A Wider Sky: Beyond Eclipse Series
Copyright first edition 2013, 2015
Chapter 17
It's hard to believe the school holiday begins tomorrow and the end of the academic year was here. It seemed so far away, seven months ago when I first started school and even further away a week ago. But it was here and I would re-unite with my mom tonight.
I was so excited I was a bundle circuiting nervousness and twitch tension firing at the same time. Thrilled about going home (daresay) and on edge because Haazic had made contact with her brother. She was willing to allow me meet him today before I jump on the transport to go back home to my colony. I already knew I had to be very careful with meeting her brother in general, because if the powers-that-be found out that I was meeting with a rebel, I might never leave the colony again. Or worse they would kill me; and even more frightening, they could do something to my mother. But this was my only chance to find out the information that I sought. If there was a way to make the world better, where humans and the Y'vori could live together as one, it was worth the chance- it was a gamble my mother would be proud of. The world we live is now is horrible- a society built on the 'haves' and 'have nothings'.
I felt my arm being eagerly tugged by Haazic who sat next to me. I immediately snapped to the present task at hand: The Academic Program Awards ceremony. It was the final academic event after exams and it required the entire Harvard school's attendance.
"Let's congratulate our top student for this semester. Kiowa Walker!" the Dean of the Harvard School announced. My cheeks blossomed with heat, but Gaelen was gleaming with pride and giving me a slight squeeze. It was like doing a balancing acrobatic tango to walk over his long legs so that I could reach the aisle to make an embarrassing march towards the front of the auditorium. God, my butt seemed to expand awkwardly as I passed each person in the row.
"Bookmouse, Bookmouse," the entire school chanted, making it even more awkward for receiving a good grades award. Gaelen's term of endearment had grown popular in the school. My name was almost forgotten and people who didn't know me, only knew me as Bookmouse.
Now receiving this academic award would only solidify my name as Bookmouse.
I shook Professor Windsor's and the Dean's hand as they passed a certificate to me. Windsor was so impressed; he couldn't help but gloat about a student that was actually excelling in his class. Windsor prided himself in being known as Mr. Impossible-To-Pass.
I quickly grabbed my award said thank you and returned to my seat. Haazic gave me biggest hug she could before I could sit down and recover from the spotlight I recoil from. Adrenaline still surged through me I didn't realize I was clenching the elbow rest like a life raft in the ocean until Gaelen took my hand and tenderly kissed the back of my hand.
He whispered in my ear, "We will celebrate my way afterwards." I immediately tightened my center and shivered.
Once the passion tremor passed, Haazic whispered in my other ear "Gaelen's crazy. You better cool him down, What is he, a starving lion that wants a make-out session in the middle of an academic meeting?!"
"Shhh," I quietly giggled at her and caught in my periphery Gaelen's wink.
"Well, he will have to wait for another time. We need to leave as soon as that stiff is done talking." She gestured to one of the older academic professors still droning on the microphone with the enthusiasm to such a degree that was contrary of his frail and grey appearance. "We are going to the city center to meet my brother."
"Why somewhere so densely populated?"
"Because it's better to be right under your enemies noses when they are looking in a different direction."
I started to rehearse my speech that I was going to give Samson once I met him. I was so focused that I miss an important announcement about the upper classmen vacation break trip to the colonies next academic year. Everyone was cheering with excitement and Gaelen was whispering in my opposite ear of Haazic again. He wanted to go with me on the trip and he promised we would stow away for a quick passionate...
I closed my eyes, imagining it.
I didn't even realize he was no longer whispering, but trying to talk above all the students bustling to gather their things to leave the auditorium because the meeting had concluded.
Haazic grabbed me before I could give my excuse to Gaelen why I had to leave. I had practiced it for hours last night. Haazic was pulling me as we dashed off campus, leaving Gaelen behind. I hope I can see him one last time when I get back and before I leave for my colony. I didn't want our last moment to be this.
Together, we dashed to the train station reaching it in time to catching the first arriving train into the city center to meet Samson. I thought we would go to a sketchy looking warehouse in some strange, scary district of the city; instead we headed straight for the largest building on the center of the city that headquarters for the Y'vroi Government.
The building was like the Tower of Babel, mixing both Y'vori and human architectural style with the center appearing like a crystal cathedral with a horizontal beam of light that cast across the cityscape. This center was where the government held offices. I remember first meeting Lance and how he shared his dreams of one day working in the center of The Realm in this building. Haazic wasn't kidding when she said Samson was right under their noses.
We quietly entered the building, security didn't give us a second glance. I took note wondering if it were because Haazic's family were still respected Generals or did they feel that us, humans were so defeated, security was more of a show.
We took a lift to the 30th floor and I had expected it to open to a floor under construction, exposing the building's structural pillars and crossbeams. An unoccupied floor that was waiting for a new tenant. Instead, we entered an elegant office with a wild floral arrangements in crystal vases on the high receptionist desk made of glass. The sitting room had two long leather couches and stuffed chairs centered with a white marble coffee table with Birds of Paradise flowers in round South American vase. Behind one of the couches sat against the wall, a lacquer table with a welcoming silver ice bucket circled by crystal glassware and bottled water. It was far from what I expected for meeting a rebel fugitive in a secret meeting, but the entire office seemed quiet and empty.
This way," Haazic grabbed my hand, stopping me from further dazzled inspection of the office. "Come on."
We walked down a silent corridor of office doors, some closed and others open, revealing completely empty rooms with ceiling to floor windows looking out onto the city skyline. We stopped in front of a closed office door labeled 209. This door was the only numbered office in the entire hall.
Inside was a large and long empty room overlooking the city. On the far side of what could have been or will be a large boardroom, stood a tall, Y'vori leaning on one arm against the wall, looking out the large panoramic windows.
I could notice the sibling similarities immediately. Samson was built like a warrior, with strong, thick stilts for legs and perfectly broad shoulders that of a swimmer. He had long thick curly dreads that hit his low back in a rainbow of black, electric red, blue and purple. When he turned to us, I noticed the playful cynicism in his eyes that I had grown fond of in Haazic's steely personality.
"Haazic, it is good to see you sister," his deep baritone voice was so melodic and embracing just as the warmth he showed her enveloping her into a big hug. I hid behind her, not sure how I was going to approach the second conversation that I had rehearsed in my head all night.
"You too, brother," Haazic placed a hand on her hip and shifted to one side in attempts to not seem phased by whatever sibling strife or the pain of separation had effected her.
"Why is your friend hiding behind your back like some little mouse?"
Haazic snorted and turned to me practically throwing me in his direction. Her eyes glinted teasingly, "I think she has a crush on you." I blushed so hard, they both laughed.
"Let me get a good look at you?" Samson said and with one long stride in his leather pants, grabbed my chin bringing up to his inspection. Every muscle within me stiffened and he noticed something. He eyes shifted to me and then back to his sister before landing on me with more suspicion. "Leave us be, sister. I don't think she means me any harm. I'll answer her questions."
