The Summoning

XXV - Is It Really You?

You understand it is not only my hand, but the jaws of fate that you call upon?

I understand.

My eyes blinked open, but there was nothing. Nothing to see, nothing to touch. Not even anything to hear, but the words wove together as if it were spoken to me. 

It wasn't as if it were too dark - quite the opposite, actually. There was a bright whiteness, almost like shining opal, creating a kaleidoscope of color into an endless sky. 

I do wonder, though. What more could you have to offer than your soul?

A whisper, a hiss.

Anything. Though, I sense you already know the answer to that.

Your voice.

My voice?

He was out there. Knelt at an alter that protruded from what I now saw as deathly still waters. The sky reflected into it like a sheet of glass. 

Vessel.

As if I had said his name out loud, he turned to me.

~~~~~~~~~~

I took in a short breath as I awoke. My eyes had yet to catch up to wakefulness, but the pounding in my head toiled on without a hitch. Groaning, I brought my hands up to my eyes. There was a lamp on and it pierced into my migraine, forcing me to close my eyes again.

I remembered at least most of last night with the reminder of my punishment for drinking as much as I did. At least I was warm and comfortable.

Squinting my eyes open as much as I could, I found my pillow to be moving - breathing. I glanced up to find dimly lit orbs of blue.

Vessel's eyes were just slightly open, pupils rolled back to reveal the thin slits of sclera that glowed. My pillow was his chest.

Gasping, I jolted away, only to roll off the bed and onto the floor with an oof! 

This seemed to call his attention as he sat up to peek over the side of the bed. Tilting his head, he blinked away the glow of light in his eyes and furrowed a brow to me.

"Is that how you sleep?" I rubbed my back where I'd fallen on the floor.

He looked me up and down in confusion before blinking in understanding and looking away. Clenching his jaw, he turned away and swung his legs over the other side of the bed to sit facing away from me. 

I sat up and crossed my legs on the floor, rubbing my eyes again and pressing into them to stifle the headache. Slowly taking my hands away from my face to glance back up at Vessel where he looked to be writing something, I croaked, "I thought I was sleeping on the couch."

He seemed to have ignored me before standing suddenly, ripping a sheet of paper and coming over to where I sat. Thinking he was offering a hand, I raised mine, only for him to place a piece of paper into my palm.

I planned on staying out there instead. You asked me to stay.

Did I? Last night was a blur, but I was sure if I got rid of this pounding in my skull, I would have better memory.

I glanced down to the floor as I yawned, massaging my temples. Vessel knelt in front of me and I drew back, resting on the heels of my hands. 

Another paper.

I did overreact last night. I'm sorry.

Remembering the incidents from last night, I groaned. I didn't want to be thinking about all of this right now.