Chapter 2: An Invitation

“Uh, yeah, so I’m gonna let you guys in just give me a moment.” says the young man at the gate. Taking a closer look, he seems to be an ordinary human. I wonder why the mayor would have someone like him standing guard.

“Sintobi…” Mikel groans. “Can we really trust them? Those explosions had to be their doing.”

With a glance over my shoulder, I notice him gritting his teeth while gripping the burns on his forearms. Like everyone else, he’d tried shielding himself from the light.

“It isn’t about trust at this point, we just have to. It is clear they’ve been prepared for our arrival…for better or worse.” I explain to him while wiping the blood spilling from my nose. I lost my mask during the explosion so now I have to deal with all this excess blood I produce.

Then there's the growing rainfall, which gets more fearsome as the sounds of chaos reignite throughout the city. We were left with an almost eerie silence after those explosions, but I suppose it was just an intermission. If only it were that easy…

As the looming doors of the capitol building open, I look back at Theresa and Eena with a glance. The bittersweet taste in my mouth sours as we enter through this grand entrance before us. It’s hard to say whether or not it’s the physical or mental wounds that hurt more, but what’s clear is that most of our injuries are grave.

Even if we’re clinging to each other during this time of need, relying on a helping hand is akin to licking the others wounds. Our pride is bent on self-sufficiency, so it isn’t surprising that our morale has taken a nosedive.

Though, to my surprise, the main lobby is what I expected. From the opaque white floor marble floors to the rows of stairs lining the wide open space, it’s no wonder Domesticatia’s citizens choose to take refuge here. With everything happening outside, hiding away seems like the only hope for many of us during this endless war. Which is why it isn't a surprise to be met with so many looks of disdain. To them, our presence is a bad omen.

“Why are they glaring at you guys? Their will to persevere plays a part in this war too.” says the once weakened man with a chuckle while walking beside me. “Besides, you lot are just a bunch of kids.”

The color of his white skin is now flushed with life, along with the curls in his short copper hair. Given the white lab coat he’s wearing, it seemed odd for him to be in that state, so it’s good to see him in better health. Though, he remains invisible to everyone else except me.

“We’re teenagers to be exact, and it’s not something we can do much about.” I say to him with a hushed tone, making sure to not draw more attention. “From where they’re sitting, we’re just intruders breaching their safe haven. Many of us would think the same if the circumstances were flipped.”

“Well from where I’m standing, all of you are at the mercy of bad circumstances.” The Man retorts with a smug grin.

Another door creaks open from atop the center staircase, breaking the tension between everyone in the lobby as we look up. From beyond the door enters a large suited feline man and what looks to be his assistant. Each of the guards lined up against the walls take an upright stance in accordance with their arrival, like knights for a benevolent king.

“Mr.Temory, I pray your travels weren’t too troublesome!” shouts the feline man with his arms outstretched as he makes his way down the stairs. He seems welcoming, yet I can’t help but notice his gut protruding past his slacks.

“I assume you’re the one in charge here?” Mikel asks, walking up beside me.

“Indeed I am. I’m Mayor Sebastion Greene and this young horselady is my secretary.” he says with a slight bow while motioning towards the young woman at his side.

“My name is Ava. It’s an honor to meet you.” She says with a stiff bow.

I step into a kneel. “Representing the Temory clan and its youth, my name is Sintobi Temory. Thank you for the invitation.”

If it weren’t for her pointy ears poking out from her light brown hair, I would’ve thought she was human. I’ve heard of those that can conceal the distinctive features of their race, but she does it so well.

“Uh, Mr.Temory, is there an issue?” Ava asks, sounding a bit bashful as she averts her gaze.

I guess I was staring a bit too much.

“Not at all…” I say while standing up, once again noticing all the dirty looks directed towards us. “I see you two have your hands full here as well.”

“And I wouldn't have it any other way! Our citizens rely on the safety and security we provide during this unending conflict.” the mayor expresses with a steady nod and a sense of pride as he crosses his arms.

“Mayor Greene works his hardest to make sure Domesticatia is especially under control. Without him, things would be much worse…” Ava says, assisting him with further praise.

“Though I must confess, even I make mistakes…” Greene says before lowering his head. “Due to a miscommunication, the academy put all of you at the mercy of that terrible spell. I don’t know why they would do such a thing, but I hope it didn’t cause any of you too much trouble.”

“A ‘miscommunication’?” Mikel groans before grabbing his wounded arm with a wince.

“Well well, shifting the blame for his failures while wearing his victories like a badge of honor…" The Man says with a tinge of skepticism while caressing his scruffy ginger beard.

“You think a simple apology will-” Theresa shouts with a stomp, but pauses the moment I raise my hand. Theresa isn’t the type to get physical, but a war of words could mean an end to the negotiations.

I take a deep breath. His apology seems genuine, yet his true feelings lie in the scent of his blood. But as I am trying to discern his honesty, I’m bombarded with a plethora of fragrances emanating from everyone else in this lobby…I suppose I’ll just have to take his word.

“Well it certainly did…” I say to him while wiping my bloody nose. “I imagine our arrival came as a surprise to them. It makes sense that they would want to avoid any close calls.”

“I appreciate your understanding… those mages can be defiant sometimes, especially when it comes to matters of safety. Though I must say, all of you handled it quite well.” he remarks while raising his brow.

Handled it quite well?

That spell induced the same effect the sun has on us. Many of us have never experienced such pain before. They intended on withering us to dust, but we’re left with wounds instead. Open wounds that still burn like a hot iron on bare flesh.

The Man chuckles at the Mayor’s remark. “If I didn’t know any better, he sounds a bit disappointed. Though to be fair, if you hadn’t decided to take my offer, all of you would be dead.”

Knowing that he’s speaking from a spectators point-of-view, I can’t help but feel a bit annoyed at his harsh tone. But he isn’t wrong. It’s a miracle we managed to skirt away with our lives.

“All of us came prepared for situations like that.” I say with a nod.

“Really now? Well, I’m glad all of you are safe!” the mayor says with a smile. “Still, I hope all of you will consider relaying your accounts to the academy. Just so the same incident doesn’t occur next time of course.”

“The gall…” The Man scoffs; his words mirroring my feelings of being slighted by yet another sly remark.

Ava glances at him. Judging by that look she just gave him, his attitude must be out of the ordinary even for her. It might be best to hurry this along.

“I’ll be sure to do that. Now, can we hurry this along? We’ve already wasted enough time on the formalities.” I tell him, growing a bit anxious from all the glares.

“Why of course!” The mayor nods before turning to his secretary. “Now Ava, is the assembly hall free this evening?”

“Sir, surely you aren’t considering negotiations at this time, are you?” she asks with a slight panic in her voice. “Many of them are injured and are in dire need of medical attention.”

“Oh dear, how could I be so foolish! You’re exactly right, please forgive me… uh, what is your name again?” He asks me while rubbing his hands together.

“...Sintobi Temory.”

“Yes of course! It isn’t everyday that one gets to meet someone like yourself, so forgive me for getting ahead of myself. We shall postpone our scheduled negotiations for a later date, so you and your group can recover.” the mayor explains with a nod, while Ava takes a noticeable sigh of relief.

Greene claps his hands, prompting the guards to surround us. And though their weapons are sheathed, their readiness to respond to such a simple gesture is still a bit concerning.

“Ava, see to it that the guards escort them to the infirmary.”

“With pleasure sir.” She says with a slight bow before rushing down the stairs towards us.

“Hmm, she moves rather quickly in high heels.” The Man remarks as Ava approaches me with a smile.

“It’s a pleasure Mr.Temory.” She says, before shaking my hand.

“Likewise.” I say to her, with a reciprocating smile. For someone who seemed so meek when standing next to her boss, her grasp is rather firm.

She looks at the guards. “Come on everyone, we’re escorting these young men and women to the infirmary! Let's not waste anymore time!”

“Yes ma’am!” all of them shout before approaching us.

Despite their willingness to help, I can tell that many of us are still reluctant. After all, they are the reason we’re injured in the first place. I can imagine the thoughts running through their minds, perpetuated by their wounded pride and distrust. And the reason I’m so sure of that is because those are the same thoughts that come to mind when I look at the young secretary.

Yet protesting could also prove fatal. With many of us still unconscious while others are reliant upon each other’s shoulders to stand upright, it would be foolish to slap away a helping hand. This is why we’ve chosen to resign ourselves to these guards and walk amongst these halls. Because despite their gazes burning just as much as our wounds, our bodies will be healed soon enough.

“Sintobi, are you sure about this?” Mikel asks while meeting the many gazes trained on us.

As I open my mouth to speak, Theresa places her hand on his shoulder and scoffs.

“Oh would you quit pestering him Mikel. What’s done is done.” She insists. “We’re in their house now, so we play by their rules.”

“Yeah what big sis said!” Eena insists with enthusiasm.

While she was agreeing with Theresa for the sake of it, the noticeable grip she has on her older sister's tattered winter coat is out of necessity. The withering on the entire right side of her face has left her vision severely impaired, along with other wounds that are affecting her mobility. And I suspect that if it were to go unchecked, she might end up blind.

“I know, but something about that guy seems off putting.” Mikel says while wincing through the pain of his wounded forearms. I just can’t put my finger on it…”

“That cat man is scary, but the other lady is so nice. She seems to really want to help us!” Eena says with a bout of confidence which comes off as a bit surprising to us.

“Well aren’t you just a ray of sunshine!” Theresa laughs as she rubs her head.

“Uh, I know you mean well, but couldn’t you have used a better figure of speech there?” Mikel asks while the two of them giggle with each other.

“I get what you mean Mikel, but it’s like they said, we can’t pass up such an offer. Especially with everyone's injuries.” I explain, glancing at the burns on his arms.

Mikel nods, yet the troubled look on his face remains the same. I get his frustration but we have to put our feelings aside for now and cooperate with them. Because while it may not look like it due to her coat, the injuries Theresa sustained on her back are some of the worst we have. Although, if she hadn’t shielded Eena from that light, she would have withered away.

Just the thought of that sends a shiver down my spine. I’ve never felt so powerless…

“Despite everything that’s happened, they still trust you.” The Man says while also following beside me. “Not to say that it’s your fault of course.”

“None taken…” I mumble to him while meeting the gazes of those lining the hall. “Though I wouldn’t say that their optimism is thanks to me.”

“Is that so? Well then what is it?” The Man asks, now leaning towards me.

I glance at him with a sigh. “...They’re just happy to be alive.”

Five days later…

At this point, I’m brimming with an insurmountable confidence. No, an absolute certainty. The kind of certainty that tempts me to speak without a single doubt in my mind. The kind of certainty that could enchant even those who would doubt me, and it will be thanks to the sheer confidence in my voice that they will be so taken aback, they will agree without question.

While lying on this bed, much of the medical staff has come to check up on me, and me alone, since I have a room all to myself. This is one of the perks of being the group leader, according to Ava. And considering our position in all this, I wasn’t about to refuse such an offer. Even if it meant being separated from everyone else.

Much of their concerns have been related to my constant nosebleeds, but despite me telling them that it isn’t an issue they can fix, they still insist on doing something about it. Little do they know that this is one of the genetic anomalies that makes me the pride of our clan. But I suppose doctors will be doctors.

It isn’t all bad though. I’m brimming with confidence, after all. I’ve even considered explaining this revelation I’ve come to with the nurses. Particularly to those that have seemed the most interesting thus far.

First, there’s the bushy-tailed wolf-woman from the morning shift, Ms.Jean. She’s nice, but she tends to only concern herself over my wellbeing, namely my nosebleeds. And while I know she’s just doing her job, it’s the only thing she ever wants to talk about, making it difficult to strike up a normal conversation.

There’s the cow-lady with the funny accent, Mrs.Claudia. Unlike Ms.Jean, she is more than willing to strike up a conversation, but it always devolves into her complaining about her husband's bull-headedness until the end of the afternoon shift. And last but not least, is the fox-lady Ms.Glen. She’s very chipper when she comes in for the night shift, but it’s hard to get a single word in when she gets started.

I’ve met other nurses during these last few days, but they are my favorites. All the others seem to be doing their job out of pure obligation, and while they try to hide it, I’ve also noticed those looks they’ve been giving me.

But despite me feeling comfortable around the three of them, I’ve yet to share my wisdom. And it isn’t because I get cold feet when they’re here, no. It’s because the revelation I have come to is so mundane, so obvious, that anyone with as much time on their hands as I do, would come to the same conclusion. And that conclusion is…

“There are three hundred and twenty…” I say to myself while staring at the ceiling. “And seventy-three of them are crooked. This is an official government building, right?”

I hear a sigh from the corner of the room. “Honestly, just how many times are you going to count those ceiling tiles?”

Sitting up on the bed, I look at The Man as he’s leaning against the wall. “Oh my, does that bore you? Well I suppose I’ll have to explain to you how many holes each of them ha-”

“Two hundred sixty-nine thousand one hundred and twenty of them, but with a closer look, four thousand four hundred and thirteen of them seem to be filled with dust.” The Man explains with a shake of his head. “Also, ninety-one of them seem to be ever so slightly discolored.”

I gasp. “So you’ve noticed too?”

“How can I not? When you’ve already explained it to me at least a dozen times already…”

“Hmm, maybe Ms.Glen will find it interesting if I explain it to her…”

“If you want her to think that something was really wrong with you then go ahead.” The Man insists with a shrug.

“You might be onto something…” I say to him while staring at my white bed sheets. “You think she has a cure for boredom?”

“Well if there was anyone that would have it, it would surely be her. She’s the happiest creature from this side of Hunters End to Elise.”

“Yeah, the elves are pretty far out…” I say while lying back down on the bed. “In any case, it’s becoming a real challenge to keep myself occupied.”

“It’s not like they’ve imprisoned you here or anything, why not just walk out?”

“Imagine seeing one of your honored guests leaving the room you’ve so graciously given them. Wouldn’t you feel disrespected?” I ask with a sniffle while looking at him out of the corner of my eye.

“If you denied the initial offer, sure, but you’ve already been here for four nights.” The Man insists with a wave of his hand. “And besides, it’s clear that you’ve come to ‘appreciate’ all of what this room has to offer. From the intricacies of its ceiling to the thread count of the bed sheets.”

“So I should let the nurse know?”

The Man sighs.

While ruminating in boredom, someone knocks on the door. The nurse’s usually don’t knock before coming in, so it must be someone else.

“You may come in!” I yell while sitting up again.

Ava walks in with a click of her heels and bows, still wearing her usual black and white business attire.

“Sorry, did I interrupt something? I thought I heard you talking to someone.” she asks with a raise of brow, her jade green eyes searching the room.

“Not at all, I was…” I say to her, with a quick glance at The Man smiling in the corner. “Just thanking the gods for allowing my group to arrive safely.”

“My apologies! I didn’t mean to interrupt your moment of prayer.” Ava says with a gasp while waving her hands. “I wasn’t aware vampires held a faith.”

“As a race, we do not. But I think it’s wise to give thanks, considering how gracious you and the mayor have been.”

“Oh no, please don’t think of it as some kind of miracle! All of you are our guests, so your safety is our responsibility.” She explains while pushing up her glasses.

“And on behalf of everyone else, I thank you…” I say while realizing this diversion might be going too far. “In any case, was there something you were hoping to talk to me about?”

“No, not anything in particular. It’s just that I heard from the nurses that your condition hasn’t changed.” Ava explains while walking towards the chair near my bedside. “Or to put it more accurately, that nothing was wrong with you in the first place.”

“It’s unfortunate, but compared to others, my regeneration far exceeds everyone else's.”

“May I ask why that is?” She asks while leaning against her palm.

“You seem a little more than curious…” I say to her, noticing the fixed look in her eyes.

“You are an interesting creature after all.” Ava says with a smile.

“Thank you, but wouldn’t it be better if I saved this for negotiations? I’m sure the mayor would also like to know.”

“He does, but with most of your friends still recovering, negotiations won’t be happening for a while.” She explains with a shake of her head and a smirk. “So while it may sound selfish, I’d appreciate it if you humored me for the time being.”

“Well would you look at that, you have your first fan!” The Man shouts. And I would have believed him if he didn’t sound so condescending…Though I suppose telling her wouldn’t hurt.

Not only did she ask the mayor to help us, but she did mention that she was the one that sent us the invitation in the first place. So while she makes it sound like simple curiosity, it would be more accurate to say that it’s closer to a genuine interest. Although, I’m still more than a bit uneasy about the circumstances that led us here.

Looking into her gaze, I smile. “Alright, I’ll explain.”

“Wonderful!” Ava cheers with a smile.

“However, I only ask that you keep what we discuss to yourself until negotiations officially start.”

“My lips are sealed!” She says while nodding vigorously and straightening her posture.

Seeing the look of excitement on her face, I scoff. I was going to explain anyway, but now I feel embarrassed. A one-on-one feels much more personal; it's like I am confiding in her. And I am sure I can trust her because…

“By the way, I meant to ask, would you like to hear about my recent revelation?”

“Sure, go ahead!” She says with a nod.

Ah, a vanilla aroma…the smell of honesty.