17-What the Messenger Knows

  -Chapter Start: The next day, August 14th, 9am

  Grogginess, a surreal emptiness, and blissful humming warmth wrapped all around me at once. I barely remember getting back to the CDS, much less home. That being, Entropy, somehow reorganized my thoughts, with visions of the past and even the future, and filed them neatly like a tidy cabinet in my mind. Since the tumultuous playback of my past with Ainai and Zylas, my head was clouded with so many stray thoughts it sometimes felt as though I experienced bouts of absolute quiet punctuated by sudden spikes of pain. Valia noticed these shifts immediately and always pushed me back to reality.

  “I really need to pay her back…” I whispered through the soft blanket covering my face as I shifted. In that moment, I felt the cold sharpness of claws on my neck and lower back. I was certain I had gone to bed alone, yet Valia had somehow tucked herself between me and the back of the couch, snuggling in as if guarding me. She claimed one of my legs and kept her hands wrapped around the places I knew burned with residual warmth. It was... cute.

  Even as her unconscious attempts to keep me still persisted and her nails grazed my skin, I managed to move and replace myself with a pillow, which she promptly clutched. I wandered about drowsily and awoke again as sunlight filtered through trees and small gaps in our curtains. I found myself in the kitchen, where a stack of paperwork lay alongside several pristine cream-colored envelopes topped with the blue 'CDS' lettering. Confusion washed over me. I remembered fragments.

  "Right, Ceyphyr put in a request for me..." I whispered aloud, glancing at a new bundle of apples on the counter beside the stack. A small smile crept across my face as inspiration sparked within me. “That’s it…!” I muttered louder than intended, as I heard Valia move slightly from the couch.

  Yesterday, after my molten partner and I had left the Svalbard Global place, we realized the package was already delivered. In place of the metal box, a physically signed CDS Contract now rested. Perplexity is an understatement for how confused I felt. We even noticed a path of re-frozen water and snow that suggested my partner had taken a specific route. Without ceremony, my expressive partner held up his Traveler’s Rune, silently declaring that we were done, and he strode back through the door we had just exited.

  When we returned, Duals awaited with a stack of bundled documents and informed me that we were done for the day. I barely recall all her words, only that she looked concerned. I remember her saying "a perk of the job is you can deliver your own mail so long as you are not breaking any rules" but nothing more lodged in my mind. My thoughts were too muddled to process all the materials, so I opted to grab an apple instead and walked over to the envelopes.

  After a few small bites, I held one up and realized it already contained something. I gathered the others and noticed each one held a sheet of paper. One, in particular, lacked any CDS markings. I checked it first. None were sealed, and I presumed these were meant for use later.

  It was a message to Utagawa, signed from me. When the sudden grogginess hit me once more a new, or rather old, memory sprung forward.

  My molten partner abruptly departed, having been dismissed for the day to Duals' berating. We exchanged a few words, and she handed me something called memory paper. Apparently, that was how many entities shared knowledge when writing or language were not their ways. Thoughts, memories, words, and feelings could be inscribed on it by simply holding it and projecting what one wished. When the recipient held it, the memory would flash in the form of images and emotions before fading over a few hours. After that, it was simply paper again. Duals took pride in producing it herself.

  A surreal wave of emptiness crept over me as I took another bite of the apple, the memory had ended as abruptly as it started. I slowly began to review all the messages, and who they were going to. Jaskrim, Dio, Lord, Zylas, Ainai, even Kalth and... Staring Death? The very first cryptid I delivered to was mentioned among these deliveries. I shuffled through them, yet felt I was missing one. Awkwardly, as I rifled through the cream envelopes once more, as an entirely black one fell to the floor, its edges etched in gold. It fell slowly as if it had been descending for a long time and landed silently on my foot. I picked it up reluctantly and flipped it over. A beautiful, perfectly gold engraving read simply "Entropy" and it was already sealed, waiting for delivery.

  I tried to recall when I had written this. Even as memories slowly surged back and I recalled other interactions with the messages, this one had not existed in those recollections…

  Until it did.

  Something awkwardly out of place had slipped into my thoughts as I transcribed a forgotten predicament. I had asked for assistance with something yet to occur but that had happened in the past.

  Until it didn’t.

  A contract flashed before me in blue flames, as though I had just signed for something, and there I was with nothing in my hand but a fresh apple. The apple was larger than before, nearly doubled in size compared to the others. I don't know how I procured it, but I was certain someone would enjoy it greatly when they awoke. I washed it under a quiet stream from the faucet, careful not to make too much noise, and set it on the counter while procuring another for myself. Today was going to be stressful, and I didn’t feel like I had much time to waste. First stop, the CDS.

  Ding!

  A group of individuals left, and more came in. Through the use of Lilith’s eyes, I noticed quite a mixed bag of auras around them. Some flickering and unfamiliar, some neutral, some barely restrained. All muddled colors, and nothing prominent. Though, comparing to the beings I’ve seen before that’s not a surprise.

  Ding!

  Most left, leaving me alone with two others. There was some small gossip between them. The most scandalous thing? Someone’s photocopied butt was making rounds through the 7th level offices, and there were bets on whether it belonged to a guy or a girl.

  Ding!

  Ding!

  Ding!

  Alone…

  I mused, remembering my first interaction with Utagawa in this same elevator. She was exhausted, thought me nothing more than another fae-folk looking to make a foolish deal. She even saved me from her wife’s playful tirade of words, or her attempts to squeeze a deal out of me, once she realized I was just another human…

  The elevator took its time, far longer than five minutes, before coming to a halt and opening at the top floor. The same elaborate waiting room sprawled out before me, untouched since my last visit.

  “If you have an appointment, sign in here and we’ll be with you shortly. If you’re here to schedule one, take a sheet and fill it out.” Utagawa spoke calmly without ever looking up from her work. I paused, glancing around. Both Kalth’s door and the rest of the room were quiet. We were alone.

  A stupid idea crossed my mind.

  “What if I have a package just for you?” I asked in a slightly deeper, teasing tone.

  “Sir, I’m not in a joking—Daegon!”

  Her expression flipped instantly from I’m going to personally end your bloodline to something far warmer. Her voice lightened with genuine relief as she stood so quickly her chair slammed into the back wall and clipped the side of the desk. She was around the corner before I could react, and I was promptly smothered in an overly zealous hug.

  “I seriously thought you might’ve died walking away with that giant thing!” she exclaimed, pulling back just enough to let me breathe. Her expression, still glowing with joy, gradually settled back into her usual businesslike composure as she fixed her shirt and glanced around.

  “What brings you in today?”

  “Well…” I said, pulling out her envelope. “This is for you.”

  “I don’t remember having... Oh. This is unmarked. How did you even get here safely without a designated delivery? Kalth isn’t scheduled to receive anything either.” Utagawa flipped the envelope over in her hands several times, inspecting it carefully. I pulled out another, this one clearly labeled Kalth. She took it immediately and examined it with equal scrutiny.

  “Marked, signed, and… this is authentic.” Her gaze sharpened as she looked back up at me. “Did you create a delivery just to give me a message?”

  “I did. Something you said, along with a few others, gave me an idea I hadn’t considered. It’s explained in the message.” I said, my voice growing quieter as I glanced toward Kalth’s door. “It won’t immediately help with your problem. But it might in the future.”

  She scowled at me like I was hiding something far more important, then gave a huff and tucked the envelope inside her shirt.

  “Well, if you’re hand-delivering messages now, I can page you through and see if he’s available.” she said, fixing her chair and sitting again.

  Part of me wanted to turn around. I didn’t want anything to do with Kalth.

  “It wasn’t a question.” she added, smugly holding out the envelope. “Kalth gave me explicit orders: If it involved you, page you through immediately. I was just waiting—oh. Looks like you’re good to go.”

  A soft click echoed from behind the large door. Utagawa gave me a nod, wishing me luck.

  “My, Mox Daegon, I do hope this encounter will be just as fruitful as the last.”

  Arch-Lord Kalth sat as he had before, body draped over his seat with the kind of ease that unnerved more than relaxed. An innocently wicked smile greeted me as the door clicked shut behind me. “I’ve been told you bring a delivery; one I wasn’t scheduled to have. What a surprising delight.”

  The only delightful thing will be me leaving, I thought… I had to choose my next words carefully, I wouldn’t put it above Kalth to find some loophole in the Contract we had.

  “I’m sure there must be a million things to keep you occupied, so I’ll keep this brief. I figured with a being in your position, another avenue might be something you’d see value in.” I crossed the room slowly, though it felt longer than before. There was something off about the space, but I kept my focus on the task.

  I pulled out the stack of envelopes and—

  The black envelope… What was this? Why was it back after I delivered it? Who was this for? The gold inlay gleamed, such an interesting shimmer…

  I pulled out the stack of envelopes and quickly found Kalth’s near the top and placed it on his desk. Immediately, I saw the shift in his expression. His usual smugness faltered into something unreadable… Confusion, or perhaps disquiet. His gaze wasn’t on the envelope but behind me.

  I turned.

  Nothing.

  The room was suddenly smaller. No longer vast and elongated, just a normal-sized office. When I turned back, Kalth hadn’t moved, but his stare was fixed like he was still trying to see past something that wasn’t there.

  “Will that be all? It appears I do have something else to attend to.” he said, voice unnaturally calm.

  I didn’t argue. A polite nod, and I exited with a firm close of the door behind me.

  “That was… Quick.” Utagawa noted without looking up, deep in paperwork.

  “Well, I’m on a time limit to be here and he didn’t appear to be in a good mood.” I said, stepping back to her desk. She paused mid-page and looked up at me.

  “What do you mean he’s not in a good mood? He’s always in a good mood.” she said, skeptical.

  “I… don’t know. One moment, it took me several seconds just to walk toward him. His expression dropped to confusion. Then he said he had other things to attend to, and the door was suddenly right behind me.” I said this while carefully sorting the remaining envelopes, already knowing which one I intended to deliver next.

  “Uh-huh…” Utagawa held her glare a few more seconds, then returned to her paperwork. “Well, you better get a move on. I’ll be sure to send a response as soon as possible.”

  Exiting the massive tower of Shinpo no tō always left me with an odd sense of awe, as if the world must’ve been painfully cramped when buildings like this once thrived. Designed to cram as many people into as small a space as possible, pushing them to work until they broke. Compared to that, my lifestyle felt detached… Days, even weeks spent outside the Bastion, bringing back more than enough to afford solitude within my four walls. To work so tirelessly, so methodically on a single path for life, was beyond me.

  ‘Humans adapt to their surroundings, to their needs and demands.’ Lilith mused as we slipped into a busy street. Her thoughts had been distant for a while, so her voice was an eerie welcome. ‘Even now your lifestyle is rare, unconforming to how the world works. Had you lived three hundred years ago, you wouldn’t be such a vagrant. Though... you earn your keep, at least.’

  “Honestly pretty scary to think about.” I muttered aloud, weaving through a few more alleys. The Traveler’s Rune pulsed gently, noting the next delivery wasn’t far.

  ‘Truly. Existence was dull and bleak. Souls were weak, uncherished. A buffet with no sustenance.’ she added, her tone distant and almost nostalgic. ‘But now? The value of souls has risen. Cataclysms make people see worth in others. Even their own worth grows, when their place in society becomes a lifeline.’

  Stolen novel; please report.

  “Life must’ve been tough for you too, then.” I glanced down both alleyways to my left and right, then behind. All of them looked... identical. “Am I... lost?”

  “Nah, just messing with ya. You catch on fast, ‘loverboy’.” A voice purred mockingly from behind me.

  I turned on instinct. “Fuzu!”

  There she was, eyes bright, calmly eating from a bag of chips while several shopping bags floated around her like orbiting satellites.

  “Make it quick, I’m shopping for the wifey and Katzu’s a pain in the ass to cook right.”

  “I, uh... have a—”

  “Yeah yeah, said make it quick.” She swiped the envelope from me before I could finish, then gave a small nod as the CDS contract shimmered into view, then vanished.

  As I was grabbing another envelope, Fuzu caught me off guard with her questioning. “Hey, don’t y’all usually runs in pairs? Where’s your partner?” Fuzu asked, looking about herself. A small rush of memories flooded back…

  I reached into my satchel for the next one, but her question caught me off guard.

  “Hey did you see my wife beforehand? Pretty sure that’s her scent.” Fuzu questioned as she curled her finger, telling me to come closer.

  “Oh, yeah. She was the second first one I deliver to today… Anyways, I’ll be off I got a few others I really need to see.” I said quickly, a weird unease settling in my chest.

  When I turned around, we were somehow back at the start of the alley I’d entered through. Behind me, the sound of a chip crunch echoed.

  “Try that door.” Fuzu pointed toward an old metal door behind me as she turned to leave. “And don’t keep the wifey waiting when she replies.”

  By the time I turned back to thank her, she and her floating bags had vanished.

  I held the Rune against the next envelope. A faint glee flickered through me, despite the...

  “Is it just me, or is something off?” I asked aloud as I stepped through the doorway to a massive greenhouse. Beautiful plants of all kinds basked in sunlight, their leaves glistening with a light mist. The heavy door behind me closed with a soft thud.

  “Oh? Do tell, little Daegon.” Lilith spoke through me, her tone casual.

  I wandered among the neatly arranged rows until an off-branch path drew my attention. There was a pull, an inexplicable yearning that set my heart racing. The moment my eyes fell on a cluster of potted flowers, Lilith’s inner gaze flared with intensity. I crouched before three blooms, caught in their strange, ethereal glow.

  “After all these centuries… I never thought I would see another Liminal Bloom.” Lilith’s words spoke softly, carefully from me, as my hand slowly turned into hers and reached out toward them. The bloom appeared spectral, existing on the threshold between light and shadow. Its petals danced in a shade of silver that hinted at deep violet aspirations. As our joined hand caressed the leftmost flower, the faintest pulse of energy slipped between us. Slowly, the flower unfurled its petals from tip to stem; shimmering silver engulfed the light before it deepened into a calm, midnight black. A trace of crimson streaked through the violet; a silent promise etched in time.

  “It’s as beautiful as I remember.” Lilith said, her sincerity unguarded. A single tear escaped her yet vanished instantly, as if swallowed by the void. The emotions she held wavered and receded, leaving behind a final, suggestive tug urging me to look away.

  Next to me, a feminine spirit hovered, perhaps a nymph, illuminated by winter's moonlight. She backed away quickly, her face lighting with joy as she turned to greet the transformation of the bloom. Her hair flowed like liquid melt, fading into a delicate mist, and when the light caught it, it revealed hues of violet and silver at its tips.

  “I-I-I’m sorry, it just caught our attention.” I stammered, rising to my feet. Her striking features, both ethereal and resolute, impressed me deeply. Her skin was more mist than flesh, and her eyes resembled the first snowfall at dusk. Despite her fragile appearance, there was an undeniable resilience in her posture.

  She surveyed the surroundings for a moment, her presence drifting like a soft breeze.

  “No worries, human. Jaskrim has spoken highly of you, and you’re welcome anytime. Tell me, where is the other you speak of?” Her voice carried a faint chill and quiet authority.

  “Right here.” Lilith spoke in her normal, toying way through me. The Nymph shuttered at the voice.

  “I came to drop off an envelope for Jaskrim, is he here?" I asked, quickly shifting subjects as I walked toward the main passage. The nymph hesitated before giving a declining nod.

  “But, Cali is here. She can accept it. Right through here human!” The Nymph spoke, regaining her composure and flying down towards the log cabin door.

  ‘Are you alright?’ I asked mentally as I continued down the path slowly, looking over the rows of flowers. Since my first visit, it felt like the greenhouse had grown, or at least expanded on how many were here.

  ‘Old memories.’ Lilith answered simply, leaving more questions than answers.

  The nymph waited until we drew nearer before gliding through the door. I paused a moment, uncertain whether to step into another's territory. Several moments passed as I raised a hand to knock; then, the door swung inward on its own.

  “Jaskrim mentioned you might poke about. Said you were one of those who still bothers to ask permission before walking into someone else’s forest. That’s rare.” A deep but feminine voice rang out as I was greeted by her anchoring appearance.

  She stood in the doorway, carved like the highlands themselves. Though roughly my own height, her presence was weighty and commanding. Her skin bore the hue of mountain fog, aged and worn by time. Her hair, shifting in streaks of marble and slate, was braided with wild plants and glacier-blue silk. Her attire commemorated beasts that once challenged her, from the fervent embrace of a bear to the direwolf cloak draped over her back. She was so much more than the simple witch I had presumed.

  “I-I, y-es!” I stammered, awed by the figure before me. Her eyes were like frozen tarns, concealing deep and unfathomable knowledge. “I-I came to see how he was doing, and pass along how my first deliveries went.”

  She laughed heartily and opened the door wider, beckoning me inside. At a table, I saw the nymph calmly filling two glasses with water.

  "I am Cali, and this little one is Nevena. I found her struggling in a forgotten place. She guarded the last remnants of Buttercups and Riverbeauties, if you can believe it. Jaskrim went fishing a few hours ago; given his nature, he is only halfway done." Cali explained as she stepped back to the fireplace and added a fresh log. I noted the spear above the fireplace was missing, noting Jaskrim probably used it to hunt.

  “While it’s a pleasure to meet you, I wont keep you from your activities. I trust you’ll give this to him on his return?” I said, placing the envelope on the table and sitting down as she waved for me to join her.

  “At least have a drink before you continue, you’re pretty parched right?” Cali said, taking a hearty sip from the cup Nevena had just filled.

  "Thanks. I am, I suppose." I admitted, hearing a low rumble in my gut. If my instincts were correct, it was a bit after noon now. Odd, since the longest branch of my delivery should have taken only an hour and a half. The round trip from Utagawa was roughly forty-five minutes, and I had followed Fuzu's trail for some time.

  It was odd, that perhaps waiting for my partner at the CDS was the longest, and first delivery. Thankfully I had Duals’ insistent questioning to keep me entertained.

  The CDS contract flared briefly next to Cali as she examined the envelope; a subtle nod confirmed its authenticity before it dissipated in its familiar blue flame.

  "Well, if you are in a hurry, I will not hold you back. Rest assured, the big guy will receive it," she said, finishing her drink and standing. She extended a firm handshake, and I returned it slowly, though my grip felt less assured than hers.

  "Thanks, by the way, for helping Jaskrim out." I acknowledged.

  "He teaches me as much as I teach him." she replied with a warm smile before making her way toward the far, human-sized door.

  "Alright, come on. Let us get you traveling."

  The doorway behind me shut with a quiet click just as I felt a light tap on my shoulder. I drew in a slow, deep breath and savored the mingling aroma of roasted meats, sweet breads, and exotic spices drifting along the corridor.

  "Sooo, you and Valia?" Carna’s voice curled through the warm scents as I turned. Her hair remained that same vibrant, chaotic blend of red and orange that I remembered so well. "Not really the type I thought she would fall for, honestly."

  "Honestly, I don’t get it either." I laughed softly under my breath as I studied her face. I had expected most of the denizens here to appear in their natural forms, something less humanlike. Yet Carna stood fully clothed, casual and impeccably composed. If I had not known better, I would have mistaken her for just another face in the Bastion.

  She caught my lingering gaze and narrowed her eyes, the playful glint deepening with a touch of reproach. "Not looking to move on from her already, are you? Or are you trying to add another to your body count?" Her tone dropped to a low seriousness yet ended with a teasing lilt that softened the bite.

  "O-oh no, no no no. I just... this is The Den. I figured—"

  "That we would all be in our true forms? Yeah, yeah, I understand." She waved a hand dismissively while her expression softened like warm sunlight over cold stone. "Honestly, I feel better like this. Some of us, we relish the escape."

  Carna slung an arm around my shoulder, guiding us down a narrow, echoing hallway. Her footsteps were light, but the subject was a bit heavy. "Listen, Daegon." she said, her voice shifting as though from an elder sibling cautioning a younger one. "I can’t deny that some of us hunt, kill, or even torture your kind. Yet, I’m sure there are others out there who can live ordinary lives. Some of us truly desire that."

  "I take it you mean like yourself?" I asked as we stepped into the main dining hall. Tables lined the walls, and a diverse assembly of beings occupied them. Some sat in formal rows while others awkwardly fumbled with silverware, imitating humanity despite their ineptitude.

  "I mean, look around.” Carna gestured expansively. "Sure, Onri will drain your emotions and your will to live..." Her finger directed my attention to a spectral figure huddled in the corner, unmoving and hauntingly familiar. She was the very same figure who had sat with us during my first visit. "...and Kappie has a thing for feasting on nether-regions." She nodded at a reptilian creature whose unblinking stare made me shift uncomfortably.

  "Hell, even Zylas’ favorite dish is the heart." Her tone turned unnervingly casual for what was being discussed. "But most of us have lost that taste for humans, we don’t hunt like we used to. Thanks to Zylas, that is."

  "While that is... heartwarming." I muttered, immediately aware that my accidental pun had not gone unnoticed. Carna gave a knowing, smug smile. " Is it really fine for your kind not to… hunt? I mean, like not follow your contract?"

  We paused at a wide table piled with food. The aroma of sizzling meat and herbs was overwhelming. My stomach betrayed me with a low, pitiful growl that I quickly covered with my hand, half embarrassed.

  "What is natural is for creatures to eat one another. It matters not what species, so long as the Contract isn’t broken. What is wrong with diversifying your palate?" Carna replied with a shrug and passed me a plate with scratches and worn edges. It made no difference; the food looked incredibly appetizing.

  "Zylas isn’t here at the moment." she added, grinning. "I would say you have time to spare."

  -

  Carna and I chatted for what felt like twenty minutes, maybe more. It was strange how casually philosophical she became. Eventually she even explained her own Contract, the binding rules that governed her actions. Carna could hunt anyone who is hiding their true nature, or acting under false pretenses. The stronger and darker their reasoning, the more potent they smelled to her. Ironically, that’s how she met Zylas.

  Onri joined our conversation soon after. She explained in a chilling, spiritual voice that her victims were cheaters. Those who betrayed their partners, generally sexually. She could drain their joy and memories if they crossed her, and she preferred haunting men over women. It was odd to realize how flexible these Contracts could be, how vague guidelines transformed into immutable law through belief.

  ‘Their contracts could lead to an all-you-can-eat paradise in one place and to starvation in another.’ Lilith’s voice resonated in my mind like a stern warning. Her tone was sharp and full of knowing. I nodded slowly while chewing an earthy salad, the tender meat on my plate both fulfilling and real. By the time we had our second serving, I inquired about Ainai, as I had an envelope for her as well. She had been absent since yesterday, surprisingly, and Carna had no idea where she currently was. The Traveler’s Rune had guided me here despite neither delivery target, which was the oddest part. So where was she, and Zylas?

  "She is outside. A nearby lake offers her a haven, a place she can be alone."

  "I think I'm going to take a walk. I need to work off some of this meal. You don’t mind, do ya?" I asked, stretching and hearing a few appreciative groans from my body.

  "Oh, yeah, go for it." Carna mirrored my stretch. "You might see Bwe or a few others out there, but no troublemakers." She tilted her neck with a clear, satisfying ‘pop!’ "Ah! I see why you do that. That feels rreeaallllyy nice."

  -

  I was uncertain what drew me away from the mansion's edge, but I followed the outer wall past overgrown hedges and half-forgotten paths until I discovered a narrow trail winding deeper into the forest. The ambiance had changed. The oppressive weight had lifted slightly. The fog still clung to the base of the mansion like a shroud, and unseen eyes brushed my back occasionally, but none remained long. Birds chirped with clear voices, squirrels chattered with playful urgency, and soft whispers danced on the wind like forgotten secrets. Yet, beneath it all, an instinct told me that only one nearby creature posed any real danger… And I was walking straight toward her.

  Fifteen minutes later, the dense woods gave way, revealing a small hidden lake nestled beneath a weathered stone cliff. A slow river snaked through the trees, carrying a gentle murmur.

  Here.

  I sat there for over an hour, as we conversed about Valia of all things. It was a topic they were deeply invested in, something they had little understanding of. Human, and Supernatural. Supernatural devoured humans, yet one could be so devoted to another. It was hard to explain, even after Carna’s talk. Even the relationship with me and the denizens of The Den felt odd to them, as they’ve seen beings kill for much less in the past.

  Unsure how long I had been at the lake, my feet leisurely dangling off the side of the cliff, I finally reached for the Traveler’s Rune. It produced an unbound glow with no sense of direction. Either I had arrived, or something had come to find me.

  I reclined in the thick grass, allowing my eyes to close while I listened. Soon, I heard soft footsteps and caught sight of a figure, its features sharp and furious.

  "Ah, hey there." I greeted warily.

  "Who the fuck said you could come here?" Zylas barked, her voice laced with raw anger. Clad in tattered garments yet unmistakably in human form, her fury cut deep.

  "Sorry." I managed before she knelt suddenly and flicked my forehead, drawing a small trickle of blood.

  "Ow!" I gasped.

  "Grow a fucking backbone. You've been here for over an hour. You could have made me come to you at any point instead of begging me to kick your sorry ass off the edge of the cliff." she declared as she stood and stormed away. "Why the hell are you here?"

  "Mail delivery." I replied, rubbing the spot where her finger had struck. The residual heat of her touch still clung to my skin.

  "Hand it over and get going. You wouldn’t want your sweet little self to melt in the rain." She said, turning with her arms crossed. I looked up, shockingly clouds had begun to form overhead.

  I sat upright again, eyes returning to the tranquil lake. Before I could speak further, Zylas hooked under my arms and flipped me around with a speed that defied nature. She shoved me gently as I turned to face her, waiting expectantly.

  I handed her the envelope. A brief flicker of blue flame danced across her palm as she examined it. “What, expecting me to give you a treat? Sorry I think I left my fucks under my pillow this morning.” Zylas barked once again, though less than previously.

  “Are we ever going to ever have a talk on equal footing?” I asked, watching her move slightly.

  “Kinda hard to do that when you hold my life in your hands.” She spoke bluntly and glanced off to the side.

  “You know-”

  “Save your squabbling, I know.” Zylas’ tone had died down to normalcy by this point as she walked up to me. There was something more she wanted to say, but it felt like she didn’t know how.

  “What’s…” I was about to ask, but Zylas simply grabbed my wrist and held it up. I paused, confused as to what she was getting at before it clicked. “Ooh, right. It’s been some time. Can you be more forward with me after this?”

  “Is that an order?” Zylas asked, her grip tightened slightly. It was my turn to return the glare, though after a few moments I realized it held no power like hers did.

  “It never is.” I mumbled, as a small smile crossed her face. Before I could fully experience that rare look, she bit down on my wrist as a sharp feeling pierced my wrists. Unlike last time, I watched as Zylas slowly drank. It was unsettling to watch, as I could feel my arm become lighter and lighter. Though I could tell she was careful, deliberate, and not over-indulging. Even though the moment stretched on, much longer than last time, it felt like Zylas was on the cusp of something… She let my wrist fall down, as her eyes began to glow slightly.

  “You good?” I asked, similar to last time. Zylas glared at me, then looked behind me.

  “You don’t see it?” Zylas asked, her glance unwavering. “Ah, her. Your partner.”

  “Hey, you listening?” Zylas asked, refusing to let her gaze waver. “Do you see her or not?”

  “HEY!?” Zylas growled, agitation brewing. “I’M GOING TO RIP YOUR FUCKING THROAT OUT.”

  “Gonna look real fuckin’ funny when I rip your arms off and shove them-” Zylas-

  “Enough.” An ominous, saddened voice sang out behind me. I turned around, only to see…

  “Entropy?”

  -

  choo-choo! Looks like we're revisiting a lot scenes from the past in new light, and expanding the areas we already know (and love).

  Definitely couldn't be Entropy's fault, no no not at all.

  What's Entropy doing here!? I'm curious on how everyone feels about the little details, the sprinkling of breadcrumbs, throughout everything. Such as Carna's ability to find not only humans, but Cryptids through her contract. I've been keeping too many notes on all these little things to build up characters, and other things, in the background.

  something like this but I know I had some comments about the previous colouring and while it's a great concept, might be detrimental overall. I've enjoyed this Write-a-Thon so far, but definitely overestimated myself in the beginning thinking of how well I wrote in my prime. Ah well, onward to the next chapter!