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_ Castit _
I gave Aloe a blink, confused at the statement she told me. "Aurora wants to see you--- I don't know why she does," Aloe spoke, displaying a jealous look. I narrowed my eyes, not trusting a word she mentioned. However ... my mom wants to see me? I don't know if it's true or not. But one way to find out is if I go over to the council building and see if she does.
"Does she wants to greet me and hang with me the usual? Is that why you pulled me out of there?" I asked, wishing to walk along the railings instead of right next to her.
"Yes. That is the reason." She told me, nodding her head as she kept a jealous look on her face. But the tone of her voice sounded a little off. She sounds like she's unpleased that this is happening and that she should be planning whatever she claims to do. This makes me think that, whatever Aurora told her, Aloe is not happy about it at all. I looked down to the wooden floor, avoiding gazing at her at the moment. This makes me happy, but I don't want to smile in front of her. She doesn't deserve it for the things she's done.
We walked in silence as expected, up until we arrived in front of the council building. She told me to go in as I did. She led me through some hallways and up to a room where Purity was standing there, reading something. I narrowed my eyes as Aloe left the room to get Aurora. I stared at the doors closed all the way before turning my head at the room. It was a study room, appeared as such of one. Chairs were positioned near the bookshelves while tables were in the corner. Carpet rugs were underneath my feet and as well in the corners of the room.
The room was painted in a mix of reds, oranges, and blacks. I blinked once before looking over at my sister who had her head up, staring right at me. She had a frown displayed on her face as she put down the book. I tilted my head slightly, questioning the different emotions she has going on within her. It's not all mean or cruel anymore--- or, also known as, behaving as such of the feelings that Aloe has. It's ... a familiar sensation that I have seen in my younger days.
I narrowed my eyes, wanting to believe it was a trick that Aloe set up but ... even I would be stupid to think that my own abilities would trick me. I padded over to her as she gazed up at me. "... Everything is a ... blur imagery." She began to speak as I crouched down. "I ... don't remember ... anything?--- I mean I do!" She quickly corrected herself, looking panicked as she frowned, "But ... I don't remember ... how ... did we come here? Or ... important things... Weren't we in the feaolk colony yesterday?" She asked me.
I widened my eyes after my ability detected no lies. Shock spread across my face as my brain became a factory, producing so many theories and questions about this. "... You don't remember anything that occurred here?" I asked.
"No ... no, I don't know." She shook her head. "I don't even know how we got here."
"Do you remember ... the names of Winter, Carla, and Tyler?" I asked. "Those names belong to some familiar folks of our own."
"... Who ... are they?" She asked, tilting her head.
I blinked in surprise, turning my head away. She doesn't remember anything that happened before we move out of the colony. Wait, does she at least remembers that part? "Just ... some folks that you may meet one day," I told her. "What do you remember?"
She tilted her head slightly, rubbing her forehead before looking back up to me again, "When we were playing in the fields when our new Nanny was watching over us. Since ... Aunt Aloe ... did a bad thing."
Huh? I blinked as no memories comes into play about what happened back then. But ... if she remembers that far and doesn't remember how we left the colony, then ... every bad decision, every wronged action she did ... she ... wasn't herself. She was mind controlled or at least ... not mind controlled by the humans but by ... I widened my eyes when the realization came to my face. Is there an enchantment out there where an enchanter can manipulate the target's mind into their own doings?
I lifted my head up and turned over to the doors, glaring at them. Aloe has ...--- Has Aloe been using that enchantment on my sister? God, that is so twisted to discover. She must have. I turned my head back to my sister as she looked confused. "... Did something happen?"
"Aloe is a bad guy," I told her. "She is never to be trusted with."
"Oh, I knew that already since ..." She frowned, looking down at the floor. "... since she ... did something really bad to dad."
I tilted my head, wanting to know more but this isn't a good time. Aloe might be back any moment and take control over Purity. "Is there a way that you can get out of here?"
"I don't know." Purity told me. She turned around and showed off her flight feathers, which were clipped. I widened my eyes widely, staring at them. "I can't fly with them gone. And ... I'm somewhat attached to the ground--- so I can't get up either."
I gazed back at her, frowning at the sight. Aloe is really trying to keep her under her control. But ... why isn't she under her control at the moment? She knows how I am with my sister ... which leads me to believe that, if she wasn't and I keep saying that she is lying about everything. ... Is she trying to make us not like one another both in this real self of hers and fake self of hers? But what for?--- Well, I think I can answer one part of that question.
"Brother ... why are you asking this?" Purity asked, frowning at the sight as I could sense her fear.
I won't tell her that she's been used by Aloe, it will go into a spiral of what I'm about to say next. "I'm ...--- I didn't realize you don't remember what happened after getting collared by the humans."
"Collared?" She tilted her head.
"Humans collar folks of our own and others to mind control them," I told her.
She squealed, looking furious, "But, I am out, right?"
"Yes. Yes, you are." I nodded my head.
"So then ... why am I glued to the ground?" She asked, tilting her head.
"... You might have to ask Aloe that because ... I don't know the answer." I frowned.
"Oh..." She frowned, looking down at the ground.
"But ... I do want you to do something for me," I told her. "And I know you won't like this but it'll help this situation."
"... What is it, brother?" She asked, looking curious.
"I want you to ... be mean to me," I said.
"N---"
"Trust me. Just be mean to me--- act like you don't like me anymore." I told her, almost begging for a second.
She frowned, looking down at the floor before nodding, "Okay brother, this better be worth it, you lazy feather."
"It will." I nodded. I flinched when she touched her foreheads with mine before leaning back and acting all stuck-up. "Ew."
I snorted before getting up to my feet. As soon as I did, the door fling opened and I turned over to the two who walked inside. Aurora was eyeing her sister before looking over at me. She looked surprised for a moment before a sudden switch in her emotions changed to a pleasing look. I narrowed my eyes, suspicious of her emotional change. "You ... wanted to see me, mother?" I spoke.
"Yes. Yes, I did." She nodded, walking over to me. I stared at her before flinching as she pulled me into a hug. I blinked with confusion as she squeezed me with affection.
"Ugh. Get it over with you two." Aloe grunted, walking around us and over to Purity.
I shoved Aurora away quickly, "Sorry." I whispered to her before turning over to Aloe with a glare.
Aloe returned the glare back at me as she stood by Purity, who had a mix of fear and anger. I narrowed my eyes before flinching at my mouth being covered as I was pulled away from the two. What the hell?! I thrashed around, trying to get freed from my mother as I watched Aloe grab Purity when she tried to reach out to me. Aloe's hands glowed as Purity froze like a robot, turning away from me and over to her. Aloe whispered something to her and it made my sister grin like a sinister little freak.
I hissed and spread out my wings, knocking my mother away from me as I glared at her. "What happened to you?! You wouldn't act like this, at all!"
"That's because she is under my control, dear ... Castit," Aloe spoke. I widened my eyes, staring at my mother who reached out to me again like a robot. I backed away and turned over to my sister who stood up now as she turned towards me. She sneered at me before lunging at me. I jumped out of the way and hit a wall, or at least I thought they were. I turned behind me quickly, seeing that I was trapped behind closed doors. No. I pushed the doors open but that failed as they were locked. I clenched my teeth, knocking someone away when they grabbed my wing.
And soon, I felt an agonizing pain in my throat, making me cough heavily before I was dragged away from the door. No. I can't- I continued to struggle against their strength, up until I was pushed down to the ground, pinned down with my wings held down by something heavy. No, no, don't make me suffer this again.
Please don't.
273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdsfdkJ4Fh9
...
"Come on! This way!"
"Hurry before she comes back!"
"No ... Don't!---"
My eyes shot awake from the nightmare that occurred, making my whole body sit up as I panted heavily before wincing in pain. I slowly lay back down as I focused on keeping my breathing stable. Once it was, I sighed out through my mouth, gazing up at the ceiling that was painted in greys. I raised my brows, not noticing the light blues back in the house. Where am I? The first question popped into my head. I gazed around, spotting a chair in the corner while seeing medical equipment right beside me. ... Why am I in the hospital? I slowly sat up, taking in a view of the room, seeing more chairs gathered around the bed I was lying on.
I blinked before looking down at my right arm which was covered in bandages, as well as being in a case. I narrowed my eyes, confused at the sight.
What the hell happened?
I flinched when I heard a door open, turning to my left and directly across where a door opened wide with a hand on it. ... Am I still in the nightmare? That's ... that's the only logical answer for this. I stared at the doorway, watching someone familiar step in as he turned towards me. "Oh! It looks like he's awakened from his sleep. See? You don't--- FKDG"
"CASTIT!" I flinched from Setchi shoving Neptune out of the way and leaping over to me. He fell faceplanted to the floor as Neptune grumbled loudly.
"Peruvian ordered me to keep your ass away from him while he's healing." Neptune hissed, dragging the gonolk back to him with one of his tails as I blinked. Is it not a nightmare?
"But-but---"
"Stop your worrying," Neptune grunted, smacking Setchi on the head as I stared in awe, or at least I thought my expression was like that.
"Can I give him a small hug?" Setchi asked, getting up to his feet as he rubbed his head.
"No."
"Awww, whhhyyyy," Setchi whined as I grew disgusted.
Neptune looked like he wasn't having any of this gonolk's excuses, especially when he looked really annoyed when he whined. "Sit in the chairs if you want to stay in this room." Neptune hissed, his ears pinned back.
"Finnne." Setchi huffed and walked over to one of them. Another person entered as they gasped, "He's awake---"
"That's what I announced, didn't you hear?" Neptune glared down at Paradise, who glared back at him.
"Shut." They hissed, walking in and over to me. "Hey, Castit. How are you feeling?"
I stared at them before giving a thumbs up, a bit too shocked to speak at the moment. "Good, good." Paradise nodded their head.
"Paradise's a former medic, Neptune. I think you don't wanna piss off a former medic, do you?" Setchi told him as I looked over to the gonolk, sitting on one of the chairs, putting on a smug expression.
"Well, pardon me, I didn't know that." Neptune turned towards him. "And why are you looking so smug?"
"Because I can." Setchi grinned.
"Well, don't go looking smug at the wrong person, because that might trigger you in a troubled state," Neptune spoke, narrowing his brows.
Setchi blinked at him confused, dropping the grin, "... What does that ... mean?"
Neptune stared at him, giving him a deadpan expression. "... It means that person might try to flirt with you."
"Why?"
"... I don't know." Neptune shrugged.
"... Were you gonna try and flirt with me if I continued my smug-looking face?" Setchi asked. "Because if you were, then I'm completely immune to your flirts!" He added on, acting all proud.
"... If only you were my type," Neptune spoke, turning his head away.
"eh?" Setchi turned his head back to him.
"Not that I'm complaining, I already found someone else who is." Neptune smiled softly.
"Would--- WHO DECIDED TO INVITE THE DAMN WOLOLK HERE?!" Paradise asked in a shouting manner.
"Jeez, you hate me that badly?" Neptune eyed them.
"You keep talking about this and I hate it, so stop it." Paradise hissed.
"To answer your question, I invited myself in because I was worried about Castit," Neptune spoke, ignoring their statement.
"'Worried' yeah right. I don't believe such a thing." Setchi sneered, glaring at him. ... He's not lying when he says that.
"I was!" Neptune hissed, glaring back at him.
"Suuuureee." Setchi continued on.
"Okay. Before we go into another argument..." I spoke, at last, grabbing their attention as I continued on, "Tell me what the fuck happened to me?"
"Aloe," Neptune answered.
I frowned and looked down, "... So that wasn't a nightmare, huh?"
"No ... it wasn't."
"How ... how did you end up this badly?" Setchi asked, looking concerned. "Was it... another dummy training thing?"
"No, dear newbie, it was not." I turned my head over to the new voice, spotting Akakku in the doorway. "It was ... a scene in which I wish I never saw in my life."
"It's that bad?" Setchi asked, widening his eyes.
"I advise you to stop asking about that," Neptune said, glaring at him. Why is he being protective of me?
"Hey! I wanted to know what happened!" Setchi glared back at him.
"I'd rather not continue on with this question either," Paradise said. "Can't believe I'm agreeing with you." They grunted at Neptune.
Neptune rolled his eyes, turning over to me before gazing over at Akakku, "So, what did Aurora say about Aloe's actions."
"That she's a goner," Akakku responded rather quickly before snorting. "She's been banished."
I stared at him, widening my eyes slowly as I felt relief rising within me. "... She's gone--- away from this colony?"
"Yes. At last, she is." Akakku nodded his head. "So, I promise you, you won't be seeing her anytime soon."
I slowly nodded, holding back a smile in front of these people. I gazed away and down at the sheets, squeezing them tightly. But ... I have a feeling that isn't the last of her. "YES! One cause down!" Setchi chirped, standing on his feet. "Now, we just have Purity."
I looked over at him, frowning at the name of my sister. "I think ... we'll have to save that for another time, Setchi," Paradise said.
"Oh, I know. But if we continue to wait---"
"It'll be fine, Setchi. We can relax when the main cause is gone." Paradise spoke, shaking her head slowly.
Setchi frowned before sighing, nodding his head. "Okay. We can relax. And ... maybe ... get tested on?"
"Why would you get tested on? Didn't you already get tested for diseases?" Akakku asked, folding his arms. I just realized his hands were claws as I blinked in confusion.
"I mean ... get tested on my words!" Setchi said.
"I guess ... but we'll only have Sutato for that---"
"Or... me." Neptune cut Paradise off.
"Why would you like to help us?" Setchi asked, glaring at him.
"Because I can, brat." Neptune glared back at him.
Setchi gasped, shocked for a moment before glaring back at him. I gave both of them dull looks as I sighed, "I swear, you two are like children. Glaring at one another for no reason at all."
"I DON'T trust this wololk!" Setchi hissed, turning his gaze at me.
"And I'm just defending myself. Since ... this happens to me constantly." Neptune spoke his truth.
"Oh, boo who--- you're gonna cry about it?" Setchi turned his gaze back at him.
Neptune pinned his ears as he glared at him, "No. I'm just irritated."
"Do you not trust all wololks?" I asked.
"I ..." Setchi blinked at me, "I told you it's just this wololk that I don't trust. The other wololks are fine."
I tilted my head, tapping my finger on the sheet. "Don't even bother trying to defend him, I'm sure he got himself," Paradise told me, glancing at me while they sat in a chair.
"... Now that's mean," I said.
"It's not at all---"
"Neptune's not lying when he says he was worried about me," I told both of them. Paradise blinked at me as Setchi looked confused. Neptune looked relieved as he turned his gaze at Akakku who waved at me before leaving the room. I slightly waved before turning back to Paradise and Setchi, waiting for their responses.
"You sure?" Setchi asked. "He might-"
"If he was faking it, I would have already sensed it by now." I interrupted him.
Now Neptune turned towards me, narrowing his eyes. He walked over to me and halted, perking his ears, "What do you mean by "sensed"?"
"I'm not telling you nothing," I told him, giving him a dull look.
"No---"
"I'm. Not telling you nothing--- until you stop lying about your real self." I told him. "Then ... I'll tell you."
He looked surprised as he slowly stepped away. "Oh. He's lying about his real self?" Paradise asked, looking confused. "Why?"
"WAIT--- so ... you're not a flirt?" Setchi asked.
"Setchi."
"Sorry, Castit." Setchi covered his face.
"I'm ... not entirely lying about my real self ... it's ... complicated." He muttered, lowering his ears. "I'd ... rather not tell you ..."
"Because you're scared?" Setchi taunted as I glared at him again.
"Yes," Neptune answered, which shocked Setchi. "... I'll ... meet you another day," Neptune muttered, turning and walking out of the room. I blinked and leaned back, sighing.
"Will you tell us about how you know he's lying?" Paradise asked.
"He said before he has a 24/7 liar detector within himself." Setchi reminded them.
"Yeah and the reason behind that one is ... unknown to me," I added. "I don't know why I have this ability."
"Oh. Well, we'll sure find out eventually." Paradise nodded.
"Yeah. You'll rest here and we'll come every day to greet you." Setchi said, giving me a soft smile. "Since ... Peruvian told us, you're staying in here for a couple of days."
"Oh boy. Well, I'll be here then." I told them. They both nodded before getting up and taking their leave out of the door. I frowned and looked down at the sheets. I don't know if ... telling Neptune that was the right choice of words. I just ...
I just don't want to keep pretending anymore.
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- End of Chapter 20
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