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“It's all an act, isn't it?”
The words made Terzo turn sharply towards the speaker. At most, he had expected a couple ghouls to be lingering in his dressing room, and he was ready to demand that the invading person leave before he recognized them.
Copia sat, more lounged , on the couch at the far end of Terzo's dressing room, easily hidden from sight to anyone who entered the room. He was relaxed, but there was no sign of the bumbling idiot the Cardinal acted like around the Clergy. Instead, his eyes were sharp, dark, and dangerous. A shiver ran down Terzo's spine; the look was a horrible mix of Sister Imperator and Nihil.
“Mio nipote!” Terzo slapped a warm smile onto his face, one he knew didn't reach his eyes. “What brings you here?”
“Don't ignore my question,” Copia's tone was cold, so reminiscent of Nihil back in his prime, and Terzo's smile faltered.
“Si, it is. You already knew that, though.” Terzo replied after an uncomfortable pause, “Like yours, yes? No one suspects the nympho pretty boy to be too smart. Just like they don't expect the socially stupid Cardinal to be so clever.”
Copia frowned at the comment, but didn't argue against it. Instead, he stood, walking across the room towards Terzo, “You know something, don't you?”
“I know many things.” Terzo shrugged, not moving as Copia moved closer, “Again, just like you. We're all allowed to keep our secrets.”
Copia was silent for a long moment, studying Terzo's face as if he could read the other’s mind, then he nodded and smiled, “I suppose. Anyway, I just wanted to wish you luck for the rest of the tour. Just two more shows, si? And then you're done?”
The word “done” was heavy, and a lump formed in Terzo's throat. He nodded, turning away, “And then I'll be back home! To rest for a bit, at least. Maybe plan the next tour.”
Terzo took a seat in front of his vanity, reclining a bit in the chair. He caught the smallest amount of movement in the reflection, spotting Omega hiding in the shadows. He smiled a bit, reassuring the ghoul silently, before turning back to Copia.
“Anyway, nipote,” He hummed, waving at his outfit, “I'd like to get into something a bit more comfortable. I can't imagine you'd want to see me nude.”
Copia made a face and quickly shook his head, turning towards the door, “No, I wouldn't. Have a good night, zio.”
Once the door clicked shut behind Copia, Terzo let out a deep, shaking sigh. He turned back to the mirror, reaching for his makeup wipes in the same movement.
A clawed hand lightly swatted his away from the wipes, as Omega appeared next to him, covering the length of the room in moments. The ghoul started gathering the wipes, a couple of cotton rounds, and a couple of bottles of various cosmetic washes and creams. Omega did this after every ritual, undoing the delicate work he had done just hours before.
A glass was set down gently on the vanity's desk, ice cubes inside clinking softly. Terzo's eyes flicked over, spotting Dewdrop as the ghoul silently poured bourbon into the glass. Terzo smiled softly.
“Thank you, Dew.” His tone was soft, “You spoil me with your attentiveness.”
Omega chirped softly, agreeing with Terzo's statement and praising the other ghoul in the same sound. Dewdrop nodded, bowing a bit before taking a couple of steps back.
Terzo waved his hand at Dewdrop, encouraging him back, “Don't be shy. It's not like you. You have thoughts, please share them.”
Dewdrop stayed silent, looking over at Omega. Omega paused as well, even in his movements of wiping makeup from Terzo's face. He instead looked at Terzo, silently studying his face.
You won't like it , Omega's voice slid through Terzo's thoughts, warm and clear.
Terzo raised a brow, picking up his glass and taking a sip, “I could have guessed that. Still, I insist. I want to know how my ghouls feel about things going on.”
Omega growled low, turning to Dewdrop and nodding.
Dewdrop's voice was softer, not due to his size or any meekness, but due to his element. It flowed like cold water down Terzo's back, causing him to shiver. Or maybe it was the words that the voice formed.
They will kill you after the tour, why don't you stop them?
Terzo was quiet long enough that Dewdrop started to back away again. He lifted his hand sharply, making the ghoul stop.
“What good would it do if I did?” Terzo turned to look at Dewdrop properly; he had already had this conversation with Omega.
Dewdrop paused, head tilted as he thought, You could win.
“And then what? I win, I live. But there's still the fact that my brothers are dead. And that Sister Imperator will still want me dead.” Terzo set his glass back down, a bit harder than intended.
Kill Sister .
Terzo scoffed at that, standing, “Fine, I do that. I kill Sister, I save myself and my brothers. Let's get even crazier about it, let's add in killing Nihil!” His voice was gradually rising, “ Then what ? The rest of the Clergy? Copia?”
Omega's hand landed firmly on Terzo's shoulder, forcing him to sit back down. Terzo didn't fight the ghoul, mouth still set into a sharp scowl as he sat back down, the chair creaking softly at the force of his movement.
“I understand that ghouls struggle with how human society works, but this isn't as simple as fighting back.” Terzo sighed, “I would have to destroy the church to avoid this.”
You don't even know what you're dying for , Omega's voice crackled down the back of Terzo's neck as the ghoul returned to cleaning his face.
It was true, he knew that Sister Imperator had plans to kill him and his brothers. He knew that their time was running short. He knew that Copia's rise to power was reliant on the passing of the Emeritus men. He did not know why . All three of them? At a set date?
“It's some kind of ritual. Or offering.” Terzo spoke slowly, “But you're right, I don't know what I'll be dying for. And since I’ll be dead, it won't matter, will it?” He reached for his glass again, his shaking hand causing the ice to rattle.
“I'll be dead,” He repeated, quietly, before downing the rest of the glass without another word.