Seto finally finds my hiding spot under a chair. "Kid, you do realize that that is a seriously dumb place to be, right?"
"You's was about to be eatin' p-people," I whisper as he crouches down, putting the side of his face to the carpet so he can see me. "I done had to leave."
He blinks. "How the Nether did you come up with that?"
"S-Sky said let's eat people."
He blinks again. "Sky said let's eat, people."
"Yes."
"Then why are you hiding under a chair?"
"Because Sky s-said let's eat people!" How does he not get it?
"No, he said let's eat, people."
"What b-be the difference?"
Seto stares at me for a moment, and then groans. "One means he wants to eat people. The other means he wants everybody to start eating."
Huh? This does not make sense. "You's bein' trickin' me."
"Oh, stop that. You don't need to be so nervous. We won't hurt you." Seto sighs. "I kind of understand that you're a little scared. I mean, this place is big and loud and crazy, and the people in it are also loud and crazy. But they mean well, kid. You'll get used to it. You'll fit right in with them." His eyes mist over a bit, and then he sighs again. "Now come on. Get out from under the chair. Don't make me drag you."
I don't really want to come out from under the chair. It is dark and safe here, and everywhere else is bright. Seto was right. This place is big and loud and very, very, crazy. I don't like it. But I'll have to leave the spot under the chair eventually.
"Kid, come out."
Slowly, I squeeze myself beneath the edge of the chair, crawling out into the light. Seto sits up and watches me as I pull my legs free, his eyes dark. I claw my way into a sitting position and wait.
"Good. Now, cover your ears, because there is about to be a very loud noise."
"Why?" Why is there going to be a loud noise? And how does he know it's going to happen?
"Do what I told you to do."
"But—" I don't get to finish, because Seto brings his hands together just then. Instead of a clap, there is the cacophonous sound of something crashing to the ground.
"Toodles, kid. See you later." There is a big bang and a puff of smoke, and then Seto is gone.
Magic. There is no other explanation for it. But if Seto can do magic, what does that make him?
My stomach lurches. He's a wizard.
Wizards are evil, and that's pretty much all anyone needs to know. The only question left at this point is why he hasn't murdered anyone here yet. Is he waiting for a better time to strike? Or are the others in league with him?
If they're in league with him, then he might not have anyone to drink blood from. Everyone knows that wizards need to drink blood to keep their powers. That means he's waiting for a chance to drink my blood.
But... maybe the others are enslaved by Seto the evil wizard's magic. What if they're his unwilling minions?
I don't get to think about this, because just then Sky throws open the door. It bangs into the wall and slams shut behind him. "What fell ove—Oh. Hey, Jason." He holds up his hands slowly. "Please don't run away again, okay? You can relax."
I tense as he comes a little closer. He looks normal enough, but he lives in the Fortress with a wizard. Wizards are evil. Why would Sky want to stay with a wizard?
Maybe the rumor was right. Maybe they're all evil wizards.
Then… I remember something. The Rune that Ty had talked about yesterday. I'd wondered what it meant, but now it's obvious. It's something that wizards want for more power. They think I know where the Rune is.
Something odd happens then, as though I'm falling towards the ground. I see flashes of memories—the market, next to a stand peddling amulets; two people chasing a hybrid down the streets; a thin, pale man with a hood that shadows his face until all that I can see are bright eyes.
"Jason?" Sky asks, waving his hand in front of my face.
"Huh?" I blink. Where am I?
Oh. The Fortress. I never left.
"Are you feeling alright?" he asks. "You look like you've got a fever.
"Stay away! You's bein' a w-wizard!"
He stares at me. "I'm not a wizard. You need to relax. I'm almost certain you've got a fever."
"Seto's bein' a wizard, then!" I yelp. "He be goin' to kill you all!"
"Am not!" Seto shouts, popping back into existence. I squeak and fall over backwards. "You know, it's very rude to say that sort of thing about people. And I'm not a wizard, thank you very much. I happen to be a sorcerer, and a stunningly attractive one, if I do say so myself." He glares at me. "If you're going to be making slurs against me, would you be considerate enough to do it out of earshot?"
"You were invisible in a corner, Seto," Sky sighs. "Dare I even ask…?"
"No. As Jason would say, you dasn't. But I'll tell you anyway. I have a right to eavesdrop on any conversation and interrupt it whenever I see fit. Especially if the topic turns to yours truly being a you-know-what. I hate wizards. They give everybody who's able to cause explosions at will a bad name."
"Seto… you were eavesdropping. You might hear things you don't like that way."
"Oh, so you need a private discussion? No can do, buster. I'll just hang around in here, making sure you don't talk about me."
"No. Out, Seto. No eavesdropping. Either you're actually taking part in conversation, or you leave us alone. Lurking like that is weird," Sky says, shaking his head.
"Make me," Seto smirks, popping invisible again.
"You are impossible!"
"You know you love it," says Seto's voice from right behind me. I squeak again and jump. "Now go on with that little conversation. Sky, you can probably pretend that I'm not here. You're good at it."
"You exile yourself to your room. We don't evict you. You're always welcome to hang out with us, you just choose not to."
"Always welcome, except while invisible and quiet," Seto sniffs from somewhere by the bookshelf. "Some qualifiers you have."
"Why would you want to be around us if you're invisible and quiet?"
There's no answer. Seto is a sorcerer, not a wizard? What's a sorcerer? And… he was listening. My cheeks are burning horribly. I guess he didn't like being called a wizard.
"Fine. Be that way." Sky directs his words towards the bookshelf. "What has you in a bad mood, anyway?"
"Yeah, Seto, quit being an idiot," Mitch says, letting himself and Jerome into the room. "Ian's making more pancakes, everybody."
"You guys were listening too?" Sky sighs.
"Yes," Jerome and Mitch say together.
"Why didn't you come i—never mind. I don't want to know. See, guys, this is why I like Ty. He doesn't eavesdrop. It's nice."
"Actually, he would have joined us probably, but he got stuck in your room. We were sent to get you to unlock the door." Mitch shrugs. What is going on? Seto is right about this place being crazy.
"What was he doing in my room? How did he lock himself in?"
"No idea about either of those. We were looking for Jason upstairs, and Ty failed. You should go get him out."
"Yes, I should." Sky leaves.
"Let's go eat. The ghost needs food." Mitch shrieks as Seto reappears right in front of him, hands outstretched. "Gotcha!" He glances at me. "C'mon, kid. You need food, too. Let's move."
This was not at all weird— Seto being a sorce—whatchamacallit, the Rune, everybody eavesdropping, and everything else. Not weird at all. I hurry to catch up with the others as they follow Seto out.
Sorry about the two week hiatus, but I was working on a novel and wrote this all in about two hours.
Maybe someday you'll be reading the book and think, "Well, maybe it wasn't so bad that a fanfic went on hiatus."
Or maybe I'm fantasizing.
Beware of rabbits, and sorry to all the people who I cliffhangered in New Dawn; that was mean.