Up and up.
The room that we come out into is circular in shape, with huge, curved windows that look out over House’s grounds. Thick woodlands as far as the eye can see. The view from the back of the house has always been my favorite. It’s wild, untouched, and so vast that even I haven’t managed to explore it all.
Of course, that’s not saying much considering that nearly every time that I have been here, I’ve been on the run, in danger, or in a rush. I’ve barely had the time to explore the house as much as I want to, apart from a quick glance in each room to see if I was really alone in the house. I certainly haven’t had the time to explore the grounds.
Maybe that’s something that I will be able to do while we’re here.
I’m not convinced. We always seem to be busy.
It suddenly hits me, House is mine.
Really, truly, officially, mine.
It has been mine for an extremely long time, longer than should be possible, actually. I could have come to live here after everything went to shit with Dimitri. I wonder how different my life would have been if I had known back then that I had a safe place to come here.
I wouldn’t have met Pete, or found my little house, or worked at Bobby’s. I wouldn’t have run into that hybrid on the walk back home, and I would have maybe never met the guys.
I did still get blown up by a bazooka though, so I probably would have still ended up at the guy's house and met them that way.
I refocus on the room, looking around while Reed explores. The room is furnished simply with a couple of armchairs, a small bookcase, a small fire, and a round rug on the floor.
It’s an amazing, very high private space. It’s perfect for Reed, who loves to be high up in the clouds, and it’s even got a balcony.
“Wow,” Reed mutters. “Thank you, House. This is perfect.”
House makes the small fire in this room flare to life and dance happily at Reed’s praise.
I know we’re here because we have to be, but I am so glad that we are. It feels like we’re going to be able to handle whatever the Blue Fucker, Casimir, is going to try to throw at us next.
Plus, House and Ethel are clearly very happy that we’re here. House has put a lot of effort and a fuck ton, that’s the technical term, of magic into making this place a home for all of us.
“House really has made it perfect for all of us,” Van smiles, echoing my thoughts as he looks around.
“It definitely did,” Griff agrees with a nod.
“Right, well, I don’t know about you guys, but my brand-new bed in my awesome new room is calling my name,” Coen says as he heads toward the stairs, prompting the rest of us to follow.
I hum in agreement since I’m mid-yawn again. It's been a while since I’ve been this tired. I don’t really understand why, I mean, we’ve been busy, sure, but nothing compared to what it has been like. I guess it's all just catching up to me.
Wait.
“Were you all feeling this tired when we were at Sully’s?” I ask as we make it back down the stairs and into Reed’s room.
“No, but that was a good few hours ago,” Griff replies.
I nod, “Yes, but for me, this feels like more than just tiredness. I am exhausted, as tired if not more so than I was by the end of the Choosing.”
Raiden frowns, “Actually, now that you mention it, I do feel more tired than I should.”
The others slowly nod in agreement, frowning as well.
I grin, “Exactly. I have a theory.”
“Oh?” Ransom asks with his eyebrow raised, “Care to share?”
“Absolutely. We were fighting ghosts, right?”
“Right,” Coen replies.
