Life Lines

27: Are We There Yet?

I turned around and looked at Logios. "Then where are we?"

"The projection room. All new Elite are brought here so they are in familiar surroundings when the information I'm about to give you is delivered."

"I don't want to know. Whatever it is, don't tell me."

"That's not true. Everyone in this room is well aware of your desire to know why exactly Cyrus was taken from you. Now is that time."

I briefly looked over at Cecil and then back at Logios.

"I changed my mind. I don't care."

"Tally, be reasonable."

"No. I will not be reasonable. You people kidnap me and then try to bribe me with information. Well, guess what. It's not going to work. I don't want to hear anything you have to say. I don't care why you died and then miraculously came back to life. I don't care why you ignored me and pretended I didn't exist for three years. I DON'T CARE!"

"Liar."

The voice came from behind me and it was familiar. Kells. He stepped up next to me and I turned to look at him. He looked exactly the same, only this time dressed more formally in a high collared white shirt, black dress jacket, and black slacks.

"Hello, sweetie."

He pulled me into a hug and I stood there awkwardly, not really sure how to react. I'd only met him once but he acted like we'd known each other for years. So very creepy. He pulled away and looked me over.

"Fetching outfit. But I'm used to you hermai coming here in pjs. I like it better when you're older though. I was getting tired of seeing unicorns, Buzz Lightyear, and Pooh."

I glanced down and only then remembered I was in extremely short shorts and a skin tight cami, without a bra I might add. Not what I should be wearing in polite company. I quickly crossed my arms over my chest, trying to hide everything I could. Kells was completely ignorant to my discomfort and continued to look me over.

"So. How much did I miss?" He looked over at Logios after his inspection made me blush.

"Nothing. She's refusing to cooperate."

"Of course she is, Father. What did you expect?"

He popped a grape into his mouth and my eyes went wide. I knew that plate of grapes wasn't there a second ago. But now, there was miraculously one in his hand.

"Kells, you're not helping," Cecil said. "You're freaking her out even more."

"Cyrus is correct," Logios said. "I am aware you are acquainted with our newest addition but there is no reason for you to be here. This is Sally's job. Not yours."

The plate disappeared into thin air and I took a step back. The cold wood of the dance floor feeling completely real. This was crazy. I was crazy. I would have to be in order for this to be real...

"Well, Sally has given this one to me. Since I asked." Kells looked at me and smiled. "You're lucky. I don't normally take on one of my father's hermai. But I like you. You have a certain..."

"Who the hell are you people?" I blurted out in a rather unlady like fashion. "What have you turned me into?"

My mother was probably rolling in her grave over how horrible I was acting. Southern ladies never lose their calm. See, it just wasn't my father that gave me that firm backbone and tranquil demeanor. She reinforced it with manners and over various old wives tales.

Logios sighed. "Finally." He stepped forward, drawing me away from the magically producing grape boy. "That question is easily answered."

He stopped us in front of one of the Greek statues that sat between the windows. I glanced at it, remembering it was a marble sculpture of Hermes...