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The Brotherhood Awakening is the 2nd book in The Brotherhood Series. It's a work in progress, as such, the chapters will come out slowly compared to the revised version of TBH, but faster than the initial 10+ years it took me to finish the original series.
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The Brotherhood Awakening Chapter X By X
We appeared under a canopy of mature pine trees a few seconds later. I'd flown over this grove when I left Sunny this morning and set out for KU. So, it looked familiar, but I'd never actually stood here before. The gate wasn't far off, maybe a block or two as the crow flies, but I wondered why Raz didn't port us there directly. Was there some rule I needed to learn about 'landing distance'? Or overcrowding the entrance? Or using trees as a cover? So far, all the gates I'd used were located near a lot of trees. Yeah, it probably had something to do with trees.
I made a mental note to ask Sunny, then turned to shadow Raz.
Without a word, he moved easily through the heavy underbrush toward the gate. And like a puppy afraid of being left behind, I followed along. With each step, the path in front of him cleared, preparing for the next shoe to drop. Shrubs twisted out of his way. Twigs bent to prevent tripping. A slight breeze blew just below his knees to clear leaves, pine needles, and other debris. It was as if an invisible procession was clearing the path in his honor. I watched his feet, mesmerized by the enchantment of it all.
"I meant to ask you, Jacob..."
I jumped, not expecting a break in our silence. Raz turned his head to look at me, and I quickly met his gaze.
"How was your first day back on campus?" He kept walking forward but also kept his eyes focused back on me. I took two quick steps - maybe three - to catch up with him and walk by his side.
The invisible procession widened its path to accommodate me.
I looked at the ground, unsure of how to respond. Images of the guys sitting nearby, ignoring me, flooded my thoughts and tore through my heart. CJ sitting inches away from me, acting like I didn't exist, was almost too much to bear. I pushed that experience out of my mind quickly. In virtually every way, it was a shitty day. But I wasn't ready to share that truth. Also, it wasn't appropriate to share that my friends - my Brotherhood friends - gave me the cold shoulder. Or that it upset me. The last thing I wanted was for Raz to doubt my loyalty.
I'm Skai, a member of The Sanctum and sworn enemy of The Brotherhood. And I'm crushed that they won't talk to me.
Yeah, not the best look; it's hard to defend.
I responded with a shrug. "It was fine." Unfortunately, it was not as convincing as I'd hoped.
"Is that so?" He mused, and I suddenly knew why we landed two blocks away from the gate. We were going to talk. And he was going to use his low, melodic voice like a knife. Skillfully peeling back the layers until my very core sat exposed. "I think we have different definitions of the word 'fine.'"
I felt a wall go up, but I worried it was made of straw.
"There's no reason to fear talking to me, Jacob. I'm here to listen and help if I can."
"It's nothing," I insisted through a pang in my heart. "It's just your everyday college life nonsense- nothing I can't handle."
He looked at me again. I kept my eyes down and put my hands in my pockets.
"Seriously, don't worry about me, Raz. I'm good."
He nodded slowly, and for the first time in my life, a simple nod felt like a full-body scan. If he found what he was looking for, he didn't say. Birds chirped, and leaves rustled, but we walked in silence once again. Only this time, he was by my side.
We stepped into the clearing, and the gate came into view. My pace quickened. It wasn't intentional or meant to be disrespectful to Raz, I just couldn't get away from this awkward non-conversation fast enough.
I was a foot in front of Raz when he placed his hand on my shoulder and gently squeezed. "You have to give them time, Jacob. Eventually, they may come to see you as you want to be seen."
"I'm sorry?" I glanced at the gate, then stopped and turned to face Raz. "I don't understand."
His left brow arched just before he spoke. "Your friends."
My eyes dropped to the ground like I was searching for a lost hundred-dollar bill.
He continued. "But then again, they may not. You need to come to terms with that real possibility."
My straw wall buckled. "How did you know?"
"How did I know you would have friends at KU?" He let out a soft laugh and took a half step toward me. "Come on, Jacob, give me some credit. As a human, you came to KU to continue your education. And like every other college student, you began building a life here, including pledging The Brotherhood. I'm sure that process put you through some crazy highs and lows with your fellow recruits. Experiences like that inevitably build bonds, trust, and camaraderie. It builds friendships. It's the point of the exercise, Jacob. So, of course, you have friends you wish to seek out. Unfortunately, it seems things did not play out as you hoped."
I didn't say anything. That imaginary hundred-dollar bill kept my eyes glued to the ground. I wasn't prepared to deal with a conversation about my hopes and dreams. The day had barely begun, and I already wanted it to be over. What else could go wrong? "Am I wrong?" He lowered his head slightly to make eye contact, but I wasn't about to return the favor. My straw was too brittle. He finally slapped my arm and said, "Chin up, Jacob. I'm not here to make you feel bad, but I'd appreciate it if you looked at me." His words had a biting sting that surprised me, yet I could feel his brotherly warmth wrapped in each syllable.
"I thought you'd be upset." I looked up to meet his gaze and found myself unable to look away from the golden hue of his eyes. Where I thought I'd find scorn, I found comfort instead. "I don't want to cause trouble for anyone."
"Why would I be upset?"
"Those guys you mentioned are mostly in The Brotherhood, and I'm in The Sanctum now. Oil and water come to mind."
"But they became an important part of your life, did they not?"
"Well....yeah, but I'd figured there was some kind of rule against befriending the other side."
"Believe it or not, there isn't," Raz said matter-of-factly.
"What?"
"I can't speak to Naverian Laws, but there are no laws among our people preventing interaction or friendship with a Nave."
"What?" I repeated, shaking my head in disbelief. I must've looked like an idiot as I stared at him with my mouth hanging open.
"It's true," he said with a raised brow.
"Are you serious? Peaceful, non-take-over-the-planet organizations have conflict-of-interest clauses. I know; I've worked in retail and had to sign one. But two godlike races, who can put any Superpower to shame, are like 'Nah, we're good.' How does that make sense?"
Raz threw his head back, laughing, and I'm not talking a slight chuckle. It was like a lion's roar that traveled for miles. It literally blew away fallen leaves and caused trees to sway. I was not expecting him to let loose like that. I stood wide-eyed.
"I like you, Jacob," he said.
"Um....thanks?"
"I understand your surprise, but there was never a need to create such laws for our people. Just like there are no laws against, say, murder or theft. We don't steal from our own or kill each other. It simply doesn't happen.
"Similarly, Skai don't typically make friends with Nave. Professional relationships form in the interest of communication, but even that is more common among senior leadership. I like to believe I have a good relationship with Setesh, but I'm under no illusion that we are friends. It's cordial, but it's not friendship; it's business. I'd turn my blade on him if the situation demanded it. As would his blade find me under similar circumstances. That said, our relationship has developed over countless millennia, and in the face of conflict, our mutual respect, shared history, and ability to reach across the aisle could be a vector to preventing violence. We've been successful in the past, but I realize that won't always be the case."
"I had no idea," I confessed.
"Well, you would've if you...."
"Linked, yes, I know," I snapped, rolled my eyes, and then froze in place.
Did I just do that?
I moved my eyes to meet his. A sharply raised brow betrayed his tempered, calm demeanor. So did his voice.
"My point....Jacob." Oh yeah, the chill in his voice made an appearance again. "I'm not here to tell you whom you can befriend. That's your decision. It only becomes my issue if your associations cause problems for you or The Sanctum." He closed the small gap between us and again placed his hand on my shoulder. "My advice still stands. Give them time to come around."
"Thanks, Raz, but I'm fairly certain that ship has sailed."
"Maybe," he shrugged, "maybe not. People can surprise you." As Raz spoke, his voice warmed, and the stones flew into place to form the gateway. The dark portal appeared within moments. Unlike Sunny, Raz didn't touch the stones or even look in their direction. It was like they responded to his mere presence. "But even if they come around, Jacob, it might be bittersweet."
"I know," I conceded, bowing my head slightly.
"Do you?" he pushed.
"Eventually, things will come to a head. Lines will be drawn, and sides will be chosen. It will get complicated."
"No, Jacob. It's not complicated. It might be difficult or painful, but it's not complicated. When we draw blades against the Nave, there will only be one path forward. Only one side. No hesitation, no complication."
"I am Skai, Raz."
I don't think he pushed because he needed to hear me say it. He knew I needed to hear me say it.
After he padded my shoulder a few times, Raz jerked his head toward the gate. "Go on. Sunny should be waiting for you on the other side."
"You're not coming with me?"
"I'll be taking the gate elsewhere once you step through, but don't worry, I'll be present for your meeting with Zenial. I have no desire to upset Ms. Cynthia."
"Yeah, no," I laughed. "Nobody wants that." I walked up to the portal and was about to step through, but then I stopped.
"Jacob?"
I turned slightly in Raz's direction but did not look at him. "Thank you, Raz."
I stepped thru the portal before I could hear Raz's response. Traveling through the gate continued to be a weird experience. It felt like I was suspended in a pool of half-set Jello. Yet the sensation of movement was disorientating - like I was spinning around just under the surface while being pulled forward at incredible speeds by some invisible force. It was dizzying, yet when I stepped out the other side, it was as if I simply walked through a door. I wondered if I'd ever get used to it.
I appeared in the underground garage of Ski-Tech, which is not where I thought Raz was sending me. I assumed I'd show up at The Club to meet Sunny, and then we'd make our way there. As it turned out, Sunny was waiting for me by the door, decked out in an exquisite blood-red suit. He was facing away from me, looking at his phone. I took the opportunity to sneak up on him from behind. I flicked his ponytail while jabbing two fingers into his side. Who knew El'odians could still be ticklish?
"It's about time!" Sunny declared in a huff and slapped my hand away. Surprisingly, hearing Sunny's voice instantly made my day feel better. He slipped his phone into his inside jacket pocket. "What the hell took you so long? I've been waiting here for like twenty years!"
"Oh, you really want to go there?" I gestured behind me to the still-active portal. "You want to step through that to yell at Raz for holding me up? Please, be my guest."
He gave me the evil eye as he fixed the lapels I didn't even know I was wearing. "Shut up," was his brilliant comeback. After setting my jacket, he stepped back and gave me a once-over. "Looking sharp. Not surprising since nobody can pick a suit like Raz."
I looked down, gave myself a once-over, and was pleasantly surprised to see myself clad in a charcoal gray suit complete with a dark purple tie and handkerchief. What appeared to be very expensive diamond cufflinks dressed my wrists. Yes, black diamond cufflinks. I may come from an upper-middle- class family, but I'd never worn diamond anything. I'd only worn cufflinks once before for my cousin's wedding, and I'd lost one. That couldn't happen today.
"Was this you?" I asked, feeling out the smooth and shimmery fabric of my sleeves.
"No, I just said it was Raz."
"Sorry. I wasn't listening. This suit is way nicer than the one you made for me." I looked up at Sunny with a smirk. "You really need to step up your game."
Sunny rolled his eyes and pulled me along. I was only busting his balls. The suit he conjured up for me was impeccable, so the fact that this new one was blowing me away should tell you something. "Seriously, does no one in The Sanctum wear underwear?"
"What?"
"Never mind." I patted myself down and was relieved to find my phone in my breast pocket. "Hey, I got my phone back, so give me your number." As I walked toward the elevators, I entered his number as he called out each digit. Realizing his voice seemed to be getting further away from me, I snapped my head up and looked around to find him heading toward the exit ramp. "Where the hell are you going?"
"Come on!" he yelled back.
I spun on my heels and bolted after him, nearly slipping on loose pebbles and busting my ass. Grabbing onto Sunny's arm, I managed to steady myself and stand up straight before falling over completely. The way he looked at me was priceless.
"Dude, what are you on? And can I get some?"
I laughed and slapped him on the back. "Where are we going?"
He pointed down the street as if that would mean anything to me. "Antonio's."
"What is that?"
"Just the best chocolate shop on the planet."
"That's a bold claim."
"Trust me, my guy," he said, giving my stomach a swift backhand. "I don't mess around when it comes to my sweets."
"Okay, fine, but why now? I'm a quick learner, and I've learned that Ms. Cynthia doesn't play around with tardiness. I don't want to give a bad impression or, worse yet, get scolded. I'm more afraid of that than I am meeting Zenial."
"Smart. But I'm not crazy enough to show up empty-handed. Ms. Cynthia loves, loves, loves Antonio's amazing DEVO chocolates."
"Okay, I'll bite. What are DEVO chocolates?"
"It's Antonio's secret recipe and the most amazing chocolate you'll ever taste. I've only had it once, and that was because Ms. Cynthia was so grateful I brought her a box that she offered me one. It blew my mind."
"Jesus, you make it sound impossible to get."
"Because they are!" he damn near shouted. "Antonio makes a single batch each morning. He then packages only six chocolates in a dark purple box with a glittery bow. In total, he creates fifty boxes per day. But, and here's the catch, does he put them out all at once, you ask?"
"I didn't, but sure, continue."
"No, of course not; that would be too easy. Instead, Antonio puts them out randomly throughout the day with no rhythm or reason until he sells out, making it virtually impossible to get a box. To top it off, if you're lucky enough to get there at the right time, you're only allowed one box per customer."
"Sounds like a real struggle," I said sarcastically, but it flew right over Sunny's head.
"I know, right? It's so frustrating!" He slapped my stomach with the back of his hand again. I flinched. "But don't worry, we'll get back to Ski-Tech for our meeting with time to spare."
"We better." To break us away from the deep conversation we were having around chocolate, I asked Sunny a question that's been racking my brain. "What exactly is Ski-Tech?"
Sunny stopped in his tracks and gave me a weird look, clearly shocked that I didn't know about Ski-Tech. "Oh, that's right," he muttered, probably remembering I never linked. "Ski-Tech is the largest security company in the world." Placing his hand on the small of my back, he gave me a gentle push to continue our walk toward Antiono's, then put both hands in his pockets. "Whether it's corporate security or personal or governmental, we have our fingers in all those pots."
"So, what, like bodyguards and shit?"
Sunny laughed. "Well, yes, but not just that. Let's say some billionaire is building his tenth mansion; he'd hire Ski-Tech to consult on its design to ensure it's as secure as possible. Once it's built, we wire the place with cameras, sensors, alarms, bulletproof windows, the works. Afraid of getting gunned down while you're stopped at a red light? Ski-Tech offers the latest in cutting-edge armored vehicle technology. Need protection for an event or want twenty-four-hour security with you at all times? We have the best-trained security guards in the world." Sunny leaned into me and lowered his voice to a whisper as if he was about to reveal the greatest secret in the cosmos. He even held up his hand to his mouth. "That's because most of them are Skai."
I leaned even closer to him. "No, shit. I figured that was the case."
He then proceeded to punch my arm as he backed away. "You don't always strike me as the brightest bulb. This is us right here." Stepping in front of me, he opened the door and bowed like a butler making way for his employer. "After you, my dear sir." I should've known better. He slapped my ass hard as I walked inside.
"You fucker!" I yelped and rubbed my ass cheek. I took a step toward him, and he quickly raised his hand.
"Hey, hey, this is a place of business. Stop horsing around."
"I'm going to kill...."
"Sunny! My boy!"
"Antonio!" Sunny shouted. He stuck his tongue out at me as he walked by and hugged the older gentleman who came out from behind the counter. The man grabbed Sunny's arms firmly and kissed him on both cheeks. "It's nice to see you again, Antonio. This is my brother, Jacob."
"My god, boy, how many brothers do you have?" Antonio walked up to me as I offered my hand, but instead, he grabbed my arms, pulled me close, and kissed me on the cheeks.
"Oh, okay, we're doing that too." I was taken aback by the gesture, but at the same time, it was kind of sweet. "Hello. Hi!"
Squeezing my arms, he looked me over. "Another handsome one. Are all your relatives this good- looking?" he asked Sunny.
"Of course they are," Sunny assured him. "They carry my genes, after all."
"Oh, brother," I rolled my eyes and made a gagging nose.
Antonio slapped my arm and walked away laughing. "You boys are going to be the end of me, I tell you." He took his rightful place behind the counter, cleared the sweat from his brow with a rag, and placed his hands on the display case. "So, what brings you in today?" Sunny was about to answer, but he raised a finger to stop him. "Let me guess. You're here to pick up something for Ms. Cynthia."
"You know me too well, Antonio." Sunny opened his eyes wide, like he was five years old and about to give Santa his Christmas list. He put his hands together as if praying and slowly edged toward the counter. "Please, please, please tell me you're about to put out a batch of DEVO chocolates."
"I'm sorry, Sunny, but I put out the last batch fifteen minutes ago."
"And they're all gone?"
"All gone!" Antonio assured him with a proud smile.
"NOOOOOO!" Sunny threw his head back in disappointment and looked utterly deflated. If I didn't know better, I would have thought he lost a winning lottery ticket. Now I needed to try these chocolates to see what all the hype was all about.
"Would you like me to get you some of the cherry chocolates Ms. Cynthia enjoys?"
"It's not the same," he whined in the most miserable voice imaginable while still looking up at the ceiling. "But yes, please. I'll take a dozen."
If Antonio noticed the disappointment and over-dramatization in Sunny's voice, he didn't show it. "Okay, you boys, wait right here. I have a fresh batch in the back."
"And please put them in that red and pink box she likes."
"You got it!"
I walked up to Sunny and pulled on his arm. "Pull yourself together, man." I looked around the shop, which was busy for such a small space. Several people were looking at us like we were nuts. "You look ridiculous right now." I grabbed him and pulled him to a corner while we waited. I nodded and smiled at the people walking by us to leave the store. Leaning into Sunny, I whispered, "so, what do we get out of it?"
"What do you mean?" he replied in his normal voice. "We get brownie points with Ms. Cynthia."
"No, not that," I scoffed, still talking in a whisper. "I mean Ski-Tech. What's the end game there? I doubt we're providing the world's best security out of the kindness of our hearts."
"Oh, god no," Sunny snickered and finally lowered his voice. "It's all about intelligence gathering. From pop stars to billionaires to foreign dignitaries to heads of state, we have a hand in guarding these people, which allows us to keep an eye on them. Remember how I said we secure their homes and vehicles with state-of-the-art equipment?"
"Yeah."
Sunny leaned in so close I could feel his breath in my ear. "We have a back door into all those systems; we see everything."
"So, we're Big Brother."
"Ha!" Sunny shouted and then quickly covered his mouth while scanning the room with his eyes. "I see what you did there," he whispered.
"I know, I'm hilarious. What exactly are we looking for?"
"Anything that poses a threat to us."
"And when we find a threat."
Sunny jerked his head back, knitted his brows, and looked at me as if to say, seriously? "We put them on our Christmas Card list. What do you think? We deal with it, Jacob. Shhh, here he comes."
Okay, I admit, that was a stupid question.
"Here you go, boys, two boxes of Cherry Chocolates."
"Two boxes Antonio? I only wanted a dozen."
Antonio waved his hand like he was performing an interpretive dance. "One's on the house. I know these are Ms. Cynthia's favorites. Don't worry about paying; I already put it on The Club's account."
"Antonio, if you keep this up, Ms. Cynthia will think you're sweet on her," Sunny smirked.
"Ha!" I said mockingly and poked Sunny in the ribs. "I see what you did there."
"Shut up!" He elbowed me in the ribs and continued his conversation with Antonio. "Well, actually, Antonio, DEVO chocolates are her favorite," Sunny corrected him as if his sulking would magically make Antonio whip us up a batch.
"I know, boys, I know. And I appreciate that you respect the rules. That hasn't been the case with some customers the last couple of days." Scratching his head, Antonio suddenly appeared lost in thought. We thanked him again and said our goodbyes, but he mumbled something and wandered off after offering a simple nod.
The minute we stepped outside, Sunny started hammering me with questions. I followed behind him, my eyes fixed on the tall Ski-Tech building.
"So, how was school? Did you run into any trouble while you were there or run into anyone interesting?" That was Sunny's not-so-subtle way of asking if I ran into Q.
"Let's put a pin in that for a minute. There's something I want to ask you." Admittedly, I was deflecting, but my question was real.
Sunny grumbled and rolled his eyes.
"It's about Zac."
That perked him up quickly, and suddenly, I had his undivided attention. "What about Zac? Did something happen?" Sunny was looking at me now, his raised brow denoting his curiosity while his concern was clearly echoed in his tone.
"No, nothing happened."
"Then what?"
"I'll get there if you stop panicking and interrupting me," I admonished, rolling my eyes. "It's nothing bad. At least, I don't think so. It's about last night."
"What about last night?"
Stopping dead in my tracks, I glared at him.
"Sorry!" Sunny grabbed my arm and pulled me along when I didn't move. "I promise not to interrupt anymore. Maybe." That last part, he said softly as if I wouldn't hear him. Seeing his protective big brother side come out was actually kind of endearing. I was right there with him. I barely knew Zac, but I knew if someone messed with that boy, I'd instinctively go mama bear on their ass.
"I just want to make sure he's doing okay," I continued, giving Sunny a stern look because I knew he was about to interrupt. He stayed quiet. "Maybe it's nothing, and I'm overthinking things, but last night he made some comments about his past. Nothing too serious. He was actually making light of it, but I want to make sure he's doing okay."
"What did he say?" Sunny asked.
"Something about doing things in his past that would make us blush. Again, he was making jokes, but it broke my heart to hear him say that, and I could tell Liam and Elijah felt the same way. It's probably nothing, but I know he had a rough time making his way up here, and I don't know his whole history, but...."
"I get it, Jacob. I get it," Sunny said gently and briefly placed his hand on my shoulder. We walked another half a block before he continued. "Zac is a tough kid, obviously, but even the toughest amongst us have their moments, you know?"
I simply nodded.
Sunny sighed heavily. "There have been times when he's woken up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat panic. Other times, I've heard him crying into his pillow at night, afraid he'd wake me up or something. I'd climb into his bed and hold him until he fell asleep. It was worse when we started rooming together, but he's been solid the last few months. In fact, that's when he started being more jokey about his past. I think it helps him in some ways."
"I see." There was no hiding my sober tone. "Does he....I don't know, talk to anyone about it? Like a professional."
"Actually, he does."
"Do you know if they're any good? I mean, they must be if you say he's improving."
"I'd say so," Sunny nodded. "Her name happens to be The Great Mother."
"You smart ass!" I pushed Sunny and almost caused him to collide with a couple coming up behind us. I apologized to them while he laughed.
"I think he's doing fine," Sunny assured me. "To his credit, The Great Mother offered to block specific memories that caused him the most issues, but he declined. He said those experiences were part of him and helped shape who he is, and he didn't want to pretend they never happened. So yeah, tough kid."
"I can understand that."
"I figured you would."
"Has he....um, how do I put this?" I stumbled over my words trying to be as delicate as possible. "Has he been hurt by anyone in a bad way? I get that he's been through things, but is there someone specific that holds most of the blame?"
"You're asking if he had a pimp?"
I didn't answer right away. The thought shattered my heart and filled me with a dark rage I couldn't begin to explain or comprehend. "I guess I am."
"Yeah, there was a guy and his crew. They ran a few boys, and Zac was one of them until he ran away."
I nodded thoughtfully. "Please tell me The Sanctum has dealt with them in excruciating ways."
"Nope, they haven't," Sunny said matter-of-factly. He almost sounded proud, which kind of annoyed me, I'm not going to lie.
Grabbing his arm, I stopped and forced him to look at me. "What do you mean no?" I was getting angry. This would never fly in The Brotherhood, and I couldn't believe The Sanctum wouldn't do anything, especially since it was one of their own - Zac, a fourteen-year-old at the time. "Why the hell not?"
"Because I asked them not to," Sunny shrugged.
"What the hell? You're not making any sense, Sunny!"
"Relax," he snickered and freed himself from my vice-like grip. He crossed the street and entered the Ski-Tech parking garage without elaborating further.
I ran past him, blocked his path to the elevators, and placed my hand on his chest. "Why are you fucking with me right now?"
"I'm not fucking with you, I'm trying to explain without being late for our appointment. So can we keep moving?" He could have moved around me fairly easily, but he stayed put. So did I.
"Why would you ask that?"
Sunny sighed. "Even before I became a Skai, I asked Razual not to go after those bastards because I wanted to be the one to hunt them down. I want to bring them pain. I want to make them pay. No matter how long it took for me to get my wings, I needed to be the one to do this. Razual agreed."
"Why you?"
"Because I've been where's Zac's been. I couldn't get my revenge, so I want to get it for Zac."
Swallowing hard, I backed away from Sunny and placed my hands in my pockets. "Have you found them?" I didn't know what else to say at the moment. There was clearly a deep wound there; it wasn't the best time to tear it open again.
"Not yet, but I'm getting close."
"I'm sorry, didn't you just tell me about The Sanctum's vast spy network? How have they not found them yet?"
"I'm not using The Sanctum's resources. I'm sure I'd find these low lives in minutes if I did. It's not like we're talking about criminal masterminds here, but I want to do this on my own. Other than using the gates and my wings to get around, I'm going old-school, Sherlock Holmes, on this bitch."
I laughed. "Well, Sherlock, I know you want to do this on your own, which I respect, but when you find them, can I at least tag along?"
Sunny smiled brightly, "you'd come?"
"Without thinking twice."
"It's not going to be rainbows and unicorns, Jacob. You get that, right?"
Turning away from Sunny, I pressed the button to the elevator. "Just tell me when you find them."
"All right."
"Does Zac know you're on this revenge quest?"
"Nope, and he doesn't need to know. He wants to leave this part of his life in the past and move on with this life. That's great, but there's no way in hell I'm not letting those fuckers move on with theirs."
"Right on," I said just as the doors opened.
The elevator ride up to the 50th floor was a silent one. I never intended to open up old wounds for Sunny, but something was clearly on his mind. It wasn't a long ride, but he'd never been quiet for this long before. He stood next to me; his eyes fixed on the glowing buttons as we ascended upwards. I felt the need to apologize, but I didn't know what I'd be apologizing for, and even if I did, I feared it might cause his wounds to fester more. I said nothing.
Out of the blue, Sunny backhanded me across the chest. This backhanding was becoming a thing with him. Another Sunnyism added to the list. I smiled to myself.
"Hey!" he exclaimed. "You never told me about school. How did it go?"
Oh, great!
Before I opened my mouth, the elevator door dinged and saved me. We were greeted by a pleasant, if not unexpected, surprise. At least, it was a surprise to me.
"Speak of the devil," Sunny said. I could hear the smile in his voice without looking at him. "If it isn't the corporate twink himself."
Instead of being bothered by Sunny's comment, Zac quickly struck a pose while holding a stack of folders. We all got a good chuckle out of it. He looked like a mini executive in his black slacks, button- down shirt, and tie with mirror-polished shoes. No cufflinks for him; this was a 'work look.'
"What are you doing here?" I asked and pushed his glasses back from the brim of his nose.
"They force me to work here a couple of days a week," he replied in a voice that squeaked and bordered on whining but didn't come close to matching Sunny's skills in this area. "I'm pretty sure they're breaking multiple child labor laws."
"Listen to his kid," Sunny snorted and backhanded me again. "Now he's acting like he didn't beg Razual to beg Zenial to let him work here for a soul-crushing eight hours a week. The inhumanity, am I right?"
Sunny went in to ruffle his hair, but Zac expertly avoided him Matrix style. "Watch the hair," he said, passing his free hand over his hair without touching it. "I have to look good and represent."
"Who are you representing?" Sunny looked around the empty elevator waiting area. "The American Twink Association."
"To which you'd be the president," Zac fired back.
I laughed, and Sunny slapped me again.
"You're just mad I get to hang out and have discourse with Zenial all day."
"Discourse? I'm not sure you're using that right. Did someone give you a word-of-the-day calendar or something? And I don't think making copies and running errands for him constitutes hanging out."
Zac scoffed. "Constitutes? Maybe you're the one with a word-of-the-day calendar."
Sunny laughed, "I'm using the word correctly, Zac."
"Oh. Well, when was the last time Zenial took you to lunch?" He tapped his foot and waited. "I didn't think so."
"You little brat!" This time, to Zac's chagrin, Sunny successfully ruffed his hair.
I stepped in and gently pushed Sunny off him to end this clown show. "What do you actually do here, Zac?" I fixed his hair while he spoke.
"I mostly run around and help Ms. Cynthia with whatever she needs. Occasionally I'll do stuff for Zenial, but it's mostly Ms. Cynthia."
"So, you're the assistant to the assistant?"
He nodded and smiled proudly. "I'm thinking of getting business cards. What are you guys doing here?"
"We have a meeting with Zenial."
"Cool, cool. Oh hey, how was your first day back to school? You know, after everything that happened."
Sunny turned to stare at me, "Yes, Jacob, how was your first day back?"
Ding!
I was saved by the chime again. The elevator doors opened behind us, and a familiar, annoying voice rang out.
"I don't understand why I had to stay here last night," Soullen grumbled.
"I'm sure it was for your protection," Kaylec assured him. "I bet anything your former brothers would love to...."
"Beat the hell out of him?" Sunny quickly finished the sentence for Kaylec with a big old smile on his face.
Soullen took a step toward Sunny, posturing like he was about to throw hands, but Kaylec grabbed him by the shoulder and restrained him.
"Sundryn." Kaylec acknowledged Sunny with a slight nod. He completely ignored me, which was fine because he could go straight to hell.
Sunny gave Soullen the side eye but spoke to Kaylec. "What are you doing here?"
"It's my meeting. Why wouldn't I be here?"
"I don't know," Sunny shrugged. "I wasn't the one who got sucked into a vortex from hell."
"That does not concern you," he said through clenched teeth.
Sunny threw both hands up in front of him. "Whatever you say, it's your hell. But speaking of my hell, must you always travel with your little pet?"
"He's here to meet Zenial. We have big plans."
Soullen aggressively pushed against Kaylec's grip to get to Sunny. "One day, you're going to make that joke one too many times, and when you do, I'm going to...." His word cut off abruptly, and his posture immediately softened. He relaxed his shoulders and took a step back. His eyes were wide as he looked past me down the hall. I looked over my shoulder, half expecting Q to be barreling down the corridor towards him, but there was no one. Turning to face Soullen again, I followed his gaze and realized he wasn't looking down the hall; he was staring at Zac, who had stepped out from behind me.
"Hi," Zac said shyly, his bright smile lighting up the hallway. Moving the folders to his left hand, he offered Soullen a handshake.
"Um, uh...I..." Soullen was suddenly about as articulate as a head of cabbage on meth.
I knew what the look in Soullen's wine-colored eyes meant. It was the same way I looked at Q when he first walked into student orientation.
Zac and Soullen?
"I mean, hi, not I." Soullen half managed to string together a coherent thought and grabbed Zac's hand. Their handshaking lingered long past the social norm.
No way...
"You'll what exactly?" Sunny challenged Soullen, utterly oblivious to what was happening in front of us.
"I'm Zac." His youthful smile never lost its shine.
"Soullen....Uh, Prince Soullen."
Zac's left brow arched ever so slightly as his smile morphed into an impish grin.
"We don't have time for this," Kaylec griped and pushed Soullen past us down the hall.
Zac did not miss a beat. He turned to follow Soullen with his eyes, and I could tell which body part had captured his gaze. It wasn't Soullen's shoes, I promise you. I'd bet anything we were both wondering the same thing. Would Soullen turn around?
He got to the end of the hall, and just as he was about to disappear around the corner, Soullen stopped, slowly turned his head, and met Zac's gaze. It was brief, but I recognized this dance and knew where the next few steps would lead.
"That little shit!" Sunny muttered.
"I should get these down to legal," Zac said, his eyes still fixed down the hall.
"Yeah, you do that," I agreed as I grabbed him by the shoulders, spun him around, and pushed him toward the elevators. "Get back to work."
I then pushed Sunny down the hall and glared at him the whole way.
"What? Is something wrong with your eyes?"
"You know, if you added a 'dude' to the end of that sentence, you'd remind me so much of someone I know. Come on; we're going to be late."
We caught up with Kaylec and Soullen standing in front of Ms. Cynthia, and to no one's surprise, Kaylec was complaining to her about more nonsense.
"But our meeting was for five o'clock, Ms. Cynthia, and it's exactly five o'clock now."
"I understand, Suga, but the world doesn't revolve around you. Mr. Zenial had to take an unexpected meeting this afternoon." Ms. Cynthia was class personified. She sat at her desk, fingers interlaced with her arms resting on the polished wood while she looked up at Kaylec over her rose-framed glasses. "Now, have a seat, and I'll call you when he becomes available."
"Ms. Cynthia, I don't mean to be rude...."
"I know, Suga, and yet somehow you excel at it."
"This is outrageous," he continued, either oblivious to the insult or ignoring it. "We adhered to your strict scheduling, and now you're telling me you let someone else take a meeting with him during our timeslot?"
"Very good. That's exactly what I'm telling you, Suga." Her smile was sincerity and sarcasm wrapped into one, and I was here for it. I had to restrain myself from clapping. "There are more important individuals who get to walk into that office when the situation calls for it."
"That's ridiculous! I'm his brother, for crying out loud, and I can't see him without an appointment. Who is more important than me and qualifies for that privilege?"
"Oh, sweety," she sighed heavily, "I skipped my lunch today, and honestly, I think it's affecting my blood sugar levels. I don't have the strength to review such an extensive list with you right now. There are plenty of open seats in the waiting area. Settle yourself into one of them, your choice, and I will call on you when Mr. Zenial is available."
There was a brief staring contest between the two, though it is evident to anyone with a brain who would win. Kaylec ended up sitting his ass down, though he grumbled the whole time. Oddly enough, Soullen didn't follow him, at least not right away. He lingered to the side, shifting from one foot to another. Then I saw him reach into his pocket to pull something out, but when Sunny jumped in front of her desk like a damn kangaroo, Soullen shoved his hand back into his pocket.
"Ms. Cynthia!" Sunny bellowed.
"Boy, why are you yelling and hopping around like you're some kind of barn animal without any sense?"
"I'm sorry, Ms. Cynthia, you just look especially lovely today. I couldn't help myself."
"That's very sweet of you, Suga, and also very true. I'm trying out a new lipstick given to me by a dear friend. It's called 'Pageant Rose' and pulls out the sparkle in my eyes. But that's no excuse to act out. We behave like civilized young men in this office, even around attractive women. You understand me?"
"Yes, ma'am," Sunny nodded.
She leaned a little to her left to spy what he was holding behind his back. "What's that you're hiding from me? I see a pink and red box. Is that what I think it is?"
"They sure are." Like a total doofus, Sunny bent a knee, bowed, and presented the two boxes of chocolates as if they were the Crown Jewels. "These are from Jacob and me."
"Oh, Suga, that was mighty sweet of you both."
"Ha, I see what you did there," I chuckled. She smirked at me. "It was very kind. At least some of my boys remember me when they come into my office." She gave Kaylec at not so friendly side-eye.
"I didn't want to be late for our appointment. Had I known we'd be waiting, I would've stopped by Antonio's too."
"Mmhmm." The side eye turned sharp. Kaylec looked away.
Ms. Cynthia deposited the boxes in her top desk drawer. "Thank you, Suga. Why don't you boys take a seat? "
"By the way, Antonio threw that second box in for free. I think he has a thing for you. I can slip him your digits if you want."
"Hush up, now! Antonio is a dear friend."
Sunny looked at me, then back at Ms. Cynthia. "Mmhmm. Is it the same 'dear friend' that gave you that lipstick?"
"Sit," she ordered while pointing at the two chairs opposite Kaylec.
We took our seats, and Sunny immediately pulled out his phone to text Raz to see if he was still planning to attend. Kaylec was stewing in his little hate-filled world while I pretended not to be looking at Soullen, who was still hovering over Ms. Cynthia's desk. When he thought no one was looking, Soullen pulled out a glittery purple box and slid it across her desk without any pomp and circumstance. He didn't even offer a simple 'this is for you' or 'here you go.'
"Oh, my lord," she said, placing her hand on her chest as if she was having a moment. "Are those...."
Soullen quickly rushed over and took his seat next to Kaylec, acting like he didn't just do what I saw him do.
"DEVO Chocolates!" Ms. Cynthia was now the one hollering, but I doubt anyone would call her out for it. "How in the world did you come by these, Suga?"
Was he blushing? Do we even blush? I'd say he looked kind of sweet, trying to play it coy if I didn't want to punch his face every time I looked at him. Ms. Cynthia didn't push the matter. Holding the small box against her chest, she mouthed "thank you" to Soullen and smiled. He nodded shyly and quickly looked away. Kaylec glared at him for making him look like an idiot. That part I loved. Sunny also gave him the stink eye for doing something he couldn't do. It was all funny and stupid at the same time.
We sat around for ten minutes, not saying much. I fiddled with my tie to pass the time, and occasionally Sunny would show me a picture of some random hottie he matched with online. Every once in a while, Kaylec leaned into Soullen to whisper something. Then they would look at me and grin like a couple of hyenas. Sunny started playing the same game when he caught on to their antics.
"I really have nothing to say," he whispered while obscuring his mouth. "I just want to fuck with them like they're fucking with us."
"You're out of control right now," I whispered back.
"Actually, how do you think that little shithead got his hands on a box of DEVO?"
"No idea, threats of violence? Hey, what does it stand for anyway?"
"What does what stand for?"
Sunny's plan worked because Kaylec's annoyance had visibly ramped up a few levels. I also noticed Ms. Cynthia watching the four of us. She rolled her eyes, shook her head disapprovingly, and returned to working on her computer.
"DEVO. What does it stand for?" I asked.
"Defective Equipment Void of Operation."
"What?!"
"Exactly!" Sunny said in his normal voice. "I have no idea. Why the hell are you asking me?"
"You're the only one who goes on and on about them," I fired back.
Ms. Cynthia cleared her throat loudly.
"Sorry, Ms. Cynthia," we said in unison. It felt like I was back in high school, sitting across from Kaylec, the dumb jock who bullied everyone. I wanted to kick the stupid grin off Kaylec's face.
A few minutes later, a guy came running down the hall to Ms. Cyntha's desk. He looked both desperate and relieved at the same time. "Oh, Ms. Cyntha, thank god you're still here." He took a moment to catch his breath and loosen his tie.
Sunny and I looked at each other in confusion, shrugged, then looked back at the guy standing in front of Ms. Cynthia.
"Mr. Stockwood needs the Bloomington file ASAP," he said and then did a quick take of the room. "Hey, Sunny. Kaylec."
Placing one hand over the other on her desk, Ms. Cynthia leaned forward a bit. "Suga, what are you doing?"
"I'm here to get the Bloomington file for Mr. Stockwood," he answered, gesturing over his shoulder as if this Stockwood guy was standing behind him.
"I heard you, Suga, but that doesn't answer my question."
"I don't understand, Ms. Cynthia."
"We don't run here, Jesse," she said, leaning forward a bit more. "This isn't a barnyard, Suga. You're not a giraffe, or cheetah, or gazelle." She mentioned several other animals you'd never find in a barnyard, and I briefly wondered if she'd spent time on a farm near the Serengeti. "When did you boys think it was okay to come into my office acting a fool?"
"Um...." I could see this Jesse guy swallowing hard.
"Um, what, Suga?"
"I'm sorry, Ms. Cynthia, but Mr. Stockwood urgently needs that file."
She smiled warmly, but I could see through it from a mile away. "It's nice to want things, isn't it, Suga?"
"I guess," he replied with a slight tremble.
"Do you know what I want, Suga?"
"No, Ms. Cynthia."
"I'd like for you to go back to the elevators and walk yourself back here like the dignified young man I know you are."
Jesse looked over his shoulder for a moment. "But if I don't get that file, Mr...."
"Let me stop you right there, Suga," she interjected, raising a hand to cut him off. She removed her glasses with the other. "Jesse, who runs this office with professionalism and decorum?"
"You, Ms. Cynthia. There is no denying that."
"Why thank you, Jesse, that's very kind. And who expects professionalism and decorum, not barnyard behavior, from everyone moving inside these walls?"
"Also you, Ms. Cynthia."
A large, warm, genuine smile took over her face. And she was right, her lipstick did make her eyes sparkle. "So Suga, who are you going to listen to right now?
He looked around at us for help, but suddenly the four of us were too busy admiring the paintings hanging on the wall to know what was going on.
"You, ma'am."
"You're very wise, Jesse. Just imagine your future once you master the professionalism and decorum we've been discussing. So go on then." She shooed him away with both hands as if she was drying her nails. "Go on, Suga."
He had no choice but to walk away as if he was doing the walk of shame after a bad hookup.
Shaking her head sternly, she mumbled something to herself and put her glasses back on. "You boys are going to be the death of me."
"It's a good thing you work with Zenial so he can revive you," Sunny joked.
"I don't need any sass from you, Sunny," she clapped back. "Jumping around like you lost your mind, you're lucky I didn't send you back to the elevator with him."
"Sorry!" he said and raised his hands in surrender.
I leaned over to Sunny and whispered, "I would've told you to let that one go."
"Shut it," he responded in a hushed voice.
Another guy walked down the hall holding three banker's boxes full of files. Only, it wasn't a stranger, it was Zac carrying a load of boxes tall enough to block his face.
"Child, what are you doing carrying all those boxes?" Ms. Cynthia scolded. "I told you to bring them up one at a time. You're going to hurt yourself."
"It's okay, Ms. Cynthia; I can manage."
Soullen was quick to his feet and by Zac's side before he got a chance to finish his sentence. "Allow me to help you with those." Before he could answer, Soullen took all three boxes from Zac and carried them with ease.
"Thanks," Zac said and made no effort to stop him despite being able to 'manage.'
"Wait." Sunny leaned into me. "What am I seeing here?"
"Oh, now you're paying attention."
"Set those down back here, Suga," Ms. Cynthia instructed. " I'm done with these two boxers over there, so you can take those back to records, but take one box at a time, Zac. You hear me?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"I can help you with those," Soullen chimed happily.
Sunny damn near flew out of his chair. "Absolutely not!"
"Agreed." Kaylec also stood up to add his two cents. "We don't have time for this nonsense. You need to be here for our meeting. You can't be running around the building right now. We can't be late."
"And I don't want you anywhere near him," Sunny growled.
Tapping her pen on her desk, Ms. Cynthia managed to get everyone to focus on the most important person in the room - her. "Sunny, sit your little behind in that chair, and don't get up until I tell you to." He huffed and puffed but did what he was told. "If Soullen wants to help Zac with these boxes, he can certainly do so. You can each take a box down to records."
"That's not necessary, Ms. Cynthia," Soullen insisted and glanced at Zac for a hot second. "I can carry a hundred of these on my own."
I rolled my eyes. Was he really trying to flex right now?
"I don't need any sass from you either, you hear? You'll each take one box, end of discussion."
"Yes, Ms. Cynthia," they said in unison and then shyly looked at each other. Again, it would've been kind of cute if I didn't want to drop-kick one of them out the nearest window. They each took a box and went on their way while Kaylec stood there angrily, watching Soullen walk away.
"As for you, Kaylec, tea," she said.
Giving a half-hearted wave, he shook his head. "No, thank you, Ms. Cynthia; I don't consume human food."
"Oh, sweetie, I wasn't offering you a beverage. I was telling you to get me tea from Antonio's. Make sure he adds a splash of lemon and a pinch of cinnamon. Sometimes he adds one but forgets the other if you don't remind him."
He spun around and looked at her as if she was joking. She wasn't, and like every guy in that building, he dutifully did as he was told.
"Lord, help me," she said to herself. "Whatever stupid is going around today, it must be airborne."
With him gone, peace returned, and it was just me and Sunny chilling in silence. That was until Jesse returned - walking slowly.
"And what can I help you with today, Suga?"
"Um, the Bloomington file."
"Oh, Suga, I sent that file down 15 minutes before you arrived. Zac delivered in person. You should've called and saved yourself the trouble."
"But....but...."
"The day ain't over yet, Suga." Ms. Cynthia pointed to a large clock mounted on the wall. "So stop fussing about and go get some work done."
A defeated Jesse nodded and walked away with his tail tucked between his legs.
"And fix your tie!"
Another ten minutes passed, and I wondered if the meeting with Zenial would ever happen. I'm unsure how I'd feel if that happened. I wasn't exactly in a rush to meet him.
A couple of minutes later, Soullen and Kaylec returned with tea in hand. Kaylec handed it to Ms. Cynthia and was about to sit down when she spoke.
"Hold on, Suga," she said, scrunching her face after taking a sip. "This tea has lemon in it."
"Yes," he acknowledged walking up to her desk again.
"I asked for honey with a pinch of cinnamon," she said, taking another whiff of the tea before setting it down.
"No, Ms. Cynthia, you asked for lemon with cinnamon."
"I don't think so, Suga. I've been ordering the same tea from Antonio's for twenty years. I know what I said."
"But the thing is, you didn't say that, Ms. Cynthia." He looked at us with wide eyes. "Tell her."
I shrugged.
"I wasn't here," Sunny said.
"You little...." Kaylec made a move towards Sunny.
"Kaylec, the tea, please. Let's take this back and get it right this time. A splash of honey with a pinch of cinnamon. Okay, Suga?"
Without uttering a word, he snatched the tea off the desk and stormed off. I don't know if Ms. Cynthia was straight up fucking with Kaylec or if she's losing it. Either way, it took everything I had not to fall on the floor laughing. Sunny was right there with me.
The clock continued to tick, and still no word on getting in to see Zenial. The longer this was dragged out, the more anxious I felt. I wondered if Soullen felt the same way. This would be his first meeting with Zenial after betraying The Brotherhood, after all. He had to be going through his own highs and lows. Ultimately, I decided I didn't care about him enough to worry about how he was feeling and pushed him out of my mind.
After elbowing me in the ribs, Sunny shoved his phone in my face. "What about him? He's super hot, right? I'm going to match."
My eyes nearly fell out of my sockets. It was CJ. He was standing in his room wearing nothing but a jockstrap, his hands resting on his head. The angle of the photo gave a partial view of his ass and a solid picture of the pronounced bulge hanging between his legs. He had a sexy smile plastered on his face while he flexed and showed off the defined muscles rippling down his swimmer's body.
"Absolutely not!" I snatched his phone from his hand, quickly declined the match, and blocked CJ's profile.
"Hey! Why did you do that for?"
"No!" That was all I said and handed him back his phone.
"Did you want to hook up with him or something? Just say so. I don't care. I'm all about bros before, well, bros, I guess."
"Absolutely not."
"Then what's your deal, you weirdo?"
"Just trust me, Sunny."
"Whatever, dude."
Oh, for fuck's sake!
Kaylec reappeared with the corrected tea and handed it to Ms. Cynthia. "Honey and cinnamon this time, just as you requested."
"Thank you, Suga. You're very kind."
Kaylec looked at the large clock on the wall alongside Ms. Cynthia. "Ugh. This is beyond unacceptable! I demand...."
Just then, Zenial's office door opened. "I'll connect with you after the meeting to see how it all went," a man said. From where I was sitting, I could see him buttoning up his suit before stepping out into the lobby.
The second Sunny saw who it was, he stood to attention like he was about to greet his commanding officer. Reaching back, he grabbed me by the arm and pulled me to my feet. I had no idea what was going on. Kaylec was not as stiff as Sunny, but still, I could tell he was surprised.
"Prince Aulus," Kaylec said and immediately bowed.
Sunny followed, and when I stood there like a tree stump, he slapped me in the back, and I got the hint. I bowed to this stranger and kept my eye on Sunny to see when it was safe to stop. The only two not bowing were Ms. Cynthia and Soullen.
"Everyone, please, relax," Aulus said. "I apologize for taking up so much of your time." He was stunning, seriously cover-model gorgeous. His hair hung down to his shoulders, and his eyes were pools of pure darkness to the point I thought he was calling forth his Askyli. He wasn't. His beautiful tan complexation complemented the rest of his dark features, including his five-o'clock shadow. If I didn't know any better, I would've guessed he was from one of the Caribbean islands.
"I had no idea you were in the building, My Prince," Kaylec said, the reverence in his voice taking me by surprise. It was the first time I'd heard him speak with such admiration toward anyone.
Placing his hand on Kaylec's shoulder, he gave a subtle nod. "It was an unexpected visit," Aulus said, shaking him slightly. "Know that I did my best, Kaylec."
"My Prince?"
With a more obvious nod, he patted his shoulder a few times and turned to face Ms. Cynthia. "Ms. Cynthia, it's always a pleasure to see you, my dear."
"Of course it is, Suga; I'm delightful."
"You are indeed," he laughed and kissed Ms. Cynthia on each cheek before turning back and walking up to Sunny. Placing his hand on Sunny's chest, he leaned forward until their foreheads met. "It's nice to meet you in person, finally."
"Um, likewise, My Prince."
He nodded in my direction, and I just repeated what Sunny said with "My Prince," but Aulus said nothing to me, and I honestly didn't know how to feel about it.
"Well, you shouldn't keep the big man waiting." Aulus cocked his head toward the half-opened door. As he walked by Soullen, he stopped, bowed, and said, "Your Highness," before continuing on his way.
"Aulus," Soullen said with the slightest of nods, but he never bowed or called him by his title.
Weird.
Finally, the moment was here, and all we could do was stare at the door. Not even Kaylec, who was all gung-ho before, made a move to walk into Zenial's office.
"What's everyone standing around for?" a voice inquired loudly from behind us. Four heads turned in unison to see Razual standing there adjusting the brim of his fedora. "Let's go." He walked in without waiting for anyone, yet he managed to pull us along as if he'd hooked us with invisible strings.
There was no turning back now.
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