Sonnia sat at a couch looking around whistling to herself. While Freeg was in her kitchen searching cupboards and looking in containers. Smelling one she almost puked. While Marm sat down on a counter.

  “I don’t think I have anything fresh, sadly Sonnia. Sorry if I knew I was having company. I would’ve been better prepared.”

  Freeg came to join her on the couch and gave Marm some water. Momentarily it glowed purple as the liquid got absorbed in the dirt. While glowing the flower regained a few petals, a small noise could be heard from the plant. Sonnia moved her head in closer, watching it with curiosity.

  “Don’t worry Sonnia. Marm makes that noise whenever I help take care of her. She loves me. At night I can feel her magic looking over me and protecting me. It’s another reason I don’t use the petals although I will admit I miss their healing glow.”

  Sonnia looked at them both while her staff rested on her lap.

  “Such a strange flower! But I understand. I owe everything to Kaelith. He is my only friend nowadays.”

  Freeg glanced over at her while resting her own hands on her knees.

  “How did you find him and your staff then? If I may ask.”

  Sonnia gathered her thoughts . She let out a goofy laugh and shifted her body towards Freeg and leaned into her ear.

  “Kaelith and I were both prisoners locked away to be forgotten. Kaelith though never gave up on being free. Eventually through persistence I was shown light for the first time ever. It felt good and I wanted more. The old me was a paladin for Elarion, but she was bad at it.”

  Sonnia then laid down. Sprawled out on the couch she continued on.

  “Yet through it all Kaelith never gave up on me. Though I think I annoy him sometimes. But no family is perfect. Kaelith says he likes me sometimes because I see him for what he is.”

  Before Freeg could ask anything. Sonnia’s face went from a calm somber look to a more curious look. She hopped to her feet and put a finger to her mouth while looking at Freeg. Her lips curled into a smile while she whispered

  “I feel someone watching . A playmate? You should go upstairs. I think I’ll pay this person a visit.”

  Freeg looked around at the nearby windows and shuddered a little. She nodded her head and got up to walk up the steps while holding Marm nervously. Sonnia immediately rushed outside slamming open the front door. Rushing to the front window there was no one there except for footprints facing forward. Sonnia looked around and called out.

  “Helloooooooo! I don’t like creeps who stare. I would rather someone be honest about it. If you show yourself I’ll give you something to look at as a reward so show yourself.”

  Sonnia got ready to undo her robe while her eyes looked around scanning the darkness. Seeing no one she still momentarily flashed the darkness before quickly covering herself.

  “There you got your peek now show yourself or go away. I am tired.”

  Hearing nothing, Sonnia tightened her robe and circled around the house while looking around with a grin. Upon reaching the back she saw a back door left wide open. Sonnia without hesitation sprinted inside. Her eyes darted to right and left looking around the first floor.

  “Freeg. A pervert is inside be careful”

  Sonnia slowly went upstairs taking deliberate heavy steps. Reaching the top she looked straight ahead to see a person holding a hand on Freeg's neck. Sonnia looked into his eyes. They were cold and glassy. Looking as if he was already dead. There were black lines coming up his arms with bumps all over himself. Marm himself was laying on the ground. It’s pot cracked with dirt all over the ground.

  “Drop her now. I remember your face. You are part of the cult thing. I’m Sonnia, a rose rank or whatever that means. So listen to me.”

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  Taking a few more steps forward Sonnia donned an innocent smile. Freeg, though, looked horrified. She stayed silent while a hand was pressed against her neck. The man said nothing, not even acknowledging Sonnia’s existence. He pressed his hand harder now squeezing. Without wasting another second Sonnia darted forward, dropping her staff the metal clanged against the ground. Sonnia lunged forward and grabbed his hand to pry him off. It seemed to snap off his wrist like a branch off a tree making a wooden snap noise.

  Yet he stayed silent like pain was beyond him, putting up a struggle. After prying Freeg free. Sonnia punched the man in the face hard and it bent backwards in a weird manner. Knocking him on the ground she hopped on him and pressed her weight against him. The man put his hands on her neck trying to squeeze. She started punching over and over again. Feeling thorns scrape against her neck, Sonnia powered through until his face was caved in revealing black roots seeped deep under his face. She got up with a bit of blackened blood on her face and her neck seemingly punctured and scraped by small scrape marks. The man laid dead with small thorns poking through his hand.

  “Freeg are you okay? That was something else. I thought it was a perv not a killer.”

  Free though was shaking, her neck was lightly bruised. She tried talking but only small Whimpers came out but nothing coherent. Sonnia crouched down and poked the man with her staff looking over him.

  “He is weird. Like he is half plant. I wonder how long he had been trailing us. Hmmmm but why go after you.m? Do you know him or something?”

  Sonnia got up and walked to Freeg. She seemed more calm and shook less but still visibly distraught.

  “No, I don't know him. It happened so fast I was scared I went upstairs then he showed up. Without hesitation he grabbed and I felt my neck being torn apart.

  Quickly Freeg scooped up Marm in her hands. Barely able to hold him right. Then she went downstairs. Sonnia trailed behind her. But decided to go outside and walk around the house again this time looking around more carefully.

  “I wonder how they sneaked past the guards.”

  Going inside Marm was inside a wooden bowl while Freeg looked out a window looking concerned.

  “In the morning I’ll be returning back to the quarantine zone. It appears Gar tried to assassinate you for some reason. And I want answers. Hmmmm for now I wanna sleep though. Go upstairs and sleep. I’ll stay down here and rest. If anyone else comes I’ll deal with it.”

  Freeg shook her head.

  “I can’t sleep after that I am too scared. I don’t feel safe here.”

  She let out a nervous laugh.

  “First time in my own home and I nearly get killed. I think I’ll be more comfortable staying with guards tonight, come with me Sonnia please.”

  Turing around, Sonnia went upstairs smacking her staff on each step.

  “No, I'll stay here. The guards don’t like me and I for sure don’t like most of them or Chester. If I leave they will accuse me of something again. Then I’ll fight and it’s a whole cycle that repeats.”

  Freeg froze in the doorway peering out into the streets ahead of her.

  “I think on second thought, I’ll prefer your company after all. I rather not be alone.”

  Sonnia found a spot to rest in a spare bedroom with Freeg following behind choosing a pillow and the floor. Freeg seemed restless and spoke to Sonnia. Sonnia opened her eyes and groaned lightly but listened.

  “Me and my friend Alton used to have sleep overs all the time you know. He was protective over me. When I started to become bed ridden he would always visit me. I felt at peace. My parents hated him.”

  Freeg sighed to herself.

  “I was told he died from the plague but I owe my life to him. He found Marm for me. We used to play house together a lot. He was the father. I was the mother. Then Marm was our child. I miss him. He died early on to the plague. I wept and wept the night I found out.”

  Sonnia stayed silent looking at her hand. She closed her eyes. She remembered the faint taste of blackberries from Theorin, the foolish swordsman who always protected her. His fear of facial hair, his bushy chestnut hair, and this desire to be the strongest swordsman.

  “I knew someone like that. He was a good friend. He taught me a few things about fighting. My Theorin, I wasn’t allowed to love him. It went against her code. Something about paladins staying pure. It was a load of crap though. I at least got a kiss before it all happened.”

  Sonnia let out a light chuckle masking a tear going down her face. She rolled to her side and closed her eyes, tightening her grip on the blanket. Slowly drifting off to sleep. Yet a voice echoed in her head.

  The Paladin who she tried to hide away.

  “Theorin. Don’t say his name. You didn’t experience what I did. All of them, if you didn't exist I wouldn’t have separated from them. I could’ve been there with them. You made a golem go rampant and laugh at the people that got hurt. You couldn’t even heal them! I hope the city puts a stop to you.”

  She smiled innocently as the thoughts in her head surged. Under her breath she whispered lightly, careful not to bother Freeg.

  “If I had my way, we wouldn’t have lost himmmm. Then you could’ve kept sparring with him. I know how you loved his devotion to you. Did it make you feel special since you know. Our god didn’t love us or care to save you. Elarion pleasaeee bless me. Blah blah blah. Least you gave up that up.It’s like bad acting.”

  Waiting for a response she laid there. Only silence lingered as the Paladin voice retreated. Her smile dissolved into a sad frown

  “Serves you right. I wanted him too, you know. I only spoke to him once. But I watched all your talks through a cage. Why couldn’t you let yourself enjoy him and his stupid attempts at least once. He bought us gifts and you said you can’t love him. Pathetic.”

  She moved her hand across her face, wiping away a few more tears from her face before sleeping.

  In the bar the Paladin was next to an overturned table . She breathed heavily while Kaelith watched.

  “My lady, calm down. You’ll make a mess of your mind. Let me help you clean up.—“

  “Why.”

  Kaelith looked over tilting his head sideways as Sonnia continued.

  “You manipulated me. All your words made me squirm. You wanted me to use you and your staff. You made me lose my way. Laughed at me while I was miserable. Yet now you try to act kindly like we are friends. I hate you and you love seeing me miserable. You used me long ago. I…I remember it all Demon.”

  Kaelith sighed to himself and walked over, slowly picking up the table setting back.

  “I am what I am. I wanted you to use me so we can stay here together. That’s all. No ulterior motives my lady. I want us to talk more. We had a toxic relationship. Remember how we used eachother? It was nice for a while then you decided to hate me.”

  “I don’t remember anything demon. You took my memories away. You must have. You are trying to hide my past because it holds the answer to getting rid of you and her. I know it. I won’t give in. Being here made me realize there are much worse fates then death.”

  Kaelith shook his head and walked back to his counter. He stared at Sonnia watching her pace around in an annoyed state.

  “Yes, I’m the cause of all your problems. If it makes you happier I’ll be whatever you want my lady. Maybe one day I’ll let you remember the past when you are more cooperative. I can’t wait to see your face when it happens my lady.”