Chapter 4
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“How was the flight sir?” A grainy deep voice spoke over the blaring sound of the jet engine that was much too close for Zac’s liking. “It was fine…” Zac replied loudly. His hands held down his hair as he squinted, looking for any familiar face he might see. “Any complaints sir?” Zac huffed before turning to the taller man behind him. “No Andreas” Zac said almost mockingly. “I feel sick though, so please, can we hurry…” He said as he rubbed his eyes.
“Of course sir.”
Andreas picked up Zac's multiple bags that lay at his feet. “I can take those And-” Zac was cut off by Andreas’ quick “Mmmnope, I got it”
“There’s more down the aisle, I got it-”
“Mmno” Andreas flashed Zac a confident smirk before walking down the aircraft’s stairs holding the bags.
“Aren’t you dramatic today?” Zac stated as the older man walked back up and picked up more bags.
“Well not everyone gets to explore France while getting paid.” He replied merrily.
“Right…as long as you’re happy,” Zac said with a smile teasing at his lips. Andreas came back up and straightened his shirt, and ran his hands through his brown hair with silver streaks on the sides. His toned arms flexed as he grabbed the two last bags that lay on the plane floor. “Are we ready” He called out to Zac.
“Yup, I think that's all” Zac replied as he peered into the empty seats around him.
“Good, let's go”
Zac followed Andreas as he walked down the small stairs of the aircraft.
Andreas laid the bags against the cool concrete ground, his wide-set shoulders swaying as he ran his hands through his hair before he pat it down. “So this is it?” Andreas asked a hint of disbelief in his tone.
“For now yes, Carson got the apartment ready last week.”
“I thought you were using the apartment you already have”
“I am, he refurnished some of it.”
“I see.”
An awkward pause flowed through the two as the pile of over 10 varying sizes of bags lay at their feet, and the bustling of people around them was enough to keep Zac distracted from his exhaustion. Zac breathed in quietly, waiting for his travel staff to pick up his luggage. The faint smell of rain was apparent to anyone, but to Zac, the scent of rain was like an incense, strong and smooth around him. It will rain soon. Zac looked at the crowded airport in front of him. Of Course, he wouldn’t have to go through it, there was private screening and security service that he used every time he traveled. Zac wasn’t much for scheduling a private airport. He couldn't stand the coldness of the marble walls and the bizarre yet bland decorations, and he had lived long enough to see numerous. His immortality was a natural history lesson for him. He had seen wars coexist with a time of luxury, the cascade of human lives slipping through time like sand that slips between his fingers. Human life was never a mystery to him. He could understand them well enough. The natural destruction they brought was a balance to the world, as he had never in his lifetime seen a species as full of spite as humans, yet so full of spirit. Adrenaline was like a drug to them, and they used it gluttonously. He fought many different populations, from elves to golems to fae, yet none put up more of a fight than humans. The plague species consumed, and fought even if they were half dead...Maybe that was something that gave him delight. The fact that the very people who would tear apart anything they perceived as different, idolized and adored him, well safe to say it gave him an ego.
Zac shuffled his shoes on the ground in boredom, his eyes growing tired as he watched the service crew pick up bags and cameras.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
“Your limousine should be at the west wing, sir”
“Alright,” Zac yawned and dragged his feet as he made his way to the large building in front of him.
Getting through security was barely an issue, the paparazzi that swarmed in front of the airport however was a hassle. As Zac was getting closer to the doors, Andreas moved from behind him to in front of him, and through the dark cloudy weather, Andreas could barely see multiple shadowy figures behind the slightly tinted glass, but Zac could see people holding cameras up inching towards the door.
“Are we slowing down or booking it?”
Zac peered over Andreas’ shoulder again, looking through the crowded doors.
“It’s my first time being here in a while, it's alright for them to get some pictures.”
“Alright then”
Zac lifted his head high before changing the tired sour look on his face to a bright smile as the doors automatically opened. A fast gust of wind blew dust into Zac's eyes as he walked out, causing him to wince harshly for some seconds, before composing himself once more. He smiled and greeted the paparazzi, although all that he could hear was an assembly of welcomes and the sound of excessive picture-taking, not to mention Andreas’ loud voice telling them to keep their distance. Zac slowed his pace behind Andreas when one man with a large camera pulled out a poster for him to sign.
“Did you enjoy your flight?” “Welcome!” “Comment vas-tu?” “Zac! Zac! What are you planning for this " "Zac there were some rumours you're staying here for a long time. What do you have to say about that?” “Are you looking forward to this national tour?” said the man holding the back of the poster for Zac to write. “Zac smiled charismatically, “Of course I am! And yes, I’m staying in Paris longer than other cities because of events planned…yes! I enjoyed the flight.”
Zac rushed through answering their questions, some in French and some in English, finishing the autograph. Andreas waited for him, as he opened the car door a few meters away. Zac held himself up as he tried waving away the crowd, saying goodbyes, craving to lie down and rest. A shiver ran down Zacs’ spine as he heard a deep sultry voice speak from the crowd, “I hope you find who you’re looking for…Zandra”
Zac whirled around, his eyes alarmed with confusion, his feet shifting constantly, but before he could scan the crowd, A blast crackled at the front of the airport, and a low rumbling crept in the walls as it broke apart. Zac saw a bright flash of light before feeling the force of the explosion on his chest blowing him down to the ground, the breath knocked out from his lungs.
“Zac! Zac!” Andreas was shouting desperately, but Zac could barely hear him over the constant ringing in his ears and the sound of people screaming around him.
Zac propped himself onto his elbows, trying to look as disconnected as he could. He was aware of how slowly he needed to get up, standing up quickly and seeming fine wouldn’t make much sense after having an explosion right in his face. His brown eyes opened wide to look dazed but also to look around him. Crumpled rubble surrounded him, and dust was flying in the air. A woman was shrieking in pain as she held her bloody arm, and the same went for a man who held his eyes closed, blood dripping down his face. Most of the people he saw crowded around him moments ago were lying limp on the floor, and as he took the picture in he felt a pang of sympathy in his heart, before waving it away and focusing his eyes more to see if anyone…anything could be escaping the scene.
“Zac! Oh God!” Zac felt a strong rough hand grasp his arm and start to pull him upward. Andreas brushed a part of Zac’s lower arm, revealing a dark crimson burn. Zac sucked in a quick breath trying not to snap his arm away from Andreas.
Andreas tried to say something to Zac, but to his misfortune, Zac couldn’t hear any of it as he was looking around him, turning around violently trying to find the owner of the voice he heard before, Zac strained his ears, tuning away the wailing and Andreas’ jests.
Where…how…no one knows that name except for a few…but why now…I don-
Zac’s thoughts were cut short by Andreas pulling him by his shoulder, positioning him in front of himself, and pushing Zac onto the airport parking lot, and away from the now-burning doors. The air was thick with smoke, and fire swept through the opening of the airport. Zac tried his best, peering hopelessly in the fiery turmoil. Where… Zac was now far from the opening, and he could see security and fire extinguishers all around.
“Andreas…wh-what happened” Playing dumb was the only way to go at this point, even if Zac knew much more of what was brewing than Andreas.
“I’m not sure. Someone doing something...idiotic. Whoever did this won’t get away sir. I will make sure of it” Zac bit his inner cheek to hold his smile when he heard Andreas’ grit when he spoke, he could tell Andreas was trying to regain his calmness.
“I believe you” Zac replied softly, looking up at the sky, It was a shame really, the cloudy weather turned darker as rainclouds moved over the area, and the dark grey clouds looked like a painting as it was merged with the bellowing smoke that swooped with the slightest change in the wind.