Anastasia woke early.
For the first time since arriving in Malvor's ridiculous, ever-shifting realm, she didn't have to wander aimlessly to find the kitchen.It was there, waiting for her, as if the house had anticipated her needs.
She set to work, pulling out ingredients, assembling flavors, adding far too much to the drinks in front of her.Espresso shots. Syrups. Whipped cream. Chocolate shavings. Caramel drizzle.An absolute monstrosity of blended coffee creations.
When she finished, she took a step back, eyeing the drinks critically.
One for her.One for him.
She hesitated for a moment before picking them up, walking out of the kitchen.
Pausing in the hall, she whispered,
"Can you take me to Malvor?"
A door to her left swung open immediately.
She blinked.
Of course.
A small light flickered next to her. Quick. Bright.Almost… happy?
She exhaled a quiet chuckle.
"Thank you, uh… house?"
The light blinked again.
Adorable.
Balancing both drinks in her hands, she knocked on the doorframe.
"Come in," Malvor's voice called, sickly sweet.Then, in the same breath, like an absolute menace—"Who is it?"
She rolled her eyes and stepped inside.
Malvor was lounging in his room, one arm draped over the back of an obnoxiously plush chair, looking far too relaxed for someone who had likely just woken up.His chestnut hair was tousled in a way that somehow managed to be effortlessly perfect, and he was already smirking before she had even spoken.
"I made you coffee."
Malvor raised a brow.
"Oh. That's almost sweet of you, Annie honey bun. Maybe even useful."
He stretched leisurely before holding out his hand expectantly.
"Let's see what you've done, then."
She handed him the coffee, watching as he took it with an air of lazy entitlement, like she had just fulfilled some grand duty.
"You have an absurd amount of coffee options," she said, shifting her own drink in her hand."So I thought you would like something absurd."
Malvor hummed, lifting the cup to his lips.
"Very astute and observant of you, Annie peach blossom."
Then, he took a sip.
And—oh. So good.
The flavors hit him instantly.Sweet. Rich. Indulgent.A perfect mess of caramel, chocolate, espresso, and whatever other brilliant nonsense she had thrown into it.
It should have been too much. Overpowering.
It was, instead, perfect.Exactly what he had wanted, without even knowing it.
Malvor blinked down at the drink, brows furrowing slightly.
Then, with an exhale, he leaned back into his chair, taking another long, thoughtful sip.
"Well," he murmured, tilting his head as he studied her over the rim of his cup,"Now that's just unfair."
"That is almost as delicious as you, Annie Snack-um," Malvor drawled, his voice sliding into a purr as he took another sip.
Anastasia gave him a look.
"Is this how you like your coffee?" he asked, amused.
"Yes," she admitted, taking a drink of her own."I normally like not to taste my coffee."
Malvor grinned.
"Delightful. My darling, you are purely delightful."
She exhaled slowly, setting her cup down before looking at him, her expression unreadable.
"Malvor, am I solely here for your entertainment? What was the purpose for you taking possession of me?"
He raised a brow, tilting his head slightly.
"Did I have to have a reason?"
Anastasia considered that, then shrugged.
"I guess not."
But Malvor, in a rare mood to indulge, decided to answer anyway.
"Honestly? I did it because the other eleven assholes wanted you."
Her brows lifted slightly.
"You took me to piss them off?"
"Oh yes, Annie cupcake, I did."He sipped his coffee, exhaling happily."The priest had promised you were worth it."
"What did you pay?"
Malvor smirked, utterly self-satisfied.
"The best thing I could imagine. I won't prank them for ten years."
She blinked, visibly surprised.
"That's it?"
"That's it."
Then, with a slow, wicked grin, he leaned forward.
"But I did not tell them you wouldn't prank them."
Anastasia arched a brow.
"Will that be my job?"
Malvor paused, tapping a finger against his chin.
"Hmm. Sometimes."
He leaned back in his chair, sipping his coffee like the most self-satisfied creature in existence.
"I actually don't have a job for you," he mused, watching her over the rim of his cup.
Anastasia gave him a long look.
"You are free to do what you want," he continued with a lazy wave of his hand,"Unless I need you."
"That sounds suspiciously like a trap."
Malvor grinned, tilting his head.
"Darling Annie muffin, if it were a trap, you'd already be caught."
She took a slow sip of her coffee.
"That's not as reassuring as you think it is."
"Oh, I wasn't trying to be reassuring." He winked."I was trying to be charming."
Anastasia sighed.
Malvor beamed.
"Annie baby cakes, tell me more about you, beautiful."
Anastasia sighed, setting her cup down with deliberate care.
"My favorite color is purple and cyan blue," she said simply."I look good in both colors."
"Obviously."
"The color of my eyes and hair are the colors I was born with. But I have no idea what parts of my body or face are natural. My body grew and developed under the influence of magic."
Malvor tapped a finger against his mug, watching her carefully.
"I went to each god's temple to get each set of runes. Apparently, they represent each of you."
His brow arched.
"Oh really?"
"Yes." She took a sip of coffee before glancing at him."Did any of them feel like you?"
Malvor debated his response.
He could refuse to answer.He could spin some ridiculous, overly elaborate story that would tell her nothing but sound incredibly impressive.
Or…
He could tell the truth.
His eyes dropped to her ribs, the memory of those delicate, swirling runes carved into her skin flashing in his mind.
"The ones on your ribs," he said finally, his voice lower, thoughtful."They were chaotic and beautiful."
Anastasia held his gaze. Silent.
For once, Malvor wasn't sure if she was waiting for him to say more—
Or if she already knew.
"Of course those are yours," Anastasia said, her tone almost amused.
Malvor tilted his head, studying her.
"Oh? That certain, are we?"
She shrugged, taking another sip of coffee.
"Did they feel different?"
Malvor drummed his fingers against the table, considering her question.
Had they felt different?
Yes.No.They felt like him.
The patterns had been wild, unpredictable yet deliberate.Chaos contained within something beautiful.A contradiction.A paradox.
"They felt..." he trailed off, then exhaled, eyes flicking back to hers."Like home."
A strange silence settled between them.
Anastasia watched him carefully, as if reading between his words.
Malvor, for once, let her.