"And that is the end of our song and dance! We do hope you enjoyed, and come back tomorrow for the last show of our stay!" 

All at once the summoned weapons vanished, and the fire was put out. With a final bow and a snap of fingers, the troupe disappeared. The audience stood stone still for several minutes afterwards, until it was confirmed to be safe to move. Ever hesitant in their movement.

~~~~~~~

Upon arriving back home, Nyx was seen sleeping in the main room. He was getting weaker already. Three days, every seven months, that's all the time the troupe had to get to know and spend time with him. Yet even with that limited time, they had grown attached to the uncorrupted form of their boss. 

Cinis walked over to him, grabbing a blanket to put over Nyx. Before sitting next to him with a book. A groggy "thanks" could be heard from the sleepy monster, before curling up further and drifting back to sleep. Occisor laying with the two, already drained from leading the show.

From the kitchen a low, rough voice calls to the two in the main room. "Making curry. . . fer dinner. Will boss. . . be back by then? Or do I gotta save his fer later again."

"You know the boss, won't be back till we've got everything done for the day. Put it in a container or something, he always eats it" Occisor replied from his new spot across Cinis' lap, earning him a frustrated grumble from the monster. He simply smirked in return.

Famis, already pulling ingredients out of the fridge, replied "Ah, I'll do that. Be done in. . .  an hour." 

~~~~~~~
"Nyx, wake up. Food's ready." Cinis was nudging the sleeping skeleton awake. He had curled up onto Cinis' lap as he slept.

"Wha-" Nyx paused a moment to wake himself up a bit more. "O-ok, mind helping me up?" 

Without saying a word, Cinis grabbed his hand. Pulling him up till he was capable of walking to the dining room. 

Occisor was already there, sitting at the table as Famis served the plates of the curry. It smelled amazing, spices twisting together into an aroma that wafted about the room. Nothing could beat Famis' cooking, not with how carefully he prepared each dish. 

The other two skeletons came up to the table just as Famis finished serving the last plate.  Occisor began eating soon after the plate was placed in front of him, giving a quick thanks before digging in. A wide grin very apparent on his face.

"It looks good, thank you Famis," Nyx said softly, before beginning to eat as well. 

The four ate silently for a while, just enjoying the taste of the curry. It was peaceful, homely almost. Yet Nyx's flickering eyelights reminded them why they were here. Not just to put on grand shows for the monsters they visited. But to break them, and take all they have in just three short days. Still it was worth it for the troupe, the family found in their boss and each other. 

Cinis looked up from his food for a moment, "What kind of curry is this, don't think you've made it before."

"It's butter chicken. Looked fun to make. . . thought I should try it." Famis replied slowly, taking a bite of his rice. 

Looking down at his plate again, then back up at Famis, Cinis replied " You should make it again sometime, we probably have the ingredients back at the manor."

With a hum and a slow nod, Famis finished his curry, taking it to the kitchen to be washed. Cinis followed soon after, offering to do the dishes in return for making dinner. A few minutes later, Occisor came up with the last two plates.

He came up just behind Cinis, dropping the plates into the sink. Water splashing into Cinis's face. Occisor's sockets widening in amusement.

"Thank you buddy!" He taunted in a sing-song voice.

Cinis only growled back at him, using one hand to wipe the water out of his eyes. The other to swing and try to backhand Occisor. Unfortunately, the infuriating skeleton was already gone. His snickers heard from the living room. With an agitated groan, Cinis got back to the dishes, deciding it's not worth it to go after him at the moment. 

Cleaning was done around an hour and a half later, not without a fair share of bickering between Cinis and Occisor. The void Eyed skeleton coming back and finding new ways to annoy the other. Such as coating newly washed dishes in soap, and hiding them across the kitchen. Both acted much like the siblings, it would be impossible to claim they aren't. Needless to say, it extended the time it took to clean by a lot. 

Famis and Nyx however, were able to watch the two 'not' brothers bicker with amusement. Even if the two were the same age, it was like watching the oldest and middle child interact. Erebus had brought together quite the odd family.

With two hours left before the small troupe had to head out for the night, they went to the living room to go relax. Most grabbing a book, though Famis had elected to take a nap till it was time to go. Once again peaceful quiet washed upon the skeletons. 

~~~~~~~

"Famis, wake up. It's time to go." Cinis shook the red eyed skeleton awake.

Famis rubbed his sockets, "Mmm. . . already? Don't wanna, too tired" he slurred the words out, yawning. 

"Maybe so, but we need to go. Occisor is waiting for us already."

"Fine, just. . . give me a moment" Famis got up to grab a pillow from his room, and place it underneath Nyx's head. Who had fallen asleep on him earlier. "Ready"

Cinis nodded, and told Nyx goodnight before heading outside. Famis following suit. Their stage in the town center is where they were to meet Erebus, before they spread out for the night. 

~~~~~~~

Erebus was standing in the center of the stage, playing a haunted tune on violin. It's sound echoing through the town. He had made certain all the monsters were asleep, his influence over nightmares and sleep making this process much simpler. With the town resting for the night, Erebus was to spread nightmares to all its inhabitants. The music that he played helped him to spread these night terrors. As the sound traveled to many more at a time than he could do alone, the melody infused with his magic.

Soon the troupe walked up to the stage, before climbing on with Erebus. He took a moment to transfer the violin to his tendrils, before meeting with his troupe. 

"I'm assuming you know what you're doing tonight?"

"Cinis and I are taking monsters to you to be sent to your maze. Famis is to be killing off the farmland, correct?" 

Erebus sighed, "That is correct, Famis this is for you." He handed said skeleton a bottle filled with an indigo liquid. "Remember, you don't need to cover everything, spray it liberally and it will still work. You will be able to cover more ground that way."

"Course, will get it done before mornin'." Famis took the bottle and began to walk off. "See ya tomorrow" with that, he was off.

"Well then, Occisor and I should be off as well. Play loud boss, we will be listening."

At that both Cinis and Occisor jumped off the stage. Already bickering over who would get a monster to Erebus first. 

~~~~~~~
In the dead of night, music from the god of nightmares sung through the darkness. Following the rhythm, two skirted about from house to house. Monsters pulled from their ankles, stolen from their fitful sleep to be taken to the king of the night. Thrown into the maze in which they cannot escape, where time seems to speed and slow in a disorienting downward spiral.

The ones taken were jolted awake, completely aware of what was occurring. How helpless they were to stop it. Wide awake they shouted, screamed as they were carried on the shoulders of either Cinis or Occisor. But nobody came. After all how could they, everyone was in too deep a haunting sleep to even hear the terrified yells of the kidnapped monsters. Too far into slumber to notice those trying to claw their way out of the portal taking them to the white timeless maze.

At the edge of the stage, Occisor and Cinis met up once again.

"Hah! Thats five, and what do you got?" The void eyed skeleton taunted.

"Four, but I still got the first one to boss. So who really won here, cause there is still time before its time to go" Cinis snapped back with a challenging smirk.

Occisor seemed to buzz with energy at the reply, bouncing on the balls of his feet "oh you're on!" He laughed with one last remark before running off " you don't stand a chance this time."

His red and blue eyelights burning brightly, Cinis yelled back one last time "you want a bet! You're gonna wish you had the skill I have" with that, he too was running to the next house. Laughing in the night with the music.

Across the fields another could be seen. Spraying a mist of indigo liquid into the farm land. Plants wilting soon after the liquid hits their surrounding area. The soil drying, becoming dust. Only the bright red eyelight of the figure causing was visible. Sluggishly moving about, the mist lingering in the air with them. 

"Next, gotta go ta hotlands next don't I. Lovely." Famis was talking to himself, to give him something else to do. As the task at hand was slow, repetitive.

"Ah, should see if there's any caladium growing. . . would look nice in the garden. Could be interesting rocks there too."

With that, Famis began walking to hotland. Humming an old tune as he did so.  Spraying his odd solution where he walked, the plants curling and browning almost in a trail as he went on.

Erebus' song reached even to Famis as he walked, the high sound of his violin echoing in the mountains caverns. By now three were being played, each one singing a different part of the music. It sped up, becoming an intense beautiful harmony. 

Inside the maze he watched over and controlled, shouting could be heard. Curses to him and whatever possessed him to do this. 

"Oh nothing had possessed me my dear maze goers. This is all me, and nothing can be done to stop it. You're stuck till I say you can leave. Each and every one of you." Erebus said into the maze, sadistic glee dripping in his words. 

He could hear more cries, screams to be let go. Hysterically, he laughed in return. There was nothing more that needed to be said. The music sped up once again, becoming a manic symphony.

~~~~~~~
Through the night, Cinis and Occisor came across each other quite a few times. On each occasion, shouting the number of people they had taken it like it was like a game. Perhaps for them it was, a game of their grim doings. The two managed to be consistently even in their numbers, both frustrating them and encouraging them to go faster. 

Famis had completed half of hotlands, strolling around near the streams of lava. Where most residents of hotland grow their crops. The mist still lingered around him like a veil. He had found a few patches of caladium, uprooting them carefully and taking them around with him to later be put into the manor's garden. In his pockets were a collection of oil stained rocks, which had a rainbow sheen to them. Perfect for his collection. 

With Erebus, his playing has become less frenzied. Starting to become more somber. It was a gradual change, correlating with the feelings experienced in the nightmares he produced. Going from blind panic and distress, to fearful defeat too tired to resist anymore. A sinking feeling of pain enveloping the sleeping monsters. 

The maze was no better, time seemingly slowing. Each movement to escape feeling as if gravity doubled on them. There really was no escape until Erebus allowed it. 

Still the music continued to slow. Signalling it was time to turn in for the night. It had been around four hours, and the troupe had also slowed down. Everyone met back up at the stage to check in on one another.

~~~~~~~
"53! I got, "Occisor took a moment to breathe, having just run back here. "I got 53. Beat that, fucker."

"Oh damn, that's really good. Especially considering I got 56." A grin began to spread across Cinis' skull. "Beat that, fucker" the last words were repeated slowly, mocking Occisor.

Occisor simply threw his hands up in defeat, walking around a bit before stating he's headed home. Cinis followed soon after, likely to continue jeering at him.

"I think we should leave too, get some rest ya know?" Famis was starting to walk back as well, gesturing for Erebus to follow.

"That sounds good," Then Erebus, too followed the rest of the troupe.

With that, they went home to rest the last of the night away.