horror
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Chapter Eight Interlude 1 Plumeria Plum, for her part, had never had an easier time making a decision. Fleeing to Algaran had been an obvious choice. It wasn’t safe for Addie at the Keep anymore, and even though Plum didn’t trust Laszlo’s motivations, Addie trusted him. That was enough for her, so it would be
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Chapter Seven The Beginning at the End Adelaide slept soundly for most of the night. At some point, she was dimly conscious of Plum returning and climbing into bed next to her, but she couldn’t rouse herself enough to respond or react to it. She drifted back away into a mostly dreamless slumber, only distantly
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Chapter Six Into the Light CW: intense transphobia Adelaide stepped out of Plum’s room, squinting at the change in lighting. Plum had, of course, done a perfect job of healing her arm, but part of her could still feel the stinging pain as her eyes adjusted to the light. The servant that had knocked on
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Chapter Five Cutting Words CW: transphobia; self-harm Adelaide was no more than 20 feet down the hall when she heard Plum’s door open behind her. “Addie,” she heard Plum’s voice call from behind her. She didn’t react. “Adelaide!” Plum said again, louder this time. Adelaide whipped around, tears stinging in her eyes, and Plum stopped
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“Shh shh, it’s okay,” she said, her fingers slipping through my chassis and into the soft delicate parts of my remaining underneath. “You’re okay.” I believed her, and felt my servos and hydraulics relax—fractionally, barely perceptibly—as her hands dug deeper in. I didn’t know how long I’d been there, alone and cold and rusting. It
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Chapter Four Faces, Old and New When Brandon came into the hallway, Plum was already 30 feet ahead, stomping like a thunderstorm back towards the west wing of the Keep. He hurried to catch up to her, and she glanced back at the sound of his footsteps. She slowed as Brandon half-walked, half-jogged up next
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Chapter Three The Peasants’ Due Laszlo spun on his heel and started making his way down the hall. Brandon took a moment to re-center, and then followed behind. Plum sidled up next to him as they walked. “Are you alright, love?” she asked softly. “Yes, I… yes.” Plum didn’t look convinced. “This is… strange,” Brandon
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Chapter Two Trial by Smoke The blow hit Brandon hard from behind, and he toppled awkwardly onto the ground. He scrambled to his feet and drew his wand, turning to face whatever had hit him. He certainly didn’t expect what he saw. It looked as if Laslzo’s magical smoke had come to life. A hulking,
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Chapter One Lessons in Familiarity Brandon and Plum quickly got swept back up by the crowd. Brandon caught sight of her a few times throughout the rest of the night. She had a drink in her hand more often than not, and spent much of the night very obviously flirting with that provincial lass with
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A Beau at the Ball “Okay, Addie,” she whispered to herself. “You can do this.” Adelaide Vermillion looked herself up and down in the tall, only slightly smudged mirror and sat in one corner of her dimly lit bedchamber. It was evening by now, and the light of the glowlamps was all she had to
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