Madness: DxD

Contract: Ashes in the Firelight

People always talk about family like it's some sacred thing. "Blood's thicker than water," they say. Like that makes a difference when things go south. I've seen enough to know what family is. It's a collection of people who have a unique way of fucking each other. Doesn't matter if they're your parents, your siblings, cousins, even people you call friends. In the end, it's all about survival.

You're either gonna use each other to get ahead, or you're gonna get tossed aside when you're no longer useful. But you know what? It's whatever. Family doesn't mean loyalty. It doesn't mean unconditional love. Sometimes, it's just about who's around when things get ugly. And when they do, the real truth comes out. But at the end of the day, if you're still standing, that's something.

Fire crackles softly. The room is elegant, dim, expensive in a way that makes me look even more out of place. I'm sitting on the arm of a heavy leather chair.

Venelana stands by the bookshelf with a wine glass in hand, watching me.

Venelana: (smiling) You're always here, but never relaxed. Is that a trained skill or just your natural charm?

Legend: I don't do relaxed. It's bad for your lifespan.

Liar. You don't relax because then you might start feeling. And we both know what happens when you feel.

Venelana: And yet here you are. Night after night. Same chair, same brooding pose. Starting to think you like my company.

Legend: I like your silence.

She's not silent when she's dreaming of you. Gross. You gonna kiss her next? What happened to hating people?

She smirked, walking slowly toward the fireplace.

Venelana: Tell me something. Have you ever just... gone somewhere? Not to kill someone. Not to chase or run. Just... gone. For peace.

Legend: What, like a vacation?

Venelana: Something like that. Just for one night.

She sets her glass down. Her tone softens.

Venelana: There's a cabin. By a lake. No guards. No summons. No expectations. Just quiet. Firewood, good wine, clear air. I want to go. And I want you with me.

Legend: Why? There some dangerous monster nearby?

There's one right next to you. Wrapped in a dress and pretending to care. Say no. Say no. Say no—

Venelana: Because you don't treat me like a name. Or a title. Or something to conquer. You just treat me like... me.

Legend: I treat everyone like that.

Liar. You never treated me like that. I had to earn every second of your attention.

Venelana: I know you don't do things like this. I know this probably sounds insane. But I trust you. More than I trust most people in my own household. Maybe that's foolish, maybe it's something else.

Legend: You're giving me too much credit, lady.

Venelana: If you say no, I won't ask again.

I stood up from my chair.

Legend: What do I pack?

Ugh. Really? I liked it better when you gutted people, not snuggled them.

Venelana: (smiling) Just yourself.

Legend: I don't dance. I don't talk. I don't do whatever it is people normally do in cabins.