Xylek paces the room, tugging on his hair in frustration. This is the first time they have separated in a long while, and now he can focus on the thoughts in his head.
“What did she mean?” he asks the empty air around him, “It’s complicated? What is so complicated about how you feel about someone?”
He stops pacing for a moment. Sitting on the foot of one of the beds, he places his chin into his hands. Maybe if he hadn’t asked her what her feelings were for him, he wouldn’t be in turmoil. Perhaps if he had phrased it differently, then he wouldn't be trying to decipher the code of the phrase “it’s complicated”.
“What did she mean?” he asks again. Though no response comes, Xylek grumbles. “Am I overthinking it? Does she like me or does she despise me? Does she put up with my antics for genuine adoration? Or is she waiting for the proper time to strike with a vengeance?”
Xylek lays back in the bed with a groan. Then, suddenly, a thought crosses his mind. “Why do I care what she thinks of me?”
Without a warning, a loud knock echoes through the room, interrupting his bout of insanity. He composes himself and walks to the door. He expects to see Lucinda. But as he opens the door, he is caught off guard with a giant of a man standing before him. Standing stalk still in the presence of a behemoth of a man, Xylek looks the man over.
This is no man, Xylek thinks. This is a demon. Not just any demon.
“Zakasi, what are you doing here?” Xylek says as he leads his brother through the tiny door frame.
“I spoke with King Lucifer,” Zakasi announces. Zakasi looks down at his brother. Xylek’s disheveled appearance shows he was in the middle of something. “Is everything alright, brother? You look terrible.”
Xylek waves his hand and sits down on the bed again. “It’s nothing. What did Lucifer say?”
Zakasi sighs somberly. “Not much. He asked about Lucinda. But I did tell him what I learned.” The hulking brother tells Xylek what he had relayed to Lucifer. From the treatment of those loyal to the king to how the council has announced the fall of the kingdom.
Rubbing his eyes in frustration, from his previous endeavor and this current news, Xylek grumbles.
“I wish I had more to tell, but the guards who come to the tavern are becoming tight lipped about the whole ordeal.” Zakasi slicks his auburn hair back. “How are your travels?”
Xylek grabs a pillow and screams into the bulk of it. Zakasi nods. Once done yelling into the pillow, Xylek sighs with relief. He tells Zakasi about how he got the amulet and how it has given him new abilities.
He explains the abilities in great detail from what he has learned. He learned how to see other’s time spans a little clearer and how he can manipulate any mind he wants. He hasn’t played with the time manipulation lately, so he doesn’t know if the amulet can manipulate that.
“What about seeing the dead?” Zakasi asks.
“I haven’t tried that one yet,” Xylek admits sheepishly.
Zakasi looks at him with skepticism. “The main reason you wanted it and you haven’t tried it?”
Xylek scoffs. “I’m not sure how to. And I’m a bit afraid to try it.”
“But why?” pries Zakasi.
“Because what if I don’t see them?” Xylek raises his voice. He slumps down. “What if they just abandoned me?”
Zakasi places his hand onto Xylek’s shoulder. His green eyes show empathy. “It’s alright,” he begins to tell Xylek. “Just know you still have a family.”
Xylek sighs in defeat. “You’re right.”
“You haven’t mentioned Lucinda. Where is she?”
Groaning, Xylek tells his brother that she is at the bath house. She should be back soon.
Zakasi chuckles. “Maybe you should follow suit. A bath may do you some good.” He slows his chuckle, then stops. “Are you sure you are okay?”
Xylek turns away from his brother. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Suit yourself.” Zakasi says with a shrug.
Suddenly, a knock on the door startles the demon brothers. A voice rings out. “Xylek, I’m back. We need to talk.” The voice belongs to Lucinda.
Xylek swallows hard. He isn’t sure he can face her, being conflicted about her presence. Slowly, he stands and walks to the door once again. Xylek is hesitant to open the door. He wonders what she wants to talk about.
175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXqICAqoDwB
