“Kalen Dragonov, now why does that name sound so familiar,” the man said as Kalen entered the room. The man blew out a puff of smoke and turned slowly to face his guest.

“Ah, so you’ve heard of me,” Kalen said as he closed the door behind him.

“Please, sit,” the man said, gesturing to the seat opposite his desk.

Kalen nodded his head in thanks. “I assume you’ve been informed why I am here today,” he started off as he made himself comfortable.

“I’m not entirely unaware, but feel free to fill me in regardless.” The man said, resting his legs upon his desk. Kalen wondered at his lack of formality. Why exactly was this man so at ease? IF he had heard about Kalen as he had suggested, he shouldn’t be so relaxed. Kalen Dragonov was a name commonly synonymous with Andreas Scott Grigoli. While he hadn’t quite reached that level yet, he was not far behind in tales of misdemeanor.

Kalen narrowed his eyes and crossed his leg over the other in an attempt to reciprocate the relaxed feel. He had a sense that the mood could get tense any second depending on how this man reacted to his inquiries. “You know everything about anything here in Gynae. I was hoping you could help me.”

“I do indeed know everything that goes on in Gynae. Though I’m curious how my information can help you Mr. Dragonov.” There was a sly smirk on the man’s face, one most people would’ve missed. But Kalen wasn’t most people.

Kalen narrowed his eyes, but was careful not to look as suspicious as he felt. The man already knew his purpose, he was some of it. He was, after all, someone who prided himself in knowing everything that happened in this kingdom, Kalen would hardly have been lucky enough to escape his notice. The man was a feline that enjoyed playing games with those he deemed lesser than himself. Perhaps Kalen’s reputation from Eerea hadn’t made its way over to Gynae quite yet. Kalen enjoyed the thought that he might know something that the notorious James Wilston did not.

“You must’ve heard of my quest to find my family. I haven’t exactly been subtle about it during my stay here,” Kalen challenged. Maybe if he was able to put James on edge, he would be able to get the information he sought.

“And what makes you think that information lies within Gynae, Mr. Dragonov? Have your search not brought you no leads? No real information? How sure are you that your family ever even was in this kingdom?” Kalen judged the man’s expression carefully. He was trying to bait him, make him uncertain of himself. But why? What could this man know that he didn’t want Kalen to find out?

“I spent four years in Gynae with my uncle when I was still a toddler before we moved to Eerea because he claimed it would be safer. He told me that my family owes its origins to Gynae and he would return if it was safer. So I’m quite sure my family history is hidden somewhere within these borders,” Kalen replied, his demeanor turning more serious, the earlier casual air forgotten.

James on the other hand, remained as he was, not reacting to Kalen’s tone at all. “If your uncle knows so much, why not ask him?”

“He died when I was eleven,” Kalen started bluntly. He kept the emotion from his voice, not letting on how much that memory still hurt.

“My condolences,” James said me then finally assumed a more formal position. “Look, I understand the desperate need for family… needing to discover that someone who share your blood is still alive. I understand that need for a connection, to know you aren’t alone. But sometimes knowing the truth is not worth it. Some things are better left in the past where they belong. Digging up old graves is only going to cause you more pain.”

“So what you’re saying is that you do know what happened to my family, you just refuse to tell me?” Kalen accused.

James took a deep breath in exasperation. “If I told you they were dead, would you stop this search? It’s for your own good, Kalen.”

“I’ve already assumed they are dead, I want to know how it happened, who they were.”

James slammed his fist on the table. “You are not ready for that kind of information. You just suffered a great loss, and instead of continuing this pointless endeavor, perhaps you should mourn her death first. Nothing is going to change. Get yourself together and then maybe I’ll consider helping you.”

“Who are you to get to decide what I’m ready for when?” Kalen yelled, his temper gone, he rose from his seat.

James shot him a look that could kill. “Sit down, boy. You do not want me to lose my temper as well. Now I suggest you go do some more maturing and then come back to me. As for right now, please leave of your own accord or I will have to throw you out.”

*****

                Mallory sat outside on a step at the entrance of her aunt’s in. The sun had already started hiding itself behind the mountains with only a flicker seeping through to illuminate the world still. Kalen should be arriving soon and she didn’t know why she felt such a nervous energy because of that. Maybe she was hoping for the same thing her aunt was hoping for even though she wouldn’t dare admit that out loud.

Kalen was, after all, a good choice…. He was handsome and he seemed polite, maybe even wealthy. He could get her out of the place finally. But what if he ended up leaving her like he, a name she didn’t even want to think, did… she had been so sure that he loved her yet now she was left on her own.

As much as someone tries to move on from the love of their life, it never happens. Mallory very much wanted to move on… find love somewhere else, but how would she do that when he still had her heart? When she still couldn’t get him off her mind?

“Hey , sorry I’m late, I was… help up.” Mallory’s head immediately cocked up to the voice she had heard for the first time that morning.

“You’re not late,” she said, though her thoughts were still somewhere else.

“Shall we go eat something then?” he asked, a kind smile on his face, Mallory wondered at this briefly. Hadn’t he said that he had lost someone he cared for recently?

The dinner turned out to be very pleasant, but Mallory found the conversation to be too shallow and way too focused on her. Why didn’t he want to talk about himself, she wondered.

“What brings you to Gynae?” she asked finally when he was taking a bite of his chicken, grabbing the opportunity to steer the conversation away from her. She was afraid that he might try to dig too deep.

“I was born here, but left at a very young age. I came back to see if I can locate some family of mine,” he said nonchalantly, at least in a way that tried to mimic indifference.

“Any luck yet?” she asked, hoping he would add more or reveal why he wanted to pretend like it was no big deal.

“None yet, but I have one lead… a lead that is being quite uncooperative, but a lead nonetheless. I just need him to take,” Kalen said and took a sip from his wine.

“Don’t tell me you went to James Wilston,” Mallory replied, wide-eyed.

“You know him?”

“Everyone knows him. He’s the guy with all the information, but he’s also the least willing to share it unless it benefits him in some way. He didn’t always used to be that way, or so says my mother, but something happened that made him hate the world and now he won’t do anything unless he gets something in return.”

Kalen’s eyes narrowed in thought. “What would be something he’d want in return for the information I seek?”

She shrugged. “It depends on how valuable James thinks the information is. It might be something very small or something very big.”

“How valuable do you think information about my family would be to him?”

“Again, depends… if your family was or is important, he’s expect something big. But if not, something small would do.”

Kalen nodded. “Thanks, that information is actually quite helpful.”

“Can I ask you something?” Mallory mattered before catching herself.

“You already have, but sure go ahead,” he teased her.

She rolled her eyes. “How are you able to stay so focused on a specific task after recently losing someone you cared about? I only ask because I remember you mentioning this morning.”

A pained look crossed over his features, but he washed it away swiftly. “Focusing on something else keeps me from thinking about it. If I keep myself busy, maybe I can convince myself she’s not gone… that she’s merely at home reading a book and still waiting for me to return.”

Mallory reached out and covered his hand with hers. Kalen offered her a weak smile. “I know how that feels,” she replied. “But it’s not going to work forever. If you keep postponing your grief, it’s going to all come out at once and be a lot worse than if you dealt with it piece by piece from the start. When it all bottles over at once… trust me… it’s not pretty. It might feel easier now, but that will only make it harder later.”

Kalen took in a deep breath. “I know you are right… but I can’t deal with it right now. I fear that once I start I will never stop. I have too many things to be sad about… the face that the world lost someone so pure is just one such reason.”

Mallory took her hand from his and focused her eyes on her own food. She was tempted to tell him about her past, but deiced against it. She wanted to help him, but was in no position to do so. The shadows of the past were better left there, so she understood why he was unwilling to face them.