The Shadress (MCD x Reader)

Sp. 07- Aphmau's POV

It wasn't very long before Shade disappeared into the bookshelves with those two... demons? I believe. They seemed to be in a hurry when she called them over, but from the speed I've seen them travel at so far, I would assume that's normal.

Their retreating forms strike a familiar chord with me, but I do not know why or from what. When is more like it... something in the back of my mind whispers.

"Are you alright?" Laurence asks, gently resting his hand on my arm. The action pulls my attention away from my drifting mind.

The warmth produced by that spot makes me shiver in the chilled air. "Yeah, I just cannot shake the feeling that I've seen something almost exactly like this before. It's like..."

"Like you've been here, looking for information with my sister," Jace finishes for me.

"How do you... No, the better question is what all do you know?" I pivot questions and cross my arms. Asking how these two know anything never gets me anywhere. Garroth looks a little surprised by my demand for information.

Jace sighs and smiles like he's heartbroken. "I haven't been around for a long, long time. I'm sure she's told you that. So it's not as much as you want, I'll tell you that right now."

Frustration pushes against my ribcage. "You two never tell me anything about this supposed past life I lived. How am I supposed to remember it if I never get told anything that happened?!" I huff as I finish.

There's a pause, stunned silence from everyone else. My outburst – if you could really call it that – clearly wasn't expected. But Jace appears as though he isn't truly surprised.

He runs a hand through his hair and takes a deep breath before beginning. "The reason we don't tell you anything is that my sister is afraid of what might happen. Irene was quite..." His words trail off as he studies the ground, as if it holds the words he's looking for. "...strict with her," is what he settles on.

"Strict how?" Laurence asks.

But Garroth cuts in before the other can respond, "Does this have to do with your comment to Katelyn?" He furrows his eyebrows; I think he's getting a headache, and I don't blame him. Getting information from these two is like trying to break into the Irene Dimension.

Jace rubs a hand down his other arm and loses eye contact with everyone. He's staring at the spot where Shade disappeared into the bookcases.

"What comment?" Lucinda probes before I can.

"When Lady Aphmau was knocked out and Shade ran off, Laurence followed her. When Katelyn asked why I didn't go after her, I, uh, implied that I am afraid of my sister when she's upset."

"Surely not," Lucinda chastises him. "She would never hurt someone she's close to."

"She was still a child when she raised me. Patience wasn't exactly her strongest quality." Jace tilts his head condescendingly. "Switch me for Lady Irene and the effect is basically the same."

To my right, Laurence snorts. He's shaking his head when I look at him. "Why is she so attached to Irene anyway? From what I'm understanding, Irene was just a very close friend, and yet, Shade treats anything to do with her like it's an absolute sacred truth."

Jace's attention returns to the pedestal, which lights up in various places after he touches it. "Y/N and the Divine Warriors are the only ones with that answer." His tone is flippant.

"Y/N...?" He stiffens at the sound of my voice.