The Blessed and the Pure┃🖋

Chapter Σ

Was this a great idea? Absolutely not. Were they going to do it, anyway? Rhetorical question, everyone and their grandmother had the answer to that.

Laothoe lived in a trim house for a Mitec: two stories, stone floors, and a vast, open courtyard. Hallie expected a run-down apartment building associated with unspeakable actions and dissected human carcasses. Like 'The Diamérisma'. But at least 'The Diamérisma' crammed itself between two other busy buildings; Laothoe lived in utter solitude.

"Are you certain this is the correct house?" Nikas whispered, lingering behind Hallie and peering over her.

"Yes, I'm certain," Taryn said, not bothering to keep her voice down. "I have way too much free time."

"And that is related how?"

"You don't want to know."

Before anyone voiced their protest, Taryn marched out of the bushes, walked to the door, and knocked. Loudly. Then she dove back into the bushes.

"What are you doing?" Kirphis hissed.

She rolled her eyes and brushed herself off. "Making sure no one's home."

"That's actually kinda smart," Miscenus said. "We wouldn't want to bump into anyone."

Kirphis looked at him incredulously. "Who's side are you on?"

"Dude, you should know by now that doesn't matter."

"It was your idea, anyway!" Semele chirped.

"Fair enough, but please." He turned to Taryn and grasped her hand in his. "Can we please not do this?"

Taryn sent him a pity-filled smile and ripped her hand free. "No one's home!" she announced.

Hallie walked over to stand by her, glad to be out of reach of the plant's prickly stems. "Are you sure?"

Taryn flashed her the foxiest grin. "Nope! Let's go!" She opened the door.

Miscenus gave an indignant shriek when Semele dashed past him and into the house, Taryn not blinking twice.

"Ele! You are not coming with us!" He said, striding in after her and grabbing her wrist.

Semele shook him off and glared at him. "Am too! You never let me do anything. But that's never stopped me before," she said with a satisfied smirk.

"Ele-"

"They're not even home! What's the worst that could happen, anyway?"

"Gods, let me think..." He stroked his chin in mock concentration. "You could die!"

She waved him off. "You could die, too. You're not immortal, Cenus. Let's go!"

Kirphis patted Miscenus sympathetically on the shoulder, while Nikas and Perialla gave their regards from afar. He seemed to appreciate it.

"I'll lead the way," Taryn said, taking her first step into the house.

"Wait, Taryn. I... I have a better plan."

She turned around and raised an eyebrow at Kiprhis. "And what would that be? Turning around? Fantastic 'plan,' Phis. Ten-out-of-ten."

Annoyance flashed across his face before he built back up his unreadable walls. "Actually, I was going to suggest we split up. We'd cover more ground."

Semele clapped her hands. "I can be with Taryn!"

Miscenus glanced at Kirphis, and Hallie recognized it as the classic will-you-be-my-partner-please maneuver. Too bad Kirphis wasn't paying attention and instead was having a stare-off with Taryn. Poor guy, at least Kiprhis appeared to win for once.