I know now I most definitely have to stay in the town. I need to know what I don't know. Why is Cillian not broken? I have to stay because of him.

I'm also sticking around because there's something more about him. I second reason I can't fully place. His strangeness draws me in. I need to know more. I'm not trying to be a stalker, but if I want to work out why he's mysteriously strange and nicely strange, then I will have to stick around to find out. I only know that his aura's broken, and that it's going to be hard to become friends. Maybe impossible.

Saturdays after midday are my long shifts at my cousin's (Alex's) cafe. Twelve ten PM to five PM. Naya, luckily, doesn't hang around for those ones. If she did, I might have gone crazy by now. Just being followed by her for an hour is annoying. She's a clingy friend. At 1pm, the bell on the door dings, and someone in a dark shirt and jacket walks in. I recognise him.

"Nicholas. Didn't think you were a coffee person." I say as he walks up to the counter.

"I'm an iced coffee person." he sarcastically replies. He orders a drink, and stays seated at the counter.

"I didn't know you worked here." he states.

"My cousin owns it. He sort of makes me work. Still pays me though." I tell him.

He continues to stay sitting at the counter, and we continue to make small talk as I make coffes for other customers. Nicholas sticks around until the end of my shift. I don't know why though. I wish I did. He leaves when I tell him I have homework (it's true). 

But I don't do the homework - I can't concentrate. 

Questions are floating in my head:

WhY DOeS He StiCK aRouNd?

Am I Ok?

WhAt's GoiNg oN?

Cillian doesn't seem OK. I think he's meant to be working on school work, but he's staring at the wall, sometimes out the window, and sometimes he just spins round in his chair. I'd ask what's up, but I'd either get a sarcastic reply or a lie. Some things are hopeless.

But you also have to try.

I drag Cillian downstairs. It's after the cafe hours, but this is his cousins's place so it shouldn't matter too much if I use the machines. I flick one on and grab two cups. I make two seasonal lattes and place one of them down on the surface, infront of Cillian. Mine is in my hand. I stay the side of the machines.

"I don't want a sarcastic reply Cillian, or a lie, but I just really want to know if you're OK. You seem a little off and lost."

"Naya...I'm just worried. With your king still around, I'm scared that he might see right through my act. I'm trying so hard to act normal wherever I go, just incase he's nearby, but it's so stressful."

I put my now empty coffee cup down. 

"He should be gone by tomorrow, if not I'll tell you, but I won't know why. You'll se this through." I reply.

"Promise me if he ever asks, not to tell him I can see him."

"I promise, Cillian. It's just as important for you to keep it secret as it is for me, so of course I will."

When Cillian finishes his drink, he puts his cup down and leaves. I stay behind to wash them. I scrub the cups and dry the cups. I prepare to leave.

But I don't.

Someone is in the shadows.

"Hello?" I ask.

There is a reply.

"What do I not know?" I ask Naya. She jumps, and turns to look where my voice came from. I step out of the shadows. I've spent two days around Cillian now, and I still can't work him out. I need to extend my stay, but I really would rather leave the town in peace.

"What do you mean?" she replies.

"Why is Cillian not broken?" Naya mutters something to herself.

"Not broken? What do you mean?" 

She's trying to play dumb. Every member of the Night community knows that nightmares break the humans.

It won't work.

"Naya, I don't want to have to hurt or punish anyone here. I'd like to know the truth. It seems the Cillian human has never been effected by the nightmares. It seems he's never had a nightmare. Naya, you've been around him the whole time. What have I not been told? What do I not know?"

Naya seems lost for words. 

"I- uh... Your majesty, I really can't say. Sorry." Naya then walks off. 

How useless. 

Seems I can't rely on people. She won't tell me why he's different. 

I don't want to have to ask him, but maybe I might have to.

I still only know as much as I did on Thursday.

It's all going nowhere.

Who knows how long I'll be here for?

I'm not leaving until I know why he's pure.

I can't leave knowing there could be a threat to my people.

I might have to turn to the old prophecies.