1x1 Coffee Dragon

[DragonDream]

✴Phlegethon✴

The days went by uneventfully aside from the weather. The snow had made it unbearable to walk through. Basil was quick to tire of trudging through the growing layers and managed to find someone delivering in the direction they were going. Paying the merchant gained them a ride in the back of the cart with instruction to not break anything. It was still cold and miserable, but the draft horses cut through the snow with ease.

All the while Basil grew increasingly closed off as they neared their destination. His face bore a pensive expression, and Phleg could tell that something was off. It didn't worry him in regards to their safety, but he couldn't help but wonder where they were going and why it was bothering him so badly.

Parting with the merchant they began to head out towards the countryside. The roads were clearer and easier to manage because of all of the travelers. The daybreak brought blue skies devoid of any warmth. Basil led on, ensuring everyone that they should be there by noon if they kept up the pace.

[ColorCoffee]

||Seraphine||

The days they spent traveling grew increasingly stressful. So far they had done a good job at keeping Phleg concealed, but Seraphine couldn't help but wonder how much longer that would last. The fact that they would be in the country helped ease some of Seraphine's worries, but then their was the fear that Basil had dragged them all the way out into the middle of nowhere just to kill them. Serahpine made sure she had easy access to the dagger she purchased, just in case.

[DragonDream]

✴Phlegethon✴

The country road stretched on, heading straight through a stretch of woods. The tall evergreens were laden with snow, some bent under the weight while others stood strong beneath it. It was far quieter now aside from the crunching of the snow beneath their feet. A wrought iron fence appeared, stretching along the road. "I think this is it," Basil said as they came up upon a gate. Before them was a stone house with smoke billowing from various chimneys.

[ColorCoffee]

||Seraphine||

Seraphine stopped, "Woah woah woah. There are other people here? what makes you think it would be a good idea to bring Phleg into a house with other people?"

[DragonDream]

✴Phlegethon✴

Basil turned to look at Seraphine in irritation. "Where did you think we would be going? My empty summer home?" he asked pointedly. "I am not even sure who all is here, but we don't have a plethora of options at our disposal now do we? Eventually, other people are going to learn about him. Better these than nosy randoms."

[ColorCoffee]

||Seraphine||

Seraphine took a deep breath, clenching the strap of her satchel tight to prevent herself from doing something stupid. She had had enough of Basil. She continued following behind him silently, taking in the surrounding and looking out for anything off putting,

[DragonDream]

✴Phlegethon✴

Trying the gate he found it to be unlocked and let everyone in. For a moment he hesitated there, looking up at the house with a grimace. When he reached the door he used the door knocker and waited for a response. A wiry lady peeked out before opening it a little further. "Can I help you?" she asked warily, eyeing the group.

"I am looking for Simona," he said, watching as the lady recoiled a bit.

"There is no Simona here, be gone," she said attempting to slam the door. Basil's book stopped it, and he gave her an irritated look through the crack.

"Tell her it's Songbird." Sliding his foot out of the door he let her shut it, sighing as he heard the locks click. "Honestly."

For a moment they stood there on the doorstep waiting. He could hear steps sounding from inside though. The door didn't open, but he got a response.

"Songbird?" a woman demanded from inside.

Rolling his eyes he answered. "Yes, and I am not getting any younger would you please let us in?"

For a moment it was quiet. "Prove that it is you and not someone else."

"You have got to be kidding me." It was clear that she was serious though. "Fine!" he said, eye twitching. Feeling ridiculous and slightly humiliated he began to sing rather loudly so that he would be heard through the door. It was a slower song, and he took his time knowing that if he did anything wrong she would make him start over. Finally, the door began to open revealing a tall woman who stood there grinning widely. There was something guarded in her posture though, and she did not look happy to see him.

Basil finished at stood there staring back, unmoved. "I really wish you wouldn't do anything like that, you knew good and well that it was me," he said icily.

"Of course I did darling, but you know that I have to make sure of these things. I can't have just any deviant running through my home. Come in, you all look like you are freezing to death out there."

Basil entered, turning back to make sure the others were following before heading into his mother's house. It had been a long time since he had been there. It had been his grandparent's home, and had been in their family for years. He followed his mother into the dining room where she began to loudly call for tea, the disheveled maid running to the kitchen.

"We should really talk," he said as his mother sat down at the dining room table.

"Yes. We will talk over tea. Sit," she said, motioning around her. "Honestly I expected you to leave your father a lot sooner. Or are you here to be his personal thug," she asked sharply.

"He's dead." This seemed to make her drop the hostility, and it was quickly replaced by confusion. "I would not have come here if I didn't have to. You know that, so don't act like I would ever be his errand boy for something so trivial than your death."

"You're still mad?"

"Who wouldn't be?"

The tension was enough to make the whole room uncomfortable, and Phleg sat down across from the lady which was enough to get her attention. "Basil said that this would be somewhere safe to go. Is that true or not?"

Simona leaned across the table, wide-eyed in amazement. "They actually did it," she said breathlessly, instinctively reaching out to take the hood off his head. There was no fear present in her as she began to examine him. "Incredibly, and oh so foolish. What is your name?"

"Phlegethon," he answered, feeling a little weird about how she was looking at him. He watched her whip back to look at Basil.

"We have some catching up to do. But you will all be safe here for now," she said, seemingly lost in her own train of thought. "I want to know everything."

"Later mother, we have been travelling for days in this weather. Let us rest."

[ColorCoffee]

||Seraphine||

"Yes, a little rest would be lovely. I'm assuming you have room for all of us?"

[DragonDream]

✴Phlegethon✴

”Of course. Currently it is just me and the maids. I don’t care much for people these days. I should have listened to my mother and left this forsaken country when I had the chance. Everyone has a dagger at your back,” she said shaking her head. “Rest, then I will hear of everything. LISIA,” she yelled, watching as the maid ran back into the room. “Get the spare rooms ready. I’m sure they are cold and hungry as well.”

Basil rolled his eyes. Nothing had changed, even after all these years. It made him feel like a child in such an off putting way that he was uncomfortable. Still, as overbearing and paranoid as she could be, she would be able to help. At least he hoped.

When the rooms were prepared he immediately stalked off and closed himself within one, choosing to be alone.

Phleg didn’t really want to be left alone, and didn’t want to leave Seraphine alone, so he opted to stay with her. Since there was room, Ulicia was offered her own space if she wanted it, unless she wanted to stay with the others too.

[ColorCoffee]

||Seraphine||

Ulicia really didn't want to be alone, so she asked Phleg and Seraphine if she could stay with them.

"Of course, I don't have any problems with it." As soon as they entered the room, Seraphine put Gnash down and practically collapsed onto the bed. Within minutes, she was out.