Page 18 of Claimed By the Krijese

Iris blows out a heavy breath. “Fine. It makes you less scary.”

“We are scary to you?” Sorin speaks up.

She and I both glance down, startled, because my whole focus had been on her and I briefly forgot where I was.

“How could I be scared of you?” Iris tugs on one of his floks with a grin. “You’re adorable.”

That does not satisfy my kit though. He cocks his head. “But you are scared of Gogo?”

She shifts her gaze to me and back to him. “I was at first, but maybe not so much anymore.”

“Why were you afraid at first?”

“Sorin.” There is a slight hint of reprimand in his name.

Iris holds up her hand and turns toward me. “No, it’s okay. He should be able to ask questions. Knowledge is important.” She looks at my kit. “I overheard people say something about the Krijese when I arrived on Tavikh, and I believed them even though I’d never met one. So, when I first saw your gogo, I jumped to conclusions instead of learning for myself what he is really like. People have done the same thing to me my entire life. I was wrong to do it to your gogo.”

“Why did others not take the time to know you?” Sorin has always been curious and asks far too many questions.

Iris points at her face. At the side that is darkly colored. “When people initially look at me, they only see this. The next thing they see is this.” She raises her arm that is incomplete. “I’ve been seen as scary, too, and I know how hurtful it is.”

Scars and other wounds come from warring. The more wounds you carry, the stronger you are. I do not know the reason for Iris’s missing hand, but that she thrives without it only tells me she is a strong female.

“Is your coloring unusual for a human? All the ones I have seen on Tavikhi come in so many different colors that I did not realize a person who has more than one is considered scary. I believe you to be special for having something the others don’t.” It is my turn to ask a question, because I have been cursed with the need for knowledge as well.

Iris laughs, but it is not the sweet melodic sound I have become used to. This sound is tinged with a sour note I do not care for. “Little kids have cried when they see me. Whether because of my face or because I don’t have a hand, I don’t know. Not that it matters. This is who I am.”

“I still think you’re the most beautiful female I have ever seen,” Sorin tells her.

Iris’s eyes shimmer with a sudden wetness. “Thank you, sweetie.”

I too see the beauty Iris possesses. It is in the harmonious sound she makes and in the softness she gives my kit. It is also in her ability to make me create a noise of amusement I would never have experienced prior to this turn. Prior to Iris.

Chapter 10

Iris

When I woke up this morning, I never expected I’d meet one Krijese, let alone two of them. I also certainly hadn’t expected to open up old wounds I thought long sealed. Maybe I needed to, though. Because it’s pretty obvious I have some unresolved hurts to heal.

“Neither Sorin nor I meant to bring up painful memories. We did not intend to cause you harm.”

I wave off Kala’s concern no matter that I appreciate it. “You have nothing to apologize for. I’ve never been able to hide any parts of me so it’s not like I’m going to start now.”

“You should not hide anyway,” Sorin says.

This little boy really is too good. Far too often, the sisters at the orphanage would scold me for being too inquisitive. They would tell me that too much knowledge was dangerous. Especially a female from the bottom tier. Those from the upper tier wanted to keep us ignorant.

God forbid should we learn and know too much. It would mean us realizing that every promise they ever made about wanting to make our lives better was nothing more than a lie.

“How about I make you a deal? You keep asking questions and gaining knowledge and I will stop hiding.” I extend my hand to Sorin who glances down at it and back up to me with the small tilt to his head.

“Why are we doing this handshake thing again if it is a greeting between people? We have already met.”

A grin splits my lips. “A handshake has more than one meaning. It’s not only a greeting, but a way to seal a bargain.”

He slips his small hand into mine. It has a slightly different feel to it than his father’s. Sorin’s is softer, less calloused. It also doesn’t make my own palm sweat.

“We shall make this deal, then. You do not hide while I continue to learn.” He and I shake on it before he glances up at Kala. “You should make this same deal with Gogo. He is always wanting to increase his knowledge of things as well.”

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