The Broken Ones

Chapter 12:1 -The council meeting

It took some time before Ana and Soi left the mansion as they had to change into clothes according to the Academy dress code, meaning completely in white. Ana wasn’t happy about it, not only did she have to dress in white but it had to be a dress and she had only one white dress. The one she had been given when she first arrived to the Academy for an unknown number of years ago, at that time when she really had been a child. She hadn’t been bothered to buy a new one since as dresses weren’t her main concern in the world and she hadn’t grown much since her first years on the Academy. But now that dress made her look like a little doll and she hated it since she knew how old she really should look like.
-I always thought you looked good in white, Nibbles contributed with a teasing grin.
-I look like a child! Ana complained.
-As I said.
Ana gave him an angry stare accompanied by a well aimed stamp with her white high heels on his foot before she turned around and completely ignored him. She still hadn’t let go of breakfast fight.
Soi also felt uneasy in his white clothes. He had never worn white, not completely in white anyway. The colour seemed to crawl all over his skin like thousands of spiders climbing over his body. He shuddered. White was the colour of the innocent. Soi felt far from being innocent. If he had remained on Spring Island he would have been dressed in white so everyone would recognise him as the Spring Saviour. Maybe he had avoided white clothes because of that particular reason? He wasn’t fit to wear the clothes of the Saviour. But white really was dumb colour to wear for someone working as a guard and had to fight and be thrown to the ground from time to time.
He climbed into the coach and sat down on its white leather seats. Ana had forgotten she was angry with Nibbles and stood by the carriage holding his hand tightly, nervously glancing towards the coach.
-Nebelius, I wished you could come with me, she pleaded with him.
-Oh, but dear girl, you have Soi with you at least.
-Why can’t he come? Soi asked.
-I wasn’t invited.
-You need an invitation? But then, how come I…
-You’re just a guard, hardly worth noticing. That’s how low your status is among brokens. Mostly because we, in truth, don’t need guards. So you can tag along without anyone questioning your presence. But it’s of outmost importance that you keep your mouth shut during the whole meeting. You have no right to meddle with matters concerning only brokens.
Soi didn’t know how to respond. He nodded silently and helped Ana up in the carriage. The party immediately set off. Ana seated herself opposite Soi.
-He managed to shut you up, didn’t he, she said with a little smile.
The carriage drove through the many streets with white mansions towering around them, all white ghost houses. Everything was white, white, white and frightfully quiet and abandon. Ana’s dark house seemed more like haven than a dungeon in comparison to how the mansions now leaned in closer, almost suffocating. If Soi had avoided the colour before out of shame he loathed it now. He remembered Ard’s first words to describe Ana’s hall, how he could feel the darkness smother him. Well, Soi felt the same now only it was the white light radiated from every building they passed. He longed for colour and the only colour available was the clear blue sky.
-Ana, what did you mean when you said you couldn’t count on Nibbles?
-I’ve always told you never to trust Nebelius, no matter what he says or how kindly he treats you. He only stayed with us this long because we entertain him.
-But why can't we trust him?
-Again with the questions?! For how long have you know me, Soi? Has it been more than one month and you still haven’t got it into your head that I don’t like stupid questions!
-You’re only nervous about this meeting, aren’t you?
-Just shut up for a few minutes so I can think.
Soi sunk back and let Ana think in peace. It wasn’t like he had his own million of thoughts dwelling in his mind. He sighed and watched the sky.
-Ah! Why does everything have to be white! It’s like they have to prove to themselves they are innocent. Like the sky they are, why else would there be so few brokens working and living here. You needn’t be smart to figure that out!
-Do you really think it’s wise to speak so openly? Soi asked carefully.
-Did you know that even in the empty houses there are maids cleaning the house, butlers ordering the maids around and chefs cooking food every day? It’s wasteful.
-Why would they do that?
-It the Academy’s way of showing off their power and wealth. At least the people working in the empty houses profit from the Academy’s vanity, but their pay is so low to begin with so it really doesn’t make a difference in their daily life. Can you imagine how frustrating it must be to work all day for nothing?
-If you feel that way, why do you work for the Academy?
-Believe me, if I could find another way to pay for all my journeys…
-But the travel is a part of your work…
-I took this job as an excuse to get paid for travelling while doing their “missions” and continue my own work.
-Which is?
-To get the organisation, Ana gritted her teeth.
-You mean the organisation that controls the monsters? Wouldn’t that coincide with the Academy work?
-It might be the same organisation, but I’m after the sect that’s creating brokens, like me.
-You want revenge? Soi looked upset at her.
-I want to stop their filthy business. If that means I have to kill those who deformed my leg so be it.
Ana’s tone had changed from slightly irritated to furious. Soi looked away, he couldn’t look Ana in the eyes. She had changed from a limp little blonde girl that Soi could feel sympathy with to a stranger obsessed with revenge. Soi had never felt he needed to avenge anything, it was not the way of the people of Spring Island. Not even his father’s death had created a twinge of vengeance in his heart, he had only felt shame and painful sorrow. As Soi had lived on his shame and sorrow all those years away from Spring Island, Ana had nurtured and lived off her hate for those who had made her a broken and devoted her life to find them and vengeance her life. For the first time Soi could see her in a clear light and she wasn’t far off from being a monster herself. But Soi couldn’t sympathise with her, only see how much she resembled a child and he saddened by the look. What was it to him anyway, he was only a guard after all and had nothing to do with the matter.
-Why did you come? Ana’s voice had changed to tired whisper.
Soi turned back his head and met Ana’s grey eyes.
-I’m your guard…
-Nibbles told you to, am I right? She said accusingly.
Soi closed his mouth shut and gave her a grumpy stare. Ana turned her head away and watched the blue sky above them.
-I’m glad you came, though.
Before them the giant buildings of the Academy came closer by the second, white and cold.

To be continued...
By J.L.Frick