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A Woman's Touch

(( Joined RP, Nephrite, Chrys & Demare. In progress. ))

FEESH~!


‘Where are we going?’ Nephrite inquired, for the fifth time now. To Amon, who was steering the car, it certainly felt like the five-hundredth time.

“Shopping,” he mumbled, just as he had done the previous 4 (felt 499) times.

‘But,’ Nephrite argued, ‘we’re going in the wrong direction. The mall’s the other way.’

Smart girl. “That is because we’re not going to the usual place, little Miss Know-It-All. And now be quiet, I need to focus.”

Nephrite nodded and slunk back to hide in the shadows on the back seat. It wasn’t that her curiosity was satiated now – far from it! – but she knew in fact it was a bad idea to distract her guardian while driving. She herself didn’t like car rides much either – they went so fast! And, they were stinky.

Amon sighed a quiet breath of relief, now that Nephrite finally had fallen silent. He could blank out another person’s talking usually, but it was nigh impossible when it came to the fiend's telepathy. And he was, in fact, quite uncomfortable with driving. His blind eye played a major role in this, and also the fact that he’d learned to drive pretty late. Not to mention that he was required to wear glasses for it, which rather hurt his vanity.

At least the streets were less busy this late …

He’d almost missed the sign, what with it being on his bad side, and hissing a quiet curse under his breath, he pulled sharp to the right. No pedestrians out and about, thankfully. He wouldn’t have seen them.

“We’re here,” Amon announced, pointing at the brightly lit letters on top of the building.

‘Z-O-O P … P-A-L-A-C-E. Zoo Palace.’ Nephrite spelled it out slowly. Her reading skills still lacked, but she was definitely learning, and improving rather quickly. It seemed that Kevin’s suggestion that he should read with her – as she seemed to pick up stuff from her soul-bond – had been right on the spot. Which made Amon feel rather uncomfortable in other regards: Who knew what else she’d pick up from him? She was acting amazingly like an adult at times, too much for his taste.

“It’s a pet shop. Biggest in Dürem.” And none of the ‘weird’ ones, thankfully. “You’ll like it.”

‘A pet shop?’ Nephrite looked at her guardian wide eyed, not sure what to make of it. They’d discussed pets before, and very much agreed that they didn’t like hair or feathers spread all over the place. Still …

“There’s a hardware store just over there, so if you’d rather like to go buy some gardening stuff …”

‘Uhm. No.’ Nephrite shook her head fervently. ‘Pet shop is fine.’

There was a definite plus to the late hours, apart from avoiding the sunlight for Nephrite’s sake and the streets being less busy – plenty of space on the parking lots, those of stores at least. Their penthouse thankfully came with its own garage …

He slowed down and eventually pulled to the left, taking up two slots at once as close to the entrance as possible.

“Ready to go?” he asked, turning back to the little fiend after having stored his glasses in the glove compartment.

Nephrite nodded, already nestling with her padded robe, and her hood, and her fluffy fur boa – phasing out of the car as soon as she was done.

“It’s warm inside,” Amon warned her, not bothering with his coat, even though it was freaking cold. The blazer would have to be enough.

‘But it’s cold out here …’ Nephrite shivered. ‘Let’s go inside quick?’

“Don’t complain to me later.” Amon locked the car. Of course he knew what this was going to end up like, him carrying her stuff around as soon as it got to hot for her. He rummaged through his pockets, holding up his lighter. “Would you mind terribly if I-?”

‘YES.’ Nephrite glared.

Amon sighed, but he put back the lighter obediently, though he was still playing with it in his pocket. It wasn’t really that he felt the need to smoke, right now. More, like … He’d felt a little on the edge, jumpy, ever since their visit to that weird Haunted House. His nightmares had been occurring with a greater frequency, though he still barely ever woke up from them, lest alone remembered them. But his overall state was the reason he’d some time off at hands now, in a season he was usually quite busy, his manager pointing out that his … performance was lacking, so to speak.

And whose fault was this? He should have known better, really, than to get involved in anything that had to do with Twilight Designs. It always ended up being trouble for him, no matter how much Athan might strive to make up for it.

‘Amon? Are you coming?’ Nephrite was hovering just inside, pressed into the shadows of the door which led to the ladies’ room. ‘It’s too bright here!’ she whined.

Right. He let go of the lighter and stepped inside, offering his arm to Nephrite, gentleman enough to pick his way where the light seemed dimmest. There was some experience in that – after all, vampiric populace had always been strong in Dürem, and not few were female and wealthy enough to afford him. Though he was going nowhere near the Hellson Sisters – he had standards. Though, the fiends were different from vampires in the regard that they didn’t even tolerate artificial light … Here was hoping they wouldn’t mind fluorescense too much …

Nephrite didn’t look much where they were going, keeping latched onto Amon’s arm, but at the same time trying to stay within the shadow he cast as much as possible. But it was getting darker, gradually, so she finally dared to look up, her eyes widening with wonder. ‘Ohhhhh …’

This was easily the darkest part of the store, most of the light coming from the aquariums set into the walls, like windows. The atmosphere was quiet, the few customers present speaking with only hushed voices, barely audible over the burbling of water. ‘We’re going to get fish?!’

Amon shrugged, just barely managing to not break into a wide grin and keep his face neutral. Her excitement was quite contagious. “Well. Maybe. Take a look around. If you see something you like …” Her cheerful laughter rang through his head, and already the little fiend was zooming off.

Amon finally smiled. It was a good thing, he thought, the empathy of their bond actually worked both ways. He had no illusions she’d noticed his tension as of late, girl seemed very perceptive in that regard, continuously inquiring about his dreams, his past … Something he was definitely not willing to talk about. But, the other way around, her easy-going persona did a mite good cheering him up in turn.

He looked around, and – spotting one – waved over one of the bored looking salespersons. Female, lucky him. “Hello … Susan,” he said, after a quick glance on her name tag. “See, no matter what she says,” – he pointed at Nephrite, hovering here and there, pressing her face against the glass and admiring the fish – “we’re looking for beginner fish. Easy to take care of, robust …”

“Gotcha.” ‘Susan’ nodded. Gods knew, she certainly got enough experience in that regard.

‘Amon! Look! It looks like a mini dragon. And it’s smiling!!’

“What the hell …” Obediently Amon took a look at what excited Nephrite so much. “What is that?”

“An Axolotl,” Susan explained, all too happily. “Very easy to take care of, in fact, and very popular too.” She beamed at Nephrite. “You’re not too far off with it being a ‘dragon’, actually. It’s a salamander. They are special in the way that they are ‘neophytic’, which means, most of them stay in their larval form all their life, keeping their gills and retaining an aquatic lifestyle. But they do grow into adulthood and reproduce. They just never make the metamorphosis to live on the dry.”

‘It looks so happy …’ Nephrite marvelled.

“And the downside …?” Amon inquired.

“Ah …” The salesperson squirmed a little. “I wouldn’t keep them together with other fish. You see, their gills look too much like tasty algae, and, the other way around, they tend to eat just about anything smaller than them. Including nibbling on their own kin. They have an amazing ability to regenerate, however-”

“We’re not getting that one,” Amon decided quite promptly.

‘Awwww, but Amon …’

“Don’t give me the wibbly eyes, Princess, look for something else. Or we’re leaving.”

Nephrite huffed, but obeyed, after waving the Axolotl good bye. ‘These …?’ she inquired after a little while.

Guppies. Even he knew those were not going to be problematic. Plus, they were on the list Kevin had given him of fish that were safe to get for the aquarium he had secretly set up.

“Well, before getting the fish, you might want to-” Susan interfered, apparently having read his thoughts.

“Already taken care of,” Amon interrupted in a jovial tone, petting her on the head. He was behaving like an a**, he was aware, but today he just felt like it. His way of stress relief, probably. He’d just tip her to make up for it …

“Is it allowed to smoke ins-”

“Certainly not,” the salesperson huffed at him. He could see she was somewhat struggling to remain polite.

“Just asking.”





‘You were not being very nice to that lady,’ Nephrite announced as they left the store, taking a small break from marveling at the fish in the clear plastic bag she was carrying.

“I tipped her.” Amon was still cherishing the memory at her sheer dumbstruck expression when she’d realized the amount …

‘That doesn’t make it okay, you know?’ Nephrite glared. ‘I touched her. She was feeling really bad, and really angry. Money doesn’t make everything okay.’

“Neph …”

‘You should have apologized.’

“Neph. Do you want me to return these fish?”

‘... no?’

“Then stay quiet!” Apologizing, as if. It wasn’t like he never had to put up with crap in his own job. It was part of the job. You got paid for it. And, occasionally, got tipped for what you’d got to put up with. Given, that never made him feel any better either …

‘Amon?’

“What?” He was trying to not sound annoyed, yet his response came out sharper than he’d been intending to. Nevermind she’d caught his feelings anyway.

‘Where will we put the fish?’ Nephrite wiggled a little, uncertain. She’d been so excited about getting to pick, that she hadn’t thought at all about-

“Well, for starters, I think they could go into the bathtub.” Amon straight out lied.This had been planned for a while, and of course the aquarium had been long since set up, hidden away in Kevin’s room. “Of course that means you’d have to go without your beloved bubble baths for a while.”

‘I guess …?’ Nephrite looked doubtful. ‘Maybe we could go back and-’

“They’re closing soon,” Amon pointed out. They’d pretty much been the last customers for today. The last paying ones, that was.

Nephrite nodded, not seeming wholly convinced. She couldn’t help but think the fish wouldn’t like the bath tub very much. It didn’t have plants, after all, and a sandy floor, and that bubble thingy which seemed to be really important, as every aquarium in the store had it …





There was a FISH TANK in her room.

Nephrite zipped all around it (a few times through the walls as well) excitedly, marveling at it from all sides. It had plants, and rocks, and lights, and even that bubbler thingy! It was set upon it’s own little cupboard, taking up the small bit of space just between the doors to the bathroom and the living room in her room.

“Well.” Amon said innocently. “Now here’s a surprise. Guess we wont have to put your fishes into the bathtub after all.”

‘Oh, YOU!’ Nephrite swatted at him playfully, and then laughed and tossed herself at her guardian for a hug. ‘You planned this from the start, didn’t you? THANK YOU!’

“Wrong person,” Amon muttered, a little embarrassed, slightly stroking Nephrite’s hair. “He’s the actual culprit.” He gave a small nod towards the door to the living room, where Kevin was causally resting against its frame. “Set the aquarium up about a week ago in his room, because, you know the water needs some time to clear and all? I wouldn’t know about that kind of stuff.” He glanced at his room mate. How had he managed to carry over the tank was beyond him, that thing had been freaking heavy even empty. Though, what with knowing Kevin, he’d probably had plenty of help at hands.

‘THANK YOU KEVIN!’ Nephrite announced, throwing herself at the blonde for another hug and assaulting him questions. ‘What do I do next now? What kind of food do they need? Can I touch them? Does the light need to be on all the time? When do they sleep?’

Amon embraced the opportunity and made his escape, silently slipping out onto the balcony. He hadn’t had a single chance for a smoke ever since they’d left earlier this evening. He didn’t light his cigarette right away, though. Instead he kept staring at the lighter’s flame for what seemed like forever. It was calming, in a strange way, looking at the blazing light. It soothed his wrecked nerves in ways he could not comprehend.

“Care to share?” Kevin had stepped out and joined him at the banister without him ever taking notice.

“Thought you didn’t smoke?” Amon remarked, but offered his case nonetheless.

“I don’t. But I figured, every cigarette I nick would be one less for you to smoke. I’m Doing Good.”

“Idiot …” Amon rolled his eyes, but laughed, flipping the cigarette case shut before his friend actually had a chance to take one. “How’s the Princess doing?”

“Picking names …” Kevin leaned with his back against the banister and looked up. No stars tonight, and only a very dim halo indicated where the moon ought to be. The sky was cloudy. There might be snow later this night. He was almost certain there’d be.

“That’s going to take forever.”

“True, true.”

There was a small pause, a moment of comfortable silence in which none of them said anything, nor felt the need to.

Not until …

“Amon … I’m not sure how to put this.” Kevin finally started. “I know we’ve not been exactly friends, but I do like to think we can trust each other, to some degree. And I can’t help but notice … You seem a little stressed out, lately.”

“Enough for the manager to take me off the job for some time. It’s kinda hard not to notice I’d say.” Amon finally lit his cigarette, deeply inhaling the smoke with closed eyes.

“Well. We can talk. If there’s something bothering you, we can always talk about it. Is it about them? The Cult? Nephrite told me your nightmares have been getting worse as of l-”

Without a word, Amon dropped his cigarette and stepped on it to extinguish it before he went back inside. The glance he shot his room mate from his good eye was … wary, to say the least.

“So much for presuming trust,” Kevin muttered under his breath. “Oh, what am I going to do with you …?”





It was way past midnight when Susan crossed the parking lot all on her own, wishing she hadn't spent so much time chatting with Anna after closing. One hand was tightly clasped around her keys, the other around a can of pepper spray within the pockets of her anorak. Her shift had started early afternoon, which meant she hadn’t been able to find a spot to park her little car anywhere close to the entrance.

And, sure enough, there was a person coming over from one of the few cars still parked – a big, stylish, older model Mercedes, looking almost antique. Certainly none of the cars her colleagues drove, one of the managers perhaps. But the person approaching her did seem familiar. One of her late customers, she realized. Adding, after she’d glimpsed the rather unique eye patch: Oh. THAT one.

“Good evening, Sir,” she breathed, striving to stride past him as quickly as she could, making a beeline for her car. Her heart seemed to be beating strongly enough to burst out of her chest any time now. He … he wouldn't be some sort of a stalker, would he?

“Good evening,” the man replied politely, and – seeming to realize just how terrified she was – raising his hands to show he was unarmed. No knife, no gun, no nothing. “Would you have a minute?”

“We’re closed.” Susan replied mechanically, routine getting the better of her. “Is it about a complaint? I fear you will have to come back tomorrow morning. Managment’s already left.” Management always left early. She was keeping her distance, never really stopped walking, but she had slowed down considerably.

“No complaint. On the contrary, really.”

“Oh?” Susan stopped, pausing in her step to turn and look at him. Idiot, keep walking. Once you’re in the car, you can run him over if it needs be.

“Yes. It occurred to me, I haven’t been behaving my best towards you earlier.”

“You … tipped me very generously,” Susan said warily.

“That doesn’t make up for it. And I … would like to make up for it. How about a coffee?”

“I’m about to go to sleep,” Susan pointed out, starting to walk again. She listened closely, but he didn’t seem to be following her.

“… right. Then how about my most sincere apology?”

“Accepted.” Susan hastily called over her shoulder, right before slipping into her car, slamming the door shut, and locking it. Whew. Weirrrrd guy.

“So.” Amon said, glancing defiantly at the back seat of his car. He half expected to see Nephrite lounging there … Which she wasn’t, of course, as she was still back home admiring her ’feesh’. She hadn’t even said anything about this anymore. I’d been his own guilty conscience driving him here, and Neph’s comment from earlier on. He had been behaving like an a** to that lady earlier on, and – no matter how generously he might have tipped her – it indeed didn’t make up for it. It wasn’t an apology.

She was cute too. He might have asked her out for dinner, hadn’t she been in such a hurry to get away from him – something he totally didn’t blame her for, by the way.

Of course … she wasn’t the only woman on his mind. There was someone far more interesting, having drawn his attention for quite a while now. Silver hair where his was jet black, bearing an eyepatch as well, almost like a negative image of himself.

Of course, getting involved with her would spell nothing but trouble … Just like that Haunted House, like everything else related to Twilight Designs and the Fiends.

That Mystic bore quite a dislike for him had not escaped him either. But …

He lightly touched upon the cheek the silver-haired demoness had breathed a kiss upon.

Hm~

Nightmares


He was having nightmares again …

Nephrite watched with concern, hovering next to her guardian and watching over him as he tossed and turned, his back arching as if struggling against invisible constraints.

Which might be exactly it, judging from what she’d spied of his past at the Haunted House.

She always knew, without fail, when his dreams started. At first, she had been terrified by the experience, thinking her guardian to be in severe danger as she dashed at his side, while struggling to cope with that insane onslaught of fear she felt from him. It had been Kevin, who’d gently taken her aside after the first time, explaining to her – very patiently, and in the simplest terms possible – about dreams, and nightmares. Amon had not been willing to, grumpily telling her that he did not remember any dreams, but he did remember her waking him in her panic.

Now she was better prepared for it, and had made it a habit to fill the electric kettle to the brim with in the evenings, flicking on the switch as soon as she felt her guardian stirr. By the time he woke, she would be at his side, offering a bowl of sweetened tea made from valerian, hops and lemon balm.

He rarely woke, however, and it didn’t look as if he would this time around.

Tentatively, the young fiend reached out, the emotional onslaught intensifying the moment she touched upon her guardian’s shoulder ever so slightly.

Fear was the main emotion, but there were also Pain and Anger. An intense, hotHOT Fury, heavily intertwined with the feeling of Bitter Disappointment and Betrayal.

She pulled back her hand and withdrew, unable to bear the intensity of her guardian’s terror any longer. There were no images that came with the onslaught of feelings, no words no thoughts. Except …

BURN

Amon’s back arched one last time, eyes snapping open as he seemed to mouth something, one single word. For a moment Nephrite thought he had woken, but a split second later he collapsed back into the sheets, eyes closing, his body – the skin glistening with cold sweat – finally relaxing. It was over, for tonight at least.

Nephrite still hovered close by worriedly, fingers intertwining, her clasped hands writhing with distress as she wondered what to do. Her guardian was suffering, she knew. But … Whenever she tried to talk to Amon about his dreams, he claimed to not remember them (or not having had any nightmares at all), and she wasn’t even sure if he was truthful about that or not. As Kevin had told her, people did not always remember their dreams.

And, as he had hinted, some people might not want to remember them.

She sighed heavily, her shoulders sagging, but when she was halfway through the wall to her own room, something made her pause …

Smoke.

Nephrite’s eyes narrowed, and she returned to Amon’s room, still fully incorporeal.

Yes, it was definitely smelling of smoke. It was neither the scent of cigarette smoke that clung to her guardian, nor the incense she occasionally lightened, but rather the serious OH MY GOD THE CARPET IS BURNING AND THE TABLE AND THE CURTAINS AND THE SHEETS AND MY BED WHAT DO I DO?!?!?! kind of smell. Mixed into it was something else, something she couldn’t quite place. But it made her think of Kevin pan-frying steaks for some reason.

Nephrite looked at her host, but he was sleeping calmly now, and she couldn’t bring herself to disturb him. So she inspected his room very, very closely to see if anything might be on fire. She went on the roof even, and on the balcony, but the air out there was as crisp and clear as it could be on a cold autumn night. She even took a dive to the appartment right under her guardian’s, but … nothing.

Frowning to herself, Nephrite returned to her room, not feeling tired at all, even as the sun rose. She … wasn’t imagining things, was she? After all, as it had been explained to her, fiends shouldn’t be able to smell anything in the first place …

She coiled up on her bed, but only for a little while, definitely feeling too restless to fall asleep. She started to sort the perfume flasks on her dressing table, first by size, then by color, then by scent. Dissatisfied she went to do the same thing to her wardrobe, going through her gowns by color, by length, by pattern …

‘If you ever wish to know what you've forgotten, I can help with that.’

Nephrite paused. Clearly, Hawk had made the offer to Amon. But … asking him for help couldn’t hurt, now, could it? She put the last hanger onto the rack with a decisive ‘clack’.

She was distinctly aware that Amon didn’t want help, but … he didn’t need to know, did he? Besides, his nightmares and stress were affecting her as well.

Yes. This was what was she was going to do.

To ask Hawk.

A Surprise Visit


Ding-Dong~!

The doorbell couldn’t have possibly rang at a more inopportune time. Amon was under the shower, and Kevin in the midst of cooking, and thus rather inclined to ignore it. It was too late to be the postman to drop of something for their neighbor, and other than that, they rarely ever had visitors. Some salesman, likely, or some preacher. From the corner of his eyes he caught glimpse of a green-and-purple shadow fluttering past him and inwardly he cursed. He hadn’t expected her to be up yet, as it still was a good hour until sundown. “Neph, don’t get the door.”

‘It’s a lady,’ Nephrite announced, after curiously having poked her head right through the wall.

Well, if it was a lady, it was most likely going to be for Amon. He couldn't have been more right about this ...

“Is it Miss Cavendish? Have you nicked something from her dresser again?”

‘Mh-mh. She’s all dressed in black. I think I’ve seen her before …’ Nephrite pulled back, hovering in the shadows of the coat rack with a thoughtful expression.

Well, in that case it couldn’t possibly be Miss Cavendish. She never wore black. But that sort of dress code did leave him with the feeling of a cold lump starting to form in the pit of his stomach. It couldn’t be … “Neph, honey? Do me a favor and take over at the wok for me, okay? Just keep stirring for a minute or so, and then turn the heat off.”

‘Okay~!’ There was something entirely natural about how Nephrite flapped back the long sleeves of her gown with a flick of her wrists to be out of the way, tying with the silken scarf she was wearing. As if she’d done it all her life. She took a quick glimpse at the clock before she picked up the wooden spatula. One minute, okay. She wouldn’t let it burn this time!

Curiously she glimpsed over her shoulder, but she couldn’t see the front door from her position at the hearth. It did sound, though, as if Kevin had hooked in the chain. She leaned over some more, trying to catch at least some of what was going on, but a dangerous sizzling immediately directed her attention back to the dish. She wasn’t going to let it burn, no!

Kevin had indeed hooked the chain, after having taken a glimpse through the peephole to see his worst fears confirmed. Tentatively he opened the door as far as the chain would allow. “We,” he said through gritted teeth, “are not buying anything.”

“Oh, I’m not here to sell anything.” The woman in front of him happily declared. The black velvet robe she bore was embroidered with silver runes and arcane symbols, her long locks too deep a black to be a natural shade. Her pale face was half hidden in the shadows of a veil, but the transparent fabric still alowed to catch glimpse of a silver diadem and heavy make-up which could only be described as gothic. “Is my brother in? Amon? Amon, are you there~?!”

Amon? Nephrite perked up. That dark lady knew Amon? ‘Should I go get him?’

“No!” Kevin snapped. “I mean, there’s no one by that name living here.”

‘But-’

“But, I know he must live here. Amon Silverchair? I’m his sis, Amaranthe. I’m sure he must have mentioned me.” The unwelcome visitor rummaged through the depths of her robe to produce a small, gift-wrapped package. Her fingernails … were painted black.

“I’m sure he would have,” Kevin said laconically, “if he’d actually live here. I’m sorry, lady, but you obviously have the wrong address. If you’d please leave …”

‘Kevin?’ Nephrite inquired concerned, slowly floating into the hallway. ‘What are you saying? Am-’

“Something smells burned,” Kevin interrupted her, not sure if her mental words were directed at just him, or could be heard by that nuisance in front of the door as well. Dammit, he’d warned Amon about ever contacting her!!

‘Eep!’ But! She thought she’d been certain she’d turned the stove off!! Nephrite flitted right back through the wall, only to discover that, indeed, she had. ‘Kevinnnnnnn?’ Was he making fun of her? The young fiend angrily clenched her fists, her tail turning all stiff and crinkled. Oh, he was so going to regret that!

‘Neph? Just what is going on?’ It was rare, very rare for Amon to mentally address her directly like that. Rare enough to startle her. And strangely enough she hesitated to immediately spill everything which just had happened to him right away as she usually did.

Because … That lady was wearing the same kind of clothes, she realized, as those people from the Haunted House. The Bad People. The ones which had hurt Young Amon and tied him to that terrible stone table. ‘Kevin is making fun of me!’ she complained, not entirely lying. ‘Dinner’s almost ready,’ she added. ‘He said I was burning it, but it’s fine!’ She could sense her bonded’s relief, and would have breathed a quiet sigh herself, if she could have.

“In any way, could you please give this to him?” Amaranthe said, sweetest voice ever, putting down the package and shoving it through the gap before Kevin had a chance to push the door closed. “It’s my customary gift. I was hoping to be able to give it to him personally for a change. He gets one from me, every year. It is,” Amaranthe made a meaningful pause, “for his protection.”

“You realize it'll right into the trash bin?”

“Give it to him.” Amaranthe insisted, her eyes – having the same strange all-but-none color as Amon’s – widening as Nephrite floated into sight. “Blessed be The One Who Comes, is that his daimon? My how impressively she has grown. How many more has she killed by no-”

Kevin slammed the door shut, and immediately turned the key in the lock, once, twice. Nephrite thought she’d never seen him this angry, his bright blue eyes almost seeming to glow. ‘What did she mean?’ she asked uncertainly, gray eyes wide with confusion.

“Nothing,” Kevin snarled. “That b***h was speaking nonsense. Listen, Neph.” He picked up the package left behind, and grabbed hold of the young fiend with his other hand, dragging her into the kitchen, to where they were hopefully out of listening range from the front door. Still, he lowered his voice to speak to her in just barely a whisper. “Listen. Don’t tell Amon any of this. He’ll only get upset. You don’t want him to be upset, right?”

‘No …?’ Nephrite tentatively shook her head.

“Good girl.” Kevin momentarily stared at the gift-wrapped package he was holding with disgust, as if it was something poisonous, and then dumped it into the trash bin, just as he had promised to do.

‘That woman …’ Nephrite inquired. ‘Is she bad? Is she one of those who wanted to hurt Amon?’

Kevin glimpsed at her with a look of surprise on his face. “How …” Just how did she know? He couldn’t imagine Amon having talked to her about ‘it’. He never did. He knew, but that was because he’d been there, back then.

But she herself was a creature of magic, one that was bound to Amon’s soul no less. Of course she’d know … things. “Never mind,” he murmured, shaking his head. “No, I don’t think she’s bad per se. Just ... misled, perhaps. She does seem to care for him.” In fact, it seemed, Amon’s and Amaranthe’s relationship was quite twisted. They were indeed siblings related by blood, but he’d been chosen to be that Cult’s ‘Blessed Child’, not her, and it seemed she was just as much in awe of her brother’s status as she was envious. “But if she knows where he lives, it’s very likely that they know as well.” He wondered how the hell he was to break to Amon that they might have to move.

“So,” Amon asked, leaning against the door frame quite casually. “What’s for dinner?”

Kevin froze, wondering at just how much of their conversation his room mate might have caught. “Stir-fry. Tofu, the usual mix of vegetables … and I added some extra chili for you.”

‘I’ve helped cooking~!’ Nephrite declared proudly. Never mind she’d only been stirring for a minute or so.

“Neph, be a darling and get me the sambal, will you? I just know it’s going to be too bland.”

“Amon!”

Lucky. It seemed he hadn’t overheard anything.





All was quiet, Amon and Kevin had gone to sleep maybe an hour ago … Yet Nephrite was wide awake and restless. The night was her prime time after all, being the creature of darkness that she was. What had happened earlier still bugged her, to have to keep a secret from her soul-bond … she didn’t like it.

And … Oh! She’d almost forgotten about that – how could she?!

Without a sound she floated into the kitchen, her long sleeves swirling and fluttering about like the fins of some exotic fish. For a little while she hovered in front of the trash bin, undecided, before she focused on becoming fully corporeal, her tiny bare feet touching upon the cold kitchen tiles. She rarely did it, but it prevented her from smelling things. Smelling smelly things. The strange mimicry ability of her tail was still active, making her legs look as if she was wearing intricately patterned stockings.

Brows furrowed, Nephrite rolled back the sleeve of her right arm as far as possible, holding it with her left before she opened the trash bin and resolutely reached in.

Oh ewwwwwww …

But she wanted to know. Now that she’d remembered about that gift-wrapped package, she neeeeeeded to know what was in there! Luckily the package itself hadn’t gotten soggy or anything, though she had to wipe some wilted scallion greens from it. She cleaned the package off with a paper towel as good as she could manage, before she tore it open.

Ohhhh, but that was pretty! It was an intricately knitted scarf, almost like lace. Black in color, and embroidered with silver runes, similar to what the lady had had on her robe. Amon had one – no, several, she remembered – scarves almost exactly like that one. He never wore them though. Tentatively she reached touch the fabric with her ickle green fingers. It was so soft too!

She wanted to keep it. Oh, how she wanted to keep it!!

But she couldn’t wear it! If she did, Amon would find out that the lady had been here, and that would be bad … So she’d have to hide it. She could still wear it in her room when no one was looking? Yes. She’d hide it at the very back of her wardrobe …

Quickly she stuffed the torn wrapping back into the bin and, after having washed her hands again, she made off to her room with the scarf pressed tightly against her chest. So soft! So warm! So pretty! And it was all hers now, hers.

This is your Past – Coming to bite your a**


Nephrite was, as she very much liked to do every so often, soaking in a nice, hot bubble bath when she first felt that something was wrong with her guardian. There was a sense of surprise, shock and then … fear? Sheer panic?

Instinctively she sunk deeper into the water, as if trying to hide herself in between the iridescent shimmering mountains of bubbles.

Because, somehow … she had the feeling this was going to have to do something with her.

And damn right she was.

It didn’t take long for the door to the bathroom to noisefully be forced open, slamming into the wall with a crash, the flames of the scented candles Nephrite had set up flickering wildly.

Neph ‘eeped’ mentally, but she couldn’t possibly sink deeper into the soapy water without fully submerging, and with that … she would no longer know what was going on. For that to let happen, she was entirely too curious a fiend. So she merely tilted her head to peer past the bubbly mountains, her gray eyes wide, and trying figure out just what was wrong with Amon this time around.

Because – ever since he’d dated Reyna and returned with several ribs cracked, his shoulder dislocated, his ankle sprained, and generally just Too Many Bruises to count, and still been all happy and relaxed more than ever – she’d pretty much lost her faith in her guardian’s sanity. She didn’t quite know what to make of it, really. Did Amon enjoy being beaten up by that woman?

A moment later, however, she did wish she’d gone for a dive. Or made her escape right through the wall. For, she could not un-see what she had seen, and not pretend it hadn’t happened.

The scarf.

The pretty, black-silvery, intricately knitted and hand-embroidered scarf she’d sneakily secured after Kevin had dumped the package into the trash bin.

Just how … had Amon found it?

That question was easily answered by herself – she had left her room in quite a mess before she’d decided she was in need of a bath, fully intending to clean up afterwards. But as Amon had to pass through her room to get to his own … It just happened, more often than not, that he would clean it up a little as he ‘passed through’. He … must have come across it while putting stuff back into her wardrobe.

Uh-oh.

She very distinctly remembered Kevin’s warning to not tell Amon of the strange lady clad in black who had visited, that it would only upset him. And, indeed, he seemed very upset now.

“Nephrite.”

The sharp tone alone was enough for Nephrite to give up on the idea to wiggle her way out of this instantly. He was … upset enough to come after her No Matter What.

So she moved to the edge of the bathtub, raising herself just enough to peer over its rim and indicate that she was indeed listening.

“This scarf. Where did you get it?”

Nephrite’s thoughts raced, trying to figure out just what upset her soul-bond so much. Was it because she’d taken this scarf? Or the scarf itself? Or the lady who’d brought it?

‘I found it?’ she managed innocently enough. ‘In the trash bin?’ she added. If she could re-direct Amon’s anger at Kevin somehow, that would be enough for her. Though, she’d probably have to give up on keeping that pretty scarf now, as it very much was actually Amon’s.

“Did you now.”

Even without the connection between them she’d known now that he was very, very angry. Because, his comment right now was deadpan, his voice void of any emotion. And he only ever did that when he was short of exploding within.

Nephrite’s eyes widened even more, and she couldn’t help but shiver, suddenly feeling the urge to hug her midriff.

Cracked and Scorched and Burned.

She didn’t want that to happen, not ever again.

It had been just too painful.

Yet FIRE seemed to be bubbling just underneath her soul-bond’s skin, like red-hot magma in his veins instead of blood, ready to erupt at any time. She’d felt it vaguely, every now and then since they’d been to the haunted house, and then even closer to the surface since Amon’s “date” with Reyna.

‘A lady came,’ Nephrite confessed, deciding it would probably best for her to stick to the truth. ‘Saying she had a gift for you. She was dressed all black and …’ She hesitated for a bit before she went on: ‘I do think I’ve seen her before somewhere?’

‘She said she was your sister, and that she makes a scarf for you like that every year. And she wanted to give it to you herself this time. But Kevin wouldn’t let her, and told her you don’t live here. And he dumped the package into the trash bin, and he told me to not tell you any of this. Because you’d only be upset. I don’t want you to be upset.’

‘Please don’t be upset?’ She begged.

“Kevin did?”

Amon’s voice was toneless, his face pale but otherwise bare of any emotion – but Nephrite could still sense the highly volatile mix of fear and anger just underneath the seemingly calm surface.

‘I only wanted to look at what she wanted to give you, so I got her package out of the bin … And it was so pretty, I wanted to keep it …’ The young fiend shuddered, frantically trying to figure out a way out of this, a way to soothe her guardian before he could-

“That f** needs to stop meddling,” Amon said rather matter-of-factly as he turned on his heels, his right hand still clutching the intricately woven scarf so tightly that his knuckles appeared to be white.

Nephrite whined, letting herself sink underneath the foamy surface of her bubble bath completely. It was almost impossible to not give in to the urge to just remain there and wait for the storm to pass. Because, and it seemed quite inevitable now, things were going to burn. Inside the bathtub seemed like a nice, safe place to hide out.

Only, she really didn’t want it to be a person burning, least of all Kevin who’d always been nice to her. And who, she was quite convinced of it, had only acted with the best intentions in mind. For, that had not escaped her, Amon seemed to be afraid of something just as much as he was furious right now.

Gray eyes dark and serious, the little fiend reached for the large towel, wrapping herself up before she reluctantly followed after her guardian.





Kevin, quite unaware yet of the doom heading his way, was way up on the top of the ladder, putting up the Christmas decorations. Usually, neither he nor Amon did ‘do’ Christmas, and they hadn’t in the two years prior since Neph had joined their household. But Nephrite had gotten increasingly curious about it, mesmerized by the shiny and colorful decorations all over the place (not so much the lights), and then getting even more excited at the prospect of receiving gifts. Lots and lots and lots of gifts. He idly wondered if it had occurred to her that she also was expected to give gifts, but … Well, she was surprisingly thoughtful at times, considering her age. Surprisingly generous as well, though her generosity only extended to a very few select people – and it was all coming out of poor Amon’s pocket anyway.

Speaking of …

He sensed rather than having consciously noticed, that he was being watched. Some small part of him having registered the door to Nephrite’s room had opened. Which usually meant Amon, as Nephrite rarely ever opened doors.

“Yo,” he said, turning. “What do you think of the decorations – are they too gay, or bearable for you?” He grinned, but the grin quickly wilted as he took notice of Amon’s rather serious expression. His friend was pale, looking as if he’d seen a ghost of sorts. The blonde quickly descended the ladder, worried now. “Has Nephrite done something again?” He inquired, still remembering all too vividly about the ‘fish incident’. The range and power of Nephrite’s empathic ability – especially when related to her guardian – was scary at times.

But that wasn’t ‘it’, this time.

“Just when,” Amon asked tonelessly, “did Amy stop by?”

“Your nutty sis? I don’t remember her ever …” Kevin’s voice trailed off as Amon brought up the scarf in his hand.

Oh, Kevin mouthed.

Apparently he had clearly underestimated just how far Nephrite might go in her curiosity.

“I think …” Amon said slowly, apparently choosing each of his words deliberately while just barely managing to contain his anger. And fear. More than anything, fear. “I don’t need to repeat to you she makes a different one for me each year. I can tell them apart, so don’t even think of trying to tell me Neph might have ‘borrowed’ one of those I already have. I know she’s not, even without having to go through the ones in my wardrobe and counting them.”

“About a month ago,” Kevin relented.

“And it was not important enough to tell me about? Or what.”

“Well …” Kevin rubbed his hands, noticing he was breaking into sweat. He wasn’t entirely sure just why he’d kept it a secret himself. It was just … they’d gotten comfortably settled in, things had gone mostly smooth (except for Amon’s questionable taste in dates as of late, but as he apparently enjoyed them, SO WHAT), and … “It was only Amy. You meet up with her all the time anyway, despite knowing better.”

“I haven’t met her, in fact, ever since Nephrite was still stuck inside that gem.” Amon noted. “About two years ago.” Right behind him Nephrite’s eyes widened. So that was why the lady had seemed familiar-yet-not! “We never met anywhere even remotely close to here, and I’m using a P.O. Box for a reason. I know she’s acting all sweet, and I do like to think she’s genuinely fond of her older brother.”

“But, that ******** Cult is her Life, I’m very much aware of it. What she knows, the Cult does.”

“So.”

“Why.”

“Did you not tell me?!”

Finally the dangerously calm and patient tone melted from Amon’s voice, giving way to true anger and upset. Kevin would have replied, if it hadn’t been for a ‘whoosh’ and the flare of intense heat at his back all of a sudden. The candle sticks he’d set up on the window sills were burning like flame throwers, and the decorations he’d put up were set aflame only a split-second later by the unnatural heat. “Oh, holy … The extinguisher, quick!”





“I wonder …” Amon said slowly, thoughtfully, as he stood with his hands buried in his pockets and stared at the blackened ceiling with mild interest, “if insurance is going to cover for this.”

“Knowing Madame Bree, and knowing Madame Bree knows you, it likely is.”

“Just what have I got to do-” Amon’s anger flared up once more, but he was wise enough to break off and shut his mouth before he got to finish the sentence. Because …

Everything.

Just like way back when Nephrite had gotten so badly injured, he’d got do everything to do with it. And his denial of it was only going to lead into arguments he couldn’t possibly win.

He turned on his heels, only taking a moment to check he had his lighter and cigarettes with him before he stepped out onto the balcony and slammed the door shut.

“Yeah. Fine. Run away again!” Kevin yelled after him. But honestly, he was at a loss as to what to do in a situation like this. He had … very much failed as a friend, that much was obvious. If it hadn’t been for him, they – oh, that was what he liked to think, but if there’d been any chance of Amon moving in with him ever again, he’d pretty much botched it just now – could have moved about a month ago. And ever since then, every single day Amon had been out and about, he’d been in severe danger of being captured by the cult that had raised him.

“Go,” he said tonelessly to Nephrite, whose eyes kept darting between him and the door to the balcony. “You’ve done nothing wrong, he wont be angry at you. In fact …” He paused. It was hard admitting this. That she might be closer to Amon than he could ever hope to be. “He might be grateful for your presence. He’s … a very lonely person.”





Amon only stiffened for a moment when Nephrite’s arms wrapped around his waist. “You’re wet,” he complained. “And soggy.”

‘I’m sorry?’ Nephrite offered, holding onto her guardian nonetheless.

“It’s fine.” Amon took another deep drag from his cigarette, before tossing the remains over the balustrade and lighting the next. It was cold, way below the freezing point, but he rather welcomed the cold right now, as he did the moisture of Nephrite’s hair soaking his shirt.

“I did it again,” he asked after a little, “didn’t I? The Fire.”

Much like during the night he’d spent with Reyna, this time his mind, his memory hadn’t blanked out on him. And even if it had … There were only so many spontaneous combustions which could be attributed to coincidence.

‘No one got hurt,’ Nephrite said soothingly.

“Not this time,” Amon added tonelessly. The scorched ruins of Willow Hill, what he’d been made to witness yet again within the Haunted House … He was very much aware it was only a matter of time until he would-

“We’ll have to move,” he changed the topic rather abruptly.

‘Because the bad people might come for you?’ Nephrite questioned. ‘I’m sorry. I’m really sorry …’

“It’s not your fault.” Amon turned to lean with is back against his balustrade. Nephrite reaction was immediate, fading into the shadows momentarily and then re-appearing to hug his front instead. “I would have liked to know about this sooner, but then I never told you … anything. So you had no idea how important it was.” He gently trailed his fingers through her wet hair.

‘Will you tell me?’

“Not now.” Amon sighed. “Not now. But … moving isn’t all bad. You can help me pick a new place. You could have a room I don’t have to go through all the time.” This had become somewhat of an issue as of late – the little one seemed to be close to hitting puberty or whatever it was for her kind.

‘Ohhhhh~!’ Nephrite definitely seemed appreciative of this. ‘Will Kevin move with us? And, can I have a garden?’

“No, and very likely no as well.” Because, really, ever since having fetched those weeds for Hawk had gone so bad, he hadn't been overly appreciative of Nephrite’s love for greenery.

Though … thinking of it now, he’d never called in his side of the bargain, had he? As much as he hated it, maybe it was the time, because … He eyed what he could see of the blackened ceiling through the window pane.

This needed to stop happening.

Moving


Moving – much to Nephrite’s bafflement (and Amon’s immense relief) – went over amazingly smooth and speedy. Mostly because neither of them were moving with much – except for heaps and heaps of clothes, of course, both of them. Amon was incredibly amused by that, realizing for the first time just how similar he and his shadowy companion seemed to be in some aspects.

But … it was a little sad to see that, overall, his luggage was smaller than hers, despite the fact he’d … well, been around longer. Apart from his small collection of lighters and cigarette cases he actually owned very few personal items.

‘What is that?’ Nephrite asked, pointing at a strangely formed case which was carried down by the moving company just now. She’d never seen it before.

“Guitar case,” Amon mumbled, only elaborating when Nephrite kept staring intently at him with wide gray eyes, indicating his answer had not been satisfying. “An instrument. Yes, I can play. No, I wont, no matter how curious you are. I haven’t practiced in ages.” And he’d only picked up playing upon the Madame’s request anyway, what with her insisting that her employees be able to perform and entertain in more than just … the obvious.

Amon stretched, giving up his seat on the stairs to head back into the apartment to get himself another coffee, and to set up a new pot for the guys from the moving company as well. They were probably glad he was out of their way. He had some beer stored away in the fridge as well, but it was still quite early, so coffee would probably be appreciated more.

‘Will you play for me?’ Nephrite inquired, floating after him.

“I believe I just said I wont?” Amon quirked a brow.

‘You could practice? I promise I wont be listening when you practice? I can …’ She stopped, eyes closing, fingers moving slightly. She had played some sort of instrument at some time, she couldn’t shake the feeling. Strings vibrating under the touch of her fingers, the carved holes of a flute, something like a violin bow … More instruments than just one? She found that hard to believe. She shook her head in an attempt to break free from the cobweb of what might have been memories, or not. ‘I’d like to hear you play?’ she insisted. It was a side of her guardian she didn’t know yet. And she did want to know. She wanted to know all about him, everything ever, for him to give up all the secrets that plagued him.

“Well. Maybe.” He poured himself the last of the remaining coffee before he set up an new pot and took a sip, promptly making a face.

Of course it was bitter.

Stairs ...?!

‘There … are stairs.’ Nephrite’s mental voice was filled with wonder, and Amon couldn’t help but quirk a brow. What, she’d only noticed now?

‘Amon, there are stairs in here,’ Nephrite insisted, tugging at his sleeve and pointing.

“Gee, I wonder where those did come from all of a sudden?” Amon mocked her, trying to mimic her perplexed look. But for once she didn’t bite, clearly too mesmerized by the discovery she’d made just now.

‘The apartment didn’t have stairs,’ Nephrite insisted, unperturbed, and still staring up, her tail swishing slowly.

“That’s because we were already living on the top floor, honey,” Amon pointed out. “Nothing above.” Well, that wasn’t entirely true, there’d had to be an attic above their old place too – but he’d never noticed as much as a trap door going up there, so it had likely been sealed off. Odd enough though that Nephrite never had discovered it.

‘Can I go up there?’ Nephrite stared at him with wide, begging eyes. Great, she broke into their neighbor’s apartment to pilfer her stock of perfumes and jewelry, but asked his permission for something like this? Sometimes he just didn’t get her.

“Sure. It’s our house.” Made him wonder just when she’d take notice the crawlspace underneath. Though she probably wouldn’t be interested in it, after all it was going to be ‘filthy’ and ‘dirty’ underneath there. Slowly he climbed the stairs, not in a particular hurry to follow her, but he was grinning to himself when he ‘heard’ her first excited exclamations.

He’d been up there once, when he’d been taking the initial tour of the house, and there wasn’t actually much there. An unfinished room which never seemed to have seen much use except as storage space (which was exactly how he intended to use it), another small bathroom, and the actual attic – he’d merely inspected it for leaks and pests, and that had been it.

‘Oh, Amon, it’s all dark!’ Nephrite exclaimed, her voice filled with glee. ‘Can I have that room?’

“What, that one too?! You already have two rooms. Three if I count the bathroom. That’s one more than I’ve got.”

‘You have the kitchen,’ Nephrite pointed out.

Aha, bartering now. Given, she had little use for the kitchen, so …

‘And the living room.’

“Bullshit,” Amon objected good-naturedly. Now where was the …? “The living room is for both of us. And you’ve got a whole garden, princess.” Aha. There. It was a mean thing to do, flipping the light switch on her without warning, but he just couldn’t resist. Besides, getting accustomed to the dark was troublesome to him, and the last thing he wanted to do was to trip over something, or step into a rusty nail or whatever.

Nephrite let out a small outcry of shock at the sudden bright light (it was only one very dim naked light bulb ...), and her colorful appearance abruptly ‘poofed’ into wisps of shadow to retreat into the corners of the angled room still left in darkness. ‘That … was mean!’ she hissed at her guardian, like a very angry cat. Oh, she’d so get back at him for that!

“It’ll be terribly stuffy and hot in here in summer,” Amon pointed out, not daring to laugh right now. Nephrite seemed pissed, like, seriously angry when he’d merely meant to tease her, and he considered it best not pour oil into the fire. “You can have it, as long as I can still store stuff here,” he relented. She did neither breathe nor sweat, so he figured the intense heat of an attic during summer wouldn’t pose much of a problem to her.

‘Hmph.’ Despite the fact she’d just gotten her will, Nephrite still radiated anger at him. Amon sighed. Note to self: Do not do that again.

‘You’d better,’ Nephrite hissed, picking up his thoughts as easily as ever.

There were times when he really wanted his privacy back.