5 - Ultimatum

     “You seem chipper.”

     Eva had noticed a change in my behavior while we were going through an orientation at Mythril Mines Manifest. Baddo had taken some time off personally to show us the ropes, but I had a feeling he also was doing so to make sure we don’t go off on our own like with the cave incident.

     “Oh he definitely is,” Baddo agreed. “He even got up early to get ready for work!”

     I grinned sheepishly as Eva thumped me on the back. “That’s awesome!” She exclaimed.

     The tour felt pretty basic. A lot of the other employees waved at all of us, some of the shift managers even popped over to consult Baddo over this or that, and get to know us. A few of them already knew me, and all of them immediately made their relief known that I was going to be working with the company instead of Avan; I guess his reputation as a troublemaker really preceded him. Some even expressed their thanks again for my twin siblings, Armani and Avena, who had helped with a cave-in only a few months ago.

     The operation was sailing pretty smoothly. Baddo’s current iron mine has been in operation for about six years now, with teams having scouted two more potential pools of resources of mythril and coal, not to mention the creepy cave that had opened up underneath the town. Baddo assigned Eva and I to one of the production teams, handing us pickaxes and a supervisor named Chuck to tell us what to do and where to do it.

     Chuck seemed pretty lax about protocol, even after Baddo instructed him to not leave us unattended. We didn’t go anywhere, but we immediately glommed back together in spite of my father’s embargo on us. It felt nice, talking without someone else hovering over us like a vulture.

     “I got Alan to plug the hole,” I told her as we started throwing our backs into picking at rocks. “Any idea when your dad will look into the cave?”

     Eva shrugged. “It’ll probably be soon,” She was dressed a lot more conservatively than usual, with her hair braided into a ponytail that hung around her shoulders instead of trailing around her waist. She looked cute. “He looked like he was getting ready for a trip, so either he’s heading home for a visit, taking another shipment to the capital or getting a crew together for the cave.”

     Sweat already was beading my forehead from the exertion, but I grunted in satisfaction. “Well, that’s good news!”

     “Yeah, it’s been a rough couple of nights trying to sleep,” She admitted. We paused to lean on our pickaxes. Hardly safe for work, but I felt like we could get away with it concerning our current supervisor. For a moment, a look of uncertainty crossed Eva’s face, and then just as quickly, was gone. “Did… did you have any nightmares about the thing?”

     The silence afterward felt palpable. The sound of production rang in my ears as she waited for an answer.

     “Uh, yeah, that first night was kinda hard to sleep for me,” I admitted, scratching the back of my head. “Not sure I got a good enough look at the thing to get nightmares, though.”

     Eva’s expression darkened. “It wasn’t about the monster,” She said grimly. “I dreamt about those tunnels. It just kept going and going, and I kept feeling as if I was being watched. Studied. Like it knew we were in a dream and it was planning its next move.”

     “Ominous.” I replied, trying not to let what she said scare me. Honestly, that first night, I did have a similar dream, but I wasn’t about to tell her that. “Think the monster can set up some kind of psychic connection?”

     She shrugged. “I dunno. It’s possible some animals can do that, but not any I’ve heard of. Maybe our shift lead knows?”

     The both of us turned toward our supervisor. Somehow, Chuck looked like he was about to fall asleep in spite of the cacophony. “Hey, boss man,” I shouted, waving him over. “Help us settle something.”

     Chuck rested his chin on his hand, pretending to think. “You two better not be slacking off,” He said finally.

     “Eva thinks animals can invade our dreams,” I replied. Eva bristled as I brought the guy up to speed. “I know we can do some fascinating stuff with magic, and even some animals can use it, but is that something you’ve ever heard of?”

     “Pretty sure that’s something you should ask a biologist or a librarian,” he answered with a shrug. “Got a question about mining, I can probably answer it. Animals? Sorry, you’ll need someone else to help out. I’m allergic, haha.

     “I think Ms. Hawthorne is hoping to be a zookeeper or something,” Chuck added, gesturing vaguely behind himself. “She’s over with the discovery division, but I think she’s working a shift today. I’ll introduce ya on our break.”

     “I did some reading on the mines,” Eva commented, her eyes widening in excitement. “What’s the difference between exploration and discovery?!”

     “Permits,” He said with a chuckle. “You two sure are enthusiastic. Maybe your old man will let you actually into the mines one of these days.” Chuck winked at us.

     “Wait, this isn’t a mine?” I asked, incredulous.

     Our supervisor frowned, like we should have already known this. “This is a quarry,” Chuck answered. “The real danger and the real money is below ground.”

     Baddo looked like he was having a nice day until I showed up on my break. My father was joking around with some of the other supervisors, slapping each other on the backs and waving lunch boxes at one another while planning some kind of prank against the West End Hotel. Something for the upcoming tourist season. His cheery face melted at the sight of mine, instantly intuiting something was wrong. He excused himself from the group, allowing us some privacy.

     “Is there a problem, Adan?” He asked, mistaking my distress for something else. “Did something happen to Eva?”

     “Yeah, something’s wrong,” I barked back. “You assigned us to production, yet have us work out in a quarry while everyone else is working in the actual mine!”

     The look of exhaustion that flickered over Baddo’s face was much preferable to the irritation that replaced it. “Did you honestly think I would let either of you underground after the stunt you two pulled?” He asked sternly. “You’re lucky I’m still letting you work at the company!”

     His expression softened as I fumed. “My Figglion, let’s talk about this after work, please?” He asked, putting a hand on my shoulder. “An argument is not how I would like to remember your first day at the company. If you keep your head down, I can promote you to something safer. Administration, perhaps?”

     He squeezed my shoulder reassuringly and returned to his employees with some excuse about inspecting one of the mines, laughing and bantering without a care. Feeling more bitter than ever, I glumly left.

     Chuck and Eva were still in the lunch room when I returned. Along with someone else, some girl with silvery white hair tied up in a ponytail, whose back was to me. Probably Hawthorne. I noticed Eva looked defeated, like she was trapped in an uncomfortable situation, and felt a pit in my stomach start to form.

     “Yeah, so there are rumors there's some weird wombat that can induce fear and paranoia in anyone who hears them on some islands way out east,” the girl was saying, and I that pit in my stomach began to grow into a bush of unease. “But other than that, I haven’t heard of anything like what you just described.”

     I recognized that voice, and the bush of unease began to bear sour fruit. The woman turned around, and Ms. Hawthorne, the school bitch, Seraphina, flashed me an insincere smile. “Oh, hey Aiden!” She said animatedly. “Why didn’t you tell me you and Evie almost died in a cave?!”

     Probably because we’re not friends, or because you’re a snake? I thought, and oh so desperately wanted to say aloud. “It… must have just slipped my mind.”

     Sera’s eyes flashed. “We have like three classes together though!” She exclaimed, her heavy makeup exaggerating her faux-sincerity beyond any credible belief.

     I exchanged a glance, a silent prayer to Eva. Do we really have to work with the brat? I mouthed.

     Her reply was just as dismal. Unfortunately, we do.

     This day started out so promising… Where did it all go wrong? Was having to deal with Seraphina our punishment for going into the caves?

     The rest of the shift seemed to take its sweet time passing once our break ended, like the world was savoring our distress. Eva and I barely conversed, each of us hoping against hope that our working together would slip Sera’s mind, despite the fact her mind was a steel trap. Everything was cataloged in there for careful consideration of what can give her the most entertainment, and torment for others.

     When we had first met, I had been willing to give her the benefit of the doubt, but she and her boyfriend Silas had immediately began tearing into our family, accusing my family of stealing the company from its rightful owners. So not the greatest start to get to know each other. But maybe I was being too hard on her. Every interaction we’ve had normally included her thug of a boyfriend, so maybe she’s better without him.

     Or maybe I’m just deluding myself into getting hurt again. Guess we’ll see.

     I made an executive decision to invite Seraphina to Spotter’s Landing, as I wasn’t in the mood to see Baddo at home. Eva grumbled a little bit, but agreed, lighting the candles throughout the cabin.

     “Love the mood lighting,” Our unwelcome guest commented. “Is this where you two crazy kids plan to raise your own crazy kids?”

     “Shut up,” Eva and I barked back in unison.

     “Did your dad not want to hook you guys up with electricity?” She continued without missing a beat. “It’s this great new invention that’s been around for like, the last three hundred years. You should try it.”

     “What do you want?” Eva asked impatiently. Sparks started to flicker off her finger tips.

     Seraphina feigned embarrassment. “Is it so hard to believe I want to help purely out of the goodness of my own heart?”

     “What. Do. You. Want?” Eva repeated, gritting her teeth.

     Our unwelcome guest sighed and made herself comfortable reclining on one of the beds. “Okay, fine.” She said, and as she sat down, a metaphorical weight fell off her shoulders. She looked tired, confused and not at all like the jerk we’ve always known her as. The transformation was startling, to be honest.

     “I’m worried about Silas,” She confessed. “We’ve been together for as long as I can remember, but it feels like he’s closing himself off more and more lately. It’s gotten to the point that not even my outfits can get a reaction anymore.” Sera sat up, her eyes sparkling. “But you two have always been close! How have you managed to do it? You help me with my boyfriend, and I’ll look into what could have been in that cave.”

     “Wait, are you actually asking us for relationship advice?” I asked as Eva started laughing. “Are you serious?”

     Seraphina’s lips made a pouting face. “Is that so hard to believe?”

     “Yeah, actually. You and Silas are thick as thieves.”

     “Look, I don’t want to be mean after asking so nicely,” Seraphina said, an edge coming into her tone. “But if you don’t help me, I won’t hesitate to cover this dingy shack with some mystic dawn.”

     Eva and I exchanged glances. Sera could have been bluffing; she did have earth magyk like me, but was far more specialized in her application. It was entirely possible she could. Not having magyk for a couple days wasn’t an appealing prospect to endure. But neither was helping the resident mean girl with her love life.

     “Fine. But stow the bad bitch schtick,” Eva finally said. “There was a time when you were actually nice, remember? Before you got wrapped up with Mr. Bad Boy. We help you, you will be nice again. If not to us, at least to Arthur.” she added as Seraphina considered her offer.

     “I’m sure I can convince Silas to lay off, at least for a while,” Seraphina conceded. “Sounds like we have a deal!”