The Broken Ones

Chapter 13:2 -The Escape

After much thought Soi decided to go to dinner that night, to confront Nibbles. His heart was beating fast as he stepped into the dining room. Most of them had already settled down by the once again extraordinary dinner table. It was only their second evening at the Academy but their visit had felt like an eternity. Nibbles waved to Soi to sit down beside him. Soi sat down opposite him instead.
-Oh, what grim thoughts you’re having, Nibbles said with a playful sad expression and pouting lips. –I hope it’s not all about me.
-Stop reading my mind, Soi glared at Nibbles.
Nibbles turned up his mouth to a playful grin.
-You know, I can read thoughts from a far away distance as well…
It sounded like a hidden threat to Soi. Nibbles laughed, he had heard Soi again. Soi decided to change topic.
-Where’s Ard?
Soi looked around the room for the white haired boy with blue gold-sparkled eyes. He was the only one absent and Soi missed his innocence.
-He’s sick, Haz said with a stern face.
-I wouldn’t call it sick, he’s exhausted, Jagger explained. –He’s had images flashing by all day, ever since this morning, and some of them are a lot more horrible than the others.
-Why haven’t I been told about this earlier? Ana asked with an alarmed face.
-I didn’t think it was of importance, Jagger said surprised by Ana’s tone.
-Ard’s visions tells the future, how could it not be of importance! Especially now…
-Ana, Nibbles cut her off brusquely and gave her a meaningful glance. –Not now.
Ana hold back her tongue.
-I thought Ard needed silence, otherwise everything would be too confusing for him to sort out, Haz said and watched Ana with his cold eyes.
-Is it fine for me to visit him after dinner? Ana asked Haz.
-It’s fine.
They all settled in silence and ate their meal. After awhile Soi couldn’t stand it any longer.
-What’s in that box you have in your room? He asked Nibbles, fixing his dark eyes on him.
Nibbles swallowed another spoon of soup before he looked into Soi’s eyes.
-You already know the answer, so why are you asking?
-I want to hear you say it out loud.
-It’s a flute.
Everyone stopped eating and Ana and Jagger stared bewildered at Nibbles.
-A flute? Jagger asked suspiciously. –Why do you have flute?
Nibbles smiled his usual relaxed smile.
-You know, if Ard was here he would say “oh, a flute, can you play it?”.
-Nebelius, Ana said grimly.
-I’m transporting it as a favour for a friend. Nibbles shrugged his shoulder.
-A friend named Sam, perhaps?
-Perhaps.
-Why?
-Oh, what don’t I do for fun, Nibbles smiled teasingly.
-Sam wouldn’t give you the real one, you’re not that trustworthy. Would he? Is it the real flute?
-I couldn’t tell you, even if I know or not, of course I know, I’m not a fool, but I still couldn’t tell you.
Nibbles raised his right hand.
-You’ve pledged an oath? Ana asked in disbelief.
-I actually can’t tell you that either. Let’s just say I’m just a brick in greater game but still they didn’t want it to go wrong.
-This doesn’t change any of the things we agreed upon? Ana asked.
-I think I can mix pleasure with pleasure, yes. After all it’s not hard to transport a flute. Though I don’t think he’ll trust me now.
Nibbles nodded in Soi’s direction.
-Well, he isn’t supposed to begin with so it changes very little, Ana said with a low voice and glared at Soi.
-Alright then. Nibbles shrugged his shoulder once again.
And that was it, Ana’s questioning was over and they all got back to dinner. Soi was upset that she didn’t pressure Nibbles more. How could she accept it so easy? At her own dinner table sat the man who could be the killer of Mack, the man behind the organisation and the monsters and all Ana did was to continue eating her soup! Even Jagger seemed to accept it and Haz didn’t care at all, but he didn’t know about the flute so it was understanding. The whole conversation had passed him by seemingly unnoticed and now the rest of them continued eating as if nothing had happened.
-Let it go, Soi, Nibbles said softly to him over the table and winked his eye. –Don’t over think it.
Soi simply stared back at him. But before he could reply Jagger started talking.
-Ana, how did the council meeting go? Soi said it went alright…
-Of course he would say that, he was their centre of attention, Ana said mockingly.
-What? Jagger’s red eyebrows wrinkled in surprise.
-You heard me. They hardly noticed me, rather ignored me completely.
-Really? Jagger found this amusing.
-Yes! They were oh-to-busy being interested in who Soi was, where he came from and what he ate for breakfast! Ana’s voice was full of sarcasm.
-Did you ask the council about monsters? Haz put away his fork and knife and watched Ana with his cold blue eyes.
-No, she answered with a serious face.
-Why not?
-I don’t trust them. There’s something going on at the Academy. I think it’s the better for you and your brother remain unknown to the Academy.
-I trust your decision. Haz rose from his seat, made a little bow and left the room.
-I think I’ll join him, Nibbles rose and disappeared through the door.
The silence filled the dining room for awhile. Until Jagger interrupted it.
-Did you really set fire to the council? She asked Ana, who immediately shot Soi an angry stare.
-I told you not to tell.
-You told me not to tell Nibbles, which I haven’t, Soi defended himself.
Soi and Ana glared at each other. Jagger coughed a little and rose from her chair.
-I didn’t mean for you two to fight, I’m sorry, she excused herself before she quickly departed the room.
-You just had to waltz into somebody else’s room…, Ana begun and Soi had to laugh out loud.
-Excuse me, but are you angry at me for revealing that Nibbles was in the possession of the flute?
-Who else would I be angry at, do you suppose?
-At Nibbles?!
-What for?
-For having the flute! Soi was getting really upset, why couldn’t Ana understand?
-Having the flute is Nibbles problem.
Soi was astonished, how could the flute only be Nibbles problem? Wasn’t it theirs, as it made Nibbles their enemy? Ana continued:
-It was you who found it and caused all this unnecessary distress. When we didn’t know about the flute, it wasn’t a problem for us.
-I can’t believe you! Are you serious?! Nibbles is the enemy, he could be the one who made you…
-Nebelius Silver is not the enemy! You don’t know the first thing about Nibbles! And you definitely have no clue to who made me a broken! Ana yelled, her eyes were ice cold and stern. -This isn’t your problem, you’re just a guard, so shut up and do as you’re told, don’t make up silly theories of how you think the world of the brokens work!
With those words Ana got up from her chair and limped out of the dining room with her high heels, leaving Soi alone.

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