“Ghosts”
”Is everything all right?”
It sounded distant, almost faint, but it painted a clear picture in the Anhelo’s eyes. Black, almost like the darkest velvet – a ribbon dancing across her vision. She had nearly gotten used to the new sensation. In fact, almost everything was new: sounds were crisper, taste had heightened (not that she could originally taste much given her lack of interest or appetite) and her vision – oh, her vision had changed. She saw colors that held no word in any language; everything was vibrant and held their own beauty. Everything was amazing, yet everything was intense. Blaithe often found herself spacing out in the marvel of it all… much to her companion’s dismay.
”Blaithe,” Hero called again, gently tapping on the Anhelo’s thumb. ”You’ve done it again.”
The beautiful ribbon danced once more.
”My apologies,” Blaithe offered, blinking her ghostly eyes to focus. She softly patted her friend’s tiny head, and then lifted him to meet her lips. She loved her dear friend, and a change in size and form could not change that.
”Is everything all right?” Hero pressed again after their little peck. For him, Blaithe was his all, his everything. He had almost lost her once and he would not allow that again. His tiny paw met the corner of Blaithe’s mouth – as close to her check as he could manage.
Blaithe’s mouth tugged, a small smile gracing her pale lips with a curve that felt so foreign; another new sensation. ”I am quite all right,” she announced, her hands carefully falling to her lap. Her odd eyes followed, even if Hero could not see. ”Merely adjusting.”
”Okay,” Hero sighed, relaxing back into the crook of Blaithe’s cupped fingers. ”Do you hunger?”
”Not at this moment,” cooed Blaithe, her attention still on her stunted friend. ”Possibly soon.”
Blaithe had hardly used her abilities since growing, mostly entertaining hHero or spending what little time she had left with Min Ho. She would leave soon; back to her husband in Gadu: a scientist. Blaithe could fondly remember her time with the stunted Plagues while in the city. They helped her and she hoped that she had left an impression. She missed them from time to time.
”Blaithe.”
”Yes?” she answered, blinking again.
”Would you like me to fetch you some flowers?” Hero repeated, his voice droning. He was getting too used to this.
”We can go together,” Blaithe suggested, her free hand reaching for the walking stick Min Ho had gifted her.
”But your leg—“ the feline Excito stammered.
”My leg is fine, Hero. I must get used to it.” A semi-new adjustment. Since that Rose broke her original peg as an Excito, the Quietus had hardly done any walking; most would have carried her given her size, but now it would have been a hassle, standing at five feet flat. Hero stood now chance. ”Oji is in the garden now. Let us go keep him company, yes?”
”Okay.”
Bringing her arm up, Blaithe allowed Hero to perch on her shoulder before using both hands to push herself up and off of her Grimm’s bed. Jin Ho had been so kind to let the two of them lay claim to his bed, but since Blaithe’s painful growth he was more than worried.
The walk to the garden was short, but with Blaithe’s gimp and slow pace, it took longer than it would have for a healthy human. She did her best to pass by the common room quickly, avoiding her Grimm’s father as much as possible.
The air outside was fresh; there were few clouds and little humidity, leaving the warm breeze crisp. Blaithe could not describe the colors that the wind held.
Jin Ho looked surprised to see his ward up and about, standing from his spot within the garden. ”Is everything okay?” he asked, raising his gloved hand in concern. His legs became restless and he was unsure of whether to move and help his Quietus.
Another smile curved Blaithe’s lips before shaking her head. ”I am fine, Oji,” she said, continuing to walk toward the opposite end of their humble plot of soil. "Hero and I came for flower buds and company.”
”Indeed,” added the cat.
The concern slowly faded from the Grimm’s face as he watched Blaithe move. She was slow, but she was finally getting used to moving on her own. ”Okay,” he finally said, kneeling back down into his spot. Not long ago, a fellow mage had commissioned him some specific herbs and he had work to do.
Blaithe, on the other hand, had nothing but free time. Her work on illumination Hopkin’s book had long been finished, and by Hero’s hand she had been forced to stop obsessing over it. The first thing Blaithe did after her growth, besides eating an entire jar of strawberry jam, was to pour herself into that book at every chance. It had to be perfect before they were to come and take it. It had to be.
Stopping at the end of the garden, Blaithe admired the roses, lilies and other lovely flowers that Jin Ho had nursed for previous customers. She had her pick of any and all she wanted with her Grimm’s permission.
Picking the most vibrant she could find, Blaithe retired to the wooden bench built into the short brick wall surrounding them.
She picked a petal off of one of the roses and examined it before placing it onto her tongue. Its taste was rich and red – Blaithe’s stars flared in delight. White roses tasted empty, almost like water, but the Anhelo held a spiteful enjoyment for them.
Hero had since moved from his friend’s shoulder and onto her lap, also examining each flower that she had picked.
”What are you doing now?” Blaithe asked, raising her gentle and androgynous voice so that Jin Ho could hear her before placing another petal in her mouth.
”Sweet Cicely and Costmary,” Jin Ho said, practically buried in his garden.
”Another mage?”
”Yes, all the way from Anica. It will be delivered with your book.”
”Oh,” said Blaithe, stopping to give Hero a gentle stroke. Anika… that’s where Sloane was now. The distaste Jin Ho held for the sword was palpable, but… the brush wanted nothing more than to see her friend again.
”Jin Ho…?”
The former mage halted for a moment, not having expected his full name. Blaithe had begun using her loving nickname once more, and he had grown to like it again.
”Yes, Blaithe?” Jin Ho answered.
”I…” she stammered, her eyes drifting away from the tower of herbs surrounding her Grimm to the lovely clouds in the sky. ”I want to go to Anica.”
Jin Ho paused in his work, staring at the leafy greens before him. Anica? Where did that come from? Well, yes, he had mentioned it mere minutes ago, but… wait. No. No, she wanted to be with Sloane over her own Grimm? Even with the trouble he’s caused or the rude air he carried? True, a good portion was by his own hand, but the rage the sword carried was toxic when it surfaced.
”I would rather you not, “ he announced, continuing with his work.
Blaithe deflated, her hand stopping midway with another petal. Hero gently nuzzled her hand.
Honestly, Hero didn’t want her to go, either. Not out of fear of being left or lost, but also of that damned blade. He knew all too well of Blaithe’s infatuation with Sloane, and jealousy was a poison all of its own.
Timidly, Blaithe silently cleared her throat. ”I promise that I will be safe… I want to hand mine and Hopkin’s work over, myself…”
”No,” Jin Ho said flatly, followed by a heavy sigh. ”We have this life here in Imisus. My father needs my help so I cannot leave.”
”I can go alo—“
”No, Blaithe.”
Staring down at what was left of her flowers; Blaithe could feel her eyes pool with thick, warm paint. She did her best to keep it all in, especially with Hero staring her down.
”Why?” she dared to ask.
Another sigh sounded from behind the curtain of foliage. ”Blaithe… dear, sweet Blaithe. I do not want you to go.”
”But I—“
”No.”
”Perhaps you should listen and take defeat,” Hero chimed, causing Blaithe to look down.
She was frustrated.
”Your grudge with Sir Sloane is not my fault!” Blaithe exclaimed, hoisting Hero onto her shoulder. ”I should not be punished for your own problems!”
Jin Ho stopped eyes wide with shock. No, it wasn’t her fault; not at all. Sure, she was the point of discussion in his and Sloane’s last argument, but it still was not her doing. The scribe had no answer.
With a disgruntled sigh, Blaithe pushed herself up from the bench and clumsily made her way back into the house. She ignored the hateful glare from Han Ji on the other side of the common area and headed straight to their room. Red filled her vision and she huffed angrily as she sat at their desk. Hero hopped down Blaithe’s arm and onto the polished, wooden surface of their table. He dared not say a word.
Blaithe hastily dug into one of the drawers and pulled out the large document she had worked so hard on prior to her growth. Hero sighed and wandered off without a word. The brush did not notice.
It felt like an hour passed as she studied her work, fixing bits here and there as she went. It calmed her as she worked; cathartic, as it was.
”Blaithe?” Jin Ho called from behind the closed door. ”Hero says you’re working again.”
No response.
A few more minutes of silence passed before the Grimm spoke again.
”…Blaithe. I’ll think about it.”
His brown voice sounded blurrily in her vision, but Blaithe ceased her working with wide eyes. Her fingers lifted from the pages.
”I promise.”
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