Zai was pouting since I refused to repeat myself until he got us home, safely. He definitely stressed out dozens of humans, today, with his antics. His 3 brothers were playing games in the living room when we got home and they sounded rowdy. Valin and Cera had laptops in front of them and Rai had a controller, eyes fixed on the TV screen.
"Oh Zai, you're home! Come play, our team needs you," RJ yelled while waving Zai over.
He glanced at me, and I nodded to reassure him that it was okay. I'm used to being alone, he can spend time with his family for once.
"I'm busy!" He yelled back.
Did my nod not translate to him?
"I'm okay, play the game," I reassured aloud.
"Not till you say it," Zai muttered, giving me the face that he knows I'm weak to... in front of his brothers, who were fully invested in our conversation now.
"Just say whatever it is, because the random who joined us is worthless. He's dragging the whole team down and his voice is annoying... yeah I know that you can hear me! So what?!" Valin shouted into the headset with his eyes stuck on the screen of his laptop.
"I love you," I stated silently, Zai kissed me sweetly and then said,
"Louder..."
"I love you!" I repeated.
Then he got giddy and hugged me, I noticed the repulsed look on his brothers' faces so I pulled away and rushed upstairs in embarrassment,
"I thought you were asexual," Valin stated, I guess Zai was being honest about not dating much if his brother would say something like that.
And Cera looks indifferent, even if he's not saying much. I almost felt like there was nothing to worry about.
I went to Zai's room and chose one of his overpriced T-shirts to use as a nightgown. I heard my phone chime from inside my purse, so I checked it. I had a message from Zai that read,
"I love you too."
I smiled at my phone then I lay in his bed and fell asleep hugging the phone up against my chest. I woke up slightly when Zai joined me in bed, but instead of waking me, he just fell asleep at my side. In the morning he helped me get dressed for my official audition.
There were five people waiting in the studio, I was instructed to go into the recording booth. I saw several people I hadn't met before introducing themselves to Zai. He seemed indifferent, but I could see the desperation on their faces. I tried to ignore what was happening outside and just sang my heart out, for the first time sharing a song I made with others. Once the song ended, things moved along quickly, and the next thing I knew we were going over the contract.
"Talent alone isn't enough. Publicity is what launches careers, I'm going to need you to make a social media page and we're going to be working on a music video over the next month, for your song," Mark informed, then continued with, "This is Richard."
"Hi," Richard said while raising his hand, he looked like he was about my age but his clothes looked worn and his hair was messy,
"He's one of our best composers, he'll be working on a new song for you." This is all moving so quickly, that I fell into my old habit and started crying while saying,
"I can't wait, thank you all so much," Mark Whispered something to Zai then Zai was at my side and had his arm over my shoulder.
"Why are you crying?" I wiped my eyes and sobbed louder,
"I'm just so happy!" I shouted and the others in the room laughed. Only Zai remained uncharacteristically serious.
"We're done for the day, right?" Zai asked.
"Yeah, but I might call tomorrow, as soon as the music is complete, we'll need Snowe to work with our lyricist, then we're going to be busy for a while," Mark answered, then he waved Richard over and they left the room together.
Zai and I left together and when we returned to the house Cera was passed out on the living room couch with cheese puff dust all over his mouth, he also still had his controller clutched in his hands. The house felt empty as if RJ and Valin were gone. I was ushered upstairs to the room we share and Zai sat in his desk chair and weaved his fingers together, wearing an expression as if deep in thought.
"Are you... Really happy?" Zai asked, putting his hands down and gripping the arms of the chair, I sat on the bed and answered him with,
"Yes... I had given up on my dream of standing on stage, it feels so close now." I felt so grateful to him, I wanted to express it but then he opened his mouth and said,
"... The world of entertainment isn't as glamorous as it looks from the outside." Zai's words sounded like a warning from someone who had experience, "Just... don't let your guard down. Don't forget to communicate with me." I moved from my seat on the bed and sat down in his lap.
"I'll be careful," I promised while laying my forehead against his. His arms instinctively embraced me.
"... Zai..." I cooed, "It's been a whole day, I miss you."
His eyes lit up, clearly, he understood what I meant this time and our conversation ended there.
I was so shocked by my own boldness that I couldn't sleep, the excitement about working probably had an effect as well.
"I forgot to ask, how did I use lightning before?" I asked Zai who was lying under me, also wide awake.
"You really..." He sighed before continuing, "I have been sharing my power with you the whole time. It's part of the union ritual, the stronger one shares with the weaker until we stand as equals." Zai recited the lines as if they were vows. That means... I'm not weak anymore.
"Are you glad, Cera survived?" I inquired,
"I wasn't worried," Zai answered then he stroked my head and added, "Because F**k him, doesn't matter to me if he died."
That's harsh.
"Why do you share this place with him, if you don't like him?" I asked. while folding my arms on his chest and resting my chin on top of them.
"Mmm... I guess I'm in the mood to tell a story now." I squealed excitedly, triggering a smile from him as he continued, "Rai was the first to get banished since he was caught screwing one of the King's concubines. It was funny how mad Father was, even funnier to realize that no matter how mad he was, he wouldn't kill one of us. He sent Rai to Earth to live with his actual brother, Markis... Markis is just trash personified."
Zai paused for a brief moment to sigh.
"Irrelevant, anyway I took note and started causing chaos in the castle. I turned most of the staff against the king, sowing seeds of rebellion until I convinced the head cook to poison his food. It hurt him but he lived and had the cook beheaded. He angrily issued a warning to everyone else in the castle, because he had no idea who else was involved."
Zai's story was heavier that expected, but the more he spoke, the more I felt I understood him.
"Our trainer... had a crush on me, I wasn't attracted to her at all but used her regardless. Since the king trusted her I convinced her that we could only be together if he was dead. She was always a bit deranged so I knew if I said that, she'd... handle things. She spiked his food with a power suppressant... he thought he was just tired so he went to his room to take a nap." Zai smirked as he continued,
"That's where she stabbed him as he slept. Sadly... some guards were still loyal to him and stopped her, but because she lacked sense, she admitted what was motivating her, me. Well actually the Essence of Lightning inside of me. That's why I was sent here. Rai and I have always gotten along so I met up with him and we built a business together..." he hesitated before revealing the last bit of his story.
"Twelve years ago." I gasped,
"Twelve years?! Then you weren't fully grown yet! What business did that woman have looking at you?" I felt angry for multiple reasons.
"We can alter our appearance... But yeah, you're right, I did nothing to look more mature to our trainer she was attracted to a child... well technically I was almost fully grown at that point, but her obsession with me started when I was even younger," Zai added with indifference.
So much was going on Early in their life... no wonder he can't react to death normally.
"Cera and Valin always looked up to Raijian and I... so when they found out about what we were doing they left Afaria behind and agreed to help. They are both talented in their own way. They also appreciate the times I helped grant them a brief visit to the outside, so they respect me," Zai explained calmly. Then he gasped as if he remembered something stroked my head saying, "Oh, but don't worry the king can't follow us, his soul is tethered to the planet, and he won't send a bounty out on us because we're too valuable alive."
"What makes you valuable?"
"There is a prophecy that the war will end with the Chosen as the victors. There are seven on Infaniya and seven on Afaria. The prophecy is vague but they're losing the war so we're the only hope they have right now..." he cuddled me closer.
"Your heart is racing..." Zai pointed out.
"Don't get distracted now! I'm worried... it's just... very scary imagining you fighting in a war," I confessed.
"Why are you scared? I wouldn't lose, Snowe, and I definitely wouldn't be the one dying."
He sounded confident but I've never seen him fight outside of casual roughhousing with his siblings.
"But I'm also staying out of this fight so don't worry," he assured comfortingly.
"I have enough on my plate, just taking care of you. Ah... back to the point, Cera and Valin helped establish our business, so we could live comfortably on Earth. That's why they're allowed to stay even if I don't like them."
I suppose that makes sense... I still have questions about why he doesn't like them, but those can wait.