Sigil | Ghost The Band

Conflittuale

"Who?"

"Who what?" Cal scoffed, growing uncomfortable in the wooden chair.

"Who are you sworn to?" Imperator prodded, narrowing her cold eyes at Calliope.

"I'm not the brightest, Sister, as I've been told many times. But I know better than to tell you. For now, at least."

Imperator sighed, resting her forehead on her palm. "I'm sure we can come to some type of agreement."

"What do you have in mind?"

Calliope was very aware of the fact that she was temporarily dealt the upper hand, and she'd be damned if she didn't take advantage of it. Especially now that it wasn't her own life at stake anymore.

"Nothing happens to Emeritus, and you tell me what I must do. Do we have a deal?" Much to Calliope's surprise, the woman's hand was outstretched before her, expecting Cal to shake it.

She scoffed out a laugh, turning to Sister Imperator with a disbelieving stare. "You cannot be serious, Sister. I am not shaking on this. That offers me no guarantee."

With that, Cal stood. "I'm going to go do some research on pursuing pacts, then we can talk. Or, you could be honest with me for once and we can do it properly."

Imperator's face was more expressive than Calliope had ever seen before, the dominating emotion being anger, of course, and Cal couldn't help but feel a sense of... pride. Imperator didn't speak, so Cal continued, gripping the door handle.

"No worries, Sister, I'm sure you have another six years to raise a lamb for slaughter. I saw a few innocent, unsuspecting women in the nunnery down the hill, would you like me to fetch you one?"

Her sarcasm wasn't appreciated, that much was made evident. At the continued silence, Calliope tsked, opening the door.

"Wait," Imperator gritted out, not moving from her chair. "We'll do it properly. I'll need to convene with Secondo, but I will keep you informed."

Satisfied with Imperator's answer, Calliope nodded, leaving the office. She trekked back to Terzo's room, the dim light of the morning filling her with a sense of calm she thought she'd never experience again. The idiocy of her decision wasn't lost on her, she knew what she was doing was foolish.

But for once, it was her choice.

And, if she was going to die for anyone, wouldn't it be him? He'd been good to her for years, despite them fighting like cat and dog when she first arrived. Their bickering had been her only social interaction for ages... until she stopped trying to escape and Imperator deemed her trustworthy enough.

Point was, she was content with her decision, and more than willing to go through with it. I think that's a fair enough payment. Paying him back for all he's done for me through the years, that is.

Not to mention, he served a far greater purpose than she did and she was aware of that. Painfully aware.

Slightly out of breath from the stairs, she halted in the hallway leading to his room. Calliope heard the door click as someone opened it. And there he stood, with groggy eyes and tousled hair. She couldn't help but smile at the sight.

"I did not like that one bit," Terzo grumbled, blinking at her with sleepy eyes.

"Did not like what?" She snorted, walking over to him.

"You're really going to make me say it, hm?"

Calliope nodded with a small smile as he slowly wrapped his arms around her, staring up at him. "Tell me."

Terzo shook his head, pulling her over to the bed after kicking the door shut behind them. She allowed him to hold her as he pleased - not like it was a burden to her in any way, shape or form.

"We're trying this again, and you best be here when I wake up," He sighed after a while, resting his head in the crook of her neck as he'd done so many times before.

The action stirred a sensation of unrest in her, and the knowledge of what was to come weighed on her mind. Calliope was unable to shake the wave of guilt and sadness that crashed over her, feeling like she was betraying him. And in a way, she was.

She held him tighter for a second, knowing that she'd miss moments like these the most.

"Naturally," Cal confirmed in a whisper.

***

"Where'd you run off to this morning?" Terzo asked before yawning, buttoning his shirt as he stepped out of his ridiculously large closet. Cal blinked owlishly at him, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

"Went to get something to eat," She lied easily. Terzo seemed satisfied with that response, nodding as he disappeared into the bathroom. Cal sighed inwardly, frowning at the dying embers in the fireplace. Her chest ached, and breathing felt like an impossible task. But she couldn't bring herself to regret what she did.

Or rather, was about to do. Nonetheless, her guilt was what was bothering her, not her decision.

"When do you guys leave?" She questioned, fidgeting with the hem of her shirt.

"In a couple of days, I think," He murmured from the bathroom where she heard him shuffling through the cupboard. She didn't know what she expected, she knew he was leaving soon, but hearing the words made her stomach turn in the most uncomfortable way.

I really bit off more than I can chew this time, huh?

That she did.

"Oh."

"Don't fret, we'll be back before you know it," He reassured her, but she wasn't really listening. She could only hear her heartbeat in her ears and feel her mind spinning.

He will be back, he'll be alive, she told herself. No- reassured herself.

Can't say the same for you.

And there it was. The ugly realisation had reared its head once again.

Before she could disappear further into her self-doubt, she stood from the bed, busying her hands with making the bed. Her own subconscious was taunting her, reminding her of every single choice she made- not that there were a lot of those - and how shitty the aftermath would be.

If death is like that 'dream', I should be fine. It was just disorienting, and what is death if not disorienting?

"You alright?" Terzo asked, ripping her from her thoughts. She glanced up at him, his now-painted face expressing nothing but worry.

No. "Yes. Just... nervous. I know I shouldn't be and that you have this friend that can help me, but I still am."

"It's okay to be worried, tesoro," Terzo reassured, sitting down on the bed in front of her, holding her upper arms gingerly. "I won't let anything happen to you."

Funny. That's the same thought process that you have when it comes to him.

Pushing the thought aside, Calliope smiled at him, only half-forced this time. "I know that."

Terzo stared up at her, his eyes searching hers before he rose again. "I mean it."