Chapter 6 Avilyna
Avilyna
SUGAR AND DENIAL
The roar of the engine vibrates through my chest as Kai weaves through the empty road with recklessness. The night air rushes past us, biting and cold. But it's nothing compared to the storm brewing inside me.
His grip on the handlebars is steady and confident, too confident. I cling to him, not out of choice, but of necessity. My arms wrapped tightly around his waist, the world blurring into streaks of neon light and asphalt as we reach civilization.
Thirty minutes later, my bladder can’t hold it anymore. I really tried to ignore the pressure, but with my nerves sobering up, every scratch and feeling is more than present; it’s persistent.
We screech to a halt at a gas station that looks like it's been abandoned for years.
The flickering lights cast long shadows over the cracked pavement, and the only sound is the hum of the bike's engine winding down. My legs are stiff from being locked in place for so long, not used to this type of travel. Kai’s deep voice cuts through the silence.
“You can let go now.” Amusement dances in his words.
Jerking away, I lose balance until his hand shoots up, steadying me with a firm grip on my elbow. His body half twisted, facing my way, eyes twinkling, I can’t decide if I want to punch him or…
No, definitely punch him.
But it does make me wonder, what does his mouth even look like under that damn mask?
Is it as sharp as his tongue, or soft?
Why the hell does he keep it on, anyway?
I bite back the questions, not in the mood to earn another one of his frosty answers.
Yanking my arm free, I mutter, “I’m gonna go pee.”
“You do that,” Kai drawls, voice smooth as honey with just enough snark to remind me he’s enjoying this far too much. Flipping him off without looking back, my boots crunch on the gravel as I make my way toward the gas station.
Let him choke on his patronizing tone for all I care.
The bell above the door jingles. The fluorescent lights flicker overhead, casting an eerie glow.
There’s no one at the cash register or in the aisles.
It only adds to the creepy vibes, and a shiver runs down my spine as I make my way to the back.
Searching for the bathroom, I quickly lock myself in.
After relieving myself, I wash my hands.
The cold water calms my nerves slightly.
I don’t know when I’ll be back, and my friends will worry, but I can't tell them the truth.
I don't even know what the truth is anyway.
And even if I did, they'd never believe me.
They'll think I’m losing my mind. I even think I am losing my mind.
Pulling out my phone, my fingers tremble as I type.
: Hey, my dad and I had to leave town. Something came up. Promise, I’ll explain when I can.
It's vague, but it's the best I can do right now. I send it to the group chat and stare at the screen. I can't help but wonder if they'll even care, or just brush it off and move on.
Perfect.
I can face down a demon without blinking, but telling one harmless lie has me spiralling. I try calling Ruby next, but it goes straight to voicemail.
“Hey, it’s me. Can you call me back? Please, we need to talk. It’s about Dad… well, Theo told me… well, most of it, and I’m kind of freaking out, Ruby.”
Letting out a deep breath with those tasks out of the way, what I need right now is chocolate and a fuck ton of painkillers. My head’s pounding, and I’m one stress-trigger away from completely snapping.
On my way out, I grab a bottle of water from the cooler, condensation slick against my skin.
Then, without a second thought, I snag the nearest Reese’s bar like it’s a life support.
Temporary fix? Absolutely. If I’m going to face more masked weirdos and monsters, I need something in my system… even if it’s just sugar and denial.
Still no cashier. I spot a bottle of painkillers on the wall behind the counter.
Rising onto my tiptoes, I stretch for it.
Arm out, fingertips just grazing the box.
Balanced awkwardly, I start to regret not just walking around like a sane person.
Finally, my fingers catch the edge of the cardboard, just as a sharp squeak shatters the silence.
I freeze.
Another squeak, then a scuffling sound, fast and frantic. Heart pounding, I look down and quickly jump back. Three fat rats skitter in the dark corner, their eyes glinting almost red.
“What the fuck...” I whisper, breath shallow. Without thinking, I slap a ten-dollar bill onto the counter and quickly grab my stuff as I back away, never taking my eyes off them. Then I bolt out the door, painkillers forgotten.
I am welcomed by the fresh breeze. Walking fast, still unsettled, I spot Kai.
He’s leaning casually against his bike, finishing to fill it up with gas.
His gaze is directed at the task, giving me the perfect chance to study him without being caught staring.
And all thoughts are forgotten. He finally removed his mask, and God is unfair.
How do I stand a chance?
His mouth is sinful. Full lips that look soft even when pressed into a flat line.
His jawline is all edges and shadow, dusted with just enough stubble.
The tattoos I can see disappear beneath his collar like secrets begging to be uncovered.
His blond hair is pulled into the same loose bun at the back of his head.
Strands frame his sharp features in a careless yet captivating way, exuding quiet confidence.
Why are the hot ones always turning out to be jerks?
It’s cruel.
It’s distracting.
Kai finally looks my way, his gaze unreadable, cutting through the dark like a blade.
The silence between us is taut. So I bite into my chocolate, pretending not to notice the way he straightens.
His eyes skim across my face, pausing on my lips, and for a moment, I see it—a flicker of something darker, almost… predatory.
Time seems to stop. Or maybe it just slows, warped by the weight of his stare.
I forget to breathe.
Then the sharpness of the candy hits me all at once, too rich. I cough, choking on the sweetness as my taste buds revolt. My eyes sting with tears, and I fumble for my water, desperate to wash it down and reclaim some dignity.
Smooth.
Absolutely graceful.
Someone, bury me, please.
The shift in the light is subtle, but it’s enough to feel his presence hover closer.
Kai’s scent hits me like a wave, wrapping me in cedarwood and mint.
A blend that reminds me of the raw exhilaration from the bike ride.
The wind, the motion, the freedom, but there’s something new now.
A faint undercurrent I hadn’t noticed before, something that feels both alluring and dangerous.
It tugs at some hidden string deep inside me.
I’m barely able to process it, my thoughts scattering when his right hand, inked with a wolf tattoo, lifts toward my face.
His thumb brushes softly over the corner of my lips, the touch soft, delicate.
Without breaking eye contact, he draws his thumb to his own mouth, sucking, slowly, savouring the taste.
I freeze, heart wild, feeling a rush of heat pool in my core.
“You could at least have gotten me one,” Kai says with a raspy drawl, an eyebrow arched in a teasing challenge.
I clear my throat, suddenly feeling jittery, and awkwardly hand him the remainder of my chocolate.
As he takes it, our fingers brush briefly, and for some inexplicable reason, the touch sends an odd, electric spark up my arm.
I quickly pull back my hand, goosebumps trailing on my skin.
“Here,” his voice is a little quieter now as he passes me a crystal flask filled with a golden amber liquid. “Drink this.”
A frown creeps across my face, “What is it?”
“The elixir. It allows humans to pass through the veil. You have the sight, but that doesn’t mean you belong in Elgar.”
Pursing my lips, “Okay… But isn’t my father from there?” As soon as I say the words, I freeze. He’s not my dad, not in that sense anyway. And suddenly, the idea of drinking whatever’s in that flask doesn’t seem so absurd.
“True,” he admits, clueless about my dilemma.
“But it’s better to be safe than sorry. Once we’re at the Institute, you’ll be tested.
Then, we’ll know for sure if you’re Elgarian.
” Kai takes his time explaining it to me, which is surprising given his irritation with my questioning earlier.
“So, you never learned about the veil or anything related to Kvirr?” He adds a hint of curiosity hooked to his words.
My mind flashes back to my father, well, to Theo, telling me not to trust anyone. The urge to stay guarded flares up, and I play it safe, shaking my head.
“I imagine… if we apply logic,” I say, fumbling for words, “the veil is just what separates your world from mine. And it’s called that because... It’s the same universe, just... that we can’t see it?” I am rambling, but there’s a flicker of approval in his smirk.
“I’m impressed, Princess. You’re not too far from it.”
“Then by all means, enlighten me,” I add. “You clearly enjoy the sound of your own voice, shame it rarely says anything useful. Or intelligent. Or necessary.”
His full smile finally breaks through, and God, it’s blinding.
A beacon slicing clean through the night.
The kind of smile that could make you forget where you are, who you are, and what you were even trying to resist. Something twists deep in my chest, heat curling low, and I fight it with everything I’ve got.
No, no more boys.
But then I really look at him, and something catches in my breath. His canines are longer than they should be, sharper, too sharp, inhuman. Then he speaks, smooth and casual, as if I imagined the whole thing.
“Didn’t know you had such a vile mouth, Princess,” he drawls, amused. The words skim over my skin, a ghost of a touch. A shiver slips down my spine before I can stop it. My face burns, traitorous, obvious.
“Oh, don’t be a baby now,” I retort, raising an eyebrow. “You’re a big boy, I’m sure you’ve heard worse.” I shoot him a wink, trying to cover the way his words left me.
He hums in response.
“There are many portals,” Kai begins. "However, only those that have been opened are concealed by a veil. Only those with the sight can perceive them, but to unlock them, you must be from there.” He pauses, getting onto the bike.
“Anyway, I don't even know why I'm bothering explaining all this.
You'll either learn it at the Institute, or you won't need to know anything since you'll be back to your perfect little life.” With that, he hands me the helmet, his expression unreadable.
I take it slowly, meeting his gaze without flinching.
“Perfect?” I scoff, a bitter laugh slipping out.
“That’s rich, coming from a guy hiding behind cryptic nonsense and a leather jacket.
” I meet his gaze, unflinching, all the false confidence gone.
I then flash him a smile, sweet and sharp.
“Now, if you're done being a dick, maybe we can get back to the part where you're actually helpful.” Kai stands arms crossed, eyes scanning.
The silence between us stretches until it starts to sting.
“You done staring at me?” I snap, irritation bleeding into my tone. His head tilts slightly, and that smirk appears again, calculated and humourless.
“Just trying to figure out how someone with that much attitude but zero knowledge of the world managed to survive this long. Must be luck.” He turns without waiting for a response, settling onto his bike like he’s already claimed the last word.
But I’m not done.
“Your Sergeant mentioned you’re supposed to answer all my questions,” I call out, eyes narrowing. Kai lets out a dry chuckle, shaking his head slightly.
“Right, gotta love when people volunteer me for crap I didn’t sign up for,” he says, voice laced with sarcasm, then he glances at me, unimpressed.
As if he’s evaluated me and found me lacking.
“Fine. Ask away, Princess. But don’t expect some elaborated explanation.
” I can't resist a smug grin creeping across my face. Finally, I’ve managed to get under his skin, even if just a little.
“What about the other thing you mentioned? The... kir?” I ask, feigning innocence, watching his reaction keenly.
“Kvirr,” Kai corrects, his voice sharp, rolling the ‘r’ just enough to make it sound like music, a subtle accent that rings in my ears but doesn’t quite settle.
“It's the God of Light,” he continues, the words spilling out with ease. “It grants magic. Infuses it into everything it creates. That’s why, in your world, magic feels rare, almost like a dream. What you experience are just faint echoes. In Elgar, though, that’s where it resides.
That’s where it’s strong. Each God rules over their own world.
That’s why some believe in magic, while others claim to practice it.
Worlds bleed into each other, but not all worlds are claimed by a God. ”
“Bleed,” I repeat, the word hanging in the air.
Could that be it? Could the nightmares, the strange sensations, the fleeting glimpses of something other be nothing more than echoes?
Just whispers?
I do have the sight, so maybe I am just more attuned to that magic? Able to perceive its echo. The thought tempts me, offering a neat explanation to wrap around my questions. But deep in my gut, something twists.
I know that isn’t the full truth.
As soon as Kai finishes speaking, a sharp beep cuts through the air. He lifts his wrist and silences his watch. His attention snaps back to me, suddenly alert. A low, distant groan rumbles at the end of the road, and every tiny hair on my arms stands up.
“Time’s up, Princess. We have to cross. Now.”
Without another word, I jump on behind him.