012: Pure Again Daylight, Chapter 9

[beautifultragedy]

Fandom: Breath of Fire
Story: Pure Again
Summary: Very Bad Things happen when rogue demigods try to reverse time.
Warning: references to sexual abuse

From the Eyes of the Father

 When Garr returned home that night, his face was ashen. When I started explaining what I'd discovered earlier that day, what little color was left in his face drained, leaving him looking like a scepter. I was frightened for a few moments- it looked as if he might pass out. He didn't, though, instead informing me in completely dead and emotionless voice that if I wanted him out of the house, I'd have to force him. He wouldn't leave at my request.

 I demanded. It was my household- no one told me how to run it!

 I threatened. I could pull Garr from the skating competition so fast his head would spin.

 I begged. He was my oldest son, and I was terrified of seeing him badly hurt, or, Ladon forbid, killed, by whatever pranks Byron would think of next.

 He won the argument in the end, pointing out that I could force him from the house, but I couldn't remove him from school without Nina's permission, as well. Even if I was right and Nina'd gladly sign the forms, if it kept Byron away from him, what was to stop Byron from seeking him out in other places? Garr wasn't going to give up the sparse social life he had, and Nina wasn't going to agree to a guard at her home, or even a bodyguard for Garr- even guards needed sleep. What was to stop Byron from harming him then?

 Besides... why such the fuss? It wasn't like Garr was important or anything...

 I wanted to slap him when he said that. Garr could always very easily annoy me, but he rarely angered me, and he was honestly puzzled when he realized just how upset that comment made me. He wasn't important, eh? Perhaps when he had children, and one of their lives were in danger- or perceived danger, I amended when he started to protest- he'd better understand where I was standing in the situation.

 Of course, that's not what angered me. That saddened me. That he didn't think he meant enough to me to try to protect him! But what angered me was the realization of just how well Nina and I had hidden Garr's true status from him. The blood Prince of two nations, and he hadn't a clue just how important he was. If I let my imagination go, I might've been able to assume that Byron did know, and thus his actions were akin to attempted regicide, possibly even treason, if it was stretched. But Byron didn’t know.

 With thoughts such as these coming to me unbidden, just by Garr's simple statement that he "wasn't important or anything," I conceded the argument. He was taking it to a ridiculous level, and while I didn’t truly think Byron meant him harm, this showed just how much he wanted to stay. Garr threw his arms around me and apologized for being a burden, then fled before I could yell at him for that statement, too. Great. Now my son thought he was a burden.

 Great.

 And for some reason, my self-esteem was nearing an all-time low.

 I sighed and shook my head, trying to clear it. Then I headed upstairs to bed.

 ~*~

 I was alone.

 I'd been in that place before. I couldn't place it... Technology, much more advanced than what we had in Wyndia, lie all around in ruins. The skeletal remains of both humans and homes edged the road, and the overpowering stench of death assailed me. I choked, fighting back the desperate need to vomit, and stumbled on.

 Finally I stopped; I couldn't go on. What had happened to this place?

 I felt a hand rest lightly on my shoulder, and I turned sharply to face the owner. Relief flooded me, and I remembered- Caer Xhan... Myria's City. I was here with Nina and Rei... Although now I was doubting my wisdom in bringing Nina. I didn't think she understood just how much I loved her, that I'd resolved to win her after all this was over- if we won. Myria was a Goddess. I dreaded the thought of Nina being hurt by her... That, and Momo knew more about machines than the three of us did combined.

 "How much farther, do you think?" I asked my companions softly. They returned my gaze grimly.

 "I don't know, Ryu," Rei replied. "I don't think we'll get there in time... they must have killed him by now..."

 I blinked and frowned; what was he talking about? We were on a quest to defeat Myria, a task bestowed upon us by the Dragon God Ladon himself...

 "Ryu," Nina said, her voice trembling. "I know, but... lie to me... tell me our son is still alive... that you know he's still alive..."

 Our... son?

 Something to my side stirred, and I whirled, tense. My surroundings were suddenly dark, and I was suddenly lying on something very soft, covered by something very warm. "Shh," I heard a familiar female voice soothe, "it's just me, love. Go back to sleep."

 A dream... of course it was a dream... I sighed and turned over, flinging an arm across my wife's waist. She snuggled against me, kissing me lightly on the lips.

 I dreamed again.

 Thomas was in Garr’s room, several hours after I distinctly remember telling him to go home and seeing to it that he left.

 I blinked and gasped, quickly pulling my head back away from the door, and out of their line of sight. I could already tell that my cheeks were burning, and I was blushing very hard. I didn't need to see that.

 Well, I needed to see Garr slash his wrist. That was important- I had no idea my son had become so depressed and displeased that he needed to-... But Thomas was in the room. He yelled when he saw Garr's intention, and lunged for him, but Garr'd already dragged the razor ring across his arm. He pulled his hand back to strike himself again, but Thomas caught his wrist and held it fast. "NO."

 "Let go of me, you insensitive-"

 Garr didn't finish his sentence, because Thomas'd pressed his mouth against Garr's. Thom's free hand sought out Garr's injured one, and held the wound against his chest firmly, trying to staunch the bleeding.

 Garr'd frozen, and stared at his friend. That's when I pulled away from the room. A moment later, I heard Thomas speak Garr's name, softly and inquiring, and Garr burst into sudden hysterical tears.

 I turned and walked away. Neither of them had seen me. Perhaps it was for the better that way. Garr'd never get over it if he knew I'd seen him kiss another boy. Thomas was very open that he was gay, but what that kiss implied was a bit of a shock. I wasn’t sure I was comfortable, but solely because of their age difference. That was quite irrelevant and something to be dealt with after I figured out why Garr would hurt himself so... I began concocting a plan that would force him to expose his wrists to me, so I could confront him with it and he wouldn't know I'd been eavesdropping. I could make up a bogus story about a vaccine, or something...

 A baby screamed. The woman laying beside me cursed like a sailor and hauled herself out of bed. "Isn't that child old enough to sleep through the night yet?" she muttered.

 "No," I responded sleepily. "Garr didn't until he was almost two."

 "Dear Ladon, help me.." Then she chuckled as she pulled on her robe. "Don't tell Garr that Janus was only seven months when he first slept through the night..."

 "Ah. He'll never live something like that down. Already a late bloomer..." I mumbled, and turned over and attempted to bury my face in my pillow.

 Alex and Garr stood together, facing someone. I couldn't tell who it was; I felt paralyzed. I couldn't interfere.

 "Will you kill me like you killed my brother?" Alex asked softly, calmly.

 "I didn't kill him," the person I couldn't see responded in a whisper. "Garr did."

 Alex turned to look at Garr, and his eyes widened in fear. "Garr... you're... bleeding..."

 My son fell; Alex eased him to the ground. A thin line of red dripped down, getting in his hair and spilling on the ground. My heart twisted painfully- the blood was coming from his ear. I knew what that much blood meant. Head injury, most likely fatal...

 Alex opened his mouth and screamed at the top of his voice. "Thomas!!!!!!!!!!!"

 My eyes snapped open. The voice had been Garr's. Not again, I moaned inwardly as I lurched out of bed.

 I burst into his room, and was quite relieved to see him sitting up, and crying instead of gasping for breath. I went to sit on the edge of his bed and pulled him into my arms, rocking and hushing him, stroking his hair. He hadn't woken the entire household this time, just me. I glanced at the timepiece on his wall- two in the morning.

 "You have school tomorrow," I said softly once his sobbing was reduced to sniffles and the occasional hiccup. "Do you want me to cast Sleep on you, so you'll stay asleep?"

 Garr shook his head groggily. "No," he slurred. "It always makes me too tired." He yawned and sighed. "Weren't they supposed to stop?" he whispered, slipping back into sleep.

 I made a guess as to what he meant. "You'll still have nightmares for a while," I told him, even though I doubted he could hear or understand me anymore. "The medicine needs to cycle out of your blood. Give it a week," I said, easing him back down on his pillow. I leaned forward and kissed him on the forehead. "I love you."

 "Love you," he repeated, his fingers entwined with mine briefly. Then he slept.

 I sighed and went back to my own room. I wished he'd tell me what he dreamed of when he woke up screaming. I wished he'd tell me a lot of things. Why he so staunchly refused to leave the house, when he was so unhappy here. Why Alex had been acting so protective of him. Why he hated Demeter with such a passion.

 But he was a fifteen-year-old boy. I would have an easier time getting Nina to call a truce with my current wife than I would in getting Garr to tell me anything he didn't want me to know.

 As I climbed back into bed, Demeter stirred and whimpered. "Not right," she whispered. "He's done nothing wrong..."

 I brushed a hand over her cheek to calm her. I didn't need her having violent nightmares as well. She quieted.

 I sighed and lay down, closing my eyes. When sleep finally came to me again, my dreams were thankfully unremarkable.

 ~*~

 I looked up from my book, hearing the knock on the door. Garr and Janus were in school, Demi was at work, and Sara certainly couldn't have just knocked on the door- what the hell could Byron want? "It's open," I called, equally curious and irritated. I was still quite angry with him.

 Byron opened the door and stepped in the room, keeping his eyes on the ground. He also held a package behind his back. I could see that he was blushing furiously. "I'm sorry," he muttered.

 I tilted my head slightly. "For what?"

 He sighed. "I didn't know that I was actually hurting Garr." I frowned; I'd told no one but Garr my suspicions, and Garr certainly wouldn't have told his uncle-in-law. Byron continued, "It was an aphrodisiac. I thought it'd be, well, funny. I'm guessing he was probably allergic to it." I nodded slowly, making a mental note to myself to test the leftover substance for sexual stimulants. "I'd already put it in the vitamins, and there was nothing I could have done to remove it-"

 "I know," I said softly. "You did something extremely dangerous. You could have killed him, Bryon."

 "I know," he answered miserably.

 I suddenly felt bad- Byron was clearly remorseful, and here I was berating him still. I resisted to urge to really rake him over the coals, and instead forced a grin. "Besides, Byron, the boy's fifteen. I don't think he needs an aphrodisiac. I'm sure he's horny enough all on his own."

 Byron's face broke into a relieved expression. "He is. You should see the way he's staring at Sorrow all during ACM." He rolled his eyes and shook his head. "And what's more, he denies even remotely liking her."

 I chuckled, having my own experience with Garr's teenage pride. Then I took a serious tone again. "Do you mind me asking why you're apologizing?"

 Byron seemed startled, then very desperate. "Uh... Demeter told me that you were trying to get him to leave," he said quickly, "and Demeter asked me how I felt about it. I don't want him to go. He's fun to be around sometimes. A good deal more fun than Alex." He made a face as he said that; his sentiment surprised me. Even though Byron and Thomas never got along, until Thomas’ death, he counted Alex as his best friend, and vice versa. Why the change of heart?

 It was another teenage mystery I decided that I’d probably never get to the bottom of. Instead, I needed to deal with Byron’s actions right now. I marked my place in my book and set it down, setting my young brother-in-law with a blank look. "You also realize that you're apologizing to the wrong person," I said pointedly. "You didn't hurt me, you hurt Garr." That's not true, I reproached myself mentally. Byron knows how close I am with Garr. He hurt me plenty.

 Bryon looked at his feet. "I... was hoping you'd give him something as a peace offering, if you would..."

 Byron took a deep breath and handed me the package he was carrying behind his back. "It's those skates he's constantly drooling over," he muttered. I blinked in surprise and tilted my head slightly. Where'd he get the money to buy them? They were expensive, and he didn't have a job! "Fucking gay..." he was whining. ”He'd better win that competition. I'll never let him get over it if he doesn't."

 The flash of irritation at the use of a slur was offset by the surprise that he’d do something like this. I peeked in the box; yes, those skates were in there, certainly. When did Byron grow enough empathy to do something like this? "I'll make sure he knows that you're the one who got them, Byron."

 "Don't." He made eye contact with me for the first time during that conversation. "He might refuse to wear them if he knows."

 After a moment of unsettled silence, Byron left. I opened the box fully and looked down at the skates. Byron's last statement actually mightn't be that far off the mark. It would make sense. So why did I feel so chilled by it?

 ~*~

 Life seemed to be trying to return to normal. Within a week, Garr's nightmares had ceased- or if they hadn't, they were much less real and terrifying to him. Sara was still the fussiest baby I'd ever encountered, Garr could still calm her with a look or touch, and I still envied him that fact. My desperation to get Garr away from Byron faded. Janus still got in trouble for daydreaming in class. Queen Serra still saw me every week, either to request an odd report, or to complain of some ailment that she very highly exaggerated. She swore up and down that she was dying if I didn't see her every day, practically.

 Garr started spending a lot more time over at Nina's. She had the pond in her back yard, and that's where he liked to practice skating. That was usually his own time with his mother, but I was invited to watch him practice too, once. Garr'd told me that he cleared the issue with Nina, but I could tell when I got there that he hadn't, both from her own surprised expression when she saw me, and Garr's impish grin.

 While Garr sat by the fireplace, pulling his skates on and lacing and re-lacing them until they felt "right," Nina and I appraised each other like rival wolves. Finally her face broke out in a grin and she cursed, a rare event that almost never happened, even while we were just friends on an adventure with destiny. I chuckled, and then we were hugging, rather closely. I felt a small twinge of regret. It'd been almost five years since we'd touched even accidentally, and almost two since we'd even seen each other. I hadn't realized how much I really did miss her.

 We talked and laughed while Garr twirled and jumped on the ice, warming up. She hadn't changed much since we were kids just a little older than Garr. She was still the most innocently bossy person I knew, still insistent on making her own life, as she had been when her parents tried to forbid her from accompanying me to Caer Xhan- although at that point in the adventure, we hadn't realized that was where we would end up.

 Of course, the subject of how vehemently her parents hated me came up, and I asked her if she should have possibly listened to them. She laughed merrily. I didn't need to hear her answer, then, as I already knew what it was- no. I thanked Garr mentally for doing this; it was a relief to finally be able to talk to my first wife, to know that there were no regrets, no resentment between us. Just fond memories and friendly love.

 Garr pulled off a jump that I assumed he had trouble with, because Nina turned from me suddenly and started cheering and clapping wildly. Garr spun to face us and bowed over-extravagantly, and I whistled. He laughed and went back to his skating. Beaming proud parents both, Nina and I looked at each other.

 And I instantly questioned my comfort about her. I'd caught her blue eyes just once before we came outside, and at that point, the expression in them had been one of suspicion, mistrust. Now I saw a depth of love that frightened me. Friendly love indeed, I thought to myself. I couldn't throw proverbial stones at her for that. I was the one who assumed the only feeling was friendly.

 Nina suddenly frowned and looked away to stare at her gloved hands. "How're Janus and Sara?" she asked abruptly. I blinked.

 "Well... they're fine. Janus is doing okay in school- hell of a lot better than Garr is- although he can't stay focused on one thing... And, well, Sara's a baby." I grinned at her. "They both take after Garr, I think he's a bad influence on them. I've never met three more temperamental children in my life."

 "They take after you, you mean," she laughed, punching me in the arm. "I told you that Garr got his crankiness from you." 

I grinned sheepishly. "No. Garr takes after you, and his inheritance of your temperament is rubbing off on them."

 "Whatever."

 "See! See, right there!" I exclaimed as Nina laughed. "Garr's always saying that when he's done talking about an issue! He takes after you!" Then I joined her in laughing when she wiped her eyes and muttered, "You're such a weirdo, Ryu."

 Garr called to us, skating right up to the edge of the pond. Nina cringed. "Not so close, honey!" she exclaimed. "The ice is weaker on the edges."

 "It's also shallower," he rebuffed. "I'm fine here. Do me a favor?"

 "What's it?" I asked, noticing now, with the added height of his skates, that he was growing again. That was odd; teen boys as old as he usually didn't go through growth spurts. But then again, being just barely five feet tall at thirteen was odd, too. I made a mental note to measure him when he had his next physical, in the spring.

 "I want to show you a jump I choreographed for the competition," he was saying. "Can you tell me how it looks?"

 "Biased opinions!" Nina sang sweetly. He stuck his tongue out at her.

 "I'll tell you."

 Nina and I looked back when we heard the other voice; Garr's face had instantly gone blank. "Byron," Nina said dryly. "What a nice surprise."

 "Indeed," Garr said softly from the ice. I simply raised an eyebrow at him.

 Bryon shrugged. "What? I just want to see Garr skate, that's all." He grinned crookedly. "You can't tell me that you were going to make me wait until the competition to see your new skates?" His eyes trailed down and he frowned when he saw that Garr was wearing his old ones. He looked back at Garr inquisitively.

 Garr shrugged. "Yes, I am. Mom and Dad have to wait, too," he added apologetically. "I don't want to get them scuffed up at all."

 "Don't you want to break them in, though?" Byron pressed. Garr shook his head.

 "No. Virgin skates are good luck."

 The older teen chuckled. "I'd never heard of that. I'll keep it in mind." He grinned. "So. Can we see your jump, or are you going to just stand there until the ice melts?"

 Garr grunted, and started circling the ice to gain speed. Once he judged he was going fast enough, he spun into what looked like it was going to be a simple, skilless jump, one taught to raw beginners; but then, immediately before he pushed to make the jump, he switched his rotation. It was a simple jump, but the moment his feet touched the ice again, he dove into a cartwheel that melted into a backflip, and finished with one of the most complicated traditional jumps that Garr'd learned so far.

 None of us applauded. We just stared, open-mouthed, as Garr spun down his speed, coming to a stop where he'd been before. How the hell did he do that? That was... impressive. The only word to describe it didn't do the jump justice at all. I was astounded.

 Then Byron started clapping, slowly and deliberately. "Oh, well done, nephew," he said, an unidentifiable edge in his voice. "I'm almost afraid for your fellow competitors. They don't stand a chance if you pull that off during your routine." Then he turned and walked away.

 I didn't like the emphasis he'd put on the word if, and by Nina's expression, she hadn't, either. I turned to see if I could read what Garr thought of it.

 He was shaking, his hands clenching and unclenching in fists, and his mouth was drawn in a grim line.

 I sighed and stood, dusting the snow off my backside. "It's getting chilly out," I observed. "Let's go inside."

 ~*~

 Garr'd asked to stay at Nina's that night, and I agreed. I suddenly felt wary of Byron again.

 I went right upstairs when I got home, tore out my notepad, and began writing furiously. I didn't even stop to sit at the desk.

 Momo,

 What is this stuff?

 Sorry, can't be more formal/give more explanation. Urgent.

 Find a way to contact me w/o a carrier.

 --Ryu

 I grabbed an envelope and stuffed my abrupt letter inside, then went to the drawer I always kept locked, and opened it. The stuff I'd gotten out of the vitamins was still there, in the same condition I'd left it. This was ridiculous. Byron told me what it was. There was no reason for me to feel so urgent about it now.

 But I did. Sighing, I put the bag in the envelope, chanting a spell that would keep it sealed until Momo undid the spell. Then I sealed the envelope, and chanted a spell over the whole thing to protect it from danger and the prying eyes of whoever carried the thing to Dragnier.

 I grinned to myself. How long had it been since my people had heard from me last? A decade? To be sure, the elders, and my Grandfather, whom last I heard was still King, would be all over it like moths to a flame, analyzing my handwriting, hypothesizing on my abruptness and apology of it, and especially picking on my abbreviation of the word "without." And when Momo got the test run, then they'd start cooking up all kinds of delicacies and spinning all colors of yarns, jumping to conclusions as to why I had such a substance in my possession, how I got it, why I didn't know what it was, why I couldn't test it myself... I muttered an apology to her and Rei out loud. They wouldn't be let alone for weeks after Momo got this.

 Resolutely, I took the thing downstairs and called one of the only carriers I trusted not to ask questions.

 "The mighty Dragon calls on the lowly human!" I heard Circe drawl through the telephone in a grating voice the moment she picked up. "What's Ryu want, eh?"

 "Ryu wants you to stop being a pain in the butt," I muttered, glancing towards the kitchen area. There were two adult female voices coming from the room that I hadn't noticed when I walked in.

 "Ah. Circe will try, then." She laughed. "Anyhow, darling, I know you didn't call just to tell me not to be a pain in the ass. Whatcha need?"

 I ignored her misquote. She did it on purpose to try to rile me; this was too important to allow her to derail my focus. "How are relations with Dragnier right now?"

 Circe groaned over the phone. "Ryu Bateson, you just stop right there," she said, dropping her irritating drawl. "You know the Queen won't allow you to-"

 "No, but she'll allow you."

 Circe sighed. "What kind of mess are you trying to get me into now, Ryu?"

 I quickly explained the situation as I knew it. She listened on the other end, silent, then asked, "Why the need for secrecy? Why not just bring the brat up on charges?"

 "It's not so simple," I grated. "I have no proof but Byron's own confession, which only I heard. He'll deny he made it. He says that it's just an aphrodisiac, but what if it's some type of poison?"

 "Then attempted murder would be harder to fight," Circe responded stubbornly.

 "No," I answered, lowering my voice. "There'd be a scandal. Some of the older nobles would demand attempted regicide or treason. Garr doesn't know."

 I was met by silence on the other side. "It couldn't be counted as regicide," she responded finally. "He's Prince, not King. He's not even Crown, he's just blood-"

 "That doesn't matter," I cut her off. "They'd demand regicide."

 "Do you really think there'd be a scandal?" Circe whispered.

 "I do."

 Circe sighed heavily. "Fine. I'll take your poison to Dragnier."

 "Thank you," I replied sincerely.

 She snorted in response. "Don't thank me yet." Her accent was thicker than it usually was, indicating any number of emotions that she didn't want known. "I dunno if Her Majesty will allow the trip after all, I dunno if I'll be turned back the moment I step foot outside the transport room, and I dunno if I'm gonna have to take some form of revenge on you when I return." She laughed harshly. "Oh, the things I do for friendship!"

 "Ryu is very happy to have a friend like Circe," I told her jokingly, knowing that if she were in front of me and not at home, I'd probably get shoved down a flight of stairs for such a comment.

 Circe chuckled. "Not so wise. Circe'll take payment for her services, friend."

 "Whatever. It's ready to go when you are- come and get it before you ask our Lady, she'll be less ready to say 'no' if you've already got the delivery."

 We said our good-byes and I hung up, and then I wandered into the kitchen.

 Demeter was there, sitting at the table with a woman I didn't recognize, although the two bore a striking resemblance. Their hair was the same shade of iridescent blonde, and their eyes the same shade of green. The other woman, however, looked a little younger, a little thinner- She'd probably never had children, judging by her weight. In fact, she looked almost sickly, she was so light. The only other difference between them, aside from voice and height, was that this other woman's hair was stark straight, while my wife's tumbled down about her shoulders in loose curls. Ladon's Seal was emblazoned across the front of the woman's tunic, and she wore the standard fare of a holy person.

 "Ryu, my love," Demeter said, grinning. "Meet my younger sister, Vanessa. Vanessa, this is my husband," she introduced us.

 Vanessa stood and bowed deeply. "It is an honor to meet one of Ladon's chosen children," she said softly. "I thought I'd never have an opportunity to meet any of the Destined, let alone the Child."

 I held out my hand to her, uncomfortable with the level of respect she offered. "I'm not the Destined Child anymore," I said gruffly. "I gave that up a long time ago."

 "Indeed," Vanessa responded, straightening and shaking my hand firmly. Her eyes twinkled merrily. "Not only gave up, but grew up, as well. But Destined Man doesn't sound so catchy."

 I liked her immediately. Not many people who knew of my past joked of it. Most protested when I informed them that I wanted none of their reverence. "But you saved the world!" Hogwash. Myria was no real threat to the survival of the world, as oppressive as she’d been. I did it for answers and revenge, and that was it. I didn’t deserve to be called a hero.

 The three of us sat and talked until near midnight. However, at around eleven, Demeter fell utterly silent, and just watched and listened. Her expression was unnaturally grave; it unnerved me. I wanted to ask her what was wrong, but I felt compelled to keep chatting with Vanessa.

 Finally, at midnight, there was a knock on the front door. I knew it would be Circe, and grabbed the package off the bookshelf in the living room and opened the door for her. We exchanged a few words, shook hands, and she was gone. I turned back to the kitchen and paused, listening to the heated exchange taking place: "... and I don't appreciate you witching my husband for no reason, either," Demeter snapped. I blinked. Was she referring to me? She had to be. I was the only husband she had, but I certainly didn't feel "witched".

 "Everything I do is for a reason," Vanessa returned coolly. "I just chose not to explain those reasons sometimes. It's not polite to eavesdrop, especially not in your own home, Dear Dragon," she called in a slightly raised voice. I chuckled as I stepped into the kitchen again, my face burning with embarrassment. How'd she know?

 At quarter after midnight, Demeter was sound asleep, leaning against my shoulder. Vanessa smiled at her older sister. "You should probably take her to bed before she drools on your shirt," the priestess observed. I set her with a stern look.

 "You... 'witched' her, didn't you? Demeter never drops off that quickly."

 Vanessa laughed. "Of course I did," she said, having caught both the teasing and seriousness in my tone. "She's cranky when she's not had enough sleep, and she was cranky. You get to deal with your daughter tonight," she added with a wink, standing. "I'd best be taking off myself. Recommend any inns in the area?"

 "We have a spare room. You can use that," I said, twisting around so I could stand and lift Demeter in my arms at the same time.

 Vanessa smiled gratefully. "I appreciate it, Dear Dragon... But- with our little brother AND your three children, how do you still have a spare room? Oh, listen to me, I'm so rude-"

 "It's okay," I said with a yawn. "I work for the Queen, remember?" I told her sleepily, as if that answered her question.

 "But it's such a small house!"

 I chuckled. "Only from the outside." Demeter was heavy in my arms; I normally had no problems lifting things twice as heavy as she, but fatigue was creeping into my muscles and a fog of unawareness was closing on my mind. "You'll have to excuse me," I said in a dreamy voice, "but I seem to have suddenly fallen to exhaustion." I smiled at her. "Spare room's on the other side of the living room."

 "Your Highness is very kind."

 "Nah. I just like to make friends of such powerful priestesses." I completely missed that she'd used a term reserved for royalty. Had I caught it, I probably would have had a tough time getting to sleep with her in the same house as I, and informed her the next morning of the most reputable inn in Wyndia. I might've even offered to pay for her room and board there, if it got her out. However, the only thing I was really thinking about at that point was sleep, and putting Nina down... No, Demi. My wonderful Demi...

 I woke up the next morning- afternoon, rather- on my bed, next to Demeter. Neither of us were under the covers, and we were both still fully clothed but for our shoes. I didn't remember making it up the stairs. The last thing I remembered was Vanessa calling me "Your Highness" and I sleepily resolved to ask her what she'd meant by it.

 But that too was forgotten as sleep swept over me again. Next time I opened my eyes, I was greeted by the site of my oldest child's face, concerned and tear-filled emerald eyes. He informed me, hugging me in relief, that Demi and I had been out for three days.

 What kind of Priestess of Ladon used that strong a sleep spell?