บท 100: Heartstrings
Braum ended up getting it on the back of his hand, and I teased him about not getting it the same as me. Joker had already left, but Braum laughed and then clenched his fist over his heart.
"I still hold the Guild in the same place. I know it seems like I am just abandoning Joker, but I will tell you our reason in the future, but it is too soon yet," Braum said with a smile. "Don't worry about doing too much Gem Heart diving. I will get a crew together for it and we will get a steady stream of income from that."
"That's good, but I am not done with the sea yet, there is still more I want to know and you need to tell me about the La Khomtep. I will be making a trip back out tomorrow with you, but I want to look at the wrecks," I said.
"Would I be able to come down this time?" Lesha asked.
"Yes, beautiful, I want to see if we can get some supplies so we can spend time down there. I think there might be other things of value there were left behind. Once a ship sinks, it becomes nothing more than just another wreck," I explained, while taking Lesha's hand to walk over to the siblings.
"If you are talking about underwater breathing gear, I can get some lined up for you and the girls. I will leave you to deal with them, but if I can say one thing. Don't take that collar off her yet, we can take her with us tomorrow and I will drop you off at a small island that's no fat off the shore," Braum told me with a serious expression.
"Understood, I will wait, and thank you for the warning. I guess it really is that dangerous then?" I asked quietly as Braum was leaving.
"You have no idea. Let's just say that your little healing won't work if you take it off when there are other people around," Braum said quietly as he left.
I turned back to Lesha before heading over to the waiting siblings. Her eyes looked startled, but I gave her a look. Lesha let her face relax, and I smiled at her.
I didn't want to go over there to the two of them with any worried or hostile feelings. This power girl didn't ask for this and the world treated her like she chose to hurt people.
I gave my heartstrings a good stretch before taking Lesha's hand and walking over to the pair. I had a feeling that this was not going to be a pretty tale, so I tried to steel myself while still trying to show love and compassion.
"I am sorry that we made you both wait so long. Where would you like your guild crests? They don't hurt, so don't worry about that," I said to Victor and Alana, but both of them looked worried as Lesha and I sat across from them.
"You don't need to hear our story? What about my sister's power? Look, lady, I don't want to seem ungrateful, but I don't want you just to cast us out once you find out," Victor said while keeping his eye locked on mine.
Alana was staring at her lap where she was fidgeting with her hands. Nervous, this was all too much for her, and he brother's constant reminder wasn't helping.
"Victor, where would you like your tattoo? Your sister will tell Lesha and me what she needs to, and you can go upstairs and find Corbit. He will help you get settled in, but we will take care of your sister for a bit. You have done so well as the older brother, and she is lucky to have you, but you can take a break for a bit, okay?" I asked Victor, and Lesha squeezed my hand.
Victor tried to talk, but his breath was caught, and he was gritting his teeth. Then, Alana touched his arm, and he took a sharp breath in, turning to her.
"Is this okay? Are… will you be okay? I can stay if you want, they can't make me leave!" Victor said with glassy eyes, but Alana shook her head and spook up.
"It's okay, go see Corbit, I can stay with the ladies, they don't look like they are going to be mean to me. You need to go and have some fun, okay? I will try to get better," Alana said, giving Victor a small smile.
The entire scene squeezed my heart, but I was happy to see that she had someone. Having her brother would have been the only person she could rely on when even her own parents failed her.
Victor pulled his shirt aside to reveal his left breast, and I reached forward and placed my hand on her chest. I let a small part of the flame extend from my center and marked him as a new Guild Member.
Even though all the emotion that was like led on my heart, Victor let a smile crack his face in half. That broke some of the tension that was building up around us.
Both Victor and Alana stood up and hugged, then I offered my hand to Alana, but she shook her head. Victor let go of her and held her at arm's length, but Alana spoke up.
"I just want to wait until I tell Miss K about everything," Alana said when Victor tried to object to her denial.
"No matter what you tell me that is not going to change how I feel about you joining my Guild," I said resolutely.
"She isn't kidding, you are stuck with us now. Don't worry, we will go up and see the other girls and get you cleaned up. You look about Mei's size, and those clothes look like they are about to walk right off you," Lesha said to Alana while coming over to take her by the hand and pull her away from Victor.
"Don't worry, your sister is in good hand, the worst she will get is three hundred questions from the girls," I said to Victor pushing him forward to the stairs, but he stopped and turned back to me.
"Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart! I will work hard to become the best I can be for this Guild and to repay you for what you have done for us!" Victor said after bowing as low as he could, and then he turned and ran up the stairs.
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