Chapter Text
Colletta dangled her legs over the grey ledge of a ruined building as she watched the sun rise above the green mountain. She watched the dark sky turn into a pale gradient of blue, orange, yellow, and red. Cool breeze swept past her; her hair fanned to the side in a glorious blaze. Her wings folded lopsidedly, forcing her feathers to bend at an awkward angle. Embers of her fiery clothes sparked and floated upward before disappearing into the wind.
One by one, humans and monsters milled around the streets as the sun slowly rose over the mountain. Her time on the building ledge was also dwindling away. Although the time for herself to recollect and think was short, she still enjoyed it. No responsibilities, no people to bother her, no sightings of destruction. Just a healing city and her. Nothing more, nothing less.
She heaved herself up with a sigh. Her wings stretched wide behind her as she arched her back with a satisfying crack. Although, she should avoid doing it in front of the skeleton brothers…
Today is a new day. A new day full of previous problems and new problems. She still has to apologize to Sans for her words, but as the days passed by, it became harder for her to even get a glimpse of him. Problems appeared like rabbits. If she resolved one issue, two more popped up. She was running herself ragged, trying to help those in need. The day when she should have met up with Apoth, Lucky, Sans, and Papyrus got pushed back a few days due to a fire breaking out on the outskirts of the city. Thankfully, nobody got hurt, but the cause of the fire was still unknown.
Her eyes narrowed at the strangeness of the fire incident. When she first heard of the sudden fire, she had initially thought Arsonist came back; however, when she investigated it, his burning gasoline scent never appeared. Rather, something was messing with her sense of smell, making her feel nauseated and confused. A normal scent blocker doesn’t do that, but if it is that , then…
No. She shook her head. No one would use that. It’ll cost them their lifespan if they use that item.
“Heyyyyy~ Niiiix~” Colletta’s ear flicked at the coquettish call. She glanced behind her back to see a familiar top hat and rabbit ears sticking out of it.
“Magi, did something happen?” A sense of unease appeared deep in her stomach.
Magician pouted cutely, “Jeez, nothing happened. I just wanted to see you, y’know? Relax, Nix. Not everything is out to get you.”
“Oh.” Colletta’s shoulders slumped down in relief. She sat back down and patted the area next to her. “Come sit with me.”
Magician plopped herself down with a happy chirp. “So! What are you doing up here?”
“Just thinking.”
“Thinking about what?”
“You.” Magician’s cheeks pinkened as she let out a flustered giggle. “And the others. Too many things are happening at once. It makes it difficult to even take a step forward.”
The corners of Magician’s lips tilted down as the blush went away. “That must be very troublesome…” She put a finger against her mouth, thinking. Then she perked up. A large grin spread across her face as she pulled Colletta toward her. Colletta flared her wings open before she sighed and encased it over Magician.
“What idea do you have now?”
“You should leave some tasks up to the rest!”
Colletta squinted at Magician with a look of contempt. “Are you serious?”
Magician nodded her head. “Yep!”
Colletta pinched the skin between her eyes. Hard. “I’m already doing that, Magi. I’m the only one sitting around doing nothing other than patrolling and helping around.”
“No, no, no! That wasn’t what I meant!” Magician waved her hands. “What I meant is that you should leave the mundane things to the people.”
A small headache formed on Colletta’s forehead as she took a deep breath. “As you can see, I am no professional builder, Magi. I can barely build a tent with just sticks and mud, let alone an entire modern house.”
“Oh? Is that so? So helping them move around things and evacuate people does not count?”
Colletta stared at Magician with a befuddled look. “What?”
“I mean sure, it’s not reaaaaaally mundane, buuuut, if you keep on helping them, then they are just going to take it for granted, ya know?” Magician kicked her legs like an innocent child as if she hadn’t said something strange.
“And for that to happen, it’ll take years,” Colletta retorted, “Besides, what have we done that even remotely feels safe? We caused the deaths of hundreds and injuries to thousands by returning! Normal humans don’t have special abilities like we do. They’re just human.”
“Is it truly as bad as you say?” Magician gently booped Colletta’s nose, forcing her to reel back. “When thousands of people go missing, taken by the Purgatory, aren’t their chances the same as of now? By ending one nightmare, we have the time to focus on others.”
“I-” Colletta looked away. Perhaps she had been a bit too dramatic about it… “I suppose you’re right.”
Magician giggled. “Besides, you always focus on the minor details, not the bigger picture. Sure, it’s nice to help, but sometimes too much kindness can lead to your demise.”
“I-what?” Flummoxed by her words, Colletta did not move away from her sudden hug. The hidden warning rang in her mind.
“I know I can sometimes say strange things, but I’m just worried about you, y’know?” Magician picked at Colletta’s fingertips.
Colletta just huffed. “I’ll be fine. It’s not like I haven’t handled this before.”
Magician only frowned, “Always giving away your heart, tryna keep everyone safe even-”
Colletta’s phone buzzed loudly in her pocket, interrupting whatever Magician had to say. Colletta quickly apologized before unlatching the surrounding arms to pick up the call.
“Uh, hey, Phoenix here. Is there something wrong?”
“Yeah. That ‘something’ is Gladiolus’ and Daffodil’s appointment. Where are you?” Apoth’s stern voice spoke out.
“Ooooo! Who are you talking to?” Magician wiggled her ears as she stared at the phone curiously.
Colletta gave her a quick smile and covered her phone. “I’m talking to Apoth right now. Can you please give me space?” Magician’s ears drooped down as she pouted at her, but thankfully, she did move back.
Colletta let out a sigh of relief before returning to her call. “Sorry for the interruption, Apoth. I’ll be at the appointment right away. Just tell me where you guys are.”
“... Was that Magician?”
She blinked at the sudden name drop. “Er- yeah. It’s Magi. Is there something wrong?”
“... While I know Magician is a long-time friend, I do advise you to stop only seeing her.”
There was an inexplicable urge to be angry with those words. Hurtful words stuck in her throat as she struggled with the strangeness of her emotions. Why was she angry? He didn’t say anything wrong.
She took a moment to regain her rationale and looked back at Magician. She tilted her head when she noticed Colletta’s gaze on her. Colletta turned her head to regard the technology in her hand with caution. Something happened to her and her gut instinct told her that the thing that affected her was here. Did Puppeteer’s curse not get erased by Hex?
“-enix? Phoenix?”
“Uh, yeah. I’m still here. Can you bring Hex along?” She asked in a hushed whisper.
The other line went silent before starting again. “What happened?”
“Just a check-up.”
“... Alright, just get here as soon as possible. And… stay safe, okay? You never know what sheep the wolf is hiding under.” Then he hung up.
Beep!
Beep!
Beep!
Colletta clutched the phone tightly and nearly cracked it. Everything was too strange. Everything is hazy and cryptic. Her mind was not running as smoothly as she expected. Did she not get rid of the curse from the Underground?
“Hey~ Are you done talking to AP?” Arms encircled Colletta. Instinctively, she darted underneath Magician’s hug. A look of shock and hurt appeared on her face, making Colletta pause in her steps. Her chest tightened at the sight, but she didn’t make any other movements. She has to stay away to protect her. Who’s to say she wouldn’t accidentally harm Magician in a fit of rage?
Colletta swallowed her spit, “I-I’m sorry, Magi. I just don’t want to be touched right now. I’ll make it up to you at a later date. I need to go. Now.” She didn’t dare to look at Magician like the coward she was.
“Oh… That’s okay,” Magician calmly said, “I’ll hold you to it! And remember, I’ll always be here if you need an ear.”
Despite those comforting words, Colletta still remained cold.
Colletta reached the designated area within ten minutes. She wriggled her wings, trying to shake off the unease that had clung to her like a stubborn burr.
She stood in the driveway and raised her head to take in the house. It looked as if the house hadn’t been blown out of existence. It still had the same reddish-grey shingles and warm white walls, even down to the minuscule crack next to the door. Colletta could still remember when this place was just a hole in the ground.
“I-”
Colletta gave Hex a flummoxed look as she stood by the gaping hole. Wisps of smoke continued to rise from the very dented earth. The house was eviscerated. Gone like the rising gray smoke.
“How did you guys manage to blast the entire house into nothing?” She waved her hand wildly. “Sure, like I expected to see the top part to be gone, but even the basement? What the Hell happened here?”
Hex scratched the back of his head with an abashed expression. “About that… I might’ve been the reason.”
“How???”
Colletta shook her head. She has no time to dawdle and recall the past. With a sigh, she went up to the door. She stiffly knocked on the door and waited. Seconds passed, and quickly she felt the blooming regret. As urgent as the situation was, it had been a while since she had talked to them. Her cowardly move to just run away made the entire situation even worse.
Do they hate her now? Do they not want to see her? What should she say? That she was sorry for cowardly actions? That she-
The door clicked open. Colletta bit her lips as she took in Apoth’s appearance. Compared to his usually neat hair bun, strands of black and blonde hair fell messily against his shoulders. His pale skin was even more pallid than usual with no blood flowing in his face. A black face mask wrapped around his pointed ears, hiding the bottom half of his face. Golden-rimmed glasses sat on top of his nose, yet it did not hide the dark circles under his eyes. A gloved hand sat on top of the doorknob. Its pinkie was missing; a broken promise.
“Look who came,” Apoth said tiredly.
Guilt curled inside Colletta as she picked at one of her scars. “Hey.”
Apoth observed her for a moment, then heaved a great sigh. “Come in.” He paused for a moment. “Oh, and prepare yourself. It might feel particularly nasty with Hex’s magic everywhere.” He took out a mask similar to his own and gave it to her. Heeding his advice, she covered her face with it.
Just as she took a step in, the hair on her neck rose. The urge to hiss at the unpleasant aura grew in her throat as her nose burned at the acrid scent. It took her a moment to adjust to the high amounts of cursed magic in the room. Oh wow, he was not kidding. Hex’s magic signature was everywhere. She closed the door roughly behind her, trying to get used to the uncomfortable magic.
“Follow me.” Colletta snapped out of her thoughts and quickly followed behind Apoth.
“What did Hex do to this house?” She awkwardly asked, head turned around here and there, surveying the living room. Everything seemed normal. Soft, plush couches half-circled a long glass table. Another table sat next to the pristine kitchen area, covered in a white tablecloth. Yellow carnations, white begonias, and orange foxgloves scattered throughout in black vases.
“He put up an illusion so uninvited visitors will stay here indefinitely until they leave,” Apoth replied. He nudged one of the white vases and suddenly, a door appeared next to it. “This is just the first security Hex put up.”
The two made their way further into the house, the colder it became. The hallways were dark and damp. Every once in a while, blue lamps glowed ominously in the dark on the walls. When they passed the thirteenth lamp, Apoth tapped on the wall to the right three times, then he tilted the lamp clockwise. Suddenly, the wall rumbled. Slowly, but surely, an entrance revealed itself.
Apoth walked in, but Colletta stayed where she stood, looking down the hallway. “This… seems excessive. What is even at the end of the hallway?” she commented as she stared at the darkness.
“Perhaps,” he huffed, “But better safe than sorry. Although simple, it keeps most nosy people away.” He fixed the placement of his glasses with a finger. “And… that hallway is just a nightmare waiting to be unfolded.”
“Simple? I’ll say it’s more convoluted than a pretzel. A simple blood or magic seal would be fine. Besides, what if someone forgot how to transverse through this ridiculous maze?”
“There are hints. Now, stop dallying and follow me. Time is of the essence. You can ask your questions later.” Without waiting for her to respond, he went into the hidden doorway.
Colletta winced at the curt tone. She didn’t have time to linger on her hurt as the door started to close on her. Hastily, she followed him in. As the door slowly closed, the gloomy light disappeared, leaving behind her flames to light up the dark corridor. Gears creaked within the walls, slowly reverting the house back to its original appearance. How did Hex even implement something complex like this?
She shook her head. Well, he always did have that flair for puzzles. Clearing her mind, she followed Apoth even deeper.
The two passed a couple more puzzles before they finally stood before a large rune. There was a large spinning wheel in front of the rune.
“Just prick your finger on the spindle and let it take your blood and magic. The house should let you in,” Apoth instructed. He reached out and nicked his finger. Sweet blood flooded the dark room, then suddenly, everything went quiet and dark. The smell of dried herbs and flowers still lingered, but it wasn’t as strong as before. Colletta tentatively reached her qi, but she couldn’t feel him anywhere. His entire being straight up disappeared. The only evidence of him was his scent and blood that trickled down the sharp spindle.
The surrounding walls edged closer as her throat tightened up. Her breath shortened as she struggled to keep her cool. She was fine. She’s not trapped. She just needed to prick her finger like how Apoth did.
In a shaky manner, she reached out her hand and tried to put her finger on the pointed shaft, but missed.
“Fuck…” She muttered, eyes shaking. She was being ridiculous. There was a way out; she was just overreacting. Holding her wrist, she finally pierced her pointer finger at the sharp point. It went through the finger violently; her nail ripped off of her finger, but she couldn’t care less about the pain. All she wanted was out.
The surrounding scenery changed. From dark, dreary walls to bright, clean ones. The room was the same as when she first stepped into the house, except the flowers in the vases had changed. Yellow roses, orange zinnias, and pink tulips filled in each and every vase; however, Colletta could only focus on one thing. She was free from that dreadful place.
A touch to her shoulder sent her flying back. Her wings flared wind open as she hissed at the offending appendage. Her ears pulled back as she tried to make herself bigger.
“Phoenix, Xiao Fenghuang, look at me,” the voice commanded her. She narrowed her eyes at the man, lowering her wings, but still very wary. “You’re safe. No one’s going to hurt you.”
She blinked, suddenly aware of the eyes on her. Three empty eye sockets, one red eye light, one pair of black eyes, and a blackened eye with too many pupils stared straight at her. All of them have varied degrees of concern and worry. She flexed her fingers several times, barely comprehending anything. Her wings laid flat against her back as guilt trickled in.
“‘M sorry,” she croaked. Her uninjured finger picked at the loose fingernail. More viscous red liquid dripped down her hand. Shame edged along at her thoughts. Why did she lose her cool so quickly? She looked pathetic, considering the fifteen years of hell she went through.
“No, rather I should be the one that is sorry,” Apoth rebutted, “I was the one who should have known better than to leave you alone. None of this would have happened had I been more mindful of my own actions.” Frustration seeped out of his voice as he raked through his hair, dislodging even more of it.
“No, no. You’re fine. You’re not responsible for me, anyway.” Should she rip the nail out and let it regrow? She did need to give her blood to Sans and Papyrus.
Apoth stepped forward and held out his hand. “Here, let me.”
Colletta glanced at the offered hand for a moment. Then she hesitantly put her hand in his. He cupped her hand as if it was a precious treasure, evoking a strange feeling inside her. She quietly watched as a green light emitted from his hands. Warmth enveloped her fingertips before traveling up her arm. The throbbing ceased and finally Apoth let go of her. A part of her missed the touch, but the eyes forbid her from chasing it.
“Thank you,” she whispered, then raised her voice, “Sorry. I didn’t mean to ruin the mood here.”
Papyrus, who had stood up in alarm, strode forward. He held out his hands, allowing Colletta to retreat if needed. “Collie, You Have Nothing To Be Sorry For. I’d Rather See You Healthy And Happy.”
Colletta felt warm, yet the unabating guilt smothered it. “You’re very kind, Papyrus.” She lightly touched his hand. Despite her avoiding Sans and in turn also avoided Papyrus, he was still the same. No hatred. No resentment. Just plain kindness.
“Hey, hey, hey! C’mon, let’s not stand there. Take a seat everyone! I’m sure it’s more comfortable being able to face everybody here,” Hex chirped. He leaned against the plush chair, waving to everyone to come over. Although smiling, his grin did not reach his eyes.
Papyrus jumped up and ushered her to take a seat next to him. Colletta fiddled her previously injured finger, unsure on what to feel sitting so close to Sans and everyone whom she avoided out of deep shame. Thankfully, Papyrus sat between her and Sans, acting as a barrier whether knowingly or not.
Hex clapped his hands as Apoth sat next to him with a soft sigh. “Great! Now that everyone is here, let’s cut to the chase. I know at least half of you are wondering why I’m here. I also know that you don’t want your personal information to be told to an outsider.”
“No shit.”
“Brother!”
“Sorry Paps.”
Colletta let out a quiet snort as Hex ignored Sans’ interruption. “But don’t worry! I can keep a secret! The question is if you three can keep your mouths shut.” He eyed the three monsters.
Hex received three confirmations and cheerfully continued. “That’s perfect! I really hate hurting those close to me when their friends don’t listen.” He put up a hand as Sans let out a growl. “But this is veeeeery important as this pertains to Nix over here. Would you like to explain why I’m here?”
She picked at her scars, self-conscious of the eyes on her body. Papyrus grabbed her hand and soothingly rubbed circles on the back of it with his thumb. Calming down, she began to speak, “I-er… So, about ten days ago, when I went to the Underground, an incident happened. I’m sure that everyone heard about the destruction of the CORE, but I don’t think the details were told to the public.”
Apoth, arms crossed, interjected, “It was foolish of you to hide the fact you were cursed while reading Alphys’ diary.” He tapped his foot irritatedly. “You should have gotten that checked out instead of running away at the sight of us like some rat.”
Colletta’s ears pulled down as she turned her head away, unable to respond to such bitter truth. Papyrus paused his actions before resuming them.
“Now, now. Let’s not get too testy,” Hex placated the now angry Apoth. “What’s done is done and there’s nothing we can do about it. I’m sure everyone has things to do in the afternoon, no? So let’s get Nix’s curse situation all sorted and done.”
Lucky raised her hand. “Um, is it alright for us to be here? I wouldn’t want to intrude on something sensitive.”
“I Agree. Isn’t This Whole Thing Sensitive Information? One Wrong Word, And It Might Scare The Public. So, Shouldn’t We Be Excluded From All of This?” Papyrus chimed in.
“Of course, this is sensitive information that cannot be released to the public, but you see…” Hex opened his hands with an unfriendly smile plastered on his cracked skin. “One of you is the protégé of Apoth’s and the other two are dear friends with Nix. Although Nix can have questionable tastes in friends-”
“Hey!”
“I believe that I can trust all three of you to not recklessly speak of this to others, yes? We’ll know if you did run your mouth.” Hex regarded each monster with great scrutiny. When his gaze landed on Lucky, he stared at her a few milliseconds longer. Then he looked away to address Colletta with a firm expression. “Now, give me your wrist. I need to figure out where that damn curse is.”
Obediently, she held out her arm, allowing Hex to search for the curse. Dark magic slithered down her veins, causing shivers to run along her back. The longer Hex’s magic was inside her, the more her flight-or-flight instincts grew wild. It was a struggle to not take back her hand and send him sprawling across the floor. Her other hand twitched to claw at her skin as the feeling of wrongness spread through her.
After a few minutes, Hex finally retracted his magic. Colletta shook her arm, trying to get rid of the lingering unease.
“Well? Is there a curse?” She asked.
Hex didn’t respond. His face revealed no emotions as he scrutinized her. Something was wrong. Why was he just staring at her, doing nothing? Her stomach dropped the moment he opened his mouth.
“There’s… nothing in you.”