Titus, Carmen's younger brother. He was ten years old, the smartest kid in his class, and he knew.
God almighty, he knew it.
He was a smart kid, was praised for it, and therefore built up an absolutely infuriating attitude toward others. At least, everyone except for me.
For reasons known only to God, he could tell as soon as we first met that I was not normal. He could tell that I had killed people, and that I had abilities beyond my own knowledge and understanding. I don't know why he could tell, but he could.
As soon as I stepped in the door, I was assaulted by the smell of freshly prepared food. Carmen had prepared for my arrival apparently.
Not long after the door closed behind me did I hear the sound of Titus running down the stairs to see who was here. When he reached the bottom, his eyes widened and sparkled with joy.
He hugged me. "So did you kill the dragon?" He asked, fascinated.
I laughed. Straight to the point. "Yes, I killed the dragon."
"What happened?"
I started to explain what happened, but Carmen slapped me and shook her head. Apparently, she deemed what I had to say too graphic for her less than innocent little brother.
I clamped my mouth shut and leaned back in my chair.
-
I sat at the table the next morning, talking to Carmen's parents about fixing their couch.
"I can do it," I said. "It won't take me but a few minutes tops."
"That's okay, Nierix, we were thinking about getting a new couch anyway," her dad told me.
I shrugged. "I really don't mind but if you're sure."
He nodded. "I am sure," he said with confidence and a little bit of relief.
I smiled.
I ate the breakfast provided and then snapped my fingers to change my clothes. There was no moment where I was naked. It was an instantaneous event; one second I was wearing lounge clothes, the next I was wearing my full black outfit that made me so recognizable.
I talked to all of them for a while longer, then moved to the front porch in order to escape faster. If I didn't, her mother would ask me to stay for dinner, and even though she was a really good cook, I didn't have the time. I needed to help Silky, I needed to prepare for the time Caelis Terminus spoke of, and I really shouldn't be in that house any longer. I loved these people to death but I don't think I could stand to hear another story about their first home in Kansas and how boring it was out there.
"Well," I said, trying to cut the conversation. "I have to go, but it was nice seeing you guys again."
They all smiled. "It was nice seeing you too, Nierix," her parents said. And then they went back inside.
"Make sure you come back," Carmen told me.
I smiled. "I always try," I said.
"Yeah, but make sure."
I took her hand. "I will." And then I warped away.
-
I landed in Sonatum. It felt nice to be back. I stepped through the gates of the King's Mansion and heard laughing and shouting coming from within.
Xorn must be here with his daughter.
I opened the doors and behold, I was right.
Xorn was sitting on the couch talking with Skie and Rust. The General was running across the house with Rina on his shoulders being chased by the King's Sisters and Lily. All of them were laughing. Rina trying to get the General's mask off. I laughed at the scene and all eyes turned to me.
"Uncle Scribbles!" Rina shouted and slammed her hands down on the General's head to get him to put her down. It worked, I had never seen him fall so hard before. She ran over to me giggling like mad.
I patted her on the head between those fluffy ears. "I'm here to talk business kiddo, so I can't play with you right now."
She pouted and went off and plopped down next to Skie.
Rust looked up at me. "What is it?"
"I need a favor," I admitted. "I need you guys to look out for my world while I'm gone. I have to keep my promise to Silky."
Xorn nodded. As did the General who was straightening his mask and rubbing the top of his head.
"Of course," Rust agreed. "You do what you must. Have you regained all of your memories then?"
I nodded.
"Good," he said, sounding relieved. "Keep an eye out for -"
A guard burst through the doors, his eyes wild and frantic.
"We are under atta-" he was cut off by a blade running across his throat from behind.
Immediately, we all assumed defensive positions around Rina and Elizabeth.
"Good morning to all of you!" A voice shouted cheerfully from behind the guard who was doing his best to stay upright but to no avail. He fell down and revealed what I had been most afraid of.
"Latorakena," Lily said in disbelief.
"Indeed!" He said with a laugh. "Indeed. It is good to be back."
He looked exactly how he had in my memories. White shirts, khaki shoes, blonde hair and golden eyes.
"Why are you here?" Xorn asked. "This is a bold move, especially for you."
"I have no need to fear anything here. If any of you were to try and kill me, another would die simultaneously. Another in this room." His eyes moved to a spot next to me and he waved his hand, forcibly undoing Silky's invisibility.
I stepped in front of her.
He laughed. "You know, don't you girl? That your time left here is coming to an end."
She said nothing.
He turned his attention to me. "Nierix, was it?"
Hearing him say my name sent chills down my spine.
"It is isn't it?" He laughed like a maniac. "You can try to protect her, that's all well and good, but at the end of the day, it will amount to nothing. Even if I do not die, her time is still limited."
I grit my teeth. "Get lost, Lato, before I take your head off."
He chuckled again. "You couldn't beat me last time, what makes you think that anything has changed?" He gripped his dagger a little tighter, then loosened it again. "But I am in a very good mood today, so I'll let that one slide. Just for your information, I have the backing of twelve of the Inter-Dimensional Capitals. Just so you don't waste your time sending out your distress signals. All but Serenadia - as usual - have aligned with me."
I saw for the briefest of moments a fury and hatred in his eyes when he referred to Serenadia.
"Why are you here?" Rust repeated Xorn's question.
"Oh, right, that," Lato said as if this were just another day for him. "You are going to tell me where Tritan Lockett is."
Everyone looked confused - myself included - except for Rust. He had a very serious expression on his face.
"Tritan has nothing to do with this," he told Lato.
"Yet," Lato added. "He will. I mean, you should know me well enough that you should know that I'm not just planning to the end of this play, but to the beginning of the next, and even beyond that."
"We know, Lato," A new voice said.
Caelis Terminus walked out of the back room casually, like he had been expecting this to happen in this exact place at this exact time. His purple eyes glowed brightly.
"Well shoot," Lato said nervously, the smile on his face much more strained.
"But you are not the only one who is preparing for events far into the future."
The rest of us didn't even matter to Lato anymore, he was completely focused on Terminus.
Lato gripped his dagger tight again, he wasn't sure if he could win or not. The last time they had encountered each other, Terminus had snuck up behind Lato and stabbed him in the back. This time it was head to head. Could he win?
Terminus stayed perfectly still, calmly evaluating the situation.
They stood there for what felt like hours, but was probably only a few seconds before Terminus broke the silence with, "this is neither the time nor the place, Lato. I would expect you of all people to follow your plans through."
Lato breathed a sigh of relief that was only barely audible or noticeable. As a matter of fact, I was pretty sure the only one who noticed it was me.
"Perhaps you're right, Terminus." He sent his weapon away and turned to walk out the door. "You will not be alive in a week's time, Silky Fleur Delamort." And then he was gone.