“Yeah,” I whispered. No sense in denying the truth.
“It’s good to want things. Just make sure you understand what it is you’re really seeking. Darius was once a young Mage who was given more land than most young Learners. Maybe he misunderstood the gesture and assumed his Creator was impressed by material things, and that’s why he began extorting men for money. After he was stripped of his possessions—including the land—he probably felt like an inferior man. Years later, he can purchase any property he desires except for the one that matters. I’m certain his Creator shamed him for allowing that gift to slip through his irresponsible fingers.”
“He’s an evil man who kills humans. You can’t justify that.”
Niko sat up straight, his eyes seeming to look at mine. “That is true. But we’re not born evil. His desire to reclaim what he lost blinded him from making the right choices. Sometimes what we desire the most can change who we are, and it’s up to us to decide if that’s for better or worse. You must learn to control those desires so that you’re always on the right path, even if that means never attaining or holding on to the thing you want most.”
Niko’s words resonated in my head, and I considered the meaning. It was hard to ignore advice from someone as old as him, especially when he had nothing to gain from giving it freely.
“You told me to speak to Viktor, but now you’re saying I shouldn’t want to join Keystone?”
He swung his leg back onto the roof. “What I mean is that you can desire something without letting it be the force of every wrong decision to obtain it. If you want to be a member of Keystone, make sure you want it for the right reasons. But consider what you’ll do to reach that goal.”
The wind lifted my hair. “Darius has a chance of getting his land back if he keeps doing what he’s doing. Even if it’s wrong, he’s got a better shot than if he’d done nothing at all.”
“Look at what kind of man that’s made him into. Just imagine an alternate universe where he had made different decisions. Are you so sure he would have never reacquired it? Sometimes we have to relinquish those desires because we attach them to goals of no importance. Ambition can destroy you if you don’t learn to balance it with sacrifice.” Niko stood up and reached out for my hand. “Now put your big-girl panties on and make a choice.”
I reached for his hand, and he helped me up. “Big-girl panties?”
He laughed as we returned to the ladder. “Did I say that right? It can be a struggle to keep up with language when it changes so frequently. English isn’t my native tongue, but I’ve always found it colorful.”
“Thanks, Niko. You know… for not giving up on me.” I hesitated, still holding his hand. “Can I hug you?”
A blush tinted his brown cheeks.
I let go of his hand. “Sorry, that was a little weird.”
“Apologies. I’m usually not asked. People give hugs freely, or haven’t you heard?”
When he drew me into his arms, I wanted to weep against his shoulder like a child. It had been so long since anyone had hugged me—not since my father. I stepped back before he sensed my anguish over such a benign gesture.
Niko took my arm and we continued our leisurely stroll toward the ladder. “I was once as lost as you. Sometimes we have to be lost in order to find ourselves.”
“Viktor saved you?”
“No. It was long ago. I’ll walk you somewhere—a hotel.”
I stopped at the ledge. “I’m not leaving just yet. There’s something I need to do first.”
He bowed. “As you wish.”
When I saw he wasn’t following, I stopped at the top of the ladder. “You’re staying up here? Is it because of those guys in the bar?”
“It’s a night of celebration. Let Viktor know where I am. I’ll rejoin them when they’re ready to leave. It’s a nice evening, and I like the idea of sitting under the stars.”
I glanced up at heavy clouds aglow from the city lights. “There aren’t any stars.”
He smiled and looked skyward. “Clouds don’t make stars disappear; they only hide the brilliance of their light.”
“Stop being so profound. We might have to start writing those in fortune cookies and open up a store.”
Niko bowed, amusement dancing in his eyes when he looked up at me. “See you later, alligator.”
I smirked. “After a while, crocodile.”
I strutted through Flavors with purpose, grateful that Niko had shown up when he had. He didn’t just save me from a Mage who threatened to overpower me and juice my life, but he saved me from myself.
When I reached Viktor’s table, I sat in the vacant seat across from him. Claude was throwing darts, missing almost every one.
After a few beats, Blue and Gem stood up to leave, tapping Claude on the shoulder and coaxing him to follow. Aware that a Vampire could be listening in, I chose my words carefully so as not to mention Keystone.