The Night Isnt Always Quiet - Chapter 3

CHAPTER THREE

Memories Relived Are Often More Emotional Than Anything The Present Offers

MALLORY WEAVED THROUGH THE UNIVERSITY CORRIDORS WITH surprising expertise. The students bustling for access to lockers and bathrooms stopped to stare at her. She obviously had experience in the field, a lot more than anyone else they had seen. Even Jet and Lucien, who were usually a sort of celebrity to the student body. The two of them trailed in her wake, mumbling half-answers when they were asked who she was. They still hadn't got a believable story to tell everyone. Mallory froze suddenly as they came across a busy cross intersection. “Did you see Markus?” Lucien asked. “No,” she replied. “Even better.” Jet and Lucien followed her gaze and saw a tall, golden skinned boy with the same reddish-brown hair as Mallory. He was standing in the centre of all the bustle, calling out to any familiar face. Not many returned his greetings. “Is that Nate?” Jet murmured to Lucien. “I think it is,” Lucien answered, in the same low tone. “So that's what he calls himself,” said Mallory. She moved to push through the crowd toward him. Lucien caught her shoulder. “I wouldn't do that. Nate is a horrible person. He has no friends, because he treated them all really badly. And I swear he's gone through every girl in the school. Some of them more than once.” She frowned. “Maybe he just needs a little family intervention.” Both Jet and Lucien's faces crumpled in confusion, but before either of

them could question her, she disappeared into the crush of people. “Ah, well,” Jet said. “There's no point in going after her. We'll be able to see everything from here anyway.” Lucien sighed and leaned against the wall. “I doubt we'd be able to stop her, anyway. She seems very determined.” Almost immediately Mallory lost sight of Nate. She had a surprisingly easy time pushing through the clumps of people milling in the halls, though. They seemed to, almost subconsciously, move slightly out of her way. Soon she had sight of him again. He had his back to her, so she crossed her arms and waited for him to turn around. It didn't take long. Even ordinary humans could sense when someone was watching them. Annoyance, surprise and confusion flicked across his familiar face in quick succession. For a moment Mallory didn't bother explaining herself. She just drank in the feeling seeing her brothers' face again had brought over her. “Elissa?” Nate asked. “Is that you?” “Yes, Ash. Though I suppose you should call me Mallory and I should call you Nate. Before we arouse suspicions.” Nate grinned and stepped forward to sweep his sister into a bone-crushing bear hug. “Only you would say that when you hadn't seen your brother for centuries, Elissa.” Jet and Lucien's jaws dropped when they saw Nate and Mallory embrace in the centre of the corridor. When, after a moment, Nate started leading her in the opposite direction, they started in pursuit. “They're going to follow, you know,” said Nate. “They're that kind of person.” “That's why you're here. They're absolutely petrified of you, you know. You'd think you'd be nicer to people you've been best friends with for thousands of years.” “Yeah, well, you know me. I never do things by the book.” Mallory looked up at her brother's face. “It's so good to see you again, you know. I'm glad I found you before I broke down in tears. Because I would have if I'd spent another five minutes with him.” Nate put one arm around her shoulders and looked over his shoulder. Jet and Lucien were walking a safe distance behind. “You go ahead,” he murmured to Mallory. “I'll get rid of these two so we can talk.” “Okay.” She continued down the corridor without a backward glance when Nate stopped and folded his arms across his chest. “Hey guys,” he said warmly. “How's things?” “A lot better when I wasn't talking to you,” snapped Jet. He nodded after Mallory. “Where's she going?” “Wouldn't you like to know.” “I'm serious.” “So am I. Why do you care? You don't even know her.” “Let's just say you have a bad track record with the new girls,” Lucien inserted with a grin. “Technically she isn't a new girl. We both know that.”

Jet and Lucien blanked. “How did you- ”Jet began. “Does that really matter? I know a lot more than you give me credit for. Now, if you'll excuse me . . . ” Jet shot out an arm, blocking Nate's retreat. “So soon? We we're having such a good time.” Something dangerous flashed in his eyes. Nate's face darkened. “Touch me and you'll be sorry.” “Guys . . . “ Lucien said, eyes flicking between them. Neither of them gave him a response. “You never answered my question,” Nate pointed out. “Maybe it wasn't worth an answer.” Nate whipped around and pinned Jet to the wall by the throat. Both Jet and Lucien were stunned by the speed of the move. “Please explain to me why your so interested in my sister. Especially when you only met her today.” “Your sister?” Lucien and Jet asked in union. Nate rolled his eyes. “Never mind. So why are you so interested in my sister?” But Jet never answered him. At that moment, a man who looked like he was in his sixties came around the corner. He was another person who had the same reddish brown hair as Nate and Mallory. Lucien wondered briefly how he had never noticed the similarity. “Jet, Nate, what on Earth do you think you're doing?” “Well, I was pinning Jet against the wall and thinking where would be the best place to punch him first . . . “ Nate trailed off when he caught the look on the man's face. He let Jet go. “Nate, you are to be in my office by nine. Jet, Lucien, if you aren't out of my sight in the next minute, you'll be there as well.” “Yes, Markus,” they both muttered, walking back the way they had come. Markus shook his head. “Ash, Ash, Ash. How I wish Elissa was here to keep you in check. Or even that Lux remembered. You need company.” “Actually, speaking of Elissa . . . “ said Nate. “I think you should come with me.” Mallory was sitting cross-legged on the carpet about fifty metres down the corridor, leaning against the wall. She didn't look up when Markus and Nate approached. She had a sad air around her, and Nate knew she was thinking about Jet. “Mallory,” he said quietly, alerting her to their presence. She glanced up quickly, her eyes falling back to her lap almost instantly. After a few moments, however, she looked up again, rising to her feet. “Grandfather!” she cried, throwing her arms around Markus. “Elissa?” he asked, in the same tone Nate had used ten minutes earlier. “Yes, it's me, Grandfather. I was looking for you after Lucien and Jet brought me here, but i found Nate first. He was going to take me to your office.” Markus looked at Nate. “That is an excellent idea. When we get there, you can explain how Jet and Lucien came to find you. And I suppose Yasmyn is involved somewhere along the way.” Mallory nodded as the three of them began walking down the hall. “I'm surprised Jet doesn't remember,” mused Markus. “Now that he's seen you . . . “ “Mallory,” she said. “That's my name in this life.”

“Ah.” “I think she stirred something,” said Nate. “Even if it is deep down. He sounded pretty protective back there.” He winked at Mallory. “Maybe you'll just have to make him fall in love with you all over again.” She hit him and Markus chuckled. “It isn't that bad an idea.” Mallory rolled her eyes and changed the subject. “Why are you so mean to them, Nate? When you've known them for so long?” “I've never actually done anything to them specifically. Or Yasmyn. They just hear stories and avoid me.” He caught the look on both Mallory and Markus' faces and quickly added, “Stories that are mostly untrue. Do you really think I would even consider a girl when I know Genevieve is out there somewhere?” “That's true,” Mallory allowed. “They only make up those stories so they have reasons to not talk to me. I think I unnerve them.” “Well, you were never known for always concealing all of your abilities,” laughed Markus. “That isn't funny! I got in a lot of trouble for that! Though it didn't really matter so much when we didn't have to hide who we were.” All of them sobered at that. How they missed those days. Not a word was spoken till they arrived at their destination. Markus unlocked the door and led Nate and Mallory inside. It was just as she remembered. A single shelf ran along the top of all four walls, filled with priceless books and ornaments. Framed photos and paintings hung around the room, depicting all his journeys as a white-winged archangel. Both Mallory and Nate starred in more than one. A mahogany desk stood proudly in the back half of the room, a dark, highbacked leather chair behind it. The desk overflowed with books, paper and old manuscripts in forgotten languages. Completing the scene perfectly was a window looking over a rainy park, creating an ideal backdrop. “I think you have quite a story to tell, Mallory,” Markus said, sitting in the chair behind the desk and indicating the two in front of it. “Do sit down.” So Mallory launched in an explanation of everything that had happened since she had left the house this morning. Her voice grew quiet when she told of the memory she and Yasmyn had seen, and how she had remembered everything while Jet still did not. But it was back to its usual pitch by the time she had finished her story. “How interesting,” said Markus. “I'm very surprised Jet has not recognised you.” “So am I,” Mallory replied. “Trust me.” He turned to Nate. “I think we need to have a talk with Jet, Lucien and Yasmyn.” “Why do I have to go?” he complained. “Mallory knows her way around.” “Just go, Nate.” He grumbled a little longer as he walked out of the room. “How are you, really?” Markus asked, reaching forward to put his hands over Mallory's. “As good as I can be, I guess. I haven't really had time to go back through everything, but I don't really want to. I mean, it would be good to look at it all. It's just that every time I look, there's a memory of Jet and I can't really deal with that right now.” Markus nodded and smiled reassuringly at her. “It can't be that far away

now. Sometimes I swear he knows everything and just hasn't told anyone. It's usually a comment he makes that reminds me of Lux. But then he turns oblivious again and I know I'm just imagining what I wish would happen.” Mallory's gaze fell to her hands as she thought over Markus' words. Neither of them knew how long they sat there in silence, but both of them jumped when Nate returned with Jet, Lucien and Yasmyn. She automatically stiffened when she felt Jet's eyes on her back. Nate jumped into the seat beside her before he could take it. Mallory sent him a grateful glance. “Now,” began Markus. “I have a lot to explain to you, so this may take a while. Yasmyn, before you ask, I'll write you a pass when we're done. “The best place to begin would be thousands of years ago, when archangels and aerewolves still lived in Kurong, our homeland under the earth. When the difference between Jururgan and Skiteriah was still unknown to most, and there was no such thing as war.” “Hold on,” interrupted Jet. “What is a Jururgan and what's a Skiteriah?” “I am a Jururgan,” Mallory said, shocked at how strange that question sounded coming out of his mouth. “We are the archangels with white wings. The Skiteriah have been our enemies from the first Immortal War, and are burdened with wings of black.” “Oh.” Markus smiled. “And so we begin.”