The Prior
Chapter 17: 1871 on Fire

POV: Belle Watson

“Do we even know this historical event?” Max asks us. I don’t ever remember learning about it in history. Even Cass shakes her head.

“Vaguely,” says Elliot.

“What does that mean?” Cass asks, sharply. She doesn’t make eye contact with Elliot much anymore. Something happened between them and regardless of our real mission, my mission is to figure out what happened. I don’t know why I’m so engulfed in their relationship. Is it because I have a minor crush on both of them? Maybe. Is it because I’m miserable in all ways and this is my way of escape? Maybe.

“It means that my parents were divorced and my dad lived in Chicago. I vaguely remember him showing me a landmark from it,” Elliot says. Cass eyes him as if she didn’t like his answer.

“Okay. That’s something. What was it?” Max inquires. Elliot takes a deep breath and closes his eyes for a second.

“So, there was a really bad fire. It killed a lot of people, I know. And, I really don’t think that they know why it started. It has something to do with a barn and a drought, maybe?” he says.

“They should’ve sent us with a recap of every event,” I sigh.

“Ow. What the fuck was that?” Max says as a newspaper drops to the floor. Cass and Max reach to pick it up at the same time. Cass grins at Max as he hands her the newspaper.

“All yours, Cass.”

“Headline is ‘Chicago on Fire! 10,000 Buildings Burned!’” she reads, “The body says it was started at a barn. The barn of the O’Leary Family and it says police have many theories as to why it started. Could have been a cow that knocked over a lantern? Or a barn party gone wrong? Firefighters were sent to the wrong place and that’s why it spread. Wild.”

“So. We start with the barn? And look for a lantern?” I suggest.

“Yeah, great thought Belle!” Cass beams. Her validation makes my heart warm. Honestly, it even encourages me to talk more. I’ve decided that I’m done being the scared little girl. I’m getting up there with Cass and taking action.

We set off out of the woods. Elliot walks next to me as the two of us lead the group. While I enjoy not feeling so left out, I find it peculiar that he and Cass aren’t walking next to each other. Is it appropriate for me to ask him? I mean he answered last time. But, also, Cass and Max are walking a little too closely behind us. After a few minutes, we finally spot the town.

It’s certainly a city. A smelly one too. I’ll never complain about D.C.’s urine stench again. This is worse in every way. Feces of all types line the streets. Cass walks a pace faster with Max and together they approach a street merchant. I can barely make out Max’s question.

“We’re visiting the O’Leary family today, but got a little lost. Can you tell me how to get to their barn?”

Chicago is a pretty big city. There is no way that these people know where it is.

“I’m not sure which barn is theirs, but there’s a lotta family barns just up the way. Turn onto Cannon and just keep goin’ until you can ask a neighbor of theirs,” the merchant says. Max and Cass thank them and Max signals at us to follow them. Max gives Cass a high five and she giggles. I catch a glimpse of Elliot grinding his teeth.

We finally approach the general area that was depicted in the newspaper from earlier. Elliot holds up the newspaper and reads us the description of the area.

“Okay, perfect. Let’s find a local to ask,” Cass says. Elliot jogs to the right, towards a farm ahead. Max and Cass just stop in their tracks.

“We’ll let him handle this one. I’ve done enough. His turn,” Max says with a chuckle. Cass doesn’t laugh. Instead, she actually just glares right at Max.

“It was a joke,” he says to her. She nods and turns her attention back to Elliot. I wonder what she’s thinking. Elliot has a conversation with the farmer, but he doesn’t seem to do any pointing. They just speak. Finally, Elliot points. At us. And then, turns around and walks back to the road where we stand.

“So, the guy I asked is actually Mr. O’Leary. I told him we were visiting from the department of agriculture. He told me that he had never heard of that. So, I’m thinking that it hasn’t been, like, created yet. But, he invited us into the barn,” Elliot explains. Max starts to walk towards Elliot, who shakes his head.

“Before anyone gets it wrong, he asked me who all of you are. Max, you are my brother who also works for the department of agriculture. Belle, you are a laborer for Max and I. And Cassidy, you are Max’s wife who comes with him when he travels. Got it?”

I nod at my role. But, now we’re saying that Cass is Max’s wife? Not Elliot’s? Fascinating. Maybe I’ll use my new-found confidence to keep being nosy. I am so curious about their relationship. We walk up towards the barn. It’s windy outside. The farm’s grass is the greenest I have ever seen in my entire life. The smell in the air is for once pleasant. No more city sewage and body odor armpits out here. The barn smells less nice, but nevertheless, an improvement.

“Well, this is her. What exactly were ya lookin’ for?” Mr. O’Leary asks.

“I have a full checklist to complete if you don’t mind,” Elliot says, walking around the barn. I peek around to the cow, the supposed culprit. A woman tends to the cow, milking it. Next to her burns a lantern. Spotted. I walk up to Cass and tug at her dress gently. She gently turns to me and softens her expression.

“You okay?” she whispers. I nod.

“I found the lantern. Look by the cow,” I whisper back. She sharply turns her head and nods. She gives me a kind smile before floating over to Max. She takes his hand and pulls him over to the lantern. Elliot follows them over.

“Sir, it appears that you have a lantern within 40 feet of your cow,” Elliot fibs.

“Yes?” The man grumbles.

“That is against Illinois state agriculture guidelines,” Elliot states. He lies so well, so fluidly. I’m not sure if that makes me more or less trusting of him.

“Is there an associated fine?” The farmer questions. Elliot shifts his weight to his other foot, before sighing. He dramatically makes a thinking motion.

“Move it permanently and I’ll mark that everything was all clear here. If I had seen a lantern within 40 feet of your cow, I would’ve had to fine you $35,” he negotiates.

“Fine,” The farmer says, before walking over the lantern and taking it out of the barn. Elliot nods and does another lap around the barn.

“I think things are clear here, right Max?” Elliot says. Max nods and we leave the barn. Fastest and easiest mission ever! We make it back to the street before Cass and Elliot whisper quietly to each other. Finally, I notice that Max is also engaged in the dialogue too. Of course. Everyone helps, except me. I step closer to get involved in the conversation.

“Just fucking stay with Max, Cassidy. I’ll be with Belle,” Elliot grumbles. I never hear him swear. The anger in his throat is also peculiar. What happened?

“Can you two just get over whatever happened? We were all getting along perfectly fine until one or both of you woke up on the wrong side of the bed. What happened? Did you guys fuck or something? I have no issue being with Cass, but your little petty argument is wasting our time,” Max complains.

So, Cass and Elliot are, or at least, were together. Not surprising. But, Max knows? That is surprising.

“We didn’t fuck,” Cass scoffs.

“Well we d…” Elliot starts, but a glare from Cass shuts him down instantly.

“You two are the problem. It has nothing to do with me. Every fucking time I turn around one of you is trying to hit on me. It’s not a competition. I’m not a prize!” she exasperates.

Wow. I never considered that she didn’t like either of them. Maybe she’s into girls. My face turns hot just thinking about that. Something about Cass drives me mad. I guess Elliot and Max feel the same.

“Apologies, princess. We’ll find the alpha male later. In the meantime, who would your highness like to stay with tonight?” Max mocks.

“Asshole!” Elliot grumbles. Max lifts his hand to hit Elliot, but Cass yanks on his wrist.

“Elliot and I have a few things to discuss. I’ll take care of that tonight.” Cass spits.

“I’ll go find Belle,” Max says. So, they didn’t forget about me. But, they also ignored me for long enough to not notice that I was literally standing right in front of them this whole time. I love being absolutely ignored.

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