"You really think these hands of yours could save lives?"

Voices echo in my head and I cover my ears. I realize they're trapped in the skull. They reverberate through my bones. I can't suppress the shudder before it strikes me right in the core - can't describe it as a heart, doubtful whether it even exists nowadays. My classification? Null. Probably overloads machines equipped for modern medicine. 

Going to class is weird because I'd be listening to a lecture and suddenly they mention something about cleanups and my hands start twitching. It's not particularly unpleasant as much as it keeps me from taking notes. At least it means I'm staying alert. I'll just power through it as I always have. 

On another note I realize my fingertips have turned ashen. Checking other extremities reveals the same effect overall - must be from the black blood. It looks like I have constant frostbite. I've started wearing gloves that actually have fingers now - gets harder when I need to use any tactile senses but at least I can ask Koriol to help during labs. He probably knows something's up, but he's shown no sign of it. Didn't even ask why I was wearing gloves at home. Makes things easier, but it's also eerie - always has been. Koriol is a force to be reckoned with when it matters. He claims he's returning the favour for me saving his life, but really, I would've been locked away long ago if not for his elaborate planning.

I've also been feeling... cold, lately. Not to the point that I'd die, but... Nevermind that. The numbness helps ease my mind. I'm better off embracing it.

New Orleans, Louisiana. I remember this place - I haven't been to the heart of the city before, but in a way I felt right at home. Was that wrong? It shouldn't be a home, should it? You should be happy, you're close to us again, you could even come ba-

I heard there was a strange fire around here some months ago, and someone got melted. I thought people just burned, but I guess not. Weird things happen in Louisiana, it's actually pretty funny considering how I'm from here and I'm pretty funny. 

Anyways, she told me she could do some sort of upgrade on me. Of course I chose vision, it's like having double the artistic vision now that I can see strange colours in the dark! Might even help me draw in the dark. Photosensitive materials are finally within my grasp, gotta use this in my final project or something. 

Sometimes I wonder if I’ve ever met Lina here when I still lived here, but it doesn't feel like things would be this surreptitious. For one they would never have allowed it - she's not exactly the kind of person that Father would look for. Not to mention Leopold’s really cool and he would definitely not have liked us. We would've called him a “heathen”, so I had a little trouble trying to figure out how I felt about him. Then I realized I don't have to decide so quickly anymore. Lina’s here, and for what it's worth, I feel a little safer around her. She promised she'd make sure no one approached us at the airport after all, and she kept that promise.

It felt like a little field trip. And what's a field trip if you don't go to a local attraction? I've always wondered what art galleries around here were like. Basically, wherever I’m going, my first thought is always to go find art. It's for inspiration! It's to tell myself, “If they can, I can too!”

So we went to the New Orleans Museum of Art! Turns out Lina is also pretty artsy, it's always nice being able to talk about art with people that aren't my classmates - there's nothing wrong with them, but art should be more widespread! You don't need a degree to look at things and have an opinion on them. 

At some point Lina started talking about "Stańczyk”. She mentioned helplessness and spiraling and “all you could do is watch”, and… gee, who hurt her, am I right?

But I get it. Who am I to judge? Upbringing definitely has something to do with what you see in a work - it's like I get to peek at a little piece of people that would never pop up otherwise. It's pretty neat.  

It's not that Luc has nothing to say about the painting, or that she fails to see the intent behind it. She has been staring at that desolate face for a long time now, have you noticed? We aren't stupid - we can understand basic human emotional cues. It just hits a little too close to home for her to say anything - and by home, I mean the cage that had called itself our Family for the first decade of our life. 

The bumbling of a party next door, faded music whose bass holds us captive no matter how far we go, an ethereal question of, "What am I doing here?" 

I'd be a fool not to stop and think of all the horrible news that cursed letter holds. The drapes are green and the tablecloth is muddled - there is no extravagance left in this room. The jester's eyes are trained forward, undistracted yet haunted by the unknowable.

...We remember holding our eyes open for so long we were convinced they'd crack and shatter and we'd finally be free from seeing. But now, it's our only path forward. Where else could we go? We've already escaped one place, is that not enough?

Her sketches were really cool, we started sharing our drawings and stuff and I didn't know she was a fashion designer! And a streamer! I've always wanted to draw clothing but the proportions are never right. All the fabric looks flat. Gotta set up some days where we just start drawing together, I have to learn from the expert. She's been doing so much, apparently she's got rats now. I wonder why she even takes time out of her day to hang out with me. She seems like she's got a lot to do, and here I am flying to Louisiana for the funsies.

It took a lot to get Luc to come back out of her shell.

I wonder if we're friends? Either way I hope Lina enjoyed our little outing. Maybe next time I'll ambush her during her stream. :)

Spent some time reflecting on what I needed to get done.

Paying back debts seems like a good start.

Texted Luc mentioning that I could grant them some insight.

Asked for enhanced vision, so I had Leopold chauffeur us to the Manor where I performed the transfusion.

Afterwards, she insisted on visiting the New Orleans Museum of Art. I tried to refuse but she looked incredibly sad. Puppy dog eyes and everything.

...so we went.

It was fun. We chatted about some of the pieces and what we liked about them. She seemed a lot more knowledgeable on the subject and chattered about how they made her feel. I couldn't really relate, so I thought of one piece that really made me feel something. I brought up "Stańczyk" and how I could feel that sense of helplessness as you could do nothing but watch as things spiral out of control around you. I don't know how she felt about that, so I just sorta moved past that.

We started drawing. Sketching.

I showed her some of my ideas for different outfits and dresses and concepts for what I want to make in the near future. I think she enjoyed looking through them.

Hers were... intriguing. Incredibly abstract and a lot of flowers. She seemed as chipper as ever.

Mentioned the stream to Luc and she mentioned that she'd love to join, but I had to unfortunately tell her no, for now. I'm still trying to grow the channel a bit and she seems like a busy person, so I'd have to take her up on her offer later down the line.

Now, about Prez's name...

I didn't think it through.

That's how it's always been. I think a lot, but never about the right things - if I come up with a plan it goes awry and I'm stuck stumbling blindly between the lines. But as always I thought I had it under control - but this was Jacob we were talking about. Predictable as he might be, there's something lurking that I still can't pinpoint. It certainly isn't human. It's not supposed to exist, but who am I to declare who "belongs"?

The plan was simple. Go, make him fall asleep, take the necklace, leave. And maybe eat something.

I forgot to account for if he'd stashed it in that locker of his. I saw it in use - had I forgotten?

They'd never let him act so carelessly. 

My next plan? Same as before, but I'd stage a struggle and a message on my Notes app. I'd leave a drop or two of blood to pretend someone else had taken me and the necklace. So I tried again a bit after that. I thought he'd pull it out. I could see them - the spirits, the ghosts, the guilt, whatever they called themselves. I really don't care. I just want them gone.

But...

But then he said-

God. He told me, "We're done." 

It affected me far worse than I could imagine. I set a tree on fire. The words rang in my ears and I thought I was going to go deaf from it. What was that supposed to mean? We were never anything. He made it sound like a breakup and I haven't even had a relationship yet - not to mention he's like 30. To be fair that probably wasn't Jacob talking, but that just further motivated me to wipe them off this plane of existence. 

So where was the necklace?

Of course it was never the necklace. It was just wishful thinking that led me to think...

But this is the real world. You can't use magic to solve someone's mental issues this easily. Exorcisms are a different story. Do I still have friends back in HK that might know more? Hm... It's been years... but I've never erased their numbers either.

I could've killed him then and there. It would've been so easy. Should've required nothing but my knife. But I couldn't. I lodged it in a tree instead. It wasn't the time. Jacob is... a friend. That word is warm, safely warm, like a protective blanket cocoon made to shield from all the cold in the world. I can only hope he meant that in the moment. That's all I can expect for now.

Can't guarantee that he'll keep his promises, but if things are as they seem, I'll have to kill him later on. I wonder what I'd prefer by then - for 'him' to fight back, or for him to go peacefully?

Then he asked about... me. My past. He's one of the only people to, besides Koriol. Yet another parallel. Seriously, I'm going to go insane if Koriol becomes a Contractor too.

Yet in the end... I will make it through this. I should. I'm not doing these jobs for other people after all.

. . .

Deep in the recesses of his mind, Zephyren has burned a seemingly random set of characters into the flesh:

xJcL265v

DO NOT FORGET.

Delphi, says the figure in my dreams, and I simply close my eyes even if I can see through my eyelids. Their face is unrecognizable but I can place a name upon them without difficulty. Siopilós. A dear friend that I haven't seen. They are me. From that summer.

But today, they are someone else, possessed by an external force. I do not resist.

Delphi, they repeat, and I do not answer. They will call me by my name if they wish for my attention. Why do you ignore the calling of a God?

I keep my mouth shut. They did not address me. Never speak directly to a deity unless they have addressed you - if you annoy them, they will smite you without a care in the world. It's not really a rule I've read, but I know the wrath of Gods well enough not to test them. I would certainly be confused if I referred to someone and another person decided to talk instead.

I am Apollo. You will listen to me. They are in front of me now. Looking directly at me. I suppose this is enough.

"And Delphi is not my name."

Cassiopeia Sonelios. Do you not know the Oracle of Delphi, dear student of the Olympians?

"I do, but I also know someone who was named after Delphi."

Apollo steps backwards, snapping his fingers as light fills the dark void that I'm sitting in, emanating from a mirage of a certain Mad Scientist. They look as crazed as ever, slipping chemicals out from some sort of non-euclidean structure. I haven't taken enough STEM for this. They refuse to use that name, you know this well.

"I don't know them as well as I thought."

Hmph. Human drama. I have no interest in that.

"Yet you're here."

Delphyrion's silhouette vanishes. Apollo walks towards me and leans forward. A giant maw unhinges, and out spill the Seven Plagues. I'm here to kill you, then.

"Then do it."

He retracts himself. That is highly unamusing.

I can't let a smirk enter my face. "My apologies, O Great One. Oh dear. I am oh so afraid. Woe is me. Wow. Help me. Oh no. What a nightmare."

Zeus is going to revive Chronus and feed me to him if I accept that title. Do not mock me.

"And I cannot answer to a title that hasn't been bestowed upon me."

That is fair. I see why adelfí has taken interest in you.

"Adelfi?"

'Sister'.

"Artemis."

He nods. Indeed. That is besides the point. I am here with a mission.

"As have the Harbingers."

The figure looks mildly annoyed. Their distorted face twists. Foolish. My gift would be far greater.

I do not speak. I will wait for him to fill the silence. Gods are not patient enough after all.

Apollo walks around me, like a vulture honing on its prey. I'm sure I could die in this dream if he wanted. You should be grateful I have not turned you into seafoam right here. That Mask you've donned is a great slight to my gift of prophecy. It is a false prophet whose words hold little weight in the context of eternity.

I bristle at that. I think, 'Where were you when I needed you most, then?'

It has deterred me from speaking to you for far too long.

"It was more powerful than you expected."

There is a brief pause as Apollo simply stares at me. I have an inkling he's thinking - he has to have a comeback, he has to have the last laugh, such is the damning characteristic of all the Greek gods. It is cursed with an ancient evil that even you have little access to. I will admit, even I had some trouble scoping a chance to separate you from it.

"Don't claim credit for my own foolishness."

He extends a finger to lift my chin. I refuse to be stirred. This is my dream. I have control over myself if nothing else. Oh, but dear Cassiopeia, would you have done it otherwise? Left your precious artifact at home within reach of a kleptomaniac whose influence spans the world?

"I would. What about it?"

You mortals think very little of yourselves.

"If that's what you consider 'little', you should meet my client."

Cruz? And so there it is, a figure of Jacob Cruz, glimmering in golden light. This one is less solid, as if it can't decide what it wants to be. He looks half rotten under the glow.

So he knows. "There have probably been some hippocratic violations there."

Apollo steps back. You never even swore it upon my name. You have bigger problems to worry about than a God being omnipotent.

"You couldn't warn me earlier that Delphyrion skins people?"

Again, human drama. Not interested.

"I reckon that's why you never help in my jobs either."

You are capable. That is the only reason why I have spared some of my time to speak to you.

I stand up. The chair that was previously beneath me dissolves into nothing. "I hardly feel like it. I come out of each one feeling like I've lost something important."

And you have a chance to gain something new. That mask - destroy it if you want a true taste of my power. 

"I'd go insane."

You wanted this.

"True."

You humans would sacrifice everything for a little piece of us.

"I would sacrifice everything for less."

Eyes open in the background, dotting the sky and earth and below like haunted stars. Then sacrifice more for me.

"What more do you want to take from me?"

You'll see in due time. I will be watching.

Siopilós vanishes.

I am alone.

I sob.