The Nightscape

Answers And Awkward

"Oh, they're out getting food and water. I didn't realise that you needed things like that now you sat on my council, or I would have spent my time stockpiling it instead of reading. They should be back before the sun begins to set; I don't want you out after that, because that's when the monsters come out." He explained to her, plonking himself down on the pile of cushions with a friendly grin. Lyra relaxed a little, though the possibility he was lying still lurked in the back of her mind. 

"I see. I have a lot of questions." She said carefully, watching him as though he was a ticking time bomb as he sprawled out onto the cushions. At her words, he sat up again, crossing his legs and looking at her eagerly. 

"I love questions! Tell me them." He demanded excitedly, like a six year old who hadn't quite learnt his manners yet. Lyra gave him a shaky smile. 

"First of all, why did you want us all to come here?" She decided to start with. He cocked his head at her and frowned, confused. 

"Because you're my friends, and I wanted to see you. Besides, there are a lot of bad people out there and I need to keep you all safe. So you're all here now, so I can keep you safe. You'll never have to worry about anything ever again." He promised her sincerely, not seeming to realise how strangely obsessive it made him sound. Lyra swallowed, unsure. 

"So are we not allowed to leave?" She asked him, wincing at the sadness that flashed over his face. Given how powerful he was, Lyra had already decided not to risk offending him, but she had apparently done it anyway. 

"You aren't my prisoners, Lyra. If you want to go right now, you can, but I'll always keep an eye on you. You're my friend, and I won't ever let anyone hurt my friends ever again." He said with determination flashing in his eyes, which now that Lyra could get a closer look at, were swirling pools of color that seem to undulate with his mood. She frowned, feeling a pang of pity for him, because even though she knew he was at least a hundred years old, he still looked and acted like a child. 

"Who hurt your friends before?" She asked him softly. He went to answer and then paused, frowning in confusion. 

"I... I don't remember. But someone did. Before this light, before the long dark, but after the burn. I had people there who were warm and I loved them, but then the cold people came and the warm people went away to a place I couldn't follow. I tried to, and that's why the long dark came." He explained in a mumble, tears falling down his face. "I'm sorry. I wasn't a good friend then, and I'm still not now. I can't remember their names, or their faces, just the shapes of their souls. Your soul looks a lot like the purple one. I think you look a lot like the purple one." He explained, clearly struggling to get the words out. Lyra frowned, trying to decipher what exactly he meant. 

"What do you mean about the long dark and the light? The time you were in the temple and now?" She clarified. He nodded. 

"Ahuh. There was the happy time, the burn, the warm time, the cold time, the long dark, and then the light which is now." He mumbled. Lyra nodded, not wanting to upset him. Before she could say anything else, the library doors were sent swinging open, the sound making her jump out of her skin and leap to her feet, ready to run or fight, she wasn't sure which. He rose with her, reaching out and taking her hand as though to comfort her as she spun around. Only to smile when she saw Anya walking through the door, a few scaly creatures that looked like rabbits tied to her belt and dripping blood. She rushed forward, pulling Anya into a hug as the girl hurried to throw her bow to one side and embrace her long missing friend. 

"Anya! I'm so glad to see you, are you alright?" Lyra cried out, holding tightly onto her as Anya hugged her back with the same amount of vigor. 

"Yeah, I'm fine, are you? What the hell happened?" She demanded, pulling back and looking Lyra up and down to check for injuries. Lyra gave her a sad smile; it seemed like such a long time ago when Guy tried to take her captive to stop her from saving her father. Just as she thought it, Guy walked in, dragging a creature that looked like a cross between an alligator and a deer behind him. Lyra's face went cold and she glared at him. He didn't even have the decency to look sheepish, instead having the audacity to glare coldly back at her. Lyra was about to tell Anya everything he did and everything that had happened because of it, because she doubted he had, when the boy leapt between them, looking distressed and confused.