The Fourth Zaldizko 36 Dionysus's Nursery

A small row of ba.s.sinets on rockers with baby blue or pastel pink frilly tent canopies and white slate rectangular cots were lined up against the back wall near three large oval mirrors framed in gold leaf of an elaborate grape vine pattern.

Cute pictures of bunnies and kittens were gently drawn across the walls of blue and green stripes to give them a child-like charm and character. It reminded me of Wilfred and Lita's pyjamas.

All about the floor were sets of train tracks snaking about in random loops and route patterns. Most were connected by bridges and building models that resembled the Second District.

Dejected looking kids in fancy clothes of suits or frilly dresses (like doll clothes) sat about the floors playing with toys or just staring at the walls with blank expressions.

Stardust suddenly showered the room from the white ceiling. The kids expressions lit up at the sight of bunnies and kittens chasing each other around the walls. The blue and green wall stripes reformed to make a blue sky and lush fields for the cats and rabbits to run along. Some of the kids were having a field day trying to grab the animals off the walls or follow along with their chase.

The scent of citrus and summer flowers lingered about the air to refresh our tired minds and perk up our energies.

"Howdy-doodly-do kids!" I heard a familiar chirpy voice greet everyone from the other side of the large room.

My eyes widened at the sight of Dionysus flying out of the central oval mirror.

"Dionysus!" I gawked at the sight of the bird. "How can you be here? Doesn't your powers only work for Room 69?"

"Master Famine!" Dionysus flew to my shoulder.

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"Welcome to Evadale Academy's Nursery! It's a funny thing you say that. Master Leinard approached me with an offer I couldn't refuse. He granted me power to move across certain Ambry Ports, which needs immediate a.s.sistance."

"This room is one of them then." Death nodded his head with approval.

"Of course, Master Death. With the knights having to rush about doing knight's work, someone needs to be on hand for the children." Dionysus's feathers ruffled with pride of the important responsibility he had been given.

"I'm glad. It's good to see you." I kindly patted his head.

"This bird?" War raised his brows.

Dionysus formally introduced himself. At the same time, Small Cap finally woke form his heavy sleep and groggily crawled out of my belt pouch to rest on my other shoulder.

_"What be going on?"_ He yawned in a manner that spiders could do, which was stretching out his forelegs.

Some kids gasped. I saw the two boys sitting by a set of tracks near me. They were staring at Small Cap with fearful expressions.

"It's okay. He's my friend." I rea.s.sured the boys and gently patted Small Cap's tiny tuft on his head for emphasis.

"Hot dog!" The boy on the left animately piped up with glee. "A spider for a friend."

"You look weird with a bird on one shoulder and spider on the other." The other boy commented with a monotone voice to match his sober expression.

I chuckled.

"I like your black eyes. Not seen anyone with those." The boy added onto his observation.

I paused, not sure what to make of that compliment. "Thanks. I think."

Dionysus flew off my shoulder and perched himself on a toy bridge before the boys. He prompted introductions from them.

The more animate boy was named Charlie. He was ten and an orphan from the Fourth District it seems. His silky blond crop of hair framed his soft friendly face of blue eyes and baby cheeks. He was dressed in a black and white tuxedo with a white carnation pinned to his right breast. I felt a disturbance in my heart to think that this innocent, sweet-face boy was likely 'dolled' for some sick rich person's benefit.

The expressionless boy was Jace who was a new orphan from the Third District. Unlike Charlie's generous smile that was shown in his eyes, Jace's brown eyes held a mysteriousness. It seems he was a couple of years older, but looked younger being shorter and skinnier than Charlie. His face wasn't as approachable as the other boy's too. He still carried the baby-face look with smooth features that was pleasant on the eye aside from his expression. His brown hair was slicked back off his face, lending a businessman's impression to his countenance. He wore the same tuxedo as Charlie.

Small Cap crawled down my body to perch on the bridge next to Dionysus. He was enjoying the delicate pats Jace gave his head. I felt my heart flutter with hope at the boy's small smile.

"Charlie, Jace, having fun there." Kieran knelt down before them.

I c.o.c.ked my head to one side with interest to see the man's genuine friendly expression on his face. There was something in his eyes that made my heart tw.a.n.g with pain. A feeling of loss.

"Keiran. Do you have children?" I blurted.

Keiran sighed and rose to face me. His expression was the businessman's friendliness again. "A son. Once. He disappeared with his best friend when they were playing on a beach."

Disappeared on a beach? A mad rush of black and white blurry blobs. .h.i.t my brain and stirred a nasty headache.

"Ouch!" I winced.

"Famine?" Keiran frowned with concern.

"Nothing. I'm okay." I brushed off the pain. "I'm sorry to hear about your son."

Keiran recoiled slightly, a moment of pain was visible on his face. "Famine. My son was born with unique features that made a lot of people want to kidnap him. He was ten when I last saw him."

"How many years since?" The headache persisted along with the blurry blobs.

"Eight going nine to this very day. Actually, he would be 19 years today."

"Today?"

"Yes. The first day of Autumn is my son's birthday."

_"Famisto. Isn't that yah birthday?"_ War's voice pushed its way into my mind, which only stirred more blurry images.

"I need to sit down for a moment." I turned away to take a seat on a blue two-seater that was against one wall near a bookshelf.