I couldn’t stand the awkward silences, the conversations about nothing that glossed over the most important confession she had ever made to me. The farmers’ market at Aeros was one of the best in the Archipelago – after the Erosion, fruits and vegetables had grown scarce, and farmers’ markets in our old home had been limited to a couple of dessicated zucchini and maggot-eaten carrots. But here, the produce was fresh and luscious – free even of the chemicals the government sprayed into most Archipelago fields to make them grow. I enjoyed tasting the free samples – an unheard-of delight back home, where things were too dear to be made available for less than a princely sum – and smelling the sweet aromas of oranges and tangerines, bananas and pineapples, tomatoes and leeks – each item brighter and more colorful than the last. I purposely lingered over the eggplant, haggling with the couple behind the counter, just to avoid going home and dealing with another night with my mother. She’d just gone back to work that day, but I knew that she’d be home in a few hours, and I wanted to stay out as long as possible.
But, to my surprise, it started to rain.
Figures, I thought, cutting my trip short early. It looked like I’d beat my mother home after all – which meant we’d have a good six hours until bedtime to markedly not talk about her confession.
“Hello!” I called as I lugged my shopping into the doorway. But, as I expected, the house was empty. I checked my watch, fumbling for the light switch. My mother wouldn’t be home for another half hour.
Click! I flicked on the light switch, but nothing happened. The electricity was evidently out, leaving me plunged into total darkness. I looked towards the window, but the curtains were drawn.
I froze. My mother had left for work before I left for school that morning, and I definitely remembered leaving the curtains open…
But before I could process my thoughts, a sudden blow struck me from behind, making my head ring as I stumbled to the floor. Immediately my mind began to process the wrestling moves I had learn; I lashed out at my attacker – a broad, strong figure. I couldn’t make any features out in the lamplight, but from the size and shape I guessed it was a man. It certainly wasn’t scrawny, short Alice, who had attacked me last month in the locker room. But the other assailant had never been unmasked. Was he back to finish the job?
“Get…off!” I cried, kicking the figure square in the stomach. But despite my best efforts, the figure didn’t budge. He was too large, too strong; I felt his hands squeeze around my neck, growing tighter and tighter. I cried aloud, but the sound was strangled in my throat. Everything was going hazy – my mind went blank as my body cried out for oxygen.
Just as darkness overtook my brain, a sudden crash brought me back to life. My attacker was huddled over on the floor; I heard him cry aloud as another figure kicked him in the stomach. Immediately, my attacker was on his feet, running away…
I sprang up, ready to fight this new figure.
“Hey – are you alright?” The concern in the voice made me melt. It was Varun, holding out a warm hand, helping me to my feet.
“We should go after him!”
“Too late…” Varun looked out the door. “He’s gone by now. Are you okay – that’s the important thing?”
“Fine,” I answered breathlessly. “Just a little shaken, is all. “
“That guy was strong,” Varun said. “I could barely get him off you. That was no mortal you were fighting – whoever he was, it was definitely an Embodiment.”
“Like Alice?” I looked up at him. “He could have been the guy who attacked me before with Alice – I’m not sure. I couldn’t see anything in the darkness.”
“But who could it be?” Varun wondered aloud. He looked down at something, frowning. Then he bent down, picking up a small, glinting rectangular object. I recognized it immediately – I had one, too. A Cutter Imperial Hotel name badge – worn by all staff members. And this one had BRANDON clearly emblazoned on it.
“Brandon?” I looked at Varun in surprise. He was a Fire god – what reason had he to want me or Vesta dead? “He was always so…nice.” Silly, jovial, joking Brandon – how could he be anything but a friend to me?
“I’m sorry,