We stand still, studying her. A moment later, her head twitches and she’s back to smiling brightly.
She gestures to a long nook wrapped in flowering vines with a swing covered in pillows.
“I was sitting right there when the idea of how to create all of you came to mind. I love that memory. Amick, maybe you’d enjoy that space. A quiet place to read. Structured shade. Minimal distractions.”
He hums, not agreeing or disagreeing, just acknowledging that she spoke.
“Let’s head back inside. You’ll find the interior more personalized and to your liking.”
Doubtful.
We follow another path around a corner of the home, and it leads directly under an archway to a new set of double doors. The fact that so much of the layout has changed makes me uncomfortable. My brothers too.
Their eyes continue to map every difference they notice. Thayla takes it all in like she does whenever she’s in an unfamiliar place.
This interior hallway shifts from white marble and gold to darker tones, deeper blues, and warmer lighting.
“This area of the house felt more appropriate,” she says casually.
“For?” Kyzen asks after a breath of silence.
“For you all, of course. Now you’ll be more comfortable when you come stay with me.”
A small flinch passes through my brothers and me. Thayla’s wide eyes meet mine, and she mouths, “What the fuck?”
I bristle as we pass through a wall-less illusion. One moment, we were in a hall. The next, we’re standing in a foyer that has two doors.
“This way,” she cheers as she swings the door on the left open wide.
The five of us share a curious but cautious glance with one another.
Shockingly, the room we step into is void of flowers, statues of herself, and all the other nonsense we’ve seen so far.
It appears to be just a simple living room with two couches, a small table, and four doors.
“Let’s take a peek at your bedrooms. Kyzen, you first, sweetheart.”
“Bedrooms?” he asks.
She huffs softly. “Of course. Where else would you sleep when you come stay with me?”
Fuck.
“When were you planning on us visiting again?” he asks slowly as he steps toward the door she’s gesturing to, and the four of us crowd closer to him.
“Whenever. That’s why I made this space.”
He gives her a tight smile as he pushes the door open.
It’s as large as our rooms back home, maybe even larger. There’s a bed, a closet, I suppose a bathroom, and wide windows surrounding a set of doors that lead out to a balcony.
None of those details hold my attention.
The swords displayed across the dark blue walls like art pieces, do.
Kyzen stands in the doorway, staring.
“You always preferred space,” she says. “You need enough room to practice.”
