Chapter 13

Signs of Affection

Heatherfield

Sometimes, Will could tell exactly what type of day it was going to be just from the first few minutes of it. Sometimes it was the feel of the air, or the way she rolled out of bed that let her know whether the day was going to be good, or bad. Other times, it was less subtle. Sometimes, like today, it was as loud and as obvious as a ringing phone.

"Hello?" Will said, answering her phone, only half awake.

"Harding Park, twenty minutes." Matt's voice said from the other end of the line.

Will wasn't sure how to respond to that, but it didn't matter because Matt had already hung up. Will put down the phone with a sigh. She knew exactly why Matt wanted to meet. She had figured it out just minutes after returning home from Balsilide the previous night. But this knowledge did little to comfort her as she got dressed and exited her room.

Balsilide

Balken had done a lot of things as leader of the R.E.G, but tucking a young girl into bed was a first. Selna, the girl in question, played her part by looking up at Balken with big black eyes, and a stern look on her face.

"But how can you be sure?" she asked, maintaining the look.

"The Shadow Walker will not hurt you." Balken said. "He was after the Heart, not you. Since you no longer have the Heart, there is no reason for him to come after you."

The look on Selna's face was unchanging, making it clear that she was not satisfied by that result. With a sigh, Balken tucked in the last sheet and stood up.

"There will be two of the finest guards outside your door for the length of the night. Two more will be positioned at both entrances of this hallway, and the castle as a whole is the most well protected building in the city. And, you are safe because it is my job to protect you, and I take my job very seriously."

"Yeah, you do, don't you?" Selna said with a smile, settling comfortably in her bed. "Hey Balken?"

"Yes, little one?"

"Thanks. You know, for keeping me safe from the Shadow Walker and the Guardians."

"You are very welcome."

Even the normally stoic Balken could not help but return the little girl's smile. He left the room, silently closing the door behind him, and found himself face to face with Rikar, the President of Balsilide.

"Good evening Mr. President." Balken said, saluting his leader.

"Good evening Balken," Rikar replied. "I trust everything is going according to plan with our little friend here?"

"Yes sir, she's quite comfortable. Quite thankful too." Balken replied.

"Excellent." Rikar replied with a smile. "A story like hers will play very well with the voters, especially the part where we saved her from certain death. Make sure she is still around and willing to tell it! At least until election time. Then do with her what you will."

Balken felt his neck twitch, but quickly repressed the reflex. Whether or not he agreed with Rikar was not important. Rikar was his President, and he was under oath to serve his President no matter what.

Balken was about to excuse himself when he noticed something out of the corner of his eye. In the fading sunlight, Balken could make out a pillar of red smoke, billowing up from the castle courtyard. Smoke was commonly used by the R.E.G when a message was needed to be sent quickly. White smoke was a medical emergency, black smoke was an armed intruder, and red smoke…

"I've never seen red smoke before." Rikar said, looking down at the courtyard. "What does it mean?"

"Sir, I need you to go back to your room." Balken said, drawing his sword. "Don't come out until a member of the R.E.G tells you it's clear."

Balken didn't wait to hear Rikar's protests. His mind was too focused on the fight awaiting him.

Heatherfield

"So, I was tied to the sun?"

Eric and Hay Lin sat across from each other at one of the Silver Dragons many empty tables. The restaurant didn't officially open for another hour, but Hay Lin always managed to get a table beforehand. One of the perks of a restaurant owned by your parents. Eric sat with a quizzical look on his face, trying to absorb the information being presented to him.

"Not the sun, just a sun. A fake one." Hay Lin explained.

"Is that why I had a sunburn in October?" Eric asked. "My dad was really confused about that."

"Yeah, sorry about that." Hay Lin said. "But hey, it's better then being the mind slave of some sorcerer for, like, eternity."

"Exactly, so I should be thanking you." Eric said, sipping his tea as if this was the most natural conversation in the world. "And Matt knows about this too?"

"Yep. He figured it out on accident. That was a fun day." Hay Lin replied.

"And that Caleb guy you were talking about the other day? He's Cornelia's boyfriend?" Eric asked.

"Uh huh." Hay Lin said, and then thought about it. "At least I hope…"

"What does that mean?"

"Well, there was this thing, and they haven't talked much since…" Hay Lin noticed the confused look on Eric's face. "Oh, it's complicated. I'll explain it later."

"Yeah, I guess this is enough for one day." Eric said, checking his watch. "But I want to learn everything about these other worlds!"

"You're taking all this pretty well." Hay Lin said with a smile. "You don't even seem worried about my bruises."

Eric just narrowly avoided doing a spit take with his tea.

"You have bruises?" he yelled, causing the kitchen staff to glance his way suspiciously. "Why do you have bruises? How did you get bruises?"

Hay Lin mentally cursed herself. She had gotten two small bruises on her neck from where the Shadow Walker had grabbed her. With reluctance, she tilted her head back so Eric could get a closer look. Out of the bottom of her vision, she could see the expected fear in Eric's eyes, but she also saw something else too.

"What happened?" Eric asked, wide eyed.

Hay Lin dutifully told Eric of the events that took place on Balsilide. As she did so, she realized that what she saw in his eyes was excitement. He was genuinely interested in her story and her second life.

"You're really okay with this?" Hay Lin said once she was done. "You're fine with the things I do?"

"Hay Lin, you risk your life everyday fighting monsters, and who knows what else, just to keep the world save." Eric said solemnly. "I wouldn't be much of a friend… if I didn't think that was the coolest thing ever!"

"Really?" Hay Lin said with a smile.

"Of course!" Eric replied. "It's like right out of a comic book, or a cartoon!"

Hay Lin didn't say anything. She didn't need too. She could just sit back, and enjoy one of the happiest moments of her life.

Balsilide

The Shadow Walker wasn't interested in strategy this night. He wasn't interested in subtlety, secrecy or subterfuge. The Heart that it needed so badly was inside this castle, and it would retrieve that Heart, even if he had to tear down every brick to do so.

The R.E.G, to their credit, were quick to respond. Only seconds after the Shadow Walker burst through the front gate, he found himself face to face with the Elite Guard. Also standing beside Balken was Orube, there at the behalf of the Guardians. And the R.E.G was not only quick, it was prepared.

With a signal from Balken, a net was released from the rafters, landing squarely on top of the Shadow Walker. The net had been magically treated by Grimm, and was inescapable, even for someone as elusive as the Shadow Walker. As soon as this was discovered, however, and before the R.E.G could move in, the Shadow Walker slipped through the floorboards, heading downstairs.

The R.E.G had anticipated this, and Laris and Syln were waiting and ready. Using glow stones mined from the Mountain of Nether, they lit up the hallway with pure light. The two R.E.G members wore darkened glasses, but the Shadow Walker did not. The light burned the creature's eyes, causing him to collapse to the ground. Trying desperately to push through the pain, the Shadow Walker panicked, extending portions of himself at incredible speeds in all directions. The hallway collapsed, destroying the glow stone, and only the quick reflexes and remarkable strength of Laris saved them both from being crushed. She supported the weight of the rubble on her back, covering Syln while the Shadow Walker phased through, continuing down the hallway.

Heatherfield

Will knew trouble when she saw it, and now she was looking it square in the face. Sure, she thought it was a gorgeous, handsome face, but the look in Matt's eyes told Will everything she needed to know. Her heart sank and she tried desperately to calm herself before approaching her boyfriend.

"So, did you have an interesting night last night?" Matt asked.

"Uh, well, it had its moments." Will said, trying to sound casual.

"That's nice." Matt said in a sickly sweet tone. "I wouldn't know, because once again you're off fighting the deadliest creature in the universe, and I'm sitting at home completely oblivious!"

"Matt, I know you're upset…"

"Really, what was your first clue?" Matt yelled.

Will jumped at the sharpness in Matt's voice. There was no playing her way out of this one. Matt truly was angry, and she was worried.

"What is it Will?" Matt continued. "Why is it that every time you have an adventure, I have to hear about it the next morning from Cornelia?"

"Matt, I just forgot, I swear!" Will said. "Between the girls, Balsilide, Meridian, school, I have so many things to think about that calling you just slipped my mind. Honest!"

"And I'm supposed to believe that?" Matt replied.

"Don't you trust me?" Will said.

Matt tightened his jaw and fixed Will with a stare that seemed to eat into her soul.

"Look me in the eyes and tell me you just forgot." Matt said coldly.

Will was confident she just forgot. She was confident that there was nothing else to it, and that she did want Matt on her missions. She was confident, but she couldn't be sure. With pain and regret she looked away.

"You don't respect me, Will." Matt said. "Not as a partner, not as a teammate, and certainly not as a boyfriend! I spent all last night terrified because I didn't know where you were, what you were doing or if you were alright! I can't just be the guy you run back to after everything's okay. I can't take it anymore. I need to be part of your life!"

"Matt, your know you're more important to me then anything else…"

"No, Will, I don't know that, not anymore. Now I just feel as if I'm something to use whenever you feel like it."

Will shriveled under Matt's words. She didn't know what to do or what to say. She could feel her world changing around her, and she didn't know how to stop it.

"Matt, I swear to you, next time, I'll try…"

"There is no try Will, not this time. I'm either in your life…"

Matt slammed his hands into his pockets and began walking away.

"…Or I'm out of it."

Will could do nothing but watch Matt walk away, with the summer sun suddenly not feeling quite so warm.

Balsilide

The Shadow Walker was nothing if not diligent. Ever since he had lost control of the Heart, he had tracked its every move. He knew exactly who had moved it, and most importantly where. He also knew the R.E.G and Orube were already recovering from their earlier attempt to stop him, and would soon be right behind him.

He took a quick look at the last obstacle in front of him. A wall of stone was all that stood between him and the Heart of Balsilide. With a deep breath, the Shadow Walker stepped forward, through the wall, disappearing from view.