Elijah blinked slowly as he turned his head, scanning the casino with a raised eyebrow. His cigarette smoke swirled towards the ceiling, mixing with the lingering aroma of perfume, alcohol, and sweat in the air. Casino coins and roulette balls clanked as chosen gambled. His mind felt padded. He glanced at his drink, then at Sarah, then at the bartender sliding glasses like nothing was wrong.
His eyebrows raised as he stared at the fake potted plants situated behind the bar. Their leaves didn't have that cheap plastic sheen—there were veins in them, tiny color bruises like something that had actually grown. He glanced back at Sarah as she sipped her alcoholic beverage. She raised an eyebrow at him when she noticed him staring at her.
"You see something you like?" Sarah asked as she finished her drink.
"Did you put something in this?" Elijah asked flatly as he glanced down at his shot glass.
Sarah raised an eyebrow and laughed. "What gave you that idea?"
Elijah's eyes narrowed. "Mind is foggy...don't know why."
Sarah smirked. "Can't hold your liquor?"
Elijah rolled his eyes as he put out his cigarette in an ashtray. "You know I can," he grumbled, then lit another cigarette. "Which is why I am wondering if you put something in my drink."
"Stop being paranoid, Elijah. I don't need to drug you to get what I want."
Elijah shook his head, then finished his drink. "Whatever...so are you going to spill the tea or keep drinking?"
Sarah smirked, then crossed her legs. "Such a boor," she said, smiling like she'd enjoyed saying it as she gestured toward a group of chosen playing roulette. "See that group over there?" Sarah whispered.
Elijah exhaled a cloud of smoke as he glanced over at the group. His eyes narrowed, focusing on the yellow, green, and brown masks on the right side of their faces. He noticed them whispering amongst themselves, then glancing over towards the opposite side of the casino where Arthur and Amos played blackjack. Lex joined the table and flicked a glance at the man in the green mask before placing his chips down.
"Is Lex part of your group?" Elijah asked as he watched Lex talk with Arthur and Amos as they played blackjack.
"No, he has his own little faction over there," Sarah replied, then pointed at the green masked chosen wearing a designer silk baroque outfit. "And one of them is Rachel's fiancé."
Elijah's eyes widened as he glanced back at Sarah. "Well, shit."
Sarah chuckled. "Well, shit indeed," she replied, then ordered another round of shots. "And if they are an alliance, it's very likely her brother is also a part of the group."
Elijah scratched his salt and pepper beard. "Is he here?"
Sarah shrugged as she tipped the bartender. "Not that I can tell."
"Then the room placement wasn't just for Lex's pockets...it's strategic," Elijah said as he smoked.
"Exactly," Sarah replied as she took a cigarette from Elijah's coat pocket.
Elijah raised an eyebrow. "You could have asked for one?"
Sarah smirked and shrugged. "Could have, but I also could have kept this intel to myself also...soooo," she said as she lit the cigarette. She then tapped Elijah's shoulder, gesturing towards the Texas Hold 'em table. "You see that young woman in the orange mask?"
Elijah swiveled in his seat as he glanced at the silver-haired woman donning the pumpkin orange mask. "Yeah, what about her?"
"Her name is Alice, and we recently recruited her to our merry band of chosen," Sarah explained as she smiled at Alice, who glanced back at her.
Elijah smoked as Alice excused herself from her table, then made her way over. Her satin black tailcoat jacket competed for attention with her loud orange mask and long silver locks that glistened underneath chandelier lighting.
Sarah smoked as she crossed her legs again. "How's everything going over there, dear?" Sarah asked as Alice sat down at the bar.
"Other factions are forming as expected. Nobody is going solo," Alice replied as she crossed her legs, then looked at Sarah and Elijah. "Is he with us?" She asked as she stared at Elijah's gray mask.
"Not yet, just an old friend of mine," Sarah replied as she smiled at Elijah as she smoked.
"I'm not a turncoat...don't get your hopes up," Elijah replied as he rolled his eyes.
Sarah chuckled. "Alice, this is Elijah Thompson. He was my bodyguard way back in the day," she introduced as she drank. "Elijah, this is Alice Vonevermoore of the Empire of Augustine."
Elijah nodded, then sipped his drink. His chestnut eyes drifted towards the many pockets in Alice's jacket and knee-high tactical combat heels. He noticed the cold, analyzing gaze in her icy blue eyes.
"You're a thief or an assassin... no, you're both, aren't you?" Elijah asked as he lit another cigarette.
Alice smiled as she ordered a drink. "Good eye," she complimented as she swiveled in her seat. "Though I can tell you're not just a bodyguard, Elijah Thompson."
Sarah smirked and then whispered into Alice's ear.
Alice's eyes narrowed as a smile stretched on her face. "Oh...he is that guy?" she chuckled. "We must converse in private sometime and share trade secrets, Mr. Butcher of Corwood."
Elijah sighed and then shook his head as a frown formed on his face. "That won't be happening. This conversation is over," he grumbled as he stood up.
"Don't be like that, Elijah. Sit down...she would have figured it out eventually anyway," Sarah said as she grabbed Elijah's arm. "You can't just dip without spilling some tea yourself...a deal is a deal."
"I have to agree," Alice replied as she stood up. "Intel is valuable...you don't get all this information just for free, Mr. Elijah."
"Is that a threat?"
"It doesn't have to be so long as you hold up your end of the bargain," Alice shrugged. "I am doing a courtesy by asking for equal exchange of intel. Don't make me take it," Alice said, still smiling. "I do that for a living."
Elijah scoffed as he glared at Sarah, then at Alice. "Fine....walk with me then."
Alice smiled and nodded.
"Not you," Elijah grumbled as Sarah stood up.
Sarah's mouth dropped as she fluttered her fan. "Rude!" she replied as she sat back down and crossed her legs. "You sure? Could we gloss this misunderstanding over the old-fashioned way? Some dick instead of intel...seems like a fair exchange," she smiled with a wicked grin.
Elijah rolled his eyes. "Not happening, Sarah. Go manipulate someone else."
Sarah rolled her eyes as she swiveled in her seat. "Fine...but I will get what I want...I always do eventually," she replied as she ordered another drink.
Elijah grumbled under his breath as he gestured Alice to follow him to the elevator.
"Mixing business with romance, too? Not as professional as I would have expected, Mr. Elijah," Alice flatly said as she entered the elevator with him.
Elijah lit a cigarette as he hit the twenty-first floor. "I generally don't, but Sarah is of a different cloth. She has a knack for getting her way."
Alice smirked. "That's because she is a narcissist."
"Why would you team with her then?" Elijah asked as the elevator descended.
Alice crossed her arms. "Because she is a useful narcissist. I also like her music."
"Did she mention my group has a musician as well?"
Alice raised an eyebrow as she turned her head towards Elijah. "No...but she did mention a girl named Emily."
Elijah chuckled as he smoked. "Of course she didn't. Emily is the girl who battled her in a music duel in Leonore."
"I guess Sarah lost since she failed to mention this. A narcissist always leaves out details of humiliation."
"You might want to reconsider your alliance. Sarah will stab you in the back eventually."
"She can try...it won't end well for her," Alice replied.
"So does this count as intel?" Elijah asked as the elevator stopped on the twenty-first floor.
"It does, but I can't share this with them. So yeah, how about you show me this Emily girl and we call it even...deal?"
Elijah nodded as they left the elevator. "Alright, that will work."
Elijah led Alice down the corridor, the mulberry carpet swallowing their footsteps against the onyx color hallway. Small statues, surreal and abstract paintings, and decorative plants aligned the passageway.
Elijah's eyes flicked to the chandelier lights. Their warmth felt too deliberate, like someone had turned the world's color temperature up by hand. The air smelled of perfume, flora, and sex. Alice's gaze tracked the potted arrangements along the wall—orchids, pale and elegant.
"These are not on my floor...kind of jealous," Alice muttered as she stopped briefly to smell the flowers.
"Really?" Elijah asked, then stopped as he looked at the flowers. His eyebrows raised as he tried to remember if they were there when he first arrived.
"Yeah...there are potted plants on other floors, but they are fake. These are actually real orchids," She explained as she carefully plucked a few then put them in her pocket.
"You like flowers?"Elijah asked as he watched Alice.
Alice chuckled. "Of course...I am a woman."
"A deadly one."
"But a woman nonetheless," Alice laughed. "Alright, where is this Emily?"
Elijah gestured down the hallway as he started to walk again. His eyes narrowed as he smelled flora coming from Emily and Rachel's hotel room. He leaned towards the door, listening for any clues of what might be going on before knocking, but heard nothing.
KNOCK....KNOCK
"Y'all awake?" Elijah asked as he knocked on the door.
There was no reply.
He glanced at Alice, then knocked again.
"Hey, kid, you up!?"
"It's fine...we can try again later," Alice said as she rubbed her hands through her long, straight silver hair.
"You sure?"Elijah asked as he glanced back at Alice.
Alice nodded. "We will have plenty of time to make introductions."
The doorknob turned just as Alice began to walk down the hallway.
"What is it? Rachel asked as she answered the door. She rubbed her glassy eyes, then yawned.
"Sorry, didn't know if you were up or not," Elijah replied as he rubbed his neck.
"It's fine," Rachel yawned, then looked at Alice with a raised eyebrow. "Who is this?"
"Alice Vonevermoore of the Empire of Augustine. Pleased to make your acquaintance, fellow chosen." Alice smiled.
"Likewise, I am Rachel Ailuo Lianza of the Empire of Augustine," Rachel replied as she rubbed her eyes and stepped into the hallway.
"I know that name... you're from that family," Alice replied as she crossed her arms, then looked at Elijah before turning her head back towards Rachel.
Rachel rubbed her hands through her hair as she leaned on the wall. "Vonevermoore? That is not a name I am familiar with. Which house are you from?"
Alice shook her head. "I am not of nobility...they hire me for specific jobs...if you catch my meaning."
Rachel nodded her head. "Oh... you're one of those," she said and then looked at Alice's orange mask. "You're not affiliated with my family, right?"
Alice shook her head.
"Good."
"Is Emily awake?" Elijah asked.
Rachel shook her head.
"Is she alright?"
"Yeah, she cuddled up with pepper."
"Disappointing," Alice interjected as she crossed her arms. "How about I steal Rachel for a little while and we can call it even?" Alice asked as she looked at Elijah.
"Wait, what?" Rachel asked as she glanced up at Elijah.
Elijah rubbed his neck. "Long story, but I got some intel from her and Sarah, and they want something in return."
Rachel rolled her eyes. "Oh, my favorite game. Political intrigue...how lovely."
"Well, you're the best suited for it," Elijah shrugged.
"Yeah, yeah...fine...I will pay your debt, Elijah," Rachel groaned as she leaned off the wall. "Emily has no filter anyway. Alright, lead the way, Alice Vonevermoore."
"I will bring her back in an hour or so," Alice said as she glanced at Elijah. "We will talk later, Elijah."
Elijah nodded as he watched Rachel and Alice leave in the elevator. His eyebrow raised as a strong floral scent leaked from behind Emily's hotel door. He creaked the door open and stepped inside. Emily was fast asleep in her bed with Pepper cuddled up on her chest. Potted orchids and cherry blossoms aligned the window. The flowers blossomed and stretched upward despite the absence of sunlight.
Elijah's boots creaked on the wooden floor as he walked towards them. He glanced at Emily and Pepper, who remained fast asleep on her chest. Emily's notebook lay on the nightstand, covered in petals. The sweet aroma lingered in the air as Elijah reached for it and opened it to the last entry.
I wake up where the cosmos bloom,
Chosen masks in a perfume wound.
Thread and needle in mercy hands,
She stitches soft what I can't withstand.
My reflection warms, I'm almost there,
Eyes like sunrise, tangled hair.
Every window shows what I could be,
If the ENGINE would stop punishing me.
Oh, the sirens sing in frequencies sweet,
Painting tomorrow through broken streets.
If you listen close, they'll tell you this:
Sewn in a bloom star dress,
Stitched with love, I can't confess.
Chosen bruises fade away,
In a sky that forgives the day.
Sewn in a bloom star dress,
Where do orphans go to rest?
The needles kiss and leave their light,
Binding me to what feels right.
A future wrapped in future's grace,
Breathing color into the waste.
You called me cold, called me numb,
Now I'm blooming—what have I become?
Become?
Your voice hums like the ENGINE's hymn,
Mechanical mercy under my skin.
Oh, the sirens sing in frequencies sweet,
Painting tomorrow through broken streets.
If you listen close, they'll tell you this:
Sewn in a bloom star dress,
Sewn in a bloom star dress,
Sewn in a bloom star dress,
Sewn in a bloom star dress,
Sewn in a bloom star dress—
Elijah's eyes watered as he closed the diary and laid it back down on the nightstand. He glanced at Emily, then at the flowers. His mind drifted towards the last time she slept and his conversation with Shiyu. Emily remained blissfully unaware as Elijah plucked an orchid and took it with him as he left her room.