Aspen
When I took a glance into the backseat to check on Nyx, I saw that she was holding onto the oh-shit handle for dear life. Oh yeah, this is her first time being driven by Lux. I could only wipe away an non-existent tear in sympathy that she is discovering Lux's habit of driving like a heist getaway driver this way. I could have rigged the coin toss for who would get to drive, but I knew my twin was anxious about the trial tonight, so I figured letting him drive would help him release some of his pent-up stress.
Plus, he was actually driving safer than his usual speed and maneuvers. I did not acknowledge how tightly I was holding onto the door handle for stability as he made clean turns and changed lanes with expert ease. The streaking city lights across the windshield were causing me to experience motion sickness. To mitigate this, I closed my eyes and forced my body to relax. I had closed myself off so my own anxiety would not filter through any of my bonds. While I agreed this trial was needed, I did not agree with springing it on her.
We could ruin all her progress tonight if this trial causes her undue psychological distress. We don't know her full story, but I suspect her trauma is just as severe, if not more so, than what we've uncovered about our Nyxara's experiences. The occasional slip-ups she made during our sessions were quite telling. To make matters worse, she inherited Velintra flare-ups and traumatic body memories when she took over Nyxara's body.
Leaning my head against the window, I could feel the cool, sharp bite of fall through the glass. The closer we got to our destination, the closer Lux got to the actual speed limit. He is just as unsure about this as I am. Even Uncle Cor was second-guessing if we should do this trial a different way, but in the end, Azrail declared he would do this with or without us. He would not be moved from confronting her in a protected but neutral location.
~Same Day, 4 hours ago
* "No one should have to be interrogated in their own home. Home should be the one place in the world that she always feels safe. We failed her once in keeping our promise. I will not fail her again." Azrail's dead stare, as he met each of our eyes, was enough to shut Lux and me up. Uncle Cor, on the other hand, spoke up.
"Nyota, I know you want what is best for Nyx, but maybe we should do this at home with the whole family in attendance. It would show her that we all support and welcome her. She is stronger than ever before mentally, emotionally, and is improving physically. Springing this trial on her could cause her to lose trust in us. That isn't what you want, right? We still have enough time to shift the plan… We can—"
In a blink, Azrail was in Uncle Cor's personal space. They were nose to nose; they were that close. "Do not mistake why you were included in this, Cornelius. You are useful in your role as a hematologist. You are the best there is in the medical field. I needed you to test and verify what needed testing and verifying. Your role is done. You are not needed anymore." The shadows around Azrail unfolded into tendrils that moved in a hypnotic way as if tasting the air.
Lux and I froze, eyes immediately finding the floor interesting. Azrail's aura was unleashed in its terrifying glory and it was taking everything to withstand the pressure of it.
Azrail's calm facade had shattered. This was not our kind but eccentric father standing before us. This was the man they called Chaos Incarnate. He would not be denied his chosen course of action. No one but Nimra and maybe Nyx could change his mind at this point.
"I have kept you in the loop, dear brother-in-law, because despite my personal feelings about you, you genuinely care about Nyx. I appreciate and thank you for all you have done to help us reach this point. But do not assume I won't put you and anyone else I determine is a threat to my Little Queen down permanently."
A tendril licked Uncle Cor's face, making him wince as if burned. "Tasty. So tell me, do I need to put you down, Cornelius?" He sneered, patting Uncle Cor's face softly when he asked, "Do you think you know better than me about what is best for Nyx? Is the wise and upright Cornelius going to meddle in my affairs like he has done a time or two before?" The wave of regret and sadness I got from Uncle Cor when Azrail said this nearly knocked me over. What did Uncle Cor do to make Azrail this mad? I feared the answer because whatever it was, for over 30 years Azrail had nursed this grudge.
Uncle Cor's pain-filled eyes closed with tears dripping down his face. His head shook a slow no. "Good. I knew you would see things my way." Azrail's glowing gold eyes then swept over to where Lux and I stood. "My sons. Your father knows what he is doing. Trust me. Now I must go see your Nimra, then I will meet you all at Solace Veil. Don't disappoint me by not bringing Nyx." With a wave, he opened a Shadow Gate, walked in, then closed it behind him.
Uncle Cor immediately collapsed into a chair, spitting up blood. When Lux and I approached him alarmed, he waved us off. "It was my fault. Nyota and I have an agreement. I spoke out of turn. You two go get ready; Nyx should be ready to go soon anyway. I need to go treat myself, then I'll head over." Before we could get a word in, Uncle Cor was out the door. *
~ Present
With Lux's speed decrease, Nyx wasn't tensely holding onto the oh-shit handle. Out of the corner of my eye, I watched Líma offer Nyx a shot of whiskey. Why Líma had whiskey in her apron was a matter I would ask about later. I didn't want my sister to turn into an alcoholic. Nyx didn't even blink at the offering. She just downed the shot then gave the glass back to Líma.
Since we left, Nyx hadn't spoken. She met us in the garage smiling, but I guess she picked up that something was off about the situation. She immediately became closed off and a silent passenger. She watched the scenery go by. Her silence was making my anxiety worse. The shadows in the car made it hard to see if she was okay. When I turned in my seat to get a better look, I must admit that her glowing silver moon stare terrified me. It was so similar to Azrail's dead stare. I almost lost control of emotions but I locked them away. I could not afford to the emotional twin tonight. That was Lux's role. Nyx finally broke her silence when I could not maintain eye contact. "Where are we going, Aspen?" Her voice was light, but her gaze was intense.
Lux answered without looking away from the road. "Solace Veil." Nyx's brows lifted. "Oh? You are taking me to dinner? Will the rest of the family be joining us?" Lux squeezed the steering wheel then replied, "Maybe. Let's play things by ear." I felt and scented the way her scent shifted, subtle but immediate. Sandalwood and black tea base was familiar. The edge was not. Grain note rising sharply. Bruised-leaf astringency. Confusion, held tight. Líma's hand drifted closer to Nyx's, not touching, just hovering like an offer.
Nyx did not acknowledge the gesture. She looked at the back of Lux's head, then she turned her gaze back to me. We did not talk after that. Lux kept his focus on driving. I kept my focus on the rhythm of Nyx's breathing. Even when she was calm, flare-ups were still a possibility.
When we entered Solace Veil's underground garage, the security array recognized us instantly. The gate opened without a sound, and Lux drove directly to the owners' exclusive parking spaces. The air down here was warmer than outside, smelling faintly of scent-neutralizing spray. Once parked, Lux killed the engine. For a moment, no one moved. Nyx broke the standstill first, pushing open her door and stepping out with careful confidence. Her gaze tracked the shadows. The corners. The exits.
Líma followed, quiet as a blade. After getting out and locking the car, we headed towards the VIP entrance. Once inside, Lux did not lead us towards the main dining floor. Istead, he gestured toward the service corridor that led deeper into the building. Nyx's mouth curved faintly. "Why are we heading back here?" Lux paused, hand on the door handle, as if weighing how much honesty to offer. I'm the one who answered this time when Lux took too long to respond, "Privacy."
My response made Nyx slowly turn her focus upon me with narrowed eyes. "So this isn't just dinner." I did not lie. "No." She studied us both, then nodded once. "Lead the way. I'm beginning to get hungry." Her acceptance landed on my chest like a weight. Let her not feel like this was a betrayal of her trust later. Please let her understand our intentions.
We moved through the corridor, going past where the restaurant's public glamours ended, and Lux's high-class internal security began. Subtle runes etched into corners acted as silent sentries scanning everyone and everything. The walls hummed with warded intent. Lux opened what at first looked like an old wooden door, but when Nyx stepped inside the room, I knew she would immediately love it.
There was warm lighting. A round table. Comfortable armed chairs to sit in. To my surprise, Uncle Cor was already here. He didn't look like someone who was recovering from Azrail's soul attack. He rose with easy grace as we entered. Uncle Cor hugged each of us in greeting. "I'm glad you made it safely. Refreshments should be here soon. Hopefully, so will Nyota. He messaged that he would be here soon; he just needed to finish whatever he was doing."
Uncle Cor led Nyx to the table, seated her, and then poured her a glass of raspberry water. Once Nyx was settled, he took a seat on the opposite side of the table. I watched Uncle Cor fiddle with his wine glass. Lux and I both chose seats to the right of Nyx. I was directly beside her, with Lux between me and Uncle Cor.
When the servers entered with various platters and pitchers, Lux directed them to put everything on the side buffet table. After making sure we did not need anything else, they left. I hope Nyx didn't hear the lock being turned. That would make this situation even more awkward to explain. Where is Azrail? This whole thing was his idea, and he isn't even here! Without discussing it, Uncle Cor, Lux, and I all made different small plates for Nyx, then offered them to her.
When in doubt, treating a female like a distressed omega rarely is the wrong move. We waited for her to acknowledge our offerings. Nyx looked at the plates, then at us, confused. None of us considered that Nyx would not understand our actions. By the time I realized our goof, Líma had stepped forward to whisper in Nyx's ear.
Whatever Líma said to Nyx caused her to look at us intrigued. "Thank you for your care. I accept your good intentions. Please join me after making your own plates." Smiling now that Nyx had been taken care of, we bowed to her, then made our plates. We relaxed and chatted while we ate, which softened Nyx's scent back closer to her original scent.
We had just finished all the snacks—you snooze, you lose, Azrail—when Uncle Cor's demeanor shifted to serious. The atmosphere shifted. He had activated the privacy wards. A sound barrier. A sight barrier. An essence barrier. No one could spy on what we were about to discuss.
Nyx noticed. Her gaze flicked to the runes that must be visible to her sight. Looks like it was time to get down to business. Uncle Cor folded his hands, inhaled, and opened his mouth to speak. Before he could, our last participant arrived, somehow circumventing the wards. The shadows on the far wall rippled. Our focus immediately snapped tohis Shadow Gate.
He stepped out as if the darkness was merely a door. For him, it literally was. He wore a smug grin, obviously still in a great mood from whatever he was doing with…Nimra from the scent of him. He was literally covered in her scent and essence. He hadn't even tried to hide it. Tell us you just had a few rounds of sex with our mom and uncle's sister… without actually telling us why you were late. I rubbed my temples and recited medical formulas to keep the unwanted images out of my head. I was scarred enough by this man's shenanigans to last me the rest of my 500-year life.
"Don't start without me," he drawled as if we hadn't already been trying to delay starting for the past hour. When Uncle Cor turned and made eye contact with Azrail for just a heartbeat, Azrail's grin faltered. I watched the emotions that flickered through Azrail as he looked at Uncle Cor. Irritation. Affection. Something that looked a lot like grief. Then control slammed down over it all.
Azrail strolled over, dropping into the chair on the other side of Nyx, leaning back as if the situation were casual. It was not. While his arrival relieved some of the pressure, the atmosphere was still pretty tense. Nyx's scent tightened again, worried and sharp, like incense smoke pulled thin. Uncle Cor cleared his throat, bringing all our focus back to him. "Nyxara," he said steadily. "We want to talk to you about you tonight. It is time we settled some unanswered questions."