forget-me-not

Serafina’s head turned towards the direction of the voice, and she dismissed the guards. “Leave us. I shall handle this.” The guards quickly bowed, and turned to leave to find yet another traitor to imprison.

Stheno turned towards the brunette. “A friend of the Balors? Any Balor in patricular?” She inquired.

Magdalena’s spine stiffened somewhat, her sense of danger heightening even as the guards had departed with their metaphorical tails between their legs. Stheno, her memories supplied easily as she turned to face her new foe companion, and though she’s had cordial relations with her sister Medusa, she wasn’t certain that extended particularly to this gorgon. 

“I am a family friend.” She spoke firmly, unwilling to reveal her identity if the other woman hadn’t figured it out yet. “They have all been kind to me and have taken me under their protection. So I’m certain they’ll be grateful for your intervention and ensuring my safety.” 

      “You heard her,” Iapetus snapped as he stepped into the hallway, Magdalena’s back to him. He’d been planning to walk past, but then he’d heard the sound of her voice, and—well. No number centuries apart could quell the instinctual protectiveness he felt when his sweet sister was in question. “Step back.”

      He strode forward, lips twisted into a dangerous frown that had the knights stepping back and continuing on their way with scattered apologies. Then he turned back to the brunette with raised brows. “Antagonizing the guards, sweetheart?”

“Well, they were antagonising me brother.” Magdalena spoke in a huff, in a rare show of spirit that only rallied from deep within her whenever her family - Isiah especially - was near. 

Mel rubbed his stomach. He was sort of hungry, and he knew better than to refuse food when he was offered some. “I’ll have anything you give me,” he replied simply.

He studied her. He had had glimpses of her in his dreams but never this vivid and in the flesh. Her features were delicate, but there were lines where there shouldn’t be. He could see they were etched from worries and maybe even fear. 

“Now please, can you tell me? Tell me how I can stop this. I’ve accepted it a long time ago, but I want to understand and… someday maybe even control it.” Was it a power? A curse? Did he inherit it? Was he related to this woman?

Magdalena nodded, and as she stood up to prepare some food, she felt her spine stiffen when he volleyed the same question to her turned back, his need to know the truth so acute she felt it deep in her bones. 

“Well,” Magdalena hedged, returning to the table and placing a small plate of sweets on the rough surface. “Can you tell me when exactly did these dreams start? How it feels when they happen? What do you see in them? I’m afraid I need to know everything before I can figure this out.” She spoke softly. 

        Elysia tried not to let the sheer relief show through her features as the guards murmured an apology and quickly scattered. She felt bad, but only just for a moment. She wasn’t quite a priestess yet, though only in the formal sense, and yet it felt like cheating, to present herself as such. 

         The young ( almost ) priestess turned then, facing the lady she’d stepped in for. “Fear can be the greatest fuel to bravery—I’ll admit that I wasn’t quite fearless, either. I should not be surprised that they heeded my bidding, and yet, here I am.” She let out a small, shaky laugh along with a slight shrug. “Why were the guards on your case?”

Magdalena tilted her head. “Well, from my stead there is nothing in your demeanour that indicates you have such fear, and I’m quite certain the guards failed to pick up on it as well. I think it is a credit to your future authority, priestess.” She curtsied in deference, her own calm returning with the familiar gesture. 

“All I know is that they’re gathering those loyal to the Vitellos, but I am not one of their number.” The brunette spoke and though her tone was soft, it was the first time in years she was able to say something so freely. “As I said, I may have been too overwrought in their presence that it led them to suspecting me, that’s all.” 

For some odd reason Magdalena felt nervous as she took a seat across from Melon, the pair already having reached the privacy of her apartments. She couldn’t recall the last time she had a guest over in her rooms ( the very root of her awkwardness she suspected ), and though Galen visited her often enough they usually stayed within the confines of the Library or walked around the Keep. 

“Would you like some refreshments?” She asked, tone strangely formal, in an attempt to start the conversation. “I have some sweets tucked away, if you’d like.” 

Melon gripped onto her hand as tight as he could, as if he was afraid she’d disappear. “Where are we going?” He took longer strides to keep up with her quick ones. “So you can help me? Do you know what’s going on?”

No, Magdalena did not have a full grasp of the situation as of yet, but she knew it was of vital importance that they talk somewhere private. “I’m not sure, but I can do my utmost and try.” She squeezed his hand carefully, trying to project comfort through her touch. “If you’ll allow me, I can help you discover the meaning of your dreams, Melon.” 

I am a friend of the Balors.

Elysia knew little of the Balors except for the rumours, having yet to talk to any of them, though she did know that Mina was an ally of theirs. If this girl was their friend, surely Elysia could step in and see if she could keep the situation from escalating? The guards would respect a priestess, would they not? Bravery—fuelled by the hope from which she was created—made her step into the paths of the guardsmen and face their scowls, which almost immediately turned into confusion upon spotting her priestess robes.

             “Pardon, sirs, but I can assure you that this woman is of no concern to you.”

Her gaze shot to the other woman in shock, almost in wonder at her quick defense of a complete stranger - though in hindsight her reaction to the situation may have been too overwrought. Still, Magdalena couldn’t help her sigh of relief when the guards heeded the priestess’ words - her unique robes indicated as such - their bows perfunctory before heading on their way. 

“Thank you, priestess,” Magdalena found her breath once the men were out of earshot, turning to face the brunette with a hesitant smile on her face. “Though I’m afraid I let my fears get the best of me back then, I’m still grateful for your intervention.” 

Typhon stepped in between the two, Magdalena at his back, and a sharp-toothed grimace at the boy. Reaching forward, he grasped the man by the shoulder and hauled him forward, letting him stagger as he grumbled blasphemies beneath his breath. Letting the knight’s widening eyes watch his lips contort into a snarl, he turned them both to face his ( dearest ) sister. “I’m sure he was seconds from scampering off, but I simply couldn’t wait that long. Did he dare to harm you?” He asked her, flashing his teeth at the man. “I’ll have his hide as a quilt if he so much as touched a hair.”

Perhaps a blossoming smile at her brother’s violently-worded threat wasn’t the most appropriate response - evidenced by the flash of terror in the young guard’s eyes - but Magdalena couldn’t help herself, her leaping pulse settling as soon as Thaddeus made his presence known. 

Magdalena tried to inject steel into her spine, imperiousness into her voice, but her instinctive, fearful step backwards from the guards that had been tasked to clear the Keep spoke greater volumes than her words ever could. 

He nodded; he understood perfectly. He did not want people to overhear any more than he had already said either. “No,” he lied. He had been on an errand, but he could easily tell the kitchen maid that he had fallen asleep. “I’ll follow you. Just lead the way.” He tried to smile a little in response to her lighter tone.

She didn’t know why but her hand instinctively went out to take his - he was but a child, she knew, but so rarely did she feel comfortable reaching out to others of her own volition that the act itself was a marvel. “Come then, Melon.” If she thought his name odd, she didn’t say a word. “Let us make haste. I believe what we must talk about is of utmost importance.” 

“Yet I thank you all the same for it.” There was an aura of calmness about her ( projected or real, it made no difference – he felt it all the same ), and he followed after her easily. “Have you found much trouble in your corner of the Keep, or have things remained calm here?” 

Well, that was certainly one thing she could say differed between the two brothers. Zion had never thanked her, for anything. She found it odd she could think about it so clinically now.

“The Library remained untouched in the recent fires, if that is what you’re referring to your Majesty.” Magdalena murmured as she cast a glance back at Holden, to ensure she hadn’t lost him. “Nor is it a great magnet for trouble in general - people prefer to do their plotting elsewhere.” 

Everything about her shined, and he was so thrilled to see her happy once more. It made his smile grow, seeing the light in her eyes and the curve of her lips, the giggle enough to make the trip and wait worth it. “Ah, so you are here, and I’ve thoroughly embarrassed myself with my honesty.” 

He tapped her chin, rested his broad hand against her cheek for an instant before dropping his arm back by his side, the gentle smile remaining. “I’m admittedly not looking for a book. I would just take any chance to visit you and the library.” He grinned, then took a few steps back, gesturing for her to follow. “Surely you can take a momentary break for a dear friend of yours. The library doesn’t seem too busy today, and the sun shines so brightly.”

If he had asked her months ago the same question, Magdalena was certain she would have refused his offer, the mere thought of venturing outside her old haunts a frightening concept. She couldn’t help the awe she felt at that moment as she easily nodded in acquiesce to his kind invitation ( though still somewhat shyly ), taking a few steps towards him.

How much good her family’s presence had done for her broken soul - it was a thing that could never be expressed in words. 

“Well, if you’re going to be stealing me away from my duties-” Magdalena spoke teasingly as she drew up next to him. “-you’d better make it worth my while, Lord Thornton.” 

Katherine was excited to hear that there was a library in town. Perhaps they had some Gothic novels, as well as history books, she haven’t read yet. Making her way towards the place, lady Deveraux was surprised by the size of the place. She expected it to be either too large or too small. This one seemed to be just the perfect size.

As she entered, and the bell rang, a brunette came from behind the corner.

“Oh, I hope so. Do you happen to have and history book of Gothic novels?”

A newcomer to the Keep then, Magdalena tilted her head as she regarded her before smiling somewhat hesitantly. “We have some that might pique your interest, my lady.” She murmured, sweeping into a shallow curtsy. “Would you prefer that I bring to you a few, or would you like to peruse the section yourself?”