"Goshenite, I need to ask you a favor."
"Yes?"
Red Beryl called from home, as her servant cleaned in the background, occasionally flicking her eyes over to the white light the screen produced, and the peaceful image contained inside it.
The mistress glanced to her slave a short time before speaking. "Would you mind looking after Pearl while I go to Earth?"
Goshenite's eyes widened, but she did not reply.
In fact, she hung up.
And Pearl put down her washcloth. "Madame, are you leaving?" Her pale hands coiled up. One of them nearly covered her gem.
Red placed both palms flat against the machine and exhaled slowly. "Yes, Pearl. I am."
"But why, Madame? Does it have to do with that Morganite Lady?"
"It does. I'm going to Earth to capture her, and I need you to stay here. You'll love staying with Goshenite, assuming she accepts. Though, I have to speak with her first. She's coming over now, so put your cleaning supplies away."
Pearl sat down instead and stared at nothing in particular. Her mind worked itself into a hurricane as she retraced each word Red had said. She chewed up her tongue and bit her lips.
"Please let me come with you, Madame."
"Absolutely not."
"Please! I love Lady Goshenite, but—I'm your Pearl! What am I supposed to do if you're—"
Red rose her hand. "The answer is no. This is an extremely dangerous mission and I don't want you getting hurt."
"Madame!"
"No! You're not coming! Now pick up your things before she arrives!"
There was a knock at the door.
"Hurry up, Pearl!"
The servant remained seated, with her hands together over her lap. Then the doors opened and Goshenite stepped inside and crossed her slender arms.
Why in the world are you going to Earth, Red Beryl? I'll gladly watch your Pearl if you truly intend on leaving, but I couldn't disapprove more of this petty revenge you want to carry out. I implore you to stay here.
"Hello, Lady Goshenite."
The other aristocrat shattered her glare and turned to the servant on the couch. "Hello, Pearl," but she went back to full force once the greeting was over, light silver eyes demanding an explanation at what was essentially knife point.
Goshenite, it's a mission from my Diamond and this is what I need to do to complete it. I tried sending—
From Yellow Diamond?
Why yes, she is 'My Diamond.'
This is ridiculous! I'm sure this was your idea in the first place! Don't you try to pass it off as though Yellow Diamond is the one who's insisting you go. I'm surprised she agreed to this at all!
"What does it even matter?" Red spoke out loud. "I'm going regardless of whose idea it is!"
Well call it off, please!
"No!"
In response, Goshenite placed her forehead against her palm and exhaled, and took a seat next to her friend's Pearl who looked up and pursed her lips.
"I like your hair, Lady Goshenite." Though, her voice still made its sound in a down cast manner, as that young servant watched her own feet.
"Thank you." A slight breath. "I like yours too."
Again, everyone was quiet, save for the tempest going on between the two nobles. They could have easily destroyed everything in Red's chambers if such a storm were real.
"Pearl, please leave the room."
"Yes, Ma'am." So she stood. "It was nice seeing you, Lady Goshenite."
"You as well, Pearl."
And the slave went into the leisure room and coiled herself into the chair set in the corner.
Red sat next to her guest.
"Please don't go."
The darker gem raised her brows and widened her eyes at the spoken request.
Goshenite continued:
Why do you want to go so badly? I've already told you, killing her won't make you feel any better. Do you think I'm wrong? There are so many other ways to make your Diamond happy, if that's what this is about…but it isn't. I can feel that it isn't.
Red chewed up one side of her cheek. Though, with her newly sharpened teeth, the process was more violent than it would have been otherwise. I've been ashamed of myself lately. If I can just present Yellow Diamond with her gem—
But you can redeem yourself in other ways. Nothing good ever happens on Earth. That planet has given the Diamonds countless problems. Perhaps there's something about it. The few gems there are troublesome, but I tend to think it's cursed. Even if you go, there's no guarantee you'll come back. And killing is harder than you think. It's not something you should willingly want to do, Red.
Have you ever—
But Goshenite's thoughts turned to static.
You don't want me to know?
You shouldn't see it. Her message scrambled somewhat due to the cloud of secrets and its strong electric charge.
I was just going to bring her back.
But you'll still be directly responsible for her death.
A brief image appeared like a snap of the fingers of Goshenite's katana and a puddle of blood it had ripped out of someone else and spilled on the floor.
"Finish me."
It disappeared as aggressive static devoured it whole.
The phantom sighed. Though her breath was interrupted by the poor reception caused by her internal rain cloud. I forget how young you are sometimes, but please take my advice. If you can avoid being responsible for someone else's death, please do. It's a hell of a thing to live with.
This was usually about the time that the calm realm between them drifted in—where there were cherry trees, or temples, or maintains covered in peaceful layers of snow. But the blue skies and tranquility did not come. The internal whispers didn't turn to natural dialogue but remained like tangled wires and uneven currents bunched up on the floor between them.
Really, neither noble looked at one another directly. Goshenite's face was censored with charged pixels and Red became possessed with the notion of her own feet.
The static in her friend's mind acted like a wall between them, and though Red was curious to look over it and uncover the secrets, she glanced to those small black fangs as her skin comprehended fire, and her shoulder knew the sensation of being split wide open.
Her blood still stained Goshenite's rug.
The ghost stood. I wish I could stay, but…Promise me you'll at least consider calling off this mission. You're so stubborn, but maybe you can think about it, if only because I'm begging you to.
With that, their pupils finally lined up with one another.
Goshenite bent her brows and her lips.
I'm going to return now, Red.
You can stay, if you want.
No. Perhaps later. Good bye.
And the other noble left just about as silently as she came, leaving Red alone in a quiet room with a Pearl that did not come out.
Though, you could practically hear her quivering behind the walls.
And in the rare chilling silence, Red Beryl wove her fingers together and related her own cloud of pixelated sorrow.