The Wishing Game

Chapter 19

NINETEEN

M aybe getting food wasn't such a good idea after all. I'd been so hungry after the events of the day that I ordered almost the entire menu. Knowing that Cer still had a wad of cash, I reasoned that he could afford this.

But now, noticing Thea's longing expression as she stares at my juicy steak while she's only having a mushroom risotto breaks my heart.

Her brother had been adamant she could not have meat—in any shape or form—going as far as taking the menu from her and ordering on her behalf. She clearly doesn't look too happy about that.

For himself, Cer ordered a hearty portion of vegan mac and cheese, while Ze refused to get anything. In his words, he would not deign to eat lowly human food. Well, his loss.

I stare down at the plate in front of me, my mouth already watering. Starving from all the ghost acrobatics, I'd decided to go for two portions of medium-rare ribeye steak with some mashed potatoes on the side. I've been thinking about this juicy meat for the last twenty-four hours. And now that it's in front of me...

The meat is crusted with pepper, the inner part a pink-reddish color as more juice pours out as I slice a small bite. Bringing it to my mouth, I chew slowly, enjoying the rich flavor and the soft texture.

"This is divine," I moan, unable to help myself. "Thank you for buying us dinner, Cer!"

He gives me a nod, though I doubt he heard me. He's too focused on his own food, wolfing down his mac and cheese. Going by the way he eats with so much gusto, I'd say he's pretty happy with his choice.

Even Thea, after a little pouting that she wasn't allowed meat, decides to give her food a chance. Her face lights up at the first taste of the risotto, almost as if she couldn't believe a non-meat dish could be just as yummy.

"This isn't that bad either," she notes, taking another bite.

Ze, on the other hand, is merely sitting with his spine straight, his arms crossed across his chest, and his chin tipped up—as if he's too good to even sit at the same table as us.

I notice from the corner of my eye that he's staring intently at me, probably judging me for my choice of food. But hey, I lived under the poverty line for eighteen years of my life. Back then, I could only dream of having a taste of steak. So of course the moment I could afford it, that became my favorite food. Maybe it was my way of proving to myself that I'd surpassed my circumstances—that I was now able to afford that type of food.

"Why can't you guys eat meat?"

"It's not that we can't eat meat. It's that we can only eat meat from a few select animals from our home," Cer explains. "We're not exactly compatible with your meat."

"Is that why Thea got sick?"

"Thea is a different story." His lips curl up as he glances at his sister. "She's still in training, so she isn't allowed any type of meat. Animal protein interferes with her energy flow and creates instability in her body."

I nod along, though half his words sound foreign to my ears.

"That's a poor explanation, Cerenios," Ze intervenes in a scholarly tone.

Cer raises his brows at him, tipping his chin in an amused fashion to prompt Ze to explain further.

"Do tell, then. What is a proper explanation?" I ask, refraining from rolling my eyes at him.

"There are only three animals in our world whose meat we can eat, but their meats are not equal," he says, raising a finger as he gets into his teaching mode. "After one has finished their training and passed their exams, they can consume the meat of the first animal, which is called a luago . After they have practiced for some time and have passed a few more levels, they are able to eat the meat of the second animal, which is called a praga . Only those who attain the highest level in their field are allowed to eat the meat of the third and most precious animal, the doradora ."

"What do you mean by allowed? " I frown.

"Technically, after you've passed your first exams, your body can handle the intake of animal protein from all three," Cer fires at Ze.

Unbothered, Ze shakes his finger at him.

"Yes, one could theoretically consume meat from all three. But the doradora is a mythical beast that is very rare, and it's reserved only for those at the highest levels. It's actually codified in our law that no lower rank can hunt or eat its flesh. And after they made a law for the doradora , they made another one for the praga , since it's become endangered in the last few thousand years."

"I see." I nod. That sounds awfully tyrannical to me—limiting what people can eat based on their ranks. "Let me guess, you're one of those who can eat the doradora ."

"Of course," Ze replies casually.

Thea stifles a laugh while Cer shakes his head at Ze.

"Oh, I see. So you cannot bring yourself to eat lowly human meat when you can eat your mythical beast."

" Of course ," he replies again, this time in indignation. He narrows his eyes at me. Yet it doesn't escape me the way his gaze dips to my plate every now and then.

A mischievous smile clings to my lips as I cut another piece of steak, bringing it to my mouth. At first, his gaze is on the juice oozing from the steak, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down as he swallows. Slowly, he brings his eyes to my mouth, watching as I chew. And because I'm in an extra petty mood, I purposefully chew slowly, letting out sounds of enjoyment as I marvel at how tasty and delicious the steak is. I repeat the action, not surprised when he continues to stare at my food, his lips flattened into a thin line.

After I'm almost done with my first steak, he finally speaks.

"What meat is that?"

"Beef."

"What animal is it from?"

"A cow." I giggle. He's too clueless about this world.

Ze frowns.

Shaking my head at him, I pull out my phone—well, technically it's the phone Cer stole for me, but it's the only one I have for now—and I quickly google a picture of a cow to show him.

He nods to himself as he peruses the picture.

"It is very similar to our praga ," he muses, bringing his hand to his chin.

"Nice," I say as I move to the next piece. What else can I reply to that? Cer and Thea are busy having a hushed conversation across the table, so that leaves me with grumpy Mr. I'm-too-good-for-you-humans—the same one who's still staring intently at my food.

"It is a good animal," he continues, almost as if he's trying to tell me something.

"Very good. It's the best in our world."

He nods again, seemingly pensive.

"And you say this is an illustrious establishment?"

"Didn't you see the prices on the menu?" I reply as I swallow my food. I reach for a glass of water to chase it down. "This is wagyu beef—the most expensive type. Those cows are more pampered than some humans."

"I see..."

I spare a glance at him, my lips trembling with mirth. He ruminates over that information, a deep frown on his face as he tries to steal peeks at my food.

"Do you want to try it?" I finally ask, knowing his dignified self would never ask for it.

He whips his gaze to mine, blinking slowly. He opens his mouth, and I already know he will utter some—clearly—fake outrage. So instead of waiting for his tongue-lashing, I cut half of my second steak and place it on a plate in front of him.

He stares at me, then at the steak, then back at me. He narrows his eyes at the meat for a few seconds.

"Fine. I will try this cow of yours," he says in the most serious tone ever.

I burst out laughing, and he shoots me an annoyed look. He straightens his spine and, picking up the utensils, he cuts gracefully into the steak. His movements are slow, precise. Grabbing a piece with his fork, he brings it to his mouth, his lips closing over the succulent meat.

My eyes are glued to him as I await his reaction. I'm not the only one as Thea and Cer have stopped their little tête-à-tête to gawk at Ze too.

He chews slowly, his expression pensive.

I watch his throat as he swallows, waiting for the verdict.

"So?" Thea is the first to inquire. "Tell us. How is it?"

"It is..." he trails off as he licks his lips.

We all lean forward, our ears perked. After all, what could be more important than what the mighty Ze has to say about the best cut of meat in this world?

"Passable," he eventually says.

I blink at him.

"Passable?" I repeat, my tone incredulous.

"It does not compare with a praga. And it is far below a doradora ," he adds. Yet despite the meat being passable, he continues to eat. Bite after bite until the plate is cleared. Grabbing a napkin from the table, he presses it against his lips in slow, deliberate movements, wiping his mouth as if he were the King of England himself.

"Passable..." I mutter under my breath as I stab my fork into my steak, bringing the entire piece to my mouth and taking a huge bite out of it. I forgo cutting it into small bites altogether, simply eating the big chunk from the fork.

His eyes widen at me, his expression horrified.

I munch on it with gusto. He might think it's just passable for his superior palate, but it's perfectly fine for mine. And as I finish, I clean the plate with the remaining potatoes, not leaving a single drop of sauce on it.

"You humans have deplorable table manners." He tips his chin up, the corners of his mouth turning down.

That's it! I've had it with Mr. Superiority.

Taking the napkin off my lap, I dump it over my plate and get up.

"Luce?" Thea asks, her lashes fluttering in confusion.

"I'm going to the restroom to pick at my teeth since I don't want to offend His Majesty's sensibilities with my deplorable table manners ," I grit out. Glancing at Ze before I leave, I give him a death glare that should convey my current feelings for him. For God's sake, it's always one step forward and a hundred back with this... whatever he may be.

And of course, since Ze cannot not have the last word, he raises his forefinger to make one last note.

"I am not a king— yet . You may call me my liege ." His piercing gaze meets my incensed one. "But for you, sir will suffice." The corners of his mouth tip up.

My nostrils flare at him.

"Fine. Sir Sparkles, as you wish," I say, bending forward in a mock bow.

His mouth drops open in shock, his eyes wide. He peers down at his black outfit, which is still covered in glitter, and for the first time, he's speechless.

I stick my tongue out at him before I dash out to the restroom.

* * *

I splash water over my face, glancing into the mirror as I take in my bedraggled appearance. A shower would be nice. A change of clothes too.

Taking a deep breath, I turn off the faucet as I lean against the sink.

"Nikki?" I whisper out loud. "Are you here?"

I wait minutes on end for him to reply, but the only sound in the small restroom is that of my own breathing.

"Please, Nikki. Give me a sign if you're here," I speak louder.

For a moment, panic swells in my breast as the thought that he might have been taken by the Collectors crosses my mind. Would they do that? Take any soul in the vicinity? I must question Thea about it...

He can't be gone, right?

I know it's irrational to feel such fear strike me when I know I'll see him again at the end of this game. But just having him with me and knowing he is by my side is the support I highly need. Since we left the hacienda together, I don't think we've spent more than one day apart at a time. Certainly, never without speaking every hour or so. But now...

"Please let me know you're by my side," I whisper.

Yet it's in vain. I continue to wait, calling for him, pleading with him.

Maybe he can't show himself to me. Maybe his energy is depleted and he needs to recharge. Then he'll come back by my side.

God, even if I can't touch him, I just want to feel his presence around me. I just want to know that at a molecular or mystical level, his atoms hug mine. That is enough to keep me going.

Combing my fingers through my hair until I look halfway decent, I prepare to go back to the dinner table. I close the door of the bathroom behind me, but as I whip my gaze up, I find Ze standing in the hallway, swaying slightly on his feet.

He frowns when he sees me, taking a step closer.

"Are you all right?" I ask, a little worried. Hadn't Cer said our food isn't compatible with their bodies?

"I... Where am I?" He looks disoriented as he rests his arm against the wall, bringing his fingers to his temples and massaging them lightly.

"You don't look too good, Ze. Maybe you should sit down?"

He doesn't answer me, merely letting out a soft grunt. His eyes are closed, his lips half-parted as if he's struggling to breathe.

"Ze?" I call his name again as I reach his side, tentatively reaching out to touch him. All previous animosities are quickly forgotten as I remember the way Thea had reacted to the bacon. It had been excruciating to watch. I can't imagine what it must be like to experience it. "Is it the meat? Is it making you sick?"

He mumbles something under his breath that I can't understand, but it's clear something's not quite right with him.

He's too much of a giant for me to carry him, but I manage to help him into one of the individual bathroom stalls. As soon as I close the door, he slips from my grip, falling to the floor with a thud. I catch myself just in time not to lose my balance and fall on top of him.

"Ze," I say as I crouch in front of him.

His eyes are droopy, his face flushed. Pursing my lips, I get to my feet and grab some paper towels, folding them together in a thick layer. I quickly wet them before I bring them to his forehead, gently tapping the makeshift cold compress across his skin.

"It's the meat, isn't it? Do you need to throw up?"

He lets out a mumbled, unintelligible sound.

"Is that a yes?" I ask, ready to help him move to the toilet.

He shakes his head lightly.

"I'll be fine," he finally says in a ragged tone.

"You don't look fine." I sigh, softly pressing the cold compress to his cheek. I slowly move it around his face. He's a little hot to the touch, but he doesn't seem like he's running a fever.

He's leaning against the wall, his head tipped back, his mouth slightly parted. His breathing is labored, and every inhale and exhale is rough and pained.

Worry mounts inside me as I don't know what I can do to help him. Should I call Cer? He seemed to know what to do with Thea. Maybe he can help Ze too.

"I should ask the others for help," I murmur.

"No," Ze rasps, catching my arm and stopping my movements. He wraps his fingers around my wrist, his hold soft but firm. "I told you I will be fine. It's just a slight inconvenience," he grits out.

His gaze pins me to the spot, lucid and unyielding.

"Cer helped Thea. I'm sure he could help you too?—"

"No," he repeats. His eyes on mine, he studies me with a strange glint.

I raise my brows in question, rotating my hand in his grasp as I attempt to pull it back. He doesn't let go, however. Instead, he tightens his grip, pulling me closer.

"Why are you being nice to me?" he asks, his breath fanning my face. His voice is crisp and clear, a contrast to his previous mumblings.

"What do you mean?" I frown, trying to pull back.

"This... Why are you being nice to me?" he repeats. His expression is puzzled, his gaze searching for an ineffable something in my features.

"Why would I not be nice to you?" I counter. Sure, he might be a surly asshole who doesn't know how not to be rude, but he's not that bad. He might have attitude problems, but his actions so far have proven that he means well. And I'd rather judge someone by their actions than their words.

"No one else is," he states with a straight face. His voice doesn't falter. He truly means it.

"What about Thea and Cer? They're nice to you."

He snorts.

"They tolerate me. That is a different matter."

"How can you think that?" I blink in shock. Even to me, it's clear that Cer cares for Ze, and according to Thea, he respects and admires him.

He narrows his eyes at me.

"It is simply the way things are." He shrugs. "I know I am not...easy to be around," he admits reluctantly. He looks out of his element as he averts his gaze.

The corners of my lips tip up.

"Is that your way of apologizing for your abysmal behavior?"

"Of course not. I never apologize," he huffs out. "And you do have deplorable table manners," he points out matter-of-factly.

I shake my head at him, amused.

"You're a very odd person, Ze," I muse aloud.

"So I've been told," he replies, his shoulder blades angling up. There's that shrug again. It's the only sign that he's less than comfortable with the topic because it's the only time he's not his confident self.

He finally lets go of my hand, and I continue to tend to him. I swipe the compress over his forehead in slow, gentle movements, eliciting a small sound of approval from him—something akin to a kitten purring at being petted.

A hidden smile is on the edge of his lips as his lids flutter shut. His breathing is not as erratic as before, his body slowly relaxing. Even the tension in his muscles evaporates as he makes himself comfortable. His chest rises and falls in a steady rhythm, almost as if it were imitating the motion of my hand. When the compress becomes lukewarm, I lean back, about to get up to wet it again. But once more, he stops me, catching my wrist. The compress slips from my hand, but he simply flattens my palm, bringing it to his cheek and burrowing his face against it.

I'm at a loss for words as I simply stare at him.

His eyes are still closed, and his moves seem to be more instinctual than intentional. He barely looks aware of what he's doing as he nuzzles his cheek against my palm.

"Ze?" I call out his name, but he doesn't answer. "Ze, are you all right?" I repeat, and with a deep exhale, he opens his eyes, dropping my hand.

He doesn't blink, simply staring at me intently. His eyes are almost like a swirling mass of silver, but there's a hint of color too. Curious, I lean forward to get a better look. Another flush stains his cheeks, spreading all the way to his hairline.

"Are you feeling ill again? Your cheeks are so red," I say as I swipe my thumb up his cheekbone.

His mouth opens and closes a few times, his piercing gaze still holding mine.

Before I know what's happening, he shrugs me off him, getting to his feet. Already unstable in my position, his sudden movement makes me lose my balance and fall back, landing on my ass.

"Ouch," I mumble. This is the second time I've fallen because of him.

"You've taken too many liberties, human," he states in his arrogant tone.

"A thank you would be enough." I roll my eyes at him.

He arranges his clothes, dusting himself off before turning to leave. I get up, too, still puzzled by his reaction—and, if I'm honest, his entire persona.

"Why did you eat the meat?" I inquire softly.

He half turns, and for a moment, I don't think he's going to answer me—not with the animosity I spot in his gaze. Spine straightened, eyes narrowed, he's back to the rude Ze from before.

"You liked it." He gives me a clipped reply, the tone almost... accusatory?

"But I can eat it," I point out with a raised brow. "You know you can't."

"I was curious." He shrugs, looking me straight in the eyes. Another shrug?

"And? Did you satisfy your curiosity?" I tilt my head to the side.

"Not yet."

My lashes flutter in surprise at his answer, but before I can recover and ask him what he means, he's already out the door.

I trail behind him, going back to the table.

Cer and Thea are wrapped in an argument about the dessert. Ze is back in his seat, leaning back and watching their exchange with disinterest.

As I resume my seat, Thea looks up at me, giving me a brilliant smile.

"Luce! You have to try this chocolate cake. It's absolutely delicious. And the server assured me it doesn't have any animal products in it," she says as she pushes a plate in front of me. It's then that I realize they ordered dessert for all of us.

Ze is staring at the untouched plate with reticence but also a smidgeon of longing.

I ignore him as I grab a spoon and take a bite of the cake, my eyes widening in surprise.

"Oh, wow. This is amazing."

"Isn't it? Cer is the only one who doesn't like it." She rolls her eyes at him. "But you know what that means? More cake for me," she declares enthusiastically before she swaps her empty plate for Cer's full one.

He shakes his head at her, but I can spot the slight curl of his lips as he watches her from the corner of his eye.

"You heard her. This is vegan. You won't get sick from it." I nod to Ze, avoiding looking at him.

He doesn't reply, but he pulls his plate closer, taking a bite of cake. Then another. And just like the steak, the cake is gone within minutes. Yet even then, he doesn't say a word.

Of course, it would go against his ego to admit that lowly human food would be so delicious that he would eat an entire portion.

"Right, Thea, I have a question," I say as I remember my initial concerns. The whole Ze debacle made me lose track of my little ghost problem for a moment.

"Yes?"

"If there were any other souls around when the Collectors came, would they take them as well?"

She purses her lips as she thinks about it.

"Possibly. They'd see it as a bonus assignment."

Her answer deflates me.

"I see." I strain a smile.