We talked, for what felt like hours, about things that hadn't mattered to me in a very long time. Ever since Brazell had informed the orphans of Yelena's death I had been drawn out. May had noticed it and the gap between us grew, it had been a relief when I was asked to help with the experiments. I would be allowed to grieve in private, while helping the man that had taken me in out of pure kindness.
I was careful not to say too much but I could tell that Ari knew something. My first estimation of him as a drunken guard that notices nothing was completely inaccurate. Instead he was strong; not intimidating, like he was going to bash my head in, but protective, like he was going to keep me safe. Mogkan had been completely different, fast and flighty, like he could leave me at any moment.
Gradually the sky grew lighter and the cook entered the kitchen. He was younger than I expected him to be, barely a man. However Ari looked unwilling to continue our conversation now that we weren't alone.
"Should we leave?"
"Yeah, Sammy doesn't like it when people cook without his permission. Everyone does anyway but it's best not to get caught." Ari replied in a whisper to low for the cook, Sammy, to hear.
"I hate to tell you this but he's here. Meaning, we have been caught." I said playfully matching his volume.
"I'm respected because of my position but there's no need to aggravate him."
We quickly said good morning and left. I thought that Ari would go to the guard barracks but he held my elbow and guided me through the confusing corridor. Despite the certainty that I would get lost without him, I still didn't want him to leave. His presence was comforting and he made me feel like a person for the first time since Yelena's death.
I remember the moment in vivid detail; Brazell announcing the news to the stunned group of orphans. Yelena had been helping Reyad with a project. An animal struck. He defended her but they both lost their lives. And then I was numb. The woman who raised me was gone because of some wild animal. The tears I had been holding in escaped my eyes causing Ari to stop and wipe them away.
'Don't worry, I'm taking you to the baths and I'll wait while you clean yourself up. And then we'll go to the medic."
"How do you know I need to see the medic?"
"I was one of the guards that brought you here from Brazell's. I recognised you hair." My hair was nothing more than a mattered ginger lump on the back of my necks at this point.
He knew; he had known all along but he hadn't tried to pressure me to talk. He reminded me of Yelena.
"Thank you."
We walked in silence to the baths but it was a comfortable silence. For the time being there was nothing more we needed to say, it was nice to just walk and listen to the sound of our breathing. It wasn't so different and it reminded me that in a way I was just like him. Of course I knew the thought was an illusion but it was so nice that I didn't want to ruin it with the truth.
When we reached the baths Ari waited outside while I walked in. The momentary discomfort from being alone was swiftly replaced by wonder when I got a good look at the room. There were taps everywhere and hundreds of bathtubs made of brass. There was steam in the air, which told me there was supply of hot water nearby.
Hesitantly I descended into a bath and began washing myself in an attempt to get rid of the layer of muck encasing my skin. My hair was close to impossible but I finally managed to untangle all the knots. When I was done I felt clean, in many ways. Clean of the lies that I no longer had to tell Ari, clean of the dirt that had been building up on me, for who knows how long and clean of my past which I can say is over.
Ari was waiting for me exactly where I left him, slumped against the corridor quietly humming to himself. His eyes widened when he saw me, most likely due to the fact that the clothes I had been wearing were too small and had shifted awkwardly once the perspiration on my skin had disappeared, leaving me looking both uncomfortable and stupid.
"Don't worry; they'll get you some clothes when we reach the medic. Just remind me to talk to ask Valek about redressing the..." He seemed to struggle with the last word, as if he didn't want to offend me. I filled him in, "orphans."
"Orphans," he repeated.
We kept walking through the confusing passage until we reached a room with a double door opening. Ari opened the door and I had to cover my eyes. The only detail that registered in my mind was the fact that everything was white. After a minute other things appeared such as rows of empty beds, a table and a woman in a white uniform. We entered the room and she walked over to us.
"Ari, what a surprise to see you here, and without Janco, this must be the first time you've ever been apart." She had the hint of a smile on her face, like a mother talking to her mischievous son. I wondered what kind of person Janco was; the medic seemed to think that he and Ari were friends. Maybe they were best friends but that still didn't tell me what his personality was like.
Then the medic turned her attention on to me. She thought for a moment before rushing me into bed and insisting that I didn't move a muscle. At first it was a normal check-up with the medic claiming that I had a serious case of malnutrition. She and Ari walked off to the far corner of the room and started talking in whispers. I saw the medic nod her head and then Ari left the room.
I made to get up and follow him but the medic rushed back over and forced me to stay in bed. When everything had calmed down I realised that I was exhausted. I needed to sleep but I was reluctant to. What if I didn't wake up and I was just having delusions in the numbness. Going back to the darkness wasn't what I was the most scared of anymore, what I was terrified of the most was the fact that Ari might not even be real. He was different from every other person I had met but he also reminded me of Yelena. When I couldn't put in off any longer I slipped into unconsciousness.
When I woke up I wasn't alone. Ari was back with three other men. He stepped forward and spoke to me slowly. "Carra, I would like you to meet the Commander of Ixia."
AN: Hi guys! Thank you so much for all the reviews. You are all EPIC. This chapter was really great to write and I hope you all enjoy it. I think that I've made a few mistakes in Carra's age but as soon as I figure it out I'm going to fix it up. If you have any questions about the story find a way to message me and I will answer them. The important thing is that I get plenty if feedback so that I can fix the things you don't like. I want you to enjoy reading this as much as I like writing it. So enjoy!