“I can see more than you, but you’re the clearest. You and Araya have always been the easiest to see.”
“Araya? Since when don’t you call her Mom?” I say with a touch of curiosity.
“My bad. It’s just everyone here is constantly saying her name, and you tend to get a little ill when I call her Mom anyways.”
My eyes cast their shame on the ground.
“I never, ever get ill for you calling her that, Rex. I’m jealous you’re her favorite, but I never want you to think I feel like you don’t have a right to her,” I mumble guiltily. “We’re too old to be having this childish discussion.”
He laughs a little while kissing the top of my head and then leads me into the old office where our mom once sat.
“We are indeed too old. I have to get a few things out of here for Mom, and then I’ll meet you at the banquet hall for the party tonight.”
“I hate dresses,” I grouse while leaning against the frame of the doorway.
“I know,” he chuckles out while shaking his head, then his eyes turn more serious. “I want to tell Mom and Uncle Brazen about the way Hedin is treating you. He crossed a line today. He’s risking lives by forcing you down. You know Mom knows the commander, and-”
“No. Absolutely not. No one will ever take me seriously if you do.”
“Aria, people take you seriously because of her. Stop acting as though it’s some dark cloud to be Araya Crush’s daughter, when it’s actually a damn good stepping stone.”
“You mean Araya Crush Hawkins Banner Mordel’s daughter,” I correct with playful exasperation and a grin, and he lets a humored smirk escape.
“Araya Crush is the legendary interrogator and savior to the United, Araya Hawkins is a sentimental show of affection to the father she never knew, Araya Banner is the Commander’s pride, mother, and devoted wife, and Araya Mordel is the woman in need of a break. So I was right in my choice of surname,” he smugly retorts, and I stifle a laugh.
I start to walk out, but he calls my attention back to him before I can.
“So, I saw you talking to Jase Ericson. Anything to share?” he teases slightly.
“You know him?” I ask while turning around, completely intrigued and not classy enough to hide it.
He lets out a snicker while sifting through the desk drawers.
“Apparently the women seem to love him. Be careful though. According to the rumors, he might be gay,” he laughs out. "He only dates girls as a ruse."
I feel my grin growing upon hearing my protective big brother spewing his nonsense. He's so full of shit. Jase was flirting with me… at least... I think he was. It could just be wishful thinking.
“Can you see anything happen-”
“Ew, gross!” he scoffs in interruption, and I let out a hellacious laugh. “Even if I could see, I sure as hell wouldn’t try, you sick, twisted thing,” he scolds.
I laugh harder while rolling my eyes, and then I let my dreamy eyes fantasize for a minute before continuing.
“Well, would you tell me if you accidentally slipped in and saw my future with him?”
“Again, ew. No I wouldn’t because I would burn out my eyeballs with uranium and then I would let Mom erase those memories from my scarred mind.”
I laugh wildly while shaking my head. “She can’t do that.”
“She might can. She’s got a hell of a lot of new gifts showing up almost regularly these days.”
I know, and I can’t get a grip on even one of mine.
“Is it right for me to envy her abilities?” I'm sure I look like a sulking child right now, but I can't help it.
“It’s not wrong. You’re only hybrid, not a saint,” he chuckles out.
My eyes move from his to the television that is casting the news. I tilt my head, and then I turn up the volume using my gift, which actually works for a change. Though changing the volume on the television is a far cry from the powerful creature everyone assumed I'd be.
