Page 115 of Beyond The Maples
"Just like those who thought they were above the laws of nature."
A thought erupts from my mouth before I can stop it.
"Sibs, what is the barrier made of?"
Sibs shudders.
"Souls, dear… it's made out of souls."
Farra and I are sitting at the same old bar we'd come to almost a month ago now; Leo sitting this one out. We thought it would look less suspicious if the two of us were seen having a hushed chat with the twins, than if there was a large group. Leo also claimed to not want to deal with Farra's "aggressive and obnoxious dancing".
"Stop fidgeting. It makes you look suspicious," Farra hisses.
I glare at her.
I can't help it. I fiddle with my hair, pick at the already cracked skin around my nails. I wish there was a way for me to be still, but it's impossible.
Farra orders us drinks, seeing my need for a distraction. I don't know why I'm so nervous; I like the twins. I'm fairly confident they will say yes. But then again, what if they don't? It's a big risk for them, with very little reward. I'm mainly banking on their love of adventure and rule-breaking to entice them. And the fact that I suspect they are both good humans— good enough that it might tip the scales to know the truth behind what they're doing. The coin we can offer will not be as good as what they were getting from the council.
Gods, and whatisthe full story? I was still trying to process my conversation with Sibs. I had hoped for clarity and information from that conversation, and had left instead with more questions.
Life is great; I'm banking on two criminals I've met once to feel morally obligated to help us, knowing they will lose money in the process, and maybe even their jobs? While I try to decipher the mad ramblings of an old woman.
I roll my lips between my teeth.
Farra elbows me, and I let out anooof.
"Get out of your head. Now,"she demands.
I blink at her, and then laugh.
"I likedrunkFarra better thanbossyFarra. Bossy Farra is mean," I tease, and she smiles at me with a slight shake of her head.
It's not just this meeting that's got me on edge. I haven't told Farra what Sibs said about her brother yet. I tried, but I'm a coward and ended up changing the subject. How am I supposed to tell her that there's a possibility her brother could get better... but I'm leaving her to figure it out on her own? Oh, and I'm taking everyone we love with me.
Gripping my lukewarm drink, I turn to her.
"Far, there's something we gotta talk about. I haven't told you everything from my visit with Sibs, yet..." I hesitate. "I wasn't sure how, honestly."
Her eyebrows raise. We'd already debated about her coming with us the other day. Leo and I are worried about what will happen to her if we disappear, and she's the only one left behind.
She is a proud brick wall with her responses. Her argument that she's "already been tortured, and she's fine", didn't really sit well with us, though. The other argument was that soldiers are disappearing or dying all the time. They might not even bat an eye at us. This argument also didn't sit well. Something tells me those in command will be suspicious about one crew member being left behind. Not to mention the fact that we are beginning to suspect that the government knows how and why people are going missing.
I open my mouth to explain what Sibs had said about her brother, but we're interrupted.
"Well hello, ladies. Fancy meeting you here." Briggs plops down at our table, almost knocking over both our drinks in the process.
I give him a genuine grin.
"It's good to see you!" I say sincerely.
"Where's Mack?" Farra asks, peering around.
Briggs frowns.
"Very rude to ask a twin where the other twin is, without even properly greeting the obviously funnier, and considerably more handsome, first twin," he pretends to scold her, and she laughs.
"Sorry, hi Briggs, how are you?"
