Lily’s eyebrows creased together, the conversation was really not helping with her stomach situation. Only sent into overdrive as her eyes moved to Alma as she saw the older woman move, without a heartbeat between raising the dagger and slamming it into herself. Lily’s free hand flew up to her mouth and plastered it shut, staring at the crumpled heap on the floor that was Alma.

Without a second delay, Callisto raised his own dagger and in the same manner of ease he slipped the blade across his own neck. Deep enough so that it sliced through the tendons and made a ripping sound before a gurgle and he met Alma on the floor.

The hand that was gripping Finntello’s was like a vice, clutching onto him tightly as she tried to not stare at the space where they had been standing. The scorched marks in the carpet flickered with embers before igniting suddenly with a black flame that eviscerated the bodies quickly. Turning them into dust with a sickening roar before flickering out of existence. Leaving the large room in silence.

Lily’s eyes narrowed as she slowly removed her hand from her lips, still pressing them firmly together.

–

Veles gracefully descended onto the lounge, one arm extended over the back of the chair leaving a perfectly Xevon shaped spot for the man to ease himself into. His other hand lifted to adjust the collar of the ghost’s shirt from where it had twisted.

“You’ll be alright.” He soothed, keeping his wicked smile in place as he gazed down at Xevon. “I’m certain you will feel better soon.” Selective words chosen to alleviate the confusion that came with the disorientation.

At the wince, Veles tilted his head to the side and observed him for a moment longer before he reached over and tipped Xevon’s head back into his shoulder. Angling his head so he could see him properly.

“You impressed me.” His voice was lowered, oozing with praise.

Lily fought to keep herself from vomiting as Finn peeled away towards the circle. For a few seconds she remained on the hardwood floor, staring at the runes in the carpet and the burning smell that she couldn’t determine if it was the synthetic fibres or the bodies.

“I think we’ll all need it after this.” She scrunched up her face as she took an unsteady step into the circle and tried to steel her nerves, not that it was working. She crouched down to pick up the dagger and rose back up, looking down at the now clean metal.

“I-I don’t know how I should do it.” Lily’s voice was quiet, barely a murmur. She knew they had to be quick about it, the longer they spent here the longer the other two were wandering the halls in danger. Her head tilted back to look up at Finntello, there was no point in hiding the fear in her gaze.

She didn’t think she could summon the strength to plough it into her chest, maybe the skill to mimic Callisto. Even then, Lily wasn’t convinced she would cut deep enough.

–

Veles tilted his head, watching as Xevon blinked slowly up at him. Producing a low hum from the back of his throat.

“You did indeed.” He used his thumb and forefinger to angle Xevon’s head delicately to the side, gauging any remaining dark fog of his wrath around him. There was little to be observed other than his clearly disturbed mind. In his opinion, ripe for manipulating.

“Jealousy is one thing, pestering me for attention.” Veles breathed out, letting go of Xevon’s jaw and drawing his finger up the side of his face slowly. “I most certainly didn’t expect you to join in with the excitement so soon. You did perfectly.” Veles tipped his own head back, looking down at Xevon through half closed eyes. He had yet to decide which path to take.

Dragging up everything that made this man lose the plot or coddling him into trust. Either option would work, that he was sure about.

Her eyes cast down towards the dagger in her hands, tilting her head as she tried to figure out the least invasive way she was going to essentially end her life. Lily’s head lifted back up, catching Finn’s gaze for a moment before he lifted his hands and her own eyes widened. As quickly as she could, Lily turned away as she heard the dull thud of the knife plowing into his chest. A small noise bubbled up from her throat as it was followed by a heavier thud of Finn falling forwards.

With her face creased, trying not to think about the fact that the vision of a bloodied and dead Finntello from her dreams had become a reality behind her, Lily gritted her teeth. She wasn’t going to make them wait, not with Veles in those halls.

Her hand raised carefully to her throat, feeling the cold kiss of the metal on her neck, drawing a wince from her as the sharp blade stung a small cut into her skin. It took her another moment before her hand crushed the blade into her throat, a sharp sound coming from her as she dragged the blade sideways and the same disgusting gurgling sound followed. Her legs lost their strength and she fell to her knees, eventually slamming into the ground. Quickly to be consumed by the black flames.

–

Callisto blinked his eyes open, the feeling of the bed beneath him in the familiar place made him curl his lip. Pulling himself from the covers, he felt his feet hit the floorboards, a strange sensation considering he used to float above them for years.

He made for the door immediately upon realising he was alone, ear straining for any sounds of shuffling or guttural moans. None to be noted as Callisto pulled open the door and glanced left and right. He was just under the main stair case, rather convenient considering their meeting place.

Carefully, he slipped out of the room and began to make his way into the main lobby, casting his eyes around for even the smallest hint towards Veles and mostly importantly Xevon. Just as he stepped out in front of the stairs, he heard a sound from behind him and he whipped around. Spotting Alma sending herself flying down the stairs.

If he wasn’t more in control of himself, Callisto would have exclaimed in surprise. Instead he backed up in a stumble away from the stairs, eyes widened in shock as she landed at the bottom. This woman was…well she was something.

–

His hand paused in its deliberate movement across Xevon’s jaw as he tilted his own head backwards to look up at Veles. An eyebrow raised as an accompanying hand rose up to push itself into his hair, a low chuckle rumbled from Veles as he obliged, returning his head to be angled back down towards the other man.

“You have my attention.” Veles hummed, letting his eyes roam around Xevon’s features. He parted his lips to speak again when he felt the familiar surge of energy, causing him to flick his eyes up and towards the hallway mid-way through his movement closer to Xevon. “Ah, they came rather quickly.” Veles murmured, another sacrifice sent to him so soon was certainly surprising. The quickest it had ever been was a week, perhaps six days. But it had been less than two days since the last one. Curious.

Deciding that he would let those ones wander around the hotel, Veles brought his eyes back to Xevon and smiled.

She woke and a hand flew to her throat, sitting upright. Lily stared ahead herself, expecting her hand to come away covered in blood. It wasn’t, looking down at herself there was no evidence of the act on her skin or clothes. In fact, she was pristine.

The room Lily had awoken in looked normal enough, only upon poking her head out of the room did she notice exactly where she was. The flickering lights in the hallway and the dark abyss of a room to one end of the hallway made her breathing hitch. Her eyes scanned for any signs of Xevon in the crushed furniture, perhaps he was lurking in a dark corner. She couldn’t sense him in there, the lights weren’t going too crazy. He must not be in there.

Reluctantly, she had pulled herself from the safety of the room and began walking towards the stairs. Her steps were quiet and slow, waiting for Veles to come rushing around a corner to devour her. The only thing making her continue and not huddle up in one of the rooms was the knowledge that the others were waiting. They had to be.

–

Callisto caught Finn’s wings as they brushed the air around him, eyes flickering to him in question as Alma rather cheerfully began organising herself to find the room. He watched in disbelief at the casual nature she was moving around the hotel, as though it was a totally regular and normal nightly activity for her.

Trailing after her, still entranced, Callisto gulped as he watched her slam her foot into the door relentlessly until she managed to wrench it open. Now, he was slightly more terrified of the woman. He dared a glance to Finn.

“Your mother is possibly scarier than Veles.” He mumbled under his breath.

–

Veles had been focused on Xevon when he felt another rush in his body, another group had been sent to him. Why were they sending so many? Had something happened? Veles almost pulled away to investigate, but that was when Xevon had leaned up towards him and ghosted a touch across his lips.

A wash of smugness came over him, a warm sensation of satisfaction. The hand that had paused on his jaw repositioned itself, holding the edge of Xevon’s face.

“Of course you may.” He matched the quietness of his companion, the smile on his lips was still present faintly. Veles did not move, he waited for Xevon to act all on his own. The stark contrast between the man in front of him and the man that had sworn to kill him blazed in his mind. He thought it would have been difficult to twist him, but it seemed he had done it all on his own.

Callisto blinked repeatedly as Alma turned and pointed at him, alarmed and concerned he had done something to upset her before Finntello’s explanation. He fumbled for a moment, going to ask why she wanted him to change before he decided that it was probably in his best interest to simply do as she said.

With a small huff, Callisto’s heavy paws landed on the floor in front of him. Tail tip twitching from side to side with apprehension, waiting to hear the horribly familiar shulking form of Veles along the hallways. It made his stomach twist with anxiety, but his eyes remained focused ahead of him.

Lily had taken her time to make it to the stair case, stepping down into the lobby. Her eyes scanned around the room, about to start taking steps towards the dining hall when she heard a dull thud from behind her. Whipping around, eyes wide with primal panic, she scrambled to move. Worried that it was Veles or another sacrifice or anything other than her group. She was about to dart towards a room when her panicked gaze landed on the fluffed up wings of Finntello and she let out a small sound that was almost like a yelp. Muffled as she caught it, stopping it from being loud.

It wasn’t a very graceful recovery from her alarmed scramble as she straightened herself up and tried her best to look as though she wasn’t about to lose her head. There was still the terrifying notion that she had yet to actually see Veles, this disgusting hulking mass of necrotic tissue. The fact she had to imagine what that looked like almost made things worse.

Lily only felt her nerves stop pulsing with panic as she made it to the room they were outside of, scanning over the feline form of Callisto with a raised eyebrow.

“You scared me.” She offered Finn as an explanation for her weird approach, eyebrows lowered ever so slightly as she leaned to peek into the room.

–

Veles waited patiently, only letting his grip on Xevon’s face lock itself into place when the other man had made contact again. The arm that was draped over the back of the lounge remained there, lazy in his leaned back position, keeping Xevon tucked into his side. He could move, perhaps to make the angle less severe for Xevon to be leaned up, but he didn’t want to.

Instead, Veles merely dipped his head closer, meeting him with a touch more vigor. Only enough to match the hold he had on his head, barely a hint above casual in its control. He didn’t need to exert maximal possession over this wilted flower, he didn’t particularly have to do anything it seemed. Xevon had settled himself onto the lounge beside him. He had reached into his hair, he had instigated this moment. Strange how things played out.