Chapter 14: Chapter 14

“So, your name is Paris?” Leon’s father, whose name I’d gathered was Evander, asked for the millionth time that evening. I simply nodded because I knew if I replied it would be something really rude. “What on earth possessed your parents to give you such a name?”

I didn’t even understand what the big deal was because as far as I was aware, Paris was a little common. It wasn’t that rare to find someone named Paris.

“Evander,” his wife, whose beautiful name was Cambria, said to shut him up.

He glared at her. “That was an innocent question. Besides, hasn’t it bothered you ever since we met her because it has bothered me.”

“Can you not be embarrassing right now?” Leon asked with a groan dropping his spoon, losing his appetite like I’d lost mine minutes before Evander decided to interrogate me.

“Leonidas, don’t speak to your father like that,” Evelina said with a threatening tone as she stared at him with the stormy eyes, she had in common with the rest of her family members.

I cleared my throat before Leon could retort. “My mother’s name is France, and her husband’s name is Eiffel. It was a comic thing on her part.”

“Why would your mother be named France?” Evander asked with a frown.

“I don’t know because my grandmother died before I was born and I’d have asked her if she was alive,” I said after fighting the urge to snap at him.

“Why didn’t you ask your mother then?” Evander asked showing absolutely no sympathy.

I decided that I’d had it up to my neck with his attitude and was just about to let him have it but Leon beat me to it. “Can you be a little more considerate?” he shouted. “If this is why you asked me to bring her here, stop it because I’ll take her out if you keep up with this madness.”

“That’s no way to talk to your father, baby,” his mother said softly as she flashed an apologetic smile my way.

Evander glared at his wife then Leon. “I’m just trying to know more about your so-called best friend and I haven’t been able to figure out for the life of me, why you left us to stay with her?”

“It is none of your business!” Leon shouted and I saw his veins popping out.

He was getting angry and I knew that. I thought of being a good person and talking to him to calm him down but I decided that it would be a sort of payback since I didn’t like Evander one bit.

“Can you be a little more mature and stop trying to throw a tantrum like you always do?” Stefanos said sending an annoyed look Leon’s way.

“When adults are talking, you keep quiet,” Evander said as he glared at Stefanos before turning to Leon. “You are my son and I will not have you insult me in this manner over a human.”

Leon pointed at me, still looking at his father. “This human has better company than most of you so don’t even try to say rubbish about her.”

That singular statement resulted in a major argument between the members of the Minos family excluding Tobias who had been silently eating his food without saying anything. I understood that he was used to this and thought better to be quiet than exchange words with them.

“Are they always like this?” I asked him trying to block their arguments out of my head. He looked at me, studying me for a while, before saying, “You can only imagine.”

I nodded slowly and turned back to him after glancing at the still arguing family. “Why don’t you do anything to stop it?”

“I tried all those years but I eventually gave up. They always stop on their own,” he said with a shrug.

I groaned. “Well, now I’m bored and the only friend I have here is Leon and he is in the argument. This isn’t turning out like I expected it to.”

He nodded, looked at his family, then turned back to me. “What do you say we go outside and talk? Get to know each other better?”

“I’m game as long as I’m far away from this mess,” I said with a grin which he returned. “Let’s go.”

We stood up and made to leave and Evelina was the first to notice. “Where are you going?”

“We obviously have better things to do than to watch you argue so I’m going to get to know this wonderful human better. Carry on with your discussion,” Tobias said in the calmest voice I’d ever heard.

He took my arm and led me outside the dining room and to the terrace where there were two seats for us to sit on. I knew we weren’t being followed and the fresh air just calmed every nerve I’d grown since meeting Leon’s family.

“I apologize on behalf of my family. It’s one of those things,” he muttered and I felt for him. He probably had to apologize to everyone he met with his family.

I smiled at him. “It’s fine. I can actually relate with all that. My family isn’t exactly friendly to each other either.”

He chuckled. “We weren’t always like that. Our mother died and it was like we lost the one thing holding us together.”

My eyes widened. “Your mother is dead? What about Cambria?”

“Our step mother but she’s not evil so she tries,” he said with a smile. “You didn’t know? I’d thought Leon would tell you. You seem close.”

I sighed and looked at the dark sky. “We are. I guess he just doesn’t trust me like I think he does.”

“I think he trusts you. He told me that himself and Leon does a lot of things but he doesn’t lie. He really trusts you and you’re what he needs.”

“He doesn’t tell me anything.”

“It’s going to be hard for him, you know. He was always the closest to our mother and they had this bond that none of us could ever have. He hates talking about her.”

“Why does he always act like he’s fine then?”

“He had to grow up early. I was such an immature jerk then and my siblings were younger so he had to take on some responsibilities neither of us had to deal with.”

I looked at him. “Two of you are really close, huh?”

He nodded with a fond smile gracing his lips. “In this crazy family of mine, he’s the only one that actually gets me.”

I laughed. “It’s hard to think that you guys aren’t human. I mean, look at you. Look at your family. Thinking of you as anything other than human seems impossible.”

“We are still human. Just hybrids of some sort,” he said with a shrug. “Besides, we hardly ever have to transform. We only do when we’re being threatened.”

“There goes my dream of seeing a griffin for the first time in my life,” I said feigning disappointment. “And I was going to take a picture and post it.”

Tobias laughed. “I see why Leon hangs around you.”

“I’m too awesome for this world,” I said with a dramatic sigh before grinning. “I agree.”

“You’re not so bad yourself.”

He laughed again and I realized what a wonderful sound it was. When I thought about it, he was actually too similar to Leon. Their looks, their laugh, their smile…it was almost uncanny.

“You know Leon might end up taking over from my father if he dies.” “Seriously?”

“That depends on if I refuse to take over. If I do, then yes.” “Does Leon want to?”

He looked at me. “What do you think?”

I had my answer. “What about Stefanos? He seems so intent on ruling.”

Tobias bit his lip before sighing and saying, “He’s not a very good person and father knows that. It would be a mistake to allow him to rule.”

“What about you?”

“I’m not fit to rule and I know that. Father knows that too but he doesn’t want Leon drawn into all that without training.”

“And Leon refuses the training?” “Why do you think father hates you?” “I still don’t get it.”

He sighed. “For the training, Leon has to come back to Qethen. There’s no reason for him to be here other than you.”

“Oh,” I muttered.

“But it’s a good thing. I don’t want Leon to be tied to Qethen either. It can be very exhausting and you’ve given him a life somewhere else. You’ve given him purpose.”

I frowned. “But if you guys all live in Qethen, why was he here when we were three? Or is he older than he claims?”

Tobias burst into laughter immediately. “His age is the same as yours. We all came to Capemun Grove for business then and he met you while he was out with mother. He refused to come back and father allowed him on one condition.”

“What was it?”

“That he would school in Qethen.”

That explained a lot then. The whole private school he never knew its location and all. I had been a child so I easily believed him but now, I could see all the pieces finally coming into place.

“Do you understand now?” Tobias asked and I simply nodded. “I just have one thing to ask you.”

“Anything.”

“Don’t do anything that will send Leon back to Qethen because if he ever leaves, I promise he’s not coming back.” He stood up with a sad smile. “The only thing I ever regret is not leaving with Leon and mother when I had the choice.”

“Why is Qethen so bad?”

He chuckled humorlessly. “Pray you never find yourself there because then you would understand.”

I would have said something, anything, but I had no reply to what he said and just silently watched as he walked away. I didn’t understand then why he made it seem like Leon was only with us for me but I still didn’t get it. It was almost like there was something he tried to tell me that I missed.

I finally stood up headed to tell Leon that I was ready to go back home. I noticed Tobias and Leon standing there by the hallway that led to the terrace, talking to each other. I decided to eavesdrop a bit before listening.

“What did father say?” It was Tobias. Leon was quiet. “Tell me, what did he say?”

“What else does he say?” Leon said with a sigh and he raked his hands through his hair. “I just wish father wouldn’t be such a pain at times.”

“You know he’s just looking out for us, right?”

“I know but it’s almost like he forgets that we are old enough to make our own decisions. I don’t even get what he has against Stefanos. The kid is willing to do anything for father.”

“You know why.” Leon sighed again. “What are you going to do again?” “The opposite of what he wants.”

“I didn’t think you were the type to lose your sanity for a girl.” “I didn’t either but here I am.”

I decided to let my presence be known and I walked to their presence, clearing my throat so they would hear me and acknowledge me. Leon lifted himself from the wall as he stuck his hands in his pocket.

“How long have you been here?”

“I just came now, actually. Can you take me home?” I asked adding the extra pleading in my voice.

He glanced at Tobias. “Tell father I’ll be back soon.” Tobias nodded and he patted Leon’s shoulder as he looked at me. “Let’s go.”

“Thank you.”