The Ruler's Rift

Secret Exchange

"I'm sorry it was a bust," Celeste muttered. Watching Lucy pace in her cozy bedroom gave the ex-jester mixed signals. The space should be comforting.

"It's not your fault. Are you satisfied?" Lucy asked.

"I feel like I got something out of it," Celeste confirmed. Her eyes darted to the window, where she watched the stars.

At last the Sharcanid sat on her bedside. She whimpered, "We got no leads...maybe I won't ever find Lucian." Under the dim, pink light of the lamp, Lucy appeared with a mildly furrowed brow. Not a single tear caressed her cheek.

"Giving up so easily? He is your brother." Celeste raised an eyebrow.

Fluffy ears folded back. "Well, what am I supposed to do, Celeste?"

The demon leaned back, shoved by the vile glare that Lucy aimed her way. A growl bubbled in Celeste's throat but she didn't release it. Hunger prodded at her ribs and tore at her patience; how dare this dog glare at her. She was the one who didn't seem to give a damn about her own brother - superficial mutt. The Mystearlian clenched her teeth behind her lips and her tongue rolled against her fangs.

Blue eyes shut - Celeste didn't agree with her anger. She knew mere hunger drove her to such irritation. How could she think those vile thoughts? She had fallen farther for Lucy than she'd admit; she didn't mean any of those intruding, fleeting feelings. At least it stayed locked up inside. "I don't know, Lucy," she answered at last with a shake of her head.

"And you!" Lucy went on, "You're so crazy about Nova. For what!?"

"I'm not," Celeste corrected. "She seemed nice at first but she majorly got on my nerves at Mystearlia."

"How so?" The malamute's tired eyes widened and her ears perked up.

Celeste darted her gaze aside. Nova's knowledge of the queen, her comments about the guards - they licked the walls of Celeste's skull. "Ugh, she's annoying," Celeste lied, "Wouldn't shut up about money."

"Sounds about right."

But it didn't sound right at all. Celeste sighed and looked out the window at the trees. They shuffled in the night breeze. So many unsuspecting squirrels and critters slept among the branches, just waiting to be devoured. What excuse could Celeste make to run outside?

"You'll stay in bed tonight, won't you?" Lucy asked. Her ears drooped pathetically.

"I will. Heh, I wanted to last night." Celeste nodded to the bed. "We should get some sleep, though."

Lucy frowned, again confusing the demon. Without a word the malamute took off her outer layers and settled under the blankets. She didn't turn off the lamp, which initially seemed odd to Celeste. Perhaps Lucy kept it on so the demon could undress? She slowly slid off her cloak and hung it up on a wall rack. And, after getting permission from Lucy, removed her blouse and her striped leggings before crawling into the bed.

The lamp remained on.

Celeste eyed it as Lucy nuzzled into her. "Aren't you going to shut that off?" She asked.

"Oh, I want to read a bit...to wind down, you know?" Lucy answered.

"...Yes, go ahead." Celeste let go of the Sharcanid as she rolled over to grab a book. She'd have to wait even longer to sneak out.

Waiting for Lucy to slumber proved moot. She read a history book into the later hours of night, one about an ancient dragon, while Celeste lay beneath the curtain of dim light. Exhausted and frustrated by hunger, she decided she'd sleep if Lucy wouldn't. The demon turned her back to the Sharcanid and shut her eyes. Sleep rapidly cocooned her, but she quickly hatched from it. She emerged as quite a relieved butterfly - the lamp was off, the book was shut, and Lucy was lying down. Celeste let out an inaudible sigh of relief.