I wanted rest… I wanted sleep and I wanted to shut myself away from the world. But what I wanted more than that… was for Nevin to stop crying. It was weird to feel those tears against my skin, and to feel his skin tremble.

“Would Nevin still be with Eteri if were the big bad thing inside?” I asked, curious.

He froze, his body stilling entirely. Even the beating of the lines on his skin paused. Then with a deep, shuddering breath he pulled back up and shook his head. “No. No I wouldn't be. That thing would have.. Would have taken your blood, your life force, and moved on.” There was a strange note in his voice, like he hadn't actually thought about this before.


I didn’t understand why he was making it so complicated. This whole….scenario. “That easy.” I said. “ Nevin was still incredibly still, he had even stopped breathing, he was waiting for my answer. “Eteri just fix soul before that happens.”

And…

I would also have to make sure he’d never use that life energy thing into me again. If my presence was causing him to use that so much because of how troublesome I was..then I’d have to make sure I wasn’t such...as my sister would call it… a brat.

“Eteri will make the…” I tilted my head, how did people who did chores act...what were they called? When mother died….Ayaka said she ahd to take on motherly responsibilities...what was that in Tradespeak? “Eteri will make the mother duties to make Nevin happy.”

He blinked down at me, tilting his head to the side. “The mother duties? To the house or to the father?”

I nodded. “Mmm like making the coffees and the food and Eteri will help do the cleans. Oh…” What did he mean by that second part? “What is to the father mean?”

Nevin just blushed and shook his head. “Not something to worry about now. So you want to help with the chores? I - I would like that a lot.” a slight smile crept into his face.

I pushed the thought to the back of my mind, it felt calming to see him smile like that again. So should I even ask my next question? I didn’t want it to disappear….if I asked it, and it disappaered I’d just have to make sure to do things that’d make him happy. Like chores. The duties even to the father, whatever that meant.

I cleared my throat. “Nevin...Since second time you did the ….life thing, Eteri feel the difference inside.” I pointed to my chest. “Can tell what is?”

He paused, and the smile slipped a little as he studied me. He placed one hand on my chest, between my breasts, and his eyes closed in concentration. Then he took my bloody hand in one of his and - did he just lick my blood? His eyes shot open wide.

“Eteri.. Can you pull out the angry soul inside of you?” There was hope in his voice.

I furrowed my brow and shook my head. “Is too deep.”

“Just enough to see, not try to remove it. I think… I think my life force might be eating it.” He was smiling again, wider now than he had before.

It’d hurt...so much so that I’d have to try so very hard not to scream or pass out but...I had done so well at that game we played earlier - so maybe just maybe I’d be able to do it this time. Just to see that smile more. I took a deep breath and with a trembling hand I pulled.

My entire body ignited like it was on fire. I shut my eyes as my ears folded against the back of my head, tail drooping between my legs as I pushed off of Nevin and collapsed to the floor. Bite down on tongue...mustn’t show him...how much….this…. H-hurts…

I pulled harder and a thick, viscous dark red shifted out from my chest. My ears pounded as screeching filled my ears. Nevin wouldn’t be able to hear this….and Nevn won’t know...he won’t-”

“Eteri! Stop!”

I let go and fell forward to the floor. My blurry eyes shifted up to him.

Dammit...where did that smile go?