Chapter Fourteen

"Do you know how much this is going to cost me?" I bit my lip nervously at our family mechanic, Paolo. My father and Paolo were good friends, so I decided to go to his shop to get a price for repairing my car.

Also, I did not want to go back to the pawn shop too soon. Not after what happened last week. Arthur and Kai stood a few yards away from me, having their conversation. They were muttering softly to each other like they didn't want me to hear their discussion.

I didn't mind as long as they stayed in their area. I didn't want one of them to screw up my negotiation with Paolo.

Paolo looked at my windows and gritted his teeth. Then he strolled around to the front of the sedan and glazed his finger across the large scratch on the hood of the car. Every so often he would sneak glances at me. Then he scratched his head when he saw my windshield and whistled.

"Wow. Yikes." He cleared his throat. "If I were able to change your windows, I'd charge you a minimum of $800, and that doesn't include this." Paolo tapped the hood.

I was convinced that my face went pale because of how my blood dropped when he told me the number of buckeroos I'd be paying. "$800!?"

"This is not good. I've seen worse, but this?" He pointed at the ghastly mark and broken glass. "I'm no DJ and this ain't my club. Look at the size of this. What did you do to it?"

I glanced over my shoulder and gazed at Arthur. "Let's just say that someone jumped on my car and scratched it." I lied. "Are you sure that $800 is the least you can do?"

"Unfortunately, I can't fix this. This isn't my line of work. I would do it if I could for $800, but I know a guy who can patch this baby up for ya. But I dunno how you will like that price." Paolo took off his hat and wiped the sweat from his forehead. He fanned himself with his cap. "The guy I know may be able to help ya for $1200."

"$1200!? Paolo!" I whined. "I don't have that much on me right now."

"Eh, I'm sorry sweet cheeks. I'm a mechanic, not an auto detailer. I don't make the rules, I live by them. Normally I'd help you out because of your Pop, but I can't with this." Paolo threw his cap back over his sweaty head and spat next to his feet. "I tell you what honey, I'll call my guy and you bring this back to the shop tomorrow. He'll take a good look for ya, free of charge. No consultation fee."

"Fine," I mumbled and shifted my eyes toward the two men. "Come on you two!" I opened the driver's door and hopped inside. Kai and Arthur sat and shut their doors too.

"Are you able to fix your Parrottle, Phoenix?" Kai watched as I turned on the ignition and changed gears.

"How much gold is he willing to take?" Arthur chimed in.

"It's gonna cost me an arm and a leg to have it repaired," I grumbled.

"What?" Arthur spat and eyed Paolo. "He dared to threaten you? Do not worry, Phoenix. If he dares to even reach for your limbs, I will kill him."

"What?" I turned to face him. "Arthur, what I said is just an expression. Calm down, no one is killing anyone. What is with you two?"

"You have never killed anyone?" Arthur gasped. "How do you protect yourself?"

"Um... killing people is illegal here."

"Even if it is done with justice?" Arthur licked his lips and his eyes twinkled at me.

"Justice is usually served in the courtroom." I shrugged.

"And if there is a beast that is to roam upon your land, are you not to attack it? Is the courtroom a dungeon? Do they handle them as well?"

"The only beasts here are you two." I seethed. "If something were to attack, then we call the Police. But sometimes self-defense is allowed, unfortunately, because of the way I look, defending myself would be... kind of difficult."

"Your world is severely flawed." Arthur huffed in annoyance.

"I have told her this before, Arthur." Kai rolled his eyes. "Do not bother to discuss, as it will only irritate her. I have already planned to protect her with my life." Kai brushed his hand through my hair and I flinched away from him.

These two were crazy. I don't criticize their brute strength or barbaric behavior.

"Then I suppose I should also vow to protect you and your Phoenix with my life as well." Arthur smiled at the two of us. "But you are not experiencing life. I don't know any woman in Elvanor who hasn't ended another's life by the age of 18. The women there are fierce and strong-willed. And they feel the control they long for but can't have because of Thi's law."

"You two are so..." I took a deep breath and clutched my hands around the steering wheel. "Frustrating."

"Tell me, Phoenix. How many moons are you? 228 moons?"

"Arthur, I don't know what the heck you're talking about." I stopped at a stop light and leaned back in my chair.

"He inquires about your age," Kai explained. "But I think in your world, they do not count by looking at the moon. I have come to understand recently that your people count age by years, and that is 12 moons each."

"Asking a woman how old they are is rude." I stuck my tongue at him.

"She looks to be 216 moons." Arthur ignored me.

"I would agree, but when I look at her I sense independence. She is very intuitive and creative, and she is amusing." Hearing them talk about me like this made me feel embarrassed. "However, her bosom and hips lead me to understand she has just reached the age where she is ready for me."

"Excuse me!?" I coughed.

"Your body is very breathtaking," Kai repeated. "And your skin is very eye-catching. So I will estimate that you are 228 moons, or 240."

"Translation?" I balled my fists.

"In your years, it equates to 19 or 20."

How wrong they were. I was flattered. I was always told that I looked younger, but hearing it from Kai felt different. It brought some joy to my heart. "I'm 26." I pressed the gas and turned my car into my apartment parking lot.

"You lie." Kai's eyes widened.

"What does 26 mean?" Arthur tilted his head confused.

"She is 312 moons."

"312!?" Arthur gasped. "I fear we've come too late for her. You both should have started the cohabitation ritual many moons ago! I commanded you to go after her, Young Master. You should have listened to me!"

"Cohabitation ritual?" I looked to Kai.

"When we are to wed, we are to stay in the same quarters," Kai explained, and I rolled my eyes. He wasn't going to let me live it down about that dumb agreement I made with him a long time ago. "Do not fret, Arthur. She is still young, and her womb is healthy."

"Okay, now you're making me angry." I cackled. "How do you know that my womb is healthy?"

"I can smell what happens with your body." Kai shrugged. "You have had a healthy Menstruation the last moon, I am able to tell."

"Okay! That's enough talking!" I pulled into the parking spot and hopped out of the driver's seat. I didn't even want to look these men in the eye after that. I walked a little faster than the two towards my apartment building but they caught up.

"Are these your quarters, Phoenix?" Arthur observed the old building in surprise.

"Yep, and if you don't like it, you can find somewhere else to stay."

Arthur frowned at Kai, who only replied to him with a shrug.

"What are we to have for dinner, Phoenix?" Kai tapped my shoulder and grinned innocently. I nudged him away from me and began to unlock my apartment door.

"You're getting on my nerves." I hissed. He was expecting me to just whip up dinner for him and his friend. He wouldn't understand if I told him that I wasn't a housewife in the 50s who would just cook for him and his guest. I think I was being too nice by letting him and Arthur stay here, after what he did to my car.

"Is she going to prepare a feast?" Arthur whispered to him, but I overheard.

"They don't hold feasts in this world," Kai murmured in response. "But her cooking is not bad."

"I can hear you!" I grunted and turned the knob to open my door.

"We mean no dishonor to you, Phoenix." Arthur grinned. "I am just speaking from my belly, as I am famished. My body aches for sustenance."

The first thing I heard was the TV when I entered. "Shush!" I paused. I felt someone's presence in my apartment. Someone besides us.

"Shush?" Kai scoffed. "Is that another odd term?"

"What does it mean?" Arthur looked at Kai.

"Shush!" I repeated and placed my index finger to my lips.

"Shush!" Kai mimicked my action with a smile. Arthur did the same and I groaned.

"It means, zip it!" I yelled quietly.

"Zip what?"

"Shut up!" I slapped my hand over his mouth. Could they be any more humiliating? I listened carefully to the footsteps coming from the kitchen. I didn't remember leaving the TV on when Kai and I left. I heard my fridge door shut and then the sound of a glass being placed on the counter. "Someone is here," I whispered to the two.

"An intruder?" Arthur narrowed his eyes and glazed his fingers over his sheath. I nodded and stretched my arm out to grab the broom beside my doorway.

"Phoenix," Kai grabbed onto my arm. "I will go ahead of you."

"Nope, because I don't want you or Samurai Woo here to 'accidentally' put holes in my wall or break something." I pressed on and tip-toed over to my kitchen. The men followed close. So close that I could feel the warmth radiating off Kai's body.

In my peripheral, I saw a small Shadow walk over to my pantry. Then I heard off-key humming. It gave me the creeps. My fingers were shaky the louder it got. I quickly raised the broomstick high with one hand and flicked on the light with the other. However, the Shadow ran at me and I screamed.

The Shadow screamed too and jumped back. It only took half a second for Kai and Arthur to spring forward and grab the trespasser. Arthur pulled out his sword and Kai grabbed the shadowy figure by the shirt. And I soon realized that the Shadow was none other than my younger sister, Jackie.

"Stop!" I latched onto Arthur's arm before he could swing at her. "Put her down!" I glanced at Kai.

"But this is—" Kai eyed Jackie suspiciously.

"Put her down!" I repeated in a harsher tone. "Jesus, Jackie! You almost scared the crap out of me! Seriously, what the heck!" I sighed when Kai placed her feet back on the floor gently.

"Sorry." She mumbled carelessly and narrowed her eyes at the two men.

"How did you get into my apartment? Where are Dad and Jeanette?"

"I stole the extra key." Jackie shrugged. "They're at home. Who are these guys? Are they cosplayers? Are you into cosplaying, Casey?"

"Excuse me, don't change the subject! You stole the extra key? Give it back!"

"No." She smirked defiantly and reached for a bag of potato chips off my counter. She opened the bag and started eating them.

"Jackie, I am not playing games with you! Give me back the key and I will take you home. How did you even get here? Did you take a bus alone?"

"Yep." She stepped forward and looked at Kai. "He's cute." She smiled at him. "Is he your boyfriend?"

"Jackie!" I groaned.

"If not, can I have him?"

"That's it." I snatched the bag of potato chips out of her hands and grabbed her by the arm. "I'm taking you back home." I pushed past Arthur and dragged Jackie to the door. "Put your shoes on!"

"No!" She whined and snatched her arm away. "Don't tell me what to do! You're not my mom!"

"This is my house!" I shouted. "Do you have any idea what time it is? It's after 6, Jackie. Do you know how dangerous it gets in the city in the evening? You could've gotten yourself hurt, or worse! You know what? I'm calling your Mom."

"Do that and I'll tell Dad that you've got two grown men in your apartment!"

"You little devil!" I spat. "Tell him whatever, I don't care." I looked for Jeanette's number in my contact list. "You've gone too far this time. I'm not gonna have a child disrespect me in my house!" Before I could press call, my phone was snatched out of my hand and thrown to the wall. It broke into pieces, and I could feel my anger escalate.

Jackie stuck her tongue at me and spun around quickly. Then she raced over to my bedroom door and shut it. I chased after her and turned the knob, but she had already locked it.