have forgotten how terrifying Petra could get? And as if that wasn't enough, mother was even more terrifying. And because he hadn't ever seen her like this, like she was possessed, he was trembling.

Finally, Monwort dropped the fork noisily, breaking the spell. "This never happened," he said. He pushed the chair back noisily, rose to his feet, and left, without as much as glancing at Pete.

Dinner was over. Gavel held Pete and helped Pete to his room. The remaining three returned to Haven's room, laughing happily, like that truly hadn't happened.

The women of the house spent the night in Haven's room, having all of him to compensate for the absence in the future.

In the morning, the women and Monwort drove Haven to the airport, and sent him off. The women tearfully, and Monwort with an expression that could only be described as uncomfortable.

"It will be awesome," Haven said. "I promise." He hugged each of them. And never turned back as he headed into the airport.

*

It was seven years later that Haven returned.