The Night [5]

Prologue: An Interesting Idea

"So, are you going to go through those anonymous voting things now?" The raven-haired hellhound asked me as we both walked into my office, returning after breakfast had recently concluded within the main dining area of the manor. I did not answer him right away, heading over to the large leather chair behind my wooden desk and sitting down with a slight huff leaving me. My eyes closed and I was silent for a long period of time where I just sat there, not even thinking about anything - just resting my body and mind alike without much effort. Hyde, however, was concerned for my well-being, which wasn't that surprising since we were in a relationship. "Rebecca?" He asked, walking over to me, "Are you okay?" Once again, I did not answer him, only let my eyes flicker open as I looked at the male for a few seconds. "No, I am not alright." I finally said, my mouth forming a thin line on my face as I finally gave a slight sigh and sat up in my chair, turning my gaze away from my boyfriend as I took an orange envelope out of my pocket and rested it in the center of my desk. "I haven't gotten a full night's sleep in over three days, my school grades are tanking again, my ex-best friend of five years fucking hates me and I haven't gotten any real replies for my roleplays." I stated, my tone showing just mere annoyance at this, but nothing more, "I really wish I could just stay here forever, Hyde, I really do. I hate the human world with such passion. Goddamnit.." I rested my hands on the desk in front of me and rested my forehead against my arm for a moment in utter defeat as my life was once again descending into complete hell. There was complete silence for about a full minute before I felt a hand on the center of my back as Hyde stood next to me, gently rubbing my back in slow, comforting motions. "Maybe you should take a day off, you've been working yourself too hard these past few weeks. It's hurting your health." He said, quiet and soft to me, but I sat back up, shaking my head. "No," I said, looking at the envelope that now sat in front of me. "I have lost almost everyone I have ever cared about because of my mistakes." I said, looking at the pictures of multiple creatures in front of me, "They count on me, Hyde, everyone in this manor, including you, trust me to lead them and I refuse to sit back and be selfish - because that's what people have been calling me my whole life. I have work to do and you know that too."

I could tell that the hellhound beside me was skeptical about this, still wanting me to take it easy, but Hyde knew that when I was like this, I could not be budged. He gave a sigh that just sounded irritated, but also accepting in a way because of how I was. "Alright, if that's what you need to do." He said, "Do you need me to get you anything to help?" I smiled slightly at this, glad that he was still here and glad to help me through this tough time in my life. I grabbed the envelope off the desk and began to tear the top of it open so that I could get the small notecards that were inside of it. "Actually, yes - could you be a dear and get me a cup of hot cocoa? It's rather cold in here and it'll help me relax." I said, glancing at him for a moment as he nodded and left my side to walk across the office space and go out to the hallway, though he stopped midway and looked back at where I now sat. "Do you want me to get your favorite blanket as well? It would help you keep warm." Hyde suggested and I couldn't help but chuckle at that. "Well, when you say it like that, it sounds like I'm a toddler that needs her blankie or something, but please do if you could. These things will help me work better in the long run." A softened smile came to his expression and he dipped his head before shifting into his feral form and slipping out the door and into the hallway to go to the kitchen and make me some hot chocolate. This left me to my own solitude within the chilly room, to which I sat back for a moment, looking up at the ceiling for a few seconds. I shook my head, however, deciding that it was silly to just sit around in my own thoughts when I had claimed to want to continue working. I cracked my knuckles with a determined smirk on my face. "Let's do this, shall we?" I said to myself as I tore open the envelope completely now and dumped the pile of small white folded notecards out onto the surface in front of me. I'll offer a bit of context about this to the people out there reading this. You see, in the past, our group has always seen me as their leader and technically, I am. I have always made the decisions and rules and such else for as long as I can remember. However, since we had just moved into this new manor, I had now decided to take other people's opinions on the matter. At breakfast, this morning, I had Hyde pass out some cards to everyone who we could all write down what they wanted in the manor.