Snowflake
Selek had been observing Milo running around the Temple and Sanctuary lately. The young one had even been spending a lot of time at the Sagittarius temple; however, Zephirus, the Sagitta master could not have been able to tell him what had been going on between the brothers and Milo. Had it been something evil, he was sure he would have known—yet, there was nothing that could give him a hint of whatever was happening.
Milo had been hiding something, Selek knew. The Scorpio Saint had seen him sneaking out of the Temple very late at night and had seen him taking some food, and once, Scorpio had even caught his young apprentice returning either too late at night or very early in the morning, after having spent the night somewhere else.
One night after dinner, Selek decided to go to Zephirus and talk to him. There were many a thing still unclear and he wanted an explanation. Zephirus of course, listened to him and shrugged. He had no idea as to what Selek was telling him. However, as soon as the other man started to talk, he began to thread the past events in his temple. Aioros had been acting strangely. Aioria, on the other hand, had behaved as always. “He’s going there.” Selek had said, and Scorpio knew he had been right, for Zephirus lifted his brow surprised, for it all made sense after all.
“I thought it’d been a rat all this time!”
“A rat?!””
“Yes, a nocturnal visitor…and it turned out to be a bug!”
“Zephirus…”
Laughter followed. Whatever nickname given to Selek, different to ‘arachnid’ and concerning small, tiny animals, was enough to make him mad. He was too proud of being a Scorpion as to accept being called differently. That was why Selek’s frown made Zephirus laugh madly. When the Sagittarius’ master needed to stop, he signalled Selek to wait for him. Scorpio was upset, he confirmed and soon, he was collecting himself again.
“What do you want to do, my friend?” he finally asked, wiping away his tears.
“What do you think?” Selek answered, “I want to know what he’s doing over there, of course!”
“You serious ‘bout this, right?” Zephirus was about to laugh again when he saw him fold his arms across his chest and smirk. “All right, Selek, I’ll help you out.” He promised.
That same night, Zephirus called Selek to his temple. Scorpio had already decided to follow him, hence, his partner’s calling was a blessing. Selek was ready to oblige Milo to speak if he had to, and so, Zephirus was waiting for him, for they were now accomplices. “He just arrived.” The man said, which made Selek smirk. “You’re determined to outwit him, aren’t you?”
Selek nodded, annoyed by the fact that he had to do all that in order to find out what Milo was involved in. In an ominous manner, Selek told Zephirus he didn’t expect Milo to be doing something bad or that punishment was on its way.
Late as it was already, the House of Sagittarius was dark, and the only light in there was that of the torches here and there. Selek followed the man’s steps inside the place, carefully taking one-step after the other. Their apprentices were chatting in low voices. Aioros seemed to be giving instructions and Milo was answering back, and what they thought, he was only asking ‘why’ all the time.
Zephirus moved the linen curtain and opened space for Selek to stand next to him and look. They felt ridiculous, spying on their pupils; but after seeing Selek, Sagitta did not even think about refusing to help him.
“Aioros! Not like that!” little Milo yelled nervously, just to hear Aioros laughing a second later.
“Look, Mr. Stinger.” Had responded the older boy, showing him how to hold the little kitten to feed him, “this is how it’s done. See her eating?”
Selek saw Milo smiling broadly, opening his eyes to their fullest; amazed by what the other was doing.
“Where did you learn how to do that, Rosu?”
“Aioria—I had to do this with him when he was a baby.”
“Is that why you call him ‘Cub’? ‘coz my Master told me a cub is the baby of a Lion—but wait, you’re not a lion!” Milo began saying innocently, “I prefer calling him ‘kitten’, after all, Aioria is harmless.” He said twisting his nose, making Aioros laugh.
“I’m not a lion, but Aioria is, Milo; that’s why he’s my Cub. He’s a Lion and my little brother. But you haven’t told me this kitten’s name.”
The boy started to think for a moment, his finger on his mouth. “Snowflake!” he yelled happily.
“Snowflake? Why?”
“’Coz it’s all white and looks just like Master Nivoe does when he’s mad at my Master.” The two apprentices laughed loudly and when they noticed it, they tried to calm down so that no one would hear them. The masters moved away right before the kids turned to look at the place where they had been standing. As soon as Selek set foot outside the temple, he started to laugh without restraining himself.
“And you were thinking the worst, weren’t you Scorpio?”
“Can’t help it…”
“I know, conspiracies where there’s none. That’s so like you people.”
“Zephirus, forgive me, please.”
“Nah, it’s ok, hadn’t it been you, I’d be worried.”
“Thank you.” He responded, kissing the other on his cheek and then walking away, waving his hand on the way to his temple.
Zephirus returned to his temple and after a few more minutes, he noticed Milo leaving the place earlier than in the days before. He waited. Maybe, just maybe, Aioros would talk to him, though he knew he was dying to ask him first. A few minutes passed and the young one still had not said anything.
“Rosu,” he called him; the boy answering at once, drying his hands on a towel. Sagittarius looked at him inquisitively, to what Aioros did not know exactly how to respond, “anything you want to tell me about?”
Aioros stared back, his innocent face reflecting nothing, “No Master, nothing.” He answered.
“Where’s your kitten?” Zephirus said in a sarcastic tone. Aioros stood frozen where he was standing. He had been keeping it secret from his Master that he was fostering Snowflake for Milo could not do it himself. However, he turned to look at the older man.
“Sleeping.” He responded.
“G’night then, Rosu.”
Aioros smiled, watching his Master walk to his room. Whether Zephirus knew about the little animal or not, he did not know. Zephirus, just like Milo, never referred to Aioria as he did, calling him ‘Cub’ but ‘Kitten’. The boy shrugged and went back to his room, making sure that both, Aioria and Snowflake were sleeping.
“Milo…Milo…” Selek whispered in the child’s ear, realising how tired and soundly asleep he was. The man smiled tenderly, making himself room in the bed, next to the child.
“Selek?” the boy asked, still sleepy.
“Can I sleep with you tonight?”
Milo nodded. He loved that feeling since it was a habit of theirs. Milo had never forgotten the warmth and sweetness of his parents’ friends when he used to visit them and sleep with him.
The child made himself comfortable in his Master’s arms and slept until the next morning. When he woke up, and took his bath, he found his oatmeal already served, some fruits chopped on it and a jar of milk to pour on them. Next to it, he found another jar of milk, wrapped in a piece of cloth, ready for him—or so he thought—to take it along. Milo ate his breakfast hastily and ran to the Sagittarius’ Temple, the milk under his arm.
“Milo! Watch out man!” Camus yelled, pointing at the milk he was spilling out of the bowl, “Snowflake won’t like that mess.”
“I know, she’s so Aquarian.” Milo answered hurrying to clean up and serve the liquid properly. “Snowflake, come here,” He even whistle after calling the already grown cat, “here you go, girl.” Milo said patting her head while she rubbed her head and body against his leg, before jumping on the table and drinking what Milo had offered.
“Did you know that she only drinks milk if it’s you who pours it?”
Milo smiled nodding silly for it was true. There was that connection between the cat and him after all. It had not mattered that he had given her as a birthday present to Camus when he had found himself without knowing what to give him for his seventh birthday. Thanks to Selek, he knew, Snowflake and him had not stopped being close.
“Yes I know, but I also know she only looked for Master Nivoe’s caresses.” The man grinned and rubbed the cat’s back, then patted her head one more time.
“What were you just thinking about, Scorpio?”
“Rosu.”
“That name is forbidden here, Milo.”
“So what?” he responded, lifting his shoulders in an uncaring manner, “rules are made to be broken and on that, I’m an expert.” He finished with a grin. Camus shook his head annoyed. He dared not ask any further and walked to the sitting room to continue his reading. Scorpio looked at him and then turned to Snowflake, holding her in his arms, while she purred against his cheek.
“That’s our little secret, right Snowflake?” the cat purred once more and he took her along with him, just to sit in front of Camus, asking him to read aloud again.
Ariadne, August 14, 2006