Saviour of Neither

19 - Confession

I spend the hours of solitude sewing, selecting gemstones that I most likely won't even need depending on who the final applicant is, and gathering tools, and observing nature.

Truth be told, this is rather odd, after having spent nearly two months around at least somebody for the majority of my time. Not that I don't appreciate it, of course - this is how I used to live, before Rackrail died and Chester decided it was a good idea to meddle with my life.

Actually, I love this. Alone with your thoughts, with the wind and the leaves, free to pursue anything you wish within the private confines of your dwellings

BURN - ALIGHT AND LET THEM BURN -

This room is in poor taste and awfully shabby, mortal. How do you declare this room to be fit for living?

Maybe not always. It seems that the Angel and Demon can periodically 'talk' to me telepathically. They always speak at once, and the Demon is especially mind-wrenching, given that it's always drowning in a torrent of fury and words seem to spew out of him, uncontrolled, like embers from a fire.

They seem to shut up whenever I yell at them particularly passionately, or when they think somebody else is nearby, so it's not too hard a secret to keep at least.

What am I going to do if they do work this out?

I ought to condemn you to the depths of Hell.

Perhaps it would be better to die on my own terms instead, if that were to happen.

Submit to me, and I shall make you immortal.

TAKE THE WORLD - DRAG THEM DOWN - WITH YOU - AND LET THEM BURN

Naturally, I keep my promise to Umaima, and am waiting at the holly bush at six. They seem to have tightened the security since I'd left, but where my house is remains unpatrolled for now.

I should be glad, then, that I don't live in Triolet Verse, being geographically closer to Garadh's government's headquarters, Derwen. Zantham has told me about their imposed security restrictions this lunchtime, when he invited me personally to a meal at Peacock Garden. (I decided it was best to agree under the glare of his wife, Daniella.)

"Curfew after sunset, nobody's allowed in or out unless for trade or family." he said whilst chewing on a bite of parcelled salmon. "People are being randomly stopped for Ceathan identity and proof of being magical. Everybody's terrified their family will be next."

Who's that disturbing the bushes?

"Oh - hello!" Umaima bursts out of the undergrowth, a silly grin on her face. She looks a little less well-fed than before. "Sorry I'm a little late." she adds immediately afterwards, turning pink - from overexertion or embarrassment I cannot be sure. "Guards were everywhere."

Whatever happened to the Hounslow Treaty? "Ours or yours?"

"Whose do you think?" she sighs a little dramatically. "It's like an iron curtain. Our gangs have been a lot more violent lately, but that's no excuse to shoot our civilians. If your country had any sense in their air-filled heads-"

"That's my country you're talking about." I say flatly. She colours again, looking rather admonished and perhaps a little irritated. "I - I mean..."

"It's alright." she says, shuffling awkwardly. "People say I'm too tactless."

What do I say to that? I have and own proudly that very same flaw.

The silence prevails for a few more seconds.

"Perhaps your government could sort out those groups-"

"That's the problem, Adrian!" she flaps her arms in despair. "They are the government! Not publicly or officially, but most of the Council are either top commanders of terrorists or sponsoring them! They're letting them roam free and strike back, and whilst your lot have been horrible to us, can't they see that the people are going to pay the price?"