Cleos blood is sizzling through her body, her head is buzzing from the effects from the opiates. She has never felt so buoyant and fulfilled, she couldn't even feel her fingers and toes. It felt as if all her predicaments and problems were turned to ash whenever she relished  weeds.

She arches her back from where she was laying lateral across Jezio's futon her head nearly dropping over the edge; to rid of the tight knots she is feeling in her back. Her hooded shirt and boots are discarded on the floor —the first thing she rid of when she got into Jezios room. Her vest clung to her torso because of how soaked her body became from the sweat. It clung to her breasts like it was second skin, and she never missed the way Jezio was eyeing them, hunger overtook his gaze.

Cleo rolls her head and faces Jezio to where he is rolling more blunts of the opium she bought. She follows his expert slender fingers rolling the paper filled with weeds. Oh, but he has beautiful hands. She can't get enough of them.

Jezio sits on the floor before the low table in front of his futon, a small oak dresser sits in the corner of his rather cramped room, and an unlit hearth is stationed opposite the dresser in the other corner of the room. A minuscule room for a jester and thief. It seems ironic to Cleo — she refrains from laughing out loud; one would think that Jezio would of made tons of coin from the way he plunders goods all around the Market. Yet currently in his room he had nothing but the basics.

"Why are you smiling?" Jezio looks up at her curiosily. He has made a messy bun sitting at the nape of his neck. She could see the perspiration caused some strands to cling to his face. Her bangs clung to her forehead as well, so she flipped it up feeling utter relieve from having those heavy bangs awry from her.

"No reason... I was just thinking about your hands." She flips to her side and props herself up on her one hand facing him.

He eyes her chest again, and continues his work swallowing hard, "My hands aye?"

"Yes."

"Why don't you tell me about your hands?" He gives her a grin.

Cleo freezes. Has Jezio seen her hands? She is trying to think of how he saw her hands, but her mind was so corrupt she couldn't think straight.

Mira? Yes there was a Mira.

She told Jezio about Mira, that was why she so tardy. She told him about how she glanced at her so furtively. But she remembers. She never told Jezio about what she did to the old man. So -

"Cleo?" His eyes are big, pupils very dilated, "Why does it look like you've been caught by a guard?"

She suddenly feels chilly and Cleo never feels chilly, "I just feel hungry again." She lies and walks towards the chest of drawers where the bread, pastries and cakes were waiting for Cleo to devour them whole. In her most humble opinion there was nothing better than a meal.

She hears Jezio rise up, "Cleo... What is wrong?" He takes Cleo by the shoulders and turns her around  so that she faces him.

"Is it that Mira girl? I can-"

Cleo hits his hand hard, a scowl crossing her face, "You will not under any circumstances hurt or talk to her. You don't  even know her."

"Well, I wasn't exactly suggesting hurting her, but I could cajole her into leaving you be." He caresses his hand from where she hit him.

"No." She snaps.

Jezio sighs and goes back to his work station, "Don't go into Grasels place again. You never know what they're up to. And if they are, it's up to no good."

Cleo nods, the chocolate pastry melting in her mouth like honey.
"Grasel is not that type of person Jez," She gets another dessert and continues over a mouthful of the new chocolate cake Jezio has bought for her, "I like Grasel."

"You will. She is like a mother to you." He refuses to meet her eyes.

Cleos birth and parents, as well talks about where all the other Elementals came from was interdicted. As those answers remain  undivulged. No one knows. Many monks and raconteur are preaching  false anecdotes that  Mother Earth herself  has created the four Elementals and threw them from the heavens to destroy Earth goers —so that the Elementals can rule the world in peace without the incessantly annoying mundanes who has no power and are therefor extraneous to live on the Earth and must be demissed.

It is also said that, once the Elementals arrive on the Earth, the Elemental of fire disintegrates all living mundanes on earth into dust and ash, which the Elemental of wind sends them blustering  into domes set in the edges of Earth. The Elemental of Water then sends wave after wave of turbulent water onto those domes and thus becoming the sea. The ash of the humans becoming  banks of sand. The Elemental of Earth flounders around  leaves and nature and once again forging  a new exuberant life for Elementals to roam and live till the end of time.

The story seems legit to Cleo, but there remains a gap in her knowledge about why certain things are the way they are. Such as where they came from exactly. But also why an Elemental had to rule alone, and not all of them together.

Cleo suddenly feels a migraine forming. She groans before saying, "Just because she does unexplainable implements, Jez doesn't mean she's a bad person."

Cleo trots back to the futon  and leans back against the cotton pillows. She takes a deep breath whilst running her fingers over her now soaked breeches.

"Here." Jez hands her a cup of water, "Aye, she's not a bad person Cleo..." Jez falters. She gives him a quick glance which he returns back to her.

Cleo, at times marvels at how she and Jezio came to be... She didn't know what to describe them as. Friends? Weed companions? She wasn't quite certain.

Cleo commemorates back to when she first entered the Village disguised with a cloaked facade like how she always dresses upon entering the Village— a black hood pulled low. She has heard trivial talks from maids who passed her by without knowing in the slightest that there were luxurious amounts of marvelous elixirs and powders that could bring pure delactation upon one's soul. This had  awoken something in Cleo. Her days spent at Court, being taught by past healers, librarians, teachers broached her into succumbing to slough of despond. A deep depressive hole. Feeling nothing but melancholy and chagrin. Which was why the thought of falling into euphoria has caused her to enter the Village herself and to retrieve her own stash of pleasures. And she didn't regret it one bit.

But Cleo knew she was being followed that day.

Jezio.

The ass had followed her, grasped her and tossed her into a nearby abandoned niche. It was then when Jezio had told her that by the way she sneaks into the Village was the easiest way to get caught by the guards. Being a thief and constantly being on the run by the guards has awarded Jezio into knowing the ins and outs of being a wanted jester like himself. And Jezio was proud about it. It was also then when Cleo and Jezio became companions. Very good companions.

"Mira told me about a festival taking place." Cleo once again scratches her thigh through her pants. Not another papule.

Jezio has reclined on the futon beside her, stretched out barefoot in his trousers and tunic, but the top button of the tunic he left undone for cooler air, most likely  from the opiates. She could see the stretch of his golden brown skin smooth like liquid honey. She suddenly has the urge to consume another chocolate pastry.

"No. You're not going." He replies sternly. Legs crossed at the ankles whilst he lays back on his elbows, "You are sure to get caught by the guards. Sensational events like these has guards stationed at almost every point in the Market. To prevent naive villagers from drunkenly escaping to the Court. It has happened before and you know it. You'll get caught Cleo. Trust me."

Cleo frowns. Mira hasn't even told her when the festival was. Which evening of which day?

"I know Jez, I told her I won't go. But she said if I change my mind, they'll be waiting at the Crystal Waters."

It was Jezio's turn to frown, "Only cunts wait at the Crystal Waters. "

Cleo shrugs, "I don't give a damn really. Are you going?" She eyes him wearily.

Jezio halts. He starts playing with his fingers and lightly shakes his leg, "Hmm... Yes, yes I am. But that doesn't mean you're allowed."

Cleo feels a bit hurt but Jezio was right. She couldn't go. She was the Elemental for fucks sake. Roaming a monotonous party was not on the list of an Elemental. She is supposed to rule. The idea of a festival doesn't appeal to her either.

"What festival is this? Does the Court know about it?"

Jezio eyes her hand where it lay over her overly-annoying thigh. Some bug bit her again. She swears bugs shouldn't roam this Earth. As soon as she was crowned Elemental, the first thing she'll rid of, will definitely be the bugs. Bed bugs. Heat bugs. All bugs.

"No, just a festive time for everyone to enjoy. Nothing special really." He chugs back the rest of the water that  Cleo hasn't finished.

"Why are you going? Seeking a whore? I saw a tent full of them at the Markets."

Jezio chuckles showing his sparkling white teeth. "No, I simply want to jest with my other mates and just perhaps try those new sandals they got in from Jewel and Fabric. Although a good whore does sound rather thrilling now."

The heat rose in the room. Jezios eyes has darkened to a deep blue and he eyes her with an expression Cleo couldn't understand.

"Fuck off Jez. I'm not a whore." She lays back and closes her eyes. Her thigh throbbing. She would remove her pants if Jez were not in his sexual state —most likely enhanced by the opiates, to scrutinize her thigh and see what demon of a bug has bitten her.

Jezio falls quiet. She turns to face him and sees him resting down on the pillows with closed eyes. She reaches out to brush a strand of hair that fell across his mouth. That dirty goddamns mouth. He truly is handsome. One of the most handsome young men she has ever met. If Cleo were nothing but a mere villager she would of coupled with Jezio, been with him and meet his other mates. She would of gotten out of her melancholy hole. Having friends. The term was foreign on her tongue.

She envies Jezio for being autonomous, doing whatever the hell he wanted without an ounce of care in the world. Each day being a new adventure, meeting up with the rest of his other mischievous mates and having undiminished chipper days, every day. She would trade her position for having at least one such day. A day of freedom. When she could be herself and not mediocre.

But glancing at Jezios resting face brings joy into her. Her only dear friend. Looked peaceful and happy with his life. The only person whom she was benevolent about. Compassionate and greatful.

Perhaps it was the opium in her system that is causing her to have more intimate feelings with a thief. But she knew, Jezio and herself could be nothing more than lousy mates. It won't work. It will never work.

She knows Jezio has stronger feelings for her than she does for him, then again Cleo can't tell what he wants. What's between her legs or an actual intimate liaison.

She lays closer to him and snuggles so close that she can feel his breath blowing onto her face. His breath smells of dried herbs and pastries. She loves the way his eyelashes cobwebs across his cheek due to the dim lighting. She wishes to caress those lustre cheeks.

What's stopping you?

Cleo gently eases off the futon. She braids her hair again, the previous braid being absolute  shit. She tugs on her hooded shirt and boots. This was  the perfect time to take her leave. She knows Jezio would of brought up jugs of ale and  make her dance with him till their inebriated asses could take no more and she would spend the night here. It wouldn't be the first either. It all sounds heavily tempting to Cleo. She would of done it without a second thought. But why continue with something when in the end  all it will bring is wretchedness? She didn't want to hurt Jezio. It hurts thinking about it.

She leaves the remaining coin on Jezios dresser and  takes the rest of the chocolate cake. Something he could do without.

She looks him over one more time. Before making her way out. She knows he will be furious as soon as he awakens seeing that Cleo has abandoned him. She grins at the thought of it.

She takes his quill and writes him a short note. A note of their next meeting. And in a fluff of smoke she's gone.