August 19, 2003
Coralis arrived at the flyball field 30 minutes before practice started. There was no game scheduled for that day, as the new season hadn't officially started, but it was the first practice of the season.
Sebastian arrived shortly after her, holding a coffee cup in his hand.
"You look like someone who could use a mighty monster juice," said Coralis to him.
Sebastian looked around, to make sure no one else was in the locker room.
"I could use one of those indeed. I was so tired that I didn't even think of taking some vials with me. How ironic considering I'm your supplier of mighty monster juice in times of need!"
Coralis laughed at his comment.
"That's pretty interesting, indeed. What kind of mission have you been sent to?"
"No mission. Well yes, maybe we could say they I got the mission accomplished, but it got nothing to do with the CMMA… although I will need to contact them after practice."
"You're rambling. Spill."
"I barely slept last night," said Sebastian after drinking a large sip of coffee. "I think I got less than an hour of sleep. I'm fine, but yeah, I'm feeling a little bit tired."
"Clearly. Do I need to call Stephanie to find out what kept you up? Oh wait, never mind, she is probably just as tired as you, if not more."
"Oh, she definitely was more tired than I, she's human, remember? She was supposed to have classes today but she didn't go. I proposed to her last night, and she said yes, so let's just say that the night was very short."
"You finally did? Congratulation! Once the news comes out, and you know it will once the CMMA Department of Family Affairs get involved and they notice your finger brand, I bet you journalists will have a field day."
"I didn't ask her if she wanted to go through the elemental ritual or not and I don't think I will. The CMMA agents are probably going to ask us and I don't want to give them the idea that I coerced her into anything."
"Do you want to go through the elemental ritual with her?" said Coralis while drawing game tactics on a floating board.
"Part of me wants to share that with her, I know she's the one for me. I'm hoping she feels the same about me and won't change her mind or seek divorce down the road. However, it doesn't matter to me if we don't. I love her, so as long as she keeps wanting me as her husband, I'm happy."
"Have you set a date for the wedding?"
"No, not yet. I want the tensions in our world to dissipate first."
"You'll be waiting for years then."
Their coach entered the room, followed by Steven and Lydia.
"I guess we'll see. I don't like the feeling that a war among us could break out any day. Once people find out about Stephanie and I, and realize that me and you never were together, do you think that it's going to put Frank at risk?"
"I don't know. Hopefully, people will start believing again that I've been hooking up with one of the royal vampire family members of Chicago. If I need to, any of the siblings would pretend to be my beloved."
Sebastian chuckled and couldn't stop.
"I think King Matthew secretly dreams of seeing you and Prince Charlie together."
Coralis looked at the coach, who was chatting with Lydia in the opposite corner. Steven was on a hologram call with his mother.
"I don't even think it's a secret. That being said, I think that this is going to be my last season with the team."
"You don't want to renew your contract? Mine is also coming up for renewal. Honestly, I'm also considering not renewing it, but I haven't made a decision yet."
"I don't want to quit, but I think it's time. Between where the EBEE and the CMMA are sending me when I'm off the field, my consulting works, the werepanther clan and Frank, I need to let go of something. You were right, by the way. Since I told him about what we are, he's been a good sport regarding my overloaded schedule. Especially with this war climate, sadly, I need to be focusing on my other jobs if I want to keep Frank safe and alive."
Few more people walked into the room.
"Can't argue with your reasoning," said Sebastian as their coach whistled to get everyone's attention.
During the practice, she felt her pager and hologram vibrating a few times. She knew that it was the EBEE trying to reach out to her, but she also made it clear to them that would never be available for them during flyball time.
Her mind went back to the discussion she had with Sebastian before practice. She was happy for him and she knew that Frank also wanted that with her. She wanted to commit to him, just like Sebastian did with Stephanie, but she was too afraid of what would happen if she did. She didn't want to see him in danger just because of what he meant to her.
If she could, she'd quit the EBEE and only play flyball for a living, but she knew that it would never be an option for her. She didn't want to think about what some group of people would be capable of doing just to get her back into that line of work.
She hoped that the current conflict between factions wouldn't escalate into a full-blown war, one that would spill over into the human world and expose them all, but deep down, she knew that it was headed that way. Whether she liked it or not, her priorities had shifted. The time has come for her to quit flyball.
With four Silver Cups under her belt, she figured she could retire from flyball without any regrets. She had a good career, even if The Northerners don't win the Silver Cup this season. Her decision was made. She wasn't going to renew her contract with them. This was going to be her last season.
When practice was over, she pressed her hologram to watch the message left by Alfredino.
"Blue Thunder, you must call me back as soon as you see this. We know that you have the Silverling Heart."