29
My hand never left Kandomere's but his eyes roamed all over. He was calm and collective as he observed people almost with little to no interest. But maybe that was because everyone noticed him quickly. His nice business suit, his pointed ears and white eyes. The music continued to play all around us as he followed behind me. I passed different rooms where I could hear gentle duets of love being sang between newly formed mates.
"They can have the world… we'll create our own."
"Anywhere you go let me go too. Love me that's all I ask of you."
Other rooms were filled with wild dancing and grinding of hips to bottoms and crotches to crotches as the older elves were lost in the heat and heart of the music playing.
"You coulda had a bad bitch!"
The living room was filled with sirens who laughed and talked. As we passed doorways, sirens stuck their heads out to look at us as we passed. I didn't care about any of that though. I only wanted to see my siblings. A maid approached us, offering us a tray of wine. We politely denied her and kept on.
"Everyone seems genuinely happy to be around each other." Kandomere spoke. I glanced back at him and smiled.
"Are elves not genuinely happy to see their family members?" I teased. Kandomere's face remained relaxed.
"Not always." he replied. Now I began to think about his family. Were they ever proud of their eldest son? We reached the back yard which was a large field. Off in the distance I could see the gates that separated us from the other creatures of the forest. There were torches lit and friends and family sat on the ground and conversed. In the middle of it all was a round firepit with ancient siren text around it. Kandomere motioned his head toward it as my mother was moving over toward it with a golden jar.
"What is that?" he asked. I leaned in to him.
"That is the Pit of the Fallen. It has been in that spot for hundreds of years. A special oil is placed inside, oil that contains magic in it, and when lit, its blue color flares bright. It's supposed to hold the essence of our ancestors. Sirens take turns singing to it to see if they are the ones." I replied. Kandomere looked enticed by the sight of my mother pouring the oil inside and as she did, a swirl of blue glided into the air and settling at a low heat.
"The one?" he asked. I nodded.
"The siren who can sing the songs of the fallen." I replied looking at him before catching sight of my siblings laughing with some of their friends. Before his curiosity could get the best of him, I guided Kandomere over toward them and as we grew closer they all saw us. Some of the sirens glared and groaned at the sight of us. Their friends deserted them. I noticed Marco was not with them. I cleared my throat and looked at everyone. Percival wore all black, his mask below his neck with his chain tight around his throat. Arliss was in blue cut offs with white and green paint on his face and body. Paz also had his face painted of a roaring lion with red cut offs and a white t-shirt and Venus a beaded halter top and long beaded skirt only over her crotch and bottom.
"Everyone you remember Kandomere from the hospital?" I asked. Kandomere nodded at them respectfully. "These are Percival, Arliss, Paz an Venus."
"Nice to meet you all again." he said. They all looked him over.
"So you're sticking with him then." Venus said and I gave her a look.
"I am." I replied.
Percival moved closer to him looking Kandomere over, challenging him with his eyes.
"You know everyone's going to sit on the grass, right? Do elves do that? Can they sit on the dirty floor of nature?" he asked. Kandomere's face hardened up more. I watched knowing he wasn't used to anyone talking over him or even trying to intimidate him. He raised his head some.
"It's not a problem." he said dryly. Percival rolled his shoulder some as if itching for a fight.
"Aren't you worried about what people will say?" Arliss asked genuinely worried. I looked at him.
"What's the point of living if all you care about is what others will think of you?" I asked. Another flash of black landed behind Paz and I watched at Marco moved between everyone to stand in front of Kandomere now.
"Elves wouldn't understand that though. They care about their looks, their titles, the way they… dress," he said looking Kandomere over with disgust, "You don't know our struggle, your elf privilege won't allow it." Kandomere frowned more and I slid between the two now.
"Enough." I said firmly. I can see it in Marco's eyes he's angry. All the years of murder we have had to endure because of the elves were too much for him, for all of them.
"How can you bring him here?" he asked looking down at me. His tone was hurt but his eyes were hard. I glanced over his shoulder to see my father staring and watching us with a few of the older sirens. He was observing but not stepping in. My siblings and I were all different, our personalities our own. I chose to live on my own, against my father's wishes and I thrived. I chose to room with an orc against my mother's wishes and now she loves Nick. I shook my head.
"Because he is mine. I heard his heart through his music. That is our way. Maybe the gods were tired of us being angry and bitter all the time and decided it was enough." I replied. Venus gasped.
"How dare you presume to know the hearts of the gods." she said. Before I could say anything, I felt Kandomere shifting in front of me and I looked up at him noticing the look of determination as he looked at Marco.
"You're upset. You all are, so why don't you stop complaining and do something about it." he said icily. My chest tightened at the sudden challenge in his tone and I looked at him stunned at him. Marco and my siblings frowned heavily and Kandomere nodded. "How about we have ourselves a little duel? You all like to spar right and show off your abilities? How about you and I show each other what we're made of. Just me and you." I was completely thrown off by this proposal.
Marco tilted his head. He was definitely interested.
"And what if I chose to just destroy you with my scream. It would hardly be fight." he said. Kandomere raised his head some.
"You won't use your voice." he said. Marco got in his face now, a heavy frown growing on his features.
"And what makes you so sure?" he asked. Kandomere's eyes hardened up.
"Because you have honor and don't want to be robbed of a fight. And Odette would hate you forever." he said. Marco's eyes flashed with anger as he contemplated his words. But he began to nod which made me even more fearful.
"Let's do it." he said. Already, Venus and the others were moving inside and commanding for the table of weapons to be brought out. Mother and Father remained seated as they watched what was going to happen. Kandomere and Marco turned with mild speed and I followed Kandomere as he began to slide off his jacket.
"Are you crazy?" I asked harshly. "Kandomere don't do this."
"I have to." he said folding his jacket and placing it in my hand and I shook my head.
"You don't have to do anything. Guests are never expected to lift a finger at a cook out." I said. His eyes whipped to me as he began to uncuff his cufflinks.
"But I am not a guest here! They look at me and see a monster. And I don't blame them. I WANT to prove to your family that I am worthy- maybe not worthy of their respect or acceptance, but worthy of you." I shook my head noticing many sirens leaving the house and moving to sit around in a large circle.
"You've always been worthy of me." I said watching as he slid off his white collared shirt and removed two curved knives from the straps on his back. I knew Kandomere was good and I knew Marco was good. But I didn't want this.
"I need them to know that too." he said rolling his shoulders and moving to face my brother. I just stood there holding his clothes close to my chest. His scent was enticing in the threads and this made me even more afraid. Marco was facing my parents who nodded at him and slowly he turned around, pulling his mask up and over his mouth to the bridge of his nose. The chains secure around his neck. Numerous sirens began to gently chant lowly as drums were starting to bang in a low rhythm. Chu Chu Chu Chu. It was low and steady with the beating of the drum.
I didn't even notice other sirens were standing around me now. Kandomere stood across from my brother crouching slowly, his knives out. Marco remained straight, eyes cold and dark. He raised his hands upward a bit holding out his knives. Now it was all about who wanted it more? I had never fully seen Kandomere do this, and I didn't know what would happen. I had never seen the back yard so full of sirens. I guess this was a special occasion for them. Maybe it's something they've all been waiting for, an elf versus a siren.