⋯

Spotted sunlight streamed at the edge of the treeline, painted hues of marigold and fuschia spanning the clouds as the first day of Yule truly began. Warm air flooded the landscape, chasing away the bitter touches of an Irish winter now that the Feywild surrounded them. Dense forest masked them from the daylight, a thick canopy of various trees hiding the gathered coven of vampires.

It was unnaturally warm, not that Sulli really minded, but it was a sharp contrast from what they'd gotten used to over the weeks. Beside him, Cassair and Evaki seemed to be getting along, rapidly chatting about how pretty human jewelry was, and what a fun thing it was to collect it. On the other side, was Blythe, getting the bloodied, likely infected broken horns on her head wrapped in gauze. Sulli wasn't paying much mind to either thing, brushing off eraser dust from their sketchbook.

They can still see their friend's faces, embroidered in the half-done sketches Sulli had done here and there while they'd still been a part of the club. Their finished ones were long gone, dropped off at club lore to never be seen again. They're not really sure what happened to them, or if they were kept by their friends at all. Sulli wouldn't have put it past them if they'd been thrown out.

Fingers brush over faceless figures, turning the pages of the weathered sketchbook. They'd been thrilled to find that the lacuna hadn't ruined it at all, tucked safely in their bag along with a few other things. The pages continue to turn until Sulli gets to the last one, where the tucked-in pictures of their references lay. Pictures of their friends. 

I'm sorry.

Please come back.

A swell of emotion tightened over their chest, fingers twitching against the picture as they traced the images of Club Lore. it wasn't bearable to think about what might come if they were gone. If they'd already been killed like Blythe was supposed to be.

"Sulli?"

The voice made them jump, head snapping to the side in anxious alarm, only to find the now bandaged tiefling sitting beside them. "Oh." Sulli looked back to their sketchbook, flipping it closed, and managing a weak, shaky laugh. "Sorry. I was lost in thought."

"Do you do that a lot?"

Madden thinks so.

Sulli shrugs instead, desperate to look anywhere else but her eyes, "I guess." They ended up inspecting the work done on the rough bandages on her head, searching for mistakes or bleeding.

"Do they look bad?" her voice was softer then, drawing Sulli's attention back to her eyes. Guilt chewed at their chest, but they shook their head without hesitation.

"No. It- I'm sure it'll heal over nicely." Sulli isn't sure at all about that- they have little to no idea about tiefling anatomy or even the structure of their horns. The reassurance sounds nice though, even if it comes out only half-believable.

Is that what they did to Magnus too?

Heavy sickness pooled into their stomach, steadily rising up their throat until Sulli swallowed it back. "Blythe?"

"Yeah?"

"How long were you there for?"

It's an insensitive question, and Sulli knows it, but if they could get some idea of the timeline their friends were on, it'd be a lot of help. Not to mention, it'd mentally prepare them at least for an idea of what they're going to be faced with. The pink tiefling straightened for a second, shifting uncomfortably next to Sulli, before drawing her knees up to her chest. "I can't be sure."

"Please." Their voice falls into a whisper. Soft and breakable. "Please, my friends are in there- I don't know if they're- If they're gone that's what I want to expect. An estimate, anything, please."

Blythe did not respond for a second, tilting her head to watch the sunspots shift between the shade of the trees. "Why do you care so much? You didn't have to save me- I wasn't one of your friends."

The emotion at the base of Sulli's throat feels like it's strangling them, but they turn their own head away. They're tired. It feels like every time they get closer, they get farther away. They don't know what to do, and it's one of the most terrifying feelings they could have had. "I just do."

"Care?"

"Yeah."

"That's a dangerous thing."

"Who gives a shit?" They trace a pattern into the ground in front of them. "It's better than not caring about anything, isn't it?" It's almost more exhausting to not care than to care, especially about the people you love. The only thing it does is run you into the ground. It's a lonely road, so why would someone willingly walk by themselves- or better- let someone else walk by themselves?

It is better to die knowing how to love someone than risk never feeling it.

"Two months." Blythe dug her nails into her legs, hiding her face in the valley between her knees. "I was there for about two months."

What happened?

Before Sulli could ask, she was answering. "It was on Samhain. There was this shifter there. And a party too- in the mortal plane. Um- I was in Ireland, yeah- I can't remember what part." She nodded solemnly, and the sickness in Sulli's stomach began to trail further down. "I don't remember- I was on my way to the party that morning, I'd just gotten there, and I was ambushed."

"Ambushed?"

"In the forest."

My friends were ambushed.

Of course, that's why Erlik was left behind, untouched. What about the rooms - had they been cleaned out and meticulously picked apart to avoid suspicion? Was Erlik able to get into the hiding spot by himself?

Sulli nodded at the words anyway, trying not to appear too enthusiastic about finally having some answers. They loved a good mystery, they did, but this one drove them towards insanity with each passing day. Blythe lifted her head, looking up to the sky instead as she continued to recount the events.

"Sedna kept me in this..place. A dungeon is the best way to put it. It was so dark and so cold- it was horrible, really."

Sulli grasped at their thoughts, desperately searching for where they had heard that name until it hit them. "Sedna. Like- from the stories of Tenaloch, Sedna?"

"..who?"

Sulli shook their head frantically, the emotions in their chest swirling from despair into something else entirely. "Sedna. She's a human-made-siren - her mother threw her off the cliffs a long, long time ago. That Sedna? Is she a Siren?" Blythe gave a hesitant nod, and Sulli grinned at the connection, before being shot right back down from reality.

Oh god. It's not just humans doing this to them.

They took another breath, smile fading fast as they nodded, leaning forward, "And after three months, she decided to...you know.." Sulli waved awkwardly at the situation, watching blythe nod again. Another question came to mind. "Blythe. I know that you don't want anything to do with her, but, do you think you could show me where? Do you remember the direction in which you came?"

"I..don't know."

"You don't know?" Sulli tried to mask the disappointment in their voice.

"Well, I do know, but- I can't- I don't want to go back there. I can't do it."

"Blythe-"

"I won't." It's said with such finality, that Sulli is forced to fall silent. She turns away from them completely for a second, before pushing up to her feet. "..I'm sorry. I can't." Sulli knows they shouldn't fault Blythe for that. They can't imagine how traumatic it would be, and they try to stifle any blooming resentment in their chest. That wasn't fair- it wouldn't be fair. They can't blame her. It's not her fault.

They don't have the words to argue, and even if they did, it probably wouldn't matter. Maybe Blythe could just give them a direction to go in. That would be enough, as long as the Coven doesn't try to send them back anyway. The quiet chatter had settled for the most part, most of the fruit bat vampires climbing into various tree houses to sleep. The canopy loomed high above them, home to chittering creatures and life alike, and the sun had continued to rise steadily into the sky, hanging there in basking glory.

It'd been a long time since they'd really slept honestly. Not to mention- they'd stayed up plenty back from the mortal plane to catch the portal opening for Yule. Sulli set their bag down behind them, to make a makeshift pillow. It was warm enough that they should be okay- but, having a particular someone's sweatshirt as a blanket couldn't possibly hurt. 

Their mind wandered as sleep drifted towards them, capturing the distant conversations that were still being held. At some point, Cassair had been greeted by a new voice, one that was unfamiliar, but not unwelcoming. Tehi Tegi had joined the discussion as well, introducing him, almost like a mother would to her child.

"Cassair. You remember Dominicus, don't you?"

"Wow, full-named, am I in trouble?" There was a snicker, and Sulli peeked open an eye, discreetly turning over on their stomach so they could watch the conversation play out. Tall and lanky, he stuck his hands in his pockets, eyes glinting in the early morning light. Freckles illuminated his skin, and two pretty sets of piercings in his ears caught the sun in shimmers. Dominicus reached out his hand, patting Cassair's shoulder. "How could you forget me?"

Cassair shook his head, his own grin snaking its way up his face. "I have a new best friend, Dom, I don't need you."

"Everyone needs me."

"Not me!"

"You do too!"

"I do not!"

"Boys." Tehi sighed, rubbing the bridge of her nose. "Please, keep your voices down. The others are asleep." Petulantly, Cassair stuck his tongue out at Dom after crossing his arms over his chest, to which he grinned and flipped him off in response. Tehi did not seem amused at either of their actions. Sulli didn't blame her. "Cassair, didn't you have something to talk to Dom about?"

Cassair raised his eyebrow, but his face shifted into something more serious, turning to face his friend head-on instead. "Sulli is going after the monster hunters."

Dom cocked his head. "By themselves?"

"Evidently."

"That feels stupid."

"That's what I told them! They told me it's a human trait."

"I'm pretty sure it's not." Dominicus shook his head, and Sulli had to bite their tongue to avoid dragging attention back to themselves as they discussed quietly. Not far from them, Blythe stayed asleep, and Sulli was thankful for the cover that she'd given them unintentionally. Dom picked at his clothes, leaning against a nearby tree. "Did Sulli say who?"

"Mm." Cassair nodded, eyes wandering to the sky as he tried to recall the names, "One was nicknamed Cass, I remember that."

Dominicus frowned, "Where'd you find Sulli again?"

"The coven portal, the one next to the college you know? In Cork."

Cassair's friend looked more nervous now, pushing off of the tree and crossing his arms over his own chest. "You don't know any of the names?"

Cassair seemed to hesitate for a second, before looking back to him sympathetically. "Please tell me you're over that crush you had-"

Dominicus' cheeks flared, and he frustratingly waved his hand at Cassair, shaking his head, "This isn't about some- it's not- I just, you know, worry about him sometimes- a normal amount!"

"Dom, you've been crushing on a prince for like two years, and you're still going on about this?"

"It's not a crush!" The flush on his cheeks said otherwise, but childishly, Domincus' mouth turned into a pout, grumbling back to Cassair. "Prince Archer probably doesn't even remember me."

"You mean Madden - the mermaid who's had his sights set on that daughter of the Kwon house for like ever?"

"I met him when he was Prince Archer, I'm allowed to call him that."

Cassair shook his head in disbelief, fidgeting with his necklace again. "Whatever, it doesn't matter. Did he ever tell you about the legend of Sedna? It's a big deal in Tenaloch, I guess. That's what Sulli was saying. I thought you might know."

"Sulli's been to Tenaloch? Did Archer take them?"

"Dom."

He scowled again but dropped back into the tree to lean against it. "Yeah, I've heard of it. Why?"

"Blythe was saying that's who has them- who's running the monster hunter shit out here. There are places all over the Feywild I'm sure, but Sedna is helping them."

Dominicus' mouth again turned into a frown. "Sedna is a siren, she's one of us."

"I know. That's the scary part."

He dropped his head back onto the tree, looking up through the canopy of trees towards the spotted sunlight. "..We're gonna have to go with Sulli, aren't we?"

"I'm not letting them go by themselves."

"You've known them for what, a day?"

"They're my friend."

Friend.

What a lovely thing it is, to be something to someone.

"Great, so you're just here to ask me to come and help you?"

"Yes." Cassair steeled himself, dropping the necklace and crossing his own arms over his chest. "I'm asking you for a favor, Dom. And if Archer is there, don't you want to make sure he's okay?"

"I can't believe you're manipulating me like that." Dom sighed, shaking his head and wiping away his eyes. "I'm so proud of you."

"Dominicus."

"Cass, will you relax already?" Again, he pushed off the tree, reaching to pat his friend on the arm. "Of course, I'm going with you. I don't want you to kill yourself."

"I'm already half undead."

"Well, I don't want you to be completely undead, so." Cassair's own mouth twisted into some kind of pout, and Sulli buried their amusement at why they might get along so well as friends. Dom shook his head again, "Get some sleep, Cass. I'll see you in the morning."

⋯

"Sulli, do you have any idea where we're going?"

"Maybe if you shut up for a second, I can figure it out." Sulli snapped the Feywild map closed, turning to glare at Dominicus, who was standing off the path and in the shade. The sun was already rapidly beginning to set since they had ended up sleeping most of the day. Admittedly, it wasn't the worst sleep Sulli had ever had, but it wasn't exactly a pleasant experience to wake up sore and achy. They adjusted the sword at their side, watching Dom's head tilt and a grin worm its way up his mouth.

"Cass, are they always this grumpy?"

"Most of the time."

"Dío!" Sulli snapped to the other side this time, grimacing a little as they opened the map back up. "I'm pretty sure both of you would be pretty grumpy if you were in my situation."

"We kinda are." Dom hummed, falling onto the right side of Sulli while Cassair took the left. "I mean, we're helping you."

"I appreciate the help, I do, but you are not going through the same thing as I am right now." Sulli bit back a wince as they stepped on a jagged rock, sending shooting pain up their still-healing leg. "Just- we're gonna have to figure it out."

"We don't even know where we're going-"

"Guys!" A shout came from the forest, and the trio of adventurers turned toward it, only to see a spritely pink tiefling dart out from the trees, sprinting towards them, "Hey, wait!"

"Blythe?" 

She pulled to a stop in front of them, out of breath and chest heaving, "I want, I want to come with you. I want to help."

"You do?" Sulli shoved Dominicus out of the way, letting him dramatically stumble back all he wanted. They took her hands, warmth spreading up his chest as a smile fit across their mouth. "Thank you, Blythe."

"Gee, Sulli, why don't you ever smile at me like that?"

Sulli turned to shoot Dominicus a half-hearted glare before shaking their head and pulling their hands back. "Blythe, would you mind leading the way?"

She nodded once more, determination flooding her steps as she glanced through the trees. Squaring her shoulders, she took the first step. "Okay - it's this way. Follow me."

They did, without too much complaint from thing one and thing two.

Sulli isn't exactly sure how far they walked. They let their mind wander back and forth, ignoring the swelling anxiety that raised wave after wave inside of them. It is possible they could be walking into their death, but for some reason, it didn't feel like the worst thing in the world. It'd been easier and easier to become numb lately, to find things to hate and dislike, and Sulli had been honest with Blythe yesterday, about caring. But what happens when the thing they care about so much is done?

Was there anything to live for outside of it? What was the purpose? Sulli wasn't even sure they were going to forgive them all the way. Magnus in particular. Not to mention Julian and Yaşru - neither of them even wanted them in the club originally, they doubt it'd be all that welcoming now. Sulli isn't entirely sure how all of this is their fault, but they get the feeling it is. All because a human infiltrated Club Lore. All because they were so pushy with a friend that meant so much to them.

Maybe death is preferable to living in misery alone.

Cassie would forgive them. Kelsey and Madden maybe - they were on the fence about Adelaide still, but it didn't much matter. They would never be a part of Lore, because all they ever saw them as is human. And from Sulli's deduction, most of them weren't exactly fond of humans. Probably for an array of reasons, if only to start with the long history of hatred and conflict between them. 

The blooming green of the forests had noticeably shifted, and the air temperature began to rapidly drop. Sulli bit back a shiver, only to feel Blythe's warm hand slide into their own. They sent yet another grateful smile towards her, even if it did very little to actually soothe the chills running their own goddamn track meet up and down their back. The trees around them had withered and shrunken, empty winds whistling between branches as soft haze bubbled over the ground.

Silence had echoed across the group, spiraling each of them into tight suspense. The quiet was too quiet here, too empty to mean anything at all. They came upon the crest of the hill, Blythe motioning them to get down instead, crawling along the frosted grass. Sulli obeyed, sending a warning glare toward Dominicus when he seemed hesitant to do just that. Sulli felt like they'd been whiplashed back to winter, to Yule.

It made everything much more real.

The sky had darkened substantially by the time they'd gotten to the hill, moons once again illuminated by the refracted light of the skies, scattered stars beginning to twinkle into existence. The beauty of the skies of the Feywild did absolutely nothing to reduce the terror that shot down Sulli's throat as the sight before them.

Over the hill, just beyond, was some kind of gothic castle. It reminded Sulli of the architecture back at home, in those old churches across europe. Breath-taking all the same, but in a much more twisted way here. The mist had heavied over them, masking the floor of the creation. Hallowed lanterns flickered with life, rattling against the howling winds of winter. A gust of wind screeched through shattered windows, and Sulli's heart dropped.

Not wind.

Screaming.

"Sulli." Domincus's voice was soft next to them, lying on their stomach, eyes wide at the sight before them. "Tell me you have a plan."

Sulli took a breath in, shakier than they would have liked, but it worked all the same. "I have a plan."

"A good one?"

"A plan."

"Crom Dubh."

───────────────

WYN

twenty-second chapter!

I hope you all enjoyed - this one made me anxious to write since we're getting so close to the alleged rescue <3 I'm so scared for club lore oh god, and sulli, and dom, and cass, and blythe.

and ofc, our Domincus belongs to Alyssa, beloved <3 you can find the form in the cast list if you'd like to take a peak at it!

love you lots! ty for reading!