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“I’ll have…this one.”
I grabbed the fourth card in the deck, glancing at it curiously.
“But how do we….”
I looked up from the card and saw the small creatures were gone.
“Play…?”
I’m alone in the dark.
Fog, ethereal and dense, starts to rise from the bowels of the earth.
It carries whispers and cries into its nebulous body.
“You have to come back home.”
A voice whispers.
I look around.
I can’t see a thing.
“Hello?”
I try calling out.
“Who’s there?”
“can you hear me?”
The voice asks.
“Yes! Who are you?”
I reply.
“I’m sorry.”
“Hello? Can you hear me?”
I ask back.
“If only…! If only…!”
The voice mysteriously mutters.
“Ack!”
I yelp, stumbling back as my environment changes into a black and red nightmare.
A chilling whimper disrupts the tension.
The ground shakes beneath my feet, releasing a heavy smoke that forces me to cover my face.
“What-ah!”
Heat oozes from the earth as it crumbles, burning my skin, and from its cracks, a beaming eye parts its lids to glower at me.
Its vast, red sclera numbs my senses as I stare back-as the intensity of its glare forces me to my knees.
My hands sink into the slick, scorching viscosity that covers the ground beneath me.
It watches me.
It sees me.
And it’s furious.
“Hey!.”
A voice calls out.
“wake up please,”
—
I can’t breathe.
Where-where am I?
The ceiling.
I see the ceiling.
I’m cold.
Why is it so cold?…
I shut my eyes again and try to breathe steadily.
“C’mon, open your eyes.”
The voice worriedly asks of me.
Water?
Am I underwater?
“That’s it.”
I now recognize the voice as Amon, but he has a worried dip in his eyebrows.
A big hand brushes the hair of my face and neck, cold to the touch.
I wince at the sensation, a small whimper escaping my mouth.
“You’re burning.”
He remarks as his freezing fingers find my forehead.
The pressure forces a sigh out of me as the tension behind my eyes ebbs away infinitesimally.
“Damn it.”
He mutters.
“Here, have some water.”
I’m lifted up, but my neck can’t support the weight of my head.
It lolls about until it bumps into something.
“Careful.”
He moves my head to lean against his shoulder.
“Lean into me. Like that.”
He guides, letting my face nestle against his neck for a while—my hot breath hitting against his collarbone.
I blink slowly, my eyelashes shutting against his skin.
I try to lift my head and with his help I do—allowing him to bring the cup close to my lips, just wetting them at first before helping me drink a small amount.
My chest is so tight I can barely breathe.
“Everything’ll be fine, alright? Try to rest.”
He assures me.
He takes my hand, letting it fall in the sheets.
Blues of red and black haunt my vision, dripping down my face like ants leaving bites in their wake.
I manage to mutter a small, “stay…” before darkness consumes me.
—
…
…
…it’s warm.
I press my knees into my chest and sigh.
The bed embraces me sweetly, beckoning me to sink further into it.
Taking a deep breath, I relish the scent of morning dew and sunlight.
I don’t need to be convinced to stay in bed today.
Sleeping on a cloud must just feel like this.
Sweet, comfortable, and peaceful…Unbelievably soft, like a kiss on the cheek…
“Gooooood morning, beautiful!”
A cheery voice erupts from somewhere in the room.
“UGHAGH?!”
A man the size and shape of a bear storms in, kicking the door open with such force that it’s sent flying against the wall, making the whole room shake.
“Rise and shine, sweetheart! The golden dragon is here, and he brings breakfast!”
I stare slack-jawed as he spins on his feet and leans forward, presenting a covered silver tray.
For a couple of seconds, I have absolutely no idea who this man is.
Then my senses mercifully snap back to life and I get reminded of the large man who seemly keeps showing up.
Not that I was complaining about that particular part…more another one.
I expel all the air in my lungs in a derisive exhale until I feel dizzy.
This man was driving me nuts—in a good and bad way.
“Is it not a custom here to announce yourself when you’re about to enter someone else’s room?”
He tilts his head as if I had asked the secrets of the universe.
“Like, with a trumpet?”
“…what?”
I ask, confused.
“I can do that. Like in the ceremonies, right? When they announce important guests.”
He suggests which makes me laugh quietly.
“No, that’s not what I meant.”
“Knocking, Amon. Or asking if you can come inside before doing it. Have you ever done that?”
I ask, genuinely curious.
“No? Everyone is always happy to see me.”
“…”
I stare at him dumbfounded.
“…”
He stares at me in silence.
“Is that for me?”
“Oh, yes! Your breakfast!”
He moves the tray towards me as I help him lower it into my lap, gently setting the lid aside.
Immediately, the warm aroma of bread straight from the oven drifts my way.
“Wow.”
The sweetness of ripe fruit mixes with the heat coming off a hollowed load of bread the cradles a steaming soup.
Next to it, an array of golden toast, pie, cheese-all beautifully arranged but threatening to spill from the tray.
My eyes can’t settle in once place.
Every bit of food in front of me is incredibly tempting.
“Eat as much as ya want. You’ve earned it. Ara and Vivs worked on it, so ya know it’s safe.”
He smiles.
“Safe how?”
“It won’t kill ya, and it shouldn’t give ya any allergies. But if it stings or something, tell me.”
He looks to the side nervous, with a smile still on his face, though this one isn’t as confident.
He pulls up an armchair next to the bed, letting himself fall back into it with a contented sigh. Crossing one leg over the other, he beams at me in clear expectation.
“Are you going to watch me eat?”
“I can turn around if ya want.”
He chuckled
“No. It’s fine.”
‘That’d be even weirder.’
I want to say, but shut up instead.
I try to ignore his presence as I bring the first chunk of food to my mouth, but it’s hard to do when he’s staring me down, impatiently waiting for me to give my opinion about the meal.
However, all sense goes out the window the moment I start eating: first some whole-meal bread, then what tastes like a strawberry but way more acidic, then a gulp of a sweet yet spicy drink.
I pick up the pace until there’s an infinitude of flavors merging on my tongue.
There’s nutty, salty, sweet, even some undertones I can’t quite describe-and it’s glorious.
“Damn! My sis would love to see you enjoy yourself like that.”
He leans his cheek in his fist, watching me with a glimmer in his single eye that makes me flush.
“What?”
“You remind me of the palace doggy.”
A piece of something travels the wrong way, causing a cough to slice through me.
“Is that-cough-is that a compliment?”
I ask confused.
“Of course it is! He’s such a good sport, and he never leaves anything on his plate.”
He answers honestly, still smiling proudly.
Great.
First a bunny, now a dog.
At least it seems I’m climbing the food chain?…
“Alright enlighten me. Why ‘bunny’ as a nickname?”
“Well they’re so cute just like you!”
I try to avoid eye contact from those words, focusing on his nose instead of his eyes—or god forbid his lips.
“And they tremble a lot when they’re scared, but they’re also very brave. And curious!”
His compliments—at least that’s what I assume they are—land directly in my stomach.
“They tremble like any animal.”
I remark, wanting to step away from the compliments for a second.
“Yeah, but I first saw ya scared, all crumpled up like a little bunny.”
“…you are a strange one.”
I say, without thinking.
He just smiles and continues staring at me eat.
“It’s cute.”
I answer honestly, wanting some conversation instead of just staring.
He smiled at that, clearly happy with my meaning towards his nickname for me.
Eyeing him suspiciously, I keep eating.
My fingers get dirtier with each piece of cake and bread I take, and Amon hands me a napkin to clean them.
“Here, by the corner of your lip.”
I roughly swipe the cloth across my mouth, getting the worst.
“Great! Now that you’re done here.”
He leaves a set of folded clothes at the foot of the bed, proudly patting them flat.
“You can change into these. We took your old clothes to wash them, but they’re a bit…”
“Unsalvageable?”
I suggest.
“I’m sure Gael can mend them! With time…”
He adds the last part almost silently.
“Here I’ll take it.”
I hand him the empty tray. I am obscenely full, and god it feels great.
“Now go get ready, alright?”
“We’re leaving?”
“Yeah! Back to the judgy chamber.
You know, to discuss things further with you.”
“Are we still thinking of sending me to jail?”
“That was just Rae’s idea.”
He chuckles.
What does this man not find funny?
“It was an idea nonetheless.”
I raise an eyebrow.
With a heavy sigh, he sits on the edge of the bed.
“I know last night was crazy. And pretty scary, I guess.”
“I’m sorry for everything.”
He admits.
“This is the first time something like this has happened in, damn, eons!”
He throws his hands up to make his point.
“I get it. You all have your…things going on.”
I reply.
“But you all could’ve been kinder to me. I was scared, confused, and…”
I glanced down at my bandaged hand.
The blood that has soaked the white fabric is now dark and dry, and not a silver of pain lies beneath it.
“Lemme check that.”
He says, switching subjects smoothly.
“Maybe a medic would be a better idea.”
“Hey, I have five little siblings. I’m practically a doctor.”
“You’re not.”
I laugh, peeling away the bandages, slowly untangling them from my hand, mentally preparing for the wo-
“…”
“…”
“…”
“…”
“Was…-was it the other hand?”
He asks quietly.
“No. No, not at all. This-they stabbed me here.”
My shuddering palm spread open, but where slashed flesh was a few hours ago, now settles a rough, shimmering scar.
“That’s…”
He gently cups my hand in his, his other hovering over my fingers before tracing the outline of the healed tissue.
The hair on my arms stand on end at the tickling sensation.
“The spire. It healed you.”
He says—now his turn to be dumbfounded.
“The spire?”
I ask curiously.
“This place. My father’s home. It healed you.”
“Healed me? How?”
“I-“
“You know what, I’ve never asked myself that.”
He admits.
“But I’m sure Vivi has a very technical explanation for you.”
“I doubt they’d be nice enough to answer.”
I snort.
“Bunny, this is great!”
His huge hand ruffles my already disheveled hair and I groan.
“Aren’t you happy?!”
“I’m confused as hell.”
“Come on, dress up! The others will be glad to know this!”
His smile gets even more wider than normally, to the point where I’m scared his lips may crack if it gets wider.
“Hah! I knew you’d be fine. I knew it!”
He throws his hands up into the air victoriously.
“I’ll give you some privacy, hm? I gotta tell my brother about this!”
Excitement brimming from every pore, he shimmies to the door and closes it with a firm yank.
Even when he’s outside, I can still hear him hollering and laughing to himself.
…
Silence can be a good thing sometimes, huh?
I climb off the bed and start undressing. The change of clothes Amon left behind consists of a loose underwear, a tunic, a pair of pants, and some comfy-looking…sandals? Espadrilles?
This…how do you…? Where does my head go?
I fight with the clothes for a couple of minutes before finally standing in front of the mirror.
I groan at the sight of the clothes, they sit wrong-from what I think-and don’t look pleasing at all.
How hard could it possibly be?!
With a sigh, I throw my head back.
Almost comedically I hear a knock on the door and then Envy’s voice.
“May we come in?”
He asks, almost too polite to the point I suspect it isn’t him.
At least he has manner to some point—though I suspect it’s just because he doesn’t want to stumble in and see me half naked.
Which is an experience I would also like to avoid.
“N-No!”
I stutter back immediately, changing out of the shirt and accessories.
“You having trouble bunny?”
Amon asks teasingly.
I stay silent.
“…”
“Bunny?”
Amon asks a little bit hesitantly.
“I can’t figure out your fancy clothes.”
I admit.
I can hear Envy snort, or laugh? Behind the door and Amon chuckle.
“I’m mainly not used to this okay! I barely even wear the clothes I had on yesterday! Even those confused me!”
“Can I come in?”
Amon asks.
I nod-before realizing I need to SPEAK for him to know he can-and instead allow him to come in with my voice.
“Yeah sure.”
He opens the door and I can barely make out Envy’s figure behind him before he shuts the door.
As he steps in he takes a good second staring at me.
He coughs as he realizes he’s been staring for a second.
“Here let me help you.”
He grabs the shirt I had been struggling with previously and helps me put it on, buttoning it up as he moves over to a red cloak/overalls and wraps it around my shoulders.
He also grabs a golden necklace and positions it perfectly.
He crouches down and grabs some shoes, grabbing onto me and positioning me so I’m holding onto him for balance.
he helps me put the shoes on hurriedly, his eyes darting towards my stomach for a second.
“Okay wait let me try something.”
He stands up and steps beside me, running a hand through my hair gently-making the hairs on my neck shiver.
I can feel him set my hair, in two buns(?) while letting the rest of my hair flow freely.
He then steps in front of me.
“Sit down for a second it’ll make this easier.”
He tells me.
I turn around and sit down at the edge of the bed and he kneels down onto one knee in front of me.
He grabs a strand of my hair and ties it together, doing the same on the opposite side of my face.
I try my best to not stare at him, the way he grins brightly but focused, the scars on his face suiting him perfectly, the freckles on his face making him even more handsome, the golden piercings on his visible eyebrow shining in the light, and the way his grin fades into a smirk when he catches me staring.
“You know I’m starting to suspect you have a staring problem with how much you look at me.”
He teases.
I freeze and avoid his eyes.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
I reply hurriedly and he only chuckles.
I’m about to speak up when I hear Envy’s voice from the other side of the door.
“You guys better not be flirting in there. Hurry up.”
I scoff as Amon helps me up to the mirror.
“We’re not Vivi! Just simply compliments.”
“That’s the same thing?!”
Amon rolls his eyes.
“Of course you would say that.”
“What’s that supposed to mean???”
Envy asks offended.
“You like what you see?”
Amon asks me—ignoring Envy’s question.
I look in the mirror, the outfit fits me perfectly and slightly fits my normal style.
I couldn’t help but notice it matches with Amon’s clothes.
All the way from the colors to the style.
He even made two buns that resemble bunny ears.
I nod and he points toward the door.
“Let’s not keep Vivi waiting anymore, huh Bunny?”
I nod and walk towards the door.
Turning the knob with my scarred hand proves to be harmless.
“So they live.”
Envy remarks when he sees me.
“I told you they’d do it.”
Amon hastily replies.
“You weren’t that sure last night. I was even slightly worried when you left all suddenly and didn’t come back until way later when I found you by their bedside.”
Envy snorted.
“Awww you were worried about me?”
Amon teased.
“Don’t compliment yourself. I said slightly worried. Not worried.”
Amon snorted and waved with his hand.
“Same, same.”
I stare in confusion at the conversation.
“What do you mean? Were you by my bedside last night?”
I ask suspiciously.
“Of course! It makes sense you don’t remember but you had a bad fever and asked me to stay and who am I to deny?”
I blush and look over at Envy—then back to Amon.
They stand next to each other, wearing starkly different expressions.
I wonder if Amon’s mouth doesn’t hurt from smiling all the time.
His eyes roam me once again.
“Looking great! One of my best works yet if I may say so myself. You look all dolled up!”
“Like a puppet from a nightmare, yes.”
Envy chuckles.
“Good morning to you as well.”
I snort.
“My brother told me your wound is gone.”
He raises an eyebrow and looks down at my hand.
“Yeah.”
I extend my hand to him, keeping it at a careful distance just in case.
“Fascinating.”
His eyebrows raise and his eyes light up.
“What is it? Amon said you could explain.”
“Of course.”
He says—as if I should’ve expected him to know about it.
“This place has a mind of its own. It’s an extension of the Father. It has decided, somehow, that you are welcome here.”
“But how? It looks like it healed months ago.”
I point out, puzzled.
“Maybe it accelerated the natural healing process of your body. Maybe it understood that your wound wasn’t meant to be there. Maybe it thought your entropic state was one without the wound. I don’t know how it thinks.”
He suggests.
“A castle. The castle thinks?”
I was never one for believing the spirits.
“Yes.”
Envy dryly replies.
“See? This is why I don’t worry ‘bout stuff. It worked, right? Your hand is healed!”
Amon adds enthusiastically.
“Let’s move on. We’ve got things to talk about!”
“I’ll go ahead.”
Envy quickly says, obviously wanting to get away as they scurry away hastily.
“Before I forget—here.”
From the depths of his tunic, he retrieves a familiar if cracked piece of tech.
“My phone!”
I happily exclaim.
“And your wallet. And I guess these are the keys to your home?”
He hands me them all at once and i cup my hands together to receive the only possession I had with me when I got here.
The sight almost brings me to tears.
“I kept them safe while we sent your clothes to the keepers. I have no idea how to fix your fawn, but maybe Xal does.”
“Phone.”
I correct.
“And thanks.”
I remember to add on.
“Anything for you.”
His bright smile turns warm and I look away, over at my phone to avoid eye contact.
“So!”
His loud voice startles me for a second—bringing my eyes back to his face.
“How about we tackle this next meeting?”
“Am I going to have to sit down on the death chair again?”
I ask tiredly.
“Uh…no? You can stay up.”
“…I’ll take it.”
I sigh, concealing a laugh.
“Allow me.”
With a flourish too dramatic even for him, he lends me his arm to hold.
I take his arm happily—laughing as he wiggles his eyebrows at me.
“Alright. Thanks.”
“Aww! We’re gonna get along so well, you and I.”
He says happily, making my face flush as I return a warm smile.
“Yeah, yeah.”
We start walking, arm in arm, and I feel a little less unsettled by the idea of visiting the judgment chamber again.