Chapter 36: The Green General

Tomas turned his face away from Ace dismissively, "Are we done here?"

"For now," Ace grinned, "I'll call you again when I have something for you to do,"

Tomas took off out of the room. It was still dark in the corridor. Tomas made his way back to his room. His hand hovered on the door as he stood in the shadows alone.

"Are you there?" he asked softly.

A pair of glowing red eyes met his gaze.

"Do you need something?" Yona asked in a flat monotonous tone.

"No," Tomas replied, "I just...I don't know..."

"Well when you do know, you know how to find me," Yona replied coldly.

"Yona, I.." Tomas began. However as he looked around the dark hallway, he found himself alone.

The next morning, Tomas awoke feeling the toll of the previous day. He bundled his bruised and tired body out of bed feeling terribly sorry for himself. He had little time to lament for upon turning the handle of his door, there was a loud bang from outside. Tomas jumped in shock. He turned the handle quickly and bolted down the hall.

He reached the banister at the top of the staircase and looked down apprehensively. Sprawled across the marble floor below, the general let out a cough. Tomas's eyes came up to the main door which had been flung open. A blonde headed woman was standing with her foot hovered above the threshold. She threw her head back and let out a wild cackle of laughter.

"She's here," came a voice.

Tomas turned to his side. Yona was standing looking down with thinly disguised displeasure. Her red eyes were directed with a strained expression at the woman as she bounded into the house.

"Who is that?" Tomas asked curiously.

"The Green General," Yona started down the stairs.

Ace pulled himself up with a sigh, "Must you do that every time? It's not funny anymore, Cora,"

"Of course it is," Cora gave a wide toothy smile, "especially if you fall for it everytime! Best prank ever,"

"I'm not sure beating me up in my own home constitutes a prank," Ace answered, dusting himself down.

"Sure it is," Cora threw her arm around his neck. "You're the only one I can hit who stands back up again,"

"Lucky me," Ace gave a dismissive shrug shirking her off.

Cora was a tall woman, almost equal in height to the red general. She took a step back and gestured down the length of her body, "What do you think?"

She spun around with a smile. Her flamboyant bright jacket fluttered around displaying an embroidered array of blooming flowers.

"It's beautiful," Ace commented with a blank expression, "where did you get it?"

"Someone rich bitch in the East," Cora smirked, "she looked ugly in it anyway. Suits me much better,"

She tossed back a lock of her long honey-coloured hair and her ruby lips drew up in a smile. Ace let out a sigh and glanced up the staircase. His eyes seemed to be shooing Tomas away, but just as Tomas managed to get the hint, Cora looked up as well. Tomas froze in place looking down apprehensively.

"Who the hell is that?" she pointed at him with an outraged finger. "You said no one was allowed to visit you here!"

"And yet here you are," Ace spun her back to his side.

She let out a childish giggle and laced her hands around his neck, "Don't you know why I'm here?"

"No," he smiled coyly, "why don't you tell me?"

She leaned closely, "let's go to the bedroom. I'll whisper it to you,"

"After you," he gestured up and they started towards the stairs.

Tomas remained planted awkwardly at the bannister. He tried looking ahead but could feel someone staring at him intensely. He glanced over silently. Cora's wide blue eyes were surveying him with a severe glare. In an instant, it sent shivers down Tomas' spine. There was something chilling about her searching eyes. Tomas gripped the bannister tightly and returned his gaze ahead till they had passed. The moment they were gone, he let out a sigh of relief. He joined Yona on the ground floor.

"What was that?" Tomas asked quickly, "it was like..she was going to kill me,"

"If the master was not here, she would have," Yona replied.

"So that woman is really one of Silthus' generals?" Tomas' voice trembled slightly.

"Yes, " Yona replied.

Tomas detected a slight pause in her answer. He looked over at Yona carefully.

"Is that woman a demon?" Tomas asked, dropping his voice to a whisper.

Yona glanced over at him, "No, she is worse,"

Tomas inhaled sharply and gave a nod. "Why do you think she's here?"

"It means something bad has happened," Yona answered quietly. She turned swiftly and started towards the kitchen. Tomas wanted to ask more, but sensed the conversation had ended. He trailed after her wordlessly.

Above them, Cora bounded across the red general's office with a gleeful smile. It was a simple office with a desk and a few cabinets. Its most impressive feature was the open fireplace, but Cora had no interest in that. She flew around the room inspecting other cavities with a childlike eagerness.

"This isn't your bedroom, is it?" she observed.

"Not even close," Ace remarked dryly.

"So secretive as always," Cora pouted, but her attention was instantly drawn to the other side of the room. Her keen blue eyes spotted a cup full of paintbrushes tucked between two books and she pulled it out excitedly.

"You paint?" she grinned.

Ace immediately took the cup from her hand and set it down, "No, I don't. Don't touch it,"

"Huh?" Cora spun around dissatisfied, "then why do you have it if you don't even paint?"

"Cora," Ace said through gritted teeth, "WHY are you here?"

Cora's brow furrowed, "Straight to business? But I haven't even had a drink yet,"

"You shouldn't drink. Your personality is bad enough as it is," Ace folded his arms and leant back against the wall with irritation.

"Why are you in such a bad mood?" Cora interrogated, "It's not my fault that you annoyed Silthus,"

"He annoyed himself," Ace retorted, "I did what I was supposed to do, what's the problem?"

"Well for starters, what are you doing here and not in the college like you said you would be?" Cora's eyes narrowed.

"I got bored," Ace gave a terse smile.

"You wouldn't be bored if you were up in the north like you were supposed to be," Cora returned the smile coldly.

"I captured the North," Ace responded flatly, "there was nothing left to do,"

"Funny, I heard a different story," Cora took a seat upon the desk rifling the papers that were sitting there. When she found nothing that interested her, she dashed them off the table like a bad-tempered child. She looked up with an icy smile. "What have you been up to? Something wicked?"

"I'm only going to ask you one more time, Cora," Ace replied darkly, "Tell me why you're here,"

Cora held up her hands repentantly, "Don't shoot the messenger. I'm just here to tell you what's been happening during your little vacation. Have you heard about the West?"

"I heard it's not going well. Darius met resistance?" Ace raised an eyebrow.

"mmhmm," Cora nodded. She was kicking her feet over the side of the desk disinterestedly, "Stupid kid. Why did Silthus make him a white general? He's useless,"

"So what is Silthus going to do?"

"He's sending Bora," Cora scoffed.

"Bora?" Ace frowned. "Why Bora?"

"Who knows? Seeing that he already helped Silthus capture the south, I guess Silthus feels the black general is best suited to the job."

"Bora's a fucking idiot," Ace said resentfully.

"But he's a monster on the battlefield. You know that," Cora gingerly hopped off the desk, "So he's going to the west to clean up Darius' mess. Leaving me to take care of Silthus,"

"What are you, his babysitter? That's not like you Cora," Ace eyed her wearily.

"At first I was going to say no," Cora mused, "but then I heard you'd be here too. It's been a while since we caught up. I thought I'd come and say hi,"

"Well, you've said it," Ace met her gaze suspiciously, "Tell Silthus he doesn't need to spy on me. I'll be there when he reaches the tower."

"Hmm," Cora grinned, "you'd better Ace. Or else he's going to be really mad at you. And this time, being cute isn't going to cut it,"

"I'll keep that in mind," Ace smiled.

"I would hate to see a repeat of what happened last time you disobeyed," Cora smiled darkly.

"I'm sure you would," Ace smirked, "but don't worry there's no chance of that happening again,"

"No? Then who's that kid downstairs?" Cora chuckled.

"A nuisance, but nobody important," Ace responded severely.

"I'd get rid of him and any others you've got hidden around here. Better do it before Silthus arrives," Cora shrugged.

"Why don't you mind your own business, Cora?" Ace snapped.

"You're my friend. I'm just looking out for you," Cora giggled in her noxious laugh.

"Well, thanks. Friend." Ace stated emotionlessly, "Think you can see yourself to the door?"

"Oh, that's cold," Cora shook his head, "but luckily for you, I have to go ahead to the college."

She spun around theatrically and headed to the door.

"Right, what a shame," Ace smiled coldly.

"I'll see you on the big day," Cora paused just before the door and gave a little wink.

"I can't wait to see what you do this time!"