Cleaning Up
Jel stared at the information gathered about Osbert, instantly feeling bored and laying his head on the tabletop.
"Is something wrong?" Taio asked, raising an eyebrow at the man in front of him.
"This information isn't correct," Jel said, holding the papers up. "Well, they are correct in the legal sense. This is the story they decided to go with for his 'backstory'."
"That is all the information I could get on him," Taio said, bowing to Jel. "Should I look deeper into it?"
"This is to be expected," Jel said nonchalantly, looking at the two pictures of the man. One is of him looking straight at the camera and the other is his side profile. "I am sure he doesn't even know his real past."
"If you don't mind me stepping out of line," Taio said, looking around the room then back at Jel. "Who is this person? He seems to be working with the government. The people that we are trying to avoid."
Jel stared at the profile information on the man and tore it up, throwing the pieces of paper in the air.
"You don't understand, Taio." He said, shaking his head disapprovingly. "Remember what I said? No matter which side someone is on, it doesn't matter because they will have a use somewhere."
"I remember but … he seems fairly like any other shapeshifter out there," Taio said again. "I don't know what about him is so … 'special' that you would take interest in him."
"We never know." Jel shrugged, grinning at the man. "The future may just play out in a way we can't predict. That's what makes it so interesting."
"With all due respect, your highness, you are the only one that thinks that way."
"Well, you are going to have to look forward to it." Jel shrugged, looking at the two pictures of the man again. "It would be better if there were pictures of him enjoying himself instead of these stiff pictures."
"Should I appoint someone to tail the man?"
"No need for that." Jel burnt the pictures in his hands. "I will take care of it. Now, I am assuming it's time."
Taio clenched his teeth before nodding, "Yes, your majesty. Should I take you to be washed?"
"Make sure no one is in the room," Jel said as the man bowed and walked out of the room, closing the door behind him.
Staring outside at the dark surroundings and the slightly dimmer plants, Jel frowned, placing his hand on the glass.
I don't know how much longer I will be able to do this. He thought, looking at his reflection in the glass. Even Taio knows this … too bad. Oh well. We still have quite some time left.
Knock. Knock.
"Your majesty?" A young girl entirely made of wooden bark except for her eyes. Her head has several branches sticking out with leaves that act as hair.
"Val?" The man's expression turned soft as soon as he saw her. "It's been a while. How are you?"
"I am alright." The girl ran to him, wearing a dress made from one large leaf. "What about you, your highness?"
Jel held his hands open as she jumped into them, nestling in his warm embrace.
"I am doing alright." Jel chuckled, patting her head gently. "You haven't been causing problems for Taio and the others, have you?"
"I have never caused problems before." The girl pouted before grinning at him. "I missed you so much, your majesty. Why don't you stay here longer?"
Jel gave her a sad smile, "I am sorry, dear."
"No. No." The girl said suddenly, turning away from him sheepishly. "I am sorry for demanding too much from your majesty."
"You know you can ask me for whatever you want," Jel said, sitting on the chair in front of the table. "Don't ever worry about inconveniencing me, alright?"
"Yes, your majesty." The girl beamed, curtsying as the door opened and Taio walked in.
"Your majesty." He said before noticing the girl. "Oh- I apologise, I didn't notice yo-"
"No. No. No." The girl said, waving her hands in the air. "Don't worry about me, sir. Taio. Just act like I am not even here."
"How can I do that?" Taio asked, softly looking at the girl.
Jel cleared his throat, bringing the man's attention back to him, "You barged in here for something important, I assume, Taio?"
As though snapping out of a trance, Taio shook his head and nodded at Jel, "Apologies, your majesty. I only came here to call you as your bath has been prepared."
"Have you cleared everyone out?"
"I have. If you would like, I could check again."
"No." Jel got to his feet and stretched. "I will go there on my own. Be sure no one disturbs me."
"Of course, your majesty." Taio bowed to Jel as he passed him.
"Val." Jel turned to the girl, placing a gentle hand on her head. "I will need to go right now but I will try to come more frequently in the future, ok?"
"Please do not trouble yourself for my sake, your majesty." The girl said, curtsying to Jel as the man walked out of the room with not a sound from his steps.
Val stared at him as he walked out, admiration written all over her face.
"Incredible, isn't he?" Taio teased the girl who suddenly became flustered the moment she remembered that he was there.
"His majesty is always an incredible being." The girl said, trying hard not to stutter as she talked to the man in front of her.
Taio stared at the doorway, "Yes. He is. Shall we leave his majesty's study?"
"There are papers scattered everywhere though." The girl remarked, looking at the papers and the torn pieces on the ground. "I will clean up for him."
"That isn't necessar-"
"I-I want to be able to do something for his majesty." The girl said, already picking up the papers. "Will you allow me to, Sir. Taio?"
Looking at the girl, Taio sighed as he began helping her pick up the papers. "Let's do it together then. So that it will be done faster."
"OK!" The girl said brightly, being a smile on Taio's face.
_________________________
Sitting in a pond filled with lily pads and flowers scattered all around, Jel stared at the steaming water, not able to even see his reflection properly.
Behind him is a large tree that reached all the way to the roof of the large room, its leaves and branches extending from one end of the room to the other.
Jel stared at his long white hair floating in the water as he began playing with it, wrapping the wet hair wrapping around his fingers.
"Even you want to take something from me?" He mumbled, staring at his hair wrapped all around his finger. "Well ... I can't blame you for that."
Leaning back against the tree's roots, he brushed his wet hair back, thinking.
I wonder how he lived his life.
Brushing his fingers on his lips, he remembered how warm his blood felt on his lips.
Normally, after he drank their blood, that was just it, warm liquid going down his throat. But this one ... this one hurt.
Almost like someone unwilling to admit defeat and he couldn't help admire that. Even if it was just blood.
In the past four hundred or so years since he came into existence, there were only few that could pique his interest like this. One every hundred years or so.
He reached out feeling the muscles under his skin when he placed his hand on his chest, a slight smile coming on his face.
"He isn't conventionally pretty," Jel mumbled, looking at his reflection. "I don't think he can compare to me. Not even a bit.
"And that scar of his ... it should be ugly. But ... for some reason, it isn't."
Jel remembered all the scars he saw on his body as he turned from the creature into his normal self again, biting his lower lip instantly.
Even his body was covered in scars. He thought, tracing the man's eyes as ripples in the water. He was still pretty even then. I wonder why. Had my taste really changed that much?
I don't think so.
Ringing of bells pulled him out of his thoughts, a sigh escaping his lips.
Not a moment of peace I see.
Stepping out of the water, Jel wore his robe as a familiar woman walked into the room without so much as knocking.
"Hello, Jel." The woman said, waving at him.
"Hello, Lumi." The man said, tilting his head to her, a smile never leaving his face. "How are you doing, dear?"
"I am doing fine." She said pleasantly, her earthy green dress matching the colour of her eyes. "I asked Taio if I could assist you and he agreed, after much persuasion."
Laughing, Jel asked, "Are you here to help this old man get dressed again?"
"Stop." The woman hit him gently with her fan. "You are not that old."
"If you say so. Will you help me or not?"
"I will. Come, dad."
"Yes, daughter."