Contemplations of a Rose Bush (SSoDI-N)

[Pink Moon Wolf]

Low thumps and squeaking floorboards preceded Mino's descent down the staircase after finally situating Kelsey in a proper room, one hand on the railing and one rubbing his eyes. Upon reentering the living room, he stared down at Jordan, Mic, and in particular Paul with the same flat expression he'd worn from the moment they met. He seemed tired, though it was hard to tell if he was any more so than before.

"Okay..." He ran a hand through his hair. "Lemme see if I can keep this simple... There's some sort of divine magical energy mingling with her aura. I've never seen anything quite like it. Whatever it is, it's incredibly pure. So pure that it's basically trying to clean her of any imperfections with volatile results. Her body and aura are doing the work of purging it out of her system, so there's not much I can do besides let that process occur naturally and keep her monitored in the meantime. I gave her a light emetic. Should help to get it all out faster."

He sat down on a couch and stared at the trio with a hard, emotionless frown. "She's still not directly responding to anything spoken to her. Mental cognizance seems minimal. Don't suppose you could tell me how she might've become infected since she's not in much of a position for conversation."

[ParamountKeymaster]

Paul stared up at Jordan, words utterly failing him, completely emotionally devastated by that point. He knew Jordan wasn't talking about him, but that sense of guilt was still painfully evident in his face, even if none of the horrific events that took place that day were directly his fault. All Paul could think to do was lower his head and let his failures sink in, stabbing deep into his chest.

A yellow hand rested on his shoulder. In the corner of his eye, Paul acknowledged Mic offering a tender expression. He knew there wasn't much that he could do to remedy the situation either. He just hated to see Paul blaming it all on himself.

All eyes turned to Mino as he returned from upstairs, finally ready to present his diagnosis on Kelsey's condition. A foreign energy attacking her aura, apparently. One that was pure and, presumably, in conflict with her demonic energy. Paul wanted to be relieved that Kelsey was getting over it naturally, regardless of how long it would take, but the very nature of this affliction and Mino's confessed ignorance regarding its origin kept him worrying. "Well... given the context, maybe it really was an angel from her world's theology that did this. I'm just questioning when, how and why. One second, she was standing right in front of me, past her breaking point, summoning her archdemon... and then the next thing I knew, she was on the ground, spilling her insides."

"If it was the Angel of Time, like she said, he could've paused time and displaced Kelsey from it long enough to infect her," Mic replied with uncertainty. "That could answer the when and how. As for why... um... summoning her archdemon could've had something to do with it maybe? Seems like a pretty big no-no from an angel's perspective."

"I guess..." Paul dropped his head into his hand again. "Is there really nothing else we can do to help her?"

"The foreign energy is being expelled as we speak," came El-Sayal's voice as she appeared coming down the stairs. "We've done everything we can to make her comfortable. The rest is up to her own physical and spiritual immune systems. They're doing their duty, I can assure you. She's just in for a rough night."

"BBBLLLEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAACCCHHH...!!!"

"Better out than in?"

[DanteMGalileo]

"Big fucking thing in the sky that was there for a few seconds then fucked right off," Jordan added, his voice lacking his usual attitude. "That's what I saw. Pretty sure I'm lucky to not be insane." He raised an arm, quickly lowering it. The blonde teen sniffled, pulling his hood over his face.

"... Sorry. Look. I... This day's just been crap for us all. Some more than others. Flint and Lobo are dead," he stated, trying to sound detached but failing to hide that he was choked up. "Percy's just gone. And Leanne, my kid sister, we don't fucking know anything, except..." Pulling a part of the cloak up to his face, he blew his nose. "... Except that she's just missing, for all I know she's dead too."

He stood up, looking at each of the others in the room in turn. "Look. I'm glad Kelsey will be alright, don't take this the wrong way. I just... Look... I leave for a day and I find this happened." Jordan pulled his hood up to cover his eyes. He couldn't stand the looks. "I just... need a moment. I'll be outside, I guess..."

Muttering an apology, Jordan walked out of the messy house. Going around to the back, he pulled his cloak fully over his face, and began to weep.

[Pink Moon Wolf]

Mino had nothing to say to Paul and Mic's theories, merely nodding and shrugging periodically. He took all the information into consideration purely for the sake of determining cause and effect, but he had no reaction to the emotions going around. He wasn't there to solve whatever crisis had led these people to his doorstep. He was just a doctor.

Still, the frustration was evident on his face. If Kelsey's serendipitous arrival that morning wasn't a big enough indicator, after this encounter, Mino had to begrudgingly concede that now it was only a matter of time before their problem became his.

He watched Jordan step outside with his typical deadpan frown; whatever his issues were, they were none of Mino's business. Then he let out a sigh and turned back to those still in the room. "You can go see her now if you want. And since I'm fairly certain you're not going to leave until Kelsey's well again, you can have any room that isn't mine. I'll keep her monitored, but otherwise, feel free to not bother me for anything else."

[ParamountKeymaster]

"Jordan..." Paul had no idea what to say. He couldn't blame Jordan for the reaction he was having to all the news he had just received, next to none of it good. He didn't try to stop the young man as he stepped out of the house. For all intents and purposes, Jordan needed time to cope, and Paul severely doubted that he had the capacity to aid in that. He was too drained. Thinking about the past, even the recent past, could very much destroy him emotionally. It was probably best that they each find their own ways to recuperate.

Still... he had to wonder what he could've done different to spare Jordan... to spare everyone all this grief.

Looking back up at Mino, Paul took a deep breath and slowly nodded. He wanted to see Kelsey. He wanted to know for sure that he still had something worth fighting for. "Yes... Th-Thank you..."

"I can show you to her room..." El-Sayal quietly, sympathetically offered, gesturing for Paul to follow her. After casting a glance back at Mic, who gave him a sad nod in return, Paul complied, picking himself up off the couch and trudging up the stairs after the resident Fremen woman.

And so, left alone with his brother whom he had not seen in decades, still reeling from the traumatic events that had just happened to and all around him, Mic found himself simply staring at Mino from across the room, utterly dumbfounded. Dismay was not a feeling he was accustomed to. Under such emotionally devastating circumstances, Mic's natural instinct was to find ways to distract himself. He had no access to his usual methods now. All he had was Mino, and given his brother's personality and the causes of both their separation and spontaneous reunion, he could already tell this talk was not going to cheer either of them up.

"Sooooo... how're thiiiiings...?"

---------------------------

El-Sayal held the door open, providing ample space and a silent agreement to give her guests some alone time. Accepting this invitation, Paul stepped into the room, his heart already shattered well before he really saw what was inside. "Kelsey...?"

The room was tidy, but also incredibly vacant, a clear indicator that it was never intended for guests. The only pieces of furniture available were a bed and a nightstand, both of which were noticeably tidy despite the lack of care that went into the rest of the room. As Paul slowly shuffled through the room, he found Kelsey down on the floor, propped up on her knees, her upper body flopped atop the bed, her bloodied pajamas replaced with a new, clean set of nightwear. Her body shuddered and her wings jerked as she sobbed into the mattress. A waste basket sat next to her, already brimming with a foul odor.

"Kels...?"

"Snff... Triiiii..."

Paul knelt down on the floor next to her, hesitantly raising a hand, trying not to spook her, eventually giving her shoulder a tender massage. "Kelsey... i-it's me. Paul. Are you okay...?"

"Tri... Plea-hea-heaaaase..."

"Shh... Kelsey..."

"If you can hear me... Tri... I'm sorry... I... I'm so... I'm sor..."

"Kelsey..." It was killing Paul inside to see Kelsey so miserable, and the fact that there was so little he could do about it, that the best thing he could do for her was wait, just made him feel that much more helpless. Everyone around him was suffering, and he felt like he had nothing to offer for it. All he could do was be the pillar in this crumbling foundation.

"C-C'mon..." At the very least, Paul decided to dedicate himself to making Kelsey's recovery as painless as possible. As such, he gently scooped her up into his arms, set her down flat on the bed, and pulled the covers up over her shivering form, tucking her in as comfortably as he could make her. "You should get some sleep. You... You've had a long day."

Paul then brushed his hand through Kelsey's hair, looking deep into her eyes. She stared back up at him, scared and dismayed, tears flowing down her cheeks like rivers, breathing through her clogged-up nose in stuttering sniffles. "It's just me, Kelsey..." Paul gently assured her. "I'm not gonna hurt you. I'm... I'm not gonna let them hurt you again."

He received no response. Kelsey simply continued to stare at Paul in a fit of hushed weeps. Then she closed her eyes and slowly curled up beneath her blankets. Paul sat there in silence, forlornly watching over her as she drifted in and out of an uneven slumber, wondering what was going on in her head...

---------------------------

Every emotion, every thought, every memory... they were all tumbling through Kelsey's brain all at once, as if the very chain that was her life had become severely entangled. It was nearly impossible to think straight or even root herself in the present. One minute, she was reliving her summoning of Tri on a constant static loop. The next, she was a child in a confession booth the size of a Broadway stage. Next thing she knew, she was trying and failing to navigate a labyrinth that vaguely resembled her college campus. She didn't know where she was, how to feel, or even who or what she had become. All she knew was that on a purely physical level, she felt absolutely miserable. She was hot, she was cold, she was nauseous, she was aching, she was disoriented, she was numb... it felt like she was constantly on the verge of dying, and yet the good archangel Azrael would not be so kind as to end it for her.

Somewhere in the back of her mind, Kelsey could hear Paul's voice, but amidst the jumbled memories and distant echoes, she had no idea if he was actually there or if she was just imagining him there. In the middle of the spinning room she found herself trapped in, she could vaguely make out a blue blur, but again, it was hard to parse what was real and what was an illusion. She had no control. Not on her thoughts, not on her body, not even on her very soul.

Just trying to navigate her innermost self was torture, as everything within her was fighting against itself, bombarding her with the aftermath of violent clashes between similar but negating energies. But somewhere in the middle of it all, as she violently expelled everything she both was and was not in waves of sweat and vomit, Kelsey began the rigorous task of trying to reorganize herself. Of sorting through the chaotic, simultaneous thought processes and picking out everything that was true. Of reminding herself who she was...

...

...

...



I am Kelsey Anastasia Page.

I'm twenty-one years old. I was born on January 14th, 199X. My parents were Jude Page and Grace Iser. I was not conceived naturally. I was one of twelve products of a genetic engineering project headed by a cult known as the Blood Elders, a cult which my parents were members of. The purpose of this project was to breed twelve earthly vessels for the Noble Ring of Archdemons, whose bodies could tolerate the archdemons' virulent blood, whose spirits were tainted with Blight so that the abundance of demonic power would not destroy them, and whose souls were weak and easily corruptible to the archdemons' influence. I was to be the vessel of the Mistress of the Noble Ring. While my mother was pregnant with me, she and my father abandoned the cult, converted to Christianity, and fled to a small town in northern California where they raised me. When I was three, the Blood Elders found us, killed my parents, and attempted to summon the Mistress to possess me, but the police rescued me before they could complete the ritual.

From then on, I lived with my grandparents, Edward and Bonnie Iser, in a suburb of the city of Acheron Heights, Washington. I had a normal childhood, all things considered, completely oblivious to my parents' involvement in the occult. I made friends, got good grades, went to church, attended football games, joined the drama club, got underage drunk once or twice... never did go to prom, though. Never met a guy I wanted to go out with during high school. After I graduated, I enrolled at Acheron University and moved on campus, where I pursued a major in sociology and met my best friend and roommate Lily Hanson. In my sophomore year, I shamefully developed a crush on my psychology professor, Jeremy Rennicker. I was unaware at the time that he would become one of my greatest allies and the cause of my first heartbreak.

Two years into my studies, the Blood Elders found me again. They ambushed me while I was out late on campus, rendered me unconscious, and dragged me back to their sanctum. In my slumber, I was contacted by the thirteenth archdemon, an outcast who sought revenge on the Noble Ring for betraying him. He told me the story of my conception and warned me that the Blood Elders and Noble Ring would accomplish their goal unless we stopped them. He could not do it himself, as he had been banished from the mortal plane, his name forgotten by all but those who had abandoned him. So he offered me a blood pact. Together, we could exorcise the Noble Ring from our reality and free their vessels, and if I refused, he could not save me from the worse fate of possession by the Mistress. I saw no choice but to accept, and with the archdemon's powers at my disposal and a human through which he could bind himself to the physical plane, we escaped.

In the months that followed, I adjusted to my new abilities and duties by combating demons that plagued the city, sent by the Noble Ring and the Blood Elders to capture me. When Lily found out what I had become and what I was trying to do, to my eternal gratitude, she stood by me, offering me stability and emotional support when I needed it most. I discovered that Jeremy was a nephilim, the offspring of a human woman and an angel. He did not reject me either. He saw that we shared a common goal and began using his powers to not only aid me in combat, but protect our secrets from the public. I know he never thought of me the same way I thought of him, but in a way, he rooted himself as the mentor and older brother figure I never had, and I think that sort of guidance was just what I needed to gain the confidence to carry out my mission.

But I learned the hard way that despite my compatibility, the balance of human and archdemon blood within me was still chaotic and unstable. I've done awful things, both to the demons who hunted me and the people I tried to protect. One night, my archdemon blood consumed me entirely. I slaughtered a horde of demons without hesitation or mercy. I blindly attacked Lily, unable to satiate my bloodlust. Jeremy threw himself between us, calling upon his angelic powers to subdue me. I got scared. I got angry. The pure Essence he summoned to restrain me was an agonizing radiant fire I will never forget. All I knew was white hot pain. When it finally faded, my hands were covered in blood, and Jeremy was lying dead between me and Lily.

I don't know what constitutes the bigger failure... the fact that I let the man I loved down, the fact that I let my archdemon instincts get the better of me, the fact that an angelic being was forced to intervene to stop me from causing untold destruction... or the fact that this would not be the last time these events happened all at once.

[DanteMGalileo]

Will often told Jordan he didn't react normally to most things. He barely reacted when his own mum was killed right before his eyes. Whatever. Jordan knew he was fucked up. Or maybe he was never really close to her. Leanne was her favourite child despite her attempts to hide it. Will was the oldest, he had extra responsibilities, yes, but he had the status, and after their father vanished, he became head of household. And where did that leave Jordan?



He wasn't inhumanly strong like Will. He wasn't a magical prodigy like Leanne. He didn't usually say it, he honestly didn't care, but sometimes, being the middle child sucked. He couldn't bend iron bars, or cast a basic spell. Muttering to himself, he brought a palm to his face, a small orb of darkness flickering before vanishing. Heh. Even Will's little fireball cantrip was more impressive than that. At least that could light up a smoke.

So... who was he?

"My full name is Leon Jordan Lowe," he said to himself, voice barely above a whisper. "I've gone by just Jordan since I was a kid. I don't have the heart to legally change it because, well, I still have baggage." He pulled his hood slightly up. "My older brother is William Siegfried Lowe. My younger sister is Leanne Gitta Lowe. My mother was Lilith Leanne Lowe. My father... never shared his name. Nor did Leanne's father. Nor did the father that actually raised us. I never knew Will's father." He tightly swallowed.

"I also never knew who Will's mother by blood was. All my mom said was she found him resting next to a pile of corpses, and that he was now our brother." Jordan visibly scowled, pulling his hood back down to hide his face again. "There's always been a darkness hanging over Will that Leanne nor I never had. I don't even know if that's his real name, or just the name our mother gave him. I never asked him. I don't think he knows, either."

He fumbled around his cloak for a cigarette and lighter, finding his weapons and items in a jumbled mess. "We moved to Honni when I was seven, after mum was killed. Our father said it was for our protection, but now that I'm older, I know why." Jordan found his lighter, but still nothing to actually smoke. "Will became fast friends with Percy. Suppose that's when I realized I was gay, even if I didn't know the word. Our father vanished when I was eleven. Will dropped out of school to support us. I turned to stealing things. Even if he wasn't my brother by blood... It wouldn't be fair to make him shoulder all that responsibility."

He finally found a cigarette, lighting it up and taking a long drag, allowing the happy brain chemicals to enter his system. "I dropped out not too long after Will. Got an apprenticeship as an assassin for hire. Wasn't a nice job. But it paid nice. Sneak in. Take out the guards. Poison the mark's food. Leave." Gods, was he shaking? Jordan? The guy who barely reacted when his own mother was cut down before his eyes? "When I was fifteen... I was a regular at the bad part of town between jobs. I met Forrest there. My first, and thus far only real romantic relationship. The only relationship that wasn't a quick fuck-and-be-done. The first time where I actually felt something towards another person instead of just a way to get money when assassination commissions were slow." A low, humorless laugh escaped Jordan's throat. "And yet, we broke up anyway. Forrest thinks we're still friends, like we never actually broke up, but to be honest, it's not the same. He never told me about his past even when I spilled the beans about myself."

He dropped the cigarette, crushing it below his boot. "The only reason I still hang out with him is because he gets me cheap smokes and that maybe, just maybe, I'll finally get the answers I'm looking for," he admitted, suddenly feeling disgusted with himself. "So, where does that leave Leon Jordan Lowe, the middle child with no brains or brawn? Just some washed-out idiot who sells his body and conscience for money. Yeah. That's right. Sounds about right."

[ParamountKeymaster]

El-Sayal descended the staircase with a blanket folded up in her arms, her eyes weighed down by the emotionally tolling events that had transpired in her sietch that day. Mino had retired to his room in typical fashion, unlikely to show his face again until Kelsey's condition demanded further medical attention. There was very little that the Sayyadina could do for Kelsey at this point, and she was willing to give Paul the alone time with her than he wanted. All that was left to do now was check on her other guests.

Upon entering the living room, El-Sayal found Mic lying on the couch, staring at the floor. It seemed like he would be staring there for the night, unsurprisingly. She calmly approached the angel, offering him the blanket. "Thought you could use this."

"Oh... Thank you..." Mic choked out, sitting up slightly and graciously accepting the blanket from the young woman.

"You're very welcome. Mino's told me a few stories about you," El-Sayal continued, staring sadly down at Mic. "It's... interesting to finally meet you, Mic. I'm sorry it had to be under such unfortunate circumstances."

"It's okay..." Mic sighed, now fully wrapped up from the neck down and settling back into the cushions. "Realistically speaking, I am here by choice..."

"Well..." El-Sayal leaned over and gave Mic a gentle pat on the arm. "Maybe you and Mino can reconnect during your stay here. It might be good for him."

"I dunno... He didn't seem too keen to talk to me just now. I mean, he's always been like that, but I don't know how much it'll matter to him how much I've changed."

"You may be surprised. Don't worry too much. So long as you're here, I want to ensure your stay is pleasant. Any friend of Kelsey's is a friend of mine. If there's anything, literally anything I can get for you, just ask and I will try my best to accommodate you."

Mic gritted his teeth and sucked in a sharp breath. "I appreciate the gesture, Miss Sayal, but I'm not sure how easily you could obtain the things I want..."

To that, El-Sayal offered a smirk. "Try me."

---------------------------

Five minutes later, the living room lights switched off and the front door opened. El-Sayal stepped out onto the dusty street, pulling her scarf up over her mouth, raising a lantern, mulling over everything Mic had asked of her. Now that she had her own mission logged away in her mind, she felt ready to leave Mino and Paul to their own duties and return to her private abode. As she turned and started walking back towards her house, El took a quick peek around the building...

[DanteMGalileo]

"... When did I become like this?"

Jordan stared absently into a small fire, eyes dull and lacking their usual spark. He pulled his hood off, running a hand through his long but flat hair, pausing at the notch in his ear. "Suppose I've always been fucked up. I mean, I've always had kinda dulled emotional reactions, for fuck's sake, I barely reacted when mum was killed. If it wasn't for... well, y'know... if it wasn't for that, I'm sure Will would've gone completely mad."

He fiddled with the edges of his bandana. Ah, was it starting to fray? Or had it been that way for years? Probably the latter? "Why do I do the things I claim to do for pleasure? Do I actually enjoy them? Or is it artificial happiness. Lobo... Lobo said he liked money, but even when it was slow, he seemed happy just for th... oh..." Jordan pulled his hood over his face again. "... If you can hear me, Lobo... Just... know that I liked you. As in loved you. I just knew I never had a chance. You never showed romantic interests in even your own kind, much less a human. And even if you did, I'm sure you would've turned me down anyway, what with the guarantee that you'd outlive me." He untied his bandana, the colour a close match to the deceased angel's eyes and hair dye. "... Or would I have outlived you, if the circumstances had been the same?"

Jordan looked around. Somebody was watching. "Who is it? Privacy. Pretend you heard nothing." And yet, his defeated tone already betrayed his feelings.

[ParamountKeymaster]

"It's only me. El." El-Sayal held the lantern close to her face so that Jordan could clearly see her features. Her big brown eyes were full of unmistakable empathy. "I didn't mean to intrude. Don't worry. I have no interest in spreading others' secrets."

She looked up at a second-level window of Mino's house. She cast a quick glance at her own. Then she turned back to Jordan. She knew it wasn't her place to try solving this young, emotionally devastated stranger's problems, and she wouldn't even know where to begin. All she could do was grant him asylum and security. "My deepest condolences. I know you're hurting, but I would not recommend staying out here this late at night. My door is open if there's anything at all you need."

[DanteMGalileo]

"... I need some time with my thoughts," Jordan admitted, slowly getting to his feet, hood down, hair in his face. "Went away for a day. Came back. All hell broke loose." Huh, were those goosebumps? He began to untie the bandages that covered most of his arms, revealing even paler skin. "... Is there a place I can be alone in? And do you have writing materials? Need that. Now."

The teen began to stand up, glad El couldn't see most of his face. He really didn't take pity well. "The girl. Status? And the other two? And... do you have bandages? Need at least those and privacy."

[ParamountKeymaster]

"Certainly." If El-Sayal was at all bothered by Jordan's tone, she was masking it flawlessly. She couldn't blame him for his attitude, after all. "Aside from my house and Mino's, every building in this town is unoccupied. I'm well stocked with pens and paper if you would permit me a moment to retrieve them."

Another quick glance up at the window, then she continued, "Kelsey is stable. She'll likely be ill for a while, but she seems to be on her way towards recovery. Paul is watching over her. Mic is falling asleep on Mino's couch. I'm sure Mino has bandages stocked somewhere in there; I could certainly check for you."

El-Sayal turned back towards the door to Mino's house, taking a few steps before stopping and looking back at Jordan again. "Take all the time you need. I know we've only met, but believe me when I say that I understand your pain. And please... don't do anything reckless out here. We need not attract the worms." Then the young Fremen disappeared inside the house again.

[DanteMGalileo]

"... You don't wanna know about me, girl."

Jordan watched as El-Sayal disappeared into her house. Apparently it was just her and big green out here. Not that he could really blame anyone else for not living here. Deserts weren't meant to support most life. Extreme weather didn't support most life. So, clearly these people weren't right in the head. Not like he had the right to call anyone that.

When he was sure she was gone, Jordan sat down again, slowly removing his sash and the bandages around his stomach. He poked the pale flesh, frowning at the results. "I always say I'm gonna go on a diet and lose all this, but I never commit. Will, you lucky bastard, you can eat all you want and not look like a pink lump of dough." He gave a humorless chuckle, closing his eyes, pulling his cloak over his torso.

Might as well go write those probably-gonna-be-dead-man's letters.

[ParamountKeymaster]

A chair sat in the corner of the bedroom, long since dragged in there by Paul and El. Paul sat slumped in said chair, but aside from some occasional nods, sleep was eluding him, not so much because of the position he was lying in, but because of the constant interruptions...

"HHHAAAAAAAAAAAAUUUGGGKKKHHH...!!! ACHKT...! PLECHK...! HCK- BBBLLLEEEAAACCCHHH...!!!"

In the middle of the night, Paul jerked awake for about the seventh time, staring ahead to find Kelsey on her knees with her head in the waste bin in another bout of violent retching. The sounds didn't really bother Paul anymore, gruesome as they were, but his heart sank and his stomach twisted every time he saw Kelsey like this. All he felt was pity. Personal discomfort was the least of his worries.

Fighting against his drowsiness, Paul stood up and slowly walked over to Kelsey, his footsteps just loud enough that she would hopefully hear him coming. He got down on the floor beside her, tenderly rubbing her back as she shivered and flinched with every sickly hack. "It's okay... Just let it all out..."

The two sat there for a good three minutes. Kelsey's coughing seemed to have no end. Paul simply waited in silence, listening until he could no longer hear anything hitting the bottom of the bucket. Then Kelsey finally went still, save for the rise and fall of her shoulders with each deep, croupy breath. Another minute passed by with Kelsey simply leaning on the rim and Paul stroking her back, biding their time until they were certain the storm had passed.

Kelsey looked up, tears streaming from her eyes, bile dripping from her lips, a series of puckered scars decorating her cheeks. Paul cringed at the sight. About an hour ago, he had woken up to find Kelsey screaming and tearing at her own face, losing a fair amount of skin and at least three claws in the process. Mino had stepped in to treat her as best he could, but it seemed like the healing process was not progressing well.

Regardless, Paul offered Kelsey a tender expression, grabbing a towel off the bedside table and offering it to her, hoping to provide at least a little comfort in the midst of these episodes. "Better? Feel like you can get back to bed?"

Kelsey choked out a deep breath and accepted the towel, wiping her face as clean as she could get it. Then she nervously looked back at Paul, not speaking at first, her ice blue eyes distant and timid. When she did finally talk, her voice was barely above a squeak. "Wh-Who are you...?"

For a brief moment, Paul was mortified by this response. Then he simply let out a sigh and accepted it. It wasn't like Kelsey had been a bastion of coherency since this illness began. "I'm Paul. I'm a friend."

"W-W-Where's Lily??"

"She's back home. She's safe." Paul prepared to stand back up, holding his arms out to offer Kelsey full support. "C'mon, you should get some sleep, Kels. You're not well."

"J... Jeremy... I..." Kelsey's eyes could not focus on any one thing. Her meek expression turned to one of horror. She started convulsing like she was going to throw up again. "Lily... Where is...? Tri, I... Tri, what hap...? WHAT DID I DO? WHAT DID I DO?!!"

"K-Kelsey...!"

"GET AWAY FROM ME!!!"

The moment that Paul moved barely an inch closer, Kelsey turned around and started haphazardly scrambling away, immediately colliding with the bed, subsequently fumbling to crawl atop it. Paul jumped back for a second, then he clambered over top of Kelsey and began a desperate struggle to hold her down. "KELSEY, STOP!"

"NO! DEMON! DON'T TOUCH ME! I'LL KILL YOU! I DON'T-! I CAN'T-! I DON'T WANNA KILL ANYMORE!!!"

Kelsey wrenched away and rolled atop the bed. Paul quickly regained his grip and pinned Kelsey's arms to the mattress, leaving her flailing about on her back. Her wings flapped, her legs kicked, her head thrashed as she unleashed a series of pained, pathetic wails at the ceiling, and all Paul could do was hold her down and stare at her in panicked desperation. "KELSEYYYYY! IT'S OKAY! PLEASE, STO-UNFF!!!"

One wayward kick of Kelsey's leg connected with Paul's stomach. Despite her sickly state, she still proved strong enough to get him to double over. But even though his hold on her had loosened slightly, at that moment, Kelsey stopped fighting back, merely quivering in place as she spiraled into a bout of heaving cries, the tears flowing anew. "TRI...! SOMEONE, PLEASE STOP ME! I DON'T WANNA DO THIS ANYMORE!"

Paul kept his hands on Kelsey's arms, panting heavily, staring at her in despair. He didn't know what to do. He didn't know how to calm Kelsey down or even rationalize what was riling her up this time. He stood there rigid for a while as Kelsey continued to weep and writhe, then resume lifting her head and bashing it back down on the bed repeatedly. Words seemed to have no effect, but what else was there?

Without thinking, Paul sucked in a tremendous gasp of air, then released a deep breath directly in Kelsey's face.

A subtle mist poured from Paul's mouth and filled the corner of the room, consuming Kelsey's head entirely. She suddenly went still, her tense muscles relaxing under the fog's effects, her eyes vacantly staring at the ceiling. Then, after a few seconds, her eyelids grew heavy, lazily drooping until they finally slipped shut. With a muted sigh, Kelsey's head dropped and her body sunk comfortably into the bed, her breaths steady and even, her expression serene.

"............"

And in sharp contrast to Kelsey's peaceful slumber, Paul found himself completely on edge and flabbergasted.

His hands released their grip, one of them flying to his mouth and gingerly touching his lips. His eyes flicked back and forth, watching the swirling trails of mist as they slowly danced around the room and gradually evaporated altogether. What was that stuff? Sleeping gas? Did it seriously just come out of his mouth? It probably should not have come as such a big surprise, given that he discovered his lightning abilities via pure instinct as well, but how could he possibly have two breath weapons?

Paul looked down at Kelsey. Regardless of how it came to be, it was at least relieving to see her sound asleep, easily the calmest she had been in a long time. Not wanting to ruin that, Paul carefully lifted Kelsey up just enough to pull the covers out from underneath her, then slipped them over her still form and neatly tucked her into bed, the subtle movements not rousing her in the slightest.

Wishing her a peaceful sleep, Paul turned around and retreated back into his chair, sinking into the cushions and staring at the wall with the wide, sunken eyes of a man whose world view had been completely and utterly obliterated.

Kelsey did not wake up again at any point during the night, but Paul barely slept a wink.

---------------------------

"Zzzzz... Snrt... Mluh... Huh-? ELON MUSK!"

Mic sat straight up on the couch, his back and wings rigid, his blanket slipping onto the floor. For a moment, he found himself blinded by the white morning sunlight pouring through the window. His eyes did not seem to adjust properly, as even when colors started to appear against the haze, he saw them as little more than fuzzy blurs.

"Oh..." This problem was quickly corrected via Mic grabbing his glasses off a nearby side table and slipping them into place. With his vision now optimal, he took a quick look around, soaking in the old west aesthetic living room he had fallen asleep in with a somewhat wary expression.

So that was all real. He really was in the desert under his brother's roof. He really did abandon his post.

A sad sigh escaped Mic's throat as he turned and set his feet down on the floor. He felt so lost. So uncertain. So insignificant. What was he supposed to do now?

Then he noticed something sitting nearby, his wings and eyebrows quickly perking up at the sight. His old, familiar green jacket was hanging on the corner of a chair. Furthermore, there was a toolkit and several pieces of what almost looked like armor lying atop the coffee table.

Mic let out a single, baffled chuckle. El-Sayal actually did it! He wasn't sure how she did it, but he wasn't going to complain. At least now he had something to do.

[DanteMGalileo]

Jordan groaned as his eyes cracked open, quickly shutting again at the cursed glowy thing in the sky. Was that a sun? An honest-to-whatever-may-exist sun, not merely a sky that changed hue and brightness? Wait, had he fallen asleep? On a desk? Well... it was more comfortable than his bed, at the very least. Wait, what has he doing at a desk?

Glancing down through narrow slits, he made out two pieces of paper and a pen. Oh, right. He was writing these two letters. Two letters that he hoped would never be seen. What had he written? Grabbing the one on top, he began to whisper to himself. "To Will," he started.

If you are reading this, I am dead.

I know we've had our spats. Nights where I didn't come home for days. I'm sorry. That's what I wanted to say. It's just that I was too stubborn to admit it. I suppose this letter will have to suffice.

Truth is, I was jealous of you. Yes. Me. Jealous of you.

Maybe because mom chose to have you, what with the fact she took you off the streets. I was just the unwanted son in her quest to sire a daughter. Let's be honest here, despite her attempts to hide it, I was her least favourite. Can't say I blame her. Or maybe it's because that despite neither one of us having magical talents, you had strength to fall back on.

I'm sorry I couldn't come clean. I'm sorry about the times I called you a fake brother. I know I should've been a better brother to you. I should've been a better model for Leanne.

I'm sorry I'm dead.

Your brother,

Leon Jordan Lowe

Well, at least if he was dead he wouldn't have to handle that emotional fallout. On the topic of emotional fallout...

Jordan picked up the other letter, the writing slightly shaky but still legible. "Dear Leanne,"

I'm sorry to say this, but if you're reading this, I'm dead.

We were always more open with each other than we were with Will. Maybe because we actually share blood. Maybe because Will acted older than he actually was.

You were the first person I came out to, and you accepted it without question. I can't thank you enough. You gave me the confidence to be out and proud with myself. Thank you for that.

I wish I could come back to see you. But I can't. All I can do now is apologize for the times I vanished for nights at a time. Apologize for not being the best role model. Apologize. You deserved the best, but all I could give you was the emotional baggage of a dead brother.

Please don't bottle it up like I did. Don't go seeking revenge for my sake. I'm not worth it.

I can't say how sorry I am. I'm the one who fucked up, and now you have to live with the consequences of my actions.

Your brother,

Leon Jordan Lowe.

[Pink Moon Wolf]

A deep, begrudging sigh erupted from Mino's still form. His eyes just barely opened into an irritated squint. He didn't want to get out of bed for a number of reasons, not the least of which were the constant rude awakenings he endured last night, but he knew it was inevitable. For the first time in a long while, he had a patient to attend to, and it was only a matter of time before duty came a-knocking ready or not.

He slowly sat up, his head hung low like it was made of lead. He looked to the door, noting the silence, pausing briefly to enjoy it while it lasted. Then Mino swung his legs off the bed, stood up, stretched, and scratched himself in a few unsavory places. Might as well get this over with.

---------------------------

Knock-knock...

"Hey. It's Mino. You descent in there?"