Timeea licks her lips, and finally takes a step forward, peeling herself off her precious walls.
" Right, hmm....there are certain animals that don't need a partner of the opposite sex to copulate. I think the process is called parthenogenesis. It's out of necessity when there are no matches of the opposite sex. You are a bit like that, the only difference is that you give birth to the next version of yourself. It is quite a tricky mission if you ask me. I don't know much of your kind, because you ceased to exist millennia ago. I still fail to understand how you survived, " Ingenuity, that's how, and lack of natural predators. Until now. And also feels a bit like a load of cockamamy to me. Drawing a silent breath, I refrain from pitching in my unruly thoughts on the matter, and wait to hear the rest of this phantasmagoric story. Not even in my wildest dreams would I've been able to concoct such a story.
" Brought food and drinks, " Graham announces his presence before he strides into the room with a tray filled with food, and drinks. He sets it on the floor at my feet and picks up a plate and a glass of water. Out of everything the pale pink grapes paired with black cheese, and yellow bread created a colourful palette on my plate along with other delicacies that I can put a name to because I've never seen them before. I'll inquire later with Graham, he will be able to provide me with information.
" I figured you'd want to have a clear mind, if you're going to make sense of any of this, " He hands me the plate, and the glass of water with a smile on his lips. You have to love the man, he is a bit like a double-edged sword. Pesky on one side, and extremely thoughtful on the other.
" Thank you, Graham. Some chairs would have been useful. These heels are killing me," I grimace, shifting on my feet, trying to ease the pins and needles stabbing at the soles of my feet.
Without a second thought, Mason crouches at my feet, bending one knee, takes my foot in his hands and begins undoing the clasp of my sandal, " You can put them back on when we go back, or not," He shrugs, a smile playing on his lips and proceeds to take my other sandal off, neatly placing them on the side.
" You two are weird," Timeea says softly, watching the whole affair unfolding with a slight sense of apprehension, and maybe a touch of curiosity regarding our dynamic. At this point, I couldn't care less.
Graham chuckles, " If you think this is weird. You haven't seen anything," Timeea throws him an admonishing glance, making Graham chuckle, amused at Timeea's attempt to intimidate him. Not an easy feat, a lesson I've learned the hard way.
" You don't scare me, lady. Try elsewhere, maybe you'll have better luck," He winks at Timeea. On cue she blushes, her pale skin colouring with a tinge of deep pink. That alone is enough to encourage Graham to dig his heels deeper and prod into Timeea's carefully constructed image of herself.
" Can we get back to things that actually matter, " Mason gripes, taking the glass out of my hand so I can eat. Shifting my weight from one foot to another, I relish the feel of a cold floor under my feet, easing the uncomfortable ache lancing through my shins. Beauty is pain. I'm not sure I'm ready to suffer for the sake of looking nice.
" So, what did I miss?" Graham asks, shoving both hands in his trousers pockets, bunching his shoulders like a schoolboy, and of course, that toothy grin turned up to the max. I think he likes Timeea.
" Nothing much. I'll catch you later," Mason says flatly, turning his attention back to a blushing Timeea. I don't know the woman very well, but she doesn't strike me as the blushing type.
" You two can flirt later, " He adds as an afterthought, making Timeea gasp, aghast at the accusation. Of course, she would be outraged. Didn't expect any less from a prim and proper lady like herself.
" None is doing anything later. No respectable lady should be seen cohorting with a thief," Timeea bites back at Mason, who groans exasperated. Trust Graham to send a serious conversation on a tailspin.
" In my experience, respectable ladies, have a taste for danger. And you are no different," Graham retorts, that cheeky smile never leaving his lips.
" Oh, Please," Timeea scoffs, " Less than fifteen minutes ago you were scouting this place, planning your heist. Shameless, really. At least, have the courtesy to be less obvious about it. I have no interest in associating with the likes of you, " She umphs, defiantly tipping her chin up, and a tad derisive. Graham might be a thief, but he is a good person, first and foremost. To me, everything else is just details.
" Lady, I wouldn't want to be associated with you either. My reputation would take a serious hit, but still, that doesn't mean I don't want to see you naked, " Jesus Graham. Mason chuckles beside me, I glare at him because we have veered so far off the course that I don't see us getting back on it anytime soon.
Timeea's laughter is haughty, and mirthless, " Many men pay a fortune to be able to breathe the same air as I do, you....you...you conceited prick," She throws back with feigned nonchalance, tripping over her words, contradicting the calm composure she currently trying to keep from sliding. Graham is winning, whatever this is.
" Why would I pay anything when you will do it for free," Graham clicks his tongue, and chuckles when Timeea sputters, uncontrollably at the sheer audacity. This is quite a show. I should attend these events more often.
" In your dreams," Timeea retorts, even more annoyed.
" I'm not much of a dreamer, so I guess I will have to settle for the real thing," The room's temperature has risen a few degrees since these two have started speaking to each other. The air is so charged that I can feel the hairs on my arms standing up to attention.
" So, what time would it work for you? I'm happy to go now if you have finished with these two," Graham is bold and awfully, stupidly brave. Mason heaves a resigned sigh at my side while I pluck a grape off my plate, and pop it in my mouth, relishing the sweet taste, and hint of cotton candy coating my tongue, making the grapes irresistible. Nursing a sweet tooth is hard work, there are very few things that I can eat to satisfy it. And the grapes hit just right. I can't wait to try the unusual cheese.
" I could have you sent to Yeden for even daring to suggest such a thing, you insolen...." Once again Timeea scrambles to find her words, " You namby pamby, " Wow, that's just pathetic, even for my standards.
Graham chuckles, " I'll come and find you after the party," It's not a question. He is just telling her that it is happening. I guess, Graham has a death wish after all. Who knew?
When Timeea has no answer to that, Mason cuts in, " Are you two done, now?" He asks, mildly exasperated.
Graham nods while Timeea glares back at him, balefully. Oh, boy, I foresee a lot of broken glassware in Graham's future.
" Where were we," I sigh and look at Mason, the only one who partially enjoyed the little spat.
" Right, " Timeea says regaining her composure, " In theory, you kind of replicated yourself over and over again, " Huh, would you look at that? I made myself. I can't decide whether this is amazing, or worth putting in the oddities box. I'll decide later.
" Is that even possible?" Graham chirps at my side plucking some food off my plate.
" It is a possibility, " Timeea replies tightly, still unhappy with Graham's presence in the room.
" I suppose that could make sense, but Anika said that she is not your mother. And so did Micah from what you've told me," Mason adds, in a pensive tone. So far we still have zilch to go on. These are nothing more than speculative theories. Theories that we cannot dismiss, but cannot prove either. Also, a little too far-fetched for my taste.
" What if I wasn't the only one that survived?" I say quietly. It is a possibility worth exploring.
" What if Anika and Micah were telling the truth? Anika and I, are very similar looking. But what if, she had a sister just like you, or someone closely related to her? Maybe, just maybe, I wasn't the only one who survived. What if there were more of us, but only a few had abilities? Just like you and your sister. My mother was very insistent on the fact that I was made. We fail to understand how. What if more had survived but none of them were able to channel. And they made me, for some unknown reason," It is better than we've had so far. It's not much but it's a start. Also, a more valid probability than what she has put forth so far.