Carmine (Completed)

Chapter 55

Valor sat on my bed, the hood hung low. His mischievous smile invited me into his lovely world. I missed him, not that I would say it. My gratitude was not going to feed his arrogance. "Good to see you are alive and well, what happened to you, my friends?" I asked.

I stepped around him towards the open window he came through, while Sandream leaned on the wall close to the door.

The window's curtains flung about wildly in the wind's cry. I pulled the string, closing the curtains.

I noticed in the corner of my eyes, Valor climbing across the bed towards me. My feet slowed as I neared the bed's side.

Valor sprayed something at me. I backed away, but he drenched my skin and clothes with an unknown liquid. I waved my arms erratically until my waist hit the chiffonier.

Valor threw a glass bottle at me, and I caught it. The glass concaved inside with a bluish liquid half-filled inside.

That strong sour smell consumed me briefly, yet It dispersed into nothing. I asked, "What the hell?"

"If someone asks what is that smell? Tell them San Rosa told you to use this to mask your presence from your enemies. Elamnite have a good sense of smell."

"I can still smell you through the perfume," Sandream replied.

I placed the perfume bottle on the chiffonier, glanced at the mirror, and I had to admit I looked nothing like my mother.

Valor pointed at her. "Especially females."

"Men know that and still struggle in trying to impress upon us."

Valor tilted his head. "Not with a nose that strong. I would never win."

"Are Janilla and Five okay?" I asked, trying to break up this pointless discussion.

Valor nodded. "Mhmm, yes, they are." My shoulders slumped in relief.

"Five's condition is deteriorating though. He didn't recover that well from the toxin. The fever is gone, and he is better, but his body will not survive for much longer."

My throat clenched as my fingers balled up. "I had a feeling. Is he in any discomfort?"

His face contorted in revulsion. "Guys like him don't feel discomfort. He'll die proud to serve you. That's enough for beta-dolls like him."

"Beta-dolls?" I asked.

Sandream chimed in. "Derogatory term concocted by jealous Modified Cores such as Valor for New Core shells made to serve free Elams."

Valor grinned. "I never knew I was jealous."

"It's as obvious as your musk," Sandream replied.

Valor shrugged, while Sandream rolled her eyes.

Did they become friendly? I smiled at that development. "Sandream it is good to see you are well, but how did you..."

Sandream sobered up. "My previous shell is lifeless right now, I will need a new heart, repaired lungs..."She rolled her jaw, "that will—"

"My shell will have to do for now," Valor cut in.

I grinned. "Is this not grand? You gave up the body anyway."

Valor twisted his lips. "Do not drown me in it, lass."

"You could have gave it to me!"

"And I wouldn't have given it to Sandream."

"And if you gave it to me I wouldn't have gone to Deagonu. Either way, you still had to give it up, how does it feel?" My smile was insidiously large, and Valor looked away in silence. I motioned at Sandream. "I am thankful that you received it, and you are still with us."