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“We are your people too,” he said slowly.
I laughed. “The humans in my town knew what I was, yet they never made a move to turn me in or kill me for it. Yes, they were cruel in other ways, but I wasn’t just something to be disposed of. The alfar would behead me without question. I didn’t ask for this. I don’t want this, but this is what I am. I am stuck between two races, two sets of rules that will never allow me to live a normal life.”
He turned me to face him. His eyes were stern and his face tense. “Look at me. You have people here who care about you. Who want to see you happy.”
“Is that what you were doing this morning? Making that human girl happy?” I said sharply.
He let go of my arms and ran his hand across his face, then spoke slowly “Her name is Madison,” he stopped, taking in a deep break. Something about him softened at the mention of her name. “She’s been here for over a year. She works in the kitchen. She has two brothers back in her village,” moving to the edge of the bed, he took a seat. I watched as something like pain stretched across his angelic face. “Her mother died when she was young and she was raised by her father.” He paused for a few moments, before continuing. “Her favorite cake flavor is lemon. Her favorite scent is peonies. She likes music. She wanted to be a dancer before she was taken, and she is actually very good at it.”.
“You…you care for her?” I asked.
His eyes finally found mine again. “Very much. I do my best to protect her from the others, but my influence only goes so far and when I fail, I have to find a way to live with myself.”
Crap, now I looked like the emotionless idiot. I took a seat next to him on the bed as everything about Levos began to make sense. His kindness towards me. His loyalty. His protective nature. It was all because of her. Because of Madison.
“That is why… that I why you’ve helped me?” I whispered. “Why you didn’t turn me in. Because you’re in love with a human.”
Levos nodded.
“Levos, I am so sorry for assuming. I just?—”
“You just thought that all alfar are the same? That we aren’t capable of feeling true emotions? Especially towards a human?” He laughed, turning away from me. “Have I not proven myself to you enough by now? Has Gaelin not proven his love for you?”
“Don’t bring him into this. That is a different situation altogether.”
“How? I fail Madison every time another alfar takes her into his bed. Every time someone of high-class spits on her, smacks her, looks down at her; and no matter how much I want to stand in the way of them and the pain they cause her, I can’t. I would be killed for going against my own, as you saw happen today. Gaelin is in the same situation, Gen. We do not agree with the system, but we can’t change it. There are few of us and masses of them. This is the world we live in. We have to learn to adapt and unfortunately, to look the other way.”
I held my head down. Even though I knew some of what he was saying was true, it didn’t change the searing desire inside of me to burn this whole city to the ground.
“I am sorry for the way I treated you,” I said, trying to defuse the situation.
“You don’t have to be sorry. You have every right to feel the way you do, but never forget I am your friend, and I will always be looking out for you, as best as I can.” He took my hand in his. “Now, let’s get you cleaned up. I’d rather not have to explain to my cousin why you got yourself beaten yet again.”
I took a bath, washing the blood from my skin. Levos had a clean gown set out for me when I finished. He rewrapped my hand and changed the bandage on my brand. The lashes on my back were already closed. They would be gone by evening so Gaelin would never know what happened. Levos was gentle with me. He brushed my hair, braiding it into a thick line that trailed down my back. I placed the headband around my ears, covering my secret.
“So, what are we going to do about Erendrial? He clearly has something in mind for you,” said Levos.
I laughed, thinking about how messy my life had become. “He asked me to call him Eren.”
“That seems a bit personal.”
“He also demands that I look at him in his presence. He doesn’t seem to care if we are in public or in private. He is an odd character that is for sure. Oh, and he knows it was me that spoiled his little plan with Filo.”
“He is extremely intelligent. He didn’t rise to where he is by sheer luck. Now that he knows, he will be gunning for you, so you need to be careful. You can’t be alone, not for a moment.” Levos finished my hair, moving to face me.
“I wasn’t alone today. I was in a group of people, yet he didn’t seem to care. I don’t know if he is trying to get me killed or if he just likes taunting me, but he isn’t playing by any limitations or rules that I can tell. I don’t know how to get rid of him.”
“Well, thankfully he will either be dead or on his way back to the dark court in two days. Ideally the former, but here’s to hopeful wishing.” I laughed at Levos and stood to stretch before we headed to dinner.
I kept my head down during the meal, not even looking at the other humans. An older human girl came to stand next to me by the wall, waiting to serve the alfar. I could tell she was trying to get my attention, but I didn’t respond. I was in too much pain to endure any other injuries today.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
I furrowed my brow, trying to figure out what she was talking about.
“The boy you took the beating for today. That was my younger brother, Marty.”
I exhaled, nodding at her.