In the end, Mun and Fango were the ones to go and fetch my sword. Apotropaic and Extant retrieved it without much fuss, considering the thief was at the party the entire time. Soon, we were ready to move on again, closer to Los Angeles, California.

Dillan got us onto a boat.

Oliver carried my bag as we crossed over across the plank that connected the boat and land. I kept slow to let him keel up with me, and everyone else seemed to completely bypass us. Ace carried they boys' things with less effort than Oliver, being a well-muscled faerie. Not that Oliver was fighting too hard to keep it off the ground.

The white-haired Apotropaic cast me a happy glance. Although his left eye was covered by the silky curtain of his hair, the eye I could see was wide open and kindling with joy. His thin lips were brought up in a smile, a cigarette between them.

It was hard to imagine what could make a tortured person like him so happy. Even when I had first met him, he was very monotone and lacked emotion. Like a zombie turning human again, if that was possible, life was gradually returning to him. What could possible change that scared, broken boy that had been that way forever? Unless...

"What's got you so happy?" Even my curiosity came off angry, but he seemed to ignore it.

"You finally like me a little, Em." His beam widened now that he had voiced it. He shifted the ruffle awkwardly in his hands. "After all this time, finally. I guess you were too scared to really bond, huh? That's okay, though. We are going into Arizona now! I have the whole journey with you, Extant."

I turned away from him as I followed everyone else on the boat. Someone lifted the plank, and Oliver led me somewhere on deck that was virtually empty. The rest of the Extants and Apotropaics seemed to like to stay in a crowded place, being much more social than me. And more keen to like people.

Oliver set my bag down on an empty seat. "You seem nervous."

I glared at him. I wasn't nervous, but if I was, I would swallow it. "I'm not nervous. Just..." I looked him over. "I don't understand what's going on with everyone. How can you be so... fine? I..." Don't want to start a fucking argument about Mary, that's what I want, even if it is bothering me. I sighed and crossed my arms over my chest, eyebrows knit. "Nothing. I can learn to be fine, too."

His brow dipped as he gave me a worried look-over. "If you don't want to talk, I can make you forget." Oliver smiled and grabbed my hand. "This should be the least stressful trip we have, alright?"

I snatched my hand away from him, curling my lip. "Yeah. Okay. Thanks. Don't touch me again." I honestly didn't mind, but I didn't want to let Ace see and get the wrong idea. Besides, Oliver seemed to be a person with no respect of personal boundaries. He needed to learn that for me, there was a limit.

"Sorry, Extant." He brought his hand through the back of his hair to straighten it out. "What do you want to go do? We can go swim around the boat, if you want, or find a sunning spot or whatever."

"Swimming around the boat would be nice," I answered gruffly. "Then again, I don't have a change of clothes that isn't torn unexplainably." Of course, however, they could be explained, considering the cannibals' truck had been in poor condition and probably had some metal sticking out, along with all the peril we had been in since we left Millton.

Oliver smiled. "Maybe we can just sit near the water, then? It's very calming."

I rolled my eyes. Like I can be calmed. "Sure. Okay."

As soon as the two of us turned to walk off towards the outer part of the boat, I stumbled into Fango, who fell back after connecting his chin with my collarbone. I shoved him off, curling my lip. If I had a quarter for everytime I physically ran into one of my friends, I would buy a jet so I wouldn't have to anymore.

The boy shifted his glasses back against his hooked nose, shifting his green eyes unsteadily. "Sorry, Emma. Dillan told me check where you were."

I gave him a sour look, digging my hands into my black skinny jeans. Yeah, I get it, Dillan is playing leader. That's fine. But it's my Apotropaic's duty to protect me... He doesn't have to brown-nose me. It wasn't like I truly trusted Oliver with my life, however, so my own opinion pretty much canceled my thoughts out. "How did they get on such a big boat? Last time I checked, we had a good amount of money left, none of it wasted on the boat. You can't have that good of a silk tongue."

Fango grinned. "You would be surprised. The human mind is easy to penetrate." He scratched through his brown hair casually, then pushed his glasses on top of his nose again. It was structured in a way that the glasses slipped some, then came to a loose stop midway down it. "So, what are the Kalos duo going to do?"

"We were going to sit by the water," Oliver told him, earning a glare from me. "We are only going to Arizona. It's a wonder that a boat like this is so big, huh?"

Fango dipped his head. "Yeah. Well, I will leave you two alone, then. Delta and I are going to do a Pokémon duel." He narrowed his eyes in suggestion. "Unless you would like to watch us."

Before Oliver could open his polite, giving mouth, I spoke, "Sorry, Fango. Maybe another time." Geez, how did this guy get popular? I guess they do kind of hide the things that they like. I turned to Oliver and flashed a glare that commanded him to let me talk, and his jaw went slack. "I haven't really bonded with my Apotropaic. Give me some time, alright?"

Fango's eyes widened in appreciation. "Alright, see ya!" Of course, with me bonding with Oliver, I would probably bond with the rest of the group.

I fingered the sword in my belt, straightening my back. "Jesus Christ on a wooden captor, can we just fucking go already?" My tone, as always, was brusque and impatient. "The longer I think about it, the worse my headache gets."

Oliver, not being able to see through my sarcasm, looked panicked. "Sorry, Emma!" He held out his hand in invitation to drag me along after him, and in return, I stuck my hands in my pockets with a narrow glare towards him. He shrugged nonchalantly and turned the way of the water. I followed after him.

Not after bumping into the last person we wanted to see.

At first, I wasn't sure if the sight in front of me was even real. We were about the same height, and thank Croma he shoved me before we could collide. I skipped my eyes once, twice, over his figure. His pitch black eyes told me he was a demon. His inky hair was splayed in a messy, non-caring way over his head, and his full lips seemed to be set in a permanent scowl, and the brown leather of his jacket was the first thing I felt, and my hands went up in defense. He stepped back and looked me over once, twice.

"Hello, Emma Whitestone," he said, much too casually.

"Hello..." I narrowed my eyes. "Gary Bluethorne. What are you doing here?" My fingers flexed around the handle of my sword, but Oliver pressed his hand against mine in warning. I stepped down.

"If you plan on making any trouble, we can and will exterminate you." Although Oliver had adopted his own monotone voice once again, I could sense a little bit of heat stirring in his chest. "What are you doing here, Bluethorne?"

Gary disregarded him. "Emma. It's been a while since you knocked my out and took my belongings. How do you like my sword, little girl?"

I grit my teeth. "Cuts sharp. I killed the vessels of your friend with it." I was probably tight-roping on melting ice here with the way I was speaking, but I didn't care. This asshole demon needed to be put in his place. "Now, answer Oliver."

Gary cast my Apotropaic an unappreciated glance. "Oh, yes. What was the question? I don't speak maggot, sorry."

Oliver looked unphased an repeated, "What are you doing here? Are you following us?"

He crossed his arms over his chest. "I am not going to start a scene here. I am on vacation. I may kill you if I see your disgusting again, however. Good day, Kalos duo."

I yanked Gary's sleeve before he could turn away, pulling him back into place. "Vacation? Are we supposed to believe that?"

"I am a math teacher, after all," came his bored reply. "Where are your parents?"

The pit of my stomach went cold. How could you not know what I am doing? Why would the other Generals not at least tell you? My arms dropped at my sides, and I gave his a pained glance. "Guess they don't trust you enough, huh? We are kind of going off to go save Mary, you know. And all the Generals have fought us."

Oliver gave me a panicked look, as if demanding why I would share such details. I ignored him.

"I understand that. I didn't think you would go alone. I am not aloud on this missions against you for certain reasons." He flashed an irate smile. "If you would like to attack me, I will try and kill you back. I don't care how many people I have to bring down, but you better not pose a threat to me."

I lifted my eyebrows in a quizzical manner. They... excluded him from the mission? Why? "Fine. But I will keep my eye on you... scum."

"Same here, brat."

Avoiding any further discussion that would lead to fighting, Oliver took my hand and pulled me away towards the side of the boat, where the stairs led down to a place beside the freshwater. My hand felt warm, and I made a glance back at Gary, whose eyes had followed us with some emotion very similar to regret.

I sped up, staying by the white-haired boy the entire time. I wrapped my fingers around his knuckles, squeezing firmly as if to make him assure to me he wouldn't let go so I could go hurt the demon who had helped take my Mary. He squeezed back, understanding flawlessly. It was in that moment, I felt flames in the air kindling between the three of us. I could understand now, the bond between an Apotropaic and an Extant. If Oliver hadn't been there, I would have snapped, and who knows how many innocent bystanders would have have been murdered? Oliver was simply meant to be my... something important.

"You're a great friend," I noted out loud, glancing towards the ground. I had accepted it. Oliver was no longer a mere guardian, but my friend. He had stood by side. I would count him up there beside Dillan and Mary.

Oliver gave a flustered smile, and slipped his hand against mine in a more easy, familiar fashion. He wasn't planning on letting go anytime soon, and I wasn't too angry about that. In fact, I sort of liked the heat that fluttered through my blood when his hand was in mine. Was it demon contact? I didn't know.

But the third flame kindled brightly, and it was between Gary and I. I could feel his sad, cold eyes trained on me, the darkness of them confusingly regretful of something I just couldn't understand on the level he did. My back was turned and my hand was hot, but my spine ran cold, feeling utterly violated. I didn't know what kind of flame this one was. Oliver and I had sparked the fire of friendship, but where were Gary and I? He was my enemy. I was designed to kill him, and he was designed to kill me.

Whatever it was, a little voice told me that such eyes like the black ones we had ran in demon blood.

Sorry I haven't revised my other chapters! Wattpad will not let me.

Like the little picture up there? XD Quite obviously Bluethorne. Speaking of which, what is your theory on the relationship between Gary and Emma?

What do I need more of in this book?

Vote and comment! Have a great day!