Stumbling in the Dark [Anolean]

[Naelona Ezel]

Naelona wasn't even aware of what hour it was anymore - late or early it didn't much matter. It was gray out with a sun that couldn't decide it's own direction, but she was finally home. Just inside her room, things were set aside and a trail of clothing dotted her weary path back to her own bed. She didn't much expect sleep. Within an hour the sun would keep her wide away until nightfall, but there was a certain comfort to acquire by lying in one's own bed that one couldn't find anywhere else. It was a simple comfort, and one that called to her wearied mind incessantly.

Undoing and tossing the rest of her clothing, Naelona shivered in the cold room while pulling on a soft nightgown and crawling into bed in her darkened room. Burrowing into the blankets she hid her face in the mess of pillows and sheets, biting her lip sharply and pulling the heavy blankets over her head to hide herself away and shield away the world. Her arms shook of their own accord as they reached out across through the sheets searchingly for a body she knew wasn't there. She still knew nothing of Kristopher's fate, and it only encouraged the knot in her chest prompted by the fatigue of her nerves and soul.

Her heart skipped when her hand bumped into something. Warm. Soft. A someone. A hope and fear struck in tandem. Who would be in her bed? Who would dare? Was it someone she sought - a something of an entirely devious nature.. or perhaps she wasn't home at all and those nightmares she'd fought to keep at bay had finally seized her after all. Ends of hair across her own pillows is what her searching hand turned up next. Soft and dark, much like her own. Staring in the dark her gray eyes could finally make out an outline. What was her twin doing here? Why even ask? It was her twin.

Her other half since birth. The only being to possess the same flesh and blood as her. The only boogie to truly treasure - or worth treasuring. Sure they fought sometimes, disagreed, pulled pranks and wore each others nerves thin. But at the end of the day when the dust finally settles there was only one to trust to keep the others back, to watch for the others well being. Only one to keep.. in a chaotic world.

Wasting little time, Naelona scooted across the space between the bed and sheets to her sibling, wrapping her arms about him carefully and burying her face into his side. Whether he slept or woke it didn't much matter, she had all she needed to be okay. "Anolean..?" She whispered after a few moments, biting her own lip for composure "..brother?" The knot shifted from not only her chest to her throat as well. For the moment it was best enough just to keep an even breath. For as stoic and reserved as Ezels were, she had far pushed the standard well enough. She might as well not be one of them.

Clutching onto him with a fear, an unknowing haunted her if she was actually back or perhaps trapped in her own dream-about-to-turn-nightmare somewhere outside. If so it was the most convincing one yet. If it was? So be it. Were she actually in a snowdrift caught somewhere with a chilled death encroaching, so let it. She was comfortable here. For a moment unlike the recent past, she felt a bit of peace.. she felt safe.

[Anolean Ezel]

Sleep was something unknown to Anolean since the moment his sister had left him without word. No one had seen her, nor heard from her, just like that slave she had lost. Though, he had returned and the master was still lost to the world. It was strange, to have no contact with his twin in some form for so long. So long, that for the first time in ages, he had grown edgy, paranoid, concerned and overall, fearful.

Naelona was his other half, his shadow, the only being able to connect with him where others have failed. He was lost without his sister and no matter what he had done these past days, he could not find her anywhere. Not even Locke, his faithful and ever present familiar could not find a trace of the ghostly woman that shared his mind, body, and spirit. That, utterly frightened him, he had been up for days, looking for his soul until finally, he grew weary.

He had no urge to return to his own bedroom, it was empty there. His sisters held familiarity and warmth, it brought him a since of safety and connection, it was here that he chose to stay the night, in her room, in her bed. Surrounded by her scent and being, if an Ezel could love...this would be it. The definition of love, to be near someone that he truly cared for even if he made sister want to rip her hair out at times. She would be the only person he would care for in the whole kingdom.

Disregarding his clothing, he slept only in a pair of pants, his long hair that matched his twin was slapped in a loose ponytail and Locke rested beside him, his arms about the large feline. Sleep had taken them both only a few hours ago. But now, he was awakened, not to the movement of the bed or the sound of a creaking door that had let in some light.

No, he was awaken by the mere sound of a weak voice side him. Slowly, he opened his ashen orbs, his body moving on its own accord, placed an arm protectively about his lost twin that had now returned. A sense of fulfillment overcame his being, feeling complete once again. He released his large beast and turned to hold his sister close to his body.

With his face resting in her hair, he spoke softly as he always did, but emotions filled his normally void voice. "Where have you been, you god forsaken woman?" His arms tightened about her, "You have added far more greys to my hair that are not natural to our coloring, Naelona."

[Naelona Ezel]

Some might suppose she should have been surprised at her brother being there, others might have said she should have anticipated it given their close history. A twin was a special sort of sibling.. one that most never got to know. It was different than having someone around who was years older or younger.. but to have someone of the same age - or rather as close as age could become. Through the worst of things they had always had each other. Perhaps she should've noticed how this would've affected her brother sooner..

Clutching her arms about her brother a weak, choked note was all the response he would receive as his sister hid her damp face in his shoulder and hair. Curling up her small body shook with an emotion that was very foreign to it. It was one thing to lose something so dear it kept one up at night, robbed them of rest and peace.. it was another to realize she had inflicted the same thing upon the very being who knew her best. The closest to her in the world. The one that always had her side, even when the opposition was their own father.

The emotion in his voice was difficult to hear - not for lack of presence but her unpreparedness to hear it. Shaking her head slightly she merely clung tight to her twin. "I... I'm not.. " the words came strained and cracked "..I'm sorry." Wiping off her face Naelona tried to hide what strained effect all of this was having on her - what it had been having on her for some time. She just shook her head and pressed her ear against his heart while her shoulders shook of their own accord instead.

There was something to be said of when one knew they were finally safe. While one found they no longer had to hold danger at bay, what stresses they had maintained only washed over them in a vengeance as a result. The stress, the worry, the fear. For both Kristopher, for herself, and now her brother.. even as belated as it may be.

"I.. I've.." While she preferred it, the old tongue seemed too difficult and too much trouble to translate into. "I've been gone. Far gone." The hand of the arm wrapped about his back found the ends of his ponytail. Tugging lightly at it she knotted her fingers in the soft locks. Not painfully. She doubted he'd even notice unless he tried to move suddenly. It was just an assurance, an anchor to ensure he would stay there. "I d-didn't know when I'd be coming back. I just am.." Her voice wavered from the stress and the trials she'd been through the past couple weeks.

Venturing to peer up at her brother, she hesitantly sought out the same gray eyes akin to what she found looking back every time she looked into a mirror. "Are you alright.. brother?" the knots and stabs from sources she didn't understand within her chest were bad enough as it was, and something told the Ezel they would only get worse if she found she had somehow harmed him through this all. A pale hand cupped his cheek while her eyes sought for signs of assuring answers, glancing over his hair just in case there were gray hairs to be found. "Please.. is all okay?"

[Anolean Ezel]

Naelona, was his sister crying? The dampness upon his hair startled him somewhat, but he would not condone her for such actions, even if it was against boogie nature. However, he was confused by such a reaction but once again, he said nothing, he merely held her closer and letting her do as she wished.

Closing his ash colored eyes, he ran a hand through her locks that matched his own. In a way, he was trying to sooth her, the poor thing within his arms trembled in such a way that it brought memories back from their childhood. How they used to hold each other just like this after a day with their father.

Sighing softly, he shook his head softly, "You have little to be sorry for, now be still." He told her, but apparently it was not enough, even as she held his hair she seemed to be uncertain or overly needy. He looked down at her, though he did not move, she seemed so lost much like a human child. It concerned him greatly, his twin normally did not act like this...hardly ever was she in this sort of position.

Was it that slaves fault? That blond, sickly boy...Anolean had a sudden urge to find the human and remove him from this world. It would be best for her if he never existed but to take him from here would leave her in a worse state he feared. His sister had the rare disease of being attached to such a lowly creature.

But now is attention was fully dictated to his twin as her touch reached him. His eyes locked onto hers then, one of his own hands meeting hers, resting on top of it. "All is well. I am merely glad to see you have returned. Have no fear, I am not upset with you any longer, all I ask is that you do not disappear on me again. I don't think I can handle it." He spoke gently too her, his lips touching her forehead in a kiss only twins could share.

"I've looked for you and could not find a trace. I fear you had vanished with that slave of yours..." he paused then, realizing his words where not wise. "But you are home and all will be well again now. Soon, everything will return to the way it was...in time."

[Naelona Ezel]

The source of her emotions wasn't just related to Kristopher, though much of everything that had resulted had stemmed from it. With Kristopher being unwell, and then vanishing Naelona had lost her rest. With her lack of rest came unrest, the nightmares, and in turn weariness and eventually hallucinations. It had gotten to a point even a Keeper had seen reason to take her away from the Palace, away from what she knew to isolation for a time. That move in itself - while protecting the populace - did hardly anything for her well being save grant her a bit of food and rest.

She didn't even want to consider the things she had glimpsed there.

With time as the minutes ticked by Naelona's breathing finally evened and her shoulder's held still. She still remained curled up within his arms, unwilling to budge or leave them, nestled safe and securely beside him. In many ways her brother felt like the only safe presence left in the Wonderland. In several ways, he was. No-one else could be trusted, and even Kristopher - as much as she'd adored him - couldn't quite be held in an esteem such as this. Slaves eventually all died away. Only boogies had any chance at eternity.

"I didn't disappear by intention, Anolean.." Naelona's eyes closed briefly when her brother kissed her forehead. It was a small, gentle, assuring gesture that meant more to her nerves and soul than she could admit. "I was taken, not just disappear. It wasn't safe for me to be here.." Apparently that had been the case. Few vanished that actually returned. "..I was allowed back." There was probably nothing more Naelona needed to say to explain herself. Matters concerning Luther - however brief and infrequent - often explained themselves.

Slowly, her nerves gradually were calming and settling again. Wiping her cheeks dry Naelona settled with the soft blankets beside her twin, comfortable and warm against the cool air of her room and the chill atmosphere of the world outside. How many countless memories could she recall when they had been nestled up like this? Many.

The boogie shook her head marginally against his shoulder. Things would not return the way they had been. It wasn't possible. There were matters.. things she must do that churned her stomach and strained her breath but they would be for the better. No, things would not be the way it had been. "H-has.. did he find him..?" Any news of the Watchmaker and the blond might be old by now, but it was unknown information to her.

Searching Anolean's face for any hint of what might have happened, thoughts raced of their own accord of the possible outcomes that might have resulted from it. Any number of the slaves could be dead. Violence could have broken out in her absence. There was no way of telling what had passed. Taking a breath Nae tried to even out how it sounded, holding his hand snugly in hers while waiting for an answer.

[Anolean Ezel]

Taken was not a word Anolean was very king on. Who would take his sister from him? Certainly, it was for her own good, he had seen her slowly fall apart and there there had been little he could do for him. However, he didn't like it but he couldn't figure out what had been wrong with her and now he wished to stay closer to his twin now, being without her was...diffcult to say the least.

The anger in him fought with his common sense, he should be grateful she was removed from the stress of life but at the same time he wanted to bash the skull of the person that took her with his cane. In the end, he merely sighed, running his hand up and down his twins back, he wasn't going to let her go now that he had her there with him.

His motions never came to a pause, even with her questions. "I am glad you returned." Don't ever leave me again was something he wished to tell her, though the words would not flow from his mouth, it was against his nature to say such things. However, with twins, even simple wishes and thoughts such as those where easily transfered as if they had been spoken out loud.

His gaze rested on his twin and then the hand that held his so snuggly. "He was found merely a week ago, if that. Alive, though not well but when has your slave ever been well?" A chuckle escaped his lips then, one of dark amusement. "The Watchmaker brought him back and to the hospital instantly and that is where the boy has been since then. Resting."

A pause came to him as he let out a sigh, one of exhaustion. "You have either picked the most luckiest human alive or the unluckiest."

[Naelona Ezel]

Naelona nodded mutely to her brother, and pressed closer. After all was said and done, being held and comforted seemed to be the best medicine available. Naelona always had her guards, her fronts, her personas and images she presented to Wonderland. That was the cold, brutal-tongued woman the other boogies and slaves knew. Only her brother was allowed to see how she was without them, Anolean was the only boogie that was aware of them, the only person she didn't hide them from. They were twins, after all.

A faint smile briefly flitted across her lips, pressing into the fingers of his hand within hers. If Kristopher was found alive, he would pull through. The boy always did. "He must've been aware of my absence by then - his orders were to bring Kristopher to me first.." a word to be had with the Watchmaker at another time. "Kristopher never had been well, merely alive. Surviving." Sometimes barely, but despite it all the child still persisted in drawing breath after shaky stubborn breath.

Nuzzling close, Naelona sounded content with this news. She was taking it more pleasantly than she might otherwise had, knowing she was safe by her brother. "He was a child for a bet of survival. I won that one, I'll have you know." Lucky or unlucky? 'Luck' in itself was a farce - save for when it came to her own betting. "Lucky by our standards, unlucky by a slaves. Who have you been listening to, Anolean?" she teased lightly. It was fortunate that the boy keep surviving.

Wasn't it?

Considering the boy's disappearance had almost driven her and part of her family to their own sort of ruin.. Naelona preferred not to reconsider her earlier drawn opinion. "A-Anolean.." Naelona ventured, suddenly very quiet and her voice considerably soft for her normal tones. "..I have a question for you.. if you'll hear it." Hopefully he wouldn't be too upset with her for it. There were odds Kazn might be furious, but there were some matters the old Ezel wasn't meant to know.

[Anolean Ezel]

The older twin by a mere five seconds smiled softly, "I have been merely listening to Locke, for the past few weeks." He gave the large beast behind him a gentle nudge, which merely caused the beast to whine. Though now the air seemed to be much clearer and his twin less stressed, he was able to relax against her and his eyes came to a close.

Anolean would prefer to fall asleep now with his sister, but she merely kept talking and that was fine for the time being. He wasn't minding so much at the time. "However, it is good you have him still." For he feared what might happen to his sister if he did die. His sister would probably never be the same, she had caught some bug that kept her obsessed with that human child.

Though now, his thoughts shifted to a new subject it would seem. A question, what sorta of inquiry was his sister wishing to make?

"I will listen if it is a worthy question." His voice was amused and a low rumble sounded through his chest, a laugh. It must be something of interest from her tone, "And I will not wear one of your gowns if that is what you will ask me again. I do not care how much I look like you, dear sister, but I refuse to pretend to be a female for your sake and amusement."

There was a time, when he was a mere child at the rightful age of four, by human terms, and during that year his sister had found it highly amusing in what she could get him to do with a single sniffle.

[Naelona Ezel]

Of all the memories to conjure, the one of Anolean brought to mind was one Naelona hadn't thought of in years. She couldn't help it at the time! He looked cute and funny in her frilly blue dress! Yes - frilly, blue, and Naelona once existed within the same concept. It was short lived as something silly to dress up in, but even some of her current dresses had hints of lace trim in them if you knew where to look for it.

Kristopher was very dear to her, perhaps too much - no - it was by too much. She had invested a lot into that child, and kept seeming to run into only disappointments for it. Did they even realize it was Kristopher's actions that had prompted her bout of illness last year? Shortly after she had discovered him with that... boy.. Naelona had taken a leave in the interests of her own well being. That was when Tristan had taken over for her for the summer.. and the end of that stint was known well enough, along with the events that followed after.

A shift in conversation, a subject for distraction was very much desired indeed. The smaller sibling seemed to shrink a little by her brother's side, as though hiding between him and the blankets would make this any less secretive.. or perhaps more.

Naelona shook her head minutely. "No, Anolean, I wouldn't make you do that. Not this time." She teased, but the faint mirth was short lived. How was one to bring up this sort of topic? "I-if.. if I found a place that was dangerous to go to.. would you come with me?" Clutching his hand in hers her voice grew strained and quiet. Maybe that twin intuition would kick in and make it click for him precisely what she was talking about. There was only one real place that applied, in her mind.