Woo! Another update! I hope you guys enjoy! This is just an easy chapter of alters talking in the inner world. I'm using my hypomanic (high end of bipolar) energy to write. I'll be fine, so no worries. Enjoy!

TW: none

Chapter 24- Idle Chat (Alters)

Ayalah stared at this new person in the castle. Who was he? Where had he come from? What was his purpose? Was he good for the system? She stared at him, straight faced and unblinking. Now and again she'd glance at Anna, who was talking animatedly with him. If Anna was comfortable around him, than he couldn't be too bad, right? Still she kept her guard up as she returned to her artwork. Ayalah found it comforting to draw the things she saw when her parasomnia took over. The most recent demon had one face with 4 asymmetrical, eyelid-less eyes that were looking anywhere but at her, its mouth was lipless and in an eternal grimace of pain and it was hunched over in an unnatural lean forward. The creature had sat on her chest all night until finally it slowly slid down her legs by the time dawn came. Without a word, Aya set down her art supplies and began dancing, showing a rare smile. Her bipolar disorder was throwing her into a hypomanic state and she had energy to spare. She wanted to run a marathon and maybe build a treehouse to draw in.

Blaise looked to Aya and blinked. "Wait, she was just sitting calmly for like the last hour and now she's running around and dancing. Is she okay?"

Anna nodded with a funny smile. "Yeah, Dina said that she has bipolar type 2 so this is normal for her."

"Bipolar has types?" Blaise tilted his head and looked to the door as he heard it open.

Kiri walked in, looking exhausted. "Yes, bipolar has types. There's bipolar one, which has extreme depressive and manic episodes. Bipolar two is the same but the episodes aren't as intense. Then there's rapid cycling bipolar, where the episodes happen 4 or more times in a 12 month period, mixed bipolar which means the episodes can happen at the same time and last there's cyclothymic. Cyclothymic describes times when the episodes are brief and mild; yet doesn't quite fit into any of the bipolar episodic definitions," Kiri sat in her usual chair and slumped over. "Just let Aya be and everything will be fine. The cycle needs to run its course."

Blaise couldn't help but stare. Kiri was beautiful and smart. "Damn, you're smart."

"When you're the first one to exist, you get smart on a lot of things," she replied.

"Hey, if you're here, I'm here, Aya is here, Arcy is napping, and Blaise is here, does that mean Nia is fronting?" Anna tilted her head.

"Yeah, she's handling the homework right now. So new guy, what's your name?"

"I-I'm Blaise."

Kiri raised an eyebrow at his stupid grin. "Cool, so , what's your purpose here?"

"Purpose?"

Kiri rubbed her forehead. "Everyone here has a purpose. I'm the persecutor, Nia is the caretaker, Anna is the social one, Aya is the artistic one, Arcana is the childhood innocence. What role do you serve?"

Blaise thought for a moment. "I don't really know yet. Think I will soon?"

"In time, your purpose will be revealed." Everyone turned to see Nia walk in.

Aya, who was currently doing jumping jacks to burn off the energy that her hypomania was giving her, looked to Nia and waved with a huge smile. She went from jumping jacks to going out of the sliding door to the backyard. She had to run around, had to stay moving. Restlessness was creeping in quickly and Aya didn't want to sit still.

Nia looked to the group. "How long has her hypomania been acting up?"

Anna looked to the wall clock. "About 20 minutes now."

Nia raised an eyebrow. "Perhaps a workout room or even a race track would be good for her. She always has tons of energy when her hypomania episodes happen."

"I agree, she runs around so much that she already broke 3 vases," Kiri sighed as she stood and walked to the kitchen. "Perhaps we should speak to Dina about getting her some form of therapy for her bipolar disorder. I get the feeling Aya isn't the medication type." Kiri poured herself a glass of wine and sat back down. "So if everyone is here, what is Elsa's body doing?"

"No need to worry. I explained to Diane that we had to have an inner meeting and laid the girl down for a nap. We're all safe in bed." Nia blinked. "It's kind of confusing to talk like that when we're all here, Elsa included." Nia returned her attention to Aya, who had come back in and was dancing to music in her head. "Yeah, I think she'd enjoy a work out room. Well, anyway, how is our little Snowflake doing?"

Kiri finished her wine and stood. "Last I checked, she was still out of it. I'll go check again." Kiri walked upstairs and into Elsa's room. The small girl was still unconscious. Another shot of guilt stabbed through Kiri's heart. 'If I had only controlled my temper with that girl, Elsa wouldn't have run off. She wouldn't have seen what sent her into this. It's all my fault.' She jumped a little as she felt a hand on her shoulder.

"Blaming yourself for the past won't get us forward to the future. All we can do now is wait and see what happens."

"You're right, Nia. But make some noise when you approach someone. I was about ready to punch you."

Nia just smiled. "I'm a peaceful presence, I don't make noise."

Kiri sighed and walked back downstairs. "I need another glass of wine."

"No, Kiri. Don't overdo it. Remember the last time you had too much?

Kiri made a face as she remembered the ridiculously childish way she had acted. She had been a couple glasses of wine into the night and felt light headed. Everything went black and when Kiri woke up the next morning, Anna was waiting beside her bed. Despite being told to leave, Anna refused and held out a camera to Kiri. With an agitated sigh, Kiri took the camera. A video was paused, ready to play. Kiri shot a glance to Anna, who had nodded. So Kiri pushed play, soon wishing she hadn't. The video showed Kiri singing karaoke in a bikini. That was all Kiri watched before slamming the view finder shut.

Kiri shook her head, trying to shake the memory from her mind. "Don't remind me. But you're right. One glass a night will be enough." She studied Nia closely. "How long has it been since you last slept?"

"Slept?"

"That would be a not at all," Kiri rubbed her eyes. "You need to sleep. It's good for your mental and physical health."

"I'm fine. I'm an ageless woman with no need to sleep or eat." Nia waved her hand.

"You can't be the caretaker if you get sick or pass out from exhaustion." Kiri crossed her arms.

"Than I shall eat and sleep when everyone is taken care of. For now, let us go downstairs." Nia took the lead and went downstairs. Kiri shook her head and followed.

"NIA!" Arcy's cry made Nia turn and sprint to the little girl's room. "Arcy! Nia's here! What's wrong, sweetie?" Nia cradled the crying girl.

Arcy hiccupped. "She had bad dreams, of the mean lady….It felt so real. Nia, tell her how the mean lady was kicked out again?" Arcy took her usual place under Nia's wing and held onto her waist.

"Sure thing, Sweetie. A magical girl with the gift of snow grew angry with the mean lady and how she was treating you. So the magical girl fought her using her magical snow. It wasn't pretty or easy, but in the end the magical Snowflake one the battle. Mean lady was defeated, never to return."

Arcy smiled and curled into Nia's waist. "She always loves hearing that story. It calms her down all the time."

Nia smiled and stroked Arcy's hair. "I'll always tell it to her when she wants to hear it. Is she hungry? I bet she'd like a peanut butter and banana sandwich with green grapes and apple juice."

Arcy perked up and bounced on the bed. "She'd LOVE that! Can she help cut the bananas?"

Nia smiled. "Sure. I'll show her how to use a butter knife to cut bananas." She picked up Arcy and placed her on her back, as usual never paying any mind to the tiny sting as a few feathers were plucked. Nia smiled walking down the stairs.

"She's so glad the feathers are coming back! And they look so much prettier than before! So much softer, too!" Arcy giggled. "Hey Nia, who's the guy?"

'So she can see him, too. With Arcy, this means everyone can see him. Maybe he has a purpose to everyone?' "He's new, sweetie. He's here to help us."

"What's his name?"

"Blaise. Think of him like a big brother," Nia answered, walking into the kitchen.

"He isn't bad like the other one was, is he?"

"Not at all, sweetie. I wouldn't let anyone bad in here. You all mean so much to me."

Arcy giggled as she hopped off Nia's back. "You're so sweet, Nia! Arcy loves you!" She hugged Nia's legs.

"I love you, too. Now let's cut some bananas."

"Yay!" Arcy clapped and took the butter knife Nia held out to her. She watched carefully and did as Nia did, laughing as the banana stuck to the knife. "Look, look! It likes the knife!"

"It sure does, sweetie. Wanna spread the peanut butter?"

"She does!"

Blaise stared in the kitchen, intrigued. "Who's that? She's just the cutest little thing!"

"That's Arcana, the little alter among us. She went through a lot thanks to, well, her."

Blaise stared at Anna, clueless. "Who's her?"

"Come with me, I'll tell you." Kiri stood and walked to the front doors. Blaise got up and followed her outside. Kiri sat on a bench, motioned for him to sit and began after he had sat down. "At one time, we weren't the only ones. There was a dangerous woman in the group. She did everything she could to hurt all of us. She traumatized Elsa and Arcana the most. Astrania suspected that Nassiri was an introject of the abusers that Elsa faced in her real life. Both her father and the kids at school. For a while, Nassiri had locked all of out of the real world and ran rampant in Elsa's real world life. She caused more trauma to Arcy by having her endure the things her father would do. Nassiri tested everyone. But one day Elsa managed to kill her; so we don't have to worry about her anymore. Don't mention Nassiri by name. It's a huge trigger for Arcana and a minor trigger for Anna. We only refer to that woman as her or mean lady, by Arcy."

Blaise sat silent for a moment as he processed all the information. "Alright, I won't say a thing. I'll just pretend I don't know about her. Last thing I want is for Anna or Arcy to start freaking out."

"Good. Go back inside," Kiri stood and walked to the back of the castle. "I'm going to the White Forest to be alone. Tell Nia, she'll understand."

Blaise nodded and walked back in. "So, uh, kinda odd question here but where do I sleep?"

Anna bounced up. "I'll show him!" She grabbed his hand and ran upstairs, fumbling over the steps. "So, while you were out with Kiri, Nia sat Arcy down at the table and came up here. I dunno how she did it but she just said some words and POOF! There was a bedroom for you and a workout room for Aya. It was the neatest thing!" Anna stopped in front of a room with a door that had his name on it. "Here ya go!"

Blaise nodded. "Sweet! So uh, I guess your my room neighbor, huh?"

"Yep!" Anna exclaimed, standing a few feet away by her door. "See ya in a bit! I gotta study!" Anna walked into her room and closed the door, Blaise doing the same.

Elsa stirred o her bed, mumbling. "I can't, no…Wha?" Her eyes slowly opened, adjusting to the dimmed light of the curtained rom. "Oh god, my head hurts. What happened?" She looked around, trying to scour her memories. "Is this my castle? How did I end up here? The last thing I remember is…uh, well I can't recall what I was doing last. Maybe that's best." Elsa sighed and sat up, ruffling her hair. "I think I'll just sit here and let my stomach settle a little."

Kiri, who was on her way to her room, heard Elsa talking. "Elsa?! You're awake?!" She ran through the door and hugged Elsa tightly. "I was so worried about you!"

Elsa's eyes widened. "Whoa, calm down there, Kiri. This isn't like you."

"Oh thank goddess, you remember me!" Kiri couldn't help the giant grin on her face. "NIA! SHE'S AWAKE!"

Elsa was baffled. Hadn't she just been sleeping for the night? Why was her being awake such a big deal? "Uh, ok?"

Nia sprinted in, her steps were actually heard before she was seen. She, too, threw herself on Elsa. "ELSA! My little Snowflake! We were so worried about you!"

Elsa flailed her arms as best as she could. "Guys! Air, I need air!" They let her go and sat next to her. "I was just asleep for the night, why is me being awake such a big deal?"

Nia and Kiri exchanged glances, nodded and Nia ruffled Elsa's hair. "We thought you'd never wake up. We tried everything but you just wouldn't budge, not even for food. It's about time you woke up, sleepyhead."

"DID I HEAR SOMEONE SAY THAT ELSA WAS UP!" Anna was next to fly into the room. "ELSA YOU STINKER! WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF THE AWAKE!" She looked at Kiri, who nudged her. "What?" Kiri whispered to her and Anna nodded. "You missed all the meals, you silly little turd! Let's go eat!"

"Whoa!" Elsa laughed as Anna pulled her out of bed and out of her room. "I'm coming!" She followed Anna downstairs.

Kiri and Nia sighed. "She luckily doesn't remember the incident you caused at school, which is good. It also means she doesn't recall seeing the murder that put Blaise's fragments together. I have no idea if she'll be able to see Blaise or hear him, but I think that should be eased into by Dina and not us."

"I agree on everything. I'm just so grateful that she's awake. I was thinking she'd never wake up. How long had she been asleep this time?"

Nia looked to the clock on Elsa's dresser. "Almost a year in our time. I don't know how to calculate that into real world time. But let's just go make sure that she's okay."

Kiri nodded and the two walked out of Elsa's room. As they walked by, Nia could hear Aya was using the weight lifting station to burn off her energy. She smiled and walked downstairs, seeing Elsa happily talking with Anna about dreams she had while asleep. Kiri sat in her usual chair, Arcy drawing at the table. Music was faintly sounding from upstairs, so Blaise was in his room. Astrania smiled, seeing that everyone was happy. 'I'm doing a great job, aren't I?'

I hope you enjoyed! As always, thanks for reading/faving/following! See you in the next chapter!