Chapter Two
“Hey Mikey, you comin' down for the game tonight?” Jimmy asked as he passed Kyrian’s desk at the police station.
“Nah, sorry Jimmy I have to get home and start packing up. I really wish I could.” Kyrian replied as he looked up from typing.
“Aw that’s no fun now man. It’s on of your last days out here-you gotta stop by and have some fun before you head out. It won’t be as fun without you there man.” Jimmy persisted.
“I’m sure you and everyone will have a perfectly good time without me there Jimmy. I would if could, but I really need to finish getting everything packed for moving. This is actually my last night here.” Kyrian said.
“Yeah yeah I know I know. Can’t believe it. Seems like only yesterday you were walking in through the doors.” Jimmy said companionably. He used his white sleeve to wipe his forehead, which glistened with sweat. What little hair Jimmy had was plastered to his head, not a surprising fact as it was the middle of June.
“Try four years ago,” Kyrian said, still typing. There was an awkward pause for a second.
“You know what your problem is Mikey?” Jimmy asked as he made himself comfortable. He leaned up against Kyrian’s desk and sipped his can of soda. Kyrian arched an eyebrow at him.
“No Jimmy, why don’t you fill me in?” Kyrian said, humoring him. Kyrian glanced up at the clock quickly-it was eight thirty at night.
“You’re too darn involved in your work and stuff. You take life way too seriously.” Jimmy said lazily as he crunched up his soda can and tossed it into the wastepaper bag next to Kyrian’s desk. Kyrian laughed.
“Seriously man. When was the last time you just said forget it and did something reckless, had some fun?” Jimmy asked as he tipped back his soda and drained it. Kyrian rose up from his squeaky old chair.
“Jim, just because I don’t publicize my every move doesn’t mean I don’t have fun anymore. I can assure you I still do,” Kyrian said as he walked around the desk, clapping Jimmy on the shoulder as he walked by.
Kyrian walked out of the police office, waving to people as he passed by them. He walked at a leisurely pace through the town.
It was kind of James to invite me over. I know he terrified of me. Would’ve been interesting to see his reaction if I had actually taken him up on his offer though. He probably would’ve wet himself if I had.
It’s sad that this is my last day in this town. You’d figure that I would be accustomed to moving by now. Kyrian thought to himself, and he smiled a bit. He glanced at the sun. which was climbing lower. He picked up the pace as he neared the edge of town, breaking out into a brisk jog. He knew he was cutting it close today-if he was the sun’s rays touched him during sunrise or sunset, it was a slow, painful death.
Kyrian neared his simplistic white house with only minutes to spare. He let himself in through the front door, shut it and locked it behind him. The house was untouched, looking exactly as it had the day he had bought it. No furniture adorned the rooms, and there weren’t any household appliances or even a television plugged in anywhere. Despite that Kyrian did make sure to keep everything clean and he dusted and washed the floors regularly.
He walked through the house, closed all the blinds and locked the doors. He walked down the hallway to the where the large rectangle cut in the ceiling was. He pulled the door down and unfolded the ladder, ascending into the dark attic. He drew the ladder up and pulled the door closed, efficiently blocking out all light.
Kyrian pulled his laptop out of a large black bag and pressed the power button, watching as it whirled to life, its lights throwing the room into relief. He drummed his fingers over the keys as he waited for it to start up.
He typed in a search for houses up for sale in Missouri, browsing. Kyrian flipped through houses, but none in particular caught his interest.
First I need to figure out what town I want to transfer to. It’s pointless looking for houses. I’ll be sitting here for hours if I do. Kyrian thought. He narrowed down the search, selecting Bourbon, Missouri. He flipped through houses for a bit until he found one. Kyrian pulled out his cell phone; cheap, simplistic silver prepaid one and dialed.
At ten Kyrian finally climbed down from the attic for the final time, the black bag with all his worldly possessions slung over his shoulders. He walked out the front door, and shut it behind him.
Kyrian breathed in, taking in the different scents. Freshly cut grass from the neighbor’s yard wafted over and mingled with the greasy traces of a cookout, wet dog’s fur, and the rich smell of the earth and filled his nostrils. A light wind blew by, making the leaves on the trees rustle.
Kyrian tilted his head back, and the moonlight lifted him into the air. He quickly rose up above the town, angled his body to move faster. He flew past the town, past the beach and over the vast expanse of the ocean. His bag swung a bit and Kyrian adjusted it briefly before speeding up a bit more.
As he approached the dismal island on which Larissa lived he slowed a bit and straightened up in the air. The small island rose up from the water with jagged sides, making it difficult to approach from the water. It was a cold slab of gray rock, with a small cave set back on it. Kyrian slowly descended down onto the island, his feet lightly trailed on the rock before he touched the ground.
He adjusted the shoulder strap of the bag, and then set off at a brisk pace to the mouth of the cave. It was barely discernable in the night, seemingly nothing more then a pile of rocks. Kyrian stepped carefully on the broken cobblestones that led to the entrance. As he drew nearer it began to come into focus however, but before he could enter Larissa came out. She wore a pair of ripped jeans and a simple white blouse, and had a tan bag slung back over her shoulders as well.
Together they silently turned to look at the moon. They floated up, high above the island.
“Have you picked out a new town yet?” Larissa inquired without looking at him, her violet eyes staring forwards instead.
“I have a few ideas,” Kyrian replied coolly. Larissa waited, gave him a swift glance before focusing ahead yet again.
“I was thinking Missouri,” Kyrian continued, but Larissa shook her head.
“Somewhere by the ocean.” She ordered.
“I’m weary of the ocean Larissa.” Kyrian replied.
“I’m not. It’s too hard to hide on land anyways,” She persisted, but Kyrian shook his head.
“You’re young yet. You could live among the humans and not have to worry about finding another place in the wild.” Kyrian said, but this time it was Larissa who shook her head.
“I won’t live like cattle. I’ve yet to figure out how you do it Kyrian. They could just as easily break in and kill you while you sleep at dawn.” Larissa shot back. Kyrian was quiet for a moment.
“You doubt that I am meticulous in protecting myself? Do you believe that someone could enter my house uninvited?” Kyrian questioned her, and he raised an eyebrow in her direction.
“No, I don’t. But people are becoming more high tech as they go. It’s much easier then it used to be back in the days of knights and castles, keep that in mind. One day your trust in the people not to harm you is going to be what gets you killed.” Larissa replied to him.
“You should know that I’m older then knights and castles as you so eloquently put it. It’s your trust that no one will find you that will get you killed. It’s on a matter of time before a human finds wherever you made your home and kills you in your sleep. You sleep without the benefit of a locked door remember that.” Kyrian retorted, and they both fell silent.
“Missouri will do,” Larissa said at last, and Kyrian nodded in reply. They flew over the land, moving rapidly. The coasts of Californian beaches were long gone as the miles melted together.
They stopped for the dawn in a small town in Oklahoma, rented a room at a small town motel. As they walked through the room they covered the windows and locked the door.
“Light might still get in,” Larissa said disapprovingly as she looked at the flimsy blinds the motel provided. Kyrian shrugged his shoulders.
“I’m sleeping in the bathtub, I’ll be fine.” Kyrian said, and he grabbed a flower printed pillow off the bed, stuffed it under his arm and walked into the bathroom. Just as he started to shut the door Larissa opened it and came in next.
She glanced distastefully around the room but said nothing. Kyrian shut the door, and she put the flower comforter from the bed in front of the door, ensuring that no sun could get through during dawn.
Larissa stepped into the bathtub and pulled the shower curtains closed around her, making Kyrian smile in the darkness. He took his pillow and made himself comfortable in the corner. As the first of dawns ray touched the earth, both fell into a deep sleep.
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