After Granny cleared her throat, I watched as Thea created distance between her and Ryn. Ryn somehow ended up at the edge where Gran was sitting. Granny smiled politely after the space was made and placed herself back in the booth. I could feel the heat rising to my face as I let the drapes fall shut and sat down on the other side of Thea. Just a few shades lighter and Ryn might've passed for a Pale, if I'm being honest, and for some reason, she didn't want to make eye contact. Thea, on the other hand, watched me closely. She sat there with a face of pure amusement. Nice to know that this is all just some game. Lives on the line, and she's having a good ol' time.
"Well, it seems you two were becoming acquainted while Lark and I were away. It's good to have allies." Granny peered over her big round glasses for a split second before directing her attention to the table, "We were able to secure two rooms down at the Sunset B&B down on Fifth Ave." It was a quaint place. Close by, and luckily for us, even though it's their touring season, we had plenty of options. I wanted something a little fancier, but Granny had insisted we save as many credits as possible because we never know when we might need them. I couldn't argue with that kind of logic. Plus, she said the woman who ran the place was one of us, which was good enough for me.
We were interrupted then by the service member. Everyone quieted as he passed our food out around the table. I think you probably could've sliced the air with the silence itself. It was so thick and blanketed us the entire time we waited for the man to leave. "If you need anything at all, just yell for me." He winked, turned, and left us just as quickly as he had arrived. Got to love people in service who understand how to take a hint.
"So, what were you two talking about while we were gone?" I questioned. I couldn't help it. Keeping my face as blank as possible, I continued, but my voice came out slightly irritated. Jealousy was boiling within me. It didn't make sense, and I didn't like the feeling. I couldn't help it though. It was there, and it was making itself known. It must have been because I was tired and grumpy. Looking around the table, it was clear that we were all exhausted, even Thea, who was currently poking at her coney and putting her chili-covered finger into her mouth. Granny and Ryn were already eating, but I hadn't touched anything. The sick feeling in my stomach wouldn't let me, "Seeming chummy. You turned to the dark side, Ryn?" I added.
Instantly, regret filled me with those last words. Ryn choked on her food a little bit and grabbed her drink to try and quickly wash it down. What am I even upset about? I noticed the corner of Thea's lips turned up as she responded to me in place of Ryn, who still looked like she was recovering, "Lark." Yeah, real chummy... She fluttered her eyelashes at me a few times. They were light-colored like the rest of her but long and thick. Curled perfectly. I'd looked up conditions that cause you to lack color. I've seen pictures of plenty of white people. They're incredibly light-colored, and like us, they vary in shades and tones, but Thea? She's so much lighter than the ones I've seen. It was so bright in its lack of color, but it held a warm under glow. There was one condition called albinism, but this didn't quite match up. Her voice felt like velvet as it entered my ears, breaking me from my thoughts, "To turn to the dark side implies that one was on the good side to begin with. As for dark and light, good and bad, who's to say? You forget all that exists between."
"I was just asking questions, you know?" Ryn spat out and exchanged glances with everyone before rambling on, "Asking when she's from last, how she knows stuff--things like that. Important stuff. She can take what she wants from our brains, by the way. Also, last she was here, she was a he, and that was well over a thousand years ago! Crazy... man, can you believe it? It's so..." Gran shushed Ryn's audible distress. Excitement? I don't know. To be thousands of years old? Even I still couldn't quite wrap my head around it. What would anyone even do with that many lives? All the time in the world to do anything you ever wanted and could think of. Be anyone you want to be. Wild. Then it hit me.
"She can take... what she wants... from our brains..." I spaced it out every three words without reservation and dripping with skepticism. No real questions, just statements as I slowly processed the information. Granny kept quiet as she ate and watched us. She must've been starving as she was making short work of her plate. Sometimes, the old greasy stuff was so good. It hit the spot, though I had a feeling we'd all be paying for it later, one way or another.
Thea's voice cut through my thoughts, "Yes. Yes, you heard correctly." She said it slowly and then moved to where the side of her body was touching Ryn's. She then slid her arm around Ryn's shoulders, and spoke into her ear, "Wow. He's a bright one, isn't he?" Ryn looked uncomfortable as she made an awkward smile. I was fuming. The heat grew and spread across my face. My jaw was tightening with my increasing anger. She pissed me off when she addressed her about me like I'm not even there. Just some meat puppet or watchdog. Ryn's private property. Pissed me right the fuck off. Granny had finished and sat in silence, still watching the events unfold.
