DAY 52-4: GRIPE

"Master!" Orian shouts, quaking like a deer caught in headlights.

Rhett stomps towards him, so fiercely the cards beneath him tremble. "This forbidden study isn't for your enjoyment you stupid wolf. Nor is it a place you should run to hide. After prolonging such a needless chase and wasting my time, I'm going to murder you!"

Squealing, Orian runs off, zigzagging through the aisles of bookshelves. "Please spare my life, Master!"

"Then get ready! This instant! You're heading to Edaps!"

"But if I go, I'll die!"

"You unsociable freak! Why do you think I brought you to my tower all those years ago? It's not so you could pass your days in hiding like a defenceless infant!"

"But people are scary!"

The creases between Leda's forehead deepen whilst observing this almost comical scene. Considering Rhett hasn't whipped out one of his trusty guns and started shooting at him yet, maybe she had the wrong idea about him being a malicious villain after all. Well, he hasn't tried riddling her with holes yet either so she should've expected he wasn't the barbarous tyrant his appearance gives off.

Nevertheless, he mentioned something about heading to Edaps. Is that correlated to why Orian has been on this wild goose chase, and why Rhett's been so infuriated?

While her brain spins to make sense of this situation, Rhett takes the moment to turn in her direction. His reaction is just as priceless as it had been when they first reunited. Fists clenched, he gapes, fumbling for words.

"You!" he shrieks. "How are you—"

He extends his palm before he can finish his sentence.

"Keys."

A grin peels back Leda's lips. He's so accustomed to it he can't even get angry.

Digging into the pocket of her dress, she retrieves them. They clank together as she plops them into his palm. "There you go, Toucan Nose. Did you miss me?"

He curses a foreign word.

"Aww, I missed you too."

His glower shifts to one more foreboding. It's enough to shake any rational individual to the bone. "Why are all my servants so useless? I have no time to pretend to be a guardian for every last human I bring into this realm."

"You're always thinking about yourself, aren't you?" Leda returns. "I'll have you know I'm angry as well. You aren't giving me any answers."

"Haven't I already told you the only answer you require henceforth is that I am your master? Servants do not ask their masters anything. They simply do as they are told. And you've disobeyed me twice now by leaving your cage without permission."

His disdain makes her scoff. "And when the hell did I agree to become your servant?"

"Is your kind incapable of remembering a simple promise? In our gamble, I wagered money while you willingly offered your body. And you lost. Therefore, your body is mine to control."

"Even if that is true—"

It is true, her mind quips. It happened.

"—we played a game of Russian roulette. I shot myself in the head and died. How am I alive before you now?"

"If you patiently waited in your cage, I would've come by to deliver a proper rundown of the situation. But due to your rambunctious behaviour, I have more on my plate to deal with." He fixes his focus on the redhead peeking out from around the corner. "Orian, take her back to the tower. And ready yourself for the journey."

His cheeks are stained in tears. He scrambles out into the open, extremities jittery. "Master—"

"I am not in the mood to listen to excuses. If you do not wish to be killed by my own hands, you shall commit to your role as my messenger and depart on the journey on my behalf. Am I clear?"

Far more than he was being chased by the knights or when he was in Leda's company, Orian's fear at this moment swallows him whole. His breathing is shallow, eyes wider than saucers. Rhett's domineering presence doesn't help.

Leda steps between them and outstretches a protective arm. It garners immediate looks of surprise from both parties. She doesn't know why she's taken a stand—whatever happens between these two strangers should be the least of her concern—but she can't help it.

She's grown up in horrible living conditions, constantly relearning the harsh truth of the world time and time again. That it's always the strong and arrogant who feed on the weak. Having been on the latter end of the spectrum her whole life, her sense of justice makes it impossible to ignore this situation.

"He's obviously scared," she says, glaring at Rhett. "Why are you forcing him to go on this... 'journey'?"

"That is of no concern to a human."

Her eyebrow twitches.

"You have fifty-one days starting tomorrow," Rhett finalizes.

Orian squeals. "Fifty-one?"

"A servant of mine should be able to complete this mission within that timeframe. Of course, if you wish for me to shorten it to a mere forty, that can be arranged."

"But, Master...! If I go alone, I may never come back. I could die!"

"Then die."

"M-master...!"

"I've made myself clear, stupid wolf. Even if you wanted to bring another with you, the only reasonable person would be Nia. But she has a family to tend to here in Meisyr. There is no other individual—"

"I'll go with him."

Ever so slowly, Orian turns to her.

Rhett's eyebrow twitches. "As I said, there is no other choice."

"There's a choice right here."

Yet again, Rhett ignores her.

Least to his wishes, Orian hastens to her side. "Miss Leda... will you really accompany me?"

She shrugs. "I'll take anything over being near stuffy Toucan Nose over there."

Rhett glowers. "Toucan..."

"Plus, I'm a little interested in these suits. Edaps, was it? I doubt I'll be any use, but can I come along?"

Orian brightens. His tail swishes giddily. "O-of course, Miss Leda! I'm not useful either so we should be fine."

"Let our useless selves head out then."

"Hold on," Rhett enunciates.

Leda pivots on her foot, gandering to address him. "It's too late all right. You lost your opportunity to have your fun with my naked body. I'm leaving."

"Watch your vulgar tongue!"

Her mouth twists sourly. "He called my tongue vulgar."

"Master," Orian interjects, "insulting Miss Leda like that is a bit childish..."

"Silence!"

"Y-y-yes!"

He groans. "If I knew you would be this much trouble, I wouldn't have wasted my breath rebuking you for running away twice today."

With the sun having set completely, oddly shaped butterflies resting within lanterns across the ceilings flutter their wings extravagantly, dousing the room in a pretty pale light.

A smirk tugs up the corners of Leda's lips. She drops her palms on her hips. "I think I acted how anyone would after surviving death itself only to wake up in a bizarre world. One with bird mayors and human-like wolves. Not to mention butterfly lightbulbs, a house of cards... Oh, and suit kingdoms. It's like I'm high or something."

Rhett scoffs, reclining against the nearest table with folded arms. "I should have left your corpse to rot in that alleyway."

"And yet you brought me here and used strange magic to nurse me back to life. Don't you feel stupid underestimating me now, Toucan Nose?"

"It is Rhett." He rolls his eyes. "Truly a folly being. You died miserably."

"On the first shot," she recalls, the memories rushing back to her like a gust of fresh air. "You know, a gentleman wouldn't usually take advantage of a frail girl to fulfill some dark agenda."

"Would a frail girl get drunk enough to sell her body for money?"

She scratches the back of her head. "Touché."

He continues, "At any rate, this 'dark agenda' of mine was to increase my assets. I don't possess much help, as you saw today, and the help I do have are all useless."

"I'm not seeing how plucking a stranger off the streets would be any more tantalizing."

"You're correct. I did not require you. However, this 'stranger' was the only one stupid enough to accept my wager."

Leda tapers her eyebrows at his condescending tone. She ponders for a moment. "So, considering I did die, is this the afterlife?"

"That isn't exactly correct. This 'afterlife' you mention would most likely refer to the third realm, the Rehte."

"Third realm?" She straightens her posture, eyes widening exponentially. "Wait. Are you seriously telling me..."

"I guess people of your kind refer to it as 'alternate dimensions.' Htrae, the human world in which you reside, our world, Annadia, and also the afterlife, or the world of the Rehte."

Leda's jaw hangs slack. This really is identical to a movie plot. Three different realms? Three alternate dimensions coexisting at the same time. Maybe she really is imagining this all...

"As much as I'd like to give you the complete rundown of everything you may need to know, I'm afraid I do not have the luxury to be giving such a lesson at this time." He pushes himself off the furniture. "Well, learning further information regarding Annadia is pointless, seeing as you will spend the remainder of your life working alongside Nia in this tower."

"What do you..."

"You were brought here to work in Orian's place while he left on his journey. Nothing more, nothing less." He adjusts the cuffs of his jacket. "I mentioned I wanted to increase my assets, correct? This is why. Therefore, you accompanying him is not an option."

Leda's lips meet.

"Outside of the Land of Cards is not safe for you," he continues. "Meisyr is secure because it is a land full of refugees from the other suits. Not to mention it's under my jurisdiction. But if you so try to enter the other kingdoms—"

"I didn't understand a single thing you said, Toucan Nose."

His jaw plummets. He sputters amidst his anger for a coherent retort—mind in evident disarray—only to finally yell, "It is Rhett!"

"Cool." Leda faces the silently watching redhead. "Let's go, Orian. You can explain what exactly this journey entails on the way."

"Wait!" Rhett seizes her shoulder. "You are not going, Human. Do you want to die?"

"Of course not."

"Then—"

"I don't want Orian to die either. You may be heartless, and enjoy making drunk strangers your servants in your free time, but I can't stand by and let someone as soft-hearted as him die because you don't care enough to give him company."

Awe swallows Orian's face, alongside a new swell of tears. "Miss Leda...!"

"You do not even know him," Rhett remarks.

"I don't, but... what I do know is that being with Orian beats being the servant of obnoxious poultry like you."

"M-master!" Orian, fortunately, intervenes before Rhett can end her life for the second time. "I believe Miss Leda will be fine. Even if she is human, they're a rarity. I doubt the other suits will find it in them to turn her away."

Rhett releases her and balls his fists. "That is not the reason I am against it."

"If it's another servant you want, just grab another unsuspecting one off the streets," Leda offers.

"Will you listen to me?" Rhett's shout jolts her to the core. Grounding his teeth, his beady eyes bore into hers. "A human loafing freely in Annadia is—it's unheard of!"

"That just makes me want to explore this world more." Leda smirks. "Face it, Toucan Nose. There's nothing you can say that'll quell my curiosity. I'm going."

Despite wanting to argue otherwise, Rhett resigns with a huff. His shoulders slump, and a look of defeat overtakes his previous anger. "There is no turning back from this."

Orian perks alongside Leda.

"Fifty-one days," he says. "That is as long I'll give you. You will depart Meisyr come morning."

"Meisyr, huh?" Leda repeats.

"As I've said, Meisyr is the city in which you currently reside." His straightforward answer comes as a shock. Leda and Orian are agape as Rhett continues, "Meisyr is the main port and neutral ground of all of Annadia, where both the Deck Tower and House of Cards are fixated. It isn't populated with much, but it is a place refugees can come to escape oppression, wars, or other hardship."

As the entire House of Cards is akin to a library—with thousands upon thousands of books to choose from—Rhett hasn't the slightest hesitation to amble over and pull books from the large arrangement of shelves.

"I'm sure the stupid wolf has already disclosed this, but Annadia consists of four major kingdoms. The first you will travel to is within the Land of Edaps." Rhett flutters through the pages of a book, extending it for her to see. Both pages are filled with a detailed map. Besides the soil encasing the place, the majority of the land is overcome with bodies of water. "I want you to meet with the royal family there and negotiate with them."

Leda reels her gaze from the pretty map. "The royal family?" she repeats dumbly.

But Rhett is already manoeuvring around the room, scooping more books before returning to her. Along with an intricately designed compass on top, he drops them into her arms. She nearly caves under their weight but manages to withhold a grip.

He tosses four fancy envelopes on top.

"I would like you to convince each kingdom you travel to to lend me their assistance. I've written everything in these envelopes, but I would prefer it if they also agree to send at least one member from each royal family here to Meisyr, thus the negotiation if all comes to naught. Although there may be some tension between the suits themselves, their connection with Meisyr is neutral. We've aided one another upon countless occasions. Mentioning my name, or handing them these, should be enough to garner their attention. If you are successful in convincing them, we may be able to stop the jinx."

"Jinx?"

Leda's confusion is boundless.

The discomfort that crosses Rhett and Orian's faces are clear as day. Nevertheless, they share an uncharacteristic look of conviction. Then to Leda's surprise, they reach for the buttons of their shirts. One by one, they undo them.

A gasp escapes her lips and she throws her hands over her eyes, scattering the books across the floor. "Wh—Why are you just stripping in front of—"

She pauses.

"Wait," she says, "this may not be so bad of a development... I should open my eyes."

"Miss Leda."

Orian's innocent call steers her to cautiously shift her fingers so there's a hole she can peek through. But what's waiting to greet her only manages to constrict her lungs for the second time.

"Wh-wh-what the heck?"

Black rune-like markings squeeze their shoulders all the way to their lower torsos. The most concentrated portion is where their hearts are located. Identical eerie red diamonds are imprinted and moving; pointy edges clattering up and down in a funky manner as if trying to eat at the skin.

Leda swallows her astonishment the best she can by biting on her lower lip. But it's fruitless. She can't comprehend it.

"Is... everyone like that here? That ain't normal."

Rhett sighs, doing up his buttons as Orian follows. "Your 'normal' is different from Annadia's definition. Regardless, this jinx isn't—if you must—normal."

"What... is it?" she has to ask.

Neither respond at first. Until, reluctantly, Orian does.

"In... fifty-two days..." His voice is feeble—quivering as he speaks the words, "everyone in Meisyr will die."

Leda's eyeballs bulge.

"That is why I keep warning this imbecile that we do not have time for his cowardice." Rhett brushes the declaration aside as if it's unworthy of astonishment. "And telling you to stop treating it as some happy-go-lucky adventure."

This entire time Leda hadn't tried attributing darkness to this fantastical world. But it exists. There's darkness in everything, even Annadia.

"Though we're healthy now, and this doesn't pose an immediate threat, life will move on. We're running out of time," Rhett continues. "My ability will prove meaningless if I also perish. Which is why if we can get the suits here, there may be hope to resolve this situation. Failure isn't an option, so treat it as such, Human."

Leda purses her mouth. "Why was that so pointed?"

"You deserve the extra warning."

She hates to admit it, but he's right. Orian is worrisome, but he's infinitely more serious than she'll ever be.

"Have I cleared up enough for you?" Rhett inquires with crossed arms.

"It was the best explanation I could've asked for, Toucan Nose," she reassures him. "Royalty, prophecies, doom, and a convenient otherworldly saviour... I hope you guys realize how cliché this entire situation already is."

"Cliché..." Rhett blankly repeats. He turns to Orian, heavy brows knitted together. "What is 'cliché'? Is it edible?"

Orian smiles. "It sounds delicious."

Incredulous, Leda can't help but face-palm. Don't tell her they're back to this again. Orian already gave her a fill of his cluelessness when they first arrived at this card building.

"I've been exposed to this kind of stuff in fantasy books or movies," she tries again in simpler terms—if it can even be referred to as 'simpler.' "But it isn't supposed to exist in real life. This kind of situation is extremely dream-like."

Rhett and Orian are puzzled once more. They stare at her like she's sprouted another head.

She doesn't have to blink to know what'll happen next.

"What is a 'dream'? Is it edible?"

"It sounds delicious," Orian confesses.

"No, you cannot eat a 'dream!'" She scowls and points at her head. "They're stimulated from the brain, you know—apart of the central nervous system; the powerhouse of your body?"

No ounce of recognition flashes upon their faces.

"What is a 'brain'?" Orian questions this time. "Is it—"

Leda yanks at her hair. "Ah, forget it!"

They're lost causes. Maybe she really isn't as fortunate as she originally deemed.

"More importantly, stupid wolf," Rhett says, "lead her to the Deck Tower and prepare yourselves."

Orian who kneels to pick up the items Leda's dropped, nods. "Yes, Master."

Leda hurriedly falls beside him and helps. Once they have them all in check, they rise to their feet.

Rhett's gaze is smouldering. "If anything's still unclear, you may ask Orian questions along your journey. I would suggest reading what I've provided as it will be able to further enlighten you about this world, but Orian's already memorized them. Simply asking him what's unclear should be enough. It is up to you if you'd also like to bring them along, though."

She sneaks a peek Orian's way.

   He innocently smiles. "I also recommend them, Miss Leda! They're extremely educational!"

And indecipherable.

She's unsure if she should tell him that though. Not while he stares at her with the eyes of a newfound companion.

She runs the pad of her fingers across the cards. Cold, rough, and a scent she can easily tire of. But it's new. Gone is the reality she'd repeatedly tried to escape from by drowning herself in alcohol and other terrible alternatives. Gone is the Leda Jenson, crawling at the bottom; grovelling to stay alive.

Her grin expands as she exhales loudly. "Suits or whatever, I'll see this through."

Both males don't move an inch. They're watching her as if she's some kind of extinct animal. And maybe in this dream-esque world, she is. Even still, she'll enjoy herself thoroughly before she wakes in the real world, to the scent of cigarettes and alcohol, and the rummaging of garbage bins, begging others for scraps, or stealing to survive.

"You only have fifty-one days, beginning tomorrow," Rhett brusquely reminds the two of them. "Everyone in Meisyr is counting on you."