Lighted Lies II

  NOVA

  I had gone through eight bottles of wine in only thirty minutes, child’s play for an echo but even more so for me: Someone who knows how to hold her liquor. Although, in my current emotional state my resistance seemed less effective than if I were just drinking for fun. Not really a desirable quality in a woman perceived to be so pure and responsible. Only the sensation of the drink lighting up my every nerve, broke through my pitiful, muddled thoughts.

  My, don’t you look pathetic, a voice purred at the edge of my consciousness.

  The rush of loathing I had been feeling was amplified by the voice at my back, fell on my back and gave a bleary-eyed look at the cat sitting on the table above me. Those slitted pupils giving me an ever-disapproving look.

  “I’ll cook you,” I giggled.

  I’m not seeing any superiority in your behavior at the moment, Valuni said in a disgusted tone. Where is your pride?

  “Pride…” I said absentmindedly.

  Yes fool. Pride. You speak of selflessness and mercy, yet you lie here in a pool of spirits and tears. You know the future presented to you is not guaranteed. Even I, as a clairvoyant being, am aware of this fact.

  “Yur sush a silly cat,” I quavered. “Why don’ you jus’… hava drink.”

  Valuni hissed at the booze in my hand. I cannot have a proper conversation with such a disoriented mind. I suppose I’ll suppress the effects for the duration of our exchange.

  The black cat gave an audible meow that brought a piercing pain behind my eyes, then a moment of clarity settled in place of the pain. As I rose and faced Valuni, my hand-eye coordination sharpened, and my words had more coherence to them the next time I spoke.

  “Thank you,” I addressed Valuni grudgingly, trying not to make my hatred for the feline so obvious.

  Very well then, now you’re somewhat bearable to be around. Valuni’s cold words washed over me.

  “What do you want?”

  I have but one request of my lord’s mistress.

  “Mistress?!” I bellowed at the cat; I swiped at her with my fist. “I can’t believe you would address me so rudely.”

  Aren’t you awfully testy? Valuni licked her fur, unbothered. I only ask that you don’t accept defeat so quietly. If you sit complacently in your dilemma, then you have only accepted defeat. And to accept defeat before battle is cowardly of a warrior, and that is what you are.

  “A coward?” I asked dryly.

  A warrior, is that not what your species exists for, improvisational combat?

  “That’s definitely a very textbook way of putting it.”

  I cannot stand to see the strong brought to their knees without a fight, pull yourself together. You have time, I suggest you make use of it. Valuni dropped from the table and popped out of existence.

  “I can’t stand that cat.”

  I miss my husband; I said in my head.

  The effects of alcohol returned with full force, but the emotional deterioration lessened significantly. I pulled the cork out of another bottle; its sour scent was threatening but also welcoming. I reveled in the silence and complete lack of responsibility I felt as I took a weak sip from the bottle. I stared at the wall, trying to make sense of my clouded thoughts, until I finished off the last bottle.

  I tossed the empty bottle on the ground, shattering it to bits near the door. Aerix’s words occasionally played in my brain, sometime melding with bits of Valuni’s conversation. I flopped backwards once more and closed my eyes, feeling oddly at peace.

  This is just like the wedding ceremony, I thought drearily.

  I fondly recalled lying in the grass at the park where we had our unofficial wedding, one of the many parks Fadabiea had overseen the construction of. Dedicated to their respective Celestials, they were often used for such events, blossoming with Verdant Concept Energy. I had been so giddy at the time that the park staff had to go searching for me after closing time because I had been so consumed in my mind and forgotten about the after-party.

  Compared to right now, that day was nothing more than a twisted parallel to my horrible state of mind. I couldn't even find the will to finish cleaning the blood that was on the floor; cleaning up the atrocious mess I had made in the room was out of the question. Quite ironic, the therapist who dedicates her life to helping others can't even help herself.

  "Nova?"

  I hadn't even heard him come in. I suppose that comes with the territory of marrying the Echo of Secrets.

  "Oh no, Sweetie, what happened," his voice came across gently and full of concern, a tone he never used with anyone but me.

  Blu came over to where I was sprawled, kicking bottles out of his path that scraped hollowly against the floor. He kneeled down next to me and only looked at me, searching my face for... something, perhaps a reason for me bawling out my eyes on the floor.

  "Do you want to tell me what it is that's bothering you?"

  I simply shook my head and instead, held out my arms to him.

  Blu obliged my wordless request and locked me in his embrace; there was a distinct smell of blood and gunpowder on him. One of his hands stroked my hair, while the other held me to him, his fingers tapped rhythmically along my back, my wings fluttered at his touch. Except for our heartbeats, our breathing, and the occasional sniffle from me, silence filled the room for the next ten minutes.

  "If you feel bad because I don't like you drinking so much then please don't worry about it, it’s not likely that I'd ever get upset with you over it.”

  I buried my face in his shirt and sobbed. I don't want to leave you.

  "How much did you drink anyway?"

  Ten fingers went up, then eight.

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  "Eighteen ounces?" he looked at the few intact bottles, perplexed.

  I choked up and shook my head, my forehead rubbed against Sablune’s shirt and my wings encircled us.

  “Eighteen bottles?!” Sablune exclaimed in disbelief. “Oh my, Vava, what happened to you? In only twenty minutes, that’s terrifying.”

  Stay.

  He held me tighter, whispering reassuring truths, over and over. I let myself relax a little bit, slumping against my husband’s slender frame. It was slow, but eventually, the tears stopped, and soon enough, I calmed down to a manageable level.

  “Sweetie, I love you, but I’m going to start a bath for you; it smells like a raging alcoholic in here.”

  The blue-haired boy hooked his arms under my legs and back and hoisted me up onto the couch. He gave my head a pat before waltzing off to the bathroom, a moment later, I heard the flow of water from the other side of the wall, a warm glow poured from the open door. Though my wings threw me off balance, I attempted to stand up with some difficulty and lots of wobbling, only to collapse back onto the cushy seat as the room shifted and swayed around me.

  I tucked in my legs and wrapped my arms around them, curling my arms around my shins. I listened to the series of splashes from the bathroom, then, a pop of a plastic lid like a high-pressure suction cup. Sablune appeared in the entrance to the bathroom and shook his hands, casting away a spray of water as he strolled in my direction. He helped me get to the tub, set me down just outside the bath, a strange aroma laced the water.

  “Water…?” I questioned him sluggishly. “In the water?”

  “Love, you have your clothes on, why would you be in the water. You’re so drunk,” Sablune said with a pained expression.

  “You’re drunk?” I gestured weakly at the boy in black before my head lolled and struck the porcelain surface of the tub.

  “You.”

  “Owwwieee!” I cried out feebly.

  “I take it you won’t be stripping on your own?”

  “Strip… with me?” I mumbled.

  “Yeah, no. You clearly didn’t understand.” He tugged at the hem of my shirt and worked the material over my wings, trying not to widen the quickly cut holes that they protruded from. Sablune pulled the cloth over my head and began the extensive task of pulling my hair through it.

  “Are two tuna funniest?” He asked while shaking off my white shorts.

  “Wuhhh?”

  “Are you gonna handle the rest?” Sablune reiterated.

  “Taking advantage… of…” I tried to speak with little success.

  “Not even close.”

  Once more Sablune scooped up my near-lifeless body and set me down, sliding me into the warm water that soaked my underwear and feathers. He handed me a washcloth and began working his hands through my ankle-length hair, wetting it bit by bit and scrubbing vanilla shampoo into my locks. At moments, he would deliver sips of ice water to me, while I cleaned myself, a small, loving gesture among others, to help me get through the night.

  Blu quietly finished washing my hair and started drying it, no longer prying on what was upsetting me. Every ounce of the boy's focus was on me. Just the way I liked it. When he finished with my hair, he informed me that he linked our phones to the A.I.D. archives so we would be ready to leave first thing in the morning. Whatever counts as the morning in this strange place.

  "I need you to stand up for me now, can you do that?"

  I nodded slowly, feeling much better with some support near me, and shifted my weight to the edges of the bath, Sablune gave me a towel to dry my body with and took a blow-dryer to my wings. My reflection caught my eye in the mirror across from me.

  At least I still look put together for my Darling.

  "I'm going to go grab you some clothes." Sablune started to leave, but I caught his sleeve. He offered a questioning look and patiently waited for me to speak.

  "I... I think I can... change myself."

  "That's good to hear." He smiled warmly, before leaving to retrieve my clothes.

  I peeled off my underwear and waited by the door, my head still foggy but my thoughts decipherable. I needed to make sure I was functional enough for our trip to the Seventh Index—put together enough for the others, yes, but mostly so I wasn't a burden for my husband. It was important that I remain the calm and serene therapist that I am known as, because I am this group’s support, someone they all should be able to rely on.

  The bathroom door clicked and opened airily; a pile of clothes slid onto the tiled floor. A crop-sweater, a skirt, some underwear, and thigh-high socks, all white.

  "You're not even gonna try and sneak a peek at your gorgeous wife?" I called out with a fraction of my former mellifluous tone.

  "With abs like those, I'm satisfied with the knowledge," Sablune returned snarkily. "Also, weren't you on the ground sobbing, not even thirty minutes ago? You bounce back quick."

  "That is why you married me," I said, pulling on my sweater.

  "Technically, I married you for the benefit of the world and greater society."

  "Since when does that matter to you?" I yawned, still groggy.

  "I live in the world, so I suppose it's only natural that I care a little bit."

  "Can't argue with that."

  "Not a chance," Sablune assured.

  After successfully dressing myself, I hurled my dirty clothes into the hamper tucked away in the closet by the main entrance. I wandered into the bedroom and sat on the edge of the bed, next to Sablune, who was staring disinterestedly at his phone.

  "Aerix said we should review the properties of the next Index before tomorrow comes," Sablune began, "but if you want to sleep, I'll let you."

  "As long as it's with you," I whispered.

  "Huh?"

  "I don't care what happens, as long as I'm with you to the last breath. Promise me, you won't leave my side if you can avoid it. please stay near me, unless the circumstances call for otherwise."

  Without hesitation, Sablune lifted his right hand, the one bearing the mark of Loylia and swore to me, "I promise to abide by these terms for as long as the both of us walk under the gaze of Celestia."

  The mark glowed a blazing white and a new emblem appeared below it, a simple outline of the sun. Representing the promise he made to me, the first he made since walking Loylia's path.

  "Why is it the Sun?" I wondered aloud.

  "In all honesty... I don't know. Maybe the symbols vary based on the premise of the promise," answered Sablune. "I do know, that if I tell a lie, it will burn out the promise instead of killing me, but the thing about burning out promises is the fact that they will also punish the person I made the promise to."

  "Doesn't that seem a little bit wrong, you could just kill people you don't like by breaking their promises," I observed.

  The Shade Strider sighed wistfully as he pulled me towards him, took up my hair, and began to braid. "If only. If I try and make a promise that I don't intend to keep, I'll go up like a firecracker."

  “You have a lot of voluntary constraints for someone that doesn’t care for the rules.”

  “How the hell do you fight with hair this long?” Sablune grumbled. “Anyway, I’m willing to make the sacrifice, so a couple of extra stipulations don’t bother me.”

  “I love you,” I told him softly.

  “Thus, making me doubt your common sense.”

  I elbowed him in the ribs. “Tell me about the next Index. I want to be ready for everything and anything.”

  “You won’t like it,” cautioned Sablune. “Index Six is completely devoid of light, and apparently any light sources on the level will not function. On the more positive side, there have not been any indications of demoryns inhabiting the floor.”

  “Well, I can’t see that being an issue, I have a Concept to generate light sources if need be, or at least repair destroyed ones.”

  “The additive one, right?”

  “Additive Concept: Contrived Incandescence,” I answered confidently.

  “See yeah, the counterpart to Starless Night. Though, I guess I should assume that anything I can do, you can undo.”

  “Exactly, like your pants, for instance.”

  “And on that note… Goodnight.” Sablune finished the hairdo and shoved me off the bed with his foot.

  I update on M/W/F; Patreon has early access chapters.

  Additive Concept: Contrived Incandescence: Allows Nova to generate or intensify nearby light sources, with the effect being proportional to the Concept Energy expended.

  Subtractive Concept: Starless Night: Destroys or disables nearby light sources, with the effect being proportional to the Concept Energy expended by Sablune.