Get Out

A Tale of Ace Gallagher Short from Book #5
by Jill D'Entremont

James’ face was lacking in emotion as his dark brown eyes remained locked upon the Daethen knight. He had withstood the man’s heated banter in the past, and this visit, so far, was no different than any other. He simply kept his hands clasped together on the top of the desk near a small pile of bills still waiting to be paid.

“All I’m saying is you really need to reconsider who’s on the deed of this place! You’re the one who worked all these years to finance it and get it to where it is today–unlike your ‘business partner’. Hell–I think I’ve seen her here more than I’ve seen him,” he gestured to Elise, quietly balled in a chair in the corner and trying to make herself as invisible as possible.

James’ eyes strayed to the dusty-blond-haired woman. “Th–thank you for your comments on how we run this place,” he offered calmly when his focus returned to Ed.

Ed frowned when James, once again, refused to take the bait. “Come on, Harley–Gallagher needs to go! What good is it to keep him on the deed if he’s never–”

“Excuse me!”

The patrolman turned his head, his hands still firmly planted on James’ desk. He offered a strained smile when he saw Ace standing across the lobby. “Well, if it isn’t the prodigal brother.”

Ace’s arms were crossed against his Kalgaran tunic. “Can I help you?”

“In fact, you can.” Ed at last pushed away from James’ desk, stepped past Elise, and met Ace in the lobby. Their forms were silhouetted against the midday sunlight shining in from the glass doors.

Ace’s brows furrowed as Ed, still visibly agitated, stood in front of him. “You know, if you have a problem with me, why not talk to me instead of pestering James?”

“I would, if you were ever around!” Ed exclaimed in exasperation, spreading his arms wide.

“Gee, I wish I was here right now,” Ace quipped without missing a beat.

Ed dropped his arms. “Would you stop being a smartass for once?”

“No,” he replied. “Now, if you weren’t here to insult me, what did you need to talk to me about?”

“This theater!” Ed’s expression was surprisingly calm for how much he was fuming. “You just have to get your little gloved fingers into everything! You schmooze your way up the Kalgaran ranks, you get your fairytale wedding and a cottage house, then you stick your nose into this place–”

“Wait,” Ace interrupted, smirking, “are you yelling at me because you’re jealous?”

Ed faltered for a moment before gnashing his teeth. “No–I want you to be held accountable for once! You want to be a part of everything but not actually do anything! Whereas, if I were here, I’d actually have gotten this place up and running by now.”

“Woah, what?”

“I actually live here, I would actually be here–”

“Okay, for one: last I checked, I still live here. Two: I can count on one hand how many times I’ve had to report to Kalgara–and maybe you forgot you were also in attendance at my so-called ’fairytale’ wedding.” He cocked an eyebrow. “Three: since when were you interested in the theater business?”

“When were you??”

Ace brought his hand to his chin, tapping his finger on his lips. “I think when I was five, James and I started to pretend that the bedroom was a stage–”

“You’re missing the point, Gallagher!” It was Ed’s turn to interrupt.

Ace’s hand dropped. “I wrote the dang play we’re about to premiere, so even though I wasn’t here as much as I wanted, I still made sure I was doing what I could! Is that enough for you?”

“That’s all fine and dandy until His Highness calls you back.” He sneered.

The Kalgaran knight shrugged. "I won’t lie, with my current position, that’s a possibility.”

Ed scowled. “So, you dash off valiantly, make James do all the work, and you get to keep your name on the theater despite never being here!”

“My name is on the theater because I am a co-owner with my brother–in case you forgot the theater is a family affair.”

“Oh, so you’ll stick to your family when it’s convenient, huh?”

“What?” Ace recoiled before slumping with realization. “Oh, jeez; are you still ticked off about Vance?”

Ed thrust a pointed finger into the tan-haired man’s chest. “Phoenix was your family! You should have been the next to take over, but heaven forbid that gets in the way of your own life goals–so you had to suck someone else into it!"

Ace batted Ed’s hand aside. “You do realize Vance accepted that role willingly and completely of his own accord, even after he knew what it entailed?”

“It’s the Gallagher line!!”

“And he still accepted it willingly! You were there–you know!” Ace rolled his eyes. "Dangit; you’re acting like Vance was given a death sentence!”

“He can never live a normal life again because of you!” Ed spat.”

“Hey, I should let you know who helped arrange the music for this play–”

“And you shouldn’t have let him do it!!” The tirade continued.

“Oh, I see!” It was Ace’s turn to throw up his hands. “All right, fine: say Vance didn’t do it. Say I fought him off and convinced him I needed to be the next Phoenix.” His eyes narrowed to slits, “How much do you want to bet we would still be standing here yelling at each other because I took away the one thing poor Vance ever wanted to do? Oh, how ever could I have been so insensitive to his wants and needs!” His phrases turned caustically sarcastic.

The scowl deepened on the patrolman’s weathered face. “You’re full of–”

“How much do you want to bet??” Ace stepped up to Ed.

“Get out of my face!!” Ed yelled viciously.

“You’re in my theater; why don’t you get out of mine!!”

Ed roared and shoved Ace in the chest with both hands. He then turned on his heels and stormed to the glass-paned door beside them. He shoved it open and practically kicked it closed, and the wooden frame clanged heavily against the door jamb. The knight’s dark form paced away until it was no longer visible through the window.

Ace remained where he had been pushed, his face scrunched in a grimace as he puffed heated breaths through his nose.

Elise swallowed, still cowering in the doorway of James’ office. James was still behind his desk, though he had stood up from his chair when the argument flared. Thankfully, the fire was snuffed before he felt the need to move further.

At last, Ace broke from his stance and stiffly walked across the lobby to his own office.

Elise looked back at James. The tall man was fingering a pair of glasses in his hand, and after a moment, he slipped them back on and returned to his chair.

The woman reached behind her neck and pulled her wavy hair over one shoulder and stepped out into the lobby. She delicately walked across the patterned carpet until she came to Ace’s office.

Ace was sitting on the top of his desk with his feet resting in the seat of his chair. He faced away, looking at his bookshelf of meager trinkets and stacks of old paper. A wooden clock on the top shelf gently ticked out seconds. A metal top twisted as he rolled it between his fingers.

“Are you all right?”

Ace didn’t move. His eyes were glued to the top.

Her hands remained in her hair as she ran her fingers through smaller strands. “I’m sorry he yelled at you.”

Ace pushed the chair away with his feet and stood up. “And I’m sorry you had to witness that.” He turned to her, the smallest hint of disappointment in his eyes.

She shook her head. “It’s just... he’s wrong.”

Ace watched her turn idly toward the door, her fingers tight in her hair. 

“I think you’re doing a great job.”

His lips skewed into a half-smile and he returned the metal top to his desk. “I’m glad someone thinks so.”

“You’ve written an incredible work of art. I’m honored to be a part of it.” She turned back to him. “I want you to know that. Honestly,” her eyes again lost their focus, “between James, and you… all of this has been… it’s changed my life.”

Ace’s smile softened. “I’m glad you’re here, and I’m honored I get to see my play brought to life thanks to you and the others. I know I’m threatening to stretch myself thin–I get plenty of warnings from Athena,” he bit his lip, “but I really want to do this. I feel like my life has led me to this point, and I can’t bear to let it slip past.”

“Nor should you.” She smiled, rocking up onto her toes.

“I really want you to still help out King Dorian, too.”

Ace looked up and Elise turned to find James in the doorway.

“Being a knight and a dual citizen of Kalgara: th-that kind of honor is not bestowed upon many.” He pocketed his hands. “I know you’ll be here when you can.”

At last, Ace found a smirk. “Ah, when have I ever let an angry patrolman dictate my life?” He paused as he eyed his brother. “Just don’t let him dictate yours, either. You are more than capable of handling things here–especially since you were handling them long before I joined on.”

“I–m-m not worried about Ed.”

Elise again rocked on her toes. “You’re doing a great job too,” she eyed James.

His face flushed and adjusted his glasses with his other hand. “I don’t intend on allowing him to change anything around here. I’m j–just not sure what’s got him so fixated about this place.”

“It’s just me.” Ace huffed a sigh and started around his desk. “He’s mad at me and so he’s going to find a way to insert himself into as many places as he can to remind me he’s mad at me.” He clasped his hands together. “But we’re two weeks from opening night and we’re one of the most anticipated events in all of Daethos’ reign–Kalgara’s too. It’s gonna be great.”

His brother and lead actress smiled as his exuberance warmed them.

The door swung open in the lobby behind them.

The three turned, or leaned, to get a better view out of the office’s door.

Dawn was breathing hard, setting Maewyn back to the ground as gently as possible. “Ace,” she huffed, clearly in distress.

“What-s wrong,” Ace pushed past James and Elise and started toward her. “Why do you have Mae?”

“Because the patrolmen taking the census took Mioko,” she was still struggling to catch her breath as Maewyn ran up to Ace with her arms raised. “And Athena tried to stop them–so they took her too.”

Ace had just barely wrapped his arms around Maewyn’s back when he froze. “...Wh… what?”

“Something about Mioko being a sorcerer–I don’t know. I couldn’t leave her alone,” she gestured to the four-year-old.

“W-where did they go?” James stepped in when Ace remained in shock.

Dawn frowned painfully. “I don’t know. I’m sorry.”

“Where’d who go?” Elliot emerged from the auditorium in a dusty gray shirt. “That dude that was just in here yelling?”

“Patrolmen took my wife,” he paused when he tried to move, but Maewyn was still attached to his legs. With a knowing glance into Maewyn’s silver eyes, he added, “and her dad.”

“Then, what are we waiting for–let’s go,” Elliot began to remove his work gloves.

“Where?” Dawn asked.

Elliot set his hands on his hips. “If it’s something serious enough to remove people from their homes, the regent has to be involved.”

“Regent’s manor, then,” Ace nodded. He turned back to Maewyn. “Can you stay here while I go look for your daddy and Mrs. Athena?”

The young girl pouted, but refused to move.

Elise scooted over and crouched beside Maewyn. “Here, James and I can bring you back home,” she offered gently with her arms outstretched.

At last, the bewildered girl released Ace and tucked herself into Elise’s arms instead.

Now freed to move, Ace patted Elise’s shoulder and followed after Elliot, though he slowed as he passed Dawn. “Thank you,” he said simply before leaving through the door.

The wooden door closed with a rattle, and the four remaining watched through the windows as the two figures mounted their horses and rode away.