Marcus hates the tea room. To him, it is the place where we found out that the Hun, an ancient evil was alive and well. For me, this room is where we found out that Rio was alive. It is also in this room that Marcus said he loved me out loud. So naturally, the tea room holds a certain comfort.
“We can’t just hide out here,” Ameana says.
“I know. I’m thinking,” Marcus replies.
“Thinking about what?” the Twins ask in unison. They have been doing that a lot more. It kind of creeps me out, but I guess after all they have been through, they feel a closeness none of us will ever know.
“I’m trying to figure a way out of this,” Marcus replies, clearly annoyed.
“We’ve looked for months Marcus,” Ameana insists.
“Yes, and we’ll keep looking,” he vows.
“The Akons aren’t going to stop until they get Emmy,” Miku says.
“So I should just kill her here and now?” Marcus snaps.
“Um…I’m gonna head to the kitchen. This sounds like team business,” I say, closing the door behind me. The Sage is waiting for me in the hallway. I guess he knew I would be there.
“Naturally,” he says out loud.
“That ‘reading minds’ thing, does it ever get old?”
“Not yet,” he replies.
Well, it’s getting old with me…
I make my way to the kitchen. Much like the rest of the apartment, the kitchen is spotless and cozy. From the tan checkered dish towels to the embroidered pot holders that say “Home.” There is a painting on the wall of a roaring fireplace with a sweet-natured old lady sitting beside it, sipping from a mug.
I go to make myself some tea but it’s already been made for me. The Sage had it sitting out waiting for me. It’s peppermint, my favorite. That’s what I always want to drink when I am at the Sage’s house, peppermint tea. It goes well with whatever revelations he’s going to share with us.
“There is no revelation this time, Emerson. If you live, many will die,” he said, reading my thoughts once again.
“Don’t you ever get tired of being inside my head?”
“No, you are very entertaining.”
“I do what I can.”
He invites me to sit down at the table. I take a seat as he studies me.
“You are managing well for a girl whose love is supposed to kill her,” he says.
“Um…thanks?”
“Marcus has wanted to ask you a question for weeks now.”
“Whatever it is, he’ll tell me when he’s ready.”
“Marcus isn’t ready for anything. He’s in love. He’s lost.”
“Is that what it means to be in love?”
“At this moment, yes.”
“He wants to find a way to save me, that’s what Angels do.”
“He’s a Guardian. He has a mission.”
“I tried to tell him but he won’t listen to me.”
“You don’t know what’s at stake, Emerson. You will bring about the end of everything.”
“It’s not my fault. The Council did that.”
“They hid the map and gave the clue as to its location. Their job is done.”
“This isn’t fair.”
“You have been with the Guardians for nearly a year. You know all their Cores, yet you still believe the universe deals in “fairness?”
“I’m not a fan of dying, okay? But if I have to, why does it have to be Marcus that does it?”
“It doesn’t have to be. It could be Lucy.”
“Those are my only choices?”
“You know very well it is. That is what you have been trying to convince Marcus of for all this time.”
“Yeah and you can see how well that’s working.”
“He would die for you.”
“I know.”
“But it is not his life he is risking. It is the humans.”
“What am I supposed to do?”
“Help him see what he’s unwilling to look at.”
He shouldn’t have to make this decision. We should be in school, taking exams, cutting class, kissing in the hallways…
“From what I understand, the two of you have found time to get the kissing part in,” he says.
Can I have one thought to myself, please?
“Apologies,” he says.
I lean forward in my chair, close my eyes, and rub my temple.
“The mailman dropped off a package. I believe it’s a Phin,” someone says.
I open my eyes and find the old lady who hardly ever speaks standing at the door way. She leaves the kitchen before I can ask any questions. I turn my attention to the Sage.
“What does that mean?”
“It means we have a visitor.”