Dance of the Embers

Chapter 7

Not Mulligan nor Marionette slept that night. The Examiner explained that the solution would do painful work to lift Mulligan's curse but the fear of that pain was a bane to sleep on it's own.

"Feel anything?" She asked him.

"Besides a critical multitude of homicidal contemplations? Not much." He replied.

Marionette released a small chuckle, however it lacked humour and was more so of a nervous motive. Mulligan sat against the wall in his bedroom. Marionette was next to him. Both of them were hugging their knees. Mulligan was lightly shivering and Marionette mainly stared at the floor. They were both sitting shoulder to shoulder. Mulligan lightly bumped against her.

"I don't want you to worry about me." He said.

"Are you stupid? I never don't worry about you." She said.

Mulligan tilted his head. His eyes stayed focused on the adjacent wall.

Marionette hid her eyes into his shoulder. Her breathing began to shake, and her voice started to tremble.

"I just don't know what to do. People at the compound are dying, some crazy geezer running on voodoo is loose in the city, and we don't know where Winfred is, and whether you'll say it or not, it's all hitting you the hardest and I-"

She was cut off by an arm around her side. She looked up, and Mulligan was looking down at her with dewy eyes. She buried her face in his chest as he hugged her tightly. Her arms were around his shoulders. A tear or two slid down his face, but she began to sob lightly. They sat in each other's embrace for what felt like an eternity. Marionette lifted her dampened face from his chest. She wiped her hands across her cheeks.

"Sorry, I haven't exactly had time to let anything out." She said.

"I understand. It's okay." Mulligan said as he ran his fingers through his hair.

They looked to the maroon shade that shielded the window. It was still dark.

"We have seven more hours, each other, and hundreds of thoughts at once to keep us company." Mulligan said.

"What do you propose?" Marionette asked.

Mulligan shifted so that he was facing Marionette.

"I propose we get things off our chests."

Marionette smiled lightly.

"Well when I was seven I stole a doll from my little sister." She said lightheartedly.

Mulligan laughed.

"Not like that!" He said as he poked her nose.

Marionette looked up at him.

"I'm just scared." She said.

"Of what?" Mulligan said.

"I'm not scared of anything, I'm scared FOR everything. I'm scared for you because... Well I mean who even knows what that stuff will do to you? The pain, that's not even a side effect, it's just a part of the process. If that's the case, what will the side effects be like?"

"You let me worry about those. Besides, if the pain is as bad as the Examiner said they'll be I don't think the side effects will be the worst thing on my mind." Mulligan replied."

"Not helping!" Marionette glared at him.

Mulligan rose his hands to chest level as though to surrender. Marionette chuckled.

"And I'm scared for everyone that will be caught in our cross fire. The city officials sent those guys after us a couple months ago, right? They could think we are dead but they could also think someone survived and is conspiring. That makes everyone a suspect, right?"

Mulligan considered this thought.

"They may think that we lost our heart because they took Winfred." He said.

"They're evil but they're not daft. They know that Roses are known for resilience." She replied."

"That's true." Mulligan said as he bit his thumbnail.

Marionette lowered her head to her knees. She felt a hand lightly rub the back of her head. She looked up and Mulligan was standing and walking towards the door.

"Where are you going?" She asked.

"To the kitchen. I'd like to feel less imprisoned and less hungry." He replied.

Marionette stood and followed him. They both walked across the hall and into a room which was dimly lit with multiple candles. Mulligan grabbed a knife and some bread. He placed four slices to the side and took a loaf of ham. He began to cut pieces.

"Are you sure you should be on your feet?" Marionette asked.

"I'll be fine right now. What could I possibly- OW!" Mulligan winced as he jerked his hand to his chest. He looked to see the side of his left index finger bleeding.

"For pity's sake." Marionette uttered as she grabbed a cloth. She held it around his finger until the bleeding came to a slow. She reached up and took down a small bandage, and rapped it around the cut,

"You're gonna end up dead some day when I'm not around." She said as she rested her head to his chest.

"And you are gonna wind up dead if you don't go lie down. You look like your about to pass out at a moment's notice." He said to her.

"You're one to talk, Mister In-somnolescent!"

"At least I'm used to it!" He said as he bit into a small piece of ham. Marionette took a small piece as well and began to walk back to the room. Mulligan followed her, and once they were inside Marionette sat back down against the wall while Mulligan sat on the bed. His shoulders were loose and his head was down. Marionette rose, and sat next to him, she put a hand to his forehead.

"You're hot." She said.

"Why thank you." Mulligan said with a chuckle.

Marionette bumped him. "No, I mean you are really burning up. Try to lay down?"

Marionette thought for a second,

"Though you might be a little too nervous." She said.

Mulligan rose his head a bit to show his eyes, glassy but awake.

"Not when I'm with you." He said.

Mulligan and Marionette locked eyes. They looked at each other as their faces began to flush. They slowly leaned to each other, and lightly kissed as their worries were turned as dim as the candles that embraced them like they embraced each other. Mulligan broke away.

"I've sort of wanted to do that for a while now." He uttered.

Marionette said nothing. She hid her face with the darkness. The sky was no longer black but a very dark yet noticeable shade of blue. Her head rested upon Mulligan's shoulder.

"I want to to try and sleep, and I want you to come to me as soon as you wake up." She said. She stood and exited the room. Not before looking back at mulligan, who was now laying on his back, his eyes shut. For the first time since the mansion saw fire, he looked at the back of his eyelids peacefully.