Cyrus Solaris
The dinner was awkward, and the tension hung thick in the air.
I was happy when it ended.
After our last plates were finished, I was eager to leave, wanting to be anywhere else but at this table.
Cendra pleaded for me to stay just a little longer. Said she wanted to be fashionably late and make a grand entrance.
Sora rolled her eyes with a slight smile at Cendra's comment, then got up and left with Bogdan.
"That's an interesting couple, don't you think, Cyrus?" Cendra said, sipping on the juice in her cup.
I paused and thought about it, "I guess, I wouldn't be surprised if it was for ulterior motives."
"Eh, I doubt it. Bogdan is of the Zmei clan. If they see anything of value, they will do anything to secure it."
"I wasn't talking about him."
"Oh, you think Sora is using him?" I nodded.
"Tell me, Cyrus, why do you think that?"
"It's the way she leads,"
"Which is?"
"She sees people like pieces of a board game, just waiting to be manipulated."
Cendra squinted at the ceiling, thinking hard before she responded, "That's natural for an heir of a great family; it might not be right, but we often see things in ways that the lay people don't"
I gritted my teeth. My family never manipulated its people.
"But one day, I hope to change that when it's my time to rule. That's what my rebirth will be." Cendra said, staring at the chandelier above.
I could feel the corners of my mouth tug, and she noticed. "What? Did I say something weird?"
"No, it's just good to know, you all aren't bad," I said, noticing her cheeks turn a little red.
"Well, to be honest, that's why I asked you to the dance. The Pyrralis and the Bennu are not on good terms, and I wanted to start mending that at least a little. Maybe we can build something new in the future."
Looking into her eyes, I felt warmth; she reminded me so much of my mother: her upbeat attitude, her quirky smile, and her warm presence.
"Yeah, maybe we can."
"Good, well, I think it's time we made our appearance." She grabbed my hand and dragged me to the gymnasium where the dance was held.
At the entrance were two professors: one from House Obalex, and the other I knew all too well… Professor Rhandall.
"Name, please," Professor Rhondall asked, a sinister smirk growing across his face.
"Cendra Pyrralis and Cyrus Bennu," Cendra said, jittering with excitement. The professor from House Obalex performed a couple of swipes on her tablet before looking back up at us.
"All clear, you may enter," before the teacher could even finish her sentence, Cendra already stepped through the entrance way, gesturing for me to follow.
"Looks like you got your hands full," Professor Rhandall said, tapping me on the back of my shoulder.
I stepped through the entrance and caught up with Cendra. She looked at me, "You ready?"
"For the dance? I guess."
"No, ya goof, our entrance," she said, her astral tattoo on her back glowing orange. Flames ignited, encasing her dress and transforming it into black feathers.
All the attention was on us.
Then the flames transferred to me, and feathers manifested on me, too.
"I told you we were gonna steal the show."
Feathers covered my body. I froze, then I felt it—a strange energy, alive beneath my skin.
"Let's dance," she said, pulling me towards the center of the gymnasium.
She took one hand and placed her fingers in the grooves of mine, and placed the other on my shoulder.
"Come on, grab my hip, you do know how to do this dance, don't you?"
A faint chuckle left my lips, "Yes… of course."
I observed everyone on the dance floor and tried to mimic their movements, but I kept misstepping and scuffing Cendra's toes a few times.
I felt awkward and out of place. This must have been a new dance that trended into popularity.
I knew being on the run for two years would have its downfalls, but I didn't think it would affect me in something so mundane as a dance.
"Cyrus," Cendra asked, swiftly moving her foot out of the path of mine.
"Yes?"
"What do you do in your free time? Clearly, you don't pay attention to the trends online."
'It's that obvious?"
"Yes, I have seen amputees with better moves," she said, grimacing as I stubbed her toes again.
"I train and use my telescope, mapping out stars my mom used to point out to me when I was young."
"Oh, that's it," she said, her eyes drifting elsewhere.
"Well, yeah, is that a bad thing?"
"No, it's just I expected something different."
"What did you expect?"
"Something that would ignite a flame inside me," she said, unclasping her hand from mine.
Until now, I didn't understand just how far behind I was in the little things kids my age indulged in.
I didn't know much about pop culture; I didn't make time for hobbies. All I was focused on was surviving and gaining power.
She wouldn't get it.
"I'm thirsty, I think I'm gonna get some lemonade," I said, walking past Cendra.
Standing alone at the lemonade table, students began to laugh and point at me. I didn't understand what was so funny until I saw Cendra dancing with someone else. My stomach dropped.
I felt stupid.
Why would a pretty girl like her actually be interested in me? I should have known it wasn't real.
I wilted and poured myself another glass of lemonade.
"Ouch, that must suck," a stern voice said, while I gulped down my drink.
Turning to my right, I saw Mira, standing in a red dress with combat boots.
"I don't want to talk about it," I said, pouring more juice into my cup.
"The screwhead doesn't want to admit he got dumped as soon as the dance started."
"Mira."
"Come on, this is what you get for turning down my offer."
"I had no intentions of going with someone who would just leave me hanging."
"Are you still stuck on that?"
The cup in my hand crumpled.
"Look how that turned out for you. Still got left hanging by the pretty princess."
I rolled my eyes. "I'm gonna get some air,"
"Yeah, and I thought my house's welding room was hot. I'll come with you," Mira said, throwing an ice cube in her mouth.
"I would like to go alone, please," I said, walking over to the back exit of the gym.
When I got outside, the cool contrast felt good against my skin, calming me down from my embarrassment. But something caught my attention.
It was the kid I took to the medbay not long ago.
He was facing the wall, swaying, with his head hanging down.