my queen won't feed on milk and honey

Within a moment of peeking out, she’d known that she was spotted, though she really hadn’t tried that hard to hide. For a moment, She just stared at the girl, flinching a little almost more in surprise than fear at the sounds of the voice that emerged. There was nothing intimidating from this girl, and it was this that finally had her crawling out a little more to stare large red eyes up at at the pretty face. “Cold does not bother Mary.” The voice that emerged from the delicate girl nearly as pale as the snow around them was almost breathy in the way that comes when its usually used for the benefit solely of the speaker. 

Creeping out further with a dirt caked hand pushing the spindly branches from her way, emerging barely larger than she had been when curled up. Nose lifting into the air, sniffing and scenting, the curiousity behind her pupils only increased as her head tilted slightly to the side. “Blood warm but spiced like tea… face like a doll.” Excitement starting to bubble up a she realized she need not flee, the delicate vampyr couldn’t help the smile that curled up over her lips as muddy bare feet carried her a step or two further through the snow. 

“Playing hide and seek but Mary never knows what She’s seeking. Can’t help if invisible things are hiding. Tricky tricky sprites, hard to catch like star lines. Blink! Then gone.” Still hesitant to get too close, she stayed near enough to the tree and it’s underbrush to be able to put it between them should she need to. 

-

Elyse looked at the young woman in front of her, near overwhelmed by the intensity of her gaze. “Mary... You’re Mary?” She seemed to talk in a roundabout way, and she liked it, halfway between a conversation and a singsong. “I’m Elyse.” The closer she got, the more Elyse noticed. Muddied hands and bare feet in the middle of winter snow. She didn’t have much practice dealing with feral folk but the woman in front of her, Mary, seemed to be the perfect picture of what it was to be wild. The mention of blood peaked the wytches interest, that was something she was well versed in. Elyse had been known to offer her blood to vamps in dire need - even those who weren’t. 

“I love hide and seek!” She offered gleefully, hoping she’d get to join in. “Sprites? Invisible things? Like little feyries? They’d been really hard to catch... I could help you! If you’d like?” Elyse was always happy to help those in need and it was a benefit when she got to have fun in doing so. 

* ╱ 𝕤𝕖𝕝𝕖𝕟𝕖 𝕟𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥

●︎ when: october 4th, 2020 ●︎ where: local bakery, paris ●︎ with: @elysenight

she hadn’t noticed how tight she was holding onto elyse’s hands until her voice cut through mountains of inner dialogue. the lunch date left a sour taste on her tongue, thwarted the chances of leading an easy month in the streets of paris. “what do you mean?” she could hardly act naive, tone hardened by the recent conversation. assuming the intent of elyse’s words immediately, she didn’t want to bulldoze over her feelings. positive she wasn’t the culprit.

“oh, yeah. yeah! there should be a cafe or a bench up ahead,” her fingers loosened on the grip, making sure not to let go, her body slowly relaxed as they walked. infinite thoughts danced by the fruit of elyse’s next words, a giddy sensation surging over her body in the span of seconds. she’d need to hear them again or else she was dreaming - dazed selene at it again. she wasn’t used to this earnest side of elyse, the past was a mine-field, she’d tense at the slightest sign of a confession. after their midnight swim, it was easier to pretend. selene’s efficient defenses fell slowly, eyes and heart locked in, studying a face she’s known for years. she thought, ‘for a minute, for hours, for days.’ dry-mouthed, she opened her lips to speak and she froze. mouth agape, staring blindly at the request. languid expressions dispelled any assertive thought. she shook her head, in disbelief and to shake the devil off her shoulder, telling her to shutdown, repress. “of course,” she said, despite the goddamn voices telling her she’d say all the wrong things. she peered to the side out of habit, and stopped dead in her tracks at the sight of a stranded broom set aside in an alleyway. the years leading up to this hung in the air; not tension, but anticipation. selene figured a full scope of the city and themselves would be a page turner, a clear pivotal point neither would be able to repress. the clouds would be fortunate enough to overhear their conversation. she ventured towards the alleyway, quickly putting together an old casting the staff from waywayd taught her young, by the flick of the wrist. the duality of two maidens would be enough to power up the mundane object into a novel magical feat. 

breaking contact, selene readily straddled the broom’s handle, leaving sufficient room for elyse to join. there were two brooms, however, both enchanted and awaiting elyse’s decision. “do you trust me?” pressure on her chest told her to turn back, to do less, say less, but all that was registered were the muscles on her face, lifting her lips into the widest smile. a ghostly smile, nervous, that came and went. 

-

It wasn’t a choice. 

Even though Elyse would have picked Selene over everyone, it wasn’t a choice. Words almost seemed like a tame medium for the conversation she’d hope they’d have. Her feelings were so overwhelming that she often worried that she’d simmer over and put words to the unspoken closeness that had grown between them. Not just recently, it had been brewing for a while. It was an innate need that she was sure she’d been built with. As inherent and divine as her compulsion was to being a support, it was even more powerful than that still. It was time, probably well overdue. They’d talk, she’d talk - most likely a babble of some kind but she hoped the words would all fall out of her mouth in a way that Selene could puzzle together. 

Elyse didn’t want to let go of her hand but watching Selene at work was just as satisfying. She was so capable and it left the shorter of the two playing the role of a happy spectator, a giddy grin happily finding its way to her lips. 

What a silly question. Elyse almost felt bad for thinking it, worried that their closeness might’ve let slip her reaction. It wasn’t that she ever thought in a way that would undermine Selene, but rather the idea that she could ever live in a world where she didn’t trust the single most magnetic and impressive woman she’d had the privilege to serve was preposterous. Though it was outlandish and mostly overused, Elyse would happily and easily give up her life for Selene. The context didn’t matter so much, the joy she’d been afforded at her sister’s hand was so great that it would truly be the least she could offer. 

Without any hesitation she moved to straddle the back of Selene’s broom. Elyse’s arms move to wrap around her waist, one palm laying flat against her stomach and the other taking a light hold of her shirt; a habit she couldn’t bring herself to break. A small scoot brought her as close as she possibly could be to Selene, quite possibly the most magic part of Paris she’d seen. 

“I’m with you, wherever you want to go.”

* ╱ 𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐲𝐫𝐚 𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭

●︎ when: December, 2020 ●︎ where: Church of Eden ●︎ with: @elysenight

 Samiyra was always excited to see Elyse. Her unmatched loyalty reserved a different side of her queen. “I missed you soo much!” reaching out for a deep hug, holding the embrace for minutes. “Oh Elyse honey, I run the world!” Samiyra laughs cockily before tapping Elyse’s shoulder, “I’m totally kidding.”

  Taking a noticeable breathe, Samiyra pressed her hands together. It took shorter than expected before she pointed out the elephant in the room. She knew she had to bring up Selene somehow. Keeping things hidden was far from Samiyras purview, for Elyses’ sake - there was no need to beat around the rose bush. 

 “So - this whole debacle with Selene - that just WON’T end already - will not spoil our trip together. You see my side, don’t you? Don’t you want to harness your power wherever?!” Shaking her head in a confident sashay while frowning to prove her point, “I don’t know any wytch that would pass up the opportunity.” Samiyra intended to be clear going forward. Transparency with Elyse came naturally, she didn’t hold back from stepping outside decorum. Around her, there was an innate poison to each syllable uttered out of her mouth, a private confessional with her closest confidante. “No matter what we go through as sisters, at the end of the day - we’re fucking sisters.” They talked, arms laced together, and walked up the massive stairs of Church of Eden. In comparison to Night’s maze like halls, it’s grand structure and enchanting atmosphere left Samiyra awestruck each visit. Having been escorted by her lovely beau most of the time, she’s relative a newcomer finding her way through the castle. “Please tell me you know where we’re going,” in a breezy tone, she tugged Elyse to clutch her close.

-

It was always different seeing her person. Samirya’s rule seemed to seep into the ground as she strode over it and mist the air with regal assurance that she was to be listened to and adored. Run the world? It was far beyond that. Sometimes Elyse wondered Sam set different alarms in the morning, one to tell the sun itself to rise and the next start her own day. She relished the hug and held on for as long as she could. “Missed you too!” 

Debacle. It was one of the kinder terms she’d used for one of their fights. Elyse wished it didn’t have to happen but they were just too powerful in their own rights, too much energy in small spaces was bound to lead to some kind of adverse reaction. Each time it happened she turned into a bit of a pendulum, swinging back, staying a while and then forth to check in with the other. Usually she heard more from Sam then she did from Selene, they both had their own particular ways of dealing with the tiffs. Selene would disappear into realms unknown while Samiyra stayed and represented for the Church of the Night, or maybe just for herself; either way the company was appreciated. 

Paris had been a little different. Samiyra seemed to run the city before they touched down, leaving Elyse and Selene a lot of time to take in the city together. It had been nothing short of phenomenal. She was still engrossed in the bubble that had seemed to form around them, not willing to let anything pop it. 

“Totally.” Elyse never did take sides openly, behind closed doors only. It wasn’t lying, it was just her way of being supportive. “I want you to be able to harness your power wherever, for sure!” Power - what was that to Elyse? Sounded like more of a burden than anything else. If she could divide her power in two and offer the halves to her sister’s she would. “I know... I’m always going to love you both. I don’t think there’s anything we couldn’t get through.” Sam and Selene were cut from the same cloth and Elyse was just the frayed edges of the in between. She had to be there, part and parcel of the trio but by no means the main attraction or the font of their magic. 

“Uhhh...” The Church of Eden was possibly the most beautiful place she’d ever been. Elyse hadn’t even seen half of it but had memorized how to get to one of her most favorite spots. “We could go up to the terrace. You get to see the sea and the whole city from there.”

When: January 10th Where: Anywhere wooded or near a wooded area.

For so many centuries the trees had been Her cover. Her camouflage and safety net. A home that seemed to stretch on forever. For so long each ‘Place of People’ was much like the next, though She never got close enough to investigate too much further, peering from the tree line instead, waiting until streets grew quiet with nightfall to cover her curious treks as close as She’d dared to get. Though from the outside it would seem much the same as any other investigative drawing close, to Her it was something else, something different. A smell, or sense? Instincts followed so naturally were hard to decipher and She cared little for trying. 

Yet only a dozen or so feet from the safety of her trees, movement caught her eye, causing the tiny white clad creature fleeing back to them but tethered by curiousity She couldn’t flee far. Finding a place as hidden by snow and tangled naked foliage as possible, her lack of winter clothing did not bother her. The cold had never caused her frustration, and the tattered grey-ish of her once white dress helped her hide as best she could. Only for so long, though, before her need to look could be held back no longer and She had to peer through the branches to see if she’d been followed. 

Elyse was a wanderer, oftentimes leaving the house with no route in mind just the want for an adventure. Most times there was nothing all that exciting to report, maybe the sighting of a squirrel or the discovery of a flower she hadn’t seen before. It was a way to pass the time. Also a way to avoid awkward encounters around the house of her degree, college and the future - none of which she had any kind of answers to. Elyse wasn’t sure what she wanted to be or what she could be, anything past volunteering seemed to require too much. As always she reverted, pooled her energy into supporting her sisters with every fiber of her being. Leaving the house clean she went out for a walk but once she came up against the wilds she preferred to traverse she noted she wasn’t alone. 

* ╱ 𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐲𝐫𝐚 𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭

●︎ when: December, 2020 ●︎ where: traveling to Church of Eden ●︎ with: @elysenight 

 Snapping one last shameless mirror pic before heading to Church of Eden, Samiyra was excited to meet up with her sisters. Before heading down the stairway, she pulled out her phone to text Elyse. “Hi BB. I miss youu <3 I know we’ve been talking about traveling back home, lets do it! Meet me at Church of Eden? I’m texting Selene now. Love ya!”

 Bidding her adieus to The King, “Til I return darling..” she blew a kiss as she vacated the castle. A driver in a black suit and dark shades held open the car door for her; sliding into the warmed towncar. 

 “Ugh, I can not get a selfie to save my life!” Samiyra slightly irritated by the bumpy car ride. She feels the car stop and seizes the moment. “Yess bitch.” idolizing herself before the driver opened the car door. Stepping out of the car, she pursed her lips in adulation at  the Church of Eden. Samiyra pulled her shades down, a little tipsy from the downing two drinks - peering to see if she’d see her sisters. “Bonjour Elyse!” 

-

Paris had been a huge change for Elyse. Finally a chance to sneak off with Selene and have more honest talks that neither of them had ever been used to. There was nothing in the way, no college stresses or concern over the future - nothing to cut conversations short and leave questions unanswered, echoing after them both. A text put a pause to her overworked mind. Samirya. Without so much as a beat her fingers got to typing: “Hihi!! Omg already here, can’t wait to see you <333 Love you too!” Like any humble second, she laid in wait.

A car rolled up out front of the Church of Eden and like a hurricane that managed to file its way neatly indoors, Samiyra Night had landed. 

“Hi Sam!” Bright as always, she greeted her sister. “I’ve missed you.” The time away had been hectic but Elyse could never help herself from thinking on her sisters in their absence. Getting a chance to catch up with Samiyra was important to her but there was a part of her that worried. Her lower lip pulled between her teeth, wondering if Selene had got a chance to speak with her first - if she’d said anything. Having secrets was a dangerous game, most especially around their very own queen bee. “So do you run Paris now?”

* ╱ 𝕤𝕖𝕝𝕖𝕟𝕖 𝕟𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥

●︎ when:october 4th, 2020 ●︎ where: local bakery, paris ●︎ with: @elysenight

those open and loving eyes drove her to a quiet peace everytime. mad the buzz in her head dissipate. they were doors to elyse’s quaint thoughts too, puzzling in small ways; swift glances could be interpreted with grain of salt. face tucked away from all peering eyes and tones, an innate connection was felt by selene. the whole past transaction subsided as a distant memory. she wanted to draw a red line with her fingers to border much needed space from their sly company. handling a nuance conversation like ‘a pack of thirsty hyenas,’ selene thought. she could hardly sit idle and let them prod for personal information to turn into comedic material. this defensive stroke towards elyse had always been present. silently watching her grip her first days at the orphanage, catching snickers behind her and rebutting them with swifts words going for the jugular. holding her hand in high school, mostly out ‘bestfriend decorum’, but to assure she wouldn’t flutter away. it was she who fell short in the end, becoming more and more passive in life and letting foreseeable action go unnoticed. not necessarily repressing what felt, more or less, denying it as a possibility. the possibility of elyse.

and the two were used to their respective notes. having samiyra for a sister, selene found herself subjected to a niche and she would live for it. there’s blood in their sisterhood the french socialites weren’t entitled to. her heart grew angry, entirely alarmed, selene’s throat closed around verbal spats, subconsciously picking which to say. in honor of their sister, selene’s next words would be cautioned and positioned to sting like their queen bee.

“you know, i’ve been suddenly struck with a case of boredom.” deadlock expressions again as selene’s eyes bore into their; one of the ladies scoffed humorously, thankfully before gulping down her tenth mimosa. she could’ve let the remarks alone ( again, should she add ) or let elyse handle the pettiness; the devils knew how elyse’s sweet nature once gave into the ‘night sister fair’. finessing the end to the evening would need to be abrupt as her wired patience grown thin fleetly. she hung her tote on her shoulders, standing up and offering a hand for elyse to grasp. “shall we?”

-

Elyse never meant for her honesty to cut the lunch date short but Selene called the shots and once her hand was offered the shorter of the pair was quick to join her. 

If there was a tier list Elyse between the Night trio, she would have put herself on the lowest rung. Ability to bend til snapped, a violent rage would come and vanish but she never centered herself around power. Sam made no qualms in being openly covetous and deserving of power while Selene seemed disinterested - generally disinterested; but in the moments that she wasn’t, that was a magic all to itself. Elyse was sure that she could rule the world if she cared to, though she was blind to her own bias, seeing no issue with it as her status quo of following Selene rather happily would remain unshaken. The rest of the world would have to cope with an upheaval but Elyse would stay exactly same. Change was hard and in a way that was probably why their little rendezvous with the Eden girls was so mixed. Paris had afforded them more time together, time alone, time just to enjoy each others company - no thoughts of school or future, it was just a bubble. It was different - It felt different.   

“I’m sorry.”

The words were small, trying to slip between the beauty of the city and their reality. She hadn’t meant to say too much over lunch but as always around Selene words seemed to fall from her lips just tumbling one after the other. 

“Do you think we have to go home right away? I--- I just wanted to...” Elyse looked to Selene and seemed to be able to swim more clearly through the oceans of things she wanted to say. “I wanted to talk to you about something, you know, before we get back home home.” Everything in her lurched, it had come out so much more smoothly than she’d expected. It felt like the handbrake had been pulled, the fast paced life in the city paused momentarily and she was yet to catch up. She and Selene had been meaning to talk for a year or two maybe more, depending on how many stolen glances were required before a conversation became necessary. In many ways it felt like a now or never. If they got back home they’d fall into a routine, dancing around each other again - soft touches, soft glances and soft hearts like passing ships in the day; fully aware of one another but unsure of how to best meet in the middle, ocean waves rocking them too violently, each working vigilantly not to rail against the other. 

* ╱ 𝕤𝕖𝕝𝕖𝕟𝕖 𝕟𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥

●︎ when:october 4th, 2020 ●︎ where: local bakery, paris ●︎ with: @elysenight

it’s profound how a change in pace can cause a resurgence within the soul. a seemingly flip of the switch effect. paris’ streets and people translate a particular cadence, light steps replacing rather distant strides; bubbling laughs and puffs of smoke filtering the air among eden wytches and their debonair mannerism. not a seat apart from elyse, an item they were, and she was willing to conquer her inhibitions faraway from all they’ve known - finally. like drawing a deep, long, rewarding sign of relief. risqué questions bounced back from lip to lip, topics of sex, love, and life offered little room for shyness. she can’t ignore the quick look in her direction - swallowing hard, keeping a smile intact for appearances. 

“hate to disappoint, but i have to side with el,” the response was met with equal indifference, to which selene presumed to add, “although, a name or number is hardly an interest of mine during a fruitful night.” the laughter and winks build slowly, and she threw the socialites a wink of her own to conclude her detached yet slick standpoint. be that as it may, the truth left her an open book in the eyes of elyse - vulnerable, exposed, seeing into a part of her she rarely spoke. the grin subsides, hints of embarrassment lying visibly and instantly. they hadn’t spoke about it. and it would be a mute subject before the damage of driving of wedge between them occurred. categorizing the blissful minute into the depths of her conscious, unwillingly, brewing a disastrous pill to swallow. “gives us something better; have any of you fallen in love?”

silence. 

perplexed features all around, others made feeble attempts at a retort, presuming such feeling wasn’t real, sectioned off to dead poets and hopeless folk. selene couldn’t believe that. not when she has been driven to brittle, youthful madness by it; quelled loneliness in the arms of vacant embraces. unreciprocated love, in her case, yet she still wasn’t tired by the notion, wouldn’t dream of abandoning the possibility of another first flame. glances teeter between her cigarette at hand and elyse. she knows it’s real, painfully so, presently at the warmth of elyse. 

‘a name or number is hardly an interest of mine during a fruitful night.’

Her eyes turned to glass as she sifted through what had been said for the truth. It was easy to see why the Eden wytches had invited Selene out to lunch and Elyse by proxy. Selene was the most charming person she’d ever met, dedicated to mischievous single line salutes that meshed her intellect and adventurous nature so seamlessly. Elyse often wondered if her craving to be in Selene’s company was confused by her want to perhaps be Selene herself, it was a wholly perplexing state teetering between envy and desire. Desire, perhaps the more difficult of the two to navigate. Not physically difficult, Elyse was well versed in all manners of self restraint. If her personhood was to be defined by any biological demonstration she’d be nothing more than clenched jaw with tension enough to crack the farthest most teeth. Molars spilt down to the nerve and she’d relish in feeling something, while unpleasant, it was something. Desire was too dangerous to give into, a tainted version of affection and she had such issue with boiling a person down, reducing them to their physicality alone.

Elyse often held issue with her fears.  

But Selene was more than her peerless beauty. Elyse’s desire for her felt different, cosmic when compared to enjoying the company of others’. It never did them any justice, standing them in shade of her sister and hoping they might peak through. She did root for them and was never cruel when they didn’t match up, just expectantly offering them brighter smiles to try and balance for the disappointment. 

A colosseum of glances seemed to encircle her, all of their quips having been burnt out and her silence a most interesting admission of guilt. 

She felt caught, as if her proximity to Selene was giving something away. Did they know that her career goals included being within an arms reach of her whenever possible? She couldn’t lie. Had none of them felt the keen grip of loving someone more than they loved themselves? It was hard to believe, equally as hard as her pink cheeks were to trust with the topic that seemed to linger over her head. 

“... I, uhm... Yeah.” Elyse didn’t even dare to think to look in Selene’s direction, instead glancing towards the Parisian bunch before finding the edge of table to be a perfect distraction. She’d never fallen in, not some kind of slow descent in madness; instead it was more of an avalanche. Everything about Selene overwhelmed her and she let it, more so she found comfort it; in their younger years a balled fist of her sister’s shirt was reassurance enough to get her through anything. 

“I don’t think love gives you a choice, you know? You can date... Well, you can date anybody, I think, but can’t just love anybody. It’s different.” There was a sense of sage belief though she was wholeheartedly clueless. The wytches seemed to enjoy the confession they’d pulled from her depths, feeding off it, passing around ‘It’s different’ like a kind of punchline. Elyse wasn’t sure what to do so she tried to laugh, failed and smiled; jaw pulled taught. 

“Well Elyse?”

She grinned brightly out of pure habit and found herself pulled back into the conversation she’d lost track of; chatting the differences in dating scenes and wanting an insight into the fine South Dakotan specimens, their tales of love, debauchery and dating read like small novels while hers was but a haiku. 

many loves, one true; never refused but contained. freedom comes with her.

Elyse steadied herself, looking to Selene as if she’d offer an answer, quickly looking away before she was caught up in her gaze. “I don’t know, I’m not much a dater.” The word was as foreign in her brain as it was in her mouth. Hands placed just so in her lap, picking at her nails by way of shirking the anxiety of the topic. Her coyness was met by eye rolls, disinterest in the lacking answer and she hated that her truth wasn’t what they’d been hoping for. They wanted to hear of escapades most likely, ones that she’d never made herself privy to. No late night bed hopping or even long term dating. There wasn’t anyone on her radar, her broken dial pointed to someone she’d always seen as unavailable and certainly unattainable. 

“Sel, please give us something better than that.”

@skeletonites​

*/ EVANORA HAWTHORNE

where: Oceanarium / Sioux Falls

who: @elysenight​​

Evanora stood tall by the large ocean glass. It was beautiful the way caged creatures barely knew they were slaves to our own amusements. She watched as they swayed and danced in their mimicry of an ocean - completely contented. Wasn’t that a comical representation of human life. 

A small figure emerged into the grand hall. Blue and turquoise hues danced against her fair skin. She appeared so eager; willing to serve and please.  Evanora glanced at her watch upon the girl’s statement. Late? She was early - which awarded her a smile; the gentle curve of the older woman’s lips inspiring confidence. But Evanora did not correct her. She instead gave the girl a slight bow of the head at her compliment and turned her gaze back to the ocean creatures.

“Do you have the location of the Talisman?” she asked her voice low and melodious, soft like a mother’s touch yet laced with a poisonous edge. 

It was quite a surprise to have found a soft soul such as Elyse. The moment she had set eyes on her she knew she would be of great use. It was but a happy coincidence that she was a member of the church when Evanora wanted badly to burn it to a crisp. With the young Wytch’s intel she would be able to do just that. 

The Talisman was the first step - an artifact precious to the church. Something they kept hidden within their confines. It held great power and rumors speculate that it could steal and contain a Wytchs’ power. No one has seen the jewelry to speak of it - but Evanora hoped her little spy had put her skills to good use. 

-

Elyse had never seen anything like her; cast in shimmering blue, her attention unable to waiver. Usually her eyes were as wide as child, picking out her most favorite fish and following them as they lapped the tanks but not that evening. Later, she’d remember to look later. 

It was like speaking to Samirya and Elyse loved it. Her words dropped like a bullet, not chance for the young wytch to interject any more pleasantries no matter how badly she wanted to. Evanora wasn’t cold, instead it was more of a blue flame, running so hot that one could be set alight before even noticing the pain. Elyse knew about pain, vaguely. It was a honor to be pained by the women in her life, to suffer for them. Honor only came with sacrifice and Elyse sacrificed everything when it came to her sisters and those in need. Evanora needed a talisman and the most innocent of The Wayward trio saw it as a simple request that she had a duty to respond to. 

“I---Yep!” Though her company’s voice signaled that the conversation was for their ears only, Elyse couldn’t quite quell her own excitement over the work she’d done. “Well, I don’t have a map, I didn’t draw one, but I do know where it is. I don’t have it--- I didn’t think to...” Elyse grew concerned that again she was offering rather disappointing drivel. How much better would it have been if she’d produced the talisman? A difficult feat, really quite impossible to most, but her lack of initiative was most likely mutually lame. 

Looking into the talisman had been a hassle, many of the more senior leaders in the church wondering what on earth Elyse would want with it. She wasn’t known for her grandiose interest in their historical pieces or for broadening her seemingly narrow knowledge base. A lot of her investigation had been listening to lengthy tales of it’s lore, leaving her lids feeling heavy. Some of it had been interesting, the hands that it had passed through and the magic it held. It would make sense for anyone to want it, especially just to be in the presence of it. Elyse wanted to provide that for Evanora. 

“Did you want to come by the church to see it? I’m sure I could talk to Milly, she looks after inventory, would love the company!” A mere suggestion, knowing that taking the talisman from it’s home would be a task. What a fun evening they could have waltzing through all of the church’s most prized possessions. A little dustier than her beloved oceanarium but had it’s own charms nonetheless.

Where best to be at work than her most treasured place in all of South Dakota: The Oceanarium.

“Sorry I’m late!” She wasn’t. Instead she was just acting on learned behavior from her sisters; designated meeting times be damned, if she wasn’t there first then it was as good as last. New friendships and connections were treated like job interviews, each one a grand leap in her beloved career. Elyse took great care in presenting herself, fingers running giddily through the ends of her hair so that it sat just so, the words passing through her lips manicured for the receiving ears. “So glad we got to do this-- How’s your day been? You look... I mean, I know I don’t have to tell you. Amazing, you look amazing.” 

@evanorahawthorne​

skeletonites

* ╱ 𝕤𝕖𝕝𝕖𝕟𝕖 𝕟𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥

●︎ when: april 9th, 2020 ●︎ where: PPO sorority chapter house, rapid city ●︎ with: @roversnight && @elysenight

selene had two crucial remedies for a good morning: oversized curtains to fully block out any chance of sunlight from pouring through and consistent thunderstorm simulations playing her iphone’s speaker from the moment she rests her eyes ‘till and if ( a big if ) she wakes up. very basic necessities but that went a long way to assuring the sully woman wasn’t subjected to having her rolling eyes as a breakfast topic. there are days where her routine falls through the crack and no one’s to blame but herself technically, but that didn’t mean selene wouldn’t act otherwise. she awoke at the hundredth beeping from her alarm that she had casually put on snooze each time it set off. the minor adjustments would have been rather insignificant considering she didn’t have class till the afternoon, but being a VP and ‘number three’ on samiyra’s entourage meant she had to adhered to different standards even on non-essential days. wet hands running through her disheveled curled locks, she stares absentmindedly at herself. taking in the way she appeared out of focus, not alert, and overall in a horrible shape to have eyes bore into her. with a sloppy attempt at putting her hair up in a ponytail, she’s met by elyse minutes at her bedroom door.

the fluttering and beaming grin from her sister has never failed thus far of course, and selene’s irritable mood’s soon subsiding, replaced by elyse’s consistent energy. it’s been a reoccurring theme for as long as they can remember and she’s come to the point where she’d want to return the favor. they were moving on soon, opening up doors where they’d have to present themselves, sell themselves to deserve a place in society. wherever that may be for selene, going forward, she would be more attentive of elyse. her lips curl into tight formation to match elyse’s own signature twinkling features. and for the remainder of their walk to samiyra’s ‘humble abode’, that’s all her mind can center on. they greet their other half and she’s still dazily averting her attention back to elyse as the three fixed themselves in the mirror.

so intently busy to the point she missed the part where elyse had crossed uncharted territory. “don’t be ridiculous,” selene quickly interjects at the end of her sister’s response, “we can room together.” she left the statement at that, not wanting to assert the suggestion too much. they had yet to discuss what happened between them with samiyra - for once, they shared a secret their queen knew nothing of. and what a hefty offense to have under their arsenal. a silent oath towards one another. as much as she wants to feel at peace with the closest people in her life choosing to spent the beginnings of their adulthood together, it left her clammy in the hands simultaneously. “c’mon, sam, at least hear us out.” she jeered. she made no efforts to walk on eggshells around the other. once upon a time, screaming matches were their best form of communication, with elyse caught in the middle of a fiasco.

  Taken back, just a tad at Selenes’ bravery - Samiyra cocked her head and smirked. She thought to her self, staring at them through the mirror.. “ohh here we go. I try to avoid this topic hoping they would run away from me, clawing at the taste of freedom. It seems I may have my way for quite a while.” Turning around to face them - and to show off how amazing she looks, she exclaims “Whatever we have, it shall be grand. Elyse, I see no reason you and Selene cannot have equal sized rooms..of course your rooms will benevolently be the size of my bathroom - but I digress.” Before the look of impact grew any bigger on their face “I’m kidding..geez lighten up.” Samiyra laughed as she nudged Selene. “Or am I..” Although she wore the facade of a royal bitch, Samiyra genuinely loved her sisters. The trio completed her, her power felt more powerful than ever. Between Elyses’ sweetness, and Selenes’ spice - Samiyra was the chemical x. 

  The girls walked out of Samiyras’ room, down the stairs heading to the kitchen. With the girls together their mere presence exudes power. The other sorors make room, some are even stunned in awe. They reach the kitchen as Samiyra led them in. Lisa, was the personal chef for the chapter house - hired by Samiyra. She specialized in all recipes, but also including vegan. “Lisa, can you make us some brunch?…you don’t even have to ask - mimosas YES! Thanks so much.” Samiyra gave the order and then turned to the girls as they sat at the kitchen island. “What were we saying?..oh right. Being at this chapter house has been..cute to say the least, but we deserve more. Let’s go big!” 

  Since she could remember, Samiyra has always had her eyes set to the stars. Go big or go home. Realizing that her reign will continue gave her a thrill. She had work to do, people to accomplish, and a world to concur. The one thing is the world she couldn’t openly have was Luc, without their family having so much to say. Samiyra realized in that moment, she had to broaden her grasp. Even though the royal court is complete, this Queen needs a King. 

--

Elyse wasn’t good at keeping secrets even though she’d been doing it all her life. But she was hardly a hoarder. What she did instead was habitual compartmentalization. Whether it be trauma or drama she’d tuck it away as far back as it would go, secrets usually played on the conscience but her mind was left free until questioned. An empty space sat between her two dainty ears, but the information was never too far away. Her sisters would mention names in passing and immediately Elyse would have chunks of knowledge to blurt for their gossiping pleasure. Holding a secret that all three weren’t privy to could only be seen as an inevitable outing, Elyse’s chatty nature meant that one stray question directed her way would see the truth laid bare.

Her lips scrunched giddily at the idea of rooming with Selene, what a world that would be. To live with both of her sisters in their own place was magic but the idea of having the honor of being Selene’s personal alarm clock was a truly exciting prospect. However, her daydreaming didn’t last too long, attention naturally pulled by their queen bee. It was impossible not to be dazzled by all that Samiyra had to say, poetry falling from her lips with an ease that Elyse could only hope to someday have. Instead she was a bumbling rambler who was wholly conscious that she was consistently flanked by more intelligent perspectives. How lucky she was to be the support of two of the greatest minds she’d ever met. 

“Just mosa for you?” Elyse nodded vigorously to Lisa’s recognition of her own proclivity for sobriety (at least at breakfast). She didn’t really drink meaning that she didn’t openly drink. If she found herself being handed a freshened glass she was never one to decline, politeness always overwhelming her preferences. Elyse sat herself at the island and glanced back to Sam, taking a moment to relive just how cute their experience in the chapter house had been. She’d been fearful of the college experience, never hesitant to follow her sisters, but concerned by her ability to keep up. The chapter house had however broadened her sense of sisterhood, so many kind and supportive souls to rely on when her own two found themselves busied by college life. It had been fun, cute even but Elyse was distantly aware that while Sam and Selene’s collegiate journey came to an end that she might not have been able to keep up.  

“Do you think we could live near the Oceanarium?” Ideally if there was an apartment above it Elyse would happily snatch it up, whether it be palatial or nothing more than a closet. She’d been there a hundred times or more but it was still so mystifying; akin to a mantled snow globe, unshaken and peaceful. Wandering through it’s azure halls offered a stillness amid the chaos. Hours would slip away from her, groups idling and dispersing, before long all that was left was scattered employees waiting to finish their shift. “Or maybe we could live closer to Wayward?” Her grin was bright with the future but always did love returning to the orphanage a little more than her sisters’ cared to. “I mean... Or the woods? We could go anywhere.”

* ╱ 𝙎𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙮𝙧𝙖 𝙉𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩

●︎ When: April 9, 2020

●︎ Where: Phi Phi Omega Sorority Chapter House

●︎ With: @elysenight​ @skeletonites​

  Sitting at her vanity, she stared at herself as she brushed her long black hair - slowly. Brimming with arrogance she casually smiled at her reflection admiring her own beauty. “Mirror mirror..” she spoke out loud as she sat down her brush. Leaning forward towards the mirror, she blew a kiss at her reflection. Being the President comes with incredible perks, that Samiyra had no shame reveling in. Her room was on the highest floor of the sorority, where the chairs lived. Everyday Samiyra made it her first objective to walk down those steps with Elyse and Selene - making an entrance and evoking fear into the other sorors. She loved her girls..but she favored more the respect she was given - fit for a Queen.

   She opened her curtains wide letting in warm rays of sunlight. Placing her hands on her hips, she gazed out the window onto Greek Row - plotting. She hears the vibration from her phone and grabs it, a text “Good morning beautiful.” Not recognizing who texted her from an unknown number, she rolls her eyes and tosses her phone on the silk covered bed. Just then she hears three knocks on her bedroom door, not asking who’s there - she scoffs “This better be good.” It was Selene and Elyse. Samiyra grabs her black robe and swings it around her, draping it onto her body “Come in.” The two walk into her room in perfect unison. They immediately start their banter and gossip about the party the night before. Changing her clothes as they share laughs recalling the night before, Samiyra dressed in a black mini skirt paired with a white cropped long sleeved top. She grabbed her Chanel sneakers and laced them up. Set in a weird-sister-like routine, they all walk towards the wall mirror in her room. Gussying up and adding the finishing touches to their looks, the gossip-girl chatter came to a halt with one look from Samiyra, when one of her sisters brings up a buried topic. 

Elyse loved her morning routine. Waking up to a new day full of pep, gleefully foaming at the mouth as she brushed her teeth. Outfits were always picked out the night before and laid out, her genuine excitement fro the next day leeching into her nightly regimes. Then came her most favorite part; the gathering. Her gait tended to look like a purposeless wander, but there was always a destination in mind. Her walking tour of the chapter house had two stops, first to Selene’s room and then their joint pilgrimage to Samiyra’s. Her day always started with her two most favorite people, her family. The idea of being without them never sat with her, it tossed as she did in her sheets on nights they chose to play away from home. Elyse hadn’t spent a night anywhere outside the orphanage or the chapter house without them, no sleepovers and certainly never any romantic rendezvous. Both of her sisters were pillars of her own strength, their blooded bond revived her imbued soul; two powerful women and her gifted with the chance to serve them --- To see them flourish. 

When walking on her own their tall empty hallways were treated to her usual cheery smile, but after collecting Selene she couldn’t suppress her beaming grin; thrust into a waking dream and childishly giddy. Her step turned into something of a light jog, taking three and four steps for every one of Selene’s strides. Three knocks at Sam’s door and their trio was reunited again. Every morning the first moments in Samiyra’s room were two things at once: content and on edge, waiting for their Queen to set the tone. Elyse was always patient, rarely willing to be the first to speak though at times even silence was a form of wrong answer. The quiet quickly broke and she enjoyed being regaled about an evening she had no recollection of. For a woman who steered sternly away from alcohol she did have a strange habit of ending up drunk. 

Elyse pulled her lips together tightly under Samiyra’s glare, her doe eyes looking back to her own reflection in the mirror. Preening wasn’t one of her strong suits, often times flitting over to pull a face for Selene amusement rather than perfecting herself for public consumption. “I was looking at places again.” She piped up, toying with the ends of her hair and letting her curl around her fingers. “Only two bedrooms but I figure I could just sleep on the couch, we’d only need a two seater!” The prospect of living with her sisters was almost more joy than she could handle, thoroughly overwhelmed by the idea of being a room away at almost all times. She’d been picking through ads, but her categories were much more simplistic than they probably should have been. High priority: Fancy enough for Samiyra, medium priory: Has three bedrooms, and finally the lowest priority: Within budget. Elyse had never been the brains of the operation but that never stopped her from trying to assist. Little things, odd jobs, time savers, they were her favorite pastimes and she was never left without something to busy herself with.  “---I’m sure we’ll find something.” 

And so there she was working on commission for the local mom and pop optometrist, kind of. If thirty people came in with the flyer then they’d sponsor and Phi Phi event. Piece of cake! Elyse truly believed the odds were in her favor, that there surely had to be at least thirty people floating around the main thoroughfare of Deadwood offering pained squints to distant signage. 

It was a triumph of sheer perseverance that Elyse Night was still yet to realize that no amount of positivity drew strangers on the street into a conversation. The responses hadn’t changed since 2019, people still tended to throw their eyes to the ground and hope she wouldn’t bother them past a greeting. As with bats in the plain light of day they scattered hurriedly to places unknown. 

“Hi, welcome to 2020! Do you want to be 20-20? Here, it’s for a free eye test!” Elyse bounced on the balls of her feet in hopes that there might be some kind of energy transfer. That maybe her own jittery excitement could encourage someone to take a second glance.

{ open thread to anyone }

Outskirts of Deadwood

It had started with a drizzle and quickly grew into a storm. The lamp poles cast a kaleidoscope of light dancing across the puddles in the road, only to be disturbed by the wheels of a car. Harry drove fast, eager to return home after his gruelling week of meetings out-of-state on Dominion business. Harry cherished the comfort of his car, while bellowing winds blew rain and fallen leaves against his windshield. “What a glorious homecoming.” He mutters, utterly disappointed by the weather. He was a true-born Scotsman through and through, no stranger to the rain and wind– but his years outside of his homeland had spoiled him with more clement weather. 

He spots a figure in the distance, stood against the side of the road with an arm outstretched. The car in front of him paid no heed and drove right past the stranded stranger. He sighs, “Well it is dinner-time.” He jokes to himself. Harry’s car slows as he approaches, “Nasty storm out here. Need a lift?”

Elyse had a terrible habit of wandering. Walking was great, an opportunity to see the outer wilds of Deadwood but she didn’t often think about the fact that it had to be a round trip. No plans of where to stop for lunch or dinner, no water and dressed for no kind of adverse weather conditions. They were pilgrimages of sorts, she’d just never been sure where she was trying to go, who or what she was heading towards; only ever hopeful that she’d know it when she found it. 

“Oh I was just looking for directions.” Her bright grin unhampered by her sodden clothes and sopping hair. The rain had been entirely manageable until it wasn’t, Elyse ending up turned around and not quite sure which way lead where. Phone dead, empty stomach and looking into the eyes of a savior. “Do you know where I am?” 

when :   saturday night , 10:34 pm where :   outside haus of millennium , sioux falls with :   elyse night  /  @elysenight​

it’s supposed to be a release.  the movement of her body and the flames dancing are her therapy.  in those few moments , the issues that plague her mind are gone and she can relax and get a much needed release of seratonin.  but tonight wasn’t like most.  aparently the issues on her mind had been too heavy to heave off her shoulders for her short performance.  her fire had been difficult to call from her stomach and there were times during her routine where she felt her control wain for just a moment and some tendrils would go flying off of her.  no one got singed , but as her mind dwelled on how much she had fought to regain control of her flames , it only angered her further. 

she’d done her piece and left the stage.  all the other performers knew not to talk to an angry beast and so let her pass to her dressing room.  zahra changed from the dazzling dress back into her jeans and jacket and headed for the door the moment the boss had given the ok.  she’d slammed it open , perhaps too forcefully , and made her way out onto the street where she aimed her body home.  

and that’s where she had expected to take out her irritation , had another not crossed her path moments after she’d left the building.  she simply didn’t care why the other had been in her way.  nor for the fact that she’d probably scared the girl with the slam of metal against brick and the vexation in her tone when she’d voiced a stout   ❝  excuse me.  ❞

For a college student, a Saturday night is a guilt-free evening to try and test personal limits of alcohol consumption before regretting it all come Sunday afternoon. Elyse never had more than two drinks when she drank which was only ever at her sisters' request. Instead, she liked to strand herself in town and wandering the streets. Not in any kind of wistful way, but rather a sort of mobile people watching venture. They would crowd into bars and clubs and then spill back out if she managed to hang around long enough. Usually, her phone began to buzz as if she still had parents watching over her. Being beckoned home was comforting, it meant she belonged somewhere. 

It was one thing to be startled but the slam of a door was hardly frightening when compared to what she’d seen go bump in the night. True monsters, terribly creatures, and her sisters’ ex-boyfriends; all horrid things. But Elyse’s gift tended to affront her, sensing wells of strength, knowledge or ability in other women, most especially when they were burdened by it or an external hindrance. She was to bend so they didn’t have to, run to let them rest and to free them from any chain that held them captive. 

Power. 

It flowed off of the woman in front of her, not the rush of a crested waterfall, but rather the fearsome force of a torrential swathe of magma. “No no, excuse me, totally my fault!” Probably, most likely. The young wytch didn’t require any reassurance that she was the one at fault; even streetside minding her business. “What’s your name? I’m Elyse, I’m not sure if that matters.” An honest assessment of the situation, Elyse recognizing the divine pecking order.  

Everyone has their own worlds which build up to the world everyone occupies. That was Tia’s philosophy, with that philosophy she kept a reminder that no one ever knew what was truly going on with another person. She got bits and pieces, glimpses and glances into other people’s world. But without being there herself she could never know the full story. Like with the Night Sisters for example. She knew something was going on between them, two of them were fighting and she could only imagine how that felt for Elyse. But she couldn’t understand the full extend of it. She couldn’t know how the fighting was affecting her sorority sisters’ school life or the rest of her life for that matter. Perhaps she got vague hints of it here and there. If she picked up on those hints or not though was the problem. She lived in her own world after all and picking up hints wasn’t her forte.

If she’d known perhaps she’d have offered to help or would had asked to see the work Elyse was doing. She didn’t know so she didn’t ask or even question the authenticity to Elyse’s studying claim. She saw a small doodle when she peeked over Elyse’s shoulder but not much else before the other girl closed her notebook quickly which caused Tia to back away just as quickly. She assumed the doodles had to do with her studying. So instead of questioning it she decided to buy the lie.

“Uh-huh, studying hard too from the looks of it.” There’s a teasing tone to her voice as she slides into the seat across from her friend. She sets several brightly colored folders on the table. “Just don’t get too carried away and start doodling in the text books. I did that on accident my first year here and still haven’t heard the end of it from the book rental place.”

At the comment that she was treat Tia’s smile only grew, she gave a wink then responded “I’d say I’m more like a snacc. Cause you’re the real treat to have around. Speaking of Halloween though! Can you take a break from studying? I wanted to ask your opinions for the Halloween party.”

Elyse near retreated into herself at the retort, always surprised when compliments were returned back her way. There was nothing quite like a girlish grin to tense every muscle in her body. It was so strange to feel so separated from herself at times, being one thing and saying another, most cases not saying anything at all; safer that way. Elyse didn’t fear for her physical safety, not with sisters who would protect her should something more violent arise, but the self is a much more dangerous threat. Her mother’s voice knocked around her head like a cavernous echo in search of the perfect daughter she wanted while Elyse pleaded for her own normalcy; just a day or two where her head and are were made light. To look at her it would be easy to look past her, not very bright or witty, just wholly good. With all of the truths she held locked away in her chest, it was a wonder she didn’t burst from the pressure. Sometimes she did, well-chosen moments of anger or frustration thrust onto a Wayward Sisters approved target. It was enough to get her through. 

“Always!”

A glance at the colored folders and her dark eyes became bright with excitement. ‘Breaks’ from studying were always gifted to her sisters. For the most part, her studying was laying in wait for someone to need her. There was always something and she was happy to oblige. Her personhood depended on obliging, testing the realms of possibility and pushing on further. Nothing she wouldn’t do to see the brightness in anothers’ eyes. “What are you thinkin’? My costume is suuuuper easy this year.” The book in front of her was nothing but a distant memory, her well of energy and focus planted on Tia, elbows on the table and chin atop her hands.