Lunamor

“Hmm?” Jenny looked over to Jace, now distracted from her confusion about whatever Aaron and Roy were doing. ”Oh, sure!” She hopped up and made her way over to the duo. ”What do you need me to do?” She was grateful for an opportunity to do something other than mope.

@The Aspiring Archivist @RoyalBeeMage

“What are you guys doing?” Were they competing to do something? Maybe Aaron just meant in general. ——— The girl had to be allowed some suspicion; none at all would inherently be even more suspicious. So much erasing wasn’t doing her mind any favors, anyways. @RoyalBeeMage

“Are you feeling any better?” Jenny was worried about him. Collapsing like that after using his powers so much could be dangerous. He was only 12.

Jenny heard Aaron whisper something. Had he woken up? Talking to anyone other than Roy would be preferable. Hopefully he had. ”Aaron?”

Jenny nodded. ”That makes sense.” Would Hades listen to her, the girl who murdered a woman he loved? She was pretty sure he used to love her, since she was his daughter and he visited a few times, but she didn’t know if he still did. She wouldn’t blame him if he didn’t.

Jenny fiddled with Timothy, letting it walk around the table a bit. They did seem to care about her. She wasn’t sure why Roy needed her for the quest so much. She was probably going to be helpful once they got to the underworld, but they could still function without her. Was there something more he needed her for? ”Why do you need me?” Her eyes flashed red. Don’t tell her. Lie. ”Don’t tell her. Lie.”

Suddenly, Jenny noticed Aaron’s sleeping form on the bench next to her. How the heck had she missed that? Hopefully he hadn’t heard much of that. The conversation had sounded pretty suspicious. @RoyalBeeMage

“No. Ed’s gone.” Jenny spoke rather tersely. It was pretty obvious what was wrong. She retrieved Timothy from her pack, Gift leaving the toy and wrapping around her arm instead. When had she put him up?

Jenny nodded. The way Roy had phrased that didn’t sound very reassuring. He has a crush on you, remember? He felt bad about hurting you. He won’t do it again. She glanced around awkwardly, not sure what to do now that she couldn’t think of anything else to say. She opted to scoot to the end of the table away from Roy, sitting with her knees pulled up against her chest. She didn’t want to be alone. Even Roy was better than no one. It would at least allow her to keep an eye on him.

I’d like to ask you to please not stab me again. ”I’d like to ask you to please not stab me again.” She looked down, her loose bun flopping forwards. ”I’m tired of fighting.”

I’m not sure. It doesn’t matter. I can’t prevent it, regardless of what it is. Jenny’s face fell. The voice was right. She couldn’t risk herself too much. She’d promised Ed that she’d come back to him. ”I’m not sure. It doesn’t matter. I can’t prevent it, regardless of what it is.”

I know what you are. I can’t do anything about it. I won’t try to stop whatever it is you’re doing. “I know what you are. I can’t do anything about it. I won’t try to…” That last part was a lie. She wouldn’t let him do some evil thing. She couldn’t lie, not even to Roy. It’s survival or honor, Jenny. Do you want to abandon Ed over this? ”I won’t try to stop whatever it is you’re doing.”

Jenny sighed a long, frustrated sigh. Don’t mention me. She thinks I’m going to just help her gain your trust. She doesn’t know who I am. She doesn’t know that you know me, either. ”Don’t mention me. She thinks I’m going to just help her gain your trust. She doesn’t know who I am. She doesn’t know that you know me, either.”

Jenny’s eyes flashed red once again. I’m trying to get her to trust you. Ask. A better. Question. ”I’m trying to get her to trust you. Ask. A better. Question.”

Jenny’s eyes flashed red and her expression hardened. Don’t mention me to the girl. Ask a better question. ”Don’t mention me to the girl. Ask a better question.” Her nervous look returned.

Jenny eventually managed to stem the flow of tears. She glanced around, looking at who was still in the diner. Only Roy remained. Roy, who’d tried to kill Ed. Roy, who’d impaled her side. Roy, who nobody but Jenny and Ed understood the true danger of. And now she was the only one left who knew his actual nature. She was alone, with no one else to protect her. I can help you. I can stop him from hurting you. How? I’ve helped you in this way before, haven’t I? I’ll let you stay in control. I’ll only tell you what to say. I don’t think- Her eyes flashed red. Fine. Jenny stood up, then walked over to Roy. Her expression was a strange mix of apprehensive and resigned. I need to talk to you. “I need to talk to you.” —————— The boy’s departure had left a hole in the girl’s mind. It provided an opportunity. He’d need to be careful not to reveal that. @RoyalBeeMage

Jenny sat down, placing Gift on the table in front of her. She left a hand on it, using it as an anchor to remind herself that Ed wasn’t going to be gone forever. He’d need Gift back eventually. In the moment, that wasn’t very helpful. She stared at Gift until her vision was blurry enough with tears that she couldn’t see it anymore. She was too embarrassed about crying so much to rejoin the others. For now, she’d sit in that corner. Alone, as always.

She nodded. “I love you.” It wasn’t much of a goodbye, but Jenny wanted those to be her last words to Ed in person, just in case- no, she wouldn’t consider that option. She couldn’t allow that to even be entertained as a possibility.

Jenny smiled and gave Ed one last tight hug. She then pulled back, trying to compose herself. ”I’ll try to get this quest done quickly.”

Jenny nodded. She wouldn’t have to stop talking to him, at least. She wouldn’t be completely alone. Maybe it could be good enough. ”You better not forget.”