“Tell him I’m busy,” Charlie seethed.
“You tell him. I’m not taking the fall for your disobedience. You’re showing up for training, or else.”
Charlie’s jaw worked, and he grumbled, “I’ll see you guys later.” He told Oberi to stay with me and left with the guard.
A twinge of irritation crossed through my body. “I’m getting really tired of Charlie having to answer to these pricks.”
“Yeah, but what are we going to do? They’rescary,” Marcus whimpered.
Kallie’s face was contemplative. “Actually, now that I think of it, if Charlie’s staying behind, so should you. It looks suspicious if we all vanish at once. The four of us shouldn’t go to the Lair together unless absolutely necessary.”
“What should we do?” I asked.
“Marcus and I will clear it out. You stay here,” Kallie said. “Let’s go, string bean.”
Marcus yelped as Kallie tugged at the back of his sweater. They wandered down the hall. Oberi transformed into a unicorn, giving a snort.
I need a break, Oberi said with a weary sigh.Let’s go outside. I’d like to get some sunshine.
Oberi and I walked to the prison yard. I took a seat on one of the metal benches, while Oberi collapsed in the grass and rolled around, letting out a couple of snuffs as her coat reflected the sunlight.
A thought came to me as I watched her frolic. “How old are you, Oberi?”
So old and no older, she said, lying on her back and waving her hooves in the air.
“You must be ancient. Most Familiars are born when their Elementai get their powers, but you seem older than Charlie and me.”
Ancient?! Oberi fluttered her eyelashes and huffed.It is inappropriate to ask a unicorn her age.
“But you aren’treallya unicorn, are you?” I asked, wrinkling my nose.
I existed before Familiars were even conceived, and I’ll exist long after Familiars are gone, Oberi replied shortly.I am a great deal older than most creatures you can imagine, yes. I am a mutabeecha, and we are eternal beings, crafted at the beginning of time. Though you’re really making me feel my wrinkles right now, girlfriend.
“So you can’t die?” I asked.
Of course I can, Oberi replied.But my death would be different.
“How so?” I wondered.
I can’t say for certain. Much of my understanding about the universe doesn’t make sense in my earthly form. It’s like I’ve forgotten… I was not born like most beings are. I have no parents. I was spoken into being by the gods. But when I came here, I developed an earthly vessel, and much of my knowledge was lost.
“Are you really a part of the Great Spirit, like the legends say?”
Ask him yourself.
I rolled my eyes. “If you’ve been around since the start of creation, you must have a ton of knowledge you can offer. Maybe something that would help with my prophecy?”
Most of my existence has been spent in the Ancestral Lands, bouncing between spiritual realms. I’m not very experienced in the mortal world, or how it works. Probably why I am not much help to you here.
“Don’t say that. You are helpful,” I insisted.
I’m not helpful enough, Oberi mumbled.I can’t seem to get you and Charlie on the same page.
I felt my jaw tighten. “Maybe it’s better if we aren’t.”
You two are lying to yourselves, Oberi said, almost bored.Charlie holds back because he has a fear of getting hurt, and you are holding back because of an asinine sense of pride. I’d thought the two of you would’ve given up by now, but gods, both of you are stubborn.
“You can’t make us get back together, so nah, nah.” I stuck my tongue out at her.
