"So you know what we just found out is important, and almost unbelievable, right?" The tall heavyset man stood in front of Rico going over it again. "Your blood test confirmed it. You're a Lucayan, Rico." He walked to another spot closer to the window. Rico wondered why have them tinted if the lights in here were going to be this bright?
"This room is for running tests, I designed the whole place. Casey's was for recovery. You keep squinting, so I could understand what you're thinking."
"That's interesting. So is that a type of beastman?"
The doctor raised one side of his lip in annoyance. His teeth were very clean.
"Lucayans are spiritual leaders for the elves of Altheia. They live even longer than Elves or Red Sorcerers. They're not as powerful as Reds but they are scary hard to deal with." He sighed. "You know you're something like royalty?"
"Really?" He squinted. He felt like he was just someone that had been thrown away. His father hadn't ever looked back.
If the elves find out about you, they'll harass us until we give you up. Sorcerers and all magic users are rare. The genetics aren't guaranteed to be passed on to the next generation. Only twenty percent of humans are Sorcerers. And at all times, there are only 12 Lucayans in this world." He smiled. "They claimed that they talked to God."
"Oh wow. That's… incredi… something else. You gave me a lot of information."
"Hey, it's a mess but you'll pick through it. Don't be intimidated."
"It's a lot."
"You're not alone kid. You have this big bushy beard so you forget that you have people to rely on. Just remember John is there."
Rico thought for a second. "You kinda sounded cool, but you gave up all responsibility." He shook his head.
"Kid I'm a purple. You think I'm getting involved in this any further? Call the old monster." The doctor thought for a second. "Don't tell him I said that."
Rico laughed. He had a lot of things to work on and things that were difficult. Any distraction was a good thing for him.
...….
The stars were showing early in the wilderness. Draft was thin, and the wind felt like it came from up above. The clouds were blue because they were too thin to hide the sky.
The parking lot had a single white car. It was a generic cheap looking thing, he was sure that the government made them particularly for doctors; or it was a well known happenstance.
He saw the missed calls from his mom. They made him pause and close his eyes. He swallowed and left those alone; anymore to think about would make him sit down right where he stood. He typed in a number and made another call. The GPS was a help, but he had to play a part in his friend finding him.
"Cory, just take the right for two turns after you took a left. And then you'll see a gravel road. That's where I'm at."
He kicked a few rocks and shifted his weight. Time passed with nothing more than nature. He felt tired. It was hard to explain but, it was a tiredness from wanting to feel, or experience. And it brought a weight that felt real to every part of him. Life had been a lot without his father.
He kept it in because that's where it belonged. He sighed and felt disappointed that that was all he could give himself.
A car's light cut through the darkness. He could hear the pea rocks shuffling. He sighed.
"Man why doesn't this place have any lights? I almost ran into a bush coming up here."
"I think it's new. The inside smells like new paint and the doctor told me he designed everything."
"That's why it's messed up. He should be fixing kidneys and stuff… not buildings."
They drove in silence for a bit. The windows were down and they could only hear the occasional shuffle of leaves by the wind.
"You wanna tell me what's going on? You're not this quiet."
"Well, it's a lot." He looked over at his friend. "I'll tell you though. I found out my dad was a type of prince, or something crazy important, and he just left."
"Shit… shit. Well we can figure this out. Just need to get some information on the guy, I think."
"Yeah well… how do we do that?" He shook his head. "And why? He's gone anyway, it's better to leave him alone."
"I don't think that." He frowned. "I think it's wrong and we can at least tell him that to his face, Rico."
Rico laughed. Cory sounded genuinely upset. "Well if I do go you're going with me. Maybe we can beat him up?"
"Now, look we can tell him stuff, but can't beat him up. I'm sure you go to a bad place if you beat up you dad."
Rico squinted. "You mean like hell?"
Cory frowned. "I was meaning jail, Rico."
...….
"Thanks for the ride, I owe you bro."
Cory shook his head. "Small things my guy."
They gave a fist bump before Rico left to his home. The driveway only had a blue sedan left, because the creature had destroyed his car. He needed something, he'd have to wait on the insurance money to come through. They owned the home. He didn't know how, but that's what it was.
The yard was just a lawn without flowers. The home was blue and wooden. Its door, he pulled on the knob, felt light and cheap. But he was more than happy to be home, right now.
He could finally sleep.
His mom was on the sofa lying asleep. And he could tell that she was upset; a smell of pine cleaner floated lightly throughout the living room. She would clean when she was upset about anything
.
"Mum… mum, I'm home."
She woke up quickly, and wiped her face. His mum was dark like him; he'd gotten a small amount of her features but he felt that he'd gotten the best.
"Mum. I got some stuff to tell you."