Over the last couple of days, I've gotten very good at staying silent and sneaking around Saffron's house. Saffron must've taken my silence for good behavior, so she let me leave the house. Saffron had to go, to meet someone.
"I'll come with," I say, and she nods, leaving. I follow, staying out of sight. From my hiding spot, I can hear Saffron talking to someone else.
"Bergamot? No, I don't know anyone by that name," She lies, her voice calm. "Perhaps you're mistaken, Mr...?"
"Toadstool." At that name, and that voice, my blood roars in my ears. Every instinct in my body is screaming at me to leave my hiding spot, and take revenge. So I listen to them. I take a deep breath and step out of my hiding spot. I watch, with satisfaction, as Toadstool's face pales, and he starts to back away. I glance at Saffron out of the corner of my eye. She's inching over to the other person, the boy...who looks a little like me. I ignore Saffron and focus on the task at hand.
"Hey Toadstool," I greet him casually, walking towards him. "It's been a while." I snarl, and rush at him, claws outstretched. At the last moment, Toadstool grabs the red-haired girl beside him and puts her in front of him. My strike is fatal and leaves deep gashes in the girl's chest and torso. She hits the ground, with a soft thump. I growl, readying myself to fly...361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBAh3PkbAg3
"Bergamot." A hand on my shoulder stops me. It's Saffron, face grim. "Don't. He's gone." I whirl to face her, teeth bared in a hiss.
"It's not over!" I scream at her, and she doesn't flinch. "I'll hunt him down, and kill him! Just like I slaughtered the Council! And just like I killed that-" I glance at the corpse, and stare. Saffron follows my gaze and gasps. The size of the corpse is still the same, but the face... The face is that of an old woman. I scowl.361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2xkN9lqird
"Galangal," I mutter, walking over to the body. I kick the corpse in the ribs, listening to the ribs crack. "You. Treacherous. Crone!" I kick her again, the ribs breaking. I grab the corpse by the neck, crushing it in my grip.
"Bergamot, please." I hear Saffron's voice, ignoring her pleas. I hear another voice, quietly murmur something to Saffron. Galangal's neck snaps, and I drop her. I turn to face Saffron and the other boy.
"Are you done?" She asks, and I nod. The boy next to her steps forward, extending a hand.
"I'm Basil." He says, flinching slightly as I shake his hand. "Saffron told me that you're the King and that I'm your younger brother." I nod, suddenly feeling very tired, as if I'd fought an intense battle. 361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu5Uened1RU
"I'm going back inside," I say to Saffron, who nods. "I'm tired." I trudge back, seeing Pasilla, standing in the doorway. She steps aside when I walk past her, not meeting my gaze. I make my way upstairs and collapse into bed, falling into a deep, dreamless sleep.
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