Inheritance

Part 2. Chapter 68: Dust

Pollyanna's eyes closed. She murmured, "I was ferocious, yes. The whole time I was thinking... That it would be nice to die, and the fact that I couldn't made me angry enough to focus."

Them was aghast that she should say such a thing. "I don't believe you. You're invincible—you can live forever and accomplish whatever it is you want to accomplish—and yet you just want to die? I won't even live past thirty, and yet you choose to waste the gift of an eternal life?"

Pollyanna, who had been lifting a slab of meat to her mouth with her fork, suddenly paused. She raised an eyebrow. "You'll die at thirty?"

Them was shocked at himself. He couldn't tell Taylor--the person he cared about most besides Pete--about the premonition from the Antler, but for some reason, he told Pollyanna. "I don't know why I told you that..."

Pollyanna's big eyes were wide and concentrated now. "Who told you that you would die at thirty?"

Them took a big swig of wine. "An Antler."

Pollyanna crossed her arms, looking to the side with a consternated frown. "Then it must be true."

Them felt a little dizzy from the wine he had been drinking; his speech was slurred. "Antlers are just fables; I was probably drunk when I saw this one. The premonition can't be true."

Pollyanna took a bite out of the slab of meat. "Believe me, if you saw an Antler, whatever destiny they gave you... Whatever premonition or curse, it is bound to come true. You're twenty-eight, right? That means you only have two more years to live. What will you do with that time?"

Them shrugged. "I guess I'm going to spend that time rotting away in this fortress?"

Pollyanna looked upon him with pity. "Is this the other reason why you like Taylor? Does she make you feel like you have lived a passionate life worth living?"

Them looked up at the ceiling. The wine was blissfully beginning to numb out the pain he was feeling. "Probably. At any rate, she quickens my waning pulse."

"Why did you tell me all this?" Pollyanna wondered.

Them picked at the remaining food on his plate. "I don't know. I thought you could use a friend, and friends tell each other personal things. Eory seems nice enough, but I don't know if he views you as a friend or a bodyguard. At any rate, it's better to have friends who don't want to sleep with you."

Pollyanna smiled at that. "You may have a point. But what about you? I think your friends want a little bit more than a platonic relationship with you."

Them was confused. "Maybe Taylor does, but Pete certainly doesn't, and neither do Eliita and Terran."

Pollyanna smirked. "You don't think Pete wants one with you?"

Them scratched his head. "What are you on about?"

"I don't know. He seems to like you quite a bit." Pollyanna hinted. "He abandoned life as a wisp so he could live with you, correct?"

Them wrinkled his nose. "Don't make jokes like that! It's true that he likes me, but I hardly think he wants to sleep with me."

"I don't know. The way he looks at you..." Pollyanna teased.

Them crossed his arms. "I don't think that's funny. Wisps are made of light and goodness--they don't have those kinds of feelings. Now, let's get back to you and me. Are we friends yet?"

Pollyanna smiled a forlorn smile. "I couldn't be your friend if I wanted to. I don't belong amongst people like you." Pollyanna scratched her chin, looking up at the ceiling. "But please, tell me what the Antler told Pete while you were fainted in the woods. You didn't tell us before."

Them linked his fingers under his chin. "Only if you say we're friends."

Pollyanna crossed her legs. "I don't know what you even want out of a friendship with me, but I suppose I could humor you if you tell me what happened with Pete and the Antler."

Them took another swig of wine. "He told me that the Antler said he and I would eventually become whole people." Them snorted. "Hasn't happened yet, and it only has two years left to happen. Now please, tell me what you mean when you say you don't belong amongst people like me."

Pollyanna's hands clenched and unclenched. Her tooth sunk into her bottom lip until it bled. "I mean that I was given a grand destiny to fulfill that nobody else can possibly can. That destiny will always isolate me from others. Why should I befriend you, for example, when you will die in two years and I will never die? You'll all be dust someday, but I will always be here."

Them was consumed by pent up fear and energy for a moment. The need to do something amazing before he died was returning without mercy. Them forced a smile. "You don't mince words, do you?

Pollyanna shook her head. "I don't. But you know what? I'll be your friend for that short amount of time if it means that much to you. I think you know that being my friend is dangerous, don't you? I just tried to kill you."

The memory of her strong hands wrapped immovably around his neck only moments ago made him shiver, but he was not deterred. Them shrugged. "You're an interesting woman to know. I want to know more interesting people before I die. Besides, having you as a friend might have its perks. You can protect me from the doppelgangers, for example."

Pollyanna grinned. "Who said that was apart of a deal with a friendship with me? I don't even do that for Eory anymore."

Them smiled at that. Even though Pollyanna had done unspeakable things, somehow, he was happy for her that she no longer felt obligated to protect Eory.

"So... How long are you going to play hard to get with Eory? You know, he was nearly killed earlier—he got dragged off by the human, Ashaya, because you weren't around to protect him."

"I saw." Pollyanna replied without inflection. "I've had enough of him lately. If you and Terran want to protect him, be my guest."

Them laughed at that. He winked. "I suppose I can do that. There's no reason why I can't be a turncoat and be a friend to you both, is there?"

Pollyanna grunted with amusement. "I suppose."

A thoughtful frown overcame Pollyanna's face as she looked over Them's shoulder. "I think your wisp friend might be hiding something. Perhaps you should ask him if there's something more he's not telling you about his encounter with the Antler. You should probably go find him. He left some time ago."

Them's eyes widened in shock as he glanced behind himself. The wisp was nowhere to be found. It was bizarre for the wisp not to be following him around, and even more bizarre for him to go missing.

"It's time for bed, anyway. Nice talking to you, Pollyanna."

__

Night had fallen. The red light of the Crater filtered ominously through the dark halls of the iron fortress. Them felt dazed as he searched for Pete.

"Pete!" He repeatedly called, feeling sick to his stomach at the thought of losing his dearest friend.

Astral Elves periodically hurried past Them, going about the business of keeping the fortress stocked with food, towels, armor, and weapons. Them stopped one of them. "Have you seen my friend? You can't miss him; he's a will'o the wisp."

The Astral Elf shook her head. "I have not."

Them was afraid the wisp had left for good. The silence was deafening; the lack of companionship was terrifying. The halls looked bigger; the shadows looking longer.

Pete was a childhood friend. Losing him was like losing an arm.

I'll give you a third kiss when you lose an arm for me! Taylor's voice—the adage that she had repeated frequently--echoed in his mind mockingly.

Them went back to his quarters to check if Pete had returned there, and when he discovered the wisp was not there, he kept searching the dark halls of the fortress. He knew he wouldn't be able to sleep if he didn't find the wisp. He would spend all night searching if he had to.