Seventy

Laira comes to the rescue. She sidles next to me and leans in," You seem to have run out of words," She whispers and giggles while still nibbling on the damn apple.

" What are you?" Laira asks, catching Apple's attention for a second before his eyes turn back to me.

" I only serve the mistress. She is my chosen master. She has called upon me, and I do not answer to anyone else but her, " Oh joy. Mason smotheres a chuckle, while Laira hums, engrossed in this conversation.

I love children, but they don't seem to be very impressed with me. Cats seem to like me better than children.

" Very interesting, " Laira takes another bite of her apple, while Aaron slips next to her, blade in hand, and Jacqueline settles on the other side of Mason.

Apple looks bored at the display, the smile stays on his face as his eyes move from one person to another.

" How did you get in here?" Aaron asks and takes a step forward.

Apple stays true to his word and doesn't answer the question. The confidence is almost endearing if didn't know any better. But I do, and I know it must stem from his abilities.

" That's excellent craftsmanship," He points at the blade in my hand and I raise it so he can have a better look. I have no idea if he can wield it if I were to offer it to him but there is only one way to find out.

" Do you want to touch it?" It's a cheap trick, but worth a try. His eyes widen for a second before he shakes his head.

" I shouldn't. It doesn't belong to me, " He says firmly.

" But I'm allowing you to touch it," I say sweetly. He shakes his head left and right, mulling over it, that smile stays as if it has been painted on.

After extensive deliberation, he takes a step forward, raises his hand, then lifts a finger and touches the tip of the blade. In the blink of an eye, he disappears in a puff of white smoke. Oops!

" You killed it," Laira says exasperated with a deep frown on her forehead, " Before we found out if he could be of any use," She huffs and angrily begins to eat the core of the apple.

" Apple, " I call meekly hoping that I didn't kill the poor creature.

He emerges out of thin air a tad ruffled up, hair all mused up, with a few streaks of soot on his otherwise pale skin.

" Phew," He giggles, " That packs quite a punch. It's new," He points at the sword in my hand, and I look at it and then at him.

" It does?" Mason and I say in unison and Apple nods.

" What do you know about the blade?" Since he won't answer to anyone else, I take the lead.

" It has been in the hands of the ephemerae for aeons. Since daiō have emerged from the belly of the Tenebrae," He shrugs as if it's no big deal, and this is common knowledge taught at nursery.

Laira shifts at my side, fidgeting, and I know she probably has a million questions sitting on the tip of her tongue, but since Apple won't speak to anyone else other than me, it is probably killing her to stay silent.

" Right, I must've missed that class, " I say mockingly and Apple smiles back at me. I've never seen anyone in my life so unruffled by anything. It is kind of annoying that a child has more confidence in his two feet of body than I have in my five eleven.

" No problem. I can teach you," He chirps cheerfully, and I open my mouth to say something but I can't find anything that's remotely coherent or eloquent.

Laira nudges me with her elbow, " Say something," She whispers and I shrug. Crap, I'm really bad at this.

" How about we all take a seat and have a civilised conversation," Mason gently pushes the blade that Jacqueline is holding up so defensively and smiles at Apple," All this hostility seems unnecessary, " He takes the diplomatic route, and Aaron and Jacqueline stand down. David makes an appearance in the periphery gives us a strange look, and then nods in greeting. His eyes shift to Mason, and his arm wraps around my shoulder while Laira follows the motion and then looks at him. I can't see her face but I'm pretty sure it makes David wish he'd stayed in his corner.

Surprisingly Apple moves from his spot, strides past Jacqueline and settles on a seat that is far too big for him. His feet dangle happily, as he smiles while he waits for us to join him. I wonder why he hasn't told Mason to shove it but that's for later.

Leaning on me for support, Mason and I, slowly make our way to the rectangular table that it's big enough to sit a party of eight.

On the way there, I spot Eric and Emmeline huddled together with the twins between them, playing some sort of game. The ball of guilt that has settled in my stomach becomes heavier, slowing my steps down. Mason follows my lead watching my profile and following my line of sight," They are fine. A little rattled. Nothing a good therapist can't fix," Great. Now I'm responsible for those children's trauma.

" Eric is their father. They would've needed one anyway," Mason adds as he drags me towards the table. I know he is trying to ease the guilt but still, it doesn't help.

With a heavy heart, I settle in the seat with Mason next to me. Laira at my flank with Aaron's bulking frame, and Jacqueline on the other side of Mason. She places her blade on the table within reach and Apple follows the motion of her hand as it wraps around the hilt.

Nobody sane smiles this much and I begin to question if this child has run away from his family. Does he have a family? I don't know.

Still smiling, he places his hand on the table and looks Jacqueline dead in the eyes. She holds his stare while the blade evaporates in front of my eyes leaving behind nothing but a feeble wisp of smoke.

" Jesus fucking Christ," Mason mutters under his breath," No wonder they haven't let him out," He tacks on as Laira leans in closer and looks at the shiny spot where the blade used to be. He didn't even have to touch it or look at it.

I want to scream, but that would freak people out even more than they already are.