Crackling Flames

Evelina woke up on a different bed.

The sweet smell of almond was the first thing to hit her before she opened her eyes. She scanned the room and found other beds next to hers, a meter separating one from the other. They were already made and while they have no person on them except for her, she felt a sudden movement three beds away.

She glanced up and saw a boy, who looked to be no more than eight. He was staring at her, his big eyes filled with curiosity. When he noticed that she was looking at him too, he went back under the bed to hide from her.

It was like playing.

And Evelina found the attention a bit adorable.

Of course, it was only because she found no other source of entertainment.

Evelina tried to get up but found her left wrist chained to the bed with what looked like a cord made out of weeds twisted together. Startled, she pulled at it. It didn't budge.

She felt the freedom of her right hand and tried using it to release herself, untying cords one strand after the other. But whenever she was closed to freeing herself, the weeds played her as a fool. A blink and they were back as they were, her wrist still bounded.

"They used a spell with that," said the boy. He was on one of the beds now, keeping a safe distance as he observed her.

"A spell?"

The boy nodded. "It was something about protection against you."

Evelina huffed. It would be naturally like that when the last thing she remembered was her attacking one of them. She regretted nothing when she only just proved her point, them unhesitantly using their power against her. What she did not understand was why they were still keeping her. And with a child as her guard?

"If it was against me, why are you here? Are you a sacrificial offering?"

To her surprise, he giggled. "I'm not a sacri- Well, I'm not that. I'm Ruben."

"Ruben?"

"Yes. I'm an artist."

"An artist?"

Ruben tilted his head. "You're repeating everything I said."

Evelina blinked. She was confused at how he was speaking to her. Carefree and unafraid. And like she was the one who was not making any sense.

But somehow, he made her mood better.

"I'm sorry," she replied, amused. "Ruben, may I ask what you are doing here? I'm quite sure that this place is not where you should be."

"Oh!" he smiled sheepishly before turning to the door to make sure that no one was coming. "Don't tell, West! He was here not too long ago and he was also telling me not to go anywhere near you. I don't know why, though. But when he left, I just went over here to see if you looked dangerous."

"And am I?"

Ruben shrugged. "You kept on repeating my words and you were untying yourself while knowing that will not set you free. You are dimwitted."

Evelina gaped at him. Did he just-?

He did. And despite the insult that was tossed towards her, she found herself laughing.

It only lasted for a while when the little boy shushed her, eyes widened. She was about to ask a question, when she heard the echoes of footsteps outside, nearing the room.

Ruben was quick to run out the door. He was, expectedly yet unfortunately, caught by the person who was about to enter.

Everina heard a bit of the scolding, the familiar voice etched with worry as it always was when she once met him.

"What are you doing here? I told you-"

"But she was asleep!"

"It still isn't safe."

She glanced at what was chaining her to her bed, struggling against the bind once more. She could still feel a faint flow of strength inside her body, but what seemed to be a weak weed remained oblivious to her tugs.

She heard one final piece of advice from West before Ruben replied with a grunted, "Fine."

Evelina closed her eyes, pretending to be unconscious. She heard the steps entering the room, accompanied by the smell of burning mint.

Curious, she took a peek only to be caught by the man's languid look. He was observing her as he cautiously put the candle, its flame tall and strong, on the nearby table.

"You're awake."

"I am."

West sighed and Evelina knew that they both did not know what to say. They met at the start of everything, with little trust given to each. Little yet it was there. Unlike now. Like paper, that little trust crumpled- never would it return to its normal state.

"So you're a vampire."

"And you are a witch."

They come to know what they are. Two races who were at war with each other.

West nodded. "I do appreciate that you did not hurt Ruben. He can be a little wandering."

"Well if I wasn't tied up, I might have. After all, I haven't had anything since...well, since even before all this."

It was more taunting than truth. Evelina hadn't been thinking of hunger when she saw the child. Well, not until he mentioned it.

"Then it's a good thing that you aren't free. You did attack my friend before."

"And they attacked me back. What made you think I was the only suspect?"

West raised an eyebrow. "Are you hearing yourself?"

Evelina turned away from him, still trying to tug her hand free. She knew how her pride could get. She was either silent or speaking out of spite. And maybe, she thought, maybe Ruben had a point about his opinion on her.

She noticed how West took a quick look at the candle, making her follow his line of sight. The flame wasn't as tall and still as before, a loud crackling emitting from it. West let out a heavy sigh before returning his eyes on her.

"Listen, you have been posing as a threat to us since the beginning. What made you think that we're going to free you that easily?"

"Am I, though?" she threw him a dejected look. "Do you think of me as a threat when you bought me something to drink and invited me to watch the play? And here I was thinking that you truly liked me."

"You're really bringing that up, are you?" He cursed a word that Ruben wouldn't be allowed to hear. "You are a headache. Are you aware of that?"

"And you are ridiculous, just like how everyone here might be."

"I-" he paused, seeming unable to continue. She could feel his calm exterior wavering, frustration making its way to replace it. "Seriously, just what do you want from us? You weren't interested when I invited you to watch the show and yet you show up in our place demanding to join us? We told you to audition yet you said that you never beg. And when we thought that we've already had enough of your chaos, you came attacking not just one, but three of our members!"

"I was interested!"

"Why?"

Evelina bit her lip, struggling to think of a reason. "Well, I may have...uh...think that your vampire part had too many misconceptions in it?"

Yeah, like that will work.

But something flickered in his eyes. He blinked before sitting himself down on a bed next to hers. "Really? Then do you suggest anything that I can do to portray the character better?"

Evelina gawked at him stupidly. Did that just work?

"Uh...I guess you should lessen the show of fangs?" she tried again. She checked if West could see behind her lies but he only nodded, interested to hear what she had to say. "I mean, it can get tiring, you know? Like the audience already knows you're a vampire, stop repeatedly showing your fangs everytime your line will end."

"Oh."

"Yeah and the cape thing was ridiculous, too. No one does that. Was it you or was the directing just terrible?"

West shrugged. "It wasn't part of the script. I do it because the crowd just goes 'oooh' 'aaah' whenever I flap my cape."

"Get rid of it. That's horrible."

He laughed. "Noted, then. See it's not that hard to have a proper conversation."

"I thought I just insulted your character through and through."

"You didn't." West smiled at her. It was odd how she realized that she longed for that kind of reaction. "You gave me a great deal of feedback. For someone who was lying, I really thought you wouldn't be able to pull that. But looks like you really were interested, huh?"

So he did see through her lies.

But his reaction was believable that she just felt the need to continue. She was only giving her opinions on what she saw. Looking back at it, her eyes did follow his character a lot because it served as a representation to what she is.

Embarrassed, she avoided his gaze.

West chuckled and called her attention. "Listen, I could convince them but you have to promise that you wouldn't attack anyone."

"If they promised not to attack me first." He glared at her. "Alright, damn. You didn't need to look at me like that. Do you think of me as a savage?"

"Didn't you act like one?"

Evelina groaned. "Then how are you going to convince them? For all I know, they probably wanted me gone."

"You're right here, are you not?"

"Which goes to the question of why I am here."

He shrugged. "Miss Delphine said something about ruining a part of the inn. You are in a great amount of debt, by the way. She said that you should be spared so that you can fix the damages yourself."

"Hurray."

"There's also another thing. The troupe will not accept you if you would not audition."

"Be-?"

"Stop saying beg!" Evelina rolled her eyes at him. "Seriously, where do you get that information from? We only just want to see what talents you have, or if you're passionate enough to learn more of the skills that we'll teach."

"I hate you so much right now," she said.

He let out another chuckle while he waited for her response.

"Bat's shriek, fine!"