Spice
Thread Topic: Spice
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"Education films for children almost always suck," Ander said cheerfully. "Which orphanage did you go to?"
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"Humble Bee Orphanage," Kenna said with a shrug
"Why?" -
Ander forced a casual smile, his hands clenching under the table as memories of harsh words and red stinging marks resurfaced from the murky depths of his mind. "Just curious. I hope they were nice."
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"I mean, they weren't mean, but they weren't nice either," Kenna shrugged. She noticed something was slightly off with Andy. "How did you grow up?" she asked.
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"It was a little tough," Ander said simply. What a mundane way to say that it was an absolute trainwreck. "But in the end, it made me stronger. I'm grateful for that."
He glanced up and looked into her eyes, wishing he could be honest. He wished he could talk about the grimy streets and the hungry days. He wished he could talk about the gangs that roamed at night like a pack of piranhas, vicious and violent. He wished he could talk about the orphanage that had dragged him away, only to be just as cruel as the life he'd had before. He wished he could tell her about the tests, how he'd excelled in them, and how one day, a cleanly dressed man had shown up and offered him an escape to a different life. A chance to be a "hero".
But wishing was pointless and would only make him miserable. Honesty was a privilege for those who didn't have to look over their shoulders in their own homes. It was not meant for a man like Ander Tulips. -
*TULISO))
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Kenna frowned. She could definitely tell that it was more than just "tough." But she knew she couldn't press. If he didn't tell her otherwise, she technically has no reason to suspect.
"Well, whatever your upbringing was, you're an awfully generous person," Kenna said, trying to veer the topic of conversation in another direction. "I don't know many other people who would do this much for a stranger." -
Ander seemed relieved at the change of topic, some of his tenseness ebbing away. "It was the right thing to do. Besides, I could use some company from time to time. Horses are nice, but unfortunately they can't talk."
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Kenna perked up. "You have horses? Plural? Here?" She had always been fascinated by the creatures. Unfortunately, she'd never been able to see one in person.
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Ander's face lit up. It was clear that this was a subject he was comfortable with. "Two. One of them is called Regal and he's the most intelligent one of his kind I've ever met. I trained him like a dog and he's just as obedient. The other one is Storm and she's an idiot."
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Kenna let out a short laugh. "She can't be that bad," she said. She was glad to see a grin on Andy's face.
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"She gets her head stuck in the water barrel all the time. For some reason, she likes that better than her own stuff," Ander said, shaking his head with a smile. "Just like a dog but with less braincells."
He wondered how much time had gone by. Half an hour? Maybe less, maybe more? He hadn't kept track. He cursed himself for getting lost in the conversation. He needed to stay focused and find a way to get back to his tab without her suspecting anything. He had to make sure she was the one he had to kill. If she wasn't...he would never be able to forgive himself for hurting her.
Gah! What was he thinking? An assassin, unable to forgive himself for hurting a girl? He was either crazy or stupid, or a dangerous mix of both. But there was something about her, something he hadn't seen in anyone he'd met before. He felt like he needed to protect her, but at the same time he felt like she could handle herself. And what if she was his target? Could he bring himself to kill her, to watch the light fade from her eyes as she realized she'd been betrayed? Could he wash her blood off of his hands like he'd done countless times before, although it seemed like the stains never left his soul?
He realized he'd been staring blankly into space and shook his head to clear his thoughts, giving her an apologetic smile. "Sorry. Kinda spaced out there." -
"Don't worry about it," Kenna said. She let out a yawn. It was getting rather late. She should probably get home, but honestly, if Andy kept on insisting she stay, she might never get to leave.
"Would it be too much trouble to ask to see the horses?" Kenna asked, a hopeful glint in her eye. -
Ander mulled it over for a few seconds, one leg crossed over the other. "I suppose so. But we'd better be careful, it's growing darker. We wouldn't want to meet anything out there." Or anyone.
He got to his feet, his hand itching to check his tab. He thought he spotted something by the window, but when he checked again, it had been nothing but the swish of a horse's tail. Still, he felt uneasy.
"Ready to head out?" -
Kenna smiled and nodded. She stood up and waited for him to begin leading the way.
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