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Post by Rad on Jan 24, 2012 21:00:00 GMT -8
“Sabrina…I’m sorry. I was only joking…” Smile spoke softly, positively grief-stricken and for once smart enough to keep his distance. It was obvious he was at a loss of what action to take and even clueless as to what he should say. On one hand was Victor; his new employer and a man it seemed prudent not to offend and yet there was also Sabrina; his beloved person who was currently bawling her eyes out. If this scenario continued any longer it wouldn’t be long before he joined her in a symphony of tears.
Memini also, the only one with any freedom in terms of what to say, wasn’t offering any great words of comfort either. In fact, in between long periods of silence the boy had begun to snicker to himself like some deranged maniac. There was something he was remembering; an incident of red and black that caused him to move his tongue over his lips as if there he would be able to taste the sweet cherry-scented liquid he longed for.
It was therefore certainly lucky when Adrasteia began to stir, blinking around at everything in confusion and muttering to himself about how he had the strangest nightmares.
{OoC: Lame post is lame. Sorry for this lame post, Wolfy. Dx}
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Post by Wolfy on Jan 24, 2012 21:28:37 GMT -8
Sabrina nodded slowly, though said nothing to Smile's excuse of joking. She believed him, but she was still extremely wary about how the whole situation would run out. And Smile even having the power to do such a thing was unnerving enough.
Victor looked back to see his new recruit looking serious over the matter and made the decision to back off and quit his hurtful commentary. That, however, simply made Memini's outbursts more Prominent in the conversation. Sabrina, having no tolerance for joking at such a sensitive matter, would have none of that. "Memini, I hope they kill you! I hope they treat you as awful as you're treating everyone else and then kill you with your worst fear, like how you tormented...!"
At this point, Adrasteia was beginning to come to. She realized this and said, "...Adrasteia!" just as if she was finishing her first thought. "you're alive!" she exclaimed, the river of tears slowing to a slow stream. "I thought you were a goner when Memini gave you that poison!"
"that was just a drug, you foolish girl," chuckled Victor. "Good thing, too. I could have lost my new assassin and my new soldier." He looked at Memini. "how much do you remember, Aiden?"
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Post by Rad on Jan 25, 2012 2:56:17 GMT -8
¡°I remember that you are a jerk.¡± Adrasteia stated quite plainly, glaring furiously at Victor as a means of avoiding eye contact with both Memini and Sabrina. He didn¡¯t need to be reminded of the crime he had been prepared to commit. He had to admit that it was exceedingly fortunate that Smile hadn¡¯t been present to witness that particular transpiration or there would never be an end to the insults he would have to endure.
Speaking of which, wasn¡¯t that mobster looking exceptionally morose for once? Did his apparent death sadden that evil man that much? No, of course not! The idiot had probably done something stupid to incur Sabrina¡¯s wrath and that was probably what was causing him such grief. ¡°Now, stop toying with us and explain-¡°
¡°Alive? Poison? That brat?¡±
Why was it that even in situations like these he had to compete with Smile over who even talked? Could clueless imbeciles keep their mouths closed at crucial times like these? Really, was it all too much to ask? Turning to Smile, Adrasteia hollered, ¡°Oi, you money-hungry fool! Are you capable of shutting up? While you were busy adhering to Greed¡¯s every wish and whim your ¡®beloved¡¯ Sabrina was very nearly killed! Do you not-¡°
¡°Nearly killed? By who?¡± It seemed that with that last piece of information Smile¡¯s mood had shifted entirely. In fact, he now appeared absolutely livid as he fixed Victor with a suspicious stare, ¡°What mental-invalid dared ta try an¡¯ harm my gall?¡±
Meanwhile, still stuck in his cage, Memini rolled his eyes. Why was it that whenever Smile was angry he would speak in such an unsophisticated dialect? It was so thoroughly uncultured and, in Memini¡¯s ¡®humble¡¯ opinion, totally unthreatening.
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Post by Wolfy on Jan 25, 2012 15:42:50 GMT -8
Victor raised his hands and said, “Wasn’t me,” he said. “Your friend Aiden was the one that nearly took the life of your beloved, just as it is you, now, who is still holding her here.” He held up the key, which Smile had still failed to take from him to unlock Sabrina’s handcuffs.
“You’re horrible!” Sabrina peeped up. Victor glared at her furiously, and she shrunk back behind Adrasteia, shaking now. “Just leave us alone. What did we ever do to you?” Victor let out a growl from deep in his throat, and took a step or two closer. However, he stopped when he remembered she was hiding behind Adrasteia.
“You’ve done nothing to me,” he said, trying to get his composure back. “But I’m here to control all threats to people like you – helpless and without a clue as to how much danger they’re in every second of every day. So I was just trying to get an assassin and a mobster under control. You just happened to be something I need to bribe them with.”
“I’m not a ‘something’!” she retorted, but was silenced by the terrifying look that Victor gave her. Again, she hid her head behind Adrasteia for protection against Victor and his scary expressions.
(Please excuse the short post and partially-sarcastic ending.)
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Post by Rad on Jan 25, 2012 17:32:34 GMT -8
“Control? Just who exactly do you think you are? Who gave you the authorization to do this?” If there was one other individual Victor’s actions reminded Adrasteia of it would be Kratos. However, Kratos Exousia had lost his power years ago so couldn’t possibly be the one pulling the strings behind this morbid little act.
In fact, the only excuse for Kratos acting the way he did was probably due to Rouge and its ability to make people forget. To be specific, it had most definitely caused Kratos to disregard the fact that his sway had long since been taken from him…
Yet by who had this been done? Adrasteia was seriously pondering this question now! By the confident way through which Victor commanded his forces and the carefree manner with which he addressed everyone...well Adrasteia could guess that the man was doubtlessly in a position of eminence which rivaled what Kratos had once held.
Obviously they were all just ants to Victor…with the exception of Adrasteia and Smile who posed some use as puppets.
“Who are you really and who do you work for?” An unexpected inquiry voiced by a not-so-sharp person. It seemed that Memini’s mind was at work for once, the kid appeared genuinely curious; triumphant even! Almost like a cat that knew that the mouse was just about to run into his paws. “Do the names Veritas and Exousia ring a bell? And did you have any connection to the massacre, or should I say ‘tragedy’, that killed my parents?”
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Post by Wolfy on Jan 25, 2012 18:36:45 GMT -8
Victor smiled and nodded slowly. “Ah… Veritas…” he said this as though he was trying to remember. Slowly, his mouth began to curl into a cruel grin. “Yes, Veritas. That was a fun little assignment.” He walked over and leaned against the bars of Memini’s cell. He looked in at him and chuckled to himself. “It was just so easy!”
“You see, I had to take out both a Mafia family and a troublesome gang both at the same time,” he began. “Imagine how happy I was when I discovered that they were related, and furthermore, that tensions were high between them. All I had to do was replace one of the low men in Caelum’s gang with myself and convince him to put a stop to his father’s influence on him.”
He glanced at Adrasteia, like he was trying to remember something. He seemed to recall what he was trying to think of, but didn’t mention it out loud. He simply grinned and nodded once. “At the same time, my partner was working on the mob boss, doing the same thing.”
Sabrina peeked over Adrasteia’s shoulder, looking into the cage at Memini. Was this man directly responsible for the massacre of Memini’s whole family. “Then, we just had to sit back and watch. It was brilliant how they destroyed each other. They did away with all of the witnesses and completed my assignment for me, and I didn’t even break a sweat!”
He looked back to Memini, still grinning madly. “How could I forget this, looking at you? You’re practically a clone of your father and brother! Thank you for bringing up all of these satisfying memories for me!” He laughed and looked around at all of them in the small room. “I suppose there was some fighting skill running through that family. The way he beat you, Aiden… wow! And handcuffed, no less!”
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Post by Rad on Jan 25, 2012 19:24:39 GMT -8
“I’m…so confused…” Smile complained wearily, reaching for the key to free Sabrina from her constraints. To avoid being a hypocrite he’ll have to liberate her before dealing with Aiden. That bastard, how dare he even attempt to take the life of his beloved? Only Smile himself was…no, not even he would permit himself to carry out such a despicable deed!
Meanwhile, Memini, supposedly no longer a fool now that light had at last been shed upon the truth, glowered up at his captor with a look of defiance, “Well, good for you. What do you want? A congratulations from a teenager? To be honest, I’ll have to thank you for eliminating the obstacles obstructing my path to the Veritas fortune. You see, my father never approved much of me but now that I’m back to my senses I am at liberty to do as I please. Shall we compromise by saying this is a win-win situation? Now release me for what purpose am I to you?”
As this conversation was taking place, Adrasteia, or shall we call him Aidan, was cautiously edging his way over to Sabrina when his path was dramatically blocked by Smile.
“Just what do you think you’re doing, assassin? Back to finish what you started?”
“Absolutely not! I have enough on my mind already!”
“What? For example, what?”
“Fool! I would’ve thought it obvious! What would be your reaction if Sabrina suddenly morphed into some sort of fiendish creature?”
There was a moment of terse silence before a slightly apologetic reply, “Okay, whatever. I would…I don’t know…wish that she could return to being the innocent young girl that she was?” Another pause, a significant change in expression, “wait…are you saying that Sabrina is no longer innocent and so you’ll rather kill her than let her live with being non-innocent? What the f*** man?! What the hell did you do to her?”
“Calm down. I-“
“SHUT UP!!”
“IDIOT! I DID NOTHING! IT WAS A HYPOTHETICAL QUESTION!”
“I’M GOING TO…wait…it was?”
“Are all mobsters so brainless?”
“Like you’re one to talk, you bloody hypocrite.”
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Post by Wolfy on Jan 25, 2012 20:18:57 GMT -8
Victor shrugged slightly. “Well, you came in here with no purpose other than to become subject to Aiden’s little test,” he said. “But now… well, now I think you may have a place with us here, as a soldier. Someday, you could even work up the ranks to be a leader. Just think – an entire army under your control?”
He sighed in a happy way and smiled. “Do you like the sound of that? Being able to send hundreds of men anywhere in the world to conquer any territory you choose. Think of the power you could hold, my friend!” He hoped the offer would be tantalizing, and hold Memini’s attention.
Meanwhile, Sabrina was still waiting to be unchained. “Stop bickering,” she hissed. “Adrasteia, what are you talking about? I won’t turn into some awful creature!” She pulled at the handcuff, looking like she was on the verge of crying again. “How could you even say such a thing?”
Sabrina, being the innocent child that she was, had no idea that they were talking about the ‘new’ Memini. “First you try to kill me, and now you’re keeping me from being released by telling Smile that he’s going to set some kind of monster about! What are you trying to do? I thought I could trust you!” “Smile, don’t worry about what he’s saying about me, just let me go!” she said, sounding almost pleading.
Victor, now seeming interested in both conversations, turned his head toward them. “What are you doing now, A… Adrasteia?” he asked. He decided that, since everyone else knew him by that name, that he should use it as well. “Hurting a little girl’s feelings is a very bad thing to do.” He grinned, knowing that he’d done the same to Sabrina about a dozen times that very day.
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Post by Rad on Jan 26, 2012 21:16:11 GMT -8
“Yeah! Don’t forget you made an attempt at my Sabrina’s life!” Smile proclaimed happily; delighted that for once Sabrina seemed just as intent on defying Adrasteia as he was. “Why don’t you do us all a favor and KEEP. Your. Distance.” There was additional emphasis on those concluding three words; each given a forceful accent and accompanied with a vigorous slap on the shoulder.
Evidently the mobster was relishing in the fact that he was, at least for the interim, viewed in greater esteem than his rival. Truly this was cause for celebration…even if his sudden festive mood was thoroughly inappropriate for their current predicament.
“Well, now that you are so obviously unwanted I’ll be off to carry out my duties as a PROTECTOR.” Turning his back to the peeved Adrastraie, Smile quickly sauntered over to Sabrina, unclasped each cuff, and then tossed the offending piece of equipment in the butler’s general direction (half-hoping to make a hit).
However, despite his displeasure Adrasteia was still capable of dodging a half-hearted throw and thus the hand-cuffs ended up clanging loudly on the cage bars behind him. “Is that so, Victor? I’m the one hurting people, am I?” He protested as he turned to face his real enemy (thus turning his back to Smile now that he was fairly certain there weren’t more objects to be tossed his way).
“Yes, yes you are. You are hurting my potential business deal.” Came a curt reply…one that surprisingly sounded from Memini’s mouth. “Can’t you see that this kind gentleman has proposed something not altogether unworthy of consideration and quite frankly I WILL NOT have a mere SERVANT ruin my chances of establishing something that could be…mutually beneficial…for me, that is, not for you.”
This unprecedented indifference from his young master astonished Adrasteia so much that he stood stock still! His mouth opening and closing like that of a simple-minded goldfish unable to comprehend the world beyond the glass. Then at last some words forced an escape, “Ha…ha ha! Such words yet you’re still caged like a tamed animal!”
“Oh yes. However I’m confident my release will all be a part of my negotiations with this man. You need not fret about things I do not require your help with. Now, Victor, where were we?”
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Post by Wolfy on Jan 27, 2012 14:20:52 GMT -8
Sabrina sighed, wishing Smile hadn’t said that with such force. True, she was angry, but she didn’t want Adrasteia to think she would never forgive him again. She sighed and lowered her head, waiting as she was unchained. Finally, she lowered her hand and rubbed her wrist as Smile threw the handcuffs at the man behind them.
After a moment, she stood and took her place behind Smile. She placed a hand around him, placing him between her and Victor. Victor looked at her and smirked, then averted his attention to Adrasteia. “I’m sorry, assassin,” he said. “But your master is right, we do have business to attend to.”
Sabrina, also, looked shocked. She’d never heard him being so rude to Adrasteia, and that was saying something. “What’s wrong with you, Memini? Why are you acting so different!?” She looked like she was going to venture from behind Smile’s back, but was stopped by Victor’s mere presence.
“So, we have a deal, then?” Victor asked, looking especially pleased with himself. He pulled a ring of keys off the wall and unlocked the cell door. He then proceeded to unlock Memini’s handcuffs and motion him toward the exit of his cage. “Welcome to the army, Mr. Veritas.”
He turned to the three people behind him and said with an annoyed expression on his face, “You three can leave, if you wish. Your services are no longer needed.”
Sabrina looked past him to Memini, looking confused. “But… You don’t want to come back with us?” she asked. Suddenly, she became very angry. “Fine, stay here and let us all remember you as an insensitive, horrible boy!” She looked to Adrasteia. Would he be alright with this new change?
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Post by Rad on Jan 27, 2012 21:38:47 GMT -8
¡°Horrible? Certainly that is not your honest opinion for on the contrary I believe that I have been exceedingly and pointlessly generous towards both you and your family. It is not often that a nobleman would give even two cents to a common merchant¡¯s family that couldn¡¯t withstand a little financial hardship. I sincerely hope my ill-thought-out investment in your father¡¯s capabilities will not go unrewarded.¡± Massaging his wrists, Memini did not even bother to face Sabrina as he was addressing her. Judging from his tone it appeared as though he simply did not consider her worthy of even a side-ways glance.
¡°Oi! Don¡¯t you dare-¡°
¡°Need I remind you, felon, that it is not only the girl who owes me a great deal? If I had turned you over to the authorities who knows what sorry state you¡¯ll be in? Although I suppose that¡¯s based on the assumption that you would even be alive.¡± Feeling confident and in-control Memini took a step towards Victor, opening his mouth as if about to say something of grave importance until Adrasteia¡¯s voice stopped him.
¡°What about me? Are ¡®my services no longer needed¡¯ too?¡±
¡°Although I have regained my memories I am still unfamiliar with the contract my brother made with you.¡±
¡°I had promised to be responsible for your well-being until you could stand on your own. Judging by your new-found confidence I shall assume that I have fulfilled my duty to your brother.¡± There was a pause, a blush of embarrassment before, ¡°However, I had hoped that you would keep me in your services out of¡¡± What was he going to say? Friendship? Sentiment? Somehow that all sounded ridiculous now!
Memini, as well, realized where this was heading and with one swift movement he swiveled around to face Adrasteia, ¡°No! I shall not have you as a reminder of the regretful way I have been behaving without my memories! I...I¡this is who I am! The Memini you knew was merely a cheap imitation! Unlike him I will follow the steps of my father to greatness. Having any sort of¡of¡¡± At this Memini glanced over at Victor, almost as if believing the man would have the word he was searching for written on his forehead. Suddenly, Memini straightened his posture, struggling to mimic the way Victor stood as he coldly stated, ¡°In other words, you are dismissed!¡±
¡°Fine.¡± There was a series of nods, almost as if the full impact of those words hadn¡¯t quite hit home yet. ¡°I see how it is.¡± ¡®I¡¯m only a stepping stone now. An embarrassing memory of a time he wants to forget.¡¯ Pulling Smile with him (who in turn dragged Sabrina with him too, thus forming a sort of human chain) Adrasteia made for the door, turning around at the last moment to voice ¡°Goodbye, Memini.¡± before he turned his back.
Watching them go, Memini frowned, scratching his head as if perplexed by something as he turned his attention back to Victor. ¡°Back to business! Now¡I was going to say, do you have anything that can make me taller?¡±
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Post by Wolfy on Jan 27, 2012 22:32:16 GMT -8
Sabrina looked positively horrified. "A simple merchant's family?" she asked in a loud voice. "Little financial trouble? Obviously you're too consumed with yourself to look around and see that even the most successful people are struggling! You are so ignorant, it's unbelievable!"
"And don't make me look like a simple, ungrateful mooch!" she continued. "Obviously, when you regained your memory, you've forgotten all those times that I've saved you from embarrassment and fights that you would just lose. Just think about how much I've defended you and see if you can still see me as a simple handout."
She looked away from Memini as Adrasteia and Smile addressed him. Really, how could he have become such a terrible person in one day? The previous day, he had been one of her closest friends. And now? Well, she wasn't quite sure where things would end up.
She followed Smile as he pulled her out behind Adrasteia. She cast a glance back to her former friend, but he was focused on Victor. So she walked outside the dungeon, her expression of rage slowly turning into one of sorrow and hurt. "Come on, let's go," she said sadly, sluggishly making her way toward the exit of the camp.
"Yes, we should do something to make you taller..." he said, contemplating the issue in his mind. "I shouldn't give you any of my... er... medication. That would be an irresponsible approach." 'Irresponsible' meaning that he didn't want to give up any of his precious, expensive Rouge. "Let's just see how things go when you start going through training."
He patted Memini on the head and started off toward the exit. "I suppose you should stay in the barracks with the rest of the regimen," he said. Would the sudden change to the barracks be too much of a change for the spoiled boy? If it was, a few bottles of Rouge could get him through the process of moving him to the fancier authority building.
After a little while, they all made it back to the Veritas estate. With Memini gone, however, there weren't any more members of the Veritas family to live in the elegant mansion. So now was she unwelcome? Were they all unwelcome? But then who would live there? She looked to Adrasteia, looking sad and confused, not to mention all of the other ways she'd felt in the past few hours. "Well? What now?"
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Post by Rad on Jan 27, 2012 23:50:24 GMT -8
¡°Well, first I start packing.¡± Adrasteia sighed wearily, ¡°after all, there¡¯s nothing left for me here.¡± Withdrawing the keys from his pocket, Adrasteia unlocked the doors; savoring the echo of that resounding click. It was a characteristic sound that he had come to recognize as the meaning of returning home. However he couldn¡¯t deny that this mansion had now abdicated that position. Yes, he was being abandoned this time. He smirked bitterly. Wasn¡¯t that ironic?
Now, as the door swung open, he recalled the sight that had greeted him the day he had arrived on the estate. Those checkerboard floor tiles were still the same, the grand staircase, the elaborate fountain¡the setting hadn¡¯t changed in the slightest! The only disparity was the absence of one person: Memini. If his memory served him well, the youngster had been having a tantrum on that day; wailing about a lost chess piece whilst seated on the fountain rim.
He couldn¡¯t help it; even now a tentative smile was forcing its way onto his lips.
Sadly, this perfect mood was ruined as Smile burst into the room; rushing ahead to stand atop the rim of the fountain with a flamboyant shout of ¡°LET¡¯S TRASH EVERYTHING!¡±
With him in that vulnerable position it was really quite easy; all that was needed was a half-hearted shove and SPLASH! The mobster was in the water!
Caught off guard by this surprise attack Smile floundered around: struggling to swim and calling out for help. Of course, this was until he realized it was just shallow enough to let him stand. ¡°Hey! That was a mean trick!¡± Came the disgruntled shout which only echoed in the hall without reaching the ear of his target; Adrasteia had already retreated to his room.
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Post by Wolfy on Jan 28, 2012 8:00:22 GMT -8
Sabrina followed Adrasteia into the mansion sadly. She had been coming there since her and Memini were both infants. She thought back to all the memories they’d shared there and couldn’t help but let out a mournful sigh. Her friend was gone, now. Perhaps he would never go back to the way he’d been.
As she passed the man in the fountain, she put on a tiny smile. “Looks like we’re moving back to our mansion,” she said. “Better go pack your stuff.” As she walked up the staircase out of earshot, she added, “While we still have it…”
She then made her way to Adrasteia’s room, looking regretful. “You know,” she said softly as she stood in the doorway. “You’d always be welcomed to join us at our home. I mean, if you want…” It seemed her anger had left and she was now worried about losing him. “I understand what you did with that poison. He did say that he was going to kill us anyway…”
Sighing, she turned to leave. “So, I’m not mad. But it’s up to you…” With that, she went to go pack up her own things. It all fit into a small traveling bag, which she then carried down to the foyer. She decided to phone her father about the new development in their financial situation while she waited for Smile.
She sat down in a little seating area with a high back chair and a coffee table with a phone on it. She dialed her own number to hear her dad’s voice on the other end. “Hey, daddy,” she said, sounding uncharacteristically soft. “I’m coming home. And… Dad, Memini is thinking about stopping the money. He said that unless we make it worth his investment, that there wouldn’t be any point to throwing the money away.”
He responded with a multitude of questions like, “Why? What happened?” and “What does he expect us to do?” Most of these questions were met with a simple reply of, “I don’t know, Dad.” Finally, he said that she should just come home to explain. “Alright, bye…” she sighed, then hung up. How was she going to explain that Memini had suddenly turned bad?
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Post by Rad on Jan 28, 2012 20:17:21 GMT -8
Adrasteia pondered Sabrina¡¯s offer, ultimately shaking his head to decline. However, when he turned around the young girl had already vanished and so he was uncertain as to whether she had even been present to witness that shake of his head. Perhaps he had spent longer considering her proposal than he had thought. For truly, so accustomed to this strange life was he that he could no longer imagine himself living the way he had before.
Would it not be strange? Waking up to his own rhythm¡without having to keep up with tedious scheduled errands¡ No, perhaps he would eventually realize it was only the feeling of freedom. No longer it be required that he adhere to the capricious demands of an unruly adolescent!
As he contemplated the future, Adrasteia marched towards a nearby window and flung it open. Embracing the sudden gush of wind as if it were the tangible essence of the looming future he allowed it to lead him towards his bed upon which he collapsed as if thoroughly exhausted. Closing his eyes he sighed.
Yes, he wouldn¡¯t be obliged to do anything since the promise was now nil. There would be no one relying on him. No longer would he be disturbed in the night by some sobbing child seeking salvation from a terrible nightmare. Returning to a life of solitude as a contract killer¡it was better that he didn¡¯t have any attachments anyway! He didn¡¯t need any of this! He had survived perfectly fine without before and logically he was capable of doing so again¡
He didn¡¯t need it! He didn¡¯t need someone to argue with whenever the day was beginning to pass by too slowly. He didn¡¯t need someone to make him believe that he mattered. He didn¡¯t need to be greeted with a smile. He didn¡¯t¡
Oh who was he kidding? He didn¡¯t need it but he wanted it. His memories with that irksome kid had become more precious to him than he could have fathomed possible. Covering his eyes with his hands Adrasteia let out a pained cry.
Those says would never return¡clink! The sound of a vial falling upon the floorboards reached Adrasteia¡¯s ears. Curious, he sat up, studying the floor until he found the vial within which a clear liquid swirled. The crimson stopper was also branded with an ebony skull and as Adrasteia studied it a strange malevolent grin spread over his lips as he let out a sinister chuckle.
¡°I won¡¯t fail this time...I'll end this with you.¡± He whispered, pocketing the vial and getting up; too absorbed in his own thoughts to know if anyone was overhearing his words or not.
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