Blood Bond

I knocked at the door.

"Just a second!"

Her voice echoed on the other side. Beautiful, haunting, but all I could think of was the distance. It had been only two days since that moonlit night in the park, where our lips met, the heat of her breath seeping into me. But somehow, it felt like eons ago. All the back and forths, urgency and danger of Aetheria, the surreal and no less desperate situation in Blackwood. I've been tossed by so much, coup, cancer, my selves, Kael… and now, I'm coming back to her.

Everything keeps pushing us apart.

I turned to the quaint neighborhood that her house was in. Idyllic, cookie-cutter single-family homes stood with wood frames, nicely painted walls, neat lawns, and picket fences. I used to focus on how nice and well-off this neighborhood was, everyone was surely loaded, so out of reach. But now, it was the peacefulness of it, how safe and secluded it was from the outside even in this world. Far, far away from the rubble, the dark dungeon, me quivering in a pool of congealed blood surrounded by rats.

"Leo?!"

Naomi's voice pulled me back. On her face was a hesitant, but hopeful smile. She wore a simple beige sweater and jeans. No makeup this time. Just her, plain, radiant in the morning glow.

She wrapped me into her arms, her scent, light, floral, clean filled my nostrils. My fingers clasped over her back and she leaned back against my arms. Her fingers cradled my cheek.

"What're you doing here? I thought you were starting the new treatment."

"Tomorrow, so today is basically my last day. I came to apologize about the night before."

She rapped her knuckles against the side of my head.

"Don't say it like that. You'll jinx things. Superstitious or not, still got to keep the right mindset." Her gaze darted playfully away. She always had a way of presenting just the right profile to me when she shied away. "And… it's my fault actually. I came on too strong. Just want… to squeeze every last bit of time we have together. You know?"

"Yeah, I know." Our hips were swaying side to side. "Just calling really isn't enough. It's so hard to connect when it feels like we're worlds apart, when I'm down there. That place is too alien."

A mischievous grin cracked over her face. "You think they'll let me sneak down there? It's kind of cool, given what little you've told me."

I glanced over at the onyx band around my wrist. I wonder what would happen if I divulge too much? A lightning strike? Or snipers and men in black rappelling down from helicopters. "No, don't even think about it. I don't want you getting involved with those people. It's crazy how much power they have."

"Uhm. My mom does work for them." She laughed and leaned forward earnestly. This time I knew what to do. I lowered my face to hers, and our lips met, pressing against each other. Heat passed back and forth between us. I didn't care that we were standing out here in full display. My time with her was precious.

Let the other world fall away for now.

The warmth of her tongue receded, I chased. We found each other for a while longer before I raised my head and looked into her eyes. This could be nice. If I was cured and cut away from Aetheria, would it be so bad to be only here with her until the days end?

"I wish I hadn't been such a wreck that night."

"We'll have plenty of time." Her eyes regarded me. She reached for me. "But what happened? You were a complete mess."

I flinched at the touch, and memory of Aunty May's face, crumbling. "One of the experiments, or erm… treatments went off the rails. It wasn't pretty."

"Alright, no more of that. Let's go for a walk." She stopped mid turn and held up a finger. "A walk, not a run."

I chuckled at the memory of Sam and I tricking her and Chloe into going on a ten mile run with us. They weren't happy at the end of that one.

And we did walk, strolling hand in hand past rows of quaint houses. She told me about school, what I can look forward to in terms of classes, funny teachers, good ones and bad ones, and all the great friends that she couldn't wait to introduce me to.

As the midday sun shone its warmth upon us, I told her about my hopes for the future, about college now that I have the means, and us studying medicine together.

Naomi beamed brightly at me. "Did something change, Leo? You actually sound hopeful today."

"Oh, I guess there's been kind of a breakthrough. It was painful. But there's something that has promise."

Ironically, it was Lelian torturing me with light that gave me the idea. If that glow could cut off my blood from me temporarily, then couldn't I use it to stop my blood from protecting those 'roots'. Unlike in Aethelgard, my body here hadn't been destroyed by a blast, so there would be no massive wounds to revert to when I'm healed. We can safely use the healing light to turn me normal again.

It might even kill the cancer.

—

"I can't believe you went running with that idiot instead of me. What the heck, dude!"

I tried to throw Sam off my back, but he clung on tight with his arm around my neck.

"He was the first one that responded. I tried calling you, seriously!"

"No way! I wasn't doing anything that afternoon." Sam groaned as I carried him on my back like a turtle shell toward the door of the restaurant.

"We had so much fun dude. Speedy was in the zone!" Kyle proclaimed, twisting the knife in deeper. "You should've seen the files he's got."

"Kyle! I thought we said to keep it on the down low." Then I grunted back at Sam. "You know, I'm the sick one with cancer right?"

Grumbling, Sam slid off of me while Chloe and Naomi laughed at us. After the walk, Naomi and I decided to invite everyone over for lunch at the burger joint we used to frequent.

It was going to be the last day I was going to be up and about for a while, so Naomi insisted we have a proper send off and called in the rest of the gang.

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Ding!

We spilled inside and the chime of the open door was immediately swallowed by the drone of cheerful chaos. The burger joint was a wash of bright white and cherry red, from the gleaming white tile floors and countertops to the simple plastic red booths already crammed with teenagers taking advantage of their day off.

Behind the long counter, in the open kitchen, the staff in crisp white uniforms and paper hats blurred in perpetual motion, and the sharp sizzle of burgers on the griddle mixed with the roar of the fryers. Orders were being shouted over the din, their voices echoing in the bright, clean space saturated by the smell of fried potatoes and grilled onions.

I hadn't been in a fast food place in a while. It feels both alive but in a strangely artificial way.

"So what are these files that Kyle was talking about?" Sam latched on to the absolute worst thing as the five of us squeezed into a booth beside a large window.

"It was nothing, just something I wanted to take a look at on a laptop." I tried to wave it off dismissively, my eyes searching outside for the black, unmarked car that I had seen appearing and disappearing around the block corners. Julia's security detail, I hope.

"No way man, there's some creepy ass looking people on there. And then at the end… Ow!" I kicked Kyle's shin under the table, hard. Then I glared at him. We've already agreed NOT to talk about it!

Kyle glumly walked over to the counter to get our food.

Sam turned back to me. "Wait, is this something serious? And why are you trying to sneak around with him of all people. Everyone knows he'd put everything on blast."

I tried to divert and deflect. "It's nothing. There's just a few strange things that I'm going to talk to 'The Director' about. So things will be fine."

"The Director?! Why are you talking to him of all people? Aren't you just a patient?"

Sam's reaction took me by surprise. He looked genuinely troubled.

"My mom has never even seen the director, let alone talk with him. Is everything really alright Leo?" Naomi's voice joined in. She looked worried, but it was nowhere as bad as Sam's near frantic face.

I tried to wave the whole thing away. "There is just a misunderstanding. I'm sure things will be cleared up when we talk."

Neither Sam or Naomi seemed convinced, but burgers had arrived by then and we dug in.

"Oh yes, there are a few other students in our grade who're interested in Bio. So we might be able to start a club." Chloe said in between sips of her soda.

"That's right. The kids of Mom's co-workers, you'll like them." Naomi grinned warmly beside her.

"More like super nerdy." Sam grumbled. He jerked a thumb sideways as he took a bite of his stacked burger. "And there's a few annoying popular kids that're worse than Kyle."

"Dude, you just got to talk to them! They even tried to say 'hi'."

Sam huffed and looked away, wrinkling his nose. Laughter erupted around the table. Everyone but me. Of course I had missed out on something that must have happened at school. I knew better than to ask though, since it'd kill the mood.

Chloe noticed me being left out. "Leo, I got notes from all our classes. Do you want them so that you can catch up on your free time during treatment?"

"Umm… sure. Later, maybe." I muttered a noncommittal reply.

The truth was that if I managed to hold back my blood through either Julia's mind over matter method or the healing light, then I most likely would have to go under real chemo. I remembered what it was like before: I would barely have the energy to get out of bed for a few stumbling steps, let alone study. Maybe when I'm further along in the treatment.

Sam brought up another moment at school, making Kyle red in the face and everyone else laughing. I was left out again and looked over to the other tables.

A few kids glanced back with hints of recognition in their eyes, but then their eyes quickly fled, as if acknowledging me would be so awkward in this sea of gathered teens. I turned back to my laughing, giddy friends, brightly colored with mirth and warmth. Whereas I was a monochrome figure, an interloper here, leeching their color.

No, I was just a traveler, out of place, out of time.

—

Mom went way overboard. Dinner was a feast that the three of us couldn't possibly finish even in several sittings. There was the juicy beef brisket, the corn on the cob with red spices, the exotic shrimp and diced jicama and avocado dish, and of course my favorite carnitas tamales with mole.

"This is the first dinner with my boy in so long," was all Mom had to say to quiet my protests about this being too much. I felt like I almost had to eat all of it after the way her eyes welled up at me.

Maya and I dressed up the best we could, she put on her Sunday dress, and I threw on my buttoned up shirt and the fake tie. Mom led us in a prayer, the first time in a long while. Thanking the Lord for my return and the meal. I hadn't realized how much more religious she's gotten.

Another way I'm out of touch.

Mom gave me an update on the hospital. Nurse Miller, and the other nurses asked how I was doing. When she showed them a picture of me with Maya, they commented on how healthy I looked, but worried over the fact that I seem to be skipping chemo.

Dr. Sharma asked about me as well, and apparently was glad when Mom assured him I was well.

As we passed the tamales and brisket around, Maya talked about her days at school, mostly filled with drama with fights and supposed flirting between boys and girls. She did, however, flash me her latest manga, and whispered that she needed an update later.

"Settle down you two, there's plenty of food." Mom snapped at the two of us as we tugged on the corn on the cob plate. Light laughter filled the room, when we realized how ridiculous we were being.

The warmth here. It was different from dinners I had with my royal family. The food wasn't extravagant, rich, or refined. But here the clinking of silverware against porcelain didn't echo in the high ceilings, there were no airs, no eyes upon our every movement and facial expression. This was just a warm, intimate space for the three of us.

I was safe here.

With dinner winding down, I told them about my days at Blackwood, skipping of course Aunty May and all the stuff with Julia. I mainly focused on how nice the facilities were. How the cafeteria was good, but not as good as Mom's home cooked meal. That drew a smile out of her, and I reached over to squeeze her hand.

After dessert of rice pudding, which I could barely stuff into my stretched-to-the-limit stomach, Maya and I helped clear the table and wash the dishes.

Mom left us alone at the couch and Maya snuck in closer, whispering, "so, what's going on with you… Elara?"

I poked at her forehead, pushing her back. "I'm still Leo as well, remember?"

She sat back, looking expectantly at me. I wondered how much I should tell her. My eyes drifted down to my wrist band, Blackwood would probably hear as well. I was unsure how much they'd be able to make use of it.

"Remember how I told you there was a coup? And how I have blood powers?"

She nodded her head vigorously.

"Well I ran into a bit of trouble. One of the people leading the coup is a Grand Saint. And she has the power to heal people, but her healing negates my blood healing, in fact it makes previous wounds come back, which is really painful since her healing is much slower."

Maya's eyes widened. "What else could this Grand Saint do?"

"She has an aura that gives everyone around her Divine Protection."

"I remember you telling me afterwards that your blood power could control zombies?"

"Yeah, well only in the other world. Why?"

"I was just thinking, if it negates your healing, maybe it negates your other powers as well. This Saint class sounds a lot like the saints in these books." She smacked the cover of the brightly colored book. "If so then she probably has an AOE heal just like the Divine Protection aura."

"Oh shit. She could disable all my puppets."

"Puppets?"

"No, nevermind that. When she heals, she has this glow. It's called light affinity magic, I think. Do you know of any counter to it?"

She tilted her head and grinned at me. "You do know that the opposite of Divine is Evil or Unholy right? You sure don't sound like the good guy there."

"Yeah… yeah… Maya, what can I do about it? You going to help or not?"

She propped her chin on her fist, her forehead wrinkling in exaggerated contemplation. "Well, in some books, dark magic could swallow light magic. But most of the time, light just banishes dark." She narrowed her eyes, that mischievous grin back on her round face. "You don't have any dark magic, do you?"

I shook my head. "I know of only one person who could use that, and I'm pretty sure he hates my guts right now."

She lapsed into silent thought, then her eyes perked up. "I know, how about a mirror?"