Heidi turned to Malik and said, “She has stolen something from us.” His placid expression turned to a frown.

“What?”

A knock sounded on the thick wooden doors. They opened immediately to a man who strode to a stop in front of Esme. Malik’s eyes glared at her betraying the young man’s identity.

“Give it to me or I will take it.”

“Give you what?” Esme said raising her arms and looking at Malik. He stood nonchalantly but Eliezer in the chair behind him was rigid and admiring a book. It was upside down.

“Does the boy in the library have it then?”

“Did you just threaten me?”

“Yes and this is your warning.”

“This is my brother Esme. What did she steal Hezekiah?” Malik asked.

“Your father’s necklace.” Heidi said coming around the desk. Her tone was just a tiny bit too cheerful. Malik was right she did not like when his mother looked at her that way. “Look in your pocket.”

Esme fought to keep her expression calm. She pulled the necklace from her pocket frantically forming an alibi.

“Oh this, I picked it off the ground after Leo got hurt.” She said watching Malik narrow his eyes. Eliezer finally flip the book over and then stared at the necklace in her hand in shock.

“The footage from the skiffie says differently.” The big man said leaning back in his chair.

“You stole the necklace from Malik’s bag,” Hezekiah said grabbing the necklace from her.

“Why does it matter? It was glowing of course I wanted to have it to take a closer look later. It’s just a necklace.”

“Exactly it’s glowing” Malik said gesturing for the necklace.

“I’m afraid the council flagged the footage.” Heidi said holding out her hand. Hezekiah placed it there before leaving the study without a word. An unsaid slight towards Malik wrapping the room in silence.

“So?” Esme said startled to see Eliezer’s dark look.

“You will be taken in for review. Eliezer why don’t you take her instead of me calling it in.”

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“Of course.” Malik said. On the other side of the study doors, Eliezer silently avoided Malik’s festering by leading the way. Esme obliged to do the same but his agitated gaze bore into her back. So, she fell into step with him.

“What? It’s just a necklace,”

“Sure”

“I need more than that. This is ridiculous,” She said. He sighed.

“It is more than a review. Do not lie and I am mad because I will be under review as well. I cannot stall it by taking you in now.”

“What did you do? Is this what your judicial system is like? Wait what about Leo?”

“Mishandling inheritance or some other ridiculous charge.”

“Why would Heidi sorry your mom not just let it go?”

“Now I no longer have the necklace.”

“Let me guess she’s not one to just ask for it.”

“No, and I am not one to just hand it over. Go ask Eliezer to take him.” Malik pulling out a thin rectangle. He grabbed the two sides pulling it apart to the size of her phone. The screen was extraordinarily thin but did not cave in either. Esme catched up to Eliezer and asked, “Can you take care of Leo? You're the only one I trust.”

He pursed his mouth before saying, “I’ll have to take him to my parents. I have class soon but my sister is his age and my older brothers love having someone to tease.”

“Your older brothers live with your parents?”

“You mainlanders,” he said chuckling, “my family is close unlike Malik’s.” He stopped glancing over his shoulder before boarding the train. “We’ll have to ride separately. It’s busy and long ride because of the festival. We might have to switch cars too.” Esme watched Malik and Leo board another one across from them.

“Where is his dad?” Esme asked. Eliezer sat and looked at her before shaking his head in defeat.

“You know what because you are mixed up in this I will tell you. You'll find out one way or another anyways if you stay much longer,”

“Hey, what is that supposed to mean?”

“One thing you’ll have to learn is that names are very important here. Malik Jelani being one of them.”

“So, where is his dad?”

“He disappeared on a couple of years ago when we were eighteen.”

“And the necklace?”

“It is like mRNA. It can sometimes pass along gifts but only to kin. Useless to us but can ruin a family if there is a lot at stake.”

“Wait wait gifts?”

“Yeah like seeing sol and manipulating it, you know like the glowing clothing?”

“I just thought it was some weird dye?”

“No no they are gifted by the advisors or well you call them angels anyways the pills are-”

“Angels? The white wings? Halos?”

“No, they generally take human form. Apparently they aren't the prettiest things.”

“Sol or soul?”

“Sol can be seen by any eye,” he paused gazing out the train door, “It is glow of the sun on skin. The golden, silver highlights on sheer surfaces like steel or bronze.”

“So like light?”

“Think of it like a reflection of the inner beauty that is hard to see. It is often clouded in vapor and the vapor numbs some minds. It is like when you are so cold that heat hurts and the cold feels warm.” He said a strange look entering his eyes.

“I want to hear you drunk.” Esme chuckled.

“Me too.” He laughed.