Emerald Blood

Chapter 1 - The Argent Invitation

                                            ~SONIC POV~

I was sitting on the velvet Divan couch of my sitting room, elbows on my knees as Shadow was dressing the bite wound he so viciously marked onto my neck only a moment ago. Shadow was bent on one knee, leaning towards me, wrapping the pale cotton bandage carefully around the circumference of my bare neck. His fingers barely made contact with my skin as he wrapped the bandage, making it feel as if a ghost was dressing my wounds. I looked into his eyes that were focused on my neck. Those glowing red irises were nothing like the burning crimson that I saw before, when he was hungry. His red markings that painted the top surface of his black quills contrasted greatly with the dark shadowy atmosphere the dimly lit room had created. His jet black quills seemingly blended into the shadows, along with his long black coat that trailed onto the ground. I have always admired how the outer corners of his eyes had a sharp scarlet lining, emphasising his blood-red irises, like fiery embers encased within a fireplace with its fiery glow casted upon the darkness around it. As I was lost in his eyes, I found that they were looking back at me. Shadow had completed dressing my wounds however, he dressed my wounds so gently, I did not notice that he had stopped.

"I have finished," his deep, mellow voice reverberated within this spacious sitting room.

"Thank you." I replied, buttoning up my silky white blouse.

Shadow stood back up but remained standing in front of me. He was watching me carefully. I could feel it. My face burned under the pressure of his gaze, my fingers fumbling and struggling to tie my cravat. Shadow leaned forward, his face only inches from mine, "Please, let me do it for you," he offered, with a hint of frustration in his eyes. As he was fixing my cravat, I could see him more clearly. The scars that were covered up by his ebony quills, marked parts of his cheek and forehead. He never told me about the origins of such engravements, or anything of his past. At times I tried to ask but he would simply say that my knowledge of his history is beyond our Contract, and avoid all eye contact. Despite his usual enigmatic and solemn demeanour, Shadow can be undeniably transparent when something provokes him, which I personally find amusing.

As I stood up from the couch and took a few steps towards the door to the hallway, Shadow warned, "Sonic, do not forget your brooch," with such command, it made me freeze. Just as he said, my brooch was indeed missing from the centre of my cravat. Again, my face flushed with even more embarrassment, as I hassled towards the couch in search for where I left the brooch. But, in the midst of my panic, Shadow laid his hand out to me, holding the very Brooch I was searching for. The Emerald in the centre of the brooch glistened with iridescence, projecting fragmented gleams of jade light onto Shadow's white glove. Shadow raised an eyebrow at me as I looked up at him, forced an awkward smile and thanked him concisely. This emerald brooch was an heirloom from my predecessors... or parents. This was my equivalent of Shadow's scars that he is so sensitive about. I did not know my 'parents' or if I even had any real ones. I'd see the extravagant portraits of them in the hallways of my mansion yet they look like nothing but muses for the paintings. All I know is that they left me with this Emerald brooch, all their wealth and status, as well as all the mysteries left to solve. It felt like I was shoved into a labyrinth with nothing but golden and silver coins and a brass key to find my way around. Answers are blessings but only come as frequent as the blossoming of the night-blooming cereus.

Suddenly, a swift knock was heard from the door that led to the hallway, followed by a familiar voice.

"Excuse me Sonic, but there's a letter for you," the crisp, higher-pitched voice I recognised so dearly, was muffled through the thick oak door.

"Please come in, Tails!" I called out, the tips of my fingers pricking with adrenaline. A letter can mean answers. Perhaps my parents have finally reached out to me? But why today? Wouldn't they write their names on the front of the letter so Tails could so easily announce it to me?