Douce Dépendouce

Chapter 13

— Warning —
• This story contains mature context that some viewers may find uncomfortable. If you aren't comfortable with mature text, I would recommend skipping this. •

For once after a long time, time seemed to move quickly. It had been a week since I had told Linda about what had happened, a week since Alex asked me if I was telling the truth. I had been keeping my distance a bit, hoping to try and let the information soak in, but as of now, it didn't look like there had been a change. We all sat in Fripps Lare, seated at a table while we all peered into books, trying to find information, everyone except for Alex. Her phone screen was visible through the darkness of the room, lighting up her face. Anne and Lisa seemed unharmed by the information, especially Anne. I had suspected that would have been the case, but knowing how similar Linda and Lisa were, the sense of anxiety was still there. I looked up from the book when I heard a smirk. I turned, seeing Alex typing furiously away on her screen. Linda too looked up, a glare on her face.

"Do you think you'll do something helpful?" She said, her voice having the same coldness it did that night I told her.

"Hm?" Alex said, her eyes not leaving the screen.

"For God sake will you please put your phone away and help us look for any information about the current state of this? Linda snapped.

"Shouldn't Avalon be doing this? He'll know the most," she replied, looking back at Linda and then me, her eyes cold. "Surely you'd have answers."

Lindas eyes flickered to mine, grabbing Linda and Anne's attention. Annes eyes bounced around us, hovering on me as I simply stared at Alex, then at Linda. I swallowed, shutting the book and scotting my chair out.

"I think we've done enough for tonight," I said, standing up and grabbing the book as I placed it back on the shelf.

"Fine," I heard Linda say, gathering everyone's books as I felt lingering eyes on my back. When I turned, I went back to my chair, grabbing my coat and zipping it up.

"Where are you going?" Linda asked me, her eyes tracing over me as I walked towards the portal.

"To get answers," I spoke back, pulling on my gloves. "That's what you wanted."

"It's late, you'll freeze," Lisa said, her voice having the smallest bit of concern.

"I'll make this quick," I said, turning back to look at her as I did my helmet up, stepping into the portal and walking over to the next one, arriving back in the Stone Circle. As soon as I stepped out, I was hit with the cold air. I zipped my coat up more and pulled down the trapped layers underneath before I sucked in a breath, seeing it in the chilled crisp air. I walked towards the bus stop, knowing that it wasn't busy at night. I clasped my hands together and rubbed them together, blowing into them as I looked back up the hill leading to where I just came from. It was tempting to go back, but I had thought about what Alex had said. Ydris's trip had been conveniently close to ours, and he did in fact not tell me exactly where he was going. I didn't have major doubts, but part of me did truely wonder where and what he had been doing.

I looked back when I heard the faint sound of an engine, thumbling for my phone to show the ticket as it pulled up beside me, the doors opening as I stepped on.

Once I had been dropped off in Moorland, I had the glorious hike of walking to Nlimers. I used my phone as a flashlight as I chugged through the night, the only sound of my footsteps and breathing as I worked my way up. It was getting later and later, almost now nearly ten o'clock. The temperature had dropped at least a few degrees now, pretty much the perfect time for snow. I had been surprised how cold it had been without snowing, but yet thankful as the transport would be put on hold. Sooner or later I reached the top of the hill, now walking upwards towards the Circus. If there was one thing I was doing tonight, it was getting answers. Now at the top, and standing on flat ground, I let out a breath, fighting a stitch as I catched my breath. I then put my phone back in my pocket and sucked in a few breaths as I looked around, looking for any signs of activity. My first instinct was to head to the tent, quickly walking over to it. As I got closer, I could hear a descending voice coming from inside, making me freeze for a minute. It was muffled and quiet, almost to the point of a whisper. I tried to see if it was more than one, but soon pulled the curtain back, looking around as I did so, seeing nothing. The Circus was empty, no signs of anyone nearby or anything from the voice that I had just heard. My eyes lingered in the standards as an uncomfortable chill went up my spine, sending my heart rate faster. The atmosphere felt condensed and out of all my visits, this was the strongest Pandorian energy I had felt. I continued to look around, my breathing escalating from my chest as I looked for anything, each second making the energy drown me more. My eyes continued to dance around when I felt the sudden gaze of someone. I felt each part of my body freeze as my breathing shallowed, turning my head to see a shadow in the standards. My eyes locked on it, seeing the faint lights above reveal the figure. I felt my shoulders relax and yet tense as Ydris slowly emerged, seated above. His arms were crossed over his chest and his eyes settled on mine, the familiar look of slyness on his face.