CHAPTER 7
The light from the morning sun stretched through the windows and through the drapes of Cecil's bed, striking his eyes and jarring him from his deep sleep. He raised his torso from its place, sheets still covering his unblemished body. For some reason, his body ached as he swung his legs off of the side of his bed and stood up. Ignoring it, he pulled on the pants that he wore yesterday before going to sleep and walked through the door out of his room.
He crept down the hallway as quietly as he can, so as to not disturb his parents' sleep. When he reached their room, he was greeted with a tidy, empty bed. "Probably an urgent meeting" Cecil said, smiling a bit. After walking down the stairs, he thought he heard shuffling coming from his office space. "Probably just the curtains shifting" he thought to himself as he entered the bathroom. "Why are my legs so sore?" he muttered aloud. This time, Cecil heard the sound of subtle footsteps originating from his office. Without so much as a word or second thought, Cecil reached into a nearby drawer, withdrew a pair of rusty, sharp scissors, and quietly left the bathroom.
Cecil's heart raced as he reached the closed door of the room. For some odd reason, he felt eager to greet whatever interloper was intruding in his space. Despite this, he opened the door with all caution, brandishing the improvised weapon in his right hand as he opened the door with his left. "You got up early" a familiar voice spoke to him. She sat in his chair with the book that he had pilfered in her lap, sifting through its contents. Upon seeing the book, Cecil remembered the events of the prior day. "Who…" he started, unable to find the words to convey his confusion.
"I like this book" she said.
"I think an explanation is due"
"I don't owe you anything. In fact, you owe me your life"
"Fine then" Cecil said as he activated his Geass.
"It doesn't work on me" the blonde girl laughed.
"May I ask you who you are, then?" a perplexed Cecil grumbled as he deactivated his power.
"Very well. I assume you recognize my voice?" she asked as she got up and drifted towards Cecil.
"You're the one who gave me this power"
"That I am"
"Well?"
"Well what?"
"Are you going to tell me your name?"
"No"
"Why not?"
"I haven't told anyone my name in ages… however, you can call me H.H., pronounced H-2"
"Fine" Cecil said "What the hell is this power?"
"You have the book and yet you still don't know?"
"I haven't had the time to read it yet"
"Oh, what a client I have this time"
"Just answer the damn question!" Cecil said, irritated.
"Geass, the Power of The King" the girl said.
"Geass?"
"The power to domineer one's mind" she said.
"Wait, wait, wait, let's start over. Who exactly are you?" Cecil asked.
Sighing, H.H. said "My name is H.H., Heir of Death. I am the one whom you've formed a covenant with"
"What does this covenant entail?" Cecil asked.
"That's unimportant right now" H.H. said "So, what do you plan on doing with your Geass?"
"I'm… unsure"
H.H. looked surprised at Cecil's indecisiveness. "That's odd, most people have some idea of what they would use Geass for, some desire they seek to fulfill. You're quite the outlier" she said. Cecil looked directly into her eyes. They were grey, with a large scar which looked like a crack running along glass in her left eye.
"Anyways, do you have any spare bedrooms in this massive house?" she asked bluntly.
"What?"
"You don't really expect me to sleep outside where I can be crushed by knightmares do you?"
"Not my problem" Cecil said "I don't even know why you're here"
"We're bound to one another, so it is your problem, and Geass doesn't come without any stipends"
"And that would be you, I assume"
"That among other things"
"… Fine. I'll make something up to tell my parents. You'll be staying in the guest room" Cecil said, scoffing.
She moved to the doorway and looked back at Cecil, who now seemed to have a grasp on the situation. "I may enjoy this after all" H.H. said with a joyful laugh as she left the room. "What have I gotten myself into?" Cecil thought.