POV: Syreene cont.
Location: Apartment in Louxven, Dyonegar
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Evening time happened to be the more enjoyable time of day for Syreene. Her brother was usually home, allowing him the opportunity to accompany her for dinner. But tonight, she couldn't stand to look at him straight. The thought of Cabil meddling with durja made the young elf sick to her stomach. It brought an evil side out of her father, who was usually mellow and cordial. There's no telling what it would do to her already hot-headed pyro-wielding brother. She then thought, could this have been connected to the incident in Kerviss? Did he unlock foul energy and unleashed it wildly onto a defenseless city? In that case, it wouldn't have been an accident…
"I'm ready!" Emie announced, breaking Syreene back into reality. Syreene hovered over the stove with a spatula in hand, ready to fry the flounder Emie had cleaned and marinated. Emie placed the porcelain plate with half a dozen fish near the hot pan as Syreene poured the oil into it. It didn't take long for the young elf to notice Emie's staring, cocking her a side glance.
"Why do you like my brother so much?" she questioned in a deep breath, wiping her sweaty brow.
Emie giggled. "Why, is it weird?"
"A little. He's much older than you, and, he's my brother."
"I don't know. I guess you can say I have a thing for the strong silent types, with the rough rugged look. And besides, he has the sexiest ass I've ever seen!"
"Ugh, gross!" A cough followed, her chest caving in with a sudden sharp pain to her muscles. Syreene brushed it off, while the discomforting heat around her grew.
"I know everyone seems to hate him, bu—"
"—not everyone. He is a high-tier militant, after all."
"Yeah, but with all of those years in service, he should have been an SS by now."
"Has it ever occurred to you that maybe he likes his current rank? Likes to keep it simple? If he's Core, he gets more responsibilities, and less him time."
"Well, if he ever needs any company for that him time, tell him to give me a call." She chuckled.
"Geez, you're gonna make me upchuck. Let's get back to this."
Emie went for the controller on the couch of the open living room. She lowered the volume to the musik tower, then walked back to Syreene in a whisper, "Hey, are you all right? You've been looking a bit frazzled ever since, well," she turned over her shoulder, making sure Cabil's room door was closed, and said, "the vault."
Syreene turned to her, narrow-eyed. "I'm fine, Emie. Just, tired," she grunted. "And my chest has been hurting on and off."
"Your chest?"
"Yeah." She rubbed under her collar bone, wincing at the needle-like pain. "Maybe it's just me."
"A psychological pain brought on by your constant worrying? I'd believe it."
"I told you, I'm over that. Please, just drop it." Syreene dropped the spatula on the counter and snatched a paper towel to her sweating forehead. "Why is it so suddenly hot in here?"
"We only have one burner on. Come on. Let's start frying before the rice gets cold." Emie laid the fish in pairs over the swimming hot sizzling oil and took in a deep breath. "Smells great already! We should co-cook more often, even though I did do most of the prep work." She turned to Syreene huddled over the counter. "Hey, are you all right?"
"I'm fine…" Syreene replied in a long breath, wiping down her heated neck.
"Then take a whiff!" Emie pulled the pan off the burner, swirling the fishies before Syreene. "Doesn't it smell divine?" She paused, her smile lowering. "Sy, you look a little pale. Are you sure you're okay?"
"Can you fucking stop asking me that? I said I'm fine!" Syreene slapped the pan away from her, instantly realizing her hostility toward Emie. Their dinner splattered over Emie's apron, the hot grease smacking her wrist as she dropped the cookware on the tiled floor. Emie bucked down, pulling her wrist toward her as she bit her lip in pain.
"Oh god, Emie!" Syreene dropped to her, taking her wrist in her hand. "I'm so sorry!"
"It's okay. It was just an accident."
"You're not okay. Look at your arm!" Syreene gawked at the burning flesh as it began to redden and swell, the distinct scent heightening her senses. She felt enticed by the aroma, suddenly growing wet-mouthed and hungry. The temptation carved a pit in her stomach she needed to satisfy, leaning in over Emie's arm with her lips parched. Emie pulled away, requesting a first aid kit, a request to which Syreene drew a blank to.
The elfin curled over with nausea, slapping a hand over her mouth before dashing for the bathroom. She slammed the door open and dropped before the toilet, puking in the bowl with disgust. Her brother's rushed footsteps down the hall picked her head up while her chest heaved in constant pain, the air in her lungs running dry. Syreene tried to recompose herself, tuning in on the exchange between the two. Cabil went for the first aid kit and tended to Emie's wounds, her friend covering for her.
"It was just an honest accident, I kept bugging her, I guess."
Syreene furrowed her eyes and flushed the toilet before running the sink faucet. She hovered her heated face over porcelain, her dilated eyes staring back at her through the mirror. "What… was that?" Never had Syreene used coarse words and assaulted anyone like that before, especially against her dearest friend.
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