Nyx had not said a word since returning to the hotel. The two had made it just in time with only Larten coming out of his room several minutes later.
Before Evra could get his attention about Nyx, he had already taken off.
He grunted. "Seriously, what's his deal." Evra shook his head before turning his head back towards Nyx.
She was sitting on her bed, legs bunched up and hugging them close to her chest, staring at the mattress.
Trying to reassess herself that she was just seeing things. Didn't help that she looked as white as her hair and was still shaking.
Frowning, Evra sat on the bed next to her. "Hey, do you need anything?"
Nyx shook her head no. "Just… A little cold. " She lied.
"Oh uh okay, lemme adjust the temperature." Evra said, though he knew she was lying.
He got up and went to the space heater and adjusted the temp.
He glanced back over her. "Better?"
She nodded.
Worried, Evra approached her again. "Nyx, seriously, what's wrong?" He confronted her.
She looked up at him with a small whimper. "I… I thought I saw someone."
"Who?" He pressed.
"I-I don't know. Probably was seeing things. I'll be fine." Nyx responded, pushing her hair out of her eyes. "R-really."
Evra frowned even more. Since she trusted him more, he was able to place a hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry, whatever gotten you scared out there, nothing is going to happen to you. You understand me?"
Nyx stared at him before turning to look out the window, gazing out to the city. "I hope so."
The following morning, Nyx had put what she had seen behind her and acted like nothing had happened.
She had gotten up early before Evra and gathered the items the two had bought and carried them over to the table.
First she took some paper and pencil and crayons and began to draw various things as ideas for Christmas presents for Evra and Larten. Using what skills she developed working on costumes and sometimes help Mr. Tall make novelties.
She drew out various things like a doll version of Larten and Evra, a bat and a snake, a playing card and a teddy bear that was green.
Ultimately, she went with a snake that had similar scales to Evra's scales and a cute version of Madam Octa - since Larten didn't take her with them, he might be missing her and wanted something to take with him so he wouldn't be without his pet.
At least that's what Nyx's child-like mind thought.
With a smile, she began the snake doll first since it was the easiest, keeping an ear out for Evra so she could hide everything before he woke up.
Like what she learned about sewing clothes, Nyx drew various templates to use to cut the fabrics precisely.
"Now, do I make it small or big? " Nyx muttered.
She could always get more fabric but she didn't know what size would be perfect for Evra.
Not really knowing that boys don't really tend to play with dolls.
Tis the thought that counts.
After being unable to think of the perfect size, she hears Evra starting to wake up. She quickly gathered what she had out on the table, save for a few drawings, ran over to the bed and stuffing them underneath it, hiding what she could before the snakeboy sees her.
"Uh… what are you doing?" Evra asked, puzzled, rubbing the sand out of his eyes.
"Nothing!" Nyx yelped, quickly standing and turning to him before covering her mouth.
Both she and Evra turned to Larten's door in silence. After a few moments and determined that he wasn't waking up, the two relaxed.
"Gimme a moment and I'll start breakfast." Evra yawned, getting up from bed and headed for the bathroom. Since Nyx can barely reach the stove without standing on a chair - or resorting to hopping on the countertop like the cat she sometimes acts like, he does cook for both of them.
She nodded and watched him close the door behind him.
"Phew, what a close one." Nyx let out a breath in relief, pushing the bit of the colorful fabrics further back with her foot.
Nyx then walked over to the window and peered through the curtain. Outside it was lightly snowing, just barely filling up the footprints that traversed through the courtyard. She did see the snowman she had been working on was demolished.
Poor Frosty.
As she gazes out, she does see a girl, appearing to be at least a couple of years older than her (in appearance) wandering around the yard, as if she was looking for someone, breathing into her bare hands to keep them warm.
The girl looked around before she looked up and saw Nyx.
She smiled and waved friendly at her.
Nyx quickly retreated back.
The girl seems nice, but Nyx didn't want to deal with her. She's more content with the company she already has than making new friends.
A little bit later, Evra and Nyx were outside, the girl was gone by the time they came out. Just decided to do a bit of exploring.
They soon traveled to a much older part of the city. The more rundown district.
Old cobblestone buildings lay ruined, abandoned warehouses. Some buildings even had foliage, crackling vines taking over what was once a busy industrial district, graffiti on a lot of surfaces. Just having an eerie ambience sense to it all.
The sense of which Nyx was all too familiar.
There were fences and signs on several buildings that either said keep out, private property or renovation in progress, but there wasn't a soul around them.
"I always wondered why people would just leave and abandon things they created." Evra said. "What's the point of building something if you just up and abandon it."
"Maybe no one wanted to take care of them, or know how. " She muttered, looking up at one building. It was clear it had several renovations for several businesses before it was just given up. "It's worse when you are forced to watch a place you lived in turn to such disarray."
Evra looked at her with a soft gaze. She hadn't talked about what she experienced or where she came from since Nyx came to them.
"What… What was your home like?" He asked her. "Before you were turned, I mean."
Nyx adjusted her beanie before raising her hands and her fingertips staring back at her. Staring at the scars.
"I don't remember much, but I know it was peaceful. Just my mama and I in our Grove."
"A Grove?"
Nyx nodded, putting her hands in her pockets. "Just a huge dense collection of trees. We never bothered anyone, rarely leaving - well I couldn't leave without mama. Without her, I couldn't get out."
Evra looked confused. "Because you get lost? Were you locked in a room when he… "
She shook her head. "I can't explain it, but I was never tied up or locked up because there was no need to. The Grove kept me from leaving, but he could come and go as he pleased." Nyx looked back up at the creepy buildings. "The house I was born in, once beautiful and filled with warmth, fell apart as years went by, just like these buildings here."
"How… how did you get out then?" Evra asked. He didn't know what she meant by she couldn't leave the Grove if she was never locked in a room or tied up.
Nyx shrugged. "I don't know, I assume what kept me in there wore off." She said, recalling countless among countless times she had made her attempt to run out of the Grove.
She looked towards another building, something caught her eye in one of the windows of this warehouse. A shadowy figure moved past the window.
"Evra, do you believe in ghosts?" Nyx asked.
"I… can't say I have, but Hans swore up and down they exist. Why?"
"This place is filled with them, same as the Grove, let's head back."
Something told Evra that wasn't a joke but instead of pressing her, they headed out.
Later on, the two were about to eat dinner before seeing Larten coming out.
Once again he was leaving.
"Wait." Nyx got up from her chair and went over to him. At first he didn't hear her before she grabbed the end of his coat, causing him to stop.
He looked down. "Huh? Sorry but I need to-"
"When's the last time you ate?" She asked him then.
Larten looked at her puzzled. "I have no-"
He was cut off when she literally flitted in front of him and locked the door in front of him. He stared at her baffled.
Evra's eyes widened when watching them.
"You've been so busy doing whatever it is you're doing, spending all night then coming back and going straight to bed that you probably haven't been taking care of yourself." She grunted. "I'm not moving until you sit down and join us for at least one meal." Then proceeds to sit down in front of the door, back against the frame, legs and arms crossed.
Evra didn't know if he should laugh or fear for her as she and the older vampire who was glaring down at her. He would say something to help but he had no idea what was going to happen.
The two had a stare down. For Larten, he felt like he had no time for this, his attention was needed elsewhere.
"Nyx, move out of the way, now." Larten ordered her.
"Not until you sit with us." Nyx responded stubbornly.
Larten had thought of just grabbing the child and moving her out of the way, if it wasn't for the fact that any unwanted touching would put her on the offense.
The two stubborn vampires stared at each other before Larten ultimately gave into the little girl and begrudgingly went to sit at the table.
Nyx smugly grinned at her success and got up and went to grab him a plate, just some pork chops with mashed potatoes and gave it to him and grabbed her plate and sat down next to Evra.
"Thank you." Larten grumbled before grabbing his fork and began eating, muttering how this was ridiculous under his breath.
Evra tried so hard not to snicker as they ate.
Nyx just smiled as she ate, her legs swinging back and forth in her little triumph.
As they ate however, Nyx was curious as to what had his attention. "So… what's got you so busy?" She asked him. She does know he said something that needs him to deal with.
Larten glanced at her as he wolfs down the food. After a few chews and swallows, he spoke. "It is nothing for you to be concerned about."
Evra wanted to say something but he had no idea what to say.
"We're just worried, that's why I'm asking. Maybe we can help."
"No." He sternly said before putting the fork down and wiped his face and hands with a napkin." Thank you for the meal. " He said before getting up, went to the door, unlocked it and headed out.
Nyx frowned when she watched him leave.
Evra reached over and rubbed her back. "Well, that was worth a shot." He said.