Grendilton: Rise of the Shadows

30 | Chapter Thirty

Her answer was silence before Connor let off a low sigh then said, "okay, sure."

_______

Stormvein was incredibly empty for this time of the morning. The odd bakery was open yet only had either one or two students situated inside. All across the streets, there were flags and posters of the upcoming sun solstice party which Shaz couldn't help but hope Macey wakes up just in time for.

They stopped at the coffee shop, the one her and Macey always came to, with Connor opening the door for Shaz. The smell of roasting coffee beans hit her like a train who then retreated towards the window, watching Connor slump into his seat like a bag of potatoes that didn't want to be there.

Since day one, she had seen Connor Heslington as this arrogant prick who was way too up himself. Although he was handsome and rich, she herself never found him attractive nor did she think he was worth the time of day. When she found out that he may have been a reason Macey was about to get expelled, she wanted to send a metal spike through his ribs.

But seated in front of him, watching him order for the both of them and also paying, Shaz could see shards of Macey within him. She could see a person who was deeply mistaken for something else.

"Thanks, Connor," said Shaz, shooting a smile towards him. "I'm glad you said yes to this. I couldn't stand to be in the infirmary any longer and seeing Mace..."

The mere mentions of her created a sullen look on his face before he asked, "so how long have you known Macey for?"

His dark brown eyes swirled with curiosity, making Shaz pressed her brow and her lip twitch in small bursts of excitement.

"I lost count at ten years," she laughed, watching the waiter lower down two cups of coffee before taking a sip at her own. "we met when we were very young. She moved from some unknown place she never told me and instantly become my hero. Mace would tell my bullies to leave me alone or she'll blast them with her lunar energy. One boy tested her and she made him float off into the sky which got her into some major trouble."

Connor almost spat out his coffee and laughed. "So she's been a headache forever then."

She nodded with his statement, realising that him calling her best friend a headache was not only fitting for her but soothing for Connor. But when she thought about the other side of Macey, the one who wasn't so goofy and not so brave made her wince in sadness.

"That's only one half of her," sighed Shaz, mixing her coffee with a conjured piece of metal that jutted from the palm of her hand. A hard gulp rumbled from her throat. She looked at Connor, who stopped laughing abruptly, considering whether or not she should tell him the side of Macey only Shaz has seen. But his eyes bored into her and she couldn't help but say, "our mace is one complicated mage."

She peered down at her cup, reminiscing on the days when Macey would be cheerful one moment and gloom the next, saying, "Mace hasn't had the easiest upbringing — being the reincarnation of the benevolent moon mage and everything. She never truly knew who she was. When we were kids, adults use to put so much pressure into her to become this hero that..."

Shaz bit her inner lip, remembering that day like it was only yesterday. The two of them were playing on the swing and an adult grabbed at Macey. He yelled at her to overthrow the Heslingtons and to get rid of the darkness they somehow created. Shaz felt so scared then, shaking like a leaf and not being able to do anything about it. She could remember the adults that saved her smelling like a stale cigarette and the traumatic state Macey was left in — uncontrollable shaking, heavy breathing and constant muttering that she could never hear.