To watch the sky is to wonder what the day could be like, to prepare for the harshest wind or the softest warmth. Plans can always be made, can be adjusted for what the mood of the sky decided to start the day with. A blinding ray of sunlight that will stretch farther than the eye can see, bringing all under its rays light and glory. Or storming clouds of displeasure, little drops of sadness that later beat on the skin like small punishments to all who fail to seek cover.

Any who look up to the skies and wish to know what to expect from the day might have somewhere to be, someone to see, something to do. 

But I always knew what my day would bring regardless of what picture the heavens painted for those below. Sun. Rain. Hail.Thunder. Sunshine. It was all the same when every day was the same, every location was the same, every cry sounded off with the same agonized cry, every plea as sincere as the last and as loud as the next to come after it. 

There was no difference in day or night, so looking upwards was pointless, when hell had a firm grip on your ankles. 

There was something off about the room, something shifted almost. Someone had been here, no doubt. Or maybe our earlier visit had disturbed the air here, no longer as stale, but I couldn't help but feel as if there was a slight change here. Again, I looked around and tried to compare the space to what the room had first appeared like on my first visit, but I knew it was pointless since I hadn't had the best of sightings in the dark. I had a good guess as to who could have come in anyway. 

I was alone now, which didn't happen all too often. I had already skimmed on all of what was about me, there was nothing there I needed, but it was a bit like walking down memory lane. Although my body now was new, it still felt the echos of phantom pains as I had recollections. I chuckled to myself as I rubbed at my sides, before tossing the files away uncaringly. Yes. There was nothing there I would not have already known about. Instead, I dug through the multiple files of corruption, I turned pages for so long, the tips of my fingers felt smooth but covered in dust and old fibers of the pages. A few names were familiar to me, but most often they were not, but the connections to those who wished to keep their secrets were where I placed my focus. Every puppet had its safety sting, for when all the others were cut. There was always one sting made of gold, unlike the others, for those who would rather drag everyone down than perish alone. 

"Thankfully pettiness is a trait we all carry." I clicked my tongue and walked over to the section on the wall where multiple images hung, stings of various colors linking further down to whatever their business and crimes were linked. I followed my own, snatching the pictures and articles off of the walls as I went about, fisting them all as I collected them, whispering a spell under my breath that made smoke rise from my palms. I balled them up, dropping them as the pile grew in my hands, they smoked before catching fire and flickering out, charred paper turning to ash on the stone floor. I reached up and ripped another off the wall then the picture behind me made me drop them all to the floor. My eyes stung at once as I took hold of it with both hands. 

"Oh." I breathed out at the clarity of their faces. So much more defined within the picture than within my memory, which I had thought to be so sharp before. I trailed my finger down their faces, but instead of the warmth of skin, I just felt the smoothness of paper. A striking contrast. A sharp reminder and yet still, I smiled at the picture of my family. 

I couldn't recall the reason for the picture being taken, but I recognized the uncomfortable look on my father's face, the strained smile as he tried not to grimace. He had always hated having his photo taken because of how long it took. I was holding Niveha on my lap while I sat on my mother's lap, her hands wrapped around us both tightly as I grinned ahead. Niveha had a confused look on her face, her face round and shiny, hands gripping onto my collar as she tried to lift her head and look around. I stared at them all, blinking repeatedly. What I had struggled to keep down started to shake again, I took in a deep breath and looked up, closing my eyes as I lowered my hand. I could feel it in my hand, the edges of the picture crumbling within my hand. As all ever did when I touched it. 

Gone. They were all gone. I repeated the words until the hurt turned into numbness and the feelings that once stirred within me sank deep. Without looking at what I was doing I began tearing the picture to shreds, each rip sounding painfully loud to my ears. I let it flutter to the ground as I moved on. My face felt awfully stiff and long, my eyes wide open, when I was sure I wore no expression. Did I want to cry? Did I want to scream? What was the right expression? 

Fleckff had thorough notes on my family, but it seemed that anything pertaining to my mother was gone. Was this his doing or his family's? Just how far hard she delved to try and reach me? As I read the notes a part of me wished she had buried me at heart. There was no way she hadn't, that any of them, had ever heard of the situations I was evolved in. The things I did. The things I did not do. There was no need to change or hide names from the public when you were property of the Council.  It had taken me a while to come to that realization and when I did I had delved to the lowest of points, with hatred for myself and all those around me. Shame had not touched me in a very long time, but in those moments, when I tried not to think of what my family's opinion of me might have been...I had tried to shut my mind off. Just like now, no need to dwell on what was long gone. 

I stood in front of the trunk and studied the space around it. Robert had said he had long ago deactivated any traps Fleckff had set around the trunk but that he knew not if there was something within it. The space around it was left alone, in fact, it was the one spot that had collected the most amount of dirt and grime around it, everything else here was clean compared to this area of the room. The half-fallen flag behind it...I tilted my head. If Fleckff had managed to take this from someone important, perhaps even the Council, he had never gone near it after storing it. Had never come to use it against anyone. He had simply stored it away as if it was better forgotten about than used. His family had respected his wishes and left it alone. So was it dangerous but useful? Or dangerous and best never to see the light of day? Which of the two was it? I had promised not to open it, but I had not promised not to investigate it. Some things did not have to be used to be dangerous. 

I neared the box, lowered myself, and began looking at it from various angles before carefully running my hands over it, trying to see if I could sense anything sinister. Nothing. There was no pulse of mana or delayed magic. The box could work as more than just a container to hold whatever was inside. Gingerly I picked it up and looked beneath it to see if anything was engraved at the bottom. There was. The letters were familiar, not so much what was said but the writing it was- I froze, a chill that ran over my body. I held myself still, fighting back a shudder as my fingers lost feeling, the desire to fling the box and flee instinctively. I put the box down, already knowing the answer to my question from earlier. It was dangerous and best never to be brought forwards to the light of day. I knew not what it said, but the long and sharp lines, the curved and rough carving, and the style of writing were very familiar to me. Whatever was in that box was no doubt, another one of Overlord Gavriel's inventions. 

And his inventions were never something to aid, or save. However he had gotten his hands on this, all of this, Fleckff had somehow managed to get close enough to Gravriels lab. He had managed to get in and bring things out. I stared down at the box. There were people back then who had gone against them...there were people who had...

"Mykela?" 

"Yes?" I called without turning. 

"May we have a word?" I looked over the box once more before turning around and walking over to the stairs. Ash flew upwards as I stepped in the piles on the ground.

"As you wish." I walked up the stairs without a look back. 

Chole stood a few inches away from the door, she looked behind me as I made my way over, then her eyes trailed down to my feet. She lingered there for a while but looked back up when I stopped in front of her. She looked me over with a crinkled brow, but other than that her eyes remained sharp and attentive. She was trying to read my mood but I had no expression in place for her. Or anyone for that matter. 

"What can I do for you?" 

"What makes you think I do not want to talk about what I can do for you?" 

I stared at her wordlessly and waited. When she realized I was not uncomfortable in the long-lasting silence she gave an uneasy laugh before shaking her head to the side with a huff. I watched her eyes flicker around for a moment as she refocused on me. 

"How did you know?" Again, I said nothing and waited for her to tell me what she was here for. "Not one to divulge secrets? Very well, I can respect that. I would like to ask for a favor more than anything, you are of course free to decline if you see it as an inconvenience."

"I shall keep that in mind. What troubles you so?" I softened my pitch and let my face open up. I had no judgments, she could trust me. I could do anything. I have done everything. 

"You do."

Oh. I straightened up at once. No point in a facade if I was the issue. I looked left and then right at once, opening my senses even though I had not found anything to be alarmed about. Perhaps I had gone too soft and trusting. I watched her closely now, bringing my hands to my waist as I fixed my stance. 

"I'll be out of your home as soon as the preparations are-" I began.

"Not in that way." She looked at me in both annoyance and amusement, an apologetic quirk to her smile. It was almost soft in a sense.  "And you can stop looking around for an ambush, that won't happen,  I mean you no ill intentions."

"Then?" 

"I've set up tea for us inside," she motioned to the house with her head, stepping to the side to give me the choice of joining or not. Very well, let me see what all of this was about. 

She brought me to a fairly modest room, but the ceiling here was far more open than the rest of the house, it wouldn't have been wrong to say the room was more like an indoor courtyard. There was a table and seating for two. When we were both sitting she poured me a cup first and then one for herself. I watched as she plopped two cubes of sugar into her drink and then stirred. The cups were beautifully crafted, and even the spoon and plates were well-matched. I took hold of the cup and let the aroma reach me. Soft, fruity, and a hint of spice. I took a sip and made a face. She chuckled and nodded as I reached for the sugar. I hated when things did not taste as they smelled. Now she was the one who watched me as I stirred my own cup, she sipped sparingly before clearing her throat and speaking. 

 "If I were to ask you where you've been would you answer?" She set the cup on the table, rather than looking expectant for an answer she already looked resigned. She knew the answer but I said it anyway.

"No, not at all." I would let her lead this conversation as she wished, there was something she was interested in hearing from me, but the possibilities were too many. Information? Cocunil inner workings? Relationships between the Overlords? Whatever it was, all of my information would be old, perhaps useless, but she did not know that and that was the advantage for me. 

"It was worth asking even if I knew the response. Very well, then do you mind if I ask you where you intend to go?" Her pitch rose at the end but her tone lowered to a purposefully controlled question. She knew I wouldn't answer. She must have, but there was something in her question that she did want to be answered. There was a second meaning here. My intended location. Who I wished to meet with? Or what I wished to do once I got there? I believed the latter was the answer. 

"I will refrain from answering those questions as well. Surely you can understand and appreciate the secrecy on why." So what was the real reason for the question here? She was sharper than her husband in regard to smaller details. 

"Yes, I can, but rather than a location, I mean where do you plan to go? What is it that you want ultimately?" The orange in her eyes nearly burst in color as she stared at me.

I bought the cup up to my lips and drank slowly. "Are you seeing if I'm worth a gamble?"

"You are an intelligent woman with uncanny instincts and knowledge worth killing for. Your return will stir up a lot of people. Some will want you on their sides-"

"And others will want me gone. I have no intention of joining political sides or joining whatever movement it is you seem to be backing." I wanted peace and that was it. I had already been dragged through schemes and problems that had nothing to do with me, a pawn used like a sword to cut down the competition. I wished to be left out of it. 

"You know you won't have much of a choice in that matter. Eventually, we will all be forced to choose a side. I just want to know if you will stay underfoot, which I sincerely doubt you will since you've put so much effort into remaining inconspicuous, but if you do then I wish to know where to place my bets." I wished to be reluctant to acknowledge her words, but she was right there was nothing left for me to lose. My life? My freedom? The snarky question made me smile into my cup before I wiped my expression clean. 

"Again, I have no interest but my own." I clarified. She frowned and looked away for a moment, either my answer was not what she wished to hear or the lack of a reaction left her puzzled in some regard. I looked at the white pebbled grown. This space was rather serene. I liked it. Closed in but also open. She turned back to me.

"Then what would be enough to interest you to join a side? Because whatever that may be will be turned into a weakness or a weapon against you. I only say this because while you may not have any immediate family left-" she pulled something out of her trousers and pushed it across the table to me. A folded slip of paper. The sight of it made my stomach bilious. I pursed my lips. " But you do still have a family."

I knew it. I leaned forward and snatched the paper off the table and unfolded it, taking a glance over it I read over the names and addresses. Too many names. My fingers began to curl, my foot was about to bounce before I stilled myself and regained any composure I was about to break. I folded it back up and placed it on the table. Already my mind made a shift of things as multiple expletives rose to the forefront of it all. She had a smug look to her now, the corners of her eyes tilted upwards, that was the only change in her face, but already it gave her a different air. I was torn on choosing how she made me feel for now. I stared at her.

"Why are you giving me this?" I said slowly, aware there was an unfriendly curl to my lips as I spoke. "I do not know them."

"No, you don't, and yet something tells me you aren't cold enough to ignore the risk that they could be used to get at you or to you. You might not have been able to do much back then, but now, is different. I give this as a sign of goodwill and hope of future trust." She leaned back into her chair, hand on her lap as she watched me with elation. My leg was bouncing. I hadn't noticed when it had started. I didn't bother ceasing the motion. 

"So your husband is the stick and you are the carrot."

"We all have our roles to play when we wish to protect that which we care for." 

I scoffed and stood. "But that's the thing, I care for nothing."

"Then why are you taking that." She motioned to the note I was putting into my pocket. I made my way out. Looking ahead, as I knew to do, when nothing went as I expected.

"Because I don't like being threatened." 

Never again would I allow it to happen. Never again. 

It seemed I left one conversation with a Virty only to end up with another. I had been making my way to the room I had been guided to when Owen asked me to accompany him to Robert who wished to speak to me. I stared at Owens back, wondering if this was all planned between the couple. 

"How did you do it?" Owen asked suddenly, halting in the middle of the hall without turning around. 

"I have a lot of experience in using gifts against their owners-"

"I can see that, but I wish to know how you wielded my power against me so..." He trailed off, voice tight. I couldn't tell if this was ego or a disturbed sense of curiosity for self-improvement, but whatever it was I answered anyway. 

"You use your power the way it feels natural to you, which at times might limit how you wield it. I read that when I use it but because it is not my gift, I am limited to using it how you do because I can see the other possibilities." I waited for him to ask something else, to ask for a fight, but he did nothing as he stood there in silence.

"I see." He said abruptly before continuing forward. "Thank you for the lesson."

"Growth does not slow at any age."

"Apparently there is much more for me to learn in my old age."

His words made me smile slightly. I was much older than he was. There was something funny about this age thing everyone kept mentioning. It was rather odd to see a witch so long lived within the same body and retain the human essence I suppose. 

He stopped at the office and opened the door, closing it behind me once I entered. Robert was standing near his desk, hunched over various documents. The office was slightly different compared to how I had left it this morning. There were papers scattered, everywhere. Old ones, new ones, bags filled to the brim, others empty as what I assumed was their content spilled beside them. He had been busy. 

"Ms.Debrouhs glad your here, please clarify something for me." Robert half turned to look at me from over his shoulder, his face troubled, his hair was ruffled and displaced. I tried not to react to the sight of him as I walked over to the desk and stopped beside him and looked down. It was amazing how easy it was to slip back into the habit of reading maps and their moving shapes, but I squinted as I tried to find a recognizable point for me to locate exactly where he was looking into.

"I've located someone who might be useful on the subject of curses for you, but there's a problem. Have you ever been to the fifth wizard's tower in Neveldon?"

"No." There had only been three towers when I had vanished, the fourth only a project.  Now if wished to know if I had ever been in the area where the tower was built, that was a different answer. I needed to know what he wished to know first before I could give a better response. He sighed at my answer, running his hand over the map, it shimmered and shifted before focusing on a particular spot, the mountains parted, as a large tower came into view.

"That's good, it's a start." He murmured, but there was still something that held him preoccupied. "Do you happen to know the master of the fifth tower then, Florence?"

"No." 

"Alright, this could actually work then." He brought a hand up to his jaw as he stared down. "So long as you do nothing to get on her bad side while your there and a few other details, she'll be more than likely willing to let a few unknown individuals into her tower and use one of her wizards."

"A few details like what?"  The devil was always in the details.

"Whatever you break in her tower you pay for or replace, any unjust death in her tower is a servitude sentence, she also has her own version of rules of hospitality." He paused before glancing up, a weighty stare in place as he measured me before he continued. "And she has a very distinctive aversion to anyone who works for the Council."

I gave him a deadpan look. Surely he hadn't forgotten who he was speaking to. "I'm a known Council dog." Even if I was a labeled runaway mutt. 

"Who has vanished for longer than she ever worked and has a hefty bounty on her head." He folded the map carefully, pointedly ignoring me. "If she really cares enough to ask about who I wish to sneak into her tower then I'm going to use that as an arguing point. Of course, if you wish to argue for your own case then you are more than welcome to do so."

 "Is her aversion personal or business?"

"Can't it be both?" With the Council it usually was. They had a knack for pissing people off so there wasn't much to separate the truth here. 

"So personal and then business." I leaned on the desk and crossed my arms over my chest.  "Where exactly is the fifth tower located?"

His bushy brows came together as he turned to fully study me with suspicion. "I thought you said you had never been to the fifth tower?"

I shrugged carelessly. "I can not be somewhere I do not know of."

"What," his voice lowered considerably, eyes narrowing into slits as he tried to make sense of my words. "is that supposed to mean?" 

He knew there was more to my response than the frivolous meaning I could have meant. I gave him a tight-lipped smile as his frown deepened, his expression darkening as his question remained unanswered. He turned his head to the side, jaw tight as he moved his mouth side to side, his mustache looking as if it were shaking. He turned back to me unhappily. 

"It's located in the south, deep within the City of Arreguela where the temperature is humid and the people are privet but friendly. Florence uses it as a security measure since the people there warn her of any suspicious people that come about and she provides protection and stability to the land." Most towers were located in secluded areas, so this was interesting. "I just needed to confirm this before I decided to contact her to make official arrangements. I've already got someone working on falsifying documentation for any travel and transport you may take. That should take a day or two. Since I don't want anyone to know more than needed I'll have everything sent over to the house so if you have anything you must take care of I suggest you get it done in the meantime."

"Very well, I appreciate the swift action."

"Yes, well, I'd rather not be associated with having you in my house for longer than necessary." I smiled at his blunt response.

"That's quite the contrast compared to your wife." His right eye twitched slightly. So he was aware of what his wife had wanted to speak to me about. Unlike her, however, he did not look at all interested in knowing where I stood. "What do you think of her opinion?"

"I respect what she wishes to know from you, but I remain firm on my stance. I shall follow through with the help I have promised to pay for the kindness your family showed to ours but other than that, please do not contact us unless you are on the winning end of whatever it is you wish to do." I said nothing as he walked off. They were overestimating my importance in the world. After all, I had been dead here for longer than I had lived in the world and no one seemed to miss Mykela Debrouhs too dearly.

 No one that is alive, that is. I just wished for my own peace, nothing more, nothing less. 

"Why are we coming back here? I doubt we left anything." Viper cracked her neck, stretching her arms over her shoulders as we walked down the cold street. The ground, like when we had first strolled down was wet. This whole street smelled of rain after a storm, but three streets down it was almost unbearably sunny.

"Just tying some loose ends." I glanced over at her, she glared ahead at the hotel, clear distaste sketched all over her. In this gloomy street, her inky black skin and eyes were perhaps the most colorful and vivid shade here, outstanding even the deep shades in her clothing choice.

"What, are you going to do the neighborhood a favor and burn this wet rag to the ground?"

I slowed my pace as we neared and spoke softly, just enough for her ears as I took hold of the door.

"They're going to have some visitors soon. It's best we leave some trails before we officially check out." She opened her mouth behind me as I went in but wisely chose not to ask anything more as I went to work.

I went to our rooms and looked around first, removing any personal traces, looking at every fiber and fabric, and pressing my face uncomfortably close to multiple surfaces to check for fallen hair strands. I set the bag I had brought with me from the Virty household on the bathroom counter and began removing the tightly closed bottles. I took one in my hand and began shaking it vigorously and was about to twist it open when I remembered my spectator. 

I looked over my shoulder. "You should probably step out into the hallway."

"Why?"

"This is not for those with extremely sensitive noses."

Her eyes bounced back between me and the bottle before she walked off without another word. Just in case, I half shut the door behind me and opened it up, immediately the pungent smell filled the room and my nostrils burned, the opening of m throat opened and closed in reflex as the fumes scorched me. I walked over to the shower and poured it down the drain. Pink rained down the drain and at first, nothing happened but after a few seconds of waiting, a gurgling sound came from below, the pipes, spitting and bubbling that coughed up smoke from the drain. I repeated the process in the hand wash and kitchen sink for Venom's room as well. By the time I was finished, I was satisfied enough with what I had managed to do. It would not hide us, but it would make finding us far harder and since tracking spells were easier with hair or skin residue, now there was none of it left to try and raise.  Viper took a firm stance away from me as she trailed behind, a pinched expression in place, her eyes almost watery as she breathed in thru pinched lips. She looked like an insulted fish. It was cute in a way, not that I would ever tell her.

"We will be checking out today so we've come to leave the review, as promised payment." I waited for the front desk boy to speak. He stared at us, blinking before bending down to retrieve- a sickening crack sounded as his top half slumped more than normal. I took a step back. He moaned but did nothing else as one of his hands slammed on the counter and then slid away, leaving behind a fresh, yellowed stained paper that now contained some sort of fluid. My lips parted in disgust before I pinched them together. 

"Ah," With the tip of my nail, I inched the paper closer to me and then took hold of a dry corner and picked it up. "Thank you. I'll be right back." I turned and walked over to the table in the middle of the waiting area. 

I set the paper down gingerly and stared down at it with a blank look before motioning to Viiper to come over. She shook her head aggressively and bolted out of the front doors. I glared after her before turning back over to the damp paper and cursed it all as I took a pen out and filled it out. By the time I was done and out of there I felt desperate for a shower and multiple handwashes. Viper was in step with me no sooner as the StayIn Better Days In was behind us. She hummed happily to herself as I trudged along.

"You didn't set the place on fire but you smell like you did, chemical removal?" She leaned her head down to me as we walked, her hair falling like a curtain of beads in front of me. 

"Something like that." I swatted her away and looked around to see where our next stop was. I didn't like being outside more than I had to during the day, even with a disguise in place. "See you back a the Virty household."

"You better be there." She glared at me warningly, I rolled my eyes as I walked off, for once happy to have something to do physically than to just it around and think. 

There would be someone on our trail, it was unavoidable, but stalling for time? That was something I was very good at making do with what I had at hand. Robert Virty had asked me not to remove anything from the secret room and I hadn't. There was no need for physical proof when crumbs from different pieces of bread could be made to mix together. Let those who wished to protect their secrets work to protect mine for a little while. It was exhilarating in a sense, to finally be able to do something so familiar to me and depressingly sad in another to watch how easy I was at deception. Really, the more things changed, the more some things remained the same. I was proof of that as well.

The house was busy in all the senses as we remained as abrupt guests of the Virty household. The servants put to help us remained around but preferably kept their distance as they waited to be called upon. We made sure to keep our presence and movement around the house to a minimum, but we could still hear the bustling of the rest of the household as they prepared for the nearing festivities. Chole and Robert, for their part, made sure to check in with us, much more with me since only Maritzia seemed bold enough to speak to the siblings in my company, or keep us informed of any sudden changes or progress in what we had asked for. Already multiple disposable bags and items, some not so disposable and valuable things were piling up in our room as we just waited for the green light of the master of the fifth tower. 

"If the Council is all-seeing and commanding then wouldn't they run these supposed magical towers? Or at the very least be well connected with those who run them?" Venom had asked during a silent moment while we both looked over the world map, various different businesses, and important structures to keep in mind as it would be terribly tragic to make a run for it within the wrong area. 

"Don't you know power hates being controlled by power? Even when I was around, the relations ship between the two was always tense regardless of who the individuals meeting were, no mediator would come back unscathed by some remark or threat." Running my finger down my notes I stopped at a scribbled name and refocused on the map, staring at it for a moment longer before browsing the areas nearby. There was only so much I could learn from a map that showed the geology, buildings, and weather. I brought out the newspaper article I had, borrowed, and searched for the news in that area. 

"Then how do we know the relationships haven't improved recently?" The suspicion in his voice roused me enough to find him going over the books that held his own interest, golden eyes peering over the top of the book at me. I focused back on my train of thought as I answered.

"If you are in doubt of Roberts's trustworthiness in who he is going to introduce us to, then know that the Council seems to be on the hunt for covens and there is nothing more tower wizards hate than having their families slaughtered." 

"That would be hard to overlook." There was a soft thud before his steps made their way over to me. Why was I suddenly so very aware of how close he was when I was still focused on my other tasks? He did not invade my personal space as he leaned over the table at my side to look at what I was looking over and in a sense that made him feel all the closer than he was. He tapped the map with his fingers, it shimmered and fluttered, expanding. "Not technology, but similar. How curious."

"You won't find many phones in hands but there will be some nasty commercial habit somewhere around, no doubt about that," I promised. "The habit may vary for species or we might all fall victim to it, but everyone got a thing."

He bit his bottom lip, the thrumming of his finger on the table drawing my eyes before I looked back up to find him already looking at me, the corners of his eyes tilted upwards the slightest bit as he gave me a sly smile. "What would you say is your habit?" My nose tingled, the organ in my chest became very prominent to my ears. Was I locked in his gaze because of fear or something else?

I heard his question, but my lips could not seem to part. His brows came other as the silence grew before a different expression bloomed across his face. He knew. Of course, he did, he was annoyingly observant. His eyes narrowed in a way I knew to recognize as smugness from him, I glanced down at his mouth to catch the smirk taking place before looking back up. Already, he was closer than before.

"What is your proclivity?" he pronounced the last word slowly, smoothly, before tilting his head down closer. "Hmm?" He was flirting with me, the damn snake.

The words left my mouth without hesitation, the choice, not mine to make apparently. "Why don't you tell me? I thought you knew me well." 

"As did I," his confession stunned me, providing enough shock to get me out of whatever trance I had found myself in. What did that mean? Fear buried its phantom claws into my stomach and dug. He shook his head faintly with a small smile. " I know now that my attention has been on what I know to be true for so long that I grew blind to the sides I've yet to look over."

Not wanting to delve any further into whatever it was he was hinting at I turned back to the work in front of us. He sighed deeply, turning away from it and crossing his arms over his chest. The clothes provided for him were to his taste, white in color but it was an almost bolder form of fashion than I had seen from him yet, not so much because he revealed a shocking amount of skin but the opposite of that. He wore a long tunic dress shirt with long sleeves that ended at his wrists, tight fitting at the top and stiff at the bottom. With his height, I was impressed to see they had managed to find something that actually reached his ankles. When he walked the cream-colored baggy pants he wore flashed at the sides. Uptop he had a silver, mesh quality scarf wrapped around his neck, tassels dangling from the ends that reached his wide waist. Crisscrossed white leather bindings crawled upwards from his wrists and ended halfway to his forearms. I was mentally preparing myself for when we left as I knew both siblings had not held back on asking for what they wished from our hosts. 

"You do not wish to discuss the sexual tension-" I groaned, slamming my hands onto the table as my head dropped, my eyes shutting firmly. "Fine. We can discuss something else. How is your chest?" A deeper groan escaped me as I turned my head to glare at him balefully.

"This is why I dislike conversing with you-"

"Because I am direct and unashamed?" The arch of his brow was haunty at most and impatient at the least, but all the same, aggravatingly antagonizing. 

"Because you lack the care for tact." 

"Would we converse what I wished if I had more tact? I thought so." He scoffed when I did not readily agree. It was not as if he were the only person in the world who did not get to bring up the topic he wished to speak on, so why was he so miffed on the matter? Then a thought came to me. How many times had I shut down his attempts at a conversation? The question made me suddenly uncomfortable. "If my words disturb you, then feel free to think of them as me voicing my mind aloud."

Well, that was fair, but..."Even if it's about me?"

"Only if it's about you and it bothers you." He brought a hand up to his chin and tapped his finger on his lips as he spoke, looking elsewhere as if contemplating some grand issue. "But I would appreciate some feedback on my thoughts or I might become a bother to those around us. I hear rambling is a nervous habit. Perhaps I should get nervous." The teasing but serious gleam in his eyes made my own widen a fraction, flustered I looked around as the sides of my face grew warm before I realized my reaction and annoyance took over. I turned back to him, baring my teeth in displeasure.

He grinned, flashing his own at me, a rare moment. "Cute."

"You are so...!" I trailed off, not sure what word I wished to use to describe the buzzing and heated sensation that was throwing me off kilter. 

"Yes?" He leaned in closer, his hair flopping over to the side. I inhaled sharply and counted backward from ten. 

"Fine. My chest is fine. Nothing's spread." I answered his earlier question, feeling a bit more composed. Recently, he had managed to rile me up with little effort. I didn't necessarily dislike him, but did that mean we were getting closer or that my patience was waning? But it only seemed to happen when it was in direct context to him. My forehead furrowed in concentration, I bit the inside of my bottom lip as I thought over that. 

"Is it darkening already?" he asked while I examined the queasy feeling in my stomach. I didn't think of myself as someone with a short temper but whenever Venom asked something I didn't want to talk about, analyzing my behavior, wasn't I rather rude? 

"Only slightly," I answered offhand, stunned by my own relation. 

"Only slightly," he repeated sinisterly, a fixated stare directed at the center of my chest. Oh no, a sense of panic and unease filled me at that expression.

"We're here, we'll soon be on our way to someone who might be able to remove it. Things are progressing." Gingerly, I lifted a hand and placed it on his forearm, and patted him stiffly. "You only rile yourself up when you worry like that."

He looked away from my chest and to my hand that had been robotically patting him, slowly, unsure if it had been the wrong choice, I lowered my hand when he turned to glare at me. 

"You break my heart when you do that." What? I stepped back as if physically struck, my mouth falling open. I hadn't meant to do whatever it was that had made him unhappy this time, now that I was vividly aware of how rude I had been to him moments previous, his words struck me with guilt. 

Of his feelings, I knew I was guilty of rejecting on various occasions, but as a personal matter that did involve my opinion, I did not feel bad for standing my ground but on this matter, I was completely lost.  

"I'm s-" I tried, unsure of what the issue was. 

"Only apologize if you know the reason." He retaliated, a skin-crawling hiss halting me. As soon as the words were out I could tell he regretted them as his eyes lowered, hand coming over his face and obstructing whatever expression he wore beneath.  "I'm sorry for snapping. I know  you can not help- it's just difficult to..." Almost choking on his words he stopped altogether and simply left, the door shutting soundly behind him.

 I stared after him. I knew what this tense interaction between us was about. He had not changed, not in the slightest. I was the one changing and I did not know in which direction or what shape or form I was taking. The difference between a hunter and a predator. There was no difference as far as I could see now and so, he might not have realized it even if he had planned it, but Venom had managed to crumble the wall I had in place between the two of us and how I defined our relationship and now I was afraid to see how close we would get when it felt like I was already standing within his shadow. 

*                                                              *                                                    *                                                          *

"She's willing to take you in, but she has one condition if we wish to utilize one of her people. In this matter I can not help, so the choice is yours. You should have enough tools to ease any troubles you may face in your journey. Not that you will be in need of them much. If at all." Robert's latter comments were mumbled as he turned his face away, his hand coming up to cover the lower half of his face, He cleared his throat before turning back to face us as if he hadn't insinuated anything at all. Chole wore a pleasant smile beside him, back straight.

Ignoring the comments I clasped my hands together. I would have been much more uneasy if there had been no such test from the master of the tower. Even if they were friends, or she owed him something, to enter a tower was still a business transaction of some sort and all masters had to weigh the profits. "What does she want?" 

"In order to get you to the fifth tower without leaving a direct trail, I will be leaving various false trails, but she refuses direct teleportation into her tower. The closest she will allow you to her tower will be the tower's labyrinth but of course, that is also a test to see if you are at all worthy of any trouble you might bring to her."

"Wizards and their experiments." Maritzia spit out with a scrunched expression, a sharp glare in her eyes as she looked around with contempt. Viper sat next to her, legs positioned elegantly to the side, her arm behind Maritzia's seat as she eyed the older woman with amusement, her top lip slightly turned upwards. 

Almost stiffly, I turned to eye Venom across the room. He hadn't moved from his spot since he entered, standing near the office window with his hands in his pockets. He had left his hair in disarray, the growing strands obstructing his expression as he looked down. He had been more than quiet since we parted from our last conversation. I was being avoided. 

"If we make it out of the labyrinth we will be granted direct access to the tower, but if we fail we risk being forever entrapped in the garden and eventually petrified and turned into a statue," I explained, waiting to see if he would turn to face me. 

"How exciting." I looked over at Viper and then back to Venom before returning to her. "I don't suppose you have a map? Or three, since we'll probably be separated like all good horror flicks."

"Flicks?" Maritzia repeated. Chole's smile slipped as she too repeated the word and then looked over to her husband who shrugged. 

"Maps are useless for anyone who lands in the labyrinth since for everyone it will be different." Venom showed no sign of listening but I knew he was paying attention. Could I reach out through the bond to check on him? Could I? Did I have any right to? I looked away. 

"Of course it is," Viper grumbled, throwing her hands up before they began expressively waving all over the place.  "Let me guess, it will be between some psychological test and actual killer plants." 

"I've never experienced one but I've heard that's where the tower gets its fuel from, invaders, enemies, and unwelcomed guests are all tossed into the garden." Maritzia looked over her shoulder with a grin that almost made the majority of her wrinkles disappear. "Do survive, it would be a shame to see such an interesting bunch turned into outdoor decor." Viper nodded as if she agreed wholeheartedly. I eyed them.

Robert stood up and walked over to each of us, handing us a few pieces of paper and a thicker plastic-like card. Giving them a once over I compared the new documentation form to what I had last seen of my own. The format was greatly improved, as well as the identification card, but the various overlayed spells that glimmered and spun when I held it up and at an angle were new. The writing was too small to make out the exact spell, but it must have been a verified spell to make out as real from a fake and something else. An activation spell? Hmm.

"These are your identities for when using teleportation and these are the I.D. you want to use when checking into any long-time residents or for any authoritative figures that ask. These will hold up for anything lower than checkpoint 5, anything higher will be too extensive and revealing of what your background checks lack. If the two of you have actual I.D from your own species then I suggest you use them sparingly since they are carefully monitored when outside of the dragon domain." 

"How long will these hold out before they're reported suspicious?" I stilled at the calm tone Venom spoke in, he gave nothing away and why was I suddenly so hyper-alert about him? I kept my head on my identification card. The picture looked nothing like me, which was great since I had a lot of glamor and deceptive tools for this trip. 

"Three weeks at most, five days at least if someone is actually paying attention to the paperwork of who comes and goes." Five days? I looked over to Robert with renewed suspicion. If these failed on the first attempt, I would make a quick return trip right to him. He slowly straightened up, eyeing me as if he could see my backup plan playing out for him. "It is unlikely to be flagged so soon, but the more secluded the area you head into, the easier it will be to discover. I suggest you stay in crowded areas before finding your way to where you wish to go."

 I lowered the papers and watched him carefully. "I'll keep that in mind. Did you inform her of who one of her visitors would be?" I questioned softly. He remained silent as he stared back at me, then his eyes flickered to the side to where I knew Viper and Venom were, which told me he had their sole attention as well. His chest lifted sharply before he answered. 

"No, I did not go into details but all she knows is that you would be most useful on her side than in the Cocunil's hands. That was enough to intrigue and persuade her. There is a more than likely chance she will ask who you are, if she does not know of you already." 

"She might be your first official ally if you wish to do something." My lips pursed at Choles not so hidden insinuating words and expression. "How very convenient."

My face was clear of expression as I looked at her before I plastered a mimicking smile of her own creation. Her brow twitched. "If I were to be scheming something, it would be, wouldn't it? What a waste since I am not."

"Hmm." Her smile had lowered the slightest inch. Someone snickered in the room. "Do keep us in your good graces if you are."

"Only if you are sure of a victory, that is," Robert added none too hastily. 

"I can see why you two are together," Viper called out with an edge. So Martzia she liked, these two not so much apparently. "So what time do we leave?"

"I would appreciate it if you waited until tomorrow when the festival is almost over. Travelers are less suspicious leaving the city, even before the festivities are over then."

"Very well, tomorrow it is then." It was a reasonable request and actually good timing. Crowds were certainly the best places to vanish. "I imagine your entire family, as the center of the celebration, will be too busy to send us off. Just in case, I thank you for everything you have done for us so far."

"It was debt long overdue." Something flew in the air at me, and before I had finished stretching my hand out to catch it, it landed in a hand that quickly handed it over to me before he made his way back to the window. I refrained from looking over his way. "Ah, the identification for Florence, I almost forgot. Here, she will recognize this as something belonging to the Virty household."  I twisted the silver charm in my fingers, it was a pair of wings connected by a branch in the middle but the wing on the left side was all bone. 

"Then let this be our proper farewell." I declared rising at once, a finality to this stay. A rush of fear and something else thrummed within me, my abdomen tightened. I pushed it down and ignored it.

"But not our last," Martzia stated, red eyes on me, her chin on her cane. "No, not our last." She and Viper looked at one another and huddled closer together, whispering to one another.

*                                                               *                                                     *                                                    *

My hands trembled in my pockets no matter how much force I used, balling them up and pressing them into my sides. My chest lifted rapidly in erratic breathing patterns as I tried to control myself, but I only managed to breathe out in long pauses every now and then, my inhales stuttering and stopping. I kept trying to lower my head to focus on something on the ground, but my instincts to scan around me, to be aware as much as possible made it nearly impossible to fight the urge to keep looking around me. Ironic since that was the whole reason for my stress. As soon as my eyes met with another I quickly turned away before they could make sense of the wild look I knew I wore. 

There were too many people. I had expected it, and I had thought I was prepared for it but I had become overwhelmed by the sheer amount of people walking in front, behind,  and across from me. Brushing up against me. I was hot and cold at the same time, but realistically the day was at a perfect temperature. The sky was clear, the sun high. But it felt as if it were scoring on the crown of my head. 

And the nose. The noise bothered me the most. Nothing made sense as everything blended for a moment and then cleared all at once. Some things sounded louder than others only to be overtaken by some startling bang! Ping!Crash! The laughter of all volumes and at different levels. My stomach bubbled in a sickening way, my tongue dry and scratchy. I pressed my fisted hands firmer into myself, squishing my organs and undoubtedly bruising myself. The air was sweet and flowery one moment only for a draft to carry the scent of water and food. My mind was split, the part of me that was calm and collected in moments of chaos knew what I had to do, which was why my feet ignored my body's wishes to stop walking and drop to the ground and hug my knees. Doing such a thing would draw attention, like my frantic searching. I would gain the worst type of attention if I didn't do something soon.

Everyone was a threat, that was what my body was telling me. There were way more people, and creatures, than I had been ready to be surrounded by. I had underestimated my own reaction. Now I was ready to fight anyone who looked ever so slightly dangerous, which in this state, made everyone a target. I was freaking the fuck out and it was by no means an appropriate time to do so. At least Viper and Venom were not with me- or maybe that was a problem? It had been my plan to split up in the crowd to meet elsewhere since three people with obvious travel gear looked like a better target to thieves who wanted to score big than targeting one individual at a time. Well, thieves would hit whoever was unlucky enough, but it had been my plan and it looked like I was going to be the one to deviate from it. I was starting to tremble all over, my nerves standing on end as my senses worked overtime to look out for anything that was a threat to me. My shaking, however, was not from fear, I was angry. Angry and growing dangerously enraged like a wild animal ready to lash out. I wanted to laugh, in a maniacal way that would hurt all who hear, but I had no air in me to waste on that so soft wheezes came from out of my parted lips.

I was angry at myself, my reaction, my lack of control over my body, and growing angry at everyone that bumped into or rushed passed me, my eyes widening as I watched everyone pass. I don't think I was even seeing anything anymore. Was I going insane? No, I did not think so. But was asking myself not a sign? Was I in denial? Ah, overstimulation. That's what this probably was. How did I turn it off? If I started running through the crowd, bumping and shoving people as I went full speed I would get chased at best, and into a fight at worst. My steps were slowing and the growing sensation of control slipping grew. I rubbed at the tips of my fingers to distract myself. It helped.

Rather than leaving at the end of the festival, I noticed no change in the crowd of celebratory people. There were booths and tents and stalls set up everywhere, things being sold, dancers prancing on the ground, winged creatures flying about to create a spectacle, an explosion of color further away. Even the buildings were filled, restaurants bustling, groups entering and leaving doorways, people staring down from balconies, glasses clinking, smoke filling the air.  

Focus, Mykela. Focus. I had a destination in mind for myself when we split up. I was still on track. That was good. Focus.  A bright shade of blue stood out ahead of me, a building. I forced myself to keep my gaze on it. My eyes flickered to the left before I could stop myself, but I dragged them back to the building. I look nothing like who I am. I look nothing like Mykela Debrouhs. No one knows who I am. Blue building. One step in front of the other. The closer I got to the building, the more my steps felt like they were coming easier to me, but that was only because my body was growing warm. I was still in the middle of this damn crowd—too many people. I looked to my right and broke from my path when I saw the emptier street. There were still groups of people, but far fewer than on the main street. I nearly stumbled as I made my way down the downhill street, maneuvering around the people who were coming up and dashing past the ones walking slowly. Why were they so slow? I stopped at the end of the street.

I lifted a hand to shield myself from the sun, the lack of taller buildings suddenly blinding me, I peeked under the shade of my hand.  This street had fewer stalls, but no big attractions. I looked over my shoulder, the bustling of the people already sounded farther away. I dragged my foot forward over the cobblestones. My ears rang, but nothing sounded out, it was quiet but I knew it was all in my mind. Fine, it was fine, I just had to adjust myself. Things failed all the time. My lips turned down. I was failing. I shook my head and walked over to the shaded sidewalk.  I was merely adjusting, I repeated to myself. I took a deep breath and started walking again. With fewer people around, I already felt a thousand times better, but...my hands pressed into my sides again. I bit at my lip harshly, rubbing the pads of my finger again. There was a deep well of unhappiness and something else, something uncomfortable and gnawing. I stopped walking and looked around, unsure why but doing so anyway. I crossed the street and stood under the tree half-grown into the architecture of the building. 

 Again, it was instinctive, and although I was somewhat aware of what I was doing I did not stop myself, standing there blank-eyed looking at nothing in particular under the shade. I reached for the bond and called for him. It was like a blanket of warmth compared to the distance I now knew he could keep, his side stirring, reaching out and sensing me. I could feel a vague notion of surprise and curiosity, they were impressions only but I just knew. The wind swayed back and forth, and no petals or leaves fell thankfully for I am sure I would have found them distasteful in my current state of unease. People came and went, walking leisurely at their own pace, a few looked over my way. That made me tense, but it thankfully did not draw the reaction it would from me had I remained in the state of mind I had minutes before. I counted to ten, then I counted backward from ten. I repeated the process until a blinding shade of white appeared out of the corner of my eye. He walked over calmly, but his face was questioning, cautious, scanning my face as his own darkened.

He stopped in front of me, golden eyes flickering over me. His mouth parted before he pinched his lips shut. I was glad for the silence. I was miserable at the action. It was confusing. It was difficult for me to swallow. I reached out and placed both hands on his arms and pulled until he followed my lead. He walked backward without hesitation as I pushed his back into the tree and dropped my arms. Still, he said nothing. Then I shut my eyes and placed my head on his chest. He went rigid, his chest halted all movement. I felt his arms come up and hover, unsure. The corner of my eyelids tingled. I let out a deep breath. I was being unfair, I knew I was and I hated it and yet when his arms finally wrapped around me I relaxed. It wasn't his heart that soothed me, the constant beating I could almost feel, it was just him. 

A/N:  

Yay, Hi.

Is that a little- could this be a moment? Oh, my.

 Ya'll do not know how happy I am to be writing so much now and really be advancing in Venom. Well, I'm off to continue writing.

Don't forget to:

Vote-  Fan  - Share - Comment - Keep Reading on