Here is part two of the split chapter, though short, I feel they function better as separate chapters. But I would also love your guys imput in some reviews! And also the reason I am posting two chapters at a time is I feel guilty for delaying them (though I make no promises, especially since this is my last pre-written stuff) so I really hope you like it! And thanks to all the people who have become invested (at least somewhat) in my story!
Ten Years Ago: The Apartment Balcony
Chloe had curled up on one of the deck chairs, posed to listen. I leaned against the railing, facing her. It took several moments to compose what I wanted to say, it was not easy divulging one's deepest secrets.
"I've been thinking about this more and more, trying to read both you and Jas about what I should do, and I've come to the conclusion that it looks like it would be best for everyone if I left." I tried to state as calm as possible.
Chloe's eyes widened with shock, this was probably the last thing she expected to hear from me. But it was completely true, being around her was getting harder every day and it would be unbearable if she chose Brain. Plus there was the problem with my secret of my past getting out to the pride and them running me out of the city.
"Alek! You can't mean that! Why? Why the hell would you leave?"
"Calm down and I will tell you. Do you remember when Jasmin told me, I guess us, about my actual heritage?" I asked, Chloe gave a nod of acknowledgement as she attempted to contain whatever questions were bubbling. The past events had affected us both, we now understood the importance of when to speak and when to be silent.
"Well, it was not a joke when I said that both sides would hate me. If the rest of the pride found out, or even worse, the Council, that I am half human there is every possibility of banishment or execution. I would definitely be deemed unfit as your protector. Don't you see? Valentina was shielding me from a lifetime on the run and never belonging."
"Alek," she said again, this time getting and walking to stand in front of me, "that is ridiculous that they would not accept you because you are half-human. That was not something you could help."
I raised my head to meet her eyes. They were filled with compassion but also a hint of anger. "Chloe, their suspicion is rooted in the truth. I wouldn't even accept me as the freak I am!"
"No, Alek, you're not a freak. Don't ever say that." She countered with just as much intenseness in her voice.
"Then what am I Chloe? Think about it, what was the hardest thing about transitioning to Mai for us?" I gave her a couple of moments to consider. "It wasn't the claws or the hearing or any of the physical changes, although they were scary, they could be controlled. No, when you're raised by humans, like you and I were, the hardest part is accepting that you are special and gifted and not a freak!"
I couldn't take the eye contact any longer. I brushed past to the opposite corner of the balcony, the farthest point away from her. My voice wasn't above a whisper but I knew she could still hear me.
"You go from being normal to thinking you're a freak of nature with claws and lightning reflexes. And with no one around to reassure you, you start to believe it. My adoptive parents went crazy when they saw the Mai side of me, branding me an animal. And treating me as such. They didn't see the little boy they raised from infancy, all they saw was a monster."
"Alek," she pleaded.
"Admit it Chloe," I interrupted before she would start in on her counter argument, "you tried for months after your transformation to be a normal human. You clung to that life because you were scared of being Mai and all that it would mean. I don't blame you, all I'm saying is that you know the feeling of not belonging."
That statement rendered her quiet. Without looking, I could still tell her gaze was now cast down in defeat, she knew exactly what the feeling was. Why else had she spent so much time with her human when she knew they could never be together? Although now that he was Pure, that argument was irrelevant.
"And now that I know my true past, who my real parents are, it's basically the world telling me that I'll never belong. It's that feeling times ten. How else am I supposed to feel Chloe?"
"Not like that!" The need to respond must have been bubbling inside of her, and now she let lose, quickly crossing the balcony to trap me against the wall. In her furry she gripped my arms to force me to look at her. I knew that it was not on purpose and that Brian was still very much in the picture, but in that moment the world felt a little bit better. It was comforting to have Chloe there with me and I knew that my feelings for her would only grow.
"Aleksander Petrov, hear this loud and clear and that shouldn't be a problem with your Mai super senses. You belong here, you are wanted here, you are needed here! Finding out that you are half human doesn't change all that you've done for me or the pride. As much as I hate to admit it, I would probably be down to like two lives by now because of how reckless I am. But I'm not, and that's because of you. You're the most qualified Uniter protector and more than that, you're part of the family."
Her speech was beautiful right up to the "family" part because I was definitely feeling more than a sisterly-brotherly bond between the two of us. What if that's only how Chloe saw us? But my attention was drawn back to her speech before I could worry any more.
"I mean, you're Jasmin's only relative left. You can't leave her, she wiill never say it aloud, but she needs you here and," her voice dropped, "I need you here too. So who cares who your parent's are or what your blood is. You're the best Mai warrior this city has seen. Convinced yet?" She ended her rant with her hands on her hips and a look that told me I'd better agree or part two of the speech would be a lot longer.
"Ok, ok, I get the picture. Never disagree with the Uniter." I chuckled, and it wasn't even faked. Her words had really struck a chord with me and although I did not love my human half, nor did I think I ever really could, at least there was someone who did and would defend it.
In a moment of uncharacteristic seriousness, actually that seemed to be the theme for the night, I pulled Chloe into a hug. We had hugged before, but it was always because she needed it, this time this hug was purely for me. She let out a small gasp of surprise but then wound her arms around me to return it. "Thank you Chloe; that is what I needed to hear." I whispered into her hair. Finally I pulled away so she hopefully would not detect the rate at which my heart was beating, which was extremely fast.
"Ok Uniter, I spilled my secret," I cracked my signature smirk in hopes of steering the conversation back to its original point, "time to spill yours."
Chloe's eyes went wide. Maybe she had thought that with all the emotions flying around I would forget why we were even out here on the balcony at two in the bloody morning: her nightmares.
"Ummm, well," she started backing away from me, the intensity that was glowing in her eyes thirty seconds ago fading. Whatever the thing that was plaguing her, it truly had the ability to break all her confidence down and leave her in mumbling shatters.
"Oh no you don't Chloe. You shook on it. I shared, now please tell me about whatever this is," I said, gesturing to her shaking body.
"What what is?" she tried to stall.
"No, none of that rubbish. You can tell me Chloe." I quickly closed the gap between us that that she was creating.
"It's just that… well… I'm not sure what it is exactly."
"Well, try to put it in some words."
Her eyes that were staring at her feet slowly started to travel up until we were looking straight into each other's eyes. I saw nothing but concentrated blue-green that conveyed so much without words. She was feeling fear and uncertainty, but also trying to be courageous. There was another silent agreement of truth between us, we could share anything and keep each other's secrets. I trusted her with mine and she could do the same.
"Alek," she breathed, "I think I'm dreaming the future."