Nameless Ghoul

The Burden of Life

They cleaned up in the bathrooms further down the hallway. Secondo, Seren and Helena were performing a ritual to send the black witch’s magic back into the ether and then Secondo’s ghouls would clean up the cell.

Itzal waited on the bench in the hallway for Sunshine to finish with her shower. He was so proud of her. She was fearsome, and she had even loaned him some of her courage when his nerves had kicked in. She was far braver than he would ever be.

He heard someone approaching, and when he looked up, he saw Phenex walking towards him. The Council ghoul was tall and blonde with pale green eyes, and Itzal sensed he was an earth ghoul. He had that steadiness about him they mostly possessed. Itzal stood to greet him and he gave him a friendly smile.

“How are you doing after that?” he asked.

Itzal sighed.

“I’m glad she’s gone. She can’t hurt anyone else now.”

Phenex nodded his agreement. 

When they’d spoken about his brother earlier, Itzal had caught Zagan’s scent on him and it had thrown him, bringing up fond memories of his oldest brother when he had least expected it. Now that Phenex was so close to him, the scent was even stronger.

“Zagan misses you. He was shocked when all of this business came to light. We all were. It was big news at the Council.”

He smiled a humourless smile.

“I suppose it would be. Shay told me it has been a fair few centuries since the Council outlawed the collars. Santos had two of them. Did you know that?”

“Yes, I’m aware,” he nodded.

“Is Zagan happy? Our mother said he was, but he does not live with her now, so maybe she only knows what he wants her to know.”

Phenex’s eyes lit up and he blushed again. Itzal had noticed it happen the first time they’d spoken about him earlier, too.

“I think he is.”

Itzal had maybe inherited a bit of the sight that his mother had because his gut was telling him that Phenex was a bigger part of Zagan’s life than he was letting on.

“Are you and he bonded?” Itzal asked.

Phenex met his eyes and frowned, as if he was searching for something, before he nodded with a shy smile.

“Yes. We met at the Council when we had to work on a project together a few years ago.”

Itzal smiled. He was happy for his brother. Phenex seemed to be a good ghoul, and Zagan had always been excited to find his other half.

“I’m happy for you both. Sunshine and I were talking about visiting once all this is over with. I’ve missed Zagan too. I missed all of my family,” he said sadly. “It will be strange to go back there after all this time, though. I didn’t think I’d ever make it back.”

Phenex looked like he was going to reach out and hug Itzal, who tensed up in anticipation, but he caught himself at the last second and just smiled warmly instead.

“I suppose I should get going. Shay and I need to sort out the paperwork for this and then I am returning home.”

“How much longer do you have?”

“Another couple of hours.” 

“Will you take something back for Zagan, please? I’ll run upstairs and get it and then drop it off to Shay’s office, if that’s okay?”

“Of course!” Phenex smiled. “I’m sure he would love something from you.”

Just then, Sunshine emerged from the bathroom. Her hair was damp and her cheeks were rosy. She smiled at them both and came over to give Itzal a kiss. Phenex smiled.