Cards Of The Silent King-Chapter 27: Ember and the Cat

Kaito sat on the bench under the old oak tree. The lunch bell had rung ten minutes ago. The courtyard was loud. Students laughed. Chairs scraped against concrete.

Kaito did not eat.

He held his bento box. The lid was closed. His left hand was in his jacket pocket. His fingers touched the Seven of Hearts.

The card was warm. Too warm.

Kaito thought: You are not supposed to be out.

He did not move his head. He scanned the courtyard with his eyes only. Nothing looked wrong. No smoke. No panic. Just students eating lunch.

Kaito thought: Where are you.

A small flicker caught his eye. Near the planter box. Behind the thick bushes where the stray cats usually slept.

Kaito stood up.

Ryota said: "Hey. Where are you going. You barely touched your egg."

Kaito said: "Bathroom."

Ryota said: "Again. That is the third time today. Your bladder is weird."

Kaito did not answer. He walked away. His pace was steady. Not too fast. Not too slow.

He reached the planter box. The noise of the courtyard faded behind the leaves. He crouched down.

A small orange glow pulsed in the shadows.

Ember said: "Hello."

Kaito said: "Inside."

Ember said: "But look. It has ears."

Kaito looked past the flame. A stray cat sat on the dirt. It was grey and scruffy. One ear was torn. It stared at the small fire human sitting in front of it.

The cat blinked. It did not run.

Ember said: "I think it likes me. Do I smell like fish. I want to smell like fish." 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

Kaito said: "You are fire."

Ember said: "I can be smoke. Smoke smells like things."

The cat reached out a paw. It tapped Ember’s shoulder. Ember giggled. The sound was like crackling wood.

Kaito said: "Ember."

Ember said: "He is lonely. Can we keep him. He fits in your pocket."

Kaito said: "No."

Ember slumped. Her flames dimmed slightly. She looked like a child who had been told no.

Kaito thought: If anyone sees this, the whole school evacuates. Or worse, they investigate. I cannot handle an investigation.

He reached for the Seven of Hearts in his pocket. He needed to pull her back. But she was solid right now. Physical.

Kaito said: "Card. Now."

Ember said: "Five more minutes. He has not even told me his name."

Kaito said: "Cats do not speak."

Ember said: "He speaks with tails. Look."

The cat flicked its tail. It wrapped around Ember’s leg. Ember beamed.

Footsteps approached. Gravel crunched.

Kaito froze. He shifted his body. He blocked the view of the planter box with his own shoulders.

Ryota said: "There you are. Hana said you looked weird. I said you always look weird. She said this is different."

Kaito said: "I am fine."

Ryota said: "You are crouching behind a bush. During lunch. That is not fine. That is suspicious."

Kaito said: "Dropped something."

Ryota said: "What. Your dignity. Because I have not seen that in years."

Kaito did not laugh. He kept his back to Ryota. Behind him, Ember was humming. A low, warm sound.

Ryota said: "Move over. Let me see."

Kaito said: "No."

Ryota said: "Why. Is it a secret girlfriend. Is it a secret boyfriend. Is it a secret raccoon."

Kaito said: "Go away."

Ryota said: "Rude. But okay. Just checking. Hana wants to know if you are coming to the study group."

Kaito said: "Maybe."

Ryota said: "That means no. I will tell her you said yes. She will bring cookies."

Kaito said: "Tell her no."

Ryota said: "Too late. I already texted her."

Ryota leaned forward. He tried to look past Kaito’s shoulder.

Behind Kaito, Ember flared. She was curious about the new voice. Her light brightened. The shadows behind the bush glowed orange.

Ryota said: "Why is it bright back there. Did you find a lighter."

Kaito said: "Reflection."

Ryota said: "From what. The sun is behind a cloud."

Kaito needed to end this. He could not hold Ember back physically while arguing. She was slipping.

Kaito thought: Sorry.

Kaito moved his hand. He tapped the card in his pocket. He pushed his will into it.

Kaito said: "Ember. Return."

Ember said: "Wait. I did not say goodbye."

Kaito said: "Go."

A swirl of smoke erupted behind the bush. It vanished instantly. The grey cat shook itself. It looked at Kaito. It looked at Ryota.

The cat yawned. It stood up and walked away into the deeper bushes.

Ryota said: "Did you hear something. Sounded like a whisper."

Kaito said: "Wind."

Ryota said: "There is no wind."

Kaito stood up. He brushed dirt off his pants. His face was calm. His heart was beating faster than usual.

Kaito said: "Let’s go."

Ryota said: "You are hiding something. I know it. I do not know what. But I know it."

Kaito said: "You know many things."

Ryota said: "Mostly wrong things. But sometimes right things."

They walked back toward the building. Kaito kept his hand in his pocket. He felt the Seven of Hearts. It was cool now.

Kaito thought: That was too close.

Inside his mind, Ember sulked.

Ember said: "He was nice."

Kaito thought: You almost exposed us.

Ember said: "I was careful. I did not burn him."

Kaito thought: You glowed.

Ember said: "It was a friendly glow."

Kaito thought: Do not do it again.

Ember said: "Unless another cat comes. Then I make no promises."

Kaito sighed. Just once. Quietly.

Ryota said: "Was that a sigh. Did you just sigh. This is a historic moment."

Kaito said: "Ignore it."

Ryota said: "I am writing it down. Kaito Ashen sighed on October 14th. Future generations will know."

Kaito said: "Delete it."

Ryota said: "Never. This is leverage."

They reached the classroom door. Hana was standing there. She held two juice boxes. She looked at Kaito.

Hana said: "You were gone a while."

Kaito said: "Line was long."

Hana said: "For the bathroom."

Kaito said: "Yes."

Hana smiled. It was a small smile. She knew he was lying. She did not care.

Hana said: "Here. Apple flavor."

Kaito took the juice box. His fingers brushed hers. Her hand was warm.

Kaito said: "Thanks."

Hana said: "One word. I am counting."

Kaito said: "Thank you."

Hana said: "Three. You are spoiling me."

She went inside. Ryota followed. Kaito paused at the door.

He looked back at the courtyard. The planter box was quiet. The cat was gone.

Kaito thought: Next time. Put a lock on the card.

He knew he would not.

He went inside. The bell rang. Class started.

Kaito sat at his desk. He opened his notebook. He did not write anything. He just tapped his pen.

Ember said: "He had soft fur."

Kaito thought: Sleep.

Ember said: "Fine. But I am dreaming about cats."

Kaito closed the notebook. He looked at the front of the class. The teacher was writing equations on the board.

Everything was normal.

Kaito kept his hand near his pocket. Just in case.