Around midnight, Yuna awoke to Celeste slipping out from under the covers. She drowsily watched as Celeste left. Several minutes passed and as she almost slipped back into slumber, she recalled the tremble of Celeste’s hand. She, too, slipped out with care, not that it mattered with Reina in a deep sleep. She exited her room to see Celeste with a directed light over only her at the dining table. Celeste cursed under her breath as she inspected the letter. A pack of closed cigarettes and lighter lay on the table. Yuna approached.
“Language,” Yuna said.
Celeste looked up. “I don’t appreciate you mocking me, young lady. Don’t think I missed it earlier, either.”
“Heh. Well, can count on one hand the times I’ve heard you cuss. And now, swearing like, well, me? What’s wrong?”
“It’s-.”
“Shouldn’t you be over the moon?” Yuna sat down. “That’s the letter, right?”
“It is. It’s… I don’t want to say it.” Celeste sighed.
“Seeing you timid is creeping me out.” Yuna yawned. Celeste shot her a glare.
“It’s too good to be true.”
“Huh? What is?”
“Reina.”
“But don’t you trust the Nezins? They were so enamored with her clean bill of health, they’d still be running tests if we hadn’t snatched her away.”
“No, I do. They’re the ones who figured out Reina’s condition originally, after all. I still shudder to think with our circumstances what mighta happened without them. I know they’ve even been working on a cure since. But it’s not them I’m worried about. In this life, something being too good to be true almost always is. I can promise you I’ve never witnessed it.”
“Maybe this will be the first?”
“I dunno, hun. I can’t shake this feeling. Have you remembered anything else? How you ended up where ya did?”
“Ahh, not really. It does bug me, but my thoughts are just all Reina right now. I still can’t believe it. I’ve been so fuc—.” Yuna paused. “—angry about the duel. I finally had a chance to, well, you know. It doesn’t even matter now. If there is a hidden price to pay, I’ll pay it. Oh, uh, this sounds weird but, I feel like I heard ‘Elf’, oddly?”
“Hm, I see. I’ll pay it, too, gladly. I’d just like to know what it is.” Celeste stared at the letter. She looked back at Yuna. “Why’re you up, anyway, hun? I could fix ya something if yer hungry.”
“Uhh… that’s…” Yuna mumbled.
“Sorry fer bargin’ in on your slumber party, by the by.”
“Geh.” Yuna grunted. “No, no. When I felt your hand over ours, I instantly regretted that I even almost whined about you joining. You know I’m awful at this stuff.” She groaned. “But even I can recognize how selfish I’ve been with Reina. And then I felt your hand trembling…”
“Oh.” Celeste paused apprehensively. “Ya did?”
“I know we butt heads a lot,” Yuna continued without thinking, “and sometimes I wonder if you even like me with all the nagging, plus my temper compared to you, but even I could tell something was wrong.”
“Oh, hun. That’s just foolish. It’s the opposite.”
“Huh? You’ve lost me?” Suddenly, Celeste embraced Yuna into her chest, smothering her. Yuna resisted a bit, which Celeste ignored. Yuna tapped on Celeste. “Hard to… breathe.” Celeste tempered her hug.
“I love ya t’ death, understand me?” Celeste looked down.
“Okay, I get it. Wasn’t really asking for—.”
“I know. I know you can only be that way with Reina. Poor Val, and, uh, those two gentlemen. I’m saying it, anyway.”
“That’s—. I, well… you know.”
Celeste returned to her seat with a grin. “Rare to get you tongue-tied. I don’t, not always, at least. It’s appreciated. I’ve worried you don’t like me either, with all the naggin’.” She sighed. “I’ve only mahself to blame tho’. Your father’s been scolding me for years for being too stubborn to fess up. Reminded just a bit ago, even.”
“‘Fess up’?”
“You wouldn’t notice with Reina, because that’s just how our darlin’ is, but you ever think about how your swearin’ doesn’t bother your father, despite my harpin’?”
“Not really?”
“Well.” Celeste took a deep breath. “That’s ‘cause of me. Before Reina, I was just like you, hun, and as bad, if not worst.”
“You? Like me? No way, I don’t believe you.”
“I swear I’m tellin’ tha truth.”
“Lame, Mom.”
Celeste chuckled. “It is, though. I’d cuss out every fool that I stitched up. Including your father.”
“Hard to imagine. I’d like to see that.”
“There’s video evidence, unfortunately. Leon has it hidden somewhere.”
“You know I’m gonna ask to see it?”
“I know. Movin’ on. I’ve finally fessed up so time to stop pussyfootin’. I want you to understand why I’m always on your case about swearin’. The truth is, I once cussed out baby Reina somethin’ fierce.” Celeste shook her head as she looked away. “I don’t even remember what it was about or what I said. But I remember lookin’ at her. She had a peculiar look and wasn’t even cryin’ no more. And I said to myself, ‘what the fuck is wrong with me?’”
Yuna burst into laughter, then stifled it with her hand. Celeste gave her a blank look. “My bad. Picturing it, just, so funny for some reason.”
A grin crept along Celeste’s lips. “Guess I never really thought about it. In hindsight, it is.” They shared a chuckle. “Anyway, long story short, I stopped cussin’. And after a while, I realized my flareups were weaker and weaker. My conclusion became that swearin’ was just fuel for the fire.”
“So that’s why ‘language’?”
“Yep. Shameful it’s taken so long for me to fess up, hun. Sorry.”
“Hmm. It’s nice to know why. If you were hopin’ I’d stop though, I think of them as relieving anger, if anything.”
“Well, hun, I’m not gonna give up, either.” Celeste smiled as she placed the letter aside. “Alright, that’s enough worryin’ for tonight.” She stood, to which Yuna followed. “It was nice to clear some air, but I’m a real fool,” Celeste placed her arm around Yuna’s shoulder while moving. “wastin’ precious slumber time with my daughters.” Celeste kissed the side of Yuna’s head with a peck. Yuna had a faint smile.
A few days later, late afternoon, Dante stumbled out of his room. He glanced at Reina’s terminal. He stopped at the familiar sight of the screens flickering with Reina-cat seated.
“So, uh, Reina-cat isn’t retired?” Dante asked while approaching.
“Good afternoon, Dante,” Reina said. “Of course not.”
“So, how’re, you know, things?” Dante sat in his usual chair.
“You mean how is it not being confined to a bed twenty-four seven?”
“I suppose.”
Reina giggled. “Oh, right, you’re the weirdo that was somehow jealous of that.”
“Did I say that?”
“Yes, when I first told you.”
Dante gave a nervous chuckle. “Does sound like me. I’ve fantasized about it, honestly.”
Reina laughed. “I’m not surprised.” The screens continued to move between their usual contents.
“So, why Reina-cat still?”
“Well, I won’t be able to make it here myself anytime soon. Fortunately, Elias and Sophia already made a control unit for my avatars.”
“Ah, right. I see you’re still being a workaholic mere days later. I’d take a month off, at least.”
If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
Reina chuckled. “I can only do so much physical therapy in a day. And, I’ve finally been given a reprieve,” she gave a profound sigh, “from Mama and Yuna. They’d been neglecting their duties. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve dreamt of this, but they’re…”
“Suffocating?”
“Y-yeah.”
“Val mentioned it.” Dante shook his head. “Poor Lawrence.”
“What?”
“Er, nothing.” I’d rather not face Yuna’s wrath if I told Reina that she slapped the guy so hard his knees buckled when he kept trying to meet with her.
“So, anything new with you?”
“Sure, but you know it’s purely ALTR.”
“Obviously. I might’ve mentioned needing a new ALTR and the Nezins are already working on it.”
“Oh-ho. Those noobs in my guild will be real happy. I’d told them you might not be coming back after they kept pestering me when you’d come online again. They took a real shine to your leadership. Personally, though, I’d really love to power level you to get you raiding asap. I’m betting you’d be great at figuring out mechanics.”
“I don’t know about that, really?”
“Yeah. Though, I’m a bit worried how the guild leader’s wife will behave. She already badmouthed you some. She’s the jealous type. Real pain in the ass.”
“What? Why?”
“Like I said, jealous. Just because it’s ALTR, doesn’t mean people stop sucking.”
“Oh.”
“Wait till you witness the toxicity of pvp. It’s not surprising Yuna’s been getting into it.”
“She has?”
“Uh, crap, she didn’t want me to tell you yet. Please keep that a secret.” They discussed ALTR some more. “Anyway. Good to know you remain a convert. By the way, unrelated, you should maybe stay away from the Vyx forum for a while.”
“Huh? Why?”
“A lot of it’s about you.”
“Oh, I’m sure I’m just the recent hot topic, it’ll die down like always, but thanks.”
“Right.” The screen’s usual chaos slowed dramatically. A blood-red grotesque image appeared.
Now that she’s out of her ‘shell’, literally and figuratively, Dante thought, not noticing the screen. Almost everyone wants to meet her. Poor girl has no idea just how much she’s idolized around here, does she? Sure in hell don’t envy that.
Reina gagged. Then, the sounds of her vomiting caught Dante’s attention. “Whoa, you okay? What’s wrong?” His peripheral caught the grotesque image. He looked up. “What the fuck?” The image displayed a mutilated human body, with body parts severed and out of place, partially re-attached to form some kind of abstract twisted sculpture. Dante gagged as he turned away, then hurried to a nearby trash can and vomited. Meanwhile, the image minimized.
“I’m so sorry!” Reina coughed. Reina-cat turned to the hobbled Dante. “Are you okay?”
Dante grabbed a tissue and wiped his mouth as he glanced at the receptacle. “I’m glad I didn’t have any breakfast.” He turned to Reina. “I tend to avoid trauma-inducing stuff, but I’m still pretty desensitized from my time in ALTR. But that?” He gagged a bit again. “Indescribable.”
“I’m so, so sorry. It had a warning, but I’ve seen some things, you know?” Reina tried to disguise a gag. “I never thought. I don’t even.”
“Yeah, uh, really wishing I could wipe that from my memory forever.”
“Sorry.”
“So, the hell was it? Some sicko send you something? It was real, right? Sure looked real.” Dante paused. “Damn, do I even really wanna know?”
“I’ve been reviewing any correspondence I’ve missed. It’s real. It was found on display at the arena from those months ago, where…” Reina trailed off, turning back to the monitors.
“Yuna nabbed me? Plus, the whole brother shot dead thing.”
“Y-yes.”
“I see you still think I might be repressing emotions about that. Well, you’re gonna be waiting forever if you don’t just trust I’m not bothered. Anyway.” Dante returned to his seat. “Wasn’t that place like, abandoned?”
“Yes, kinda. It’s on indefinite hiatus from hosting any matches. It still gets checked on and, well, whatever that was, was found. They don’t have any other information to share yet.”
“Sheesh. I’m trying to forget, but it’s like something you’d see in a movie or show from some serial killer.”
“Hmm,” Reina mumbled.
“Probably wasn’t Clayshi, right?”
“I can’t fathom a reason it would be. But maybe it’s related, somehow?”
“Huh.” They sat in silence for a time. “By the way, sorry to sidetrack, but am curious. Didn’t cameras catch anything from, er, your kidnapping?”
“Well, if my bed wasn’t severed from the floor, I might think I was spirited away. They? Left no trace except the nerve gas. And we never had a reason to have cameras. Also, only Papa uses the roof for transport to council meetings.”
“Oh, the roof. Duh. Nerve gas, though, crazy. That do any lasting damage?”
“The twins ran tests and are still analyzing small traces, but they think it was just really effective at putting us to sleep, nothing else.”
“Guess it wouldn’t make much sense to cause harm considering their apparent end goal. But, wait, what about like, your neighbors? They get gassed too? They didn’t hear anything?”
“Huh?” Reina turned to Dante.
“What?” They stared blankly at one another.
“Do you not know only we live within the top two floors?”
“You do?”
Reina had a soft chuckle. “I guess it shouldn’t surprise me by now. Bare minimum when not ALTR-related.”
“Eh?”
“Nothing. Outside of our apartment, the top two floors are only the bones for other apartments. They’re mostly used for storage, some other stuff and, of course, an entrance to the roof.”
“Really? No kidding? Never knew. Or maybe I did and forgot. So that’s how they nabbed you without alerting anyone.”
“Yes… in hindsight, never even thought to secure it. A failure on my part.”
“You never take a break as Vyxora’s overseer, even now? Sounds like a fortuitous failure if there ever was one. No fucking clue what the kidnappers got outta all this, but seems like they want no recognition. Security would’ve complicated that. Right?”
“Still.”
“Ah, jeez. I haven’t known you for long, but you’re not gonna let this go, are you? Despite the letter?”
“I—. Maybe.”
“I’d say you should touch some grass, but not sure last time I saw any grass in real life. Whatever. You do you. So what’s with the top floors?”
“There’s no special reason. They’re just unfinished.”
“Didn’t your folks buy this place like fifteen or so years ago?”
“Yes. At a discount. The developers had to sell and our apartment was like a demo, I think. I know Mama intended to have them finished, but we’ve never had the extra credits to spare.”
“That doesn’t surprise me. Honestly, not sure how you guys stay afloat. Celeste is so generous with rent and stuff that even I’m starting to feel guilty I don’t do enough.”
“I can always find you more things to do.”
“That’s uh, well, you know…” Dante mumbled. Reina giggled. “Oh, yeah. Forgot to ask, how’s it feel, being un-bedridden?”
“I kinda still am. But it’s weird. Really, really weird. I feel like I’ve forgotten even basic movements. And sometimes it feels like I might pull a muscle just making them, if I even have any left. Yuna and Mama are so warm, though. I’d forgotten how that feels. It’s nice.”
“Sounds rough, but time will help. Yuna does run pretty hot.”
“Huh? You know? When?”
“Don’t think she’d get mad at me if I share this now.” Dante retold of Yuna’s backbreaking hug after he introduced Reina to ALTR.
“She said that?”
Dante nodded. “Alright, I’m gonna catch some more z’s.” He stood and walked away.
“Thanks, Dante. Sorry again for the image, and don’t worry, I’ll find some things for you.”
“Fuck.” Dante cursed under his breath.
A few days later, Aelfric kneeled before Artemis in the usual manner via the ALTR moon.
“Apologies, Lady Artemis,” Aelfric said in a solemn tone. “I have felt Celeste’s eyes on me an abnormal amount, even though nothing else has changed. I’ve limited my intelligence gathering in caution.”
“Has she confronted you in any way?” Artemis asked.
“No. Not even a single unorthodox question. Therefore, I can not rule out paranoia on my part.”
“Continue as you are, then. You’re to inform Belle immediately if the situation changes, understood?”
“Yes, my lady.” Aelfric gave details on the state of Vyxora, including what he had gleaned of Reina.
“So they decided to keep the incident to themselves? Perhaps my letter was enough, but we should not underestimate that family. Were I them, I’d surely think it was too good to be true, ‘no strings’.”
“I agree, my Lady. Belle thinks they’ll ‘get over it’ and accept it after enough time passes, but I can not agree based on experience thus far. Despite them appearing to be in permanent financial instability, and especially considering the area Vyxora is located, the residents live quite well under Celeste’s guidance. It occurred to me she would make an excellent executive at Aegis.”
“Is that so?” Artemis asked with a keen glance, to which Aelfric nodded. A brief silence passed.
“I must ask, Aelfric. Regardless of the Reina matter, there’s still the possibility you will be required to remove the Vyx from the board. Should I have cause for concern?” Artemis observed Aelfric. A rare crack in his typical serious visage rippled.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa. That was a mean spirited question.” Xandr chastised. “Come on, Artemis. I know things would have to change drastically for you to even consider such a thing now. Isn’t this just jealousy speaking?”
“I…Ye—,” Aelfric said.
Artemis turned away. “Nevermind. Disregard that question.”
“Good girl,” Xandr said.
“Shut. Up. I thought I was free of you while in here,” Artemis thought.
“Can’t escape yourself.”
“So. You said you saw the ‘Reina-cat’ mere days after, correct?”
“Yes, my Lady.” Aelfric did his utmost to disguise his relief.
“To think she would return to work so quickly.”
“Yes, it sounded like she only missed two days, to Celeste’s dismay.”
“Quite remarkable. It would not surprise me, however, if she shares her mother’s suspicions. Keep me apprised of even small things.”
“Understood. I know it’s not my place, but I’ve wondered if we could recruit her somehow. Perhaps we should have used the cure as leverage?”
Artemis turned back with a fierce glare. “No.” Her grave tone visibly shook Aelfric, who bowed his head.
“Forgive me, my Lady.”
“It’s fine.”
“Heyy, this is your chance. Tell the poor boy you’d never do that. This is like your only remaining redeeming quality,” Xandr said.
“Quiet,” Artemis thought.
“Belle informed you of the grotesque display, correct?”
“Yes. I overheard something that alludes to Reina knowing about it as well. Have they been identified?”
“Yes. It was the two men you left knocked out.”
“Two? I thought it was one body found?”
“The other’s head was within the chest. More body parts were found as well in an abhorrent message. It seemed to be a title for the display. ‘Face Finding Mission’. Truly reprehensible.”
“Is only the council investigating the scene?”
“Yes. It’s being kept quiet, at least to the degree such organizations are capable of. However, in all likelihood, Siegfried has given reason to believe he’s behind this. He left a message for Viktor and myself, the night of that last duel. ‘With another no-show of the perpetrator, I shall now embark on an intensive investigative pursuit, starting from the ground up. Apologies if I am unable to be reached at all times going forward.’ The timing and victims cannot be mere coincidence. Therefore, we will proceed under this assumption.”
“I fail to understand what purpose such barbarism serves.” Aelfric shook his head.
“Unfortunately, this may only be the beginning. We will find out in due course. We can only continue to observe for now. Speaking of, what’re your thoughts on departing Vyxora? You may speak freely.”
“Yes, my Lady. I know we discussed leaving after confirming Reina’s health, and with there possibly being some suspicion cast towards me, risk has increased. However, while I desire to return to your side, I believe there may still be valuable intel to obtain. Given this new information, specifically, regarding Siegfried's current and future actions.”
“I see. Very well. We will maintain course for now. I simply hope you’re not underestimating any attachments you may have gained.”
“No, Lady Artemis!” Aelfric protested, then tempered his voice. “I worry of Belle’s efficacy at your side, but I know our mission must be at the forefront of my actions.”
“Was that convincing enough for you? Jeal—,” Xandr said.
“You’re too harsh on Belle. She may be overtly… energetic, in comparison, but fulfills her duties sufficiently. I’m content we’re on the same page, however. I, too, think Reina may offer valuable insight into Siegfried. It’s clear that caution at this juncture is paramount.”