Proven part XI

"Not here," Eclipse warned. She led the cautious group to a room in the opposite wing of the ginormous mansion. It was a cozy sitting room: A couch, comfy love seats, a fireplace with a small flame living inside. The others followed her in uncertainly, ready to spring on the defense at any sign of danger, their hand on cane, hidden staff, and close to flaming.
The only one even slightly at ease was Aryess, though she was no less nervous, knowing that the time to explain her disappearance had come.
The boys filed into the room after the leading lady and their youngest team member, their eyes roaming over the large room that let off no tension.
"SilverWings, please explain the currant situation," Eclipse said after Blue Beetle had closed the door. He had shed his exo-skeleton, leaving a normal, well dressed young man in his place.
"I was about to ask the same thing," Nic said.
"Excuse me, but who are you?" Eclipse asked, running her eyes over the three boys standing in a row.
"Silver's team," Jasper said simply. The time for pretending to be innocent party attenders was obviously over.
Eclipse exchanged a look with Blue Beetle. Thankfully, she did not ask for more details. For the moment.
"Where is the Key, amiga?" Blue Beetle said, getting right to the point.
"What makes you think we know what you're talking about?" Alek said.
"Here," Aryess said. She lifted her dress's skirt, revealing the knife sheath, and removed the small rectangle. She tossed it to Blue. Alek looked at her in astonishment.
"It won't work unless you have the Weapon," Nic pointed out matter-of-factly, somehow keeping an indifferent demeanor.
"We know," Eclipse said. "Luckily, it is in our possession." Alek looked at her, perplexed, "How..." but he trailed off. Aryess could see the gears turning as he began to make the connection.
"Can I have a moment alone with them?" she said. Eclipse and Blue Beetle exchanged another look before nodding and exiting the room.
"What's going on, Ary?" Alek demanded, looking quite confused.
"She gave them the Key," Nic said simply, "and the Weapon. She trusts them." He stared into the flames, "You're on their team, aren't you?"
Now it was Aryess's turn to be astonished. "How did you know?" she said, not wanting to lie by denying it.
"I've heard of Eclipse and Blue Beetle," he said simply. "When she mentioned the Weapon, I remembered you saying that you had put it in a secure location. It wasn't difficult to figure out from there." He kept his eyes on the dancing flames.
"You joined another team?" Alek said, sounding hurt and confused through his mask.
"Alek, I didn't mean for it to happen. It just kind of did," Aryess tried to explain.
"That's where you went after you stole the Weapon from Cadmus," Jasper concluded.
"They saved me from a group of guards. Then the Weapon was stolen, so I helped them retrieve it. And they just," Aryess paused, searching for words to describe something that she still couldn't completely comprehend herself. The boys waited, not interrupting her thoughts. "They accepted me," she decided. "I'm sorry," she added.
"For what?" Jasper said after a moment of silence.
"For betraying you." Aryess looked at her feet unable to meet their eyes. Jasper stood in front of Aryess. "You have not betrayed us, Ary. There is no shame in finding your place."
"But my place is here," she argued, "with the team."
Jasper snickered. "Team?" he said, as if the idea was ridiculous, "You mean the blind rich boy, hot head, and escaped experiment." Neither Alek nor Nic objected to the classifications, knowing they were very fitting.
"And a kid to tag along," Aryess muttered.
"You manage to keep up," Nic said, leaning against the hearth, "Must be all the training I gave you, my young protège."
"Or all of the sparring," Alek added.
Aryess grinned at her team, recalling the hours of training and constant sparring. "They have a sparring deck at their base. I'll still be able to train that way."
Jasper nodded, "Perhaps it is for the best. You are well trained as it is, enough for missions, at least. Aleksander on the other hand." Alek flushed at the mention of his lack in training.
"Don't worry too much about that," Nic assured, putting a hand his on shoulder, "I'll finish your training."
The red left Alek's cheeks, replaced by a ghostly white. "Take me with you," he pleaded with Aryess.
They all laughed, and Aryess almost wished she could keep this moment forever. Trap it in a bottle like a gynie so she would have to remove the cork to relive the scene. It was her and her brothers, just as it has always been.
"I purpose that we leave," Nic suggested, shattering her fantasy, "before they come back and decide to question us." Already, he was unlatching one of the windows parallel to the fire place.
"Be careful, Aryess," Jasper said. "We'll keep searching for Daemeon, but don't make us have to come after you too." He clapped her on the shoulder and helped Nic slide the window open.
"Ary," Alek said hesitantly. He undid the string holding his mask in place, as if he felt the kitty ears did not fit his mood. He stood still, tracing the orange stripes with his index finger. Aryess stepped up to him. "I'm not leaving forever, you know. Well be seeing each other often enough."
"I wish I could come with you," he confessed.
"Maybe when you finish your training," Aryess proposed. He perked up slightly at the idea. "Think about it, we could be the next dynamic duo."
"Hey, Thirteen," Nic and Jasper had propped the window open, leaving a gap large enough for them to work through. Jasper had already dropped through. Alek nodded to Aryess and leaped through the window.
Nic, never being one for emotional goodbyes, saluted and slipped into the night. Aryess shut the window, latched it, and leaned against the cool night, feeling as if a wieght had been lifted form her shoulders.
"SilverWings." A knock came at the door, and Eclipse peeked in. She gleaned around, "Where are your friends?"
"In the wind," Aryess responded. "Now, for the Key."