"Life is short, but places last longer. Never mistaken a silent town for a boring one, for each place has a story to tell for the right ones"
***
"Winter-tide's Lullaby" Matthos re-read the message on Barney's phone
"So crazy lullaby serial killer is out there singing her heart out and taking children's souls. The supposed savior is chasing Neva. We don't know Neva" Barney summarized in boredom. He was getting tired of watching Matthos pace.
"Neva said she had a father" Matthos ignored Barney's glare
"She does, but we can't contact him if he has gone to the light. Besides, we need to create a gap between Neva and that failed savior. As long as she's roaming in this very soil where the crazy lady is, she won't be safe"
"The kids who were put to sleep, are they still alive?"
"According to Mama, barely." Barney frowned "They're not dead, but they are barely alive"
"Winter is here" Matthos murmured
"Did you just quote Game of Thrones?" his friend snorted and earned himself a smack in the head
"This is winter, winter-tide's lullaby. Why is it happening now? Why only now?" he continued
"The only guess I can deduce is that something awakened these beings. Something jacked up their radars and gave them a reason to actually come up and haunt the living"
"When did the lullaby comatose plague start?"
Barney knocked his forehead, as if trying to wake up his brain "I think it started a month before I came to you"
"Neva arrived at least a week before you came"
"So we can remove Neva as one of the reasons" he pointed out
"No, it means Neva could be one of the reasons. Let's not forget, the failed savior is chasing her instead of saving babies"
"This is so complex" Barney smirked "I love it"
"I don't" Matthos admitted "I'm thinking of Neva, and how she's coping"
"She's not coping at all"
"Exactly"
Neva was given the space she needed. She rarely finished her food and preferred to be alone. Matthos and Barney made sure she didn't feel lonely.
"She needs time, Matthos"
"I wish we can afford it"
"Let's go check on her upstairs. I don't like it when we have to leave her alone" Barney stood up and dragged a very tired Matthos upstairs. They found Neva on the edge of the bed. These days, she always fell asleep. Matthos and Barney see her aura, and it's a gloomy blue. No amount of healing or enchantments can help her at the moment.
"She doesn't even want to watch anything" Barney complained
"Do you have other news from the headquarters?"
"I've heard some gossip"
Matthos pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration "Fudge balls, a gossip? Really Barney?"
"Hey, you haven't heard of it yet" he smirked and started "There's this new case that is both confidential and urgent"
"If it's confidential, why are you telling me?"
"Shut up and listen, young child" Barney patted Matthos head as if he's trying to calm a child, which was not working at all "There's been a mass search going on about a creature so pure she grants immortality"
