Silent isolation discomforted Ether. The only ambient noise were Jakery's breathing, which unsettled him by the moment when he heard only one of his siblings breathing.
To cope, he brought Demon closer. Making sure to gently press down on his fragile chest for any hidden heartbeats. When he found none, he hugged him.
A warm and uncomfortable feeling took over the back of his eyes, which made its way to the front where he began to cry tears of despair as he gently held his younger sibling.
Over time, the crying turned to drowsiness and eventually into sleep. In his safe space, his mind, he pictured a world where they were all real Zegi. One where they were fulfilling their family's legacy.
Somewhere far away, in a distant world, Ether heard something opening. Which caused him to wake up in a panic, hoping to scare away whatever was that stumbled into the room.
Flames danced around a wick. Carelessly moving around in the stale wind as Valentine lifted it over his head to shine more light into the now-dark room
Taking the opportunity to see what was happening, Ether glanced across from him. Where Jakery was supposed to be. Only to find him balled up at the far corner of the room.
He shivered, shaking like a freezing animal that was left to the winter winds and frigid rains. Two big eyes drained of color, staring right at him.
"J - Jakery, what happened?" Ether asked in a tired voice.
Valentine turned the light to his younger brother. So they could see him better. Only to notice something more sinister. There were marks of something sharp running over his throat.
But not sharp enough to pierce skin and cause serious damage from the inside. It seemed like someone tried to scratch his throat out. Like a rabid animal.
"Y - you... you're holding it. It want's... no, no, no. Get away from it. T - that thing... that thing you hold. It's not our brother. He is dead. Kill that thing," Jakery eerily instructed.
Upon hearing the heartless comment, Valentine instantly put the candle down on a wooden desk sitting beside Jakery. The dim lighting was enough to let Ether watch Valentine pick him up and carry him outside.
Feeling uneasy, he looked down at his brother. His iris got bigger, hoping to see anything off on Demon. Only to see he was perfectly fine, aside from black veins that decorated his neck and face.
As he examined him, he noticed something was working. While Demon rested with his eyes closed, his heart began to beat. Lungs expanded and retreated, allowing oxygen to flow.
It was a miracle, one that he wanted. Although, that miracle appeared to have been off. Because while the body of the one he loved was there, it still felt like it was someone else he held in his arms.
Regardless, Ether sighed in relief. He gently kissed Demon's forehead before getting off the bed. It creaked, trying to protest against the amount of weight it was under.
The candle continued burning as he turned around at the door, glancing at Demon one more time. He grabbed the handle and slowly began to close the door, before two white glowing eyes opened up.
Each one looked lifeless, as if they were from another world. Full of malicious wishes. As if that Demon wasn't just dead, it was also a real demon.
Seeing his brother's eyes light up like this caused him to speed up the process. He slammed the door tight before running up the flight of stairs that led to the roof.
Up there, Valentine prepared small amounts of meat on a fireplace with a makeshift pan above it. Which was a wide, thin rock that allowed some of the heat to travel through.
Meat sizzled up into the starry night sky. Which caught Ether's attention. Planets far away from their grasp revealed their celestial selves. Otherworldly purples, blues, and pinks looked down upon them.
"...Such an adorable little one, yeah? No need to back away from me, I'm just a slightly shorter Zegus with a very sharp smile!" Oria tried speaking to Jakery.
He continued to push her away. Hoping to fight off the predator from eating him, which was futile. Oria easily regained her grip around Jakery's smaller frame.
"Come on, little one. All I want are some hugs. Nothing too big, if you ask me. Hey, about I teach you how my kind treats our cubs, hmm? You could be my little Feral cub!" Oria tried to brighten up Jakery's mood.
A motherly drive took over Ether, causing him to stumble forward closer to them. "I want my brother back."
Oria blankly stared at the newly awoken stranger. "I'm afraid you don't seem to be the age of taking care of such an adorable little Feral cub. He loves me, look at his tiny face!"
Valentine took out a small knife from out of a small pocket in his crimson jacket. The sharp blade pressed hard against his wrist, where he promptly dragged it across. Blood poured out of his open wound.
Rough skin getting cut caught Oria's attention. She turned to look at Valentine, smiling. The emotions he felt while the seething wound poured out buckets of his blood were hidden beneath a crimson mask.
Minutes later, Valentine used the blood to make proper plates and dining equipment such as table knives and forks. With them, he served each slice of meat to everyone.
Except for Oria. She got special treatment. The largest piece of meat was hers, but uncooked. She preferred it that way, commenting the meat tasted burnt every time she ate it cooked.
"Come here, Ether. You seem to be worried about a recovery, here's your first step in that journey," Valentine invited.
Not wanting to disobey, he received his plate and sat down beside the fireplace. "I don't think I'll ever be fully healed. Not when Demon is not by my side."
Bright embers danced into raging flames. Entertaining the group as they huddled together under the night sky. Under the cover of the grand universe around them, they felt like they were the center of attention.
"He meant a lot to you and Jakery, I get it. But this is what it means to be a matured Variant. Defeat, victories. Losses, wins. Deaths, lives. All part of the process," Valentine replied.
Ether sighed, letting his shoulders drop lower. "What process? The one where you or I die?"
Valentine chuckled, wrapping his wrist in the same blood that flowed out. "It's complicated. Thawed Oracles, Prophets, even the pious. No one understands why or how this process works."
"So then how does this relate to the process?" Ether said through small amounts of cooked meat.
"Oracles reach out to those above us, seeking for grander answers. The Prophets try to seek what is to come through visions from those same beings. While the pious pray - pray for our safety," Valentine answered.
One eyebrow narrowed. "That didn't answer anything."
"Because there are no answers. Like I said, it's complicated. It has twists. All bigger Thawed have discovered was the possibility of a force that operates some type of cycle. One we're all part of."
Confused, Ether looked around for anything to change the topic. Until his eyes landed on Oria and Jakery. She held him close in her arms, while Jakery tried to peacefully eat his meal.
"I wish she let go of my brother," Ether commented.
"That Feral has the purest heart I've ever seen. With a smile so sweet it turns apple juices sour. All she means is to help," Valentine corrected.
Oria overheard their little back and forth, turning her attention to them. "I just really like how soft your brother is. Also just trying to show some support. I'll cut you a deal. I hug you and release him, yeah?"
Jakery shook his head, trying to stop his sibling from accepting the offer. But failing. Ether sighed before quickly finishing up his share and leaping into her arms.
"As promised. You feel a little warmer and softer. Shame I can only hold one of you in my grasp! Anyway, me and V. Tavious have been talking about something regarding you," Oria mentioned.
Valentine took off his mask. "Correct. Now, let's not keep it waiting."