Rowan awoke to a bright sunshine. It
reflected off the shiny metal buildings and illuminated the flat.
Wearily, she realised that she was lying alone, but she could hear
someone using the shower. She felt so exposed, but then noticed that
she was covered by a sheet. Turning over, she looked around the flat.
There were some things that she didn’t notice
last night, such as the wide screen television on a trolley, with a DVD
Player underneath. Her clothes were folded up neatly and placed on one
of the cream furred sofas. She also realised there were steps behind
the sofas, spaced out and rising to the window-wall.
The shower switched off. Rowan sat up, holding the
sheet in place to hide her exposed parts. Looking around, it
didn’t seem obvious what to do. Should she put on her clothes?
Nothing was cooking. Kiyor then stepped out of the bathroom. He had a
towel wrapped around him, another small one slung over his right
shoulder; he was very damp. Seeing the young woman watching him made
him blush.
He smiled sheepishly. “Rowan…you’re awake.”
She couldn’t answer. All Rowan could do was stare and feel colour coming to her cheeks.
“I should get you some clothes,” said
Kiyor. He quickly hid away his face, but walked away dignified.
“Why can’t I wear my clothes?” asked Rowan quickly.
“They don’t fit in to the Light Kingdom,” he answered as he disappeared around the corner.
There was a sound of a door opening, then there were
prods and muffles. Rowan just sat where she was, clueless. She stood
up, wrapped in the sheet and walked to the window-wall, where she
looked down. The Light Citizens freely showed their expressions,
whether they were smiling or arguing. They were only dotted around, but
it seemed too early for crowds. There seemed to be no dominance; people
treated each other like equals.
A couple appeared to each suggest things, then
compromise. Dark Citizens often settled their differences by following
the dominant personality. Rowan suddenly thought about the relationship
of her parents: her mother always settled the argument. She then
noticed that the Light Citizens only wore dark colours as accessories.
“I got you some clothes,” said Kiyor.
She turned around. He was standing next to a sofa
and wearing a pair of blue jeans (only). In one hand he held a loose,
short sleeved, pink shirt and the other held purple cycling shorts.
“I’ll put them here.” He laid them
next to her clothes. “They should fit you. These are my
Mum’s and you’re just about her size.”
She stared at him. … She angrily turned
around and made a short growl, leaving Kiyor very confused-and
speechless.
… “Rowan..?”
“What are you?” she demanded. She looked
at him like a very angry cat ready to attack. He was still confused.
“Korat said you’re both and neither! Light or Dark? Which
one can you be? You can only be one!”
He slowly nodded. “You figured out my mother’s a Light Citizen.”
“AND YOU’RE NOT ASHAMED TO ADMIT
IT!” She was afraid to leave her spot, but still looked stormy.
“What kind of vermin are you? Breaking up the night-time of the
Dark Kingdom?”
Kiyor’s face was struck with shock and his
eyes were welling with tears. “Vermin? Is that what you think I
am?” Rowan looked stunned. She then looked lost. “You
don’t know…you don’t understand what I am. At night,
I am a pure Dark Citizen: I’m cold, merciless, uneasily affected.
But during the day, I am as I am now. You shouldn’t jump to
conclusions Rowan.” … Both of them looked unsure what to
do. … “I’ll…go make breakfast.”
Kiyor went to the kitchen.
“What is it we’re doing?” asked
Rowan with a saddened face. She could walk easily in her white socks
and trainers.
“Since we couldn’t find the Coven in the
Dark Kingdom, we’ll look for them in the Light Kingdom, when they
relax and take a nap,” explained Kiyor. He now wore an
aquatic-green vest with his jeans-and trainers.
“And how will we do that?”
“We’re going to ask some Witches for help.”
“Won’t they be hard to deal with?”
“No,” he said this as if it was obvious.
“They don’t work like the Sorcerer’s Guild; there are
small groups of Witches called Covens and they gladly offer services to
those in need, but they’re usually small potions and such.
They’ll probably charge something for what
we want them to do though.”
They were walking along a High Street, which was
gradually getting busier. A few policemen walked up and down.
Merchants advertised in all kinds of ways to sell produce: large signs,
shouting, mascots parading up and down.
Kiyor stopped at one building that said:
‘Candlelight: Natural Services for All’. The door, its
frames and window frames were a dark brown wood.
He faced Rowan. “Let
me do the talking, got it?” She nodded, but was confused. They went inside.