Full of apologies this one, Vandal thought bitterly.
He wasn't quite in the mood to talk. The revelation of his death given to him by Leonette's touch yesterday and a nightmare, one woven such that he somehow witnessed Leonette's death, had darkened his waking mind.
"What are you apologizing for?" Vandal asked. "It wasn't your fault. Don't you understand? We were tricked."
"You don't blame Jayden, do you?" added Nu.
She's trying to patch that up, now is she? The remembrance of their argument soured him even more.
"Is this what all this is about? Me and Jayden? I'm just being cautious." Van sighed and said, "I won't be shooting him anytime soon if that's what you are worried about."
"It's just ... I've dragged all of you in so much trouble," she repeated, "making you all fight each other."
"Enough of that," exclaimed Van, "gods, how do you expect to survive, thinking, and talking like that?"
Van knew he was too harsh on her when he said that.
Her eyes began to glisten, the streams running down her cheeks reminding him of the water of her healing, her sacrifice. He expected her to run off. Gods, thought Van, abashed, what have I done? But she didn't leave him, rather, she just sat there, either too shocked to move or stubbornly waiting for forgiveness.
You fool, Van scorned himself, you cold-hearted fool. Nu has done nothing but help and save you and your companions. And you think her weak because of her kindness ... You are rotten ... perhaps Ladnavia and you truly belong together?
The thought made him clench his teeth so hard, they may have shattered in his mouth.
"Nu," Van began, the Elementalist giving him her full attention and wiping her tears, "I'm sorry, I said that. It was cruel." Even now he couldn't believe he let such vileness escape his lips and to Nu of all people!
"I am a fool," said Van when Nu said nothing, "I forgive you if that eases your pain. You need not forgive me. I don't deserve it."
Van started to stand and leave, but Nu wrapped his arms around him.
What is she doing? Van thought as his face became flushed.
He tried to turn within her grasp, but it only made her embrace him slightly harder.
Being so close, he could smell the fragrance of the soap on her skin and the wash in her brown hair. She smells nice, Van couldn't help but notice, like roses. He, on the other hand, must have smelled differently; his scent more like smoke, gunpowder, and sweat. Even with her pretty dress, vibrant and catching the morning's light, against his dark, leather armor, the travel-worn rags tucked beneath them, she didn't care. Their differences did not keep them apart.
She lifted her face to look at him, and this time he knew not to look away. Time seemed to freeze as they drank in each other's gaze. Van let his long gun drop onto the couch.
"Van ..." he heard her whisper, as her face grew closer to his.
A single thud upon the entrance door ended the moment they had.
What was that? Thought Van.
They undid their embrace and Van picked up his gun.
"Jayden," Nu said, gesturing for Van to lower his weapon, "is that you?"
Both Nu's entreaty for peace between her companions and anxiety for what or who stood behind the door had Van strongly hoping it was indeed Jayden.
If not Jayden, then ...
A voice mumbled something, low and difficult to understand, as it knocked again.
"Housekeeping!" the voice called, "Housekeeping!"
Such vileness and malice in the tone were all too familiar. Nu heard it, too. They glanced at each other.
The hinges of the entrances door began to smoke.
"Nu!" shouted Van.
The Elementalist dove in a corner, brandishing her burning tooth, as the door fell and crashed loudly into their luxurious suite.
The umbra licked all over its dark body and cackled. Its dripping saliva burned the carpet below it.
"I'm not actually housekeeping," it said in a fake serious, humane voice. It then began to cackle at its own stupid punchline.
In here of all places, too? thought Vandal as he took aim.
The Umbra shot its tongue out to wrap around Leonette, trying to divert his shot. Van couldn't get a clear shot; his arms swung wildly just to keep a hold on the long gun. Let go, you bastard!
Vandal stepped backward, the mound responding by moving in closer. Once he was over the threshold, Nu, still hidden from sight, sprinted out and drove the hot point into the creature's eye. The monster screamed and recoiled, and the burning tongue loosened around the barrels. Unencumbered, he fired all three shots at once into the Umbra's squealing mouth.
That may have overdone it, thought Van, seeing the creature reduced to a dark stain upon the hallway's wall. It wasn't such a big one, to begin with.
"I thought we were safe here," thought Vandal out loud, "of all the times we slept here, they try to take us out now?"
"We have to check if Jayden's safe!" called out Nu.
"Right," said Van quickly.
Nu went to the rooms, trying to wake the others. Van stood over the fallen door. I suppose we can put it up again and brace it but are we still safe here?
Vandal realized the Umbra that came for them wasn't so powerful, seemingly of a weaker version. Is this just some kind of warning?
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