"You wanna lend a hand, huh? Nice try, but we ain't buyin' into that load of crap!" The one with the red eye-lights growled, his skepticism evident. The light blue eye-lighted skeleton jumped in to play the mediator. "Red, maybe cut 'em some slack? They kinda helped us out, ya know!" "Quit bein' an idiot, Blue. Clearly just tryin' to pull a fast one," Red retorted, his skepticism still firmly in place.
I couldn't help but wonder why they were named after colors. Red and Blue? It was certainly intriguing, but I had more pressing matters to address.
"Yep, prolly just puttin' on a friendly act to turn a profit or somethin'." Red retorted, his glare fixed on us.
Does he mean selling them? While they weren't entirely off-base, considering my family's connection to the monstrous trade business, the mere thought of doing such a thing made me cringe. No, I wouldn't subject them to that fate. A pang of guilt gnawed at me—how could I even be a part of a family that engaged in such inhuman practices?
"Uh, guys, maybe, uh, let's cool it. You know, makin' the human a bit, uh, irritated?" the third skeleton interjected, his voice tinged with nervousness. So, his role was the peacemaker, it seemed.
Wait, who was getting irritated? The atmosphere had grown oddly quiet. I shifted my gaze toward the skeletons, and sure enough, their nervous eyes were locked onto me. Why, though? Did my face betray some sort of unsettling expression again? I let out an exasperated sigh—why did they have to remind me of my family's business? I couldn't help but feel like a hypocrite, standing here in defiance of the very thing my family was involved in.
I cleared my throat, attempting to reassert myself. "Look, I get it. You guys don't trust us, and honestly, you probably shouldn't. We are strangers, after all... Stranger danger and all that." I offered an awkward laugh, a self-deprecating attempt to defuse the tension. "We genuinely want to help, though. You're all pretty banged up, and you need immediate medical attention. Besides, leaving you here would be nothing short of reckless."
I paused, my voice growing softer, a hint of vulnerability as I continued, "And... I don't want to see another monster turn to dust."
A heavy silence fell upon us, the weight of the unspoken truths hanging in the air, the shared awareness of the darkness that lingered in the world.
The tension in the air held its breath for a fleeting moment before Red's exasperated sigh broke the silence. "Fine, whatever. If you're so damn hell-bent on helpin', let's get it over with."
The light blue eye-lights skeleton—Blue, I decided to call him in my mind—seemed to relax, his features shifting from skepticism to mild relief. The observer among them simply nodded, as if silently agreeing. Skepticism lingered, a thread binding the three of them to their newfound fate, reluctant acceptance etching its mark on their expressions.
It was only natural for them to be wary. Who in their right mind would willingly entrust themselves to the care of two strangers, especially when those strangers were representatives of the very race that had enslaved their kind? I couldn't shake the feeling that I might have ventured into something beyond my capacity. A flicker of doubt gripped me.
Brian's steady voice held a touch of reassurance as he addressed the group, "My lady, it seems they're willing to let us assist them, at least for the time being."
I released a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding, a rush of relief washing over me. "Thank you, Brian. And... thank you, all of you, for trusting me," I said, my voice earnest, despite my persistent nerves.
"We don't," Red retorted with a pointed edge, a swift reminder that despite their reluctant agreement, the gap between us remained.
Taking a deep breath, I attempted to steer the conversation. "We'll take you to our place for your recovery and to discuss our next steps." I cleared my throat, my voice more composed now.
With the decision made, Brian and I led the way out of the alley, the three skeletons trailing cautiously behind us, keeping a noticeable distance. Our destination was the car, and to my surprise, Brian had parked it quite neatly despite my sudden request to pull over. We settled in—Brian in the driver's seat, me at the passenger seat, and the three skeletons occupying the back seats.
"Ready?" Brian's voice broke the silence as the engine hummed to life. The journey commenced, the atmosphere inside the car carrying an odd mix of tension and unease. The silence was palpable, and I could practically sense someone's intense stare from the back seat. This was painfully awkward. Should I initiate conversation? But what would I even say? These were situations I usually went out of my way to avoid. Sigh, what a predicament.
Okay, let's try something light and inoffensive. "Nice weather we have," or perhaps, "How's your day been?" Oh wait, scratch that—obviously their day had been terrible. Ugh, why was this so complicated? I mentally berated myself for my lack of social grace. Come on, think! What do I say?
"My lady, is something wrong?" Brian's voice held concern, snapping me out of my internal turmoil.
Ah, yes, something was very wrong. I had acted on impulse again, and now I found myself responsible for nursing injured strangers back to health. Panic clawed at me from within, but I had to maintain an appearance of composure. "Ah, no, I'm fine. Don't worry, Brian."
The silence hung over us, thick and awkward, like a fog that refused to lift. Just as I was beginning to believe that conversation was an impossibility, Red's voice broke through the tension, surprising me. "So, human, ya got a name, or are ya gonna keep bein' mysterious?"
Oh, right. Introductions. How had I managed to forget something so basic? Way to go, me. Panic stirred within me as I fumbled for a response. "Yes, of course. My name is... is..." I couldn't bring myself to reveal my true identity. What if they found out that I was a Demetrious? The thought alone sent a shiver down my spine, conjuring images of suspicion, hostility, and complications I didn't need. "Uh, um... You know what, you can call me anything you want."
Smooth, really smooth. I mentally kicked myself for not being more prepared. This was a first impression I'd rather forget. My heart raced as I imagined what they must be thinking of me. Weird, surely. I'd successfully managed to make this situation even more awkward, a feat I hadn't thought possible.
"My lady, perhaps you should call Brena. She might be able to help treat their injuries and wounds," Brian suggested, his voice breaking through the awkward silence. Brena—of course, how had I not thought of that? I couldn't exactly treat their conditions without a medical professional's assistance. Well, Brena wasn't exactly a licensed professional, but she certainly knew her way around injuries and healing.
"Right!" I exclaimed, my mind snapping back into focus. I quickly retrieved my phone from my bag and began to search for Brena's contact information. Found it! Without hesitation, I pressed the dial button, and within seconds, her voice greeted me on the other end. She must have been ready to pick up when I called.
"My lady!" Brena's voice brimmed with enthusiasm and genuine delight. "Hi Brena, it's been a while, hasn't it? How are you enjoying your break?" I inquired, eager to catch up with her.
"It's been dreadfully boring without you around, my lady. When can I come and serve you again?" Brena's voice held a mixture of playful complaint and sincere longing. It had only been five days since I had "forced" her to take a break, as she put it, but it seemed her energy and dedication were unwavering.
"Actually, Brena, I do need your help with something," I confessed, a weight lifting off my shoulders as I turned to her expertise.
"Really? Is my lady in trouble? Don't fret, I'm on my way!" Her response was swift and resolute, and before I could even respond, she hung up, leaving me with a mix of admiration and amusement. Brena's energy was truly unparalleled, and despite everything, I couldn't help but feel reassured that she would arrive promptly and ready to lend her aid.
Still as spirited as ever, I mused with a smile.
"Hehe, she's on her way," I informed them, a slight smile gracing my lips.
"Uh, hey there, human? Mind if I, uh, ask who that was?" Blue's voice quivered with a mixture of curiosity and nervousness.
"Oh, that was my maid, Brena. She'll be the one to treat your wounds. Don't worry, though—she's really skilled at what she does," I assured them, my smile aimed at putting them at ease.
"Yeah, if that's what you're sayin', I guess," Blue replied, though the skepticism in his tone was unmistakable.
I couldn't blame him for his doubt; after all, we were complete strangers, and the notion of entrusting their well-being to us was a leap of faith they were being forced to take.
The sight of our house coming into view was a welcomed relief. Thank God. The tension and silence inside the car had become almost unbearable. "We're here," I announced as Brian smoothly parked the car. I stepped out and took a moment to stretch, my muscles aching from the prolonged tension of the situation.
Turning to face the three skeletons, I noticed that they were moving much slower than us due to their injuries. As they carefully exited the car, I took the chance to observe them more closely. It was hard to deny the resemblance—were they triplets, perhaps? Their appearance was eerily alike.
Red's eye-lights glowed with an intense red hue in his eye sockets, a reflection of the deep-seated distrust that seemed to emanate from him. His jagged, sharply angled smile was lined with sharp teeth that gave the impression of a perpetual frown. One of his teeth appeared to be missing, a subtle detail in the midst of his skeletal form that caught my attention.
Blue, on the other hand, sported glowing light blue eye-lights in his sockets. His smile was rounded, and his regular teeth seemed to be etched into a perma-grin that bestowed a sense of warmth and openness.
Between Blue and the third skeleton, there weren't many noticeable differences. However, this skeleton had eye-lights that radiated a pure white glow. I realized I still hadn't learned his name. I decided to make a mental note to inquire about it later.
My eyes were drawn to the collars around their necks, sitting on their cervical vertebrae. Those must be the devices meant to suppress their ability to use magic. The garments they wore—or what remained of them—were tattered, dirtied, and stained with both blood and grime. It was difficult to fathom the horrors they might have experienced.
"My lady," Brian's voice pulled me from my thoughts. He stood by the now-unlocked front door, his efficiency evident. Well, that was swift.
"I'm coming," I replied, my attention returning to the present. With a gesture, I motioned for the skeletons to follow me toward the house.