Posted by Civilian Kenzo B’tren-Hyrushi (Governor) in Governor’s Home - TMODJ (PRISM)

Posted by Civilian Karilan Massat (Owner, Quill and Parchment Books) in Governor’s Home - TMODJ (PRISM)

(snip)

Hyrushi was silent as he stared over the city for some time; obsidian eyes seeming to see every detail and individual across the vista before them. “I think you should tell her of Rogers arrival, but keep your brother’s appearance as a surprise. And if I may inject myself into you family affairs, allow me the opportunity to speak with Jourin before he makes it to Oed. Establish some… ‘guidelines’… for his arrival. Perhaps such a discussion from a stranger could be better received than it coming from his sister.”

Hyrushi, Governor

Surprise washed through her and spilled onto her face. From a certain perspective, it made sense to do the reverse where telling Eela about Roger would give her something lovely to look forward to, something that would be hard enough to find at a time like this. On the other hand, she didn’t want anyone assuming the worst of Jourin’s intentions. “Perhaps,” Caridee said with a nod. “But I do feel it’s important to say that one, my mother will be happy to see him. I know this because when I first suggested making the trip for Batarael just after she arrived on Oed, I suggested I might ask Jourin if he might join us and she perked up at the idea, even if she seemed skeptical he’d agree. Which leads me to, two, Jourin has had other things happening in his life that have complicated how he’s interacted with everyone, not just my mother. Those changes are huge and not mine to share, but a lot will make more sense to her when he arrives.”

Caridee stopped and turned to Kenzo. “I’m not opposed to you talking to Jourin, on the contrary. But I caution that how you approach him will matter. If you are Kenzo, Eela’s friend, wanting to make sure she’s not left worse off, that is one thing. But if Governor Hyrushi is making observations, then that’s going to come across very differently. I just want to be certain that Jourin isn’t treated like the enemy here. Like I said, I don’t know what all went down between them and exactly how my father played a role, and unless you are privy to more about that than I am, which is possible, I would exercise caution about how any of this is approached.”

~Caridee

Hyrushi nodded. “I agree. And I do not view your brother as the enemy. Far from it, actually. It is my belief that he, like you and your mother, are victims of the behavior of your father.” He turned and looked directly at Caridee, and there seemed to be an underlying… energy… to his words as he spoke, even if his tone remained neutral. “He is the enemy. And I am sorry if that hurts or offends you, but I have no tolerance for those who use their loved ones. I have even less for those who do harm to those I care for. I care for your mother. I consider her… more than a friend. And to that end I will tolerate no one causing her pain.” He then turned and looked out over the city. “I will not dictate to your brother, nor will I attack him in any way. I want him to come and spend time with his mother. She loves him and misses him terribly. I merely wish to ensure that your father’s influence is not a factor in his participation.” He looked back at her again. “Your mother trusts you and your brother, as a mother should. You and Jourin are not my children. Today, you have proven that I can trust you with your mother’s well-being. I wish to give your brother the same opportunity.” and he looked back at the city.

Hyrushi, Governor

Caridee was good at hiding her feelings when she needed to. It was simply the result of being a therapist and not allowing her own emotions to cloud what was happening with her patient. But here and now everything was so much more raw. “Your words don’t hurt me,” she said softly, as she struggled to control that wave of distress. “My father’s actions are the problem. And when everything went down here with him and Mom missed our planned call, I reached out to Roger. It was so unlike her not to respond or give some sort of warning. When we suspected that it was him on Oed, Roger made it clear just how much she had shielded Jourin and I from her reality. And it was harder these last years. Rarely were the four of us in the same room. I was the one at the hospital with her most of the time. I should have known then, should have connected the dots by how little he could stand being there with her as she struggled.”Caridee shook her head. “I will never forget that call with her, Governor. I can’t unknow what I know now. So, yes, talk to Jourin if you feel you need to, but also know that I wouldn’t still go ahead with our plans if I thought Jourin was coming for the wrong reasons. You also need to remember that there will be pain, for him and I and my mother as we finally get a chance to hash this all out. You can’t protect her from that. It’s a necessary part of the healing process we all desperately need. Thank goodness family therapy is a thing,” she said with a rueful smile.

“I don t protect people from needed pain, Doctor. I do, however, ensure that such pain is as shortly lived as possible.’ Hyrushi said.

Back upstairs in the penthouse, everything had been quiet as Eela allowed herself to succumb to the deep fatigue. She slept soundly for awhile, before things began to shift. Free of the sedative, her brain could shift through the phases of sleep naturally, and that meant she could dream.

---

Eela stood in her foyer, the epitome of elegance in the magenta gown from the gala. She smiled as the familiar presence approached from behind and hands gently slid down her bare arms. She turned to meet Dash’ smiling eyes, lit up with genuine happiness to see her and she was flooded with warmth. He took her in his arms and then they began to dance, waltzing gently in a circle around her entryway. The music began to speed up, but neither were concerned, even as they moved faster along with it. Faster and faster they spin and normally her vertigo would have made that impossible. Faster and faster, tighter and tighter, her heart raced as they felt like they were moving out of control and yet they were fixed in space, their eyes glued to each other.

The next thing she knew Eela felt like she was in freefall until her body crashed into something. She lay prone and she could feel each part of her body that hurt, including her head. She knew if she could touch that wound, she would see blood. There was so much pain! Lying on her back, a shadow fell over her, the form of something hovering. Another brief stab of pain and then a moment later she sucked in a breath that wouldn’t come. She desperately tried to take in air but it was like there was no more left in the room. The shadow dissipated and as she stared at the ceiling, she knew this was how it ended. Strange after everything that it came to this.

---

In the garden, Hyrushi scowled. Something was wrong. He looked back across the bridge and his jaw set. “Eela.” he said as if speaking to her directly before he took off running at a speed that was wholly surprising for anyone who could see it.

Wide eyed, Caridee followed. Her empathic abilities were really limited and best in the same room. She did however feel an unease that was not her own as she hurried after Kenzo.

Eela gasped and bolted upright out of Karilan’s arms. Tears streaming down her face, she desperately tried to fling the weighted blanket off of them and escape the bed, but she was still exhausted and weak and she all but slid out of the bed to floor, sitting against the side and shaking as she tried to draw in a normal breath.

~Caridee & Eela

Hyrushi, Governor

Karilan was a light sleeper, and when Eeela began to move, they awoke and watched her closely. Just as she was about to wake her was when Eeela sat up and Karilan wrapped their arms around her and began pulling the blanket down. “Eela! Eela, it’s okay! You are okay! It’s me! It’s Karilan! You are safe!”

Karilan

But Eela was frantic, as if she was both too inside her body ad entirely out of it at the same time. She couldn’t make sense of anything other than the pain and terror that lingered in her mind and body.

Hyrushi burst into the room and moved to Eela’s side of the bed. He didn’t speak, he just set his hands on either side of her head and, for the first time since he had known her, he opened his mind fully to her and smothered her mind in all the nothing his vast power would allow without harming her.

Her hazel eyes focused and she finally was able to take a proper breath, though is shuddered through her body. Tears still streamed down her eyes.

Inside of their consciousnesses, there was nothing. It was just white, with the two of them standing face to face. Kenzo looked at her and smiled slightly. “You know you could have just called for me. I was right outside. You didn’t need to go to such lengths just to get my attention.”

Kenzo

In this space, Eela could breath more easily and this space felt strangely familiar. It was almost a physical manifestation of the strange connection they formed. Eela would guess that it truly came into play that night of sushi of sake. It was a safe space they had carved out where nothing else could interfere and it was strange luxury on the chaos that was their lives. “What can I say, I’m a dramatic woman,” she said, feeling the smirk that not even her mind could generate. “I hate that you have felt what he felt now. And sleep and I are not going to be friends for the next while either.”

Coming to the doorway of the bedroom, Caridee wore a frantic expression and looked at Karilan. “What happened?!”

~Eela & Caridee