The Fireflies of Gilramore

She narrows her light-grey eyes as she reminds herself of the plan:

Once they enter Gilramore, they would go to a small inn – one of the newer ones that recently started she had once heard from an underling – and check in. It didn’t matter who it was – she would have pretended to be their lover for the night and they wouldn’t recognize her. After a few nights of staying in the inn, they would escape to the famous city of Milriu. They would do something to earn enough money to buy a boat to leave the country. In the meantime, she’d have to forge documents – or at least hire someone to do so – especially for her Summoned Spirited. She thinks about what she’d need to do after that. Murder was something she couldn’t do – but Aiden could.

But if she leaves this country, she’d have to abandon her little sister.

She bites her lips as she recalls that aspect of her plan – she would have to do it all on her own. This was something she had to accept; she had to escape first before she’d come back to the lion’s den for her.

Ever since their deaths, her father kept everyone under lock and key with their respective bodyguards and she didn’t know if Eraldo or Camila even thought of escaping or if they listened to their father. Eraldo would be more likely to stay as he believes he’s owed the position of leader. Camila might only listen because of her young age and uncertainty of who killed Mother and their grandparents.

But Honey knows everything her father said about what happened was a lie and the true gruesome side her father truly adopted in the criminal underworld they’re in.

“Are we there yet?” Aiden whispers against her ear, bringing her back to the present.

Though she appreciates the whispers, her body still reacts to the cool breath against her hot body. She nearly jumps out of her skin as she rapidly turns her head. Once again, she motions for him to stay quiet.

Again, she’s proud that she’s made it this far but she didn’t want to take any chances. But she becomes hyper-aware that he had a hold on her body – gently.

For a murderer freshly executed, he had very gentle and soft hands.

She ignores her body’s reaction and moves his hand off her shoulder; even if they are to pretend to be lovers, she’d have to not be distracted at this moment. Every few steps, she notices the streetlights still magically glowing from a closing distance. Though, she worries about how she’s going to react when they reach the inn if she was going to react like this.

But she’ll cross that bridge when she gets to it.

The rest of the way was as quiet as Honey hoped for and soon, the couple arrives at the sleepy town of Gilramore. Sleepy was a word Honey always thinks of when she hears the underlings’ gossip about the town. Sometimes they’d meet someone to have a good time with and comment on how bland some of the festivals can be. Her memories serve against those statements but a lot of the underlings are able to attend to them more frequently than she did.

She frowns at the memory of those words and herself; she hates how easily distracted she could be when she should be paying attention to the sights, sounds – and especially Aiden.

Honey knew he had to be starving if she was only feeling slightly hungry. However, he doesn’t say anything and he continues to follow her nearly blindly. Aiden had to have seen the lights ahead and, instead, she assumes it’s because he sees the light. Deep down, it wasn’t fair to the Summoned Spirit to be pulled into this world – perhaps very shortly after death – and expect so much. She knows this and still, she expects him to protect the daughter of a crime lord for reasons she wasn’t comfortable sharing just yet. No, even if she shares it, once he learns the Common Language, he’d find out the truth about being a Summoned Spirit and she might end up dead for it.

But it was a risk worth taking – as long as she’s not inside her family’s home, the stolen home of a nobleman. Whether or not the nobleman’s descendants survived time – certainly not their wealth – they would one day lay claim to that old home. Modified to suit modern needs and the needs of her greedy family after a truly unknown amount of generations squatting there. Honey only regrets never realizing sooner the truth.

Although, she wonders why this particular thing bothers her the most. In retrospect, she had always known in the back of her head her family are criminals. After all, they lived in the biggest house outside of Gilramore, including her brother and sister, they had tutors and didn’t attend even the most expensive private schools. Her father, and maybe her mother at times, encourage them to walk with their heads and to look down on the denizens. And, from a distance, everyone just dealt with the family.

But when she recalls her time as a child – she shakes her head.

“Come on.” She finally says as she motions to Aiden and he obediently follows. Even from her limited view, she couldn’t see any of her family’s underlings and she was becoming desperate. If she had missed any, she’d have to take that chance. She bites her lips as the couple continues getting closer to the village. But, she becomes scared – for a split moment – she turns around and sticks out her hand. Even the slow surprise etches on Aiden’s face as her hand appears in front of his face, her bag tight against her body but her light gray hair flowing against the wind.

Aiden doesn’t react initially – because he was focused more on running – but, just as slowly, he takes her hand. His cold hand warms her body more somehow and she clasps his hands together. Aiden trips forward but he was surprised at how strong her grip was.

Magic – it had to be magic that kept them together. Magic exists in this world and he still couldn’t believe it any more than he believes himself to be alive again.

He clasps her grip wrist tighter.

By the time the couple arrives in Gilramore finally, the couple – still holding on to each other’s hand – breathes in and out with relief. Aiden only had Honey to guide him and though the streets of this seemingly quiet village had ghosts roaming the streets, he couldn’t remain comfortable yet. He was hungry and he was tired; most of all, he was scared. He couldn’t stop the trembling of his body as he took in the new sights and smells.

An ocean breeze from the north comes into his nostrils and into his brain. His eyes pick up buildings that had their lights on still and very faintly, he could hear people laugh and squeal with ignorant delight. He bites his tongue as he turns to his only partner in this world thus far.

Honey was still catching her breath and even kneels over to help with that. Aiden’s own breathing had become more steadied the more he inhales the ocean breeze, something he’d never thought to smell again. The breeze chills him but never to death. And he clenches his clasped hand a bit tighter as he thinks about how a few hours ago, he’d just died once before.

Soon enough, Honey recovers and remains quiet. Aiden doesn’t mind so he nods once again and the couple walks toward one of the many buildings. He takes the time to look around and tried to find something familiar about the buildings before him; he couldn’t. But on one hand, he was happy about it. He didn’t want to remember the place he came from or where he belonged for the deed he’d done.

In the other world, they were buried by his deeds and he was outed by a so-called friend.

And he’d bury them before he was cuffed.

Once they finally arrived at an inn with a sign that seemed to say Obsidian Atoll Inn, Honey suddenly starts to act differently. She acts girlish and flirty towards him. Behind her grey eyes, Aiden thinks he understands her meaning and smiles a smile he thinks other people would find handsome. A half-smile he’d remember his mother would tease him about and he begins to struggle to keep it there.

“Come on! Don’t look so constipated!” Honey’s words tickle his ears, still sensitive as it was back there. “At least pretend you’re happy to be with me!” She continues to tickle his ear and he jerks back as he glares at her. She giggles, obviously fake, and Aiden sighs.

When he inspects the area around them, he realizes how close they are to the receptionist’s desk. Back in his world, he remembers movies with similar premises and decides to go with the flow with her. After all, he’s bound by the strange rules to protect her though he found no true motive for it. But he had to try – for whatever reason, he was given a second chance.

He had to at least try.

Honey giggles for no reason as she clings to his body more; a warm body against his originally cold one and he holds on to her tight. He tightens his grip and they were somehow able to walk to the receptionist‘s desk. The girl didn’t seem to act any different – possibly used to this behavior – as she gives the couple a professional smile as Aiden blinks his red eyes.

The girl had yellow hair – not a dull blonde or a ‘bottled’ blonde he’d see frequently, but pure yellow hair and she had red eyes as well. However, she looked as kind as she was professional, still wearing a smile while Honey checked the both of them in. The young man stays quiet and nodded appropriately as he signed his name – assuming it to be a ledger for the inn – and then Honey clings to him more.

“Let’s go eat next door, dear!” She says brightly.

Aiden turns to her, blinks, and nods – nearly forgetting that he is still a human and still had to eat.

But everything around him was so strange and fascinating.