Will Vandom had been in Hay Lin's room, when Irma found her, and Irma didn't know what to say.. Caleb had gone, again, without a proper goodbye, and Irma had only managed to retrieve a small 'She doesn't want me there.' when she'd caught him leaving with the rebels and she'd asked him what about Earth.. And Will hadn't bothered to come over, and Taranee had told her that Will had directed them to stay. Just to watch him as he walked away, and now Irma looked at the redhead, just standing there.. And the argument she'd been about to raise fell away.. "Are you o-"
"Can you get that?" Irma's eyes followed Will's pointing finger to the book that rested, half covered by Hay Lin's pillow.. And when she looked, Will's features were as uneasy as her voice. "It.. It makes me feel.."
Irma frowned, and took the small steps across the room, to pull out the book without a keyhole and Will opened up a bag that seemed full of the rest of the books; ready and collected to hide away Caleb's existence in this world.. And Irma simply pushed the book next to the bag, not ready to put it away. "He told me y-"
"I didn't mean it.. I wasn't finished.." Will was floundering now; not enough energy to thrash, but not enough bravery to let herself drown. And Irma hadn't even thought, because Will hadn't seemed like she missed Caleb.. She'd just been quiet about it, and now she looked terrible; guilty. But Irma didn't feel mad. And Will pulled out the Heart and nodded to the book. "I think I can open.. That. We can go and see him when I.."
And Will looked grim, and Irma wondered if she might cry.. But it was wishful thinking, because Irma knew she wanted Will to be sad, but Will was only grim.
"He needs his dad Irma, I think he really missed him.. And you can't expect him to throw away his whole life when we're just burdens." Whatever weakness Will had been holding dropped, and Irma felt the guilt swapping victims as she realized what Will was saying.. And that she'd have to be a fool to think Caleb would be staying forever.. And that she was a fool.
...
"Kanénas.." Drake smiled softly, as Caleb frowned at the use of the name. It was a sign of disrespect usually, if someone said it to his face. It always had been, and that was why Raydon and the rebellion had chosen it. To mock the little 'no-one' boy. But Drake spoke it calmly. It wasn't disrespect, so much as a wake up call. "What are you doing here Caleb?"
"If you don't want me here.." Caleb's stubborn face fell, and his striking green eyes turned to refocus on the book in his lap - the boy was surrounded in them, sitting on the floor, and Drake knew every one would be in Meridian, and that Caleb wouldn't actually be able to read Phobos' books. But Drake hadn't meant here in the Infinite City's library, or here in the piles of 'new stock'. And from the stubborn sadness on his face, neither did Caleb, even if he tried to imply differently. "Julian told me not to fill my room with them, so I-"
"That's not what I meant."
"She still doesn't want me."
"Did she say that?"
The long silence gave Drake his answer, but he didn't much feel like gloating when Caleb's jade eyes watered, and Drake couldn't bring himself to say anything.. It had to be frustrating.. Not to be normal.. Not to know what you're feeling or to have the right emotional capacity for those emotions.. Caleb didn't have the emotional capacity of a four year old, and it was a wonder to Drake, that a breakdown was yet to occur.. Panic attacks had been many; attempted murders barely a higher number than successes, and Caleb was just a little boy really.. And if Drake felt alone at times, he didn't ever wish to empathize fully, with Caleb. "I.. I shouldn't- I don't want to leave Julian again.."
Something dug into Drake's throat, and Drake had never really felt like it was bad before.. But then again, Caleb hadn't accepted Julian before, so any deceit had never seemed to be.. Real. "Mon Caleb.. I.. Need to tell you something."
Haha.. Sorry, yes, the opening of the book'll be in the next one.. Along with Drama :L
