Life Lines

33: The Ew Moment

Chapter Thirty-Three

Cecil was sitting at my desk when I finally let myself look at him. I was sitting on my bed, a little upset with myself for doing what I just did. I'd traded my biggest secret for keeping him oblivious to my feelings.

What was wrong with me? Seriously?

There was only one blue/gold line in the room and it lead from where he sat on the bench to where I was sitting on the bed. There was no double, nothing to indicate what would happen once he got over here. But there was something about the streak; it was like I could read it. Each movement it made, every flicker of color, I knew what it all meant. I could even see how the conversation would play out after his moment of silence. It was more intense than the time in the doctor's office. When I'd spouted all of that information off, I didn't really know where it came from. My mouth and voice box just moved in junction with the other.

"That's not all."

I sighed and looked at him. "Ce..." I would change the direction of this conversation. "Isn't that enough?"

He looked up at me, the lines on his face shifting and curling at the ends. His double popped in, looking angry and sad. It was the image of himself he didn't want to reveal to the world. Basically, it was a betrayal of his inner thoughts.

"There weren't supposed to be humans at that party. You weren't supposed to be there for a reason."

"And what was that reason, Ce? Because you wanted to make out with some no-name girl?"

He shook his head. "No. The party was a...meeting of sorts. It's where new Elite meet the other Elite..."

"That doesn't..."

"It's where the hermai meet the Assarions, Janus's Elite. That's what they call themselves. Things got a little crazier and rougher that night than normal. But when it was over, there was no report of a human being there..."

"Well, guess what? I was there. Go back to the house if you want. Watch it unfold for yourself if..."

"I believe you. That's not something someone lies about. Tensions ran high until a fight broke out. There were so many injuries that I don't remember anyone saying anything about being cracked over the head. You'll find that having the two sides in one room together, things never go well. They either end up with love or hate..."

I narrowed my eyes at him. "Love?"

"The guy...you said he was Elite so I'm assuming his lines were colored...that means he's on our side...I can track down who he is and then—" the chuckle he let out was far from amused. It ranged closer to chilly and angry. "—he'll wish Schy had killed him..."

"Ce! Stop. Leave it alone. I didn't tell you so you can track the guy down. You wanted to understand so I told you..."

But I was losing him. The double's eyes were swishing back and forth across the carpet so fast I thought they were free tumbling marbles. Cecil was just staring at the wall, thinking.

"I thought it might've been the other side but if his lines were colored in, then yes, definitely our side. The other's had their lines masked that night..."

"Masked?"

He glanced at me. "Yes. The Assarions can make their lines appear black. It's so they can resemble the general population. They say it helps them protect better but I think it's a crock of bull. Then again they appear more god like then we do so it might be true."

"God like?"

He nodded. "Their true form, the double you'll see, will have sharper, inhuman features. It's how you tell us apart using our doubles. You've noticed them, I assume? Since you mentioned it. Jesse said you..."