I Decided To Live Forever Just In Case She Ever Woke Up [PKMN X THE LOCKED TOMB]

Climactic Battle Prelude! - 2

Tentatively, still grasping the mop - she was not allowing herself a moment of being unarmed - Akari followed.

He led her through the manor's silent halls. They passed the armoury, where Cyrus let her pick out whichever rapier she wanted, and quickly moved on. They seemed to be going in the direction of the guests' living quarters; Akari presumed they were headed to their own suite to collect some important thing, but Cyrus did not take the turn down that corridor, and kept moving.

"Where are we going?" She asked. Cyrus didn't answer.

They turned in at a different corridor, and stopped in front of a door that looked much like the one to their own suite. Cyrus turned to her.

"Now. Listen closely to what I have to say. In a few moments you are going to knock on the door. You will enter and then lead her to the atrium. You are not to mention that I am with you. If you are asked, you will say you have not seen me. You are to stay on guard but under no circumstances are you to engage in combat."

"Okay. Can you elaborate on that?" Akari asked.

Unhelpfully, Cyrus elaborated. "I want you to act natural."

"That's not-" she began, but he had already turned on his heel and walked away down the hall.

Internally, Akari screamed. Externally, she took a deep breath, sighed, and knocked on the door.

There was a shuffling, and the door opened, and she was met by the lovely, placid smile of Cynthia the Fourth. Her blonde hair was lazily pulled back, and she was wearing an extravagant black fur-edged dressing gown. "Hello - oh, Akari, what are you doing out of the closet?" She asked. Her face fell, seeming concerned.

Akari didn't answer straight away, because a million alarm bells had set off in her head. What did Cyrus mean with his orders? And why Cynthia, of all people - one of a handful who had been somewhat on her side as of late. Though she had agreed to lock Akari in the storage room, it had been 'to keep her safe'. An insanely talented and well-renowned necromancer she may have been, Cynthia was hardly a danger to her.

All the goodwill she had gathered for her necromancer vanished then, and her stomach felt cold. Oh God, he was the killer after all, and this was how he'd get to Cynthia, by using Akari as bait. But-

Cyrus had sounded so urgent. Almost... Almost as if he was afraid of something. Which felt worse, because what could Cyrus be afraid of?

"Akari, it's not safe out here," Cynthia said. "There are dangers lurking around the halls, what are you doing?"

Akari straightened her back, looked Cynthia directly in the face, and tried not to stammer. "Can we go inside?" She asked quickly. "Please."

Cynthia relaxed. "Oh, of course. If it makes you feel safer."

She moved, allowing Akari to enter the suite.

Cynthia's suite looked much like hers and Cyrus'; the entry room was something of a boudoir. A window took up most of one wall, but heavy velvet curtains were drawn across it. Another wall featured a large, gilt-lined mirror. The door to the bedroom was left ajar, and Akari averted her eyes in respect for Cynthia's privacy.

The necromancer ushered her onto a chaise lounge. It was angled around a small table, accompanied by a loveseat; both were upholstered in a patchy velvet fabric that might have been a deep red at some point. Glamour left to rot, like the rest of this place.

"Ignore the mess, unpacking hasn't been my priority," Cynthia said off-handedly. "And... well, I suppose I should be packing to leave, really."

Akari nodded. She wiped her clammy hands on her jacket, and hesitantly sat on the chaise. It accepted her weight, but she didn't settle completely, just in case.