I tried desperately to distract myself with my new maps. It’s not working out. I’m too riled up about the news of my age and the fact that now I have something of substance to strive for, I lack the means to get to it… And for some reason, waiting for the two “charismatic” leaders to haul ass and get here, was also making me anxious. Maybe the first impressions with the pair of them have imprinted in my subconscious so severely. Worse, I knew Moon would want me to tag along to the meeting.

Don’t get me wrong, I plan to go to the botanical gardens, with or without them. But I feel like I’m getting too…close to these people. And that’s dangerous.

I was asking both Silver and Dragon about anything and everything they could remember about the north island and the places they’ve been. This went on for four hours until Ghost was the first to make an appearance in the hotel’s grand reception room.

“It’s definitely impressive, what you have here,” Ghost was busy admiring the place, looking at it all carefully. A bit too carefully. He’s mapping and remembering where everything is. Every trap and turn. Where the kitchens where. The stockrooms. He was taking it all in.

I know I’m not the only one to have realised this as a few of the girls who I haven’t officially met were quick to close doors or blocking his view where they could. I saw a smirk on his face. He noticed it too. He settles with looking out the large opening over the flooded golf course and ponds.

Liam motions for me to come over to him and when I approach, he mouths, “What’s going on?”

I sigh back, “A headache.”

“Oh.” He then looks over at Ghost, “I’m Liam, it’s nice to meet you. I’m guessing…you’re the leader of that group that Moon was talking about.”

Ghost looks over at Liam, his eyebrows rising on his face as if he only just noticed him. “Ah, yes. I’m Ghost.”

“Oh wow, you look like you’ve been through something tough,” Silver approaches Liam, her eyes taking in his condition in three seconds, “I’m Silver, by the way.”

“Nice to meet you too,” his smile broadens as she takes a step closer. “A group was messing with us…and Luke saved me…”

“That so…” she then goes over to Ghost. “Hey, Grouch.”

Ghost hmphs at her. “You’ve given your maps over?”

“Yes indeedy Mc’query.”

“…I swear half the shit that comes out of your mouth…” he lets it hang.

And she let it die with a smirk as she turns away and heads for the hallway, “I’m gonna see where Bulldog ended up, he’ll be upset if he’s left out of the party.

His eyes follow her out.

He’s definitely…swayed by Silver. And it’s probably one of the (many) reasons why the other girls in his group are so damn bitchy. Ghost’s gaze then fell on me when he realises I was watching, and then went back to the windows, dismissing me entirely as Dragon approaches him and they start catting quietly. But I saw both their eyes flicker over to my direction every now and then.

Charming.

After a few moments, Moon enters the fray but she only sets herself up beside me.

Oi oi oi. Don’t get me involved in this, Moon.

She looks into my face, “Skull will be here pretty soon.”

“And you want me to stay for this?”

“Please?”

“Moon…” I stare directly at her. “You-”

“We aren’t too late!” Echo comes bounding in and Mei Feng not far behind.

Moon looks over at them, rather quickly. Obviously not wanting to listen…and avoiding my words. She doesn’t want to hear it. ‘Stop trying to make me stay’.

Meifeng stops in front of me. Oh God…

“You’re especially riled up today, Luke. You’re practically pacing your mental cage. So on edge…finding a place to belong is still too hard, isn’t it?”

“He just needs to relax! Ain’t that right, Doctor Kitty?” Echo nudges me with an elbow and I roll my eyes at her.

“I’ll relax when I’m dead,” I deadpan back while stepping away from Echo’s bony elbow. This duo knows how to fray every single one of my nerves. “And I’m not a doctor.”

“Well isn’t this a sight.” Skull makes an entrance, his voice and presence basically fills and silences the room. “Never thought I’d see the Tribunal’s fallen king in the flesh.” He laughs easily and lightly. But…even I could feel the thorns in the words. “It’s nice to meet you face to face, finally.”

Not far behind him was his entourage. Bass and a few other boys enter the room. There were seven of them and the group had the weird duo Mace and Pac amongst them. The tension in this room just got heavy. Especially when I lock eyes with Bass. I stare Bass down, knowing he was looking for weakness. His eyes fell away from me as he sees Moon step up towards them and it turned from stone faced to a sneer. …What the hell happened between him and Moon?

“So…you’re Ghost.” Skull starts, his eyes measuring Ghost. Ghost was just as much of a silent stone wall. But I swear I could see him twitching for his gun.

“Oh just made it!” Silver comes in, the silent giant Bulldog basically at her heels, passing by this overbearing group like she was walking around a flower shop and she stops in front of Skull. “I’m gonna go out on a limb here and guess that you’re Skull.”

“The one and only,” he grins back down at her.

She smiles back just as sweetly, showing his charms have no effect. “Perfect. Let’s get this over with.”

“Ladies first.”

Her smile became frosty, “Funny, I was about to say the same.”

He raises an eyebrow, “A pleasure…?” he lets it hang, looking for her name while he extends a hand which she takes in a handshake without hesitation.

She offers her name, “Silver.”

“It’s a pleasure, Silver.”

Ghost steps forward and I finally notice that red-haired guy form last time…his name escapes me for a moment before I remembered it’s Envy. Envy was hidden to the side this entire time but was now coming closer because Ghost was making his move. Silver steps back and away from Skull’s grasp as Ghost now has the floor and all eyes on him. I look around the room and see everyone from Dark Sol was peeking in from the sides but made no move to enter.

“Moon told us that the area that we want to take a look at is in the middle of your territory.”

“The University’s Gardens, right?” Skull quickly confirms. “What do you want there?”

“The plants. Obviously,” Silver cuts in.

Ghost slightly turns his head to her but then goes back to Skull. “Silver has a specialty in plants and she wanted to see if there was anything useful and maybe if she could extract them.”

“Is that all?”

“Anything else would help.”

Skull looks like he was pondering on it, but the drops a, “Right. It’s kinda boring that you’re so willing to play the meek one while hiding a gun. Just what are you up to?”

Ghost half freezes while Envy and Dragon step forward to be ready for an attack while Silver sighs.

“There’s no trick,” Ghost quickly defends.

I feel like I’m looking at a ticking timebomb and someone’s about to light the fuse.

“Right. Because for someone who has literally a mark against them, isn’t up to anything. Your head could literally earn me some brownie points with half the globe.”

“I could say the same about you.”

Skull stares for a moment before laughing.

Glad someone finds this whole thing funny.

“Ah good one. Well, Moon, you organised this.”

“I’m just here as the neutral grounds for this,” Moons states simply. “I would appreciate it if you not cause any more issues on my turf because you feel left out.”

“You seem to be making a habit of this lately.” But then he lets it drop and lets out a breath, “Thoughts?” He looks over to his group.

An identical copy of him, except with longer hair and a sword slung over his back steps forward. “You drag me out for this bullshit?” I could see two moles under his eye as probably the only sign of difference between the two Skull copies.

“Of course.”

The mirror image sighs, his voice as hard as ice. “What they do in the gardens doesn’t matter. But as for help? Forget it. That’s Moon’s problem.”

“Quite.”

“Don’t see why you’re even bothering with this,” Bass mutters before snapping over to Moon.

I feel like I need popcorn.

Bass continues, “Why are you wasting our time with this?”

“Because it concerns Skull.”

“You’re-”

“Don’t start now, Bass” Echo groans. “Ye boring. Shut up and let the adults talk, go look for Horror or something.”

“Echo, you fucking bitch,” Bass grinds her name in his teeth. “Just you wait until I get my hands on you.”

“Like I said. Ye boring.”

Does everyone gain up on Bass for sport? Can I sign up?

Skull pulls Bass back into his following while bringing back the reins on the entire conversation. “You heard us. You can go to the gardens but nothing else. We’ll even be happy enough to lend some of us to escort you.”

“You are?’ I think the entire room was surprised but Echo voiced it.

“Yup. This is actually interesting. And you’ll be coming as well, Ghosty.” He then raises a hand to his brother. “And you as well” …then his eyes landed on me. “And you as well, Lukey-boy.”

Urgh.