Thought Seeker: Chapter Thirty-Eight – Cyn’s Workshop

Selene sat on Jason’s bed, waiting for him to come home. Ettore sat next to her, popping fruit into his mouth carelessly while he watched a drama on the ResoScreen mounted on his wall.

“Why are you watching this?” she snorted.

“It’s amusing.”

“It’s stupid, actually. What do these people know of pain and anguish? Nothing!”

“Oh, not true. The main actress, Celine Karver, is going through a real divorce with a cheating husband.”

She only crossed her arms and stared at him, unimpressed and unsympathetic. “It’s hard to feel pity when that sounds like just another farce.”

Ettore shrugged. “Maybe it’s a publicity stunt, but it is happening, and it is really happening to her. Additionally, watching this show is a good way to get a laugh. I mean, really, who goes into a catatonic state and wakes up with a new face? It may be stupid, but it is hilarious.”

“Hilariously fake.”

“And for your information, just because they don’t know your type of anguish doesn’t mean they don’t suffer. Everyone has their own type of anguish, Selene.” Selene stared at him before looking at the screen for a moment. The scene on the screen, the diction used, and the farce presented made her buckle over and laugh. Ettore stopped eating to stare at her, frightened by the release of laughter, a sound he no longer thought she was capable of. His expression made her laugh even more, and it took her a few moments to compose herself enough to hug him.

“What’s this for,” he asked, genuinely surprised. He couldn’t remember the last time she had given him a hug. “You don’t plan on killing me, do you? Not like you could, but still, a stab in the back would hurt.”

“No, there will be no stabbing. This is for trying to make me forget. For making me laugh.”

“I don’t enjoy your company when you’ve become stoic and cynical. It’s depressing. You’ve been so depressing since Pietro’s untimely death. Just like Negal. You used to be so full of life.”

“Was I?”

Ettore nodded, popping another purple fruit into his mouth. “Remember when we first met. You were so scared but ready to stand and fight. You were quite amusing.”

“Amusing? Your sister had just flung me off a balcony. I did not find that amusing at all.”

“That may be, but you were still full of life, Selene, ready to fight, ready to live.”

“Well,” she began, looking away towards the cracks in the floorboards, “stuff happens.”

“I know. But hey, at least you’re not like Negal. All she does is mope around or stay in bed. You could hardly call her a queen anymore.”

Selene sat there, tracing her fingertips over the protection rune on the back of her left wrist, just above her vein. “She really loved him, didn’t she.”

“Well, yeah, they had been together since the beginning, literally. And—oh! Vega’s knocking.” Ettore pulled out his knife from the floor. Within seconds, Vega rose from the ground, waving hello to Selene. Selene returned the gesture, a knife flying past her face and sticking into the wall on her right. Irritated, she shot Ettore a look, her lips pursed, and eyes narrowed disapprovingly. All he did was grin back.

“Is Jason almost home?”

Vega nodded. “In the stairwell. He’ll be unlocking the door any moment now.” The moment Vega finished her sentence, timing her wording perfectly, Selene heard the front door lock click open. Selene watched her throw a knife of her own against the hallway wall. Standing up and staring, Selene wished she understood how Shadowling magic worked.

Jason stood in his doorway, holding his bag loosely in his hand. He stood there, still as a statue, in his wrinkled black shirt over a blue long-sleeve shirt and jeans, stubble on his face darkening his features. It had been weeks since she last saw him, and after sending Eno to tell him everything, she still had not dared to see him. Selene had been worried, even secretly hoped, that he would look at her differently. He didn’t.

“Long time,” she said, feigning a smile.

“You can say that again.” Jason dropped his bag to the ground and walked over to her slowly, cupping her face when he reached her. Selene tried to hide her disappointment when he pulled her into a hug.

“Are you sure you should be here?” His warm breath fell down her neck, sending chills over her body.

“I told my brother I would be out of the city. He was thrilled to hear it.”

Jason pulled away, leaving his hands on her shoulders. “I’m leaving soon. It’s about time for the Silmarine Solstice, and, well, my mother expects me to come home for the holidays.”

Selene nodded. “I understand.” Selene took a step back, slipping from his hands, watching them fall to his sides. “How have you been?”

“I could ask you the same thing.”

“Are you going to?”

“Do you want me to?” The question almost made her want to laugh. It further made it easier to distinguish between Pietro and Jason.

“Go ahead. I know you want to.”

Jason smiled, taking a step closer to her. Selene was suddenly very aware of how alone they were. No shadows watching, flickering, no Ettore making jokes. “How have you been?”

Shrugging, she came up with the only thing she could. “Okay, all things considered.”

“Should I believe that?” Jason stared at her sadly, the fingers on his right hand twitching as though itching to touch something.

“I wish you would.”

“All right then.” Moving past her, he headed to the kitchen, offering up hello’s to both Ettore and Vega in his wake. Ettore materialized next to the wall.

“And here I was, beginning to think he had forgotten about me.”

“If only forgetting you were so easy,” joked Selene, making her way into the kitchen.

“Oh! That was not nice, Selene!” exclaimed Ettore, following her.

“No, but it was amusing.” She sat down at the table and watched Jason make himself a sandwich. Ettore stayed by the kitchen door, picking at his nails.

“You can stay here if you want. I won’t be here for the next two weeks, maybe less, depending on some circumstances.” Jason bit down on his cuticles.

“Like what,” asked Selene, impulsively worried.

Jason shrugged, sitting down. “It’s nothing you need to worry about, just my own family drama.” His mouth slid into a crooked smile.

“Okay.” She looked up at Jason. She felt breathless as he sat there, giving her a look of wanting. Her heart ached, and her insides knotted when she saw the pain within them.

“I would like it if you stayed here. It would be nice to see you when I get back.” The smile on his face, which made his eyes sparkle, made her heart beat even faster. She couldn’t help but feel there was something he wanted to tell her.

His slender hand moved through his smooth, shiny, sandy-blond locks. The hair fell back over his eyes, turning the teal into a dark sea green.

“I need to take a nap before I catch the train at Diamond Tower.” He walked out of the room, leaving his sandwich untouched. Selene looked at Ettore.

“Do you know what’s going on?” Ettore merely shrugged, shaking his head, looking as confused as she felt.

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