*I know, I know. It's been a month. Good news though: I have the rest of the story planned out. I stayed up until one doing that, going back and forth between different chapters and tossing different ideas around so this should be updated more often. *

“Maybe you should go see him now? Production at the dirt factory is probably going to be starting up again soon, and Ross and I are going to be working. It shouldn’t take super long to make your way over there, and Will isn’t there so you won’t have to worry about dealing with him if you have to spend the night.”

I nod, folding the note from Smith up and stuffing it in the back pocket of my spacesuit. "Okay, I'll be back tomorrow probably."

"Take as much time as you need. Oh, why don't you stop at Craggy island after you're done there to see when Lewis wants to start working again. You have a lot to do at the factory if you want to stay on schedule.

I wave a hand at Sjin. "Yea, yea, whatever. Thanks for bringing the letter, Ross." The bearded architect nods. "Bye."

"Bye."

"Good bye!"

An hour or so later I land on the balcony surrounding Parv's base, heading toward the sound of Parv talking to someone outside the balcony walls.

He's standing next to a small farm, a few different crops growing in his 4x4 area, a pool of water in the center. "Hey Parv," I call, landing near him in the grass.

"Hey Sips! What brings you to Castle Parv?" I take a few steps toward him, taking in his greasy mess of hair and wrinkled shirt that looks to be covered in blood. A large orange creature comes wandering over, something I didn't notice before that makes me take a few steps back and reach for my sword.

"What's that?"

He turns to look where I'm pointing, grinning as he sees what looks like a very large, hairless dog. "Who, Steven? He's my pet demon. Don't worry, he won't hurt you. Will you, boy?" He pets it, the thing stretching it's mouth open to reveal sharp teeth and a forked tongue.

"You keep a demon as a PET?" I start to wonder what Will sees in this kid. Opposites attract and all that but that's like trying to get a shark and cow together. It won't work.

"Yea, Will helped me get him. He's harmless, he just stands there as I kill him. Watch," He takes out a sword and in one quick swing Steven is reduced to a small glowing orb. I stare at him, dumbfounded.

"Uh, Smith told me I should come visit and ask about the meeting. I mean, I don't really remember much after Simon started talking about Craggy Island and mining." I was going to go back and talk to Smith, ask him what I said, but Sjin refused to let me go over there again after Smiffy had carried me home because I was so wasted.

"Oh, uh, you said something about returning to the old compound and seeing Sjin there, with 'everything back to normal.'" I frown and he holds his hands up. "Your words, not mine."

"Aw shiiit." Now they all probably think I'm insane. "I wasn't going to say anything," I explain.

"Well it's kind of good you did." I raise an eyebrow. "Something similar happened to me."

I wait for him to continue, watching as he starts picking crops. "Parvis?"

We both turn, the look on Parv's face telling me he wasn't expecting this either. "Will! What are you doing here? I thought you left to Strife Solutions?"

He raises an eyebrow. "Oh, am I interrupting something?"

I keep my face neutral, coming to learn that that's the best way to deal with other businessmen. Parv, on the other hand, glances at me before looking back at Strife. "Uh, yea, sort of." Up the other eyebrow goes. Two different looks are thrown my way. "I mean, Sips came here to talk to me about something that you can't know about and I'm going to have to ask you to go away so we can talk."

Strife looks between Parvis and I, his previously questioning gaze turning into a blank expression. "Okay. Sips, good to see you again. How's the dirt factory coming along?"

"Great. Production's been put on hold but," I shrug, "Can't really do anything when your boyfriend and an essential worker decides to take a vacation without letting anyone know." While Strife has gotten the blank expression down to pat, he has yet to figure out how to keep his eyes under control. "How's Strife Solutions? Must be doing just fine if you're here instead of there like Parv said."

He smiles a smile that is used for when you have something to say but can't because this is not someone you want to make mad. "It’s going well. As for my reasons for being here, that doesn’t concern you.”

“Just like what Parv and I have to discuss doesn’t concern you. Now, if you will excuse us,” I look at Parv and he seems to get the hint, leading me over to his castle.

He leads me through what looks like a living room, walking to a wall and pushing on it. I’m about to say something when the wall moves, showing a set of stairs leading down. I look at Parv, not really wanting to go down there.

“This is all just a set up. The real base is down here. Come on.” I step in and watch the door shut.

“Wow, secret door. Looks nice. What are you hiding though?”

Part way down the stairs he turns around. “Wait! Sjin’s in the Magic Police. You can’t be down here- oh shit.” He tries to usher me back upstairs.

“Parv- hold on. I’m not going to tell him, if that’s what you’re worried about.” He looks slightly terrified. “Promise.”

“Thanks Sips. I don’t harm anyone besides myself when doing blood magic, using witches instead.”

I almost fall down the stairs. “What?”

The room opens up and I look around, seeing what I assume is the altar where he does his magic, stairs leading up to a sort of loft that has diamond chests along the wall, and what looks to be a bedroom to the right.

“It’s kind of complicated, but-”

“Another time.”

He nods. “Okay...” He tells me about the memory, about being held back, being told to wake up. “It happened again a couple nights ago, the scene picking up right after I apologized to him. And just like before it ended with him telling me to wake up, even though I was awake. I was standing next to my bed, getting ready to go to sleep.”

We sit at a table under the loft area, and for a long time I don’t say anything. “We should talk to Trott.”

“Parvis?” He glances over my shoulder, looking at the stairs. I turn in my seat, watching him stop in his tracks when he sees me sitting with Parv.

“I think it’s time for me to go. We’ll talk again soon.” I get up and walk out, nodding at Will as I go.