Eyes of the Night.

TIMOTHEE CHALAMET

She was flipping through pages of a new novel that had been released the month before. Violet had been waiting for it to get in, shipments still being late due to the border closure. From what she had been hearing in the Order, that could be changing soon, but Violet knew better than to get her hopes up. Life was feeling cramped with them closed. Not only were the Hunters using that to their advantage but she had nowhere to run when she wanted to be alone. Her past haunted her on the Isle and today was worse than most. When she saw him she wanted to go invisible, her stomach turning and her head ducking down behind the bookshelf in hopes he hadn't seen her yet. Before she could vanish, Violet heard her name from behind her. "Fuck," the brunette muttered then turned to face the blast from her past. "Hi Morie, weird seeing you here. Not like you can't read, you know what I mean, just so random. Like what're the chances, right?" She was already smacking herself in her head, knowing she'd talked more than she should've. The last time she saw him it was saying goodbye and Violet hadn't been prepared to face this part of her life today. Even though she'd ended it for a good reason, that didn't make it hurt any less.

“You know I like to read,” he chuckled slightly, showing her the book in hand. It was about dark magic, something perhaps Mal might find useful. “You were going to hide from me, were you?” Perhaps that was a normal reaction upon seeing someone you loved before, but Morie figured it had been long enough to joke about it. Or maybe he simply had a sick sense of humor. Either way, he was going to tease her for the attempt. “Well then, I’m not going to take up your space. I just need to check this aisle for…” he paused for a moment, not quite sure how to mention magic without making it seem like they were plotting some nefarious deed. “Research.”

While working for Kit had changed her life and finally given her the taste of freedom, she hadn't realized what she lacked until coming to Morie's. His company was warmer than a fire and when he got back she had to fight to not tell him all about her day. There hadn't been anyone she shared everything with besides her animals which was how they'd met in the first place. Ella felt safe with him, whether it was against the evil of the world or just with the content of her heart. Now that she'd settled into his space her presence could be seen all over in a way it never had at Kit's. This was the first time Ella had been able to put her own flare on things and felt like it was welcomed. In fact, it might've been the first time his place seemed so homely, only hoping he saw it the same way.

His response caused her to pause before putting the lid back onto the pot. Even though she could tell there was more to what he didn't say than what he did, Ella wouldn't push him to talk about what he didn't want to. "Nothing to worry about now though," the blonde commented as she placed a warm bowl of stew on his place at the table. "Right now all you need to worry about is saving room for dessert." Food was one thing she thought could bring everyone together and forget their worries. She hoped her meal could give him that for the evening. "Is that so?" The blonde placed her bowl beside his, unfolding her napkin to give her a moment to think about her answer. "I think it'll be good for everyone. No one should feel trapped like this," Ella spoke from her own experience. "There is a whole world out there to explore, More. Just think of the adventures we could have, the things we could see!" The blonde paused to stop her from getting ahead of herself. "What do you think of it all?"

“I don’t know,” he shook his head. The idea of what lay beyond the border was quite terrifying for him. What if there were more hunters? Or more magical beings? Would the Anti-Order continue their quest for supremacy against humans? What would that mean for him and Ella? And Mal, what if she found out? He didn’t quite know and was afraid to confront all the answers. “I like now,” he reiterated, his hand finding hers and giving it a gentle squeeze. “And just worrying if I have room for dessert,” he teased, hoping that answer would suffice.

Morie was going to be difficult to get through to, Arthur knew, but not impossible, he hoped. Maleficent was a convincing woman, and he had been spoon-fed her ideas of violence and domination for years now. "I don't want any blood, at all, on any side. I know the things they've done, they're ... it's awful, but it doesn't mean that we need to resort to that, too. We'd just be putting ourselves in danger.

Maybe it was silly to think she'd been waiting all day for him but it was true. As much as she kept herself busy, it wasn't nearly as exciting as once Morie got home. Since he'd been kind enough to let her stay there she didn't want to be a bother but she'd been enjoying seeing him this often. It wasn't typical for Morie to be seen this often, having work consume more of his life than not. That was until now until someone had stumbled into his arms in need of a place to call home again. He was her best friend, he was always there when she needed him. Still, as time went on she felt herself falling into something deeper, something more.

"So busy, you'll have to get in line, soon it'll be out the door!" Ella laughed as she tossed her hands into the air while stepping back towards the stove. After a long simmer, she'd been able to create a stew that she hoped would be as delicious as it smelled. "I've got a vegetable beef stew going and a fresh focaccia resting in the oven. Oh, and for dessert there should be a peach tart that's just about done." It might've been too much for one meal but she had to find some way to entertain herself all day. Baking had always been reliable for that. Ella pulled bowls from his cabinet and started to plate their meal. "How was work? Fight off any bad guys today?"

"It's… it's good," he managed to articulate, his voice tinged with vulnerability. Oblivious to the profound impact of her presence, Ella beamed at his response. Little did she know the depth of joy she brought into his life—a sensation he had almost forgotten. As Ella bustled about the kitchen, transforming the barren space into a hub of activity, Morie found himself grappling with unfamiliar emotions. The aroma of her cooking filled the air, evoking memories of happier times spent gathered around a table with loved ones he had long lost. He blinked back tears, unwilling to expose his vulnerability to her compassionate gaze. "They smell wonderful, Ella," he murmured, his gratitude tinged with wonder.

Setting aside his coat, Morie began to help around, "They're talking about reopening the borders," he mentioned, his tone casual about something that should be kept with utmost secrecy, "What are your thoughts on that?" he inquired, eager for her perspective on a matter that held significant weight in their tumultuous world.

Very little got past her, having eyes where no one expected them so that she could watch in wait. There was only one way that anything could fly under the radar and it was if her eyes themselves withheld a secret. Whatever it might be sat beneath her nose but lately she'd been getting the feeling there was something else going on. Secrets never sat well when they hadn't been shared with her. Tonight she could tell her right hand sat uncomfortably for their meeting. She caught his eye as it glanced towards his wrist as if he had somewhere to be. "You seem distracted," Mal cooed as she came around the corner of her desk. "Where is your mind, Morie? We have a job at hand, we're finally making headway to getting the borders reopened."

"Me?" he raised an eyebrow, seeking confirmation. "No, no," he answered defiantly, pulling himself together to focus on the meeting—what they referred to as the expansion.

Morie understood the importance of this gathering. Even Arthur had discussed it with him; the magical community was stirring, but Morie's thoughts were more preoccupied with the girl back home. Morie remained fixated on Ella, oblivious to the discussions unfolding. "I'm here," he reassured Mal, offering a weak smile. As much as he cherished her, revealing Ella's presence to Mal was a risky move. He and Mal shared similar sentiments against humans, but she steadfastly upheld that principle. "I heard, uhm," he stammered for a moment, his ability to gather news around town diminishing in recent weeks, "I heard the Order was looking into it as well."

All Arthur had ever sought in his reign was peace, which, according to Morie, was far from being achieved. But, there was one thing that Arthur had in his back pocket that made him more powerful than any magical creature out there. "You don't know when that's going to happen," he reminded the younger boy. "I only want peace. There's no reason for there to be bloodshed among magical creatures when there are so many humans out there who fear the people who the Order protects. We need protection. We need people like you to help." It was a struggle to plead his case so hard with seemingly no support. "But, that won't happen for a while. In the meantime, you should know you can trust me."

"So unless you want real change to happen, you gotta let go of your ambition to be with humans because it's not gonna happen. Until then, we fight with blood," he declared, his voice stern and resolute. Morie could respect Arthur as an equal magical being with different ideals, but forming a friendship seemed impossible.

⋆⋆⋆ ❧ ⋆⋆⋆

To most people, free time would be welcomed but it made Ella restless. As she waited for Morie to get home she'd had to keep herself busy. Being idle had only lasted an hour that morning before she started to find things to do, her mind racing whenever she gave it a moment to itself. Even though she'd wanted to ask him to stay home with her, Ella knew that he had a job to do and was doing her a favor by letting her stay there. Instead, she took it upon herself to make sure she did her part, smiling wide when she heard him come through the front door. "Morie, you're home!" Ella's face brightened as she hurried from the kitchen to greet him. The back of her hand rubbed against her cheek to get the flour off, knowing she must look a mess. Her arms wrapped around him in a hug after having been on her own for the day. "I've got dinner just about ready. I hope you're hungry," she said pulling back to go back in to check on her meal.

"I am," he chuckled softly, appreciating her evident enjoyment. The flour on her face was all the more adorable to him. "You look busy, should I come another time?" he teased before embracing her in a warm hug.

He could get used to this, Morie thought—just being with her made everything else fade away. Despite knowing that Mal wouldn't approve of him being with a human, Morie recognized within himself that she was the most precious thing in his life, immune to any prejudice. "What did you make?" he asked, already savoring the delightful scent wafting from the kitchen.

There had never been any point hiding something from Morie. He knew her better than she knew herself on more than one occasion. When she was no one, he saw her, and her eyes hadn't faltered since. Of course, all of that was put into question when it came to the one Kit Charming. Ever since their first meeting, the Isle's favorite boy had changed things, without knowing it even giving her employment and a reason to leave the family who never loved her. The same that Morie had watched her slave for since her youth. Being in his arms now brought her the comfort that no one else could. "I don't know if it can even be fixed," she confessed softly. "I've really done it this time."

Even though she never intended to put Kit or Angel in this situation and yet she'd done it so effortlessly when he asked her to dance. Her own heart was being torn in many directions without signs of being sewn back together. Morie was kind for offering and he knew he meant it, though this time she feared there would be no fixing what had been done. "He's been seeing someone, Angel. She's lovely, she's been living at the house, even become a friend to me." One which Ella felt like she'd since betrayed. "Then he saw me in this silly mask and he remembered when we met. He asked to dance, I didn't think it... I saw the look in her eyes when we danced, Morie," she said with a crack in her voice as the image came back into her head. "What if he never stops looking for her? For the girl he met that night? How do I ever tell him she doesn't exist and it's just... me."

As Ella continued to share her worries, Morie drew her closer. "I can't blame Kit for not stopping to look for you, but it was his own choices that led you to him," he admitted, knowing he might have made the same choices. Ella was an incredible woman, possessing a unique wit and a heart unlike anything he had ever seen. It was only natural that he was drawn to her; she was a rare gem. "She exists, and she's you. Ella, you're wonderful just as you are. He saw you as a stranger, and believe me, he'd see more of you if he had known who you are." Despite Morie's hesitation, he spoke only the truth. If Ella chose Kit, at least Morie would know she was happy. Ultimately, all Morie ever wanted was to make her happy.

Ever since her dance with Kit she'd wanted to disappear into the sea of people where she belonged. It had been foolish of her to think that it could be that simple, that a dance could mean nothing and her identity could be kept hidden from him for an eternity. There was another girl he'd brought that night, the same one that Ella helped sew the dress for and get ready for the occasion. The pit in her stomach was growing by the second with no signs of stopping anytime soon. As much as she wanted to pretend that it meant nothing there had been a spark between them she couldn't deny. That same ignition came at the cost of someone she cared about greatly and the only job she'd ever had besides being her family's indentured servant.

Once she was able to, she did what she did best which was escape into the quiet of the night to simmer on the feelings she was having. Ella hadn't seen her best friend since the evening began, wondering if he'd even come at all until she caught his eyes through the crowd. They were ones she would know anywhere whether or not they made her heart skip a beat. "Morie," she breathed after finding solace in her person once again. Without another word, the blonde buried her face in his chest as if for a mere second she could truly evade the problems around her. "I didn't think you'd come to something like this. What're you doing here?" She'd silently hoped he might've asked her to attend it with him but chalked it up to this not being his scene. Still, he'd posed questions that she was unable to ignore, a deep sigh expelling from her chest. "I'm messing everything up." For more people than just herself which was the weight pulling her into the deep.

"What do you mean you messed everything up?" he furrowed his brows, pulling her slightly away to look into her eyes. "I'll fix it. What happened? It will be okay." It was more of a promise, knowing he'd do just about anything for her. He placed his hand over her cheek, gently wiping away the tear that stained her cheek. Ella looked marvelous, even with the redness surrounding her eyes. "Is it Kit… again?" he wished not, hoping it wasn't a recurring chapter, but there was something in her eyes that suggested otherwise. Something that hinted that the guy was perpetually a pain in his ass.

His jacket wasn't too hard to find, as he mentioned, it stood out from the rest. She'd admired that though, everyone else has been in their stuffiest of outfits meanwhile his wasn't too complicated. “You mind?” She’d kept a cigarette for herself regardless of his answer, merely asking out of formalities before tossing him the small pack. “I could’ve really livened up this snoozefest but I guess they’d rather keep things tame.”

"Fucking boring, I'm telling you," he said, this time leaning on the small door of the coat check. "The last party I was in had fire erupting and a fake wedding. I thought Halloween was going to be better, but it lacked the pizzazz," he chuckled, appearing strangely comfortable with the chaos at this point, almost craving it.

There were few people more dangerous than Maleficent, and for that reason alone, Arthur had never gone near the woman. Though she was a magical being, and fiercely against the Hunters, she seemed to have a deep distaste for everything the Order stood for, too. It didn't make much sense to him, as they could help each other in the end, but there was no use in hoping that she would come around without a little bit of a nudge. If Arthur was going to seriously put in some effort this time into beating them while the borders will still closed, moves had to be made. His next one came in the form of the woman's right-hand man.

Though Arthur knew exactly who the boy was, he didn't reach out ahead of time to request a meeting. Instead, he'd heard a tip from one of the Parr kids that he frequented the Graveyard a few nights a week. Arthur wasn't much of a drinker in general, nor did he really go out that much, but he supposed this deserved an exception. The bar was quiet, and the head of dark, curly hair stuck out among the few people at the bar. Arthur slid into the seat beside the boy, ordering a beer for himself before turning to him. "I hope this isn't too forward, Morrigan, but my name is Arthur Pendragon. Pardon me if you don't know who I am," he introduced with an outstretched hand. "I was hoping we'd cross paths sooner or later, though I'm afraid I had to take it upon myself to make it the former. I was hoping we could talk, if you're not entirely occupied."

"I know you," he spoke, his voice already tinged with boredom. The Order was actively seeking to enlist their kind, attempting to persuade them to join their cause. However, Morie and his kind didn't share the same principles; they merely had common enemies at times.

"If you're going to convince us to join your little cult, it's gonna be a no," Morie responded, accepting the glass of whiskey the bartender slid toward him and taking a sip. "This is going to be a race," he added, a determined glint in his eyes. "Once the border opens, we'll recruit more. We don't want peace, Arthur. We want domination. You know that."