Chapter 9: Chapter Nine—The Thrill Of Violence

Exercising gave me a lot of time to introspect and evaluate my life. I wasted too much time thinking; this is the conclusion I came to after days and many miles of endless running. Being friends with someone didn’t require a constant logical explanation of their motive. Yet I sat, wondering why this maid was cleaning my room almost every day—usually, this was an every week occurrence at best. I think she wanted to be friends, but I was too busy with school to have any more friends. Danelle was a chore to keep up with, even if she was less annoying to me now. Covic and I maintained study sessions—or, rather, me torturing him with books—had become a normal recurrence.

Edwin was a lot stricter with me and my studies now. I promised him I would answer everything correctly on my last test senior year; this, in turn, caused him to loosen up—Edwin’s actions as of late were feeling like a parent, and I didn’t appreciate it. 

He ran me through a mock test, and it was beyond simple, considering it was a valedictorian sample. At this point, only two students signed up for it, Rachel and I. I didn’t want to encourage this rival thing, but Edwin kept putting me into situations that created the illusion I had accepted the challenge. 

It was nice that classes didn’t start until eleven, and I rarely had more than one dreadfully long lesson. This gave me plenty of time to run a couple of miles before school. I enjoyed running, and I definitely needed the exercise. Unfortunately, even after numerous healings from May’s magica, my lungs still felt the damage from that damn virus.

The track was extremely well built, from its soft running surface to the buttons you could tap to track your lap time. The middle had bars for pull-ups and other activities. I had really gotten into this training thing—more running than strength activities. Most days, I had the gymnasium for myself; a majority of people came after school. 

I walked into my apartment—ah, my apartment. I was forced to move after I annoyed Edwin so much, he took me out of the professor’s suite. It was still what they considered royal student living, but it wasn’t as lovely. Sure, I had a three-room apartment to myself with a kitchen, but the room’s creativity was sucked out. The suite had custom wood furniture and the living quarters had very boring generic square decor. This move also meant I had to clean my own room now—I hope Chloe took the news okay. She wasn’t around when I moved out, and I don’t know where she stays. I could’ve asked, but it wasn’t of importance at the time.

With a towel over my head, I stopped in the middle of the living room. “Why are you hiding?” I asked as May slowly came up from behind the brown leather couch. She was wearing a strappy red polka dot dress with an ebony bandana tied into a bow that was perched sideways on her head—her dress reminded me of a strawberry.

“How did—” she said, shocked.

I looked towards the guest bedroom door on the right. “You two can come out,” I said, returning my gaze to May. Honestly, I didn’t want to take my gaze off those piercing silver eyes traced with black. It made the light blue pop more, and it was hypnotising, and her red lips stick—

Covic and Danelle pouted while walking out of the room. “How did you know?” Danelle frowned.

“I can sense your anima.”

“How can you sense it?” Covic asked, his curiosity piqued. He wore interesting attire, a rusted orange leather jacket, sunglasses, and some leather pants. Covic was fashionable, and he didn’t let gender dictate his clothes. He wore eyeliner and cross earrings that jingled with each step. 

I glanced around at everyone dressed oddly. “I can feel it. You all have a different… feeling—what’s going on?”

“Happy Birthday?” May said with her typical look of worry. 

Okay, I understood she was concerned that I had forgotten my own birthday, but I don’t have time to care. Why would I observe something that put me one step closer to death? I actually enjoyed life now, so I wasn’t sure what I was celebrating.

Danelle hopped on the couch, “Happy Birthday to you!” she sang, ending with a smile. Danelle wore tight-fitting jeans and a tied yellow crop top with her hair pulled into a tight ponytail—she had a beautiful voice when it wasn’t going on about nonsense.

Covic glided over getting uncomfortably close to my ear. “Put your best thong on, buddy. We’re about to go out.”

“I don’t wear underwear,” I replied, straight-faced. 

Covic tossed his jacket on the other couch, flopping down in a black tank top. “Cyrus has jokes now.”

“That was a joke?” Danelle asked, tilting her head at me. 

I glanced at her. “Yes.”

“See, I know Mr. Reed better than anyone. It’s all those study sessions,” Covic said, resting his leg on his knee. “Go get this man ready,” he finished, motioning to May. “He already ruined the surprise.”

May grabbed my hand, leading me to my bedroom, closing the door behind her a little violently. She walked over stiffly, looking through my closet before letting out a long, exasperated exhale, tapping her flat shoes on the wood floor. 

“Do I look nice? I even straightened my hair. You have said nothing. You stared more at Danelle. I know she puts it out—”.

“Are you jealous?” I interrupted her rambling before she got lost in her delusions. She glanced back at me quickly before going back to the closet, “Jealous of Danelle of all people?”

“Why? Isn’t she attractive? And of all people?” she questioned, stopping at a black shirt. “Who else do you talk to?”

“May, really? You think I am that easily persuaded?”

“Who else?” she asked, taking the black shirt off the rack hanger and tossing it on my bed before returning to the closet, irritated.

“There is no one else,” I said, not sure what had gotten into her. She had never shown me this side of her before, and I didn’t like it. I had given her no reason to act like this.

“Y-y-you promise?” she asked, slightly stuttering.

I had not witnessed her stuttering in a while and let it slip my mind without question. An amazing friend I was.

Following some silence May turned around, tossing my brown leather jacket on the bed. “What is wrong?” I asked and she kept from making eye contact. 

May shook her head a couple of times, mumbling to herself. She finally cleared her throat, “Danelle asked if I minded since we were not dating.”

“Mind if what?”

May gave me a death glare. “She wants to smash, Cyrus.”

Of course I knew, but I needed to act as if this was news. “Ew, no. She talks too much,” I stepped back, repulsed by her words. “Like way too much. I imagine it carries over to other activities.”

May huffed. “You imagine this often?” she asked, folding her arms to accentuate her cleavage—that was on purpose. 

I pointed my finger at May aggressively. “Don’t you dare. That’s unfair, and you know what I mean.”

The grin emerged from her fake frown. “Okay, sorry. I had to play with you a little. However, I want any advances Danelle makes turned down, okay?” May requested, but she wasn’t really asking. She walked over, continuing to smile.

“Your stutter is better.” 

May looked up at me, and I got a little lost in her gaze. “you’re just now noticing?” she pouted.

“What did you do?” 

“When we first arrived, a specialist helped me while you were locked away in your room,” May said, grabbing the bottom of my t-shirt, “take this off.” 

I assist her and pull the shirt over my head, tossing it to the ground. May stood, bewailed while she stared at my chest. “You’ve put on a lot of muscle,” she said, shocked as her fingers sheepishly touched my abdomen, “these are new”—She spins around—” On second thought, dress yourself.” 

May walked out of the room, closing the door behind her exit. I shook my head, grabbing the clothes off the bed and tossing them on with some jeans. A gold gift box with a letter propped next to it sat on my desk. I picked the letter up that said Cyrus in Edwin’s annoyingly perfect handwriting—he just comes in my room without asking. 

I opened the letter that literally just said happy birthday from Edwin. “such a waste of paper,” I sighed as my eyes glanced at the gift, setting the paper down. I grabbed the box and slowly took the top off to a Platinum watch. Taking the watch out, I notice my name engraved on the back. My throat tightened as I snapped it on my wrist. Edwin earned a break from my misbehaving.

After tying up my dress shoes, I grabbed the leather jacket that Edwin had bought for me, wishing I was more grateful when he had handed it to me. I didn’t know how to accept gifts as I never had many in my life. However, this was no reason to be dismissive of Edwin’s gestures. 

 I came out to the group waiting, drinking water at my kitchen bar—I would need to wash those glasses immediately after I got home.

“Where are we going?” I asked, putting my hair into a bun. It was getting long, but I enjoyed the buzzed sides and long top.

“Strikers,” Covic said, making a rainbow motion in the air with his hands.

We made our way to my door and Covic opened it to Chloe in a tiny short skirt and a black tank top with a matching brim hat, hiding her ears. Her long black and white hair rested on her shoulders; she admittedly looked gorgeous—and I stared too much at her smooth bare legs for far too long. 

“Oh, you look busy,” she said, holding a small bag in her hand. Chloe was visibly embarrassed, and I didn’t even want to look back at May. She hands me the bag. “You left this book in your old room. I definitely didn’t see anything in it.”

“You saw the picture.”

“Soooo, I would like to say Happy Birthday and make my leave—I definitely didn’t put this makeup on for him,” she said towards Danelle and May before walking down the hall quickly, exiting the conversation that I wish I wasn’t a part of.  

***

“Am I even allowed in here?” I asked, glancing over to Covic as we walked down the alleyway. 

Covic put his arm around my shoulder. “You see that?” he said, pointing to the Adults Only red neon sign. “That means anyone seventeen and over from the Archon Academy can come in because the government recognises you as an adult,” Covic finished with a grin, patting me on the back. He continued towards the entrance door, which was guarded by a man sitting in a chair. “Come on, children,” he laughed.

I glanced up at the sign that said Strikers in blue neon above the adult one. This place was trash, and I wasn’t sure I really wanted to go in. May, of course, started towards it with Covic. She was mad, real mad. I couldn’t let this fire continue; it would surely spread. 

Danelle came up to me as I desperately tried to catch up with May to avoid alone time with the others in the group. “So May and you. You guys still aren’t dating, right?” she asked, folding her hands behind her.

I was already caught. I couldn’t slide this conversation into a group chat because May might actually say something she shouldn’t.

“It’s complicated… no,” I replied, slowing down.

Danelle nervously swallowed. “I know I was a little too aggressive the first time, but I think we know each other better now and… I could stay the night. If that is something you are interested in.”

“Sleepovers are not my thing.” 

“Cyrus, you’re not that dense,” Danelle said as we came to May and Covic. 

I could hear music going on inside as Covic collected everyone’s school IDs and handed them to the guard at the door. 

He yawned, taking them before glancing down and back up. “This is a twenty and over club.”

The casually dressed gentlemen looked so enthused to be working as he sat slumped on a metal chair.

“We both know academy students are adults at seventeen,” Covic said with authority, snatching the ID’s back and returning them to everyone.

The man groaned, opening the door from his seated position. “Go.” 

We listened, entering the building with music blaring in the background. I wasn’t sure I cared for this very mechanical-sounding music; I preferred classical. Preferably a piano or cello.   

I walked up to Covic as we strolled down the long hall with lights flashing at the end. “The same rules don’t apply to us, Why?”

“Mate, many of us will be used in war and probably die. They let us get our thrills early, considering the lack of longevity in our careers. It would be unfair to let us die and not allow some freedom beforehand,” Covic answered as we came to the main part of the club.

Strobe lights fluttered around, throwing beams of blue and pink everywhere as people danced out in the middle of the floor. Everyone was so close to each other, and that absolutely would make me uncomfortable. Even sitting in class made me uneasy. Yet I agreed to come to a place I knew would involve a crowd. 

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“Move,” a heavy set man wearing a beige jacket said to me.

I slowly glanced up at him. A long scar ran across his face, which reminded me of General Jameson’s, bringing a reminiscent annoyance of the slap I took to the face. 

“Make me,” I answered, returning my stare to the crowd of people dancing.

Covic threw his arm around me, leading me away. “Buddy, please, no fights,” Covic requested, pulling me over to the bar. He dropped some blue cash on the counter, putting four fingers up, “Gin and tonic.”

May and Danelle were sitting on a white round sofa about as far from each other as possible. May had her arms crossed, and Danelle was not reading the room one bit as she waved at Covic and me.

“We are friends, right?” I asked, glancing over to Covic.

Covic grinned. “I hope so. I’m buying your first drink.”

“Can you like, tell Danelle no for me?” I asked, and he tittered. 

Covic shook his head and leaned on the bar, watching Danelle’s hyper-self look around like a child in a candy store. “She is such a skilled magica user, but she lacks sense outside of violence. Sometimes I think it’s her way of trying to hide what she desires, the thing they want us to be. Constantly trying to be normal, purposely ignorant of how fucked up the world is. How fucked up the Domain is.”

“Hide what desire?” I questioned.

“The thrill of violence,” Covic said as the bartender slid the drinks over. He picked two up, nodding at the others.

I picked the other glasses up and we walked toward the girls. “You’re just going to leave it at that? Violence? That didn’t answer the question or make me feel any better. Actually, I feel worse now, Covic.”

Covic glanced back at me. “I will pass on the hint,” he said with a grin.

I walked over to May, making my rational choice, sitting down as our shoulders touched. May unfolded her arms as I handed her a drink. “You look beautiful. I think you should come over tonight like old times,” I whispered in her ear.

“Oh, I can’t do that,” May replied, shaking her head as she looked forward with intensity.

I sat back on the couch in defeat. Of course, the one time I’m forward she says that. “Okay,” I mumbled, taking a sip of the disgusting drink. This thing was horrible, absolutely revolting. May’s answer also left an unpleasant taste in my mouth, maybe more so.

“Well?” Covic asked, sliding over to me, and Danielle came with him. “Your face was giving me about as much emotion as your jokes do.”

“It’s disgusting and tastes like what I imagine poison does.”

Covic laughed, and Danelle giggled, clearly not offended by me sitting next to May. “Well, we don’t drink it because it tastes good,” Covic said, putting his glass up and cheering before taking a large sip. Danelle downed her drink in one go, slamming it on the coffee table in front of us before jumping up like a rabbit.

“I want to dance!” she proclaimed. 

I honestly was worried about the fact she drank that so fast and how small she was. 

“Dance with me, Cyrus?” Danelle asked, putting her hands together in a praying fashion. “Pleaseeee.”

“I can’t dance,” I said, turning my head from her. I would not be guilted into this.

May elbowed me in the side. “Go dance with her. She is begging.”

Danelle grabbed my hand, and I let her pull me up as we walked out to the crowd. “What do you want? I said I can’t dance.” I literally just told her I didn’t know what to do. 

She laughed at me and came close, turning around before guiding my hands to her waist. Danelle drifted her hips to the upbeat dance music, and it felt like she was just using this as a chance to grind her ass on my crotch. 

I looked over to May mouthing, “help me.”

May found this amusing, which was better than being mad. I was so uncomfortable with Danelle; I had hoped she would come to save me in a jealous fury. But, unfortunately, that didn’t happen as I endured painful awkwardness for thirty minutes before Danelle was tired, and my soul had long since left my body.

I couldn’t just walk back over without incident. Knuckles collided with my forehead, sending me sliding across the floor a few feet as everyone stopped dancing. I felt blood leak down my brow as my vision blurred in my left eye—that was probably the most brutal hit I’ve taken in my life. The man with a scar across his face walked toward me after breaking a beer bottle on the side of a chair. He was trying to kill me because I didn’t move out of his way earlier—how petty.

When he was close enough, I slammed my heel into his kneecap, doing enough damage to make him step back in pain. I used this time to get up, hastily tossing my leather jacket onto a table, knocking drinks off the edge—Edwin had given that to me, and I didn’t want to damage it. Alcohol would stain a lot less than blood.

I crack my neck, nodding for him to come at me. He sprinted over, swinging his massive arms, but I ducked quickly to avoid the blows, punching him in the side as close to the kidney as possible. This hurt him, but he just stumbled towards the bar, using it to hold himself up. There was blood on his white-collared shirt, but it was from my face.

The crowd actually encouraged the fight, which made him get aggressive, swinging a couple of times. He was just a colossal gorilla, getting tired after a few punches. I dodged my way back over to the bar swaying from side to side with ease. As he lost his footing, I took advantage of his head being in my reach, guiding it onto the surface of the oak bar, making a cracking noise that I’m sure was his nose. This ended the fight as he fell to the wood floor, knocked out, and the club stopped the music. 

I walked over and picked my jacket up from a table of shocked people, sliding it on. “Sorry about the drinks,” I apologised before I fixed my collar and sauntered over to Danelle. “Are you good?”

“Fuck, that was hot,” she blurted out at me. “Where did you learn to fight like that? You were like, super fast.”

I took a long pause. I was a little unprepared for that response. “You get aroused by fighting?” I asked, probably giving her an offensive expression.

“Um… yeah?” Danelle replied, and I turned around, walking to the bar where people had left their drinks behind. 

After finishing a random drink, I gently set down the glass before sighing. I was nowhere near intoxicated enough for this excitement; Edwin was going to be angry. 

I heard footsteps running towards me from behind as the police in black uniforms with gold trim grabbed me, slamming me into the wood floor. They roughly cuffed my wrists as I felt the shock of them locking my magica. They flip me over, shining a light into my eyes.

“Wait, is he an Outlander?” The officer said on his knee, looking back at the other, “He got anima too.”

Covic came over, putting his hand out, showing he had nothing in them as they moved me to my knees. “Gentlemen, we are from the school. My classmate was attacked, and he simply was defending himself.”

“You know we still need to detain him,” the officer said, pulling me to my feet. “Plus, he is a native. He is not that important.”

***

Edwin came in like a tornado, and I had never seen so many people scared of a single man. I wasn’t sure if I was happy to see him or concerned. Emotionless, he walked over to the copper bars and just stared at me. He would do this often, but this was the most prolonged stare I have witnessed. 

I put my hand over my chest. “Are you here to save me?” I gasped. 

“You didn’t use your magica,” he said, crossing his arms. “Why?” 

I nervously swallowed, feeling like this was a trick question. “I didn’t want to kill him?”

“But you used it on the Prince,” Edwin said, tilting his head. “Did you want to kill him?”

My eyes glanced over at the police officer before returning to Edwin’s intense stare. “Do you really want me to answer that here?”

He held my stare for a second, “No, I don’t ever want you to answer that question aloud,” Edwin answered, turning around to the officer. “Let him out.”

They opened the cell, and I stepped out with dried blood still on my face. “Are you upset?” I asked as we walked through the police station with people at desks going over papers. 

Edwin said nothing the whole time as we left the police station, walking down the marble front stairs in silence. A red sports car with an extended front was sitting next to the sidewalk. Its tires were incredibly smaller than the rubber wagon wheels of the other vehicles and the spokes were solid metal. 

Edwin pulled the chrome door handle, opening it. “No,” he replied extremely late, motioning towards the leather seat.

“Is this steam-powered?” I asked, not seeing where the engine could sit. They had really gotten the size down over the years. The first prototypes were massive when they were invented, but this was too small, even for the newer ones.

“No, it’s a crystalline battery,” he said, and I got into the expensive-looking vehicle. 

I kept my hands on my lap, making sure not to break anything. Edwin got in on the other side, turning the car on with a single button and starting down the road quickly. The car was soundless but for the wheels on the road. We sat in silence for a while, staring out at the tall building passing by, before I saw Edwin getting annoyed. “Are you not impressed?”

“I am impressed. I would not be shocked if you created it.”

Edwin huffed. “I didn’t invent the high capacity battery,” he said, pausing for a bit, “I just perfected it—you won’t see people driving these, probably for another decade.”

“Aether crystalline? Like a crystal that can absorb anima?”

“Correct.” 

I touched the brown leather dash. “Check—Why aren’t you mad?”

“I didn’t expect you to roll over and let him kick your ass,” Edwin replied, keeping his eye on the road. “You’ve also been sparring more than I require you to. I have recognised the intuition to grow,” he replied, glancing at me. “Good job.” 

“You told me once that I wield a power many don’t deserve or can control. I never want to hurt the people I care about. My actions on that roof with the Prince were unacceptable and childish, like you said. I don’t want to be one of those people that don’t merit what they have.”

Edwin nodded his head. “Now, if we could work on that smart ass mouth of yours.”

I sat back in the car seat. “Don’t get ahead of yourself. That will never change.”

Edwin laughed as we continued down the road to the giant spiralling academy in the distance, glowing as it reached for the night sky—life was pretty good, putting aside that I was sucker-punched three hours ago. Even when life was chaotic, it was at least interesting. 

“Nihi adanedi nasgi nigesvna ganagvi,” I said, and Edwin looked over. “Your gift was not a lie.”

Edwin gave a slight nod as we came to the school, and he stopped out front. “I have things to do. I will swing by later.”

I looked down at the dash clock. “At four?”

“Yes. Out,” he commanded. 

I obeyed, watching him take off down the road. I turned around and headed up the stairs to the glass doors. After putting my student ID on the door panel, they slid open and as I stepped in, a man with a black luggage bag and a trench coat stared up at the massive spinning globe that hovered over the ground in the lobby. A ring that looked to be made of fine sand sat around the planet.

“I heard about this—the gift from the Light God. Its belt is timed with Eurus’s, making it essentially a calendar. I never thought I would get to see it in my lifetime,” he said as I approached. I stood next to him, staring at the globe with lights shining, illuminating its white, glossy surface.

“You know they created this from an actual asteroid,” I stated, turning my gaze to him, “where’s Mother?” 

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