✿ the pretty little bird III_
✿ Elenei Kiều_
✿ The First Day, Evening_
A fly was here. It landed on Elenei’s cheek.
Vesuvius
Only for a moment, however. Light filtered through the blinds, courtesy of some passing vehicle, and in the slash of yellow fire, illuminating a strand of the room. It was all Mel could see-- the close form of the insect as it passed over narrowed eyes-- a buzzing body as it took flight, like a massive horrible monster for the briefest of flashes. She didn’t stir. She didn’t want to-- it didn’t matter. The fly. She didn’t have the energy to move her arm to lazily bat at the thing anyway.
I am here
What the hell was she doing here? Sleeping with a pretty lady, obviously-- married woman, actually-- she didn’t care much, though. That was the point, right? That she didn’t care too much. It was the man’s fault for marrying a cheating stripper, right?
Fire of fire
I’m insecure
A rhetorical question-- they all were. Asked by herself, to no one, that only she could hear, coming impossibly from a long dead part of her mind, echoed as a hoarse whisper. Her bloodshot eyes glanced up toward the cracked ceiling.
For it’s all been made to plan
Though I know
She was having fun is what she was doing. Or she
was-- rather, she had been, she was in the cooldown of having had fun. She wasn’t having much fun. Right now wasn’t fun. This wasn’t fun. Right now was thought.
I will fail
The ceiling spider-webbed out from central points in a circle. Just above Mel. It wanted to be a hole-- something had hit here, attempting to crack the plaster, but failed-- it was the globe, now, solids covered in valleys and rivers cutting a path and providing definition. Truthfully, the ceiling was more crack than solid at this point. That wasn’t part of the design, this was age and malnourishment, this was directionless spite given form above her. The cracks were black parasitic worms hanging above her, invading the indigo dry wall.
She didn’t know if the ceiling was indigo, she couldn’t really tell in this light.
How long had Luna been living here? This place was aged-- either expensively so or not. Were those cracks the brothers of flawed marble from the 21st century? Or the glorified homes of thousands of wriggling roach larvae? Elenei shivered. She needed to look at something else.
I cannot be made to laugh
Mel frowned. The rest of the room was plain. It resembled a generic hotel room-- few personal effects besides a closet spilling over with the clothing of some type of businessman and a woman who spends too much on clothes. Two night stands, one for him, one for her.
For in life
As in death
Three, really. One had just taken place.
I’d rather be burned than living in debt
The fly landed again on Elenei’s cheek.
Vesuvius
Life crawled back into her muscles. She raised her left hand to swat at the thing, but in a moment decided against it. It didn’t move.
Are you a ghost
Or the symbols of light or a fantasy host?
The shifting in the bed stirred Luna-- the chimera beside her. Her grey wings fluttered as she greeted Elenei with a smile.
In your breast
I carry the form
The heart of the Earth and the weapons of warmth
She didn't smile back.
Vesuvius
Luna sighed in contentment, and moved to swat at the fly that had moved to Elenei's chest. Mel stopped her hand.
The tragic oath
For you have destroyed with the elegant smoke
Oracle, I've fallen at last
But they were the feast of a permanent blast
Luna was visibly confused, "Hmmm?"
Vesuvius
“My aunt likes flies.” It continued to buzz above Elenei, taunting Luna, “She says they’re the servants of Beelzebub.”
Oh, be kind
“Your aunt Mya?” Luna looked concerned, “She told you this?”
It hasn't occurred, no, it hasn't been said
Mel nodded, "How...?"
Elenei
Follow the path
It leads to an article of imminent death
Luna blushed, "I'll admit-- I'm a bit of a fan of your work." Mel's eye twicthed as the woman giggled. This was new.
Elenei
Follow your heart
Follow the flame or fall on the floor
Something snapped inside. Mel got out of the bed, much to the further confusion of the Chimera woman. She didn't care.
You don't care, right? That's you. It's whatever. It doesn't matter.
But...
She needed to get out of here. She needed a drink.
Elenei
The panic inside
The murdering ghost that you cannot ignore
Luna protested as Mel walked to the door, she paused-- halting the woman's own attempts to get up and follow her.
“Does your husband know the way that the moonlight shines so perfectly off your wedding band?” Elenei turned as she reached the door to the room, “It makes your skin seem like porcelain, or pearl, or something pretty like that. When I see beauty like that… it makes me think.” Elenei’s hand lingered above the knob, “It makes me think when I make you scream and beg. Like, is it right to do this to this goddess? What happened in her life, that
I’m what she needs for relief?”
Vesuvius
Fire of fire
Follow me now as I favor the ghost
Luna didn’t respond, however. Her position had shifted, she was sitting up now, with her legs pulled in close to her chest.
“Does your husband ever make you scream like that?" Elenei cocked her head, "What’s a stripper doing with a husband anyway?”
Vesuvius
Fire of fire
Follow me now as I favor the host
Luna curled up further, covering herself completely with the sheets. She looked away from Mel.
Vesuvius
Fire of fire
Follow me now as I favor the ghost
"Well, whatever it is, you don't have to go back in if you don't want." The air hung silent between them, "I'm sure I can convince Belwas to give you some 'paid vacation,' if you want."
Silence. Mel sniffed her nose, scowling slightly. “Hmm.”
Opening the door, she left the bedroom, and soon made her way out of the apartment.
Follow me now
Or follow your death
Why does it have to be so hard?
kapuchu