Chapter 10: Threads of Solace

The night stretched endlessly, the city's labyrinthine streets cloaked in silence and shadows. Cassian moved through them like a phantom, his mind swirling with questions and tension. The strange energy pulsing faintly within him made every step feel heavier, as though the world itself had shifted beneath his feet.

As he approached the small, worn-down house that Sky called home, the sight of the dimly lit window brought a strange mixture of relief and apprehension. It was the closest thing to safety he had felt in a long time, though he wasn’t sure he deserved it.

He pushed the door open cautiously, the hinges creaking in protest. As soon as he stepped inside, a small voice broke the stillness.

“Sniff… sniff… I thought you… weren’t coming back.”

Sky’s trembling words were thick with tears, and Cassian’s chest tightened. The boy was sitting curled up on the tattered couch, clutching a small blanket to his chest. His eyes were red and puffy, his face streaked with dried tears.

Cassian shut the door behind him and stood there for a moment, unsure of what to say. The sight of Sky’s tear-streaked face stirred something deep within him—something raw and unfamiliar.

“I’m here,” Cassian said quietly, his voice softer than he intended. “I told you I wouldn’t leave, didn’t I?”

Sky sniffled again, rubbing at his eyes with the back of his hand. “You were gone so long,” he mumbled, his voice barely above a whisper. “I got scared.”

Cassian sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I… had to take care of something,” he said, knowing it was a poor excuse. “I’m sorry, kid.”

Sky didn’t respond right away. Instead, he stared at Cassian with those wide, innocent eyes, as if trying to decide whether to believe him. After a long moment, he nodded, though the hurt in his expression didn’t fully fade.

Cassian walked over and sat down on the edge of the couch, his movements careful and deliberate. He didn’t want to frighten the boy any more than he already had.

“You shouldn’t cry so much,” Cassian said, his tone awkward but not unkind. “It’s… not good for you.”

Sky frowned, his lower lip trembling. “Mama used to say crying is okay… when you’re sad or scared. She said it helps.”

Cassian’s jaw tightened at the mention of Sky’s mother. He didn’t know what had happened to her, but it was clear the boy missed her terribly.

“Maybe she’s right,” Cassian admitted after a pause. “But you don’t have to cry over me, kid. I’m not worth it.”

Sky’s frown deepened. “You are,” he said firmly, his small voice carrying an unexpected weight. “You’re my brother.”

Cassian opened his mouth to argue, to tell Sky once again that he wasn’t his brother, that he wasn’t anyone’s anything. But the words died in his throat. What was the point? The kid wasn’t going to stop calling him that, no matter what he said.

Instead, he leaned back against the couch, letting out a weary sigh. “You’re stubborn, you know that?”

Sky gave a small, tentative smile, his tears finally slowing. “Mama said that too.”

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The room fell quiet after that, the weight of the night settling over them both. Cassian could feel the strange energy within him pulsing faintly, like a reminder that his problems were far from over. But for now, in this small, quiet house, he allowed himself a moment of stillness.

Sky curled up beside him, clutching his blanket tightly. “You won’t leave again, right?” the boy asked, his voice soft and hesitant.

Cassian hesitated, the words catching in his throat. He couldn’t make promises he wasn’t sure he could keep, but the look in Sky’s eyes made it impossible to stay silent.

“I’ll try not to,” he said finally, his voice barely above a whisper.

It wasn’t the answer Sky wanted, but it seemed to be enough. The boy nodded, his eyes drooping with exhaustion.

As Sky drifted off to sleep, Cassian sat there in the quiet, his thoughts restless. He knew he couldn’t stay here forever. The authorities were closing in, and the pearl’s power was a ticking time bomb inside him. But for now, he stayed.

For now, he let himself believe that maybe, just maybe, he could hold onto this fragile thread of solace for a little while longer.

–

The faint light of dawn seeped through the cracked windows, soft and golden, painting the room with a fragile sense of tranquility. Cassian sat cross-legged on the floor, his body still from a night of unexpected meditation. His eyes opened slowly, adjusting to the gentle morning light.

He blinked, disoriented at first, but then the faint hum of energy within him returned to his senses—a current, pulsing and steady, flowing like a hidden river. His body felt... lighter, freer, as if a weight he didn’t realize he was carrying had been lifted.

Getting to his feet, he glanced over to where Sky was still curled up on the couch, sound asleep, his small chest rising and falling with each breath. Cassian’s lips twitched into something resembling a faint smile.

He moved to the kitchen, setting his sights on the small stash of eggs he had... “acquired” the previous day. The pan was battered, the oil cheap, but it would have to do. He cracked the eggs one by one, whisking them with a fork before pouring the mixture into the pan.

The sizzling sound filled the quiet house as he concentrated, determined not to burn the omelet. The mundane act felt strangely grounding, a moment of normalcy in a life that had been anything but.

Behind him, he heard the rustling of blankets, followed by a small voice. “Brother?”

Cassian didn’t look up from the pan. “I’m here, Sky. Don’t panic.”

Sky sat up on the couch, rubbing his eyes as he looked around. When his gaze fell on Cassian, a smile spread across his face. “What are you making?”

Cassian flipped the omelet carefully, glancing at Sky over his shoulder. “I’m trying not to burn breakfast. Let’s see if I succeed.”

Sky giggled, the sound light and infectious. “ brother.... you look …different”

Cassian frowned slightly, puzzled by the comment. “ What do you mean?”

Sky tilted his head, studying him intently. “Yeah, like... better. Yesterday, you looked so tired and... sad. But now... I don’t know. You look like an an angel from my storybook”

Cassian froze, his hand gripping the spatula mid-motion. “An angel?” he echoed, the word foreign on his tongue.

Sky nodded enthusiastically. “Yeah! Your skin—it’s so clear and... fair, really fair. And your face... you look so... peaceful. Like nothing can bother you.”

Cassian turned back to the pan, his jaw tightening. His mind raced, trying to piece together what Sky was seeing. He hadn’t looked in a mirror since last night, but he didn’t feel different. Except...

The pearl

The energy.

The meditation.

He clenched his teeth, flipping the omelet onto a plate and setting it on the small, rickety table. “It’s just the light,” he muttered, trying to dismiss the boy’s words. “Eat before it gets cold.”

Sky slid off the couch and approached the table, his excitement momentarily overriding his curiosity. He dug into the omelet with gusto, humming contentedly after the first bite.

Cassian watched him for a moment before leaning against the counter, crossing his arms. The boy’s words still lingered in his mind.

The energy within him felt more stable now, less erratic, but it was still there—otherworldly, powerful, and completely foreign. What had the meditation done? And why was Sky noticing something he couldn’t even comprehend?

Cassian rubbed a hand over his face, his fingertips brushing against his skin. It felt smoother, warmer. His exhaustion was gone, replaced by an odd clarity that unnerved him.

He shook his head, pushing the thoughts aside. “Sky,” he said, his voice firm but not unkind. “Finish up. We’ll need to figure out what to do today.”

The boy looked up from his plate, crumbs clinging to his lips. “What are we gonna do, brother?”

Cassian sighed, the weight of reality creeping back in. “I don’t know yet. But we’ll figure it out.”

Sky beamed at him, his faith in Cassian unwavering. “As long as you’re here, I know we’ll be okay.”

Cassian looked away, unable to meet the boy’s gaze. The words felt too heavy, too hopeful for someone like him.

But as he stood there, the faint hum of energy within him thrumming like a whisper, he couldn’t help but wonder if Sky’s unwavering belief wasn’t misplaced.

Maybe, just maybe, this power inside him wasn’t just a curse.