The Palace of the Cursed discussion

Found on the ground floor, this old dining hall was altered into a cafeteria where all the Cursed, no matter their age, come to sit for meals.

Aelin and Rowan led Aelic over to where the more mild cursed were serving the food. "Stop staring at my sister horse face she isn't interested." Rowan growled at a boy around their age who had a long face like a horse.

"Easy fox boy I was just looking she is quiet beautiful." the boy said with a shrug when Aelin suddenly reached over and grabbed the boys collar.

"Forget it I am not interested in horses though they are quiet tasty. I wonder if you would taste the same?" She mused before letting go. "We will just have to wait and see." She said before walking off to the corner with Rowan who growled at the horse boy smirking at Aelin's response to the horse boy. Once sitting he lightly kicked a chair out for the snake.

As he got his food, Aelic watched the interaction between the twins and the boy who's divine spirit was the horse. It was interesting and slightly amusing to say the least. Aelic allowed himself one last scan of the horse boy, (who's face creased in puzzlement at Aelic's unnerving snake stare) before he turned away and walked quickly and silently to the table where the twins were sitting alone. He nodded his thanks to 'John' when the boy kicked out a chair for him and sat, eating his food and curiously observing everyone. The massive cafeteria obviously hadn't changed much since when it was used as a dining hall. The tables they ate on were old but well used, and in two lines instead of scattered like they would have once been. At the very back of the hall, more tables were pilled up with food from the kitchen and some kinder looking Cursed gave everyone their plates and ensured all had enough to eat.
More and more Cursed trickled in, some very young and some much older. It was slightly astonishing to see so many and to see them all talking and interacting as they ate. Aelic turned his eyes back to the twins, watching them for a bit before randomly asking, 'Horse boy, west wing?'

"East we are the only teenagers in the west wing there are about four others on the different floors." Aelin said before finishing her food waiting for the boys to finish.

Aelic just nodded at the extra information, shooting them both a quick smile. He took his time to finish his food, mind whirring, eyes constantly scanning his surroundings, analysing the different Cursed in this palace. As a whole, they looked like they were all friends. Sorta like one massive, dysfunctional family and Aelic thought it was kinda nice, but very daunting. Right now, he would rather stay with the twins. As his mind wandered back to the map he was creating in his head, he realised that he knew less than a third of this place. If this was to be his home from now onwards, he should probably get better acquainted with it. 'Can you show me?' Aelic asked before realising they had no idea what he was talking about. 'This place, I mean. Can you show me around?'

Rowan and Aelin shrugged. "If you can keep up sure." Rowan said collecting his sisters dishes and sliding them in front of her.

"Brother I think he knows about me and my issue." Aelin whispered in Rowan's ear. Many had asked why does Aelin not go anywhere alone and why does she stare into space never blinking. The twins just ignored the questions and moved on and Aelin forced herself to walk around by herself when Rowan was thrown into solitary.

Aelic just smiled happily and followed 'John' as he put away the dishes. He briefly wondered where they were going to take him first, but he would soon see so he just kept silent, waiting a little bit away as the twins whispered to one another. He rocked backwards and forwards on his heels, eyes fixed on the twins, his long hair tickling the back of his knees. Space was something Aelic understood, and rushing his would-be guides would not be a smart move. He also knew that 'Jane' was probably a little bit nervous, showing someone around even though she was blind and Aelic didn't want to stress her out any further. So he waited.

"Even so we agreed to show him around." Rowan whispered before standing up and Aelin followed suite waiting for Rowan to return.

"Speak snake what have you figured out about me." She commanded in a hushed tone. She knew something was up no one simply over looked things like a girl who doesn't blink.

Aelic was a little taken aback at 'Jane's' abrupt interrogation. His head cocked to the side and he kept quiet, thinking through all he knew and the possible reasoning behind such a question. He couldn't come up anything or find any correlation between the two topics. Unsure, Aelic just decided to tell the truth, or most of it at least. 'Fox deity, roughly 16, blind, enhanced hearing and smell, fangs and claws, been here a few years....Nothing substantial.' Aelic said quickly, reasonably sure he got nothing wrong. Aelic had also figured out that their history was probably very complex and had multiple dark spots in it, which would explain the twins physical prowess and closed off, protective personalities. However, that would almost definitely identify him as an enemy in their minds, so they don't need to know that yet.

"Interesting though if you tell anyone about my circumstances my brother and I will have to skin you, even if we break our claws and don't see each other for months in doing so. No one must know about my issue." She threatened as Rowan returned. "Brother he knows about me." She said over her shoulder and Rowan glared at the boy.

"Let's go." He said before walking off with Aelin knowing that the boy would still follow since he knew no one else.

Aelic watched them walk off and then quickly ran to catch up. That was a very intriguing conversation! He thought to himself as they walked across the cafeteria towards the doors. No one, bar me and her brother, knows she is blind....intriguing indeed! Aelic found the twins very interesting and was glad he had met them, even though they were a little bit scary at times. 'Where to first?' He questioned softly as they reached the doors and 'John' pulled them open.

Aelin walked into the cafeteria with Aelic and led him over to the food which she found by smell. Quickly getting their dinner she sat down at a quiet empty table listening to the world around her.

As they got their food and found an empty table to sit at, Aelic noticed that some of the guards had straightened up and were walking towards them. He kept silent, unsure if they were the guards intended targets yet tensing up anyway. He could feel the build up of venom in his fangs yet showed nothing outwardly, continuing to eat as if nothing was wrong. Yup, we're the targets. Aelic thought to himself as the guards behind him (the ones that hadn't been moving) suddenly began walking and the others picked up the pace. Aelic stopped eating and stood up and was just about to warn Aelin when the guards behind them suddenly closed the distance in a quick sprint and pinned his arms behind his back. Instinct kicked in and Aelic began struggling with all his strength. Just as he was about to bite the guard that had pinned his arms, another grabbed his long hair to pull his head sharply back and in that moment of pained surprise, another had shoved a leather bite guard into his mouth. Aelic panicked. The leather was restricting his breathing and keeping his jaws from closing which meant he couldn't bite anyone. The guards still kept his head pulled back (facing the ceiling) and Aelic could feel the venom dripping off his fangs falling back into his throat uselessly. A few more guards had pinned his legs and torso to practically null his movements (cause he was still struggling). The last guard had something in his hand that glinted silver but that was all he could see. It disappeared and then Aelic felt something sharp pressing into the side of his neck and injecting something. Once the injection was done, the guards suddenly let him go and Aelic fell to the ground.

When the guards flooded Aelic they grabbed Aelin too putting her muzzle back on tightly and pinning her down on the ground. She struggled against their hold and managed to get a limb free and started kicking the guards around her till they got her leg down again. She continued to struggle till she heard a thump beside her and the muzzle was removed. "John are you ok?" She asked she needed an explaination.

Aelic was on his knees on the floor, still panting from the struggle. Aelin's question slowly filtered through his mind after a few minutes and he realised that she had no idea what had just happened. He also realised they must have held her down too (he hadn't even heard he was that panicked) else that fight would have went a little differently. Aelic took a moment to catch his breath and was just about to answer her when he suddenly curled in on himself and let out a gasp. His venom! What had they done! 'No....no!' Aelic whispered as his hand whipped up to his mouth involuntarily. He was still panicked and so his venom should have been literally dripping from his fangs, but instead, it was stopping. He could almost feel his venom gland slow down in its production and then stop. 'They've....they've stopped my venom. It was.....a suppressant. They've taken my venom!' Aelic whispered horrified (half to himself and half to Aelin). Never in his life had he felt so vulnerable and it was terrifying.

Aelin got up quickly and grabbed Aelic picking him up and carrying him out of the cafeteria avoiding unwanted attention. Using her fox like speed she ran back to her room and set him down on the table. "Repeat what you just said now."

((I'm gonna respond in the West wing cause we are technically there now even though you posted here. That ok?))

Aelic had swung his head side to side the entire way from the West wing to the cafeteria, amused at the feeling of his hair pulled back, but as they reached the cafeteria, he stopped, gaze darting around and taking everything in as he stuck close to Aelin's side. They grabbed their food and went to sit at the usual table. Aelic could see more people today than yesterday. There was some kids sitting in the corner laughing and playing with what looked like a ball or two, some more teenagers chatting as they ate, a few groups of adults going over some books or just talking. He could even see this pair of old men in another corner playing chess! There were so many people it brought up a range of emotions in Aelic and he had to turn his head to his food to shake off the uneasy feeling. That just brought another question to mind. 'Hey A...Jane? Do you guys grow food here?' He quietly said to Aelin, correcting himself before anyone heard.

"The non dangerous do yes James and I do not since we are not allowed outside anymore." She said with a shrug. "I do hate it when they serve vegetable soup for lunch. I suppose it is to keep the plant eaters happy." She said eating more of the bland and now cold soup.

Aelic laughed and shrugged, feeling the same as Aelin. As he finished eating, he wondered what they were going to do now (if he did anymore excersise he wouldn't be able to stand up in the morning). 'Where to now?' He asked as they put there plates away, wondering if there was anywhere he hadn't seen that Aelin could take him to.

"Well there isn't any more of this castle worth us looking at. Normally my brother and I would talk or sleep till dinner whilst the other stands guard since neither of us can read. I suppose we could head to the library for you to read or you can read up in my rooms should you wish. We should take precautions if we head to the library such as you pass me a book the right way up and I pretend that I can see it." She said walking out with her chin perched on the backs of her fingers in thought stopping at the stairwell that led to the higher levels.

((I'll post in response in the hallways section))

"I was asleep and didn't expect you to move so suddenly and speak to me." She said with a shrug as he helped her out of the library and down the hallways towards the dining room. Once there they received their meals when horse face made a smirking remark at Aelin again.

"So pretty fox no big bad wolf protecting you today?" He smirked looking at her as he passed the two their dinner.

"Horse face back off. I am not interested in you in fact I would rather eat you and if you run snivling to the guards that my brother threatened to eat you again. I will end you but let's save the fun for winter yes." She smiled sweetly before walking off leaving the boy in shock. "I really do hate him." She said sitting down and waited for Aelic. "Also remember last night just breath and if you freak out just look at me and breath that's all you need to do."

Aelic smiled and walked into the cafeteria with Aelin, quickly getting in line and grabbing their meals before the line got too long. He stayed silent, watching as 'Horse-face' and Aelin interacted. That boy was creepy! Still, Aelin didn't need any help, that much was obvious. She threatened to eat him after all and judging by his shocked, pale expression, he knew she wasn't joking around. Aelic silently watched 'Horse-face' as Aelin walked off, letting the hiss that had built in the back of his throat out softly before turning around and running to catch up with Aelin. Aelic hummed in agreement with Aelin's dislike of the boy, but then almost dropped his spoon when she continued talking. His eyes went wide, breath going short and he whipped his head around, seeing a number of guards walking towards him, one with the silver suppresent in his hand. Aelic knew from last night that fighting them was useless (he didn't even have any venom), but that didn't stop him from panicking slightly. Only Aelin's soft words and strong presence kept him from jumping up out of his seat and bolting. 'Aelin..' He whimpered quietly, blindly reaching out for her hand, unable to tear his gaze away from the silver liquid. He was panting now and his knuckles were white as they gripped the table.

"Breathe John. Just breathe. Could you pigs just let us finish a meal before you attack us. I thought that you humans could do as much." She said as the guards got closer she was baiting them trying to get Aelics mind off what was about to happen to him.

"Shut up dog." A guard growled and slapped her across the face.

"I think not since I am no dog" she said her face like stone no emotion in her voice.

"I said shut up you vile beast." He roared yanking on her hair and wrapping a muzzle around her face and making it too tight as it dug into the flesh on her neck and face. Whilst he did that two more reeves her arms behind her and lashed them together and then slammed her head into the table. She heard another thud somewhere and knew that Aelic was either against the table or on the ground again.

Aelic gasped at Aelin's bold words. No! What is she thinking! The guards are gonna get angry for sure! He thought to himself, squeezing her hand tighter in a silent plea to stop. She didn't. 'Stop it! No!' Aelic cried as Aelin was wretched away by the fuming guard and muzzled. He tried to help her but a guard suddenly yanked on his hair whilst another kicked him in the side, shoving him to the floor. They pounced on him quickly as he tried to get his breath back and get off the floor. He found himself on his back, two guards pinning his limbs whilst the third grabbed his neck, choking him. All Aelic's attention went to his lack of oxygen so he didn't even feel the prick as he was injected. The third guard kept choking him, waiting until Aelic's vison was going dark before letting up, a vile grin on his face.
'See you next time, snake!' The guard said laughing, flashing the empty injector before signalling to the others and walking off. The other guards got off Aelin and Aelic and walked back to their posts, some with grins and others with blank faces. Coughing, Aelic pushed himself off the floor and rushed over to Aelin. 'A..Jane! Are you ok?' He asked, worried for the girl yet aware of the watchful gazes of the other Cursed.

"'I'm fine not hungry anymore but fine." She growled standing suddenly and walking out arms still bound face still muzzled and she could feel all the eyes on her. She kept her head forward and moved on she could hear Aelics pounding heart and knew that he was following. She walked and made it back to her rooms and kicked the door open stomping in. "I had better been slapped and bound for good cause. Did I atleast get your mind off the shot for even a moment." She said as her eyes sparkled with something she could not describe. The skin on her cheek started bleeding from the rough edge of the muzzle and she heard pounding footsteps along with the jingle of chain mail. "John behind me now." She growled.

((Gonna post in the West wing))

Aelin led the boys down stairs resuming her stone like face along with Rowan as he moved beside her discreetly helping his sister. "No horse face today." He whispered.

"We should really call him Jean because that is is name but horse face is so much fun." She mused speaking only loud enough for Rowan and Aelic to hear.

"Why are they only serving vegetables?" Rowan asked with a frown.

"Plant eaters. Is there any fruit? I do love a good Apple." She asked quietly Rowan quietly answered her grabbing food for the two of them along with a few pieces of fruit for afters.

Jean huh? So that's horse-face's name. Aelic thought to himself as he stood in line with the twins and grabbed their dinner. They sat down together at the usual table, and like usual, no one else approached them. Aelic had only been here a week and already this felt routine. It was nice. Although no one else talked to them, and it was the same thing every week, Aelic felt a part of something. He wasnt alone. He caught the eye of one of the guards and sighed, knowing by now what came next. Aelic stood up and smiled at the twins, quietly whispering that he would be back in a bit. Then Aelic approached the guard at the side of the room who pulled the silver siringe out of his pocket. Aelic still flinched and shut his eyes when they injected him but other than that, he was good. Once he had gotten over the panic, Aelic had quickly realised that fighting them wouldn't do anyone any good and so, he took his injections now without complaint. Once it was done, Aelic quickly walked back to the table, hand covering the injection spot unconsciously. He sat down silently and began eating.

"Did they hit you this time or have they given up and just give you the shot?" Aelin asked finishing the roasted and mash vegetables on her plate.

"What shot?" Rowan growled

"They stop his venom with a shot making him harmless." She shrugged pushing her plate away.

Aelic shrugged and tried to smile reassuringly (sure he was doing a bad job of it). 'Don't worry. They didn't hit me this time. I think they've gotten bored with it.' He said before turning back and finishing his food, trying to ignore the sad and slightly scared feeling he always got after the injection.

"That's good they will pick on someone else and lets guess who that will be." Aelin smiled.

"Flopsy or ratican." Rowan said with a shrug. "They won't look at us for the time being."

"You always bet on the rabbit and the rat don't you?" Aelin asked with a scowl.

Aelic was sad that the guards would pick on someone else but couldn't help giggling at their conversation. He kept silent since he didn't know who those two were and thus couldn't bet either. Once he had finished his meal, he sat silently, smiling softly at the twins and looking around the room, content to just watch and listen.

"Of course though I think the rabbit is of age this year and we get the fight of choice. Oof." Rowan said rubbing his chest.

"I didn't tell the snake about what happens in winter idiot." Aelin growled in a hushed tone pulling on Rowan's ear.

"Sorry sister slip of the tounge." He hissed

Aelic frowned in confusion when he heard a muffled gasp of pain from Rowan and then the quick whispers of the twins. He hadn't really been paying attention to their conversation but Rowan had obviously said something that Aelin didnt want him to hear. He looked at them both, head tilted to the side in a silent question. Aelic was curious what they were keeping from him and Aelin's forced smile did nothing to mask the seriousness of her thoughts. 'Everything alright?' Aelic asked softly, giving them an opertunity to tell him what they were discussing.

"Brother your turn." Aelin glared at her brother crossing her arms over her chest.

"We have been keeping something terrible from you so that you don't lose your humanity in the first few weeks of being here. Sister he would find out eventually and we can't protect him from them." He said stressing the last word to Aelin who sighed before standing up.

"We shouldn't tell him here our rooms are safer. I am not going to chase a snake around the dining room." She said as Rowan stood up motioning for Aelic to follow them.

((To the west wing))

Rowan nodded at Aelic and led the three down to the cafeteria for breakfast where he told Aelin to sit down and he grabbed her food for her. Once the boys sat down at the table the three started eating with Rowan looking at Aelin carefully. "Your cheek is looking worse dear sister have you been cleaning it?" He asked

"Yes. I have." She growled eating her porridge.

Aelic also looked at Aelin's cut cheek, brow furrowing in worry. Rowan was right, it did look worse. Thinking back on all the medical books he had read, he suddenly realised what Aelin's symptoms were indicative of. 'Infection.' He said out loud, causing both siblings to look in his directions. 'You need stronger healing herbs for that or it will get worse.' Aelic pointed out, worry evident in his tone.

"Where are we going to get them?" Aelin growled finishing her meal and pushing her plate away.

"Play nice I will steal some herbs later." Rowan shrugged grabbing her plate and taking it away and bringing back some fruit passing it to Aelin. "It your fruit sister."

"You had better eat yours too." She grumbled eating the apple Rowan gave her.

Aelic smiled and grabbed some fruit as well, taking a bite and contemplating this worrying problem. How was Rowan going to steel some herbs? Did they even have a herd garden here? Aelic would hope so but he wasn't sure. 'Perhaps I can help.' He said quietly to Rowan, knowing he would understand his meaning.

"Getting outside or into the infirmary would be easier for you yes. We can discuss this later but for now she should rest and save her strength. We could also spend this time working with the witchcraft you were teaching me yesterday." Rowan nodded watching Aelin as she ate her apple and gave a small look of confusion. Aelin never reacted like this unless she had a fever but she was no warmer than she should be last night. She was having mood swings and Rowan didn't like it.

"I could do my stretches that Krystal taught me brother to relax my muscles and sooth my joints." She sighed holding the apple core by the stem.

"A hot bath would do the same thing." Rowan countered.

"I have a tendency to fall asleep when it's too hot and I don't feel like drowning today." She murmured looking sad. What was with her emotions right now?

A voice emerged from under a nearby table. It seemed quite cheerful despite the wheezing cough that followed. And the being under a table bit.
"I just have a tendency to fall asleep."

((I hope this is an okay entry. It's meant to be startling, and a testament to Vyla's unfortunate narcolepsy.))

Aelic nodded in response to Rowans words. He would do anything to help his friends but understood the need to discuss their plans more privately. He giggled at Rowan's description of reading and nodded again, enthusiastically. Aelic would teach that boy to read if it was the last thing he did! He munched on his own apple in silence and listened to the twins talk. Just like Rowan, Aelic could tell that something was wrong with Aelin. One moment she seemed fine and the next she seemed really sad, like right now. He had no idea what to do and just hoped that her brother may know something. Sighing, Aelic got up to put their plates away, startling a little at the wheezy voice that emerged from underneath a table he was passing. Tightening his grip on the plates he picked up his pace. Whilst Aelic had wanted to make friends when he came here, he was still kinda wary of people and kinda felt that the twins were all he needed at the present. Too many people would scare him but perhaps later down the line when he was more comfortable, he could be friends with the strange cheerful voice.

((Yeah, it fine! And I'm sorry about the way Aelic reacts! He does have his reasons though I understand it puts you in an awkward position with how to respond. The twins probs wont talk to her either, but you can try! If you want, I can bring in Owl - a NPC kinda that I made who likes runs the place almost - and interact with you via Owl?))

Aelin and Rowan heard the voice and backed away slightly glaring at the voice beneath the table. "That useless snake wandering off in the slighteat sign of danger." Rowan sighed.

((Owl sounds fine. I'm imagining an unnecessary tour that Vyla would go along with the to be polite, does sound like a way to instigate meetings...))

Vyla came out from under the table - hitting her head twice, causing plates to clink - and dusted herself of casually as could be. She mildly saluted to the back of Aelic's head, as if aware of his heritage, and then simultaneously offered both twins a hand shake... Or possibly a hug. This display was made more disturbing due to her cultist-like outfit and the dark red sauce stains on her shoulder. A strand of pasta clung to her left arm.

The twin stood back and glared at her now that everyone was watching them to see how they would react. Aelin crossed her arms over her chest and grabbed her shoulder bearing his teeth. The message was simple they no likey people stay away.

Aelic had put away the plates and turned around to head back to the table when he saw the twins predicament. Hissing slightly he picked up his approch pace and tapped the strange Cursed on the shoulder. As she turned he took in her happy eyes, unusual hair and kinda creepy clothes. Although she didn't seem like that much of a threat (her pulse wasn't elevated and her eyes were kind), Aelic's snake eyes narrowed anyway. 'Excuse me, but the twins are feeling uncomfortable. Could you please leave?' He asked politely yet with a slight uncontrollable hiss. Luckily, Owl came and began talking to the Cursed woman before anything could happen. Slipping past the woman, Aelic quickly grabbed the twins hands and pulled them out of reach and towards the cafeteria door (intent on keeping his new friends safe).

Across the room, Owl had been watching everything. She knew the twin foxes were likely to strike out if Vyla got any closer and so began walking over there to deal with the situation. The new boy, the one with the white snake who seemed to have strangely enough become friends with the foxes, turned Vyla's attention towards him for a moment. He looked like he was trying to diffuse the situation without any violance/complications, yet by the look in his eyes, would not hesitate to protect the twins/become more forceful if Vyla didn't back away. Thats where I come in! Owl thought to herself as she reached the group and caught the womans eye, smiling at her. 'Vyla right? Jellyfish?' Owl asked to woman just to double check. Out of the corner of her eye she saw the snake boy take the foxes away and relaxed. 'My name is Owl, it is very nice to meet you.' Owl said to other woman, taking in her kind yet sleepy expression and immediately liking her (though the contrasting clothes were a bit off putting). 'Have you had a tour yet dear? I would be happy to show you around!'

((To the hallway Heather))