Dylan Danvers,
The Helicopter,
Asth.
I didn't like the look on The Eldest's face one bit, but not as much as I hated the fact that I still felt a bit confused.You don't know why? Okay, imagine some guy walks up to you on the street and tells you you're part spider. Yeah now you probably get what I mean.
If instead you think you should be happy about it because you could be Spiderman, then you seriously need to grow up.
I silently wondered how school life was going to feel that week. I voted for more torture than usual. The only way that would be impossible is if by chance the story about being an 'abomination' hadn't gotten into the school yet.
I sighed and stared at the cascade of golden buildings and vehicles through the window. Then about five minutes later, I could make out a building; like a castle. It had turrets, towers, curtain walls, arrow slits and even a moat. It was huge and magnificent. Although I wondered why a castle would have a moat and also have four bridges extending from every side of it.
I could make out tiny figures in the water probably people. To the east side of the castle, across the meadow there was a large forest.
The helicopter slowed down and landed not too far from a group of kids who seemed to be practicing archery. It turned out Miss Susan had been waiting for us to arrive. She was flanked by her usual company of red suits.
"Ah Susan. How are you?" the Eldest asked.
"Very fine. This is a rare occasion indeed." Miss Susan answered then she winked at me.
"Dylan you already know Susan? You may know her as your math teacher, but she is actually Principal of Malzar."
"Uh-huh." I said. I didn't have time to be surprised, I noticed the archery kids were glaring at me. Some of them actually. Their faces seemed to say so this is the abomination kid. He even had the guts to come to Malzar? He's going to wish he hadn't. My throat felt dry.
"Miss Susan, I don't want to stay here. Please take me back to New York."
"What's wrong Dylan?" Miss Susan asked
"I have a feeling your students don't like me very much."
"Nonsense." She said awkwardly. "They are dying to meet you."
"Yeah." I muttered. "to kill me."
"What was that?" she asked
"Nothing." I said. Then she frowned. I got the feeling she heard me.
"Ooookay." The Eldest said. "Since we're all past formalities, I've to go now. The Human President has called a meeting. I'll be back for dinner though."
"Human President?"
"You'll understand later." Miss Susan assured me
The Eldest said his goodbyes, and after his helicopter flew off, Miss Susan led the way towards the moat.
"Normally Zayn does this, but I want to give you a personal tour of Malzar."
Once I got over the fact that my Math teacher was now my principal, we had a great tour. (If I'm ignoring all the stink eyes I got.)
"As you can see, those are the archery grounds—Ahh sword practice—mountain climbers, be careful boys—the grounds for physical combat..."
Miss Susan was saying as we walked past every group. When we passsed the archers, everyone paused and someone accidentally released his knocked arrow which went flying into (you don"t wanna know).
They all stared at me. Even when we passed the sword fighters, they called a time out, so they could take a better look at me.
We finally reached the moat.
"And that's where the water elementalists practice and hone their forte." Miss Susan continued.
"You mean like..."
"Yes Dylan, like water benders."
Was she psychic? Anyway, Miss Susan must have noticed how uncomfortable I was because she asked her companions to excuse her as she said
"My office is this way."
I was so grateful. We crossed a bridge, walked up a stone staircase and through an oak door. The inside of the castle surprised me. I expected it to be made of gold, silver and other rare metals. But it was just made of stone, wood and marble. Funny how I had barely spent twenty four hours here and I expected everything to be made of gold.
The entrance hall was so huge I could play a perfect game of soccer in it. The stone walls were lined with flaming torches every ten steps. I looked up, the ceiling was so high I couldn't tell what it was made of.
To my left, there was a marble staircase which probably led to the upper floors. To my right there was another oak door, a bit smaller than the one I'd just come through. Miss Susan led the way to the
marble staircase.
After about three flights, we headed down another torch-lit corridor. At the end there was a wooden door. Miss Susan muttered something, probably Bangladesh when the door swung open.
The room was large, yes. But I noticed the portraits first. There were about 25 of them and most of the portraits were either painted, or in black and white. There were small names and dates written underneath each one like
Antonio Gouterez
513A.D – 602A.D
"Please sit." Miss Susan said to me as she made for her leather chair.
Being separated by a golden table—the only golden item I had seen so far—I began to feel like I was in a principal's office.
I was tempted to say I didn't do it but I restrained myself.
"So Dylan, how do you like the school?"
I didn't say anything.
"Look, I know this is a little bit too much."
"Little bit?" I asked with my voice barely a whisper. I had been bottling up my emotions for so long I wondered when I was going to crack. I still wish I had held it together a few more minutes. "Little bit?" I asked again but louder.
"Just yesterday, I was almost kidnapped. Then I found out there is another world...oh and let's not forget one that I'm part of because one of my parents couldn't keep a stupid rule." I stopped to gulp in air. "Now, everyone here hates me because I exist." I choked on my last few words. If I kept on talking I was sure those tears that have been eager to fall would finally escape.
"Is that how you feel Dylan? That these people hate you?"
"Oh c'mon Miss Susan I'm not a baby, you don't need to f*cking lie to me. I wonder why you said these people, like you aren't a part of them."
As soon as I said the words, I regretted it. Miss Susan seemed like she was about to cry. She was a nice lady, she didn't deserve that.
"I...I'm sorry." I stammered. "I didn't mean to."
Miss Susan rose from her seat. "It's okay Dylan, I can't imagine what you're going through. I'll call Zayn to take you to a spare room. You have until seven to process...then you have to be at the banquet hall for dinner." Miss Susan said as she strode out the room.
What is wrong with me? I just drove away the only person that seemed to genuinely care about me. Well...typical me
About ten minutes later the door opened and a man of about thirty walked in. He had curly brown hair and brown eyes. He wore a White suit. Did everyone here wear suits?
"Follow me." He said. I assumed he was Zayn. We walked down the stairs to the previous floor and he opened a room for me. It was mildly furnished not the type I got at the Annex.
"Be sure to be at the banquet hall by seven." He said as he walked away.
"Wait I don't know where it is."
"First floor, opposite the staircase. A huge oak door." He left without another word.
Now if you're thinking Wow you finally have enough time to think about all this and know what to do next, then you really don't know me. I hate thinking. Thinking is dangerous. That's the only thing I and doctors agree about. I still don't know why I have to take a shot to feel better.
Anyway, I lay on the bed and woke up hours later. I looked out the window, the sky was dark. How long had I slept? I glanced at my watch 6:36. Had I been that tired?
I rolled off the bed. I was too lazy to take a shower, so I sat back down. I told you I hated thinking, but it doesn't mean I can control my thoughts. My thoughts wandered. First to my mum; I convinced myself she was okay.
Second to my parents, my birth parents; I swore that if I ever knew who they were I wouldn't forgive them easily. Thirdly about this place, everyone hated me. I could either prove myself or just not care. I was a pro at the not caring thing, yes, but these people were like me.
Yes humans were also like me, but I had never felt like I belonged. Now, I understood why. I had to embrace both sides. Zarden and Human. I rose from bed; these people were going have to accept me. Whether they wanted to or not. I walked out the room and down stairs.
I didn't know how stupid I sounded until I walked into the banquet hall. As soon as I stepped in, the entire hall fell silent and I froze in my tracks. There were about a hundred students here, and all their gazes were fixed on me.
The candelabras seemed to glow brighter. Even the shorter people craned their necks in a bid to take a look. A hot sensation grew up my back. Just then Miss Susan came to my rescue. She took me to a high table farther away from the students. Their eyes followed me.
"Thanks...I'm sorry." I muttered to Miss Susan as we walked to the high table. But her sudden smile, was the only hint that she had heard me, and probably forgiven me.
On the high table, there were about 15 people who I assumed to be teachers, I also noticed The Eldest. He wore a blue suit and a black tie. He looked rather good. There were two free seats on either side of him.
Miss Susan gestured for me to sit by his left while she sat by his right.
The room was big—not as big as the entrance hall—and was shaped like an octagon. Five of the sides were occupied by tables so that they were arranged in a nice arc. I also noticed that every person on each table was dressed in a particular color. The other three sides had the high table and two doors including the one I just came through.
There were trolleys of food weaving around tables. A trolley stopped in front of me. And the Eldest asked me to pick anything I wanted. And I could because this had to be an all you can eat buffet.
"How do the tables work?" I asked the Eldest.
"There are some things I don't know. But you can ask the Lois kids...really smart bunch."
"Lois Kids?"
"Didn't Miss Ashwood tell you?"
"Who's Miss Ashwood?." I asked
"Pardon me. She's right beside me, It's Miss Susan. She prefers her first name."
"Oh, no she didn't tell me (probably because I'm an idiot but I left that out)."
"Oh. Okay. In Malzar, there are five families." The Eldest continued.
"Families?"
"More like groups. You join a group based on your zox and people in the same zox class as you, you can call family. Oh and yes each family has a rep colour."
"Okay, so you're saying, I'm meant to be in one of these families."
"Yes but we can't just put you in any family without knowing your zox. I believe it's better if a family chooses you."
It took me a few seconds to understand what he meant.
"Wait no you don't understand these people hate me, no one's going to want an abomination in their family..." I said but he didn't listen to me. I figured he was joking. He rose from his seat and the room fell silent.
Now that's what I call respect.
"Wonderful Evening Students. I must say, Malzar sure knows how to make a feast." There was a short echo of laughter. "I believe you are all learning what it means to be a zarden. And if so, then you should know that its family above all. And all Zarden are a family. Rumors have spread about a half Zarden hear in Malzar. Well...The rumors are true. Dylan please stand."
"Who's this Dylan you speak of?" I wanted to say but that would only make me seem a lot more stupid. So I stood and he continued.
"Everyone, this is Dylan Danvers. The half Zarden. As you all know, that word suggests that he is also a zarden and thus he should be treated as family. Anyone who decides to make his stay here unbearable answers to me. Is that clear?"
No one responded. But their faces made it clear they understood. This was bad. How was I going to prove myself to them, if I seemed like the authority's boy. No one liked the authorities.
"Now if there's any family who would be kind enough to accept Dylan here. We don't know his zox yet" The Eldest finally said.
Kill me. Please kill me now. What the...nooooo! I can't believe he really did it. Can't he see that no one is eager to have me in their family?
About two minutes passed and no one had said anything. Even the look on Miss Susan's face made it clear she hadn't been expecting this. I wished for the earth to open up and claim me. But even the stupid earth didn't want me in its family.
More time passed and then I finally realized,