Once I was a good distance away from Seam's shop, I sat down on the grass, buried my face in my hands, and screamed.
SEAM WAS RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME THE WHOLE GOD DAMN TIME! AND JEVIL WAS THE JESTER THAT MADE MY LIFE WORTH LIVING WHEN I WAS LITTLE! WHAT THE FLYING FUCK HAPPENED WHILE I WAS BEING A STUPID FUCKING KID?!
I punched the ground next to me and hissed loudly in anger and annoyance. Fucking hell how dense can you be as a kid? I quickly took a moment to calm myself and pulled out my drawstring bag. Opening it, I dropped the piece of silver into the bag and rummaged around for my back of chocolate, only to freeze at what I found.
The reason the piece that Seam had given me was so familiar was because I already had the other two pieces.
I smiled brightly and laughed. Hell yeah! Just need to find the blacksmith and get him to fix this shit for me! Malius should be easy to find, he's always around when the bake sale's in session.
I stand up and put away my drawstring bag, spinning on my heel and heading towards the door. I still don't understand how the hell that thing fucking works but eh, some things you'll never understand no matter how much ya try.
I forced the all too familiar booths of the bake sale into my mind as I closed my eyes and opened the door, closing it quickly behind me and smiling as I heard the familiar banter among the soldier's manning the booths. They were the only soldiers I knew of that wouldn't bother attacking me, the Hathy that maned one of the booths being the only one left that held any sort of loyalty to the family of hearts. It was quite refreshing.
I nodded at the two soldiers manning the booths and made my way north, smiling as I saw the all to familiar face of Malius. One of the few people I could trust with my life, he was the one person who seemed to maintain some sort of moral code throughout all this insanity.
"Hey Malius."
"Well well well! Welcome back (Y/N)! It has been a while. That necklace of your's need fixing already?" My hand reached up to my pendant and I took a deep breath.
"No. I have something else that needs fixing." I pulled out my drawstring bag and snagged the three pieces out of the bag, holding it out to him.
"Think this is fixable?"
"Anything can be fixed my friend. Huh-hah! Let's feel my technique!" With a couple squeaks, the pieces of silver were fixed into a small key. I smiled and picked it up, only for Malius to put a hand on my shoulder to stop me in my tracks.
"What is it?"
"This key has a terrible energy coming from it. Please understand that I only fixed it... so that you will never have to use it." I smiled and sighed.
"I know you're worried Malius, but I can handle myself. I'm not the little girl who you needed to protect at all costs anymore. I can defend myself." He sighed and nodded, messing with my hair.
"I know. Just... be careful."
"I will be." I waved goodbye to him made my way back to the door, dropping the key into my drawstring bag so I wouldn't lose it. Taking a deep breath, I forced the image of the castle in my mind and walked through the door, hesitantly closing it behind me. No turning back now.
It was still early in the morning, so the guards hadn't started their usual routes around the castle, which I was very thankful for. I snuck into the castle with ease, making my way to the elevator with no resistance.
I pressed the unlabeled button and soon made my way down to Jevil's floor. I gently squeezed the pendant around my neck before stepping out of the elevator, making my way down to the cell door.
"Hey Jevil. I got the key."
"Vee hee hee, the key the key. A marvelous fun is about to break free."
"One thing. Before I open this door, I need to ask you something."
"Oh? What is the question daughter of hearts?" I took a deep breath to keep myself calm. No turning back now.
"What do you remember before you were locked up? What was your life like?" It was silent for a moment, almost as if he was thinking it over.
"My past is a blur, as if it is water. It is hard to say daughter of hearts." My stomach sunk like a rock. Of course. It would only be too easy if he fucking remembered.
"Alright. That's all I wanted to know." I pulled out the key and a small door, just big enough for me to walk through without difficulty, appeared in the wall. I held the key to it and it vanished into the air, the door opening for me.
I stepped into the cell and quickly rubbed my eyes to get adjusted to the dark quicker. It was pretty dim in here, and it was pretty difficult to see. When I lowered my hands I jumped and took a few steps back.
The Jester, Jevil, was standing, or rather, levitating in front of me, a big, sadistic smile on his face. It was so much different from the one that I was used to seeing, and it sent shivers down my spine.
"Vee hee! A visitor, visitor! Now we can play, play! Then, after you, I can play with everyone else, too!"
"Didn't I just- ugh alright. What do you want to play?"
"Oh, it's just a simple numbers game." I saw an all too familiar glint of gold in his eyes and I quickly jumped back, narrowly avoiding a large scythe that had seemingly appeared from nowhere.
"When your HP drops to 0, you lose!" I should have fucking seen that coming, I SHOULD HAVE FUCKING SEEN THIS COMING!
I growled and quickly positioned myself to fight, summoning a small circle of hearts into my hand.
"Chaos, chaos! Catch me if you can!" My eyes widened once he vanished, only to hear him from another area of the cell. I quickly turned to face it and dodged a few spades that were sent flying my way, only for my stomach to sink at the sight of them.
Despite everything that I had gone through, now was the time I was going to choke.
Now was the the time all my memories of a better time wanted to rise to the surface.
The memories of all the shows I went too, all the times he helped cheer me up, all the times he saved these "attacks" for private performances to make me smile...
"Hey... why do you always make time to see me after a show?"
"Hmm?"
"Surely you have better things to do than entertain a little girl until her mama shows up... more important people you could talk to..."
"You are important. To me at least. Making you happy means I've done my job well, and being your friend is the best bonus I could ask for."
"... really?"
"I would not have said it if I did not mean it."
"... Thank you."
"You're welcome my dear."
...
"Ah, rabbit of hearts! I've been looking for you everywhere?"
"Wha- huh? Oh! Hi! What is it?"
"Close your eyes."
"Huh?"
"Trust me, it's a surprise."
"Okaaaaay."
"..."
"There. You may open them now."
"Huh...? Oh my stars! This is beautiful! Where did you get this?"
"A smith helped me make it. I've been saving for it ever since I saw the gemstone."
"Oh my gosh, you didn't have to."
"I may not, but I wished to. A reminder that I will be there for you, no matter what tries to pull us apart."
"Awww... thank you. You're the best friend I've ever had."
"And you are mine. Don't tell Seam, he'll get jealous."
"Haha! I won't say a word!"
...
"Daughter of hearts? You stopped moving before you lost the game. What is the matter?" That simple sentence was all it took to snap me back into reality. The attacks had stopped, and my health had depleted greatly. I balled my hands up bitterly, not even bothering to stop the tears that were falling down my face.
"What does it matter? Just fucking kill me and get it over with." My voice was hurting, dripping with acid as I spoke. My hand went to my choker, squeezing the gem tightly. The same person who gave it to me was going to fucking kill me... Isn't life a cruel ride to all?
I felt my legs give out and I fell to my knees. One hand covered my eyes while the other remained tight around my necklace, my body shaking with each sob that escaped my lips.
It was silent in the room for a moment, except for the sound of my sobs. After a few moments, I heard someone approaching me, and then felt a hand on my shoulder.
"... rabbit of hearts? Is that you?"
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LONGEST CHAPTER SO FAR OH BOI- I also updated the previous chapters to make the paragraphs easier to read. Also I added a new chunk to chapter six that you all can read if you want!