BREATHE | bubbline ✓

" a chaotic reunion "

THE NAUSEA COMES back to her. Bonnibel attempts to steady herself when she lands, and Ash, without a care in the world, continues proceeding down the cave they had found themselves in.

"Don't be daft." A voice comes from the end of the cave. There's a small struggle, but the rustling stops. Bonnibel props an arm up against the cave wall to properly regain her bearings. "Hunson won't be light on you."

"I'm aware," another voice comes. There is a thump, followed by a small yelp of pain. "But we will get it back. His heart."

Heart?

Bonnibel throws a pebble at Ash. It hits him squarely on the head, and he stumbles abruptly against the cave wall.

"What was that?" The second voice demands, and there's a grunt of pain and the sound of something hitting the floor. "Who's there? If it's another of you pesky demons, I have no qualms tearing your heart out through your chest, you hear?"

"Keila, mind your volume," the first voice whimpers.

Bonnibel presses closer to the cave wall, paying no mind to Ash, who was aggressively waggling his middle finger at her and rubbing the back of his head. She shushes him and peers around the wall.

"Marshall, you—we have been under the rule of this...mad fool for long enough," a girl in a green dress snarls down at a boy who was glaring up at her from the floor — till Bonnibel notices their fangs as they hiss at each other.

Other vampires...?

"Keila, we can't be rash about this," Marshall supports his weight with an arm as he gets to his feet and dusts his blue jeans down. "Marceline is back."

"All the more reason to do it now, before she inherits the throne," Keila says. Her puffy black hair blocks Bonnibel's whole view of Marshall. "You plan to allow your sister, who loves the humans and hates the vampires, rule the Nightosphere? Have you forgotten what happened back when the King was staked? Marceline killed him — a vampire killed him, her own kind, just like she killed Moon, Fool, Empress, Hierophant—"

"—Keila, how many times—" Marshall sighs. "—I have not forgotten. We must be careful about this. It is precisely because she absorbed the souls of our friends that she is this powerful."

Bonnibel leans in closer.

"We can smell you, human." Keila calls out, putting her hands on her hips and peeking over her shoulder, staring at Bonnibel straight in the eye with a maniacal glint. "Your blood especially stinks of ash."

"Why did you have to teleport us to straight into danger," Bonnibel grumbles at Ash, who merely shrugs.

"I'm stronger than them combined, no need to worry," he proceeds to yawn, stretching all his joints out. Bonnibel frowns when she heard them pop. "Also, they're my acquaintances."

"That hubris is going to be the death of you one day." She steps out into view, and Ash follows, yawning once more. He rubs the tears from his eyes.

"Ash?" Marshall stares him down. "What're you doing here."

"Oh, come on, the Sphere's my home as much as Earth is." Ash hums, summoning a fiery flower out of thin air and blowing it at Keila, and it dissipates in her annoyed face. He jerks his head at Bonnibel as he settles his hands comfortably in his pockets. "Was just transporting this human."

"You have transportation services now?" Keila angrily blows residue of a petal off her nose. She steps closer and takes a sniff of Bonnibel and gives her a glare. "She reeks of Marceline. Faint, but still very much there."