Okay! I'm here! I'm good!

Thank you for the feedback! I guess I got too comfortable in my editing? My badddd! This chapter is still kinda lazy on my part, but *shrugs*

Happy Reading

- X

xxxxxxx

Life is like a flower.

Well, that's what some people say.

Delicate and sweet, but also poisonous and prickly. If you take a closer look at life you will see a beautiful thing.

Only you can make your life wilt and die with your own negligence and impurity.

I should have stopped and enjoyed the flowers when my life was simple.

I wish I could bask in the sweet simple smell one last time.

xxxxxxxx

I'm conscious.

Or at least I think I am. I want to open my eyes, but I am scared for what I will find.

When I do open them the darkness greets me.

My clothes are heavy with water. Sprawled out on a cold floor I touch the floor with my hands. Underneath my fingertips the surface feels rough and hard.

Harder than wood.

The balmy scent of rain washes over the room, coating it in a familiar almost comfortable atmosphere.

I stumble through the darkness and trip over something. The pain of striking the object spikes through my foot.

"Crap!" I cry in agony, dropping to the floor to investigate the unknown object I hit my foot on.

It's a pot.

What was a heavy clay pot doing in the middle of a room? I dig inside the pot and find a smooth small key.

I find it easier to travel lower to the ground, so I don't get up. I use my fingers to search through the void of impending darkness.

When I finally located the door I slide the key into the keyhole and unlocked it.

The door creaks to life and I sneak out of the compact, dark and dense room. My eyes catch on the statues adorning the hallways.

They all look the same. A man holding a single rose in his hand, with long hair. Not a single strand out of place.

The marble floors and marble statues are plagued with healthy looking vines and shrubs.

I cut through a vast gated garden.

I rush outside, underneath the moon my silhouette is covered by the inky shadows. The grass is tall and an ambrosial smell hits me from nowhere.

The garden is alive with ferns and varying flowers. Crickets cheer happily and the moon shines softly on a patch of undisturbed grass.

The place is filled with life.

I stand up enthralled by the fountain placed by the nearest archway. It was an intricate design with a stone carved woman up top dancing with the birds.

I reach my hand out to touch the woman's fluid figure. Like a moth is drawn to light, or a mosquitos is to blood.

"Are you enjoying my garden?"

I turn dramatically toward the voice, ripping my hands away from the stone woman. The man has an overly groomed mane of pink hair and a strong build. He smiles coolly at me.

I shrink back.

"Where am I?" I utter, the man stares at me quizzically before laughing. The laugh is like sweet bells chiming against the wind.

"The Vita Household, I am the owner of this place. I am fond of being called Marluxia but my active role is bringer of life."

"Marluxia…" The name rolls off my tongue like honey. "You're Life?" I look at the man and he gives me a smile that melted like sugar.

"In a simple way, Yes."

"Why am I here?"

"Joshua was sent to seek you out, because you decided not to answer to Hades and his letter."

My face burns crimson and I grow silent.

Although it was Axel's Idea I felt somewhat responsible for not calling him out and letting him waste away on my couch watching Maury.

"Sorry…" I whisper underneath my breath.

"You will be greeting by all five council members tomorrow. You may want to rest easy." Marluxia offers his arm, reluctantly I take it.

He leads me to a brightly lit room. Filled with fragrant candles and silk bed sheets. "If you wish to change there are clothes in the wardrobe."

The door is locks behind Marluxia as he steps out.

A sudden loneliness imposes itself on me. I sulk next to the drapes. Thoughts wandering countlessly through the fog of it all.

xxxxxx

"Axel?!"

Axel embraces me when Marluxia lets go. We catch up and he looks over me for any injuries before continuing.

"Are you sure your okay? That angel, Joshua was nice right?"

"He was alright, I promise I'm fine you big baby!" The truth was I was just as scared as Axel was, maybe even more. My stomach knotted and trembled.

Even my legs felt like collapsing.

"Heh, alright I trust you." Axel lets me go but not before running his hands through my hair. I feel subtly calmed knowing that Axel was here now.

Marluxia claps in monotonous repeated fashion.

"While that is all grand, don't you have a duty to perform Axel?"

Axel stiffens next to me and I wonder what Marluxia was talking of. Axel almost growls at Marluxia, inserting himself protectively in front of me.

"He's a kid! And a human…" He whispers the last part lowly, but I heard him despite his efforts.

"Lord Eraqus said it doesn't matter. The evaluation will still take place as it always does." Marluxia chuckles dangerously low.

"He's. A. Human." Axel hisses out, Marluxia only seems to take pride in Axel's irritation. Who knew life was such a sadist?

Everyone… Honestly who doesn't know that life is a little bit messed up from time to time.

"Obviously. The boy reeks of the Mortal realm."

Axel slams Marluxia into the ancient crumbling wall. This leaves a few cracks along the sides.

"Watch your tongue."

"Is Death mad? Pity." Marluxia taunts Axel with that cold tone. His coy smile contradicts his cold persona.

"We are leaving to talk to Eraqus."

"Good luck, The influx of Umbra Nescriet's has locked him up tight in that castle of his." Marluxia waves them both away with a flick of his wrist.

"You can still try of course."

"Believe me we will."

xxxxxxx

"No entry."

The guards block off the only passage into the intimidating looking castle.

Axel grows irritated by the stupidity of it all. He crossed his arms and pouts like a child, he kicks at the dirt and flashes an angry look at the guard.

"I'm Prince Axel Mortius XIV! Death! The reaper! The dark angel!" The guard licks his lips.

"I'm just doing my job sir, no entry." I pull at Axel's sleeve feeling the eyes of the bystanders on me and me alone.

"Let's just go…" I whispered, it felt like the air had been knocked out of my lungs. My heart pounds thunderously in my ears.

Axel sees how uncomfortable I am and opts to leave. He supports my weight and helps me walk away from the castle.

I trip over my own feet and fall to the floor, a hand reaches out and helps me up.

"Thank you." I let an airy breath out. My light headedness disappears as I thank the stranger.

The stranger nods, he wears a cloak similar to Axel with the hood masking his identity.

"Your family is leaving you behind. All because of Death, he is destruction. The closer you are to him the more you drift from your family…Ventus, I am excited to see your trial."

The boy chuckles darkly. From underneath the hood two golden dots peer out at me. I feel the warmth drain from my face, the stranger is gone when I blink.

"Vanitas?"