Raiel's Point:

"Adda," I greeted when the old maid walked in, still carrying herself with the same pride she did when I was a child. Despite her tendencies, she looked at me with pity and some form of motherly sorrow. Moving quickly, she was reaching over the desk, grabbing my chin and nearly dragging me to her.

"What the hell happened to you, boy?" She sniffed the air, probably for alcohol. She pulled the brown curls from my face, testing me for a fever before finally settling back into a standing position.

"Adda, do you know a good therapist, for Edam and - and for me?"

I could see the surprise flash across her face but it faded quickly. She sighed, making herself at home in a chair across from my desk as she thought.

"I think Elliot might be your go-to, he helped my niece with her issues," she said quietly, thumbing her palm," Yea, Elliot'll be your go-to."

"Do you think he'll put me on medication?"

"Raiel, you're supposed to be taking your medication anyway but you refused blatantly. Didn't want to be weak and now look at you, a crumpling mess."

"It's because of him," I slumped into my chair, staring up at the roof, "I've never felt this way about another person before."

"That'll do it, you can't put fire out without the two struggling for dominance, but together they can work. Taming the fire, stupid but fitting allegory." 

"Do you think he'll see us in the month?"

"You're rich, lad, anyone will drop their stuff to see you if it meant snatching that money. There's a lot to see beyond these four walls." 

"I'll contact him later, then." 

It was the end of the conversation, not by my means but by Adda standing up and leaving with a nod. As soon as she left, the room became deathly quiet and cold. It reminded me of the light of the moon. She was right, though. I had let myself fall into disarray. Edam saw me this morning, his eyes had some emotion that sent me into a fit. 

Edam's Point: 

The maids had taken the clothing to the wash, and Aunty had hidden the talisman with a small glare. I couldn't stay in here, forever, but I couldn't do work. I could, actually, if I asked. I had wanted to help Aunty in the garden but I was too scared to ask her but she seemed to read my mind. 

"I got some work to do in the garden but I need a keen eye."

"Aunty?"

"Master wants some flowers for the living room, but my eyes are failing me. What don't you come along, a wife's touch." 

I chuckled weakly, standing up from my desk and following her. She looked back at me and raised her eyebrow:

"Take off those fancy clothes, they're gonna get soiled in the garden."

I knew full well that she wouldn't take no for an answer. If she could take on Raiel, I knew she was worth fearing, but also loving like a mother. I ran back into the room, quickly shifting into darker clothes but also simple ones. Another prompting from her made me take off my bracelets except two which I used to pull my sleeves up. 

I followed her through the halls. Despite her age, she had a grace and speed around her that reflected her personality. Soon, we were back in the garden and she had pulled a bucket from a hidden spot near the stairs. It had everything, shears, ribbon, some smaller clippers and garden gloves. 

"I'm thinking roses, but we'll need to look at the water jars for them as well." 

"Those roses over there look nice," I pointed to Snow-on-the-Mountain.She looked at them quietly, measuring them with a seasoned eye. 

"Maybe, but I think the room is already too cold for white roses."

"What happened to your bad eyes?"

She pushed my shoulder, chuckling under her breath as she moved into the garden.

"Don't say anything, hadn't I been there - you'd still be stuck in that room." 

"True as well, Aunty," I said, following after her. We came to the quiet part of the garden where there were a few trees, one of the was bearing fruit. Upon closer inspect, I saw that they were actually pomegranates. 

"Don't eat them yet, lad, still a bit too tart." 

"The flowers are beautiful," I murmured, entranced by the way that the wind flowed between the branches. 

"Yeah, red like their mother." 

"Mother?" 

"Yea, Carnal Eve, strange form of the entire Adonis story but it was one which was popular in my village. It's the reason I don't eat the pomegranate during the night," she said as she reached up, rubbing her fingers against one of the flowers.

"Carnal Eve, the Lesser Form of Eve. Some people in my village believe that every person has two aspects to them: their self and their dark self. The dark self is the one you need to be careful for, it tends to be rambunctious and angry. It is the root of sin, not in that mumbo jumbo priests talk about," she shuddered as she mentioned the clergy.

"Does Raiel have a 'dark self'?"

"You didn't listen, lad, I said every person. I believe he has a dark self but, like a wound, it can fester and lead to more damage than anything good. I never make him anything with pomegranates, but Heaven aid that he'll turn for the better."

She trailed off, her words carrying with longing for something to happen. She looked back up and cut off a small branch from the tree and put it in the bucket.

"A nice red flower for the living room."

A/N:

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