Page 7 of Tethered Fates

I’m dragged through the mansion’s hallways. It’s all honey-dark wood flecked with gold, and forest-green runners laid dead-centre. Art hangs on the wall, the type that people ooh and ahh at, but means nothing unless you really fucking love apples and pears.

‘Sen left me.’

The thought is a little needle that pricks every time I think his name, and knowing he hasn’t raced back sinks that needle deeper.

I don’t know why. He’s no one. Nothing to me.

Or maybe he’s everything to me?

But that’s impossible.

Kai plonks me into a chair and asks in a rush of jumbled words if I’m cold or hungry, or thirsty or a million other things except the one thing I actually want.

Sen.

I shouldn’t care about a random guy who left me with nothing but dust. But weirdly, confusingly—I really, really do.

“—listening to me, Teagan?” Kai asks.

“Not really,” I breathe out, slouching in my chair as I try to sort out these new feelings, wishing I had a paintbrush to explain what they mean. I run my fingers over my broken skateboard, like maybe that’ll give up some answers.

Do I care because Sen was handsome?

Nah. That isn’t right.

I’ve seen plenty of beautiful people, besides…he wasn’t just handsome.

Sen’s eyes were dark, a true black. What colours would I use to enhance that darkness? The whites would have to be as brilliant as possible. But then the angles…his nose was crooked, as if he’d broken it a couple of times, and he wore it like a badge of pride.

Sen doesn’t hide what others would think of as flaws…

Then his lips. What colour? What shape? Dusty rose? No, gotta be something browner. Peachy? Maybe. Fuck.

I need a canvas.

“Who’s Sen?” I ask, cutting off whatever Kai’s rambling about.

My bro’s mouth snaps shut. He glances at Vidar, who stands cross-armed and towering at my brother’s side. They share a quick, silent conversation that rubs me the wrong way.

“Sen is a family member of mine,” Vidar finally says, staring down at me.

I don’t question how a very white Vidar is related to a very Japanese Sen. I hated it when I’d introduce Kai, and people would immediately count up the differences between us, how Kai is light brown with green eyes and angular features, and I’m dark-skinned with round eyes and a short-ass. Then they’d wait with sympathetic faces at the ready, pretending not to have noticed the mottled scars on the left side of Kai’s face, for the words ‘Kai’s adopted’.

As if they’ve decided we aren’t a real family, and are entitled to an explanation they were never gonna get.

“Why…” I begin, tentative while rubbing at the flaking paint across my knuckles, “Why wouldn’t Sen want me?”

A small wounded noise leaves my brother, and he’s falling to his knees while grabbing my hands, forcing me to look into his too-tight smile.

“You’ve done nothing wrong, little bro. Remember that. Sen is just…” Kai trails off.

“Busy.” Vidar finishes, and my hackles rise at the finality in that single word. Like he’s an authority in my life, and I’ve just gotta shut up and listen. “So it’d be for the best if you forgot about Sen for now.”

“And stay away from the mansion,” Kai adds with a rushed, frantic edge. “Not for long, though. I promise. Soon.”

They stare at me, Kai grinning like a lunatic and Vidar like a father figure who knows best, expecting me to agree like the good little brother.

I stay silent. Not because I don’t have anything to say, but because this is complete and utter bullshit.