13.1 — THE ODDITY

THIRTEEN PART I

Cold.

Dark.

Empty.

Those words had always been Verēna's dear old friends, and yet another one seemingly ecstatic to join their merry band. Something she right out refused to acknowledge before, but was now insisting to get noticed─to get validated, accepted even.

Loneliness.

What triggered its sudden surfacing? She needed not to stray further to know.

Fluttering the dark lashes rimming her amber eyes, Verēna roved her disinterested gaze around the lush vast plains she came up to seconds after letting darkness took the reigns of her mortal body. No wind. No chirps. Only an endless flat lands with knee-high grasses.

The serenity the place gave off supposed to seep through every inch of her veins as it always did before, yet an unsettling sensation was all it placed at the pit of her stomach. A foreboding she knew better not to ignore.

"What are you up to this time, Ramé?"

A whimsical voice instantaneously answered beside her. "Hm? I see no use of explaining myself to a mere mortal, dear." The way words rolled out of her tongue was like an echoing tone, spoken melodiously with a promise of bliss.

Verēna snickered. The uncanny dislike she harbored against mortals wasn't a news anymore, but the irony of the situation they were stuck into was comical; a mortal-hating goddess using a mortal vessel to walk on mortal soils.

How lovely.

Not.

Without looking at her companion, Verēna went on, "And yet you frivolously used me to sate whatever you wishes. I say, I have the right to know. You don't officially own me yet."

"Careful now, dear. Watch your words."

Her jaw ticked. "I know what you did."

"Then, explanation isn't needed anymore."

Willing her rehearsed composure, Verēna breathe in and out, and folded her hands over each other in her front. She turned to her right, half expecting to see a young child beside her, but was greeted by a huge lump of formless shadows with silhouette of tendrils waving restlessly around it. A sight she was used to yet she couldn't help but scowl at the moment. "Is this entertaining enough for you?"

A hearty chuckle erupted from the formless shadows. "Entertain me more, child, and I might show you good will in the future."

Verēna choked a sardonic laughter at that. Gods, she thought. To entertain a divine entity would mean opening a can of nasty worms. It would take great lengths to get them out of their boredom. And not to mentioned that divine entity was─

"To hear such words from the Reaper, herself, is quite alarming," she mused, gaining another chuckle from the ambiguous goddess. "The Weaver and Spinner wouldn't be thrilled, Ramé."

"Fear not, child. As long as the cycle of life remain undisturbed, all's well. Be a dear and do so." The goddess paused, humming cheerfully before cackling yet again. "That lad isn't bad. He matches yours perfectly."

Verēna visibly tensed up at the passing notion. Her bewildered eyes flickered back at Ramé before falling to her pale palms.

"You di─"

Ramé cut her off, amusement dripping on every words she uttered. "I should thank my sisters for this unforseen circumstances."

Cogs whirled in Verēna's head. The unsettling sensation nestled at the pit of her stomach seconds ago now came to life as solid dread engulfed every fiber of her being. The loud thumping of her chest seemed to resonate all over the lush plains, though she knew it was all just pounding too loudly for her ears to catch on. Her hands folded languidly in front and over each other morphed into one fisted hand. Nails dug into her palms, yet the sense of foreboding overwhelmed the pain it made.

"Leave him out of this, Ramé," she found herself saying through gritted teeth.

Why do I even care?

"Aw," the goddess cooed mockingly, "too late for that, child."

At that, Verēna's eyes fluttered back to reality as the ceiling of her four-postered octagon bed stared back at her in complete stillness.

As the last fog cleared off her mind, her ears immediately caught on the soft, shallow breathing that was certainly not hers. Faint, gibberish murmurs followed suit which led her head to crane on her right side of the bed. A sharp intake of breath drew out her lips as her wide as saucers eyes took in the familiar slumbering figure a mere arm's length away. All the air in her lungs briefly get trapped at the based of her throat. For a split second, a reflex of her old self threatened to resurface at such unexpected situation, yet all drowned deep to abyss as her rehearsed composure swiftly took over before anything else could happen.

Releasing the air she unknowingly held, Verēna peeked through the sheet over them, puffing out a relieved sigh upon seeing that she still wore the articles of clothing at yesterday night's affair. Glancing over the unconscious lord beside her, she also noticed the same thing saved for the lack of his ivory cloak. A frown emerged from her when her gaze settled on the lord's face.

A deep crease of wrinkles were etched on his sweat-dotted forehead. Some of his unkempt curly locks were sticking around the side of his face. Lord Kaizo's pale face was awfully contorted into a scowl as he continued to mumble unintelligibly in his unconscious state. He seemed to be deeply submerged into a dream . . . or was it nightmare?

And yet Verēna's focus was stolen by the certain space between the lord's forehead.

Without meaning to, her shaky hand reached up towards it; touching it with her fingertips. She was unprepared for its repercussion.

Verēna instantaneously jerked her hand away as a sensation akin to being electrocuted rattled awake the last sleeping nerves in her system. She'd only managed a few inches when a large hand seized it in place and Lord Kaizo's lashes fluttered open, molten orbs directly settling on hers; steadily and firmly. And yet he appeared to see through past her─trapped in half-hazed state and reality. The tingles at her fingertips were forgotten as Lord Kaizo spoke.

"Hollis."

The world around them blurred as Verēna found herself over the stunned lord in the next second. Knees propped on the either side of Lord Kaizo's torso, trapping him in between, she pinned his left hand by the wrist over head while the other was nailed down by his shoulder. Her jaw ticked, mood plummeting. Another word of remembrance from her distant past life and she'd gladly give in to the li'l vindictive voice, nudging her out of her self-control.

If her boldness had the lord taken aback, the only indication it did was the brief widening of his eyes which instantly washed away when they clashed with hers.

Shooting down a grim look at him, she firmly said, "It's Verēna, my lord."

The initial shock brought upon her sudden action ebbed away as Lord Kaizo relaxed his tensed body underneath her. Closing his eyes and sighing, her brows furrowed when the glassy, far away look in his eyes earlier was no longer there the next moment he opened them. He regarded her stolidly, never breaking eye contact.

"Of course, Priestess."

Her furrowed brows had smoothened as one quirked up in amusement. Releasing his hands under her grip, her head tilted to one side as she sat down on his stomach. She watched him, gauging for any reaction of retaliation or objection, but found nothing of those.

She continued staring down at the unusually calm and composed lord underneath her. Lord Kaizo, in return, shamelessly gazed back up at her without straying his eyes anywhere else. Silence reigned between them and yet Verēna waited for the usual reaction of being skin to skin with anyone.

None of it came. Ramé really took the liberty to exempt him without her prior consent. In ordinary days she'd be mad. But none of that concerned her at the moment.

If only he truly knew what would it cost him.

The side of her lips curled up into a knowing, lopsided grin.

He'll certainly run.

"You knew," she quipped, unable to hide her dry amusement.

"I do."

Oh, no, you don't really know.

She chuckled dryly at his calm demeanor. "And yet you accept it. You must be a fool, my lord."

"For what it's worth, I won't mind if it meant finding myself stuck in this  kind of situation, Priestess."

Verēna's smile fell off at Lord Kaizo's suggestive tone. She opened her mouth to spout a comeback just to close it again as her brain failed to serve her at the moment. Lord Kaizo seemed to see through her predicament. A sonorous chuckle reverberated his chest, vibrating throughout her body as she frowned down at him. Attempting to smoother his happiness, Verēna parted her mouth to speak out her mind only to be interrupted by the sudden slamming of the door.

"Kai, is Vevee awa─holy mother of Barney and friends!" Hands clamping her mouth, Miran let out a strangled squeal before abruptly shutting the door from outside and yelled, "I want twin nephew and niece, kiddos! Don't fail me! Enjoy!"

The slamming of front door echoed around the cottage as Miran's giggles dwindled far away. Only then did Verēna catch on what the Astreon truly meant by those words. Her shoulders tensed up at the thought. Heat crept upon her cheeks as the room temperature seemed to escalate in a jiffy. 

With a poise, so to not give away the embarrassment eating away her insides, she dislodged herself from Lord Kaizo whose mirthful grin seemed to silently mocked her that he knew without a doubt.

"I didn't know you're that bold, Priestess." Lord Kaizo chuckled again as he pushed himself upright and on his feet. He bended over the floor, retrieving the ivory cloak and dusted it off before turning back to her. The mirthful gleam in his eyes never waned, so did his cheeky grin that started to grate on her. "You like it rough, then."

Her eyes narrowed and bit back a retort. "Saved your crudeness to the one who give a damn, Lord Kaizo."

"Oh, you're gonna be giving me a lot of damn sooner than you could ever imagine, Priestess."

Verēna's mood went sourer at his unabashed confidence. "That'll surely when you're doomed to damnation."

"Wanna bet?"

"I don't play games."

"What about a chase, Priestess?"

She merely shot him a pointed look. One that showed how displeased she was at their senseless banter. One that sent utter confusion down to her bones.

Lord Kaizo's grin grew wider. "As much as I relished getting into your skin, I suggest you to clean up," he said, walking up to the door. "You got a serious eye mucus and morning breath to take care of, Priestess."

The door was already slammed shut before Verēna could restrain herself from throwing pillows at him.

Somethin' changed.