△△△ emerged from the confines of the psychiatric institution, his gaze fixed upon the copy of Duke Vikena’s medical notes cradled in his grasp. His eyes honed in on the diagnosis scrawled across the page: narcolepsy. The doctor’s notes indicated that the affliction had manifested within the duke in the past year, a consequence—they conjectured—of the profound trauma wrought by the loss of his beloved wife.
With trepidation, △△△ inquired if the medical staff recognized the list of herbs and, perhaps more importantly, if they had prescribed the opium found in the duke’s room. Unfortunately, his fears were confirmed as they shook their heads in response. The pharmacist explained that the list of herbs included a mixture of seasonings and a handful of medicinal herbs, the effects of which were known to induce an altered state of mind. As for the opium...well, the implication hung heavy in the air, left unsaid.
A heavy-hearted sigh escaped △△△ as he carefully tucked the notes into the depths of his coat pocket, feeling their weight against his chest before he set off down the bustling city street and to Sorian Park. The throng of people excited for the evening festivities quickly engulfed the raven-haired wayfarer. Bodies coalesced around him like a thick fog.
The Lost Traveler & The Guide from the Other Side
Once upon a time—or perhaps in a time yet to be—, there was a traveler lost in a dense fog. The traveler roamed aimlessly, disoriented and unsure of how long or far they had been wandering. They had been walking for what seemed like an eternity, with no clear direction or destination in mind. As they stumbled through the misty veil, they chanced upon a mysterious guide who appeared suddenly before them.
“Are you lost, traveler?” the guide asked. When the traveler replied with a desperate nod, the guide offered to take the traveler across the veil as long as they paid the price: one gold piece.
The traveler eagerly handed over the coin. “I want to go home,” they pleaded. “Take me back home.”
The guide’s lips curled into a smile, though whether it was one of sympathy or malice was uncertain. “Oh, I am sorry, poor traveler… you will need to pay more than that if you want to return home.”
“What was the price to bring you back, Violet?”The fog of people thinned as they parted around the two wanderers with pallid complexions and dark hair. △△△ leaned in, peering intently into her face. In the black mirrors of his eyes, a profound hollowness stared back, creating a loop of infinite nothingness that seemed to swallow all light and life around them.
To say that △△△ was utterly taken aback at the sight of the late Lady Violet Damien drifting about as though someone had not axed her in the head was an understatement. Initially, he thought she was a figment of his imagination, for her apparition seemed too otherworldly to be tangible. Yet as he continued to observe her ethereal form, the truth became undeniable. The ghost of Lady Damien was not a mere apparition, but a tangible presence, firmly rooted in the realm of the living.
Well, that throws whatever Peter’s plans were out the window. △△△ wondered if his companion was aware of Lady Damien’s unexpected resurrection.
“Are you lost, Lady Damien?”Violet's eyes shifted to the speaking figure that at some point in time appeared in front of her. Her eyes appeared to be unable to focus on him, moving around the shape and color of what appeared to be a faceless man.
Her eyes darted like that of a blind person, glazed over and didn’t seem to focus on anything. One thing that the stranger would likely notice would be the large gash from the center of her forehead moving down her face as it traveled over the bridge of her nose and settling under her eye. It would likely be distracting and send a sense of fright to anyone who may see such a nasty looking wound, but Violet was unaware of it.
When Lady Damien did not respond, △△△ tried again,
“You don’t look too well… are you all right? Do you need help going home?”Her face remained blank as an untouched canvas, devoid of any discernible emotion. However, as her eyes drifted towards a certain direction, he thought he caught a flicker of light, a hint of life, in the once vacant countenance.
A burst of color again shot up into the sky, exploding the tiny sparkling stars that caught Violet's eye. Looking back up and over to display she felt a sense of draw being pulled over to it.
△△△ followed her line of sight and saw none other than Lord Ravenwood standing some distance away.
“Or perhaps you’d like to join the picnic dinner? Princess Sadie invited every Varian who attended the ball, but I’m sure she wouldn’t mind other people joining.” The golden cuff buttons shone like coins as he offered his hand to guide his fellow wayfarer past the crowd.
Violet looked down at the gold flicker from the cuff of his button as she stood there for a moment. Her mind slightly confused as to what was expected. She could see his arm gesturing towards her as she reluctantly held up her own.
She rested her hand on his arm accepting his offer. Violet felt some sudden relief as her balance was steadied better then her cane. Falling slightly into him as her balance shifted, he would feel her weight pressing into him for support as their first few steps it would become apparent that she was struggling to walk. Her legs would still shake slightly, almost buckling at times as the once elegantly moving lady resembled that of a toddler just learning how their legs worked for the first time.
While it may not have been the most socially acceptable comparison to make, likening a lady to a toddler seemed to him to be the most fitting analogy. If it had not been obvious before, it was clear to him now: this was a new woman, taking her first tentative steps in a world that was both new and achingly familiar. △△△ watched her carefully, observing every move she made as she struggled to adjust to this unfamiliar existence.
A surge of protectiveness welled up within him, an urge to guide her through this strange and uncharted terrain. Though △△△ was aware that she would need much more than just his assistance to navigate this new life, he resolved to do what he could at the moment. At the very least, he could help her reach the picnic safely. With a gentle touch, he rearranged their positions, making sure that she had a secure grip on him and that he could catch her if she were to lose her balance.
Violet was largely unaware of her issues until she was walking alongside the stranger. Her slow pace and issues with her legs became frustrating and that frustration was very clear on her expression even though she had said nothing to him.
Trying to take one step at a time she tried to mask her struggle as much as possible. To the eye it may just appear that she was strolling with a gentleman enjoying the festivities.
What should have been a relatively short distance from their current position to the picnic site stretched out into a trek as they ambled along at a leisurely pace. Every step was slow and measured, with △△△ offering words of praise and encouragement to her. Whenever she seemed tired from the exertion, they paused for a break, soaking in the surrounding festivities while he made idle commentaries on this or that. Although he was not entirely certain if Lady Damien comprehended any of it, she would have to become accustomed to people conversing with her.
“You’re doing excellent, Lady Damien. At this rate, you’ll be speed walking in no time.” He did not expect to receive a response, so continued his one-sided conversation.
“Are you enjoying the fireworks?”“..Fireworks..” she repeated, her voice slightly hoarse and raspy sounding.
“The explosion of stars?” she questioned as she looked up to the sky to see it void of any at that particular moment.
“ As much as I am able I suppose “ Violet continued to put one foot in front of the other as the strolled to their destination. Her mind seem to start playing catch up
“ I was lost..” she said responding too his question “ I think I am still …” she wasn’t sure what those words meant but they slowly seemed to just slip out.
“ You know my name Sir, but I am afraid I am unfamiliar with yours.”△△△ smiled, pleased to hear Lady Damien’s voice. He was ready to introduce himself like he had done many times before, only to come up short. A haze obscured his name from himself, and his throat constricted as if something was ready to choke him out if he dared to utter a name he could not even recall. This time, △△△ was the one who needed to take a break.
Violet stopped in her steps as the man appeared to be struggling himself. Her eyes looked in his direction, not fully making contact but she seemed to relax when he spoke.
After taking a few breaths, he turned to Lady Damien.
“Apologies. I’ve been having trouble thinking today.” He cast a quick glance around them before leaning in to share a secret that he felt she would understand.
“Truth is, I can’t recall my name or face right now. When I try to, it just comes up as a jumbled mess. I know it’s there somewhere. I just can’t retrieve it. So I mean no disrespect when I say that I cannot give you my name. Hopefully, someone will say it when we reach our destination.” His gaze fell upon the remaining distance they needed to cover, and he noted with satisfaction that they were getting very close. With a nod to Lady Damien, △△△ signaled that they should resume their walk.
Feeling him lean inward, his breath tickling her ear. It felt like a cool mist that got caught in the wind while the tide was pulling in. She felt the hairs on her skin rise slightly in reaction as she tried to listen to him carefully. She was a bit surprised at his response, but she trusted in the fact that he knew her name and that was enough for her to continue walking.
“Maybe you’re still lost in the fog.” △△△ said once they took a few more steps.
“Are you also having trouble thinking?”“ Was I lost there before?” she asked curiously. How could she still be lost somewhere when this is all she really knew.
“ I …” she paused for a moment. She still didn’t understand herself what was going on , she had no prior memories only feelings. Still, she felt like she was on a wooden boat, sailing in the middle of blackened waters—the sky above her was black, void of any stars or signs of life. The water reflected the dark sky as the mist formed around the boat, floating above the black liquid as she continued to move forward. Or was she moving at all? She still didn’t really know. Her legs were moving but she felt stuck.
“ It’s hard to explain, I - Today is…” she stumbled on her words
“ I don't remember “ She finished.
△△△ gave her a reassuring squeeze to pull Lady Damien away from the murky beyond.
“Don’t worry, you’re still here.” His voice was crisp, in an attempt to anchor her to the here and now.
“As long as you keep going, you’ll find your way.” He urged her forward—a breeze pushing a boat along calm waters.
“At your own pace.”“What’s been done, cannot be undone. I don’t know if you had any choice in the matter or if you even wanted this, but… please, wake up, enjoy your second chance at life, for those who had to pay the toll for you, if not for your own sake.” He knew not if Lady Damien would ever comprehend the meaning behind his words or if they would fade from her memory, but he spoke them nonetheless, praying she would keep them close to her heart.
Violet stared down at her feet as they walked, his words sounded muffled and inaudible too her. The only thing she was really able to make out was “Please, wake up..” Everything else just seemed to be words strung together in an incoherent sounds. She felt a sudden stop as she looked up to the unusual stranger.
Once they reached the picnic area, △△△ brought Lady Damien to a halt and stood directly in front of her before lifting his palms. He rotated his wrists a few times, showcasing their emptiness. Suddenly, a glimmer caught the light and a gold coin materialized out of the ether. △△△ twirled the coin between his nimble fingers and, as he did, the number of coins multiplied—once, twice, thrice. Just as his hands threatened to overflow with gold, he flipped his hands over in a fluid motion and the precious metals vanished.
Raven-black tresses swayed against her as △△△ raised a hand and sought for something nestled behind Lady Damien’s ear. The sharp chime of a bell rang when he withdrew his hand, revealing a solitary coin. Taking her hand with great care, he pressed the gold piece into her open palm, its metallic surface catching the light of the fireworks above and shimmering with a muted glow.
She felt the cold metal place in her hand her eyes catching the glimmer as she raised her other hand to feel the edges of the coin. Her touch painting an outline in her mind of what the coin looked like.
“For luck,” △△△ smiled.
“May this journey be kinder to you than the last, and, when you depart once more, may you leave with as little regret as possible.” She closed her hand around the coin and held it tightly in her grasp as she looked up at the stranger. Her eyes were still void of anything, they were glazed over and bright red very different from her eyes prior to all of the events. No longer did they show any sign of the beautiful green they once held.
The reflection of the fireworks exploding off her eyes as they tried to focus on the blur of the man but still couldn’t. Looking back down at the coin in her hand Violet finally spoke after some time of silence. “ Mortem Theloneo..’ she said softly. She didn’t know what that ment or why she even said it but she could feel some kind of significance of the coin.
He chuckled weakly as his mind’s eye drifted to the scattered heap of corpses that lay strewn across the path of time.
“If only coins were enough,” △△△ said, more to himself than to Lady Damien.
“But if ‘every coin counts,’ I’m glad this helps.”Looking up at the stranger again she nodded in appreciation
“ Thank you.” She couldn’t find the ability to smile, it was as if her face was frozen in time. She couldn’t seem to manage it however she hoped her words were enough.
“ It’s lovely.” … Unlike the man before her who smiled with practiced ease, a countenance as familiar to him as breathing, for better and for worse.
“You’re very welcome.” His eyes lingered on hers for a beat longer before spinning around to face those who assembled for the picnic.
“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen! I apologize for the late arrival.” He accompanied Lady Damien for a few more strides until their path led them to the royal siblings. △△△ bent at the waist in deference to their hostess, Princess Sadie.
“I offer my sincere gratitude for the invitation, Your Royal Highness. I am elated beyond measure to be present in this gathering.” With a graceful turn, he addressed the prince,
“Prince Felix, it’s a pleasure to meet you here.”He twisted his frame and directed a subtle gesture towards Lady Damien.
“By chance, I crossed paths with Lady Damien en route, and found myself unable to resist extending an invitation for her to join me. I pray an additional guest is not an inconvenience to your hospitality.”Violet stood beside him her appearance resembling that of a apparition. Her pale skin contrasting sharply with her black gown her hair hung limply around her face, framing her features.The red orbs that were her eyes stood out like they were rubies in the night sky. However they weren’t as promnate as the large partially healed wound on her forehead that traveled over the bridge of her nose, landing under her right eye would likely startle the group.
She placed her weight back onto her long black cane. Scanning the group of colors and blurs unable to distinguish one from the other. She could tell by the words of the stranger that there were at least both men and women in the group.
Violet simply smiled back but it seemed to hold no true emotion behind it
. “Yes, if my presence this evening is too much I dont mind taking leave.” Violet said her voice still void of any tone, sounding as if she were reading from a book.
Her blood colored eyes moving over towards Roman. She couldn’t make out his face or who exactly the person she was looking towards was but something told her she knew him in some capacity.
“I don't want to be a bother.” She stated simply.
High Moon
Snowdrops
Charley
SilverPaw
Tpartywithzombi
CitrusArms
PapaOso
Tlaloc
Vixere
Festive
