Future of Calamity

Chapter 23 - Homecoming

Singing waves crashed against the shifting hull, resilient wood groaning through the rush of a silent, aquatic night across the ocean. Far above, hanging from the thread of space, did the great celestial moon slumber in the mattress of stars; whimsical in its everlasting watch. And ever so far below - where its gleaming rays were to purvey the night - was another watcher that dwelled so deep in the dark. Onyx mane twirling in the bristling gales, voided amber glared down into the golden glint settled into her blighted palm: an ornate comb unmoving against the roughness of her marred skin. Even as she let her vision fall into the depths from leaning over the stern; the grip remained steadfast and firm, unable for even the mind to consider letting it sail away and smother its immortal shine.

Velvet stood empty in that starlit night, as if the chilling breeze was brushed off by fortress walls and its biting wind rendered useless, while the daemon felt her thoughts spill out again and again. The journey had only just began, and already had their group been pulled apart by one, with the assault of violent dangers and growing hostilities all that remained upon the horizon: Velvet could not deny the new pit of emotion burrowed into her gut from their lost ally and what had transpired in his moment of sacrifice.

One of sickly remembrance, only spurred on by the humane actions he always took; Velvet wanted to reach for that ember she had torn away from her, the one Sarid still kept. Humanity. But nonetheless, a body writhing with unbridled vengeance could not accept it, and as the thudding of steps against boards behind resounded, the daemon inside stamped out that vulnerability once again.

She knew immediately who awaited attention, the soft patter gave it away, in addition to the hum of hunger that itched the back of her subconscious. "...Velvet?" Number Two tried again to call out, the inherent oceanic chill ruffling his youthful skin. Inside, the daemon hated looking past those blonde golden locks, yet the village girl could not ignore his familiar voice no matter the pain it would do. So, all Velvet would bear, was the minute motion of her head turning to the boy: only allowing the flow of bangs to signal her focus on him. The hinting clink of metal, as if steel tilted onto steel, told of what sat in his comparably small hands. A sigh of shame, then two words she did not expect. "...I'm sorry," the young malak whispered in sorrow.

Velvet's back straightened, and eyebrows narrowed sternly, she turned on her heel to finally face away from the ship's gradual wake to see Number Two's head lowered to the ground. His gilded orbs of green did not rise to meet the hallowed gaze, staring deeply into the compass sat upon his palms. And so, with a huff of contempt, she kneeled to meet his sight with that reoccurring firmness. "If it's that important to you, keep it safe. You wouldn't want to lose it again," the daemon 'softly' relayed, attempting to calm his fearful regret of what had happened. Even still, she could catch the hesitation in those viridescent spheres, and proceeded to pull her gaze up and catch the sharp shape of the Reaper lent at the wheel side.

"And..." the boy began with a heavy heart, "I'm sorry about Sarid." The daemon bit her tongue, and allowed her eyelids to snap closed with a deliberating pause.

Inwardly, she had wondered and wished the half-malak had vanished without a trace, his lasting presence already procuring a slight shift within the group dynamic. However, Velvet couldn't disgrace his deed at the fortress, and only let a hefty word slip through tight lips. "Don't," she ordered with a shake of her head; crossing arms to accent the hard expression and deny the effect the man had wrought. The sooner he was forgotten, the better. "It was his choice," she eventually continued, "No one's fault but his." Number Two's mood did not change, but the self-doubt and mild loathing was lessened by her reaffirming words.

However, soon was the quiet moment disrupted by a heavier collection of creaking upon the ship planks across the stern, and the conversing duo noticed their new arrivals stepping up to have finally caught Velvet out of her brooding state. A billow of the sunset's flapping colours upon cloth, and the fantastical prancing of a jester up and over the stairway revealed the rest of their allies had decided to join them. Even Eizen had now stepped forward in the encompassing shadow with a snap of his fingers; setting a lantern alight to cut through the dark. "Wowzers! Seems the kid's special after all!" The first to shatter the silence was the ever outgoing and bombastic Magilou, having her mischievous grin aglow in the emerging light. "I never thought you would get out of your little brooding state, Miss Daemon-muncher..."