Chapter Eleven
Malcolm's POV
I found her at the sword fighting arena, hacking away at dummies like they were made of water. Straw and stuffing were scattered everywhere. Aelia had her eyes narrowed, and her arms looked already taut from swinging the sword. She sheathed it and took out her daggers. She prepared to square it at one of the dummy heads.
"Aelia…" I quietly called.
She stopped and turned around. Her eyes were gold and icy. Suddenly, the Second Titan War filled my head. I vaguely remembered battling in Manhattan… and Aelia… she was… invisible… on enemy lines…
I shook my head. Now is so not the time to get distracted.
When she saw it was me her eyes softened by a fraction of a degree. She sheathed her sword.
"What do you want, Malcolm?" She quietly asked. I instantly had the urge to hide. When Aelia gets mad, she becomes quieter, and then BAM! You find yourself becoming a target for her daggers.
Basically, this was the calm before the storm.
I didn't know how long it would last.
I wearily inched forward.
"You okay?" I ventured.
"Just pissed as hell at those annoying campers." She answered nonchalantly. I knew she was trying to look strong, trying to look like they didn't bother her. But something told me Aelia was more hurt than she let on.
"I get it, they were insensitive. But come on, Aze, tell me that you wouldn't be curious if you figured out a celebrity child who has been missing for the past 14 years is (a) descendant of Troy (b) 3/4ths god (c) can kick butt (d) has a wicked old sword that comes with it's own legend and (e) strong enough and bold enough to defend Apollo from Zeus… and win."
Aelia shook her head. Her eyes turned back to the gray they usually are. But the torchlight in the arena made them seem darker. Scarier. More intense.
"That's the whole reason I didn't want to come here, Malcolm. Because people don't see me, all they see are the 5 things you just mentioned." She crossed her arms and glared at me.
Styx. I mess up.
But I couldn't give up, so I pressed on.
I stepped closer again. "I get it. But the longer you keep this in… the larger the toll will be when you finally le it out."
Her shoulders sagged. I internally grinned in triumph.
She closed her eyes. "You might want to hit the dirt." She advised with an eye open.
I smirked and laid down on the floor chest down. Aelia concentrated. I could sense her pouring her emotions into one big ball of light. Then she took a deep breath and let it go.
A bright light filled the valley. My ears were ringing. I forced my eyes open. Black dots danced around the edges. The air cackled and smelled like… sunshine… if sunshine had a smell. It smelled warm, and comforting…
Aelia looked exhausted, but she was grinning. She slumped forward. I got up before she could hit her head. She collapsed and let out a sigh.
I steadied her. Aelia combed the hair out of her face with her fingers and stared me in the eye. Our eyes locked. I could feel myself getting pulled into her gaze.
"Thank you." She murmured, her eyes never leaving my face.
I shrugged. "It was nothing. I just didn't want you to blow up."
She nodded and gave me a ghost of a smile. "Yeah, that would be bad."
I sat down on the cobblestones. She obliged and sat down next to me. Aelia hugged her knees to her chest.
"Why do you always have to keep up that façade of yours?" I ask her.
Aelia put a head on my shoulder. She shrugged. "Boosts my self esteem, and it directs my focus away from… other things."
I sighed. "But that's not the real you. I know the real Aelia. I miss her."
She didn't respond.
So we sat there in silence. It was a bit tense, and a bit awkward, but it was also comfortable.
Finally she answered me. "The real me is weak, vulnerable, afraid. If I showed the real me…," She shook her head. "The others follow me, Malcolm, they look up to me for guidance. That's why I have to be strong, for them, to give them hope."
I almost snorted. "Most of them are only a few years younger than you."
Aelia rolled her eyes and huffed. "So? What about Reyna? Most of her legionnaires are her same age, some of them older. Age is nothing but a number of years, Malcolm. I could be still that seven year old little girl you found in the alley, and still people could look up to me."
I opened my mouth to object but she was on a roll.
"Tell me, Malcolm. Would you look to someone for guidance, if they were always second guessing themselves, or if they weren't confident in themselves? Would you follow someone who was weak? Or vulnerable?"
I think it over. I couldn't find an answer, so I ignored the question completely. "But the Aelia whose "weak," "vulnerable," and "afraid" is the more human Aelia. It makes you seem less… intimidating."
Aelia laughed without humor. "I'm barely human, Malcolm. But I see where your coming from."
She gave me a peck on the lips and stood up. Right before she reached the door, Aelia turned back.
"If you want the real Aelia, then you better look for something else. Because the real Aelia isn't going to show herself anytime soon." She smiled sadly at me.
"Good night, Malcolm. And sweet dreams." Then she left.
I stared into nothing, contemplating the situation.
I had to get Aelia back, before it was too late.