Chapter 8

Zai put whatever I asked for in the basket as we walked the aisles. I made sure to grab everything needed for breakfast and dinner, mostly small items we were low on or things that were about to expire. While we stood in line, Zai suddenly asked,

"What's your favorite flavor of ice cream?"

I pondered for a second before admitting, "I've never had ice cream before."

Zai gasped dramatically. I laughed despite myself.

"Never? That's weird... hmm." He fell oddly quiet after that.

After paying for the food, we stepped outside. Zai snapped his fingers. A loud clap echoed, and the groceries disappeared.

"Where did the food go?" I asked, alarmed.

"I took them home. Let's go, you have to try ice cream at least once in your life!"

He grabbed my hand and led me to an ice cream shop. Inside, everything was bright and colorful. Zai stood out with his dark clothes and piercing presence, though he seemed perfectly at home.

He told me to sit while he went to the counter. When he returned, he carried a tray with thirty tiny cups of different ice cream flavors.

"I told them to give us a sample of everything. Go on, try."

He leaned forward, resting his chin in his hands, watching me with an excited glint in his eyes.

I tasted the plain white one first. Sweet, cold, and creamy—it was divine. Who knew something so simple could taste so magical?

One by one, I sampled them all. My favorite became clear. I pointed to it.

"Cotton candy?" Zai grinned. "It suits you. Ever had cotton candy before?"

I shook my head.

"Then we have to try that next."

He bought a gallon of the cotton candy ice cream, then linked our arms together again as we walked back home.

"I'm glad we decided to walk," he said casually.

"Wait... we had a choice? Do...you have a car?!"

"Yeah... we have four."

I stopped walking. "Then why did I walk five miles for clothes?!"

Zai shrugged, completely unfazed. "I liked walking with you."

My cheeks tingled. This reminded me of when I used to walk with Smoke... My smile faded.

"Hey... are you and Rai... dating?" Zai asked, his voice too casual.

I blinked. "No. I'm just lost and he's helping me out."

Zai frowned slightly. "I see... That's unusual. Rai's never brought anyone to our house before. So I thought you'd be dating for sure."

"My circumstances are unusual," I countered quickly. "I don't even think he likes me that way."

Zai refuted my words by saying, 

"I've known Rai for years. He likes you." 

His revelation hit me hard. RJ always seemed gruff, even annoyed. But he did give me a room, clothes, and let me stay in his home rent-free.

"Well, it's not like it matters," Zai added, ruffling my hair.

"Aye! What are you doing?!" I swatted his hand away.

"Lightening the mood!" he laughed, then jogged ahead as the house came into view.

The groceries were already put away. I found the ice cream in the freezer and ate some immediately. Dinner that night was leftover curry.

The next day, I made eggs, bacon, and waffles. The day after, fruit crepes. Then parfaits. I even attempted eggs Benedict—it took three tries.

RJ stared at the runny yolk. "Ew," he said, pushing the plate away and eating toast instead.

Zai, on the other hand, ate it happily. Later, he'd invite me on walks almost every afternoon. He asked about everything—my childhood, favorite subjects, least favorite subjects, foods I liked or wanted to try, and my third favorite color. It was peaceful. RJ mostly kept to himself, though he occasionally asked how I was or joined in Zai's teasing.

A month passed. RJ never mentioned moving out to me, and I found myself growing comfortable.

One morning, as I was heading downstairs, I found Zai waiting at the foot of the stairs. He put a finger to his lips, signaling me to stay quiet, and held out his hand. Curious, I took it.

He led me outside, just past the house, to where I'd first appeared.

"The night sky looks different here," he said, sitting in the grass.

I looked up. Countless stars lit the sky. Infaniya never got this dark; I'd never seen anything like it.

"You're right," I whispered, sitting beside him.

"I figured you hadn't noticed. You never come out after sunset."

"Thank you for showing me."

He laid back, hands behind his head. "Do you always get up this early?"

"I like to prep breakfast before you guys wake up."

"You don't have to cook for us."

My heart sank. "You don't like the food?"

"I love it. It makes me feel special that you go out of your way for us. I just want you to know... you're not obligated. We don't expect anything from you."

His kindness almost brought me to tears.

"Sometimes I do want to sleep in...so maybe I will tomorrow."

"If you do, I'll cook for you." My breath caught. No one had ever said something like that to me before.

"Why can't you go home?" he asked gently.

I hesitated. "I was pronounced dead. I can't go back legally... and I'm not strong enough to fly."

Zai sat up and studied me. "Legally...? Wait—are you Infaniyan?"

I blinked. "Aren't you?"

Without warning, Zai extended black, feathery wings. They stretched wide, surrounding us.

"I'm an Afarion," he said.

My heart raced. I'd been living with an enemy this whole time.

"Don't worry," he added softly. "I was banished. I've got no reason to hurt you."

I relaxed a little. The sun was beginning to rise.

"Look, the sun's coming up," Zai whispered.

The sky shifted to orange and pink. It was... beautiful.

Zai's hand brushed against mine. My skin tingled where we touched, so I glanced at him. He didn't react. Maybe it was an accident. I didn't move away.

We returned to the house together. Zai showed me where the aprons were.

"I didn't know we had aprons," I said.

"I got them yesterday."

He wore a black one and smiled. "I want to help. What are your orders, chef?"

Even now, his smile still caught me off guard. Together, we made blueberry waffles and eggs.

Two days later, an email arrived from IIC:

"Regarding your request for identification, it appears that Snowe's body was never found. If you are who you claim, please come to our office any weekday between 8 AM and 10 PM."

I stared at the message. I could go home.

"What are you looking at?" Zai asked. I closed the laptop.

"Nothing."

He sat beside me. "You're lucky..."

My heart skipped. Was that a threat?

"Raijian can't lie," he explained. "He was chosen by fire. To ascend faster, he gave up the ability to lie. If he tries, his body will destroy itself."

I stared at him, horrified. "That's awful."

"You don't have to tell me your secrets... so I think you're lucky."

"What about you?"

Zai removed his jacket, revealing arms marked with lightning patterns.

"I was chosen by lightning. Ever heard the poem of the Chosen Ones?"

I shook my head.

"There was a great storm. Air moved the clouds, clouds brought rain, lightning came with clouds, which birthed fire, which released smoke, which filled the air... and sound carried it all. That's the seven affinities. Me and my six brothers. We all gave something up."

I stared. "Do you... not want me to know what you gave up?"

He laughed. "If you get to have a secret, I want one too."

"Can you lie?"

"Sure can! I lie all the time," he said, eerily cheerful.

He walked away, whistling.

I reopened my laptop.

Do I even want to go back? Nothing good is waiting for me there.

Except maybe... Smoke... wait that poem was about Smoke too, I guess the Afarions have their own set of Chosen ones. Smoke can choose anyone to be with there's no way he's waiting for the girl he only kissed a few times who then disappeared for a century... there's not even a 1% chance.