Mayhem
Chapter 5. The Steampunk King: A New Day
The alarm clock rang. A new day began.
I didn't want to get up and simply covered my ears with the pillow.
The door to the room opened. Lily stood on the threshold. She was in her school uniform, with an apron over it. Apparently, she had been preparing breakfast.
—How long are you planning to lie there? — she asked.
—It would be nice to lie for another couple of hours, — I muttered.
She sat on the edge of the bed and was about to say something:
—You really…
I sharply grabbed her by the waist and pulled her toward me. A couple of seconds later, we were already lying side by side. I hugged her from behind, not letting her turn around.
—With each day, you're getting bolder, — she said discontentedly. —If dad sees this, he'll kick you out.
—I wouldn't want to become homeless, — I replied. —But right now, it feels too good to let you go.
I loosened my grip, and she immediately slipped out of my arms.
—Breakfast is ready. You have five minutes to wash up and get dressed, — Lily said and left.
I quickly washed up, brushed my teeth, somehow got dressed, and went down to the first floor.
—I said five minutes, not fifteen, — Lily noted.
—Come on, we'll make it to the second lesson, — I replied.
—So you're not planning to go to the first one, — she snorted. —Today dad will drive us, eat faster.
I ate quickly, and we got into the car with Mr. Charles.
—Leon, I heard you're almost not inferior to Lily in studies, — said Mr. Charles, looking in the rearview mirror.
—Well, I'm still as far from Lily as to the Moon, — I replied.
—Don't be modest, — he smirked. —Looks like I have a good instinct for talented kids. I adopted two, and both are smart.
—Hard to argue with that, — I replied.
—Uh-huh, and Leon, it turns out, is also good at flattering, — Lily smirked.
—You of all people should know how good I am at compliments, — I replied with the same smirk.
She said nothing, but from her look, it was clear: I'd better not continue.
If you think about it, Mr. Charles probably wouldn't get angry if he found out about our feelings for each other. After all, she's adopted too. He adopted her three years ago. Besides, she's originally from Aerenholm.
The day passed as usual.
During the break, I noticed from the window that Lily was talking in the yard with a guy from another class. From their faces, it was clear the conversation was serious.
Curiosity got the better of me.
I quietly approached them from behind and hid in the bushes.
—Remember, you have to watch him, — said the guy.
—I know, no need to repeat, — Lily replied.
—Lately, you've gotten really close with Leon, — he continued. —You haven't fallen in love with him, have you?
—Are you doubting me? — she asked in return.
—No. But don't forget: your task is to watch him, — he said. —He's the main candidate, and…
—And if his powers really awaken, I have to report to the authorities, — Lily interrupted him. —I remember everything. Don't worry.
—Okay, I have to go, — he said and left.
Lily remained sitting on the bench. After a couple of minutes, she said without turning around:
—Now you know something extra, Leon.
—What are you talking about? — I replied. —I'm not here.
—Yes, — she said. —We were talking exactly about you.
And yes, I'm a secret agent. My task is to monitor a potential carrier of one very interesting type of magic.
—Sounds impressive, — I replied with light irony. —You're not planning to kill me for this, are you?
—Of course not, — she said. —If your powers awaken, I have to hand you over to the state of Aerenholm.
—Then better kill me, — I said. —Being a lab rat isn't a great prospect.
—No one will conduct experiments on you, — she replied. —Most likely, they'll just take people dear to you as hostages and force you to work for them.
—That doesn't sound much better, — I noted.
—Okay, we'll talk later, — Lily said and left.
I silently returned to class.
When we were returning from school, I decided to bring up the topic again.
—Lily.
—What? — she responded.
—Tell me something interesting, — I said.
—Seriously? — she laughed quietly. —About what exactly?
—Well, for example… about the Spheres of Illusions, — I replied. —You were involved in their distribution, right?
She stopped and looked at me.
—What makes you think that?
—I think people smarter than average have already figured out that it was Aerenholm and Valkoria who spread the Spheres throughout the City of Winds, — I said. —It was part of the plan to capture the city.
Lily said nothing.
—Clear, — I said shortly.
Her silence was the best confirmation of my words.
—Okay, — she finally said. —I can tell you something.
—I'm listening, — I replied.
—Remember how we first met? — she asked. —When we were chasing the thieves who stole the black stone from dad's shop.
—Of course, — I replied.
—I wasn't chasing them just like that, — Lily continued. —The black stone is the only substance capable of neutralizing the effect of the Spheres of Illusions. Those thieves were part of a group that wanted to recreate the Spheres and sell them for their own profit. I couldn't let them get that stone.
—Marcel and I figured that out quickly, — I nodded. —So, if you put a Sphere in a box made of any material, its power will still work?
—Yes. But if the black stone is placed between the Sphere and the walls of the box, the effect is completely blocked, — she replied.
—Genius… — I muttered. —And if those thieves had managed to start mass-selling the Spheres?
—Then chaos would have engulfed the entire continent, — Lily said calmly. —The Spheres of Illusions are a weapon of mass destruction.
—And Aerenholm with Valkoria decided to use them first? — I asked. —Weren't they afraid the Spheres would get out of control?
—In every Sphere produced at the factories of Aerenholm and Valkoria, magical chips were built in, — she replied. —They allowed tracking the location of each one.
—And smugglers probably wouldn't have thought of that… — I muttered. —Then the Spheres could spread uncontrollably across the entire continent.
—Your brain works well, — Lily said with a slight smile.
—Then why are you telling me all this so calmly? — I asked. —Aren't you afraid you'll be punished if they find out?
—You won't tell anyone, right? — she asked quietly.
—If I tell someone and it reaches your superiors, — I replied, —they'll probably just kill both of us.
—And if you decide to become a hero? — she asked. —What if you tell the whole world about it, even knowing they'll kill you?
—I wouldn't want you to die, — I replied. —I want to live with you longer.
After my words, we walked in silence for several minutes.
—Tell me honestly… — I finally spoke. —Do you really love me?
Lily stopped.
—You still haven't figured it out? — she said in a dissatisfied tone.
—I love you, — she continued. —That's exactly why I entrusted you with my life. If my superiors find out about my feelings, they'll kill me.
—Got it, — I replied quietly. —Let's talk about something ordinary. I'm tired of politics.
—Let's, — she smiled.
Her face immediately became different — warm and alive.
And we just continued walking side by side, discussing all sorts of little things.
Night came. I finished my homework and lay down in bed.
—Today was an eventful day, — I muttered.
Sometimes it seems to me that I'm a masochist. I know that Lily is a secret agent tasked with watching me. But because of that, my feelings for her seem to have become even stronger. It even… excites me in a strange way. Yeah, something's wrong with me.
But one thought wouldn't leave me alone.
What if I really do have a hidden power? What is it? Am I really special? What will happen to me and Lily if this power awakens? And if it doesn't?
In any case, they won't let us be together. Even if they do, we still won't be free. Does that mean our story can only have a bad ending?
If Lily decides not to turn me over to Aerenholm… will I be able to protect her? And myself?
Questions arose one after another. From one question, two new ones were born immediately. In ten minutes, my head started aching. I hit myself in the face with all my strength and began banging my head against the soft mattress.
It was already midnight on the clock.
I went down to the kitchen to drink some water. And, to my surprise, Lily was sitting there.
—You're still not asleep? — she asked.
—I can't fall asleep, — I replied.
—Same here.
—Actually, it's your fault, — I said. —My brain got too much information in one day.
—It's all because of your curiosity, — she replied calmly.
—I don't want to hear it. It's still your fault, — I said, pouring water into a glass.
—Then how can I make it up to you? — she asked.
—Let me think… — I paused. —I know. This will definitely help.
—And what is it?
—Let's sleep together.
—That's about what I expected, — she said after a short pause. —Okay.
—Wait… I thought you'd refuse, — I said in surprise.
—I won't refuse.
A couple of minutes later, we were already lying in my bed.
—Did you lock the door? — she asked. —If dad suddenly comes in, it's scary to even imagine.
—Yes, I locked it, — I replied.
I was in shorts and a T-shirt, she was in thin pajamas. So thin that with every accidental touch, I felt her body.
—Why did you leave the window open? — she asked. —It's early spring now, it's still cool at night.
—I did it on purpose, — I replied. —So that because of the cold, you'd press against me harder.
—Clever, — she said and placed her legs between mine. —It really is warmer this way.
She was warm, soft, fragile, and surprisingly petite. I couldn't hold back and hugged her tightly.
—You'll break my bones like that, — she said and tried to push me away with her hands.
I immediately loosened my grip.
—I can't always control myself, — I admitted.
—Nothing extra will happen between us tonight, — she said calmly. —If you can't keep yourself in check, I'll stop respecting you.
Those words hit my heart hard. And she was right. What kind of man am I if I can't control myself?
That night, I slept more soundly than ever before.
Without a doubt, this was the best night of my life.