Page 23 of Azriel

“They didn’t want to be my friend anymore after a while at Children’s Camp.”

“Why?”

Azriel shrugged as he looked at the window. “I guess we grew apart.”

Life must have been rough there. Maybe they didn’t want to be friends because they thought they’d die in the war. Why get close to anyone in a place like that?

Azriel watched him wash the cups and put away the tin of tea. “Do you want me to do something like cleaning?”

“No.” Vali laughed. “Why would I ask you to clean?”

“Shouldn’t I do something if I’m staying here and drinking your tea?”

Vali shook his head. “Just relax. I think you need it. I have to get water from the well, and I wouldn’t recommend you going outside, so stay here. I won’t be long, okay?”

“Okay.”

The bigger bucket for water in the corner needed filling, and Vali took a smaller one with him when he went outside. Azriel was sitting at the table, so Vali was careful to not open the front door too much. He could just imagine someone seeing he had a feathered, horned being in his house.

As he set off up the street, he wondered if Azriel could go live with fairies later. Mother said they didn’t like angels or demons, and he knew some cultures and countries couldn’t let go of their dislike for others. It didn’t matter how nice and pretty Azriel was.

Maybe it would be possible, but he’d also have to admit to Mother that he’d been hiding one. That wasn’t a good idea, and even though Azriel seemed more at ease today, he probably wasn’t fine. He’d just gotten out of a place that sounded like a form of hell to Vali in some ways since nobody knew peace.

And since he wasn’t used to the humans or their world, it was better if he remained in one spot for a while instead of going to yet another realm so soon. He didn't even know what food he liked.

Nobody else was using the well, so Vali didn't have to wait to draw himself some water. On the way back, he glanced at others walking around and going about their daily lives. Now that he knew of stuff, it was amazing that nobody else had a clue. They didn’t even realize a fairy lived in their midst or what went on elsewhere.

“Lay off the carrots,” a teenage guy shouted as he lounged by his front door on the step. A girl in a chair just outside the door, probably his sister, started laughing. Vali averted his eyes as he hurried by with the full bucket.

“It really is orange like a carrot!” The girl giggled.

Vali’s face burned with shame. It was rarer now that insults were casually tossed at him, but that didn’t make it easier. Why couldn’t he have been born with nice, golden hair like Azriel? Hell, he would have taken plain brown hair if he had a choice.

He stomped into the house and slammed the door. Azriel was still at the table, and he flinched.

“Sorry,” mumbled Vali.

“Are you mad at me?” asked Azriel.

“What? No.” Vali headed for the big bucket to pour his into.

“You look mad…” Azriel said in a small voice.

“It was someone outside. People are so dumb sometimes.” Vali turned to see Azriel had hunched in his chair. “I promise I’m not mad at you. Someone told me to lay off the carrots.”

“Huh?”

“Because my hair is carrot orange. It was just a dumb insult, but I’ve heard enough comments and insults as a kid. I shouldn’t even care since it was some idiot teenager.” Vali set the small bucket down. “It’s nothing you did, and I’m sorry I slammed the door. Do loud noises scare you?”

“No. You just startled me. I thought you were mad because I was still sitting here, but I didn’t know what else to do with myself.”

“I don’t mind if you sit down here when Mother’s not home. You know, you can read my books, and if you like drawing, I have parchment and stuff. Come on, I’ll show you upstairs.”

“I like drawing, but I’m not very good at it,” Azriel told him as he followed Vali.

“What did you do for a job?”

“I worked at a general shop.”

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