Page 21 of Dreikx

Tamey

Raven stayed for lunch. We caught up on everything, which was good because toward the end of my speaking for the better part of our time, when I mentioned Mom, Raven disengaged. Mom and Raven are close. They suffer greatly from being separated, but the separation is necessary because Dad and Raven don’t always find common ground. I once overheard Mom saying to Father it’s best if Dad visited Earth less often. In case of a severe difference in opinion when it comes to matters of both planets, she doesn’t want Raven to challenge Father for the throne. Or worse, have Father kill Raven for disobedience. This is why, the moment the successor is physically strong enough, the older Regha king should step down. Father can’t step down because Raven is on Earth. Raven can’t take the Regha throne because he’s needed on Earth.

At the window, I grab Raven’s elbow and point. “Hey, what’s that flying thing called?”

“A helicopter.”’

“Oof.” I say. “That translated awkwardly.”

“You have the latest greatest translator, I’m sure. It should translate fine.”

“My Alpha imported the best.”

“Alpha?” Raven frowns.

“That’s what I call him.”

“I’m surprised he’s not offended. He believes he’s better than us.”

“Smarter. He believes he’s smarter, not better. Is he?”

“Probably. Don’t tell him I said that.”

I laugh.

As the helicopter approaches, in the same way it approached yesterday, slowing down just before the strange electrical dome surrounding the house, I’m surprised not to hear the house respond the same way. “Yesterday, the house freaked out and asked me to identify the object. When I couldn’t, it lit up blue and crackled with lightning.”

Raven purses his lips, tilts his head. “Those are just reporters.”

“I don’t understand.”

Raven points. “Those initials stand for theSan Diego Official Hordesmen News. They’re snooping around your house. Stay here. I’m going out to see what they want.”

Raven marches out and over the lawn, and I command the house to open the windows so I can hear the conversation clearly. He said to stay here, not that I couldn’t eavesdrop.

The helicopter’s door opens, and a man lifts the now-familiar flashing object. I cover my sensitive eyes. “Those things are annoying. What are they?” I ask from a distance, but my brother hears me fine.

Raven doesn’t turn as he answers. “Cameras. They’re taking pictures. Did he take some yesterday?”

“Yes. It flashed several times.”

Raven grunts. “What?” he barks at the man.

The man continues snapping pictures. Raven bends and picks up a rock, then steps back and flings it. It crashes into the flash, and the man falls backward. Raven laughs as the helicopter leaves.

I join him.

“There will be pictures of us everywhere now,” he says.

“How exciting.”

He pinches his lips. “The enemy will know you’ve arrived. This is a fucking disaster, and I’d like to strap both Father and Dreikx onto the same pole.”

“You don’t mean that.”

He gives me a pointed look.

Okay, maybe he does. “You must promise me something.”

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