((For everyone who requested, it's finally starting... *lol*
Also a reminder that Herne is happily mated to 2 women and will NOT be in Harry's mateship.))
Gideon and Herne made their way through the streets in silence. It wasn't as busy as the Festival had been, but it was crowded enough. The Earth Demon was a familiar presence to his right, they had fought together so many times that Herne and Laric almost felt like extensions of himself at times. He always knew where they were, even in the heat of battle. He felt a little off balance however, there was a coldness to his left that he wasn't used to. An emptiness that was happening more and more lately. He shook his head, the ends of his purple braids lightly patting against his neck at the movement. He needed to focus.
They slowed as people spilled out of the pathway to their right. A bright spot of color catching his eyes briefly, and then as he registered what he was seeing he sighed inwardly. Almaya. Damien's daughter was decked out in a bright purple dress with flowing sleeves. The skirt billowed around her legs in a bell shape, and was the perfect match to the bright purple of her wing blotches against the black background color. As she fluttered her wings in excitement, she looked like an excited butterfly. If butterflies had bat wings. Her dark blonde hair was the same shade as her father's, and her light blue eyes had tasteful makeup around them.
Gideon couldn't help but roll his eyes as Almaya pranced about, her attention solely fixated on buying clothes that fit the latest fashion trends. She was completely oblivious to the dangers currently happening in the Realm, but she had always been like this. He had wondered on more than one occasion if she should have been born as an Air Demon instead of Shadow.
Herne, always observant, smirked at Gideon's reaction, his eyes twinkling mischievously. Gideon knew that look all too well. It meant trouble. Elbowing his friend just a touch too hard in the ribs, he glanced around looking for the chaperone Almaya had to have somewhere.
"Nirdue," Gideon called out to Damien's son, who was standing nearby, a mixture of exasperation and amusement etched across the Warrior's face. "You really should keep a closer eye on your sister. She's practically begging for trouble."
"As per usual." Herne muttered under his breath as he turned away to hide a laugh as a cough. The dig to his ribs phasing him not at all.
Nirdue sighed and ran a hand through his medium blonde hair, an ugly and large ring briefly flashing at the gesture. "Believe me, I've tried," he replied wearily.
Gideon watched as Nirdue's expression shifted from exhaustion to annoyance. It was clear that the responsibility of looking after Almaya had worn him down. But Gideon couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for his cousin. Nirdue had always been overshadowed by his sister's vivacious personality and beauty, and looked down upon by his father for being a bit pompous and standoffish even to family. And then Nirdue opened his mouth.
"And besides," Nirdue continued, his tone dripping with bitterness, "it's not like anyone else in this damn family ever takes any responsibility. Between father and his galas, and you getting everything handed to you on a silver platter with none of the work. It always falls on me to clean up their messes."
A surge of anger rose in Gideon that he tried his best not to show. It would only make things worse with Nirdue. None of the work? He wished he had less of the work, sometimes he thought his uncle was testing him to see just how much of the load of the Lordship he could offload onto Gideon's shoulders. The weight of everyone's expectations was constantly pressing down on him.
Herne stepped forward, placing a hand on Gideon's shoulder and squeezing lightly. Jerking his head in Almaya's direction he tried to diffuse the brewing argument.
"Your sister just ducked into another shop."
"I swear, sometimes I think Almaya does these things on purpose just to spite me," Nirdue grumbled, his voice dripping with frustration.
Just then, Almaya skipped over to them, a pile of shopping bags in her arms. Her face lit up when she saw Gideon and Herne, completely oblivious to the tension in the air.
"Hiii!" Shoving the bags in the direction of her brother, Almaya threw her arms around first Gideon and then Herne. Giving each of them a smacking kiss on the cheek, she did a little twirl.
"Isn't my dress perfect? I saw it in the window and I had to have it!" Completely heedless to the bags falling to the ground behind her, or the glare on her brother's face, she doesn't stop chattering long enough to allow them to answer her.
Gideon forced a smile, though his mind was still consumed by the almost argument with Nirdue. He gently disentangled himself from Almaya's embrace and bent down to pick up the fallen shopping bags that were scattered near Nirdue's feet.
"Your dress is stunning, Almaya," he said, mustering enthusiasm in his voice. "But perhaps we should find a more secure way of carrying your purchases. We wouldn't want anything to get damaged."
Almaya's eyes widened in realization as she looked down at the scattered bags on the ground. "Oh no, I didn't even notice! Thank you, Gideon," she mumbled, her cheeks turning a light shade of pink.
Herne chuckled softly, giving Gideon a knowing look. "Never a dull moment with you two around," he remarked, stooping down to help gather the bags.
Nirdue sighed again, his frustration morphing into weariness. "Let's just get this over with and head back home. You said you were done 2 hours ago!"
"But Nirdue, I had to get shoes to match my dress. And then that necklace and earring set was too pretty to leave behind..." Almaya's lip wobbled a little, and her light blue eyes welled up with the first hint of possible tears.
Gideon sighed inwardly as he watched Almaya's little act, knowing exactly what she was doing. She was well aware of the effect her tears had on people, and she used it to her advantage whenever she wanted something, or someone tried to tell her no. Nirdue, too familiar with this routine, frowned and crossed his arms over his chest.
"Don't even start with the waterworks, Almaya," Nirdue warned, his voice tinged with irritation. "I'm not falling for your tricks this time."
Almaya blinked rapidly, her bottom lip trembling as she tried to muster a few more tears. But Nirdue remained unfazed.
"Oh, alright," she huffed dramatically, wiping away non-existent tears from her cheeks. "But I really wanted those earrings!"
Gideon couldn't help but chuckle. Despite her theatrics and mischief-making tendencies, there was something about Almaya that he found endearing. He brushed a finger against her cheek, and once she looked up at him he kissed her on the forehead.
"Please go home cousin, before your brother decides to leave you behind. Herne and I are on our way somewhere on business, so we can't take you home in his place."
Pouting only slightly, Almaya fluttered her wings before folding them back.
"Oh alright. I suppose I've bought enough for today. There's always tomorrow!" Linking her arm through Nirdue's, she skipped down the street dragging her brother and all the shopping bags along with herself.
"Well that was entertaining. I suppose we should get on with things though." Herne grinned and bumped his shoulder against Gideon.
Running a hand down his face, Gideon shook his head and turned slightly to his left before remembering once again, that it was just Herne with him today. Laric was out doing something with Harry and Fionn. Ignoring the knowing look on Herne's face, he wasn't even sure what his friend was implying with that look, he stepped out into the flow of traffic once again.
He still felt off. Like there was something missing, he just couldn't put his finger on what was bothering him. They continued down the bustling streets, the noise of the city surrounding them. Gideon's mind, however, was far from the noise and chaos around him. He couldn't shake off the nagging feeling that something was amiss, something beyond the normal responsibilities and family drama.
Herne poked him playfully in the ribs.
"What's got you so lost in thought? You've been staring off into space for a while now, I've had to adjust our course three different times so you wouldn't walk into something." The Earth Demon chuckled.
Gideon snapped out of his daze, realizing he had been walking absentmindedly. He chuckled sheepishly and rubbed the back of his neck.
I guess I just have a lot on my mind," he admitted, glancing around the busy streets.
"It's just... something feels off today, and I can't put my finger on why."
Herne's hazel eyes twinkled mischievously as he leaned closer to Gideon, his voice dropping into a conspiratorial whisper.
"You know, Gid, sometimes the answer is right in front of you, but you're too blind to see it. Sometimes when something feels off, it's because there's something missing, or someone missing," he said, intentionally drawing out his words.
Gideon furrowed his brow, his confusion evident.
"What do you mean?"
"Well," Herne began, pausing for dramatic effect.
"Sometimes the missing piece is someone you least expect. Someone who has been there all along, waiting for you to realize what's right in front of you."
Gideon's confusion only deepened as he tried to decipher Herne's cryptic words. He glanced around the bustling streets, searching for any hints or clues that could shed light on what his friend was trying to convey.
"Herne, I honestly have no idea what you're talking about," Gideon admitted with a sigh.
Shaking his head, the Earth Demon decided to leave it for another day. Obviously Gideon wasn't quite there yet, but he couldn't quite resist one last bit of mischief.
"I guess you'll just have to figure it out for yourself, my friend," he teased, his voice filled with amusement.
"But mark my words, when you finally realize what's missing, you'll be kicking yourself for days."
Gideon rolled his eyes at Herne's cryptic words, but a small flicker of curiosity had sparked. What could his friend possibly be hinting at? And who or what was the missing piece?
