ㅤㅤNeo stood outside the room after he left for a fairly long time - too long. Yet, it wasn't to listen. It was to contemplate where to go from there. He glanced from one end of the hall to the other, biting his lip, running his fingers through his hair before sighing. Finally, he shoved his hands in his pockets and started walking, right to where he knew Quilliene's office to be.
ㅤㅤHe traversed down the hall as casually as he possibly could, staring straight ahead and trying to ignore anyone who passed him. He was attempting to keep his expression blank, but was unsure how well it was working. Stopping at a panel door that led to the room he was searching for, he glanced around. He waited until the last maid turned a corner and disappeared before resting his gloved hand on the knob. He took a deep breath, turned it, and quickly entered before shutting it quietly behind him.
ㅤㅤNeo looked around the room in silence, sighing out a soft exhale. It was decorated with a dark wooden bookshelf, with tomes on it that were regularly dusted but hardly used. Along with a desk in front of a three panel window that reached ceiling to floor, there were three chairs - one behind said desk, and two in front - that were all plush with purple cushions.
ㅤㅤHe circled around behind the desk, scanning the papers neatly stacked on each side and the box computer between them all. Sitting down, he picked through the paper and scanned the words on them quickly. Then, he stacked them up where he got them from, moving on to the drawers. He poked into what he saw there, which was nothing important, but soon came up to a locked one. He frowned, shaking it a little as if to force it open, only to go in search of a key soon after.
ㅤㅤ"And what do you think you are doing in here, Nathan?"
ㅤㅤNeo nearly jumped out of his skin as the sound of the voice, bumping the desk. A pen cup wobbled before tipping off the edge, and he shot his hand out, catching it. Quickly shuffling them back inside, he set it down, looking up at who had spoken - of course, to none of his surprise, it was Christopher. The queen's bastard brother, with long white dreadlocks pulled into a ponytail. His arms were crossed as he looked at Neo with wary eyes, leaning on the doorframe.
ㅤㅤ"Just because I take you for a thug does not mean you have to act like one," He rumbled suspiciously with a scowl. "This office isn't meant for you. If you are looking for something for my sister, I can do that myself, but I need you to leave." He stepped aside, waving out of the room. "Now."
ㅤㅤNeo didn't move for a moment, glancing around, trying to think of an insult or excuse before just shrugging innocently and standing up. "I forgot what she wanted anyway," He lied, sticking his hands in his pockets as he walked out of the room.
ㅤㅤ"Wonderful. Now then," Christopher shut the door behind him and stood in front of it. "Wander back over to my sister now, will you? I know the last few days have been hectic, but you still have your duties to attend to, just like everyone else. Unless, of course, you would rather watch the grounds in place of Kyrana or Raemith."
ㅤㅤNeo raised up an eyebrow of sass, holding back a retort as he simply continued down the hallway. Christopher didn't seem pleased about how he had blatantly ignored him, but the princeling still said nothing as he disappeared down the hall. When he finally reached the queen's door, he stopped, staring at the handle for a very long time.
ㅤㅤHe still felt a tinge of guilt for snooping through her office - perhaps he should have just asked her in the first place. Then again, he didn't know what she had gone through with the shapeshifter, so she likely didn't want to talk about him ever again. With a sigh, he reluctantly opened the door, pushing through and into the room.
ㅤㅤQuilliene was sitting on her bed, a book open in front of her. She turned the page before looking up, and a soft smile appeared on her face. Sitting beside her bed was a monitor, reading and checking her heart rate. She placed a small peacock feather in the book, setting it aside as she watched Neo close the door.
ㅤㅤ"Well, look who's back to check on me." She teased. "I almost thought you would quit after seeing me so bedridden."
ㅤㅤ"You being bedridden is more of a reason for me to get fired by your brother more than anything," Neo
cracked a smile. "Honestly, I'm surprised he hasn't tried yet."
ㅤㅤ"I'm assuming you've run into him, and I'm not all that surprised," She smiled, turning towards him.
ㅤㅤHe strolled over to the couch and sat down. His mouth opened, as if he was about to say something, but apparently decided against it as he closed it again and looked out towards the window. Quilliene frowned, looking up at the ceiling and silently contemplating. Then, she simply sighed.
ㅤㅤ"I know there is something you wish to talk about," She said. "You have a certain expression when you're hiding secrets."
ㅤㅤNeo scoffed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah, I'm pretty easy to read," He muttered with a soft exhale. "But it's probably nothing you want to talk about, so don't worry about it."
ㅤㅤ"And how would you know if you haven't taken the risk?" She looked back at him. "I can't quite comment on it if you won't give me the chance to."
ㅤㅤNeo frowned, opened his mouth only to close it, then inhaled sharply. "Okay, fine, but it involves both your parents and the shapeshifter," He admitted.
ㅤㅤ"Alright… go on." Quilliene turned to give him her full attention. "I promise you that whatever you have to say, I won't bite… though I am confused as to how you believe they would be connected."
ㅤㅤNeo crossed his legs underneath him, hesitating. "When I was on my way to the factory," He began. "I encountered a demon. Nothing special - just a big hairy fucker - but he said some… things." He paused, gathering his thoughts. "He talked about your parents, and what they did with the survivors of war." He looked her dead in the eye. "He said only you could give me answers."
ㅤㅤQuilliene was silent for a moment before looking away, hugging her arms and sighing. "I wish I could tell you I knew something, I truly do, but… I don't. My parents were like… chameleons. They took a different shape wherever they went, whether it was at home, on the news, in public, etcetera. They were difficult people, and they kept a lot of secrets. Some have been brought to my attention while others have not."
ㅤㅤShe shook her head before continuing. "Demons do not lie, but they play according to your personality. The shapeshifter liked mind games alongside his destructive attitude, so… most of the demons he summoned were to fit that description."
ㅤㅤShe turned back towards him but looked away as soon as she met his gaze. "I can't answer your question because I don't know, but I will try to dig for a solution."
ㅤㅤNeo stared at her for a moment with his mismatched eyes, as if searching her face for something that said he couldn't trust her. When he found nothing that told him so, he sighed, closing his eyes and hanging his head low. For a while he didn't say anything, but right when Quilliene was about to say his name, he looked up again.
ㅤㅤ"I've been thinking about it a lot," He stated. "And I've done some research on my own. The last war was in the eighteenth century - the Spanish Succession War. We only participated up to 1707, even though it lasted until 1714. Your parents weren't even thought of. That means, whatever your parents were doing, it had to be from other wars. They were working with someone. Someone who was doing wars recently."
ㅤㅤQuilliene was silent, thinking for a moment. She opened her mouth, then sighed. "The question being, where do I start looking and who exactly were they working with?"
ㅤㅤShe bit her lower lip for a moment. "If your theory is correct, of course. Considering I barely know my parents, I think a better person to ask about all this would be Christopher. He spent more time with them than I did. While his powers were focused on one element and easy to control, mine were hectic and I had to be sent away to further my abilities."
ㅤㅤNeo bit the inside of his cheek, looking outside the window for a moment. Asking Christopher… that would be difficult. Especially when their relationship was so sour already. Perhaps if he was with Quilliene, he would soften up a bit. No doubt he would give him a finger-wagging or wall-throwing later, though. That was, if he knew anything at all.
ㅤㅤQuilliene took a breath then, drawing his attention to her. "Enough about all these stressful subjects. I want to go on a walk through the gardens… and no, I do not care if I am wearing a nightgown at the moment."
ㅤㅤNeo smirked. "Do you wanna find a wheelchair?"
ㅤㅤ"Of course not, I can use my legs - and if it turns out I cannot, we can just have you carry me." She teased him, trying to lighten the mood as she slipped her feet into some slippers.
ㅤㅤ"If I pick you up again, your brother might literally kill me," He chuckled, standing up and walking over to the heart monitor, poking it. "You only have to wear this while in bed, right?"
ㅤㅤ"Yes," Quilliene said, pressing a button on it. When he looked at her strangely, she explained, "To call a nurse to get it off. I'm sure you would rather not do so."
ㅤㅤ"Well," Neo glanced at the wires that travelled under her gown. "Might not be... appropriate."
ㅤㅤShe giggled, holding her hand over her mouth politely. "I figured. Wait for me in the hall, okay?"