Veles leisurely made his way towards the mirror once more and closed it softly, taking another moment to admire himself in the reflection. At which he glanced over his shoulder to where he knew Xevon was but there was no reflection.

“You must miss being able to see yourself, I suppose.” He commented idly, drawing his attention away from the previous topic of screaming ghosts. “I know I would.” With that, he turned back around to walk towards the lounge chair, cocking his head at the sprawled out man. A dry laugh came from Veles, his hands moving to pull the black leather gloves from them. He had no use for them now, no blood was going to be shed today.

“Appearances do give us benefits, but who is to say it was your looks that made me coax you into this hotel?” Veles dipped a shoulder in a vague shrug before he bent down at the hips to look at Xevon. Tossing his gloves onto the lounge beside him.

Lily’s head managed to stop spinning to focus back on Finn as she heard his voice cut through the mingled memories. She shook her head to finish off the haziness before she watched Finn turn around and mumble a name she had not expected. Well, all of this was unexpected. Being sent home, no fight, no death. It was the best outcome. At least for Finn and herself, but from the look of Callisto where he sat curled up on the floor…it didn’t look like he was particularly happy.

Callisto couldn’t decide if he was distraught or enraged by his own thoughts. There was only one real way they had been sent out of that hotel. The joy he felt at the fresh air, the warmth to his living body was all being squashed by the overwhelming thought of Xevon. He had done something. He had traded himself, whatever that may have entailed to get them out of there. He couldn’t even dwell on the fact that he was alive.

His head snapped up sharply, bringing a severe pain around his head like a ring squeezing tightly. Callisto saw the pair through his blurry vision and tried to calm his breathing, as futile as it was. He was looking at the pair with such guilt in his gaze that Lily felt pity for him, for a heartbeat. Then her head whirled once again and she let out a short gasp, her hand rising to her chest as though clutching imaginary pearls.

Of course she knew who he was. Even if this sad image of a man was in stark contrast to how she used to view him. Her dark eyes were blown wide and her chest rose up and down quickly. “Y-you.” She breathed out and she saw Callisto’s face pale as the blood drained from it, he clearly knew what she had just pieced together.

“You started this?” She almost yelled at him, feeling the bubbling anger in her rising up and spilling out of her lips. The death, the torture, it had been his fault. “You brought him here!” Lily bent slightly at the waist with the effort of her shout. “Why! Why would you summon that thing!” Her throat began to hurt. “All those people! You sent them to be tortured! You deserved to rot in there!” Lily felt her eyes begin to water not from joy now, but from pure anger.

As she was yelling at him, Callisto simply stared up at her from his crumpled heap on the floor. He had nothing to say back to her. She was right. He did deserve to rot in there, and rot he had. Yet, he had a body again, a strange gift for Veles to bestow upon him. Then again, living with his memories of being the cause of all this pain was cruel. That would be why.

He still said nothing, only stared up at the grieving woman as she continued.

“You would send your own family there? You sick bastard!” At this point, Lily was heaving for breath. “And other poor souls,” She thrust a hand out in a gesture towards Finn. “Just because they got in His way?!”

Veles cocked his head to one side as Xevon gestured to himself and raised a single eyebrow.

“You are certainly confident, I shall give you that.” He chided, bringing his gaze to drag along the length of Xevon as he stretched himself out.

He reached down a hand and lifted part of the necklace with two fingers, peering down at it as he toyed with the chain. After a moment, Veles dropped the chain with disinterest and flicked his hand up to grab Xevon’s jaw once again. This time, slightly less aggressively. He turned Xevon’s head to one side slowly, then back again. His eyes scanning over him, assessing something.

“Hmm.” Was all that came from his lips, eventually drawing his gaze up to meet the vibrant red that was staring at him.

Lily’s teeth were bared in fury, she could feel something other than anger rising up under her skin and as she felt the familiar pain of her bones she knew what was happening. Just as Finn had retained his wings, she clearly retained her feline force. Her eyes had slitted as she bore her gaze down at Callisto, she wanted him to say something, anything. But he did not, he just sat there and stared right back up at her. A low growl had begun to form in the back of her throat, her face was red and eyes streaming.

She had seen paintings of him, the glorious Callisto. The one who contacted their saviour, Veles all those years ago. He had brought forth the new age and all that ridiculous babbling. Her family had spoken about him with such warmth and pride that when she was a child she had admired him greatly, as all brainwashed children do. She believed blindly that what they were doing was good. Then on one particular night, she was around twelve or thirteen when they had taken a pair to be sent to Veles. Except this time, one was a girl her age, lovely red hair and the deepest green eyes. Lily remembered them well. Remembered the way they had widened in fear as the dagger was brought down upon her and she remembered the light dimming from her eyes before they faded into the hotel’s realm. That was when Lily’s switch flicked.

Only when Finn’s hand met hers did the snarling, spitting fury stammer out into silence. Her enraged expression dulled and instead replaced by vague panting to regain her breath. She let herself be pulled a good few steps away before she turned and began to walk in the same direction as Finntello. Her head hanging, watching the grass beneath her feet as she was led away.

“I’m his family.” She mumbled out under her breath, still staring blankly at the ground. Her father was related to Callisto, dating back generations. They were the heads of this whole thing and Lily wasn’t sure she had to heart nor the guts to tell Finntello she had participated in the sacrifices well up until her own. Even if she was in disagreement with them, she was still there and did not save anyone.

Callisto watched as they turned around and listened, he heard what she said and it settled into his own brain. It made sense. Despite the spitting anger that had been directed at him, he couldn’t help put have his mind swirling around the idea that Xevon was not with them. They didn’t seem to care that he wasn’t with them. Panic began to well in his chest.

He knew who he was before, a cruel and power hungry man, twisted by his own ambitions and he played right into Veles’s hands. It was centuries ago, he was not always like that, he was a normal man once. He had been corrupted due to his own naivety. Callisto needed to go back. He never thought he would want to but all he wanted to do now was go back.

The pair had walked far enough to where they weren’t really distinguishable people, more so colourful rectangles in the distance. Only then did Callisto stagger to his unsteady feet and begin to chase after them, caring not for his previous composure and pride. He desperately clambered after them.

“Wait!” He cried out. “Please, wait!”

Veles raised his eyes to meet Xevon’s as he heard the other creature repeat his idle sound. His hand remained where it was as he stared, no internal thoughts being given away by his expression, blank and bored. After a slightly long wait, he parted his lips to speak.

“I am curious.” He began slowly. “Why now did you decide to come to me? You have had years of existence here, but why now.” Veles probed his question, but it was asked with such disinterest, monotone.

Veles kept his hand secured around Xevon’s jaw, he could turn his head if he wanted to, but it would likely be quickly returned to the position that Veles wanted it to be in. That and if the ghost leapt at him with anger, he could grasp his throat easily. He wasn’t stupid. He had duelled with Xevon enough times to know he was unpredictable, which almost made him predictable in the end.

Callisto almost fell over himself as Finntello turned around to look at him, clearly blocking Lily from his view. He staggered to a stop and wobbled momentarily, not so used to the feeling of solid ground beneath himself. It almost made him feel nauseous, it was disorienting after all this time floating.

He didn’t know what to say. What could he say to convince them to help? They didn’t care about Xevon, they had just met him. Good gods, his chest ached with panic as it continued to assault his head. His eyes were wide and pleading, once strong shoulders slumped with defeat.

“I-I.” He began, but couldn’t find the words he wanted. He was a coward.

“Not for me, I-I can’t leave him there. Please.” Callisto had to swallow to keep himself from bawling. “Xevon is the reason we’re out. I don’t know what he did. But he’s still there.” Callisto’s words were coming hard and fast now, tumbling out of his mouth. He tried to strain past Finn, leaning to the side to see Lily.

“He’s with Veles, Lily! He’s stuck there with him. He traded himself to get you out.” Callisto tried all the cards he could think of.

Lily stopped walking, Finn’s words had brought some solace. Yet, he didn’t know the extent of her own involvement, she would have to tell him eventually. She remained hooked behind one of Finn’s wings, the feathers brushed her arm lightly as the man twisted to look back towards Callisto. She could hear him talking, the pounding of his now living heart in his chest. The panicked breathing, god she could hear it all. He was falling apart. Something she had never thought The Callisto would do, or was even capable of.

Her eyes narrowed, still wet with her previous tears as she listened to them. Xevon wasn’t here with them, so it would be an assumption that he was still there. A drop in her chest came as guilt washed over her, she had been there for a blip in her lifetime. Xevon had been thrown in there, died in there and was now stuck there. Her hands balled up into fists and then relaxed, she repeated the action a few times, trying to figure out her own opinions on the situation. Her own head was still reeling.

Veles listened, unmoving. Analysing the microexpressions that came along with his answer. There could be truth to this, especially considering he had watched the pair dance around each other like nervous school children with their first crushes.

A short sharp laugh came from him, a lop-sided smile rising to his lips. “Well, if that is all you wanted, you should have asked sooner.” He answered simply, tightening his hold momentarily as Xevon’s own hand raised up to mimic his own hand. “Mm, yes. Callisto was not exactly the epitome of confidence.” Veles trailed off, glancing towards the hand near his face.

“He needed a little boost. That’s where I came in.” He drew his eyes back to meet Xevon’s, a colder look to his expression. “That mumbling mess could not have started that cult of sheep on his own, that was a touch of yours truly that I bestowed upon him.” Veles released his jaw, straightening his spine back up to his full height. He looked down his nose at Xevon.

Lily’s lips had flattened into a thin line as she heard Finn make his decision. She was going to help anyway, but hearing him say it brought some kind of relief that she didn’t have to make the decision alone. Among the rippling emotions that were coursing through her, anger towards her own family burned as bright as her anger towards Callisto. Getting back there would either involve a lot of sneaking around, or outright bold lies to her family and the cult. That Veles had sent them back with the reborn Callisto, blah blah what ever stupid drabble. If it came from Callisto’s lips, they would listen and he knew that too.

Callisto didn’t flinch as the insults and threats, he took them in and let them settle in his mind. Adding to the growing pile of frustration and self disgust, it was beginning to tip over. He gave the smallest of nods as Finn turned to look at him and he felt like a child beneath his harsh gaze.

“Thank you.” He managed to speak quietly and subdued. Then he saw Lily round to face him as well, one glance at her and he felt even worse which he thought was impossible.

“I am sorry.” He strained out, his hands had risen to clasp each other, squeezing tightly to the point where the whites of his knuckles were blooming through the soft skin. “I am so sorry.” This time he directed it to the pair of them, his eyes flicking between them both. “You are right, he deserves it the least. I should have gone up there, not him. I am a coward.” He reiterated, slowly managed to bring his voice back to something that resembled his previous cadence. “I will make sure you all get out of there.” He tried his best to sound as truthful as he felt, but whether or not they believed him was still up in the air.

Lily’s dark eyes were shadowed by her furrowed eyebrows, she was staring at him with fury still burning in her entire figure. She had to keep her muscles tensed to stop herself from pouncing at him. She said nothing. She didn’t want to say anything to him, Finn was doing the job for her and she didn’t want to bless him with conversation.

Lily ripped her gaze away from Callisto, looking up towards Finntello. He had been there when she was brought down that hallway. He had turned and stabbed her mother in the chaos, his defiance did not last. He was dragged into the circle with her, she was crying and screaming towards her father. Begging him to stop, but he looked at her with such coldness. She had never felt so unloved, unwanted. Her lip curled at the memory and she fought to keep it from snarling further so that Finn didn’t think it was directed at him. Instead, she grasped at his hand and looked back towards where they were walking before Callisto’s interruption.

“Let’s go home.” She forced out between her teeth, her jaw clenching.

Veles stifled something that sounded like a laugh before taking a few long languid strides around the back of the lounge as Xevon leaned back into the plush furnishing. He drew a hand out from his side and pushed it through Xevon’s hair, grazing his forehead first.

“You rest, dear.” He stated shortly, turning away and taking his hand with him. Veles did not offer a farewell as he began to walk back down the hallway that lead to the strangely large room. The soft click of his dress shoes fading into silence as he left to wander his halls once again. Preparing himself for the next pair that would be sent his way. Hopefully they would be more submissive than the previous lot, easier to savour.

Callisto kept his chin tucked in, sheepishly glancing to meet Finn’s eyes as he made his pointed comment. He didn’t say anything in response. He was simply happy, if that was even the right word, no he was relieved that they had agreed to help get Xevon out. Now that he had time to think past the initial panic of not having Xevon at his side, that burning frustration towards his companion grew a little stronger. He was going to give the winged man an earful once he saw him again.

Then it occurred to him. Did Xevon think he had passed on? To whatever ethereal realm ghosts were supposed to be in, if there was even a place like that at all. He was distracted by his own thoughts so much that he hadn’t noticed Finn take off into the air and Lily being left alone with him.

Lily peeked back up at him and shook her head. “I don’t think you need to apologise.” She offered, her parents had scooped him up and sent him to that hellscape, he did not need to apologise to her. She watched as he took a few steps away and then shot himself up into the sky. Her head tipped back to watch him as he went and she felt a hit of envy, it looked freeing. She watched as he lifted higher until she caught sight of Callisto in the corner of her eye.

Tilting her head back down she twisted to look at him and finally he looked up and met her gaze with a shine of surprise. She stared at him and it was only making the man more uncomfortable. She wanted to say that she hoped Veles kills him. But she bit back the harsh retort, instead curling her lip in a short snarl before she began walking idly forwards. Slowly stepping through the grass, she didn’t look back to check if he was following. Lily kept her pace slow, waiting for Finn to return to them.

Callisto made sure he kept a good few metres back from her, just in case she decided to whip around and slam heavy paws into him.