The Lost Sciell

Still, seven Bria controlling beings living in one house made the humans uncomfortable.  Every day this week, Sovereign leaders dragged him into a pointless meetings demanding he throw Aliceanna, Blae and Nee. Had it only bee five days since they all arrived? Felt like an eternity.

The door opened. Bel tried not to groan as Divine walked in.

“Between you, Blae, Nee and Aliceanna, I never have a moment to myself,” Bel said.

Divines smirked. “I don’t get a time on my own, why should you?”

He was fond of Divine, he really was. He couldn’t remember why at the moment.

Despite the glare Bel was giving him, Divine took the seat across from the desk.

“I’ve been meaning to ask you, how does this village have indoor plumbing?”

Bel wanted to drop his head in his hands. That would be admitting to defeat.

“Is there some reason you ask me this now?”

Divine folded his arms. “I’ve wanted to know for a while, kept forgetting. Might as well ask now while it’s on my mind.”

Bel could ignore him, should ignore him. He tried that before. Divine would sit in the chair staring until Bel got so annoyed he answered Divine’s questions just to get him to leave.

“In-door plumbing is not my area. I only make sure the water stays warm. As you know, the villagers didn’t build this town from the ground up. Sovereign already existence. The new residence took it over and improved it.  The basis for a waste and water system already existed. Most new villages, though, don’t worry about indoor plumbing figuring they can pee in the woods and wash in the lake.

“The group who started Heart’s Leaves gathered people of useful professions. Two people had intimate knowledge of human waste system. The only reason we have running water is because each house has a water tank in each bathroom or in the attic, which has to be filled regularly. Someone from Heart’s Leaves rented out their expertise to help Silhouette install their water system. Heart’s Leaves gets most of their resources by training others in different professions.”

Divine must be thoroughly impressed for Bel to be able to read it in his face. Bel too was impressed with how efficient and well prepared these humans were.

His house rumbled again. Damn the Darkness. He installed a gym in the basement so they wouldn’t destroy his house.

The door opened. Blae walked in. Bel would not hang his head. He could not show weakness.

“Some human is here asking if you have the contracts.”

A groan slipped out of Bel. Why now? Humans required Lifeblood beings, non-normals, to sign a contract dictating what they could and couldn’t do—mostly what they couldn’t do. That piece of paper made humans feel protected. Aliceanna and Nee saw no benefit in signing the contract. They refused no matter how many ways Bel asked, demanded, them.

“Have you signed yours?” he asked Blae.

Blae shrugged. “Why bother. Aliceanna and Nee  aren’t going to.”

Bel slammed the parchment on the desk. “Divine did. Without question.”

Blae glanced at Divine. 

Blae signed the contract. If only Aliceanna and Royal were that easy to deal with. If Divine asked them to sing, they would do it after much complaining. Divine refused to ask.

Mauve bounced in the room and slammed the door behind her, shaking books off the shelf. She was worse than Aliceanna. When only himself and Kaige lived here, Mauve was subdued. She never laughed. Her eyes were either dead or angry. She acted far beyond her years.

Now, she played tricks with Blae and Aliceanna. She poked fun at Nee and Divine. Living with Kaige for a nearly year led her to believe, she could pounce on him whenever they were in the same room. Kaige never told her off. Bel forgotten Mauve was the youngest here.

“We need to have a serious conversation about the Brielle. They can’t find us here. However, they’ll never give up.”

He now despised her serious voice. Bel didn’t have time to think about that. Mauve always chose the worst possible moment to remind him her kin were still after Divine, Nee, Aliceanna and Blae.

“Get out now. I need to think,” Bel demanded.

Divine and Blae turned to leave without argument. Mauve raced past them smacking Blae in the back of his head. Howling, Blae chased after her. They’d been here only five days. Why did it feel like five years?

Divine was afraid though he tried to keep it out of his aura. He never brought it up. The moron was trying to solve it on his own. Bel needed to talk to Kaige. That poison that caused Nee’s power to attack her; that forced Aliceanna to assault Blae was still in Divine. If they didn’t do anything. His power would attack him…or force Divine to attack his family.