11 Meet the Children (2/2)

Ivo throws a smirk over his shoulder. Leans down and knocks on the ground. Instead of the expected dull thud, it was a hollow metal clanking. I felt my eyebrows raise in surprise. Smug, Ivo puffs out his chest. The ground opens up to reveal a little girl with long wavy black hair and eyes. She stands under a round hinged metal door with a large lever in the center. She sees Ivo, and her smile is bright enough to blind me. When she looks at me, her smile drops off quick enough to hurt my feelings.

”Who is this?” She questions, sounding suspicious and haughty at the same time.

She scans me from top to bottom with a sneer. I can already tell we are not going to be close friends. Ivo speaks before I could. A good thing too, because it wasn't going to be nice, and I shouldn't lower myself to the level of a little girl.

”This is Emma. She's going hide with us for a little while. Some people from the village are looking for her.” She continues to stare at me, unmoving. He sighs, ”Will you move? I'm tired.” She hesitates a beat before stepping down the latter built into the wall of the underground bunker.

Ivo leads the way down, ”she seems charming,” I mutter.

”Forgive her; she doesn't trust easily.”

I snort, ”I picked up on that.”

I make my way down the latter into a large bunker. The walls are made of smooth stone with more Diao gems embedded in the wall as the only source of light. It's clear that they're living here. A collection of random clothes and other items litter the floor.

There are two other children aside from Ivo and the black haired little girl. She stands as far away from me as she can while still being in the room. Glaring hard enough that any second I expect my hair to catch on fire. It was disturbing to have it come from someone who has known me all of twenty seconds.

/What could she possibly hate me for?/

Ivo takes a step forward, her attention shifts to him. Her expression became one of complete adoration bordering on worship.

/Oh.../

She shifts to me again. If possible, her glare burns hotter.

I withhold a sigh and listen as Ivo give introductions, ”Everyone this is Emma. Those bastards are searching for her so she will stay with as for a little while.” He gestures to the angry chick. ”She is Monna.” She isn't much older than Ivo, and she is as tall. Since they both reach a bit past my shoulders, I feel downright short. He points to the curly black haired boy with silver eyes. ”That is Daric,” he is shorter than Monna, reaching no higher than my chest and carrying a cocky, devil-may-care smile. ”And lastly, Zain.” He reaches no higher than my hip and the youngest one here. He has brown hair and bright green eyes filled with laughter. That made me love him immediately.

”We are going to be in here together for a time, try to get along.” He looks pointedly at Monna.

Monna shrugs her shoulder. Acting like that doesn't apply to her.

/Gods above, give me the strength to not strangle this child./

Looking at his ragtag group, I ask the question that has been on my mind since I met Ivo. ”Where are your parents? They can't be fine with you being out all night.”