I turned the handle to the house slowly, halting if the hinges complained so as to not alert my Mistress nor Mourner. 

However, nobody nor anything made a sound. I quickly grabbed Phobus's hand and dragged him inside, closing the door in the same manner as I had opened it.

I breathed a sigh of relief and tiptoed up the landing with Phobus in tow, being careful with the speed with which I crept up the stairs. 

Once we got to Phobus's room door, I heard shuffling from the room next to mine, so in one swift motion, I yanked Phobus into his room and I shut the door, with me inside with him.

I listened for any more shuffling, but deciding the coast was clear, I let out a breath I hadn't realized I had been holding and closed my eyes. 

I was honestly very exhausted from the day's events, but I knew that I would be ok when I heard Phobus clear his throat, causing me to open my eyes and grin at what I saw before me; Phobus was laying down in his bed, with the covers over him, his arm extended over towards me. 

I could barely see him with the light of the moon seeping through the window shades, yet I knew very well what he was doing.

"What?" I whispered to him, clearly knowing what he was going to ask.

He sat up on the bed, scratching the back of his neck nervously before peering over at me, "Do you think you could stay over here tonight? With me?" he invited, but yet his smile never faltered.

I smirked, "Really? Would you want me to read you a bedtime story as well?" I joked, and he grinned, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"So long as you kiss me goodnight as well~" He uttered seductively, but still I cringed at the implication.

He couldn't possibly be serious, so I regained my composure and faked a chuckle.

"Is that what you tell everyone who goes to bed with you?" I asked, enjoying the moment until I saw his eyes lose their glint and become hard. He shifted his eyes to the covers on his bed, not moving a muscle.

We stayed silent for what felt like hours before I apologized. Phobus glanced up at me with emotion in his eyes I couldn't decipher and nodded stiffly. I sighed heavily, not sure If I was ready to share, but I began before I could change my mind. "You know, I wanted to apologize for tonight. I was having a strange couple of days, and I feel like I took it out on you. I am very sorry, and I hope you will forgive me." I voiced, preparing to share with him why I had been acting the way I had when suddenly, Phobus stopped me with an, "Ok."

I stared at him confused, but he continued, "I understand you are experiencing some things in life that are very new to you, but I wanna tell you now that I do not blame you for your behavior towards me. I understand completely. It happens to everybody, "He paused, sighing before he continued, " I want you to know that whatever it is, I can be there to help you in any way, or even be an ear to hear you out. I'm going to be here to help, and I hope you take advantage of this opportunity." He ended, a smile on his face once more.

I didn't know what to think, but though my head was a jumble of intrusive thoughts and awful memories, I surprised myself when I nodded at him.

Phobus only smiled wider and extended his arm again, the same invitation as before, and I took his warm hand in mine where he pulled me gently towards the bed and placed me beside him.

I lay there, not used to the proximity of another person in YEARS, with my eyes shut and my body tense. I felt embarrassed not knowing what to do, but my thoughts suddenly vanished as I felt Phobus begin to play with my hair.

If I could've grown tenser, I would have, but instead listened to his soft breathing and the warmth his body permeated. I grew weary soon, my eyes heavy with exhaustion and my limbs too tired to move, so I allowed the calm feeling of relaxation to overtake me, and soon, I slept.

The sound of muttering is what woke me from my rest, my eyes shooting open, and sitting abruptly up in bed. I was panting, but I couldn't figure out the problem until the muttering soon began again.

I attuned my ears to the noise, moving towards the bedroom door, but paused, listening as the muttering became whimpering.

Did it sound like...my Mistress?

I grasped the doorknob and turned it quickly, pulling it open, nearly yelping as my eyes caught sight of the figure behind the door.

"Mourner?" I asked confused, but he only smiled and waved at me. "What are you doing here? It's the middle of the night."

Mourner shrugged and let out a small chuckle, "I enjoy walking down the halls at night. Really places me as if I were in my home country. Alas, here I am." He answered, his smile only growing wider as he finished. I was beginning to feel uncomfortable. Something was off.

I couldn't hear the muttering anymore.

"Anyways!", Mourner interrupted my focus, "I see you're sleeping with the stranger. Didn't we have this talk, like, 120 years ago?" he joked, but I could only close the door so he wouldn't be able to see Phobus as he lay shirtless in the bed now. My neck grew instantly hot.

"Uh, it was a rough day." was my feeble attempt to disguise my nervousness, but Mourner only smirked.

"Of course. We all have those, " He winked, but before I could respond, he began to walk away, " Oh! Also, make sure to be wary these next few days. I hear we're having a mission here soon. wouldn't want you to...miss out on all the fun, y'know?" He shrugged nonchalantly.

I nodded, not completely sure what he meant, but was far too late to ask as he went down the landing toward the living room and disappeared into the darkness.

I swept my hand across my face exasperatedly but eyed the spot where Mourner had disappeared from in confusion. 

Wasn't his room on the top floor?

I shrugged and closed the door, turning to meet the tired, vibrant eyes of Phobus, his hair tangled and his torso shifting from all the muscle. 

I wanted to look away. I swear I did!

"How long are you gonna keep staring at me like that?" Phobus smirked. I blushed

"Like what?" I asked, my voice breaking at the end.

He sighed, "Nevermind, just come back to bed." shifting his body and taking up the space closest to the wall. I crinkled my nose in annoyance. Great, he took my spot.

Before I started towards the bed, however, I noticed that the muttering was gone. Even the whimpering. I had a lot of questions on my mind but seemed more worried that if I didn't take the opportunity, Phobus would most likely take over the bed.

I smiled through the worry, and lay back down, allowing the sleep to once again deprive me of my senses.

-------------

Mourner arrived at the basement door, slowly creaking it open, though carelessly allowing it to attempt its complaints, but Mourner had thought of that part. 

A simple house muffling spell had done the work, though it would only last mere hours, so he had to deliver his message quickly.

He stomped down the stairs, and into the view of the hanging bulb being the only source of light. He stopped short, allowing himself to admire his day's work with cuts and bruises complimenting the tears and burns decorating the pale skin of his Mistress as she lay slumped on the cold, textured wall and blood-soaked floor.

Mourner happily went up to his Mistress and grabbed a fistful of her hair, pulling her from her position on the floor to sit. She shrieked and Mourner cackled, throwing her against the wall once more, her cries ending abruptly as the air was knocked out of his Mistress's body.

"You know, I am not enjoying this. Not one bit. I would rather you just provide the information I requested and be done with this like civilized people...but~" Mourner grabbed fistfuls of his Mistress's hair and pulled her face close to his, "Clearly you like it rough."

Mourner watched as his Mistress turned her eyes black, usually entailing she was using her powers, and laughed, bringing his hand to rest on her cheek. "That won't be working, Mistress. There are powers here you can't comprehend, so I'll ask one last time; where are the whereabouts of The Crescent? I know you-" 

His Mistress spat on Mourner's face, a grin on her beaten face. He wiped the spit from his face and glared at her. Mourner let go of her hair and his Mistress slumped to the ground. "You know, " He began, "I was going to ask my Master to at least keep you alive long enough to find what he was looking for, but I can clearly see you are DYING to leave this existence. I'll gladly leave you with Him now. It was nice knowing you, 'Mistress'. I'll take good care of Ben in your absence." 

Mourner stepped out of the basement as he could hear her shouts of pain from what He was doing to her, but he felt no remorse. It was time for action.

The Crescent was needed. 

His Master requested it.