Seemingly empty (part 3)

(CW: Slight gore and mentions of alcohol)

I remember when I was first hired by Charlie Davis. I was younger then, more agile and spry than I am today. Still am, but less.

He was in his mid or late thirties while I was in my early twenties. When I first saw the man with my very own eyes, I knew there was something special about him.

Charlie, an exquisite musical artist. A pianist, and a singer with such a beautiful voice with amazingly poetic lyrics to match. I was fascinated in him. He always wore a brown leather jacket, that has air force pins and badges on it.

His wife, Irene, was a dancer. She's so graceful, both on and offstage. Sometimes she looks like she's floating, levitating off the dance floor, twirling this way and that.

They both connected over their similar career paths. It's a shame that it had to be put to an end. Well, an end for Irene not for Charlie...yet.

Irene's death was an accident. A manslaughter, if you will. An adolescent drunk driver, technically a young adult, crashed into Irene's limo, after she left the gala.

It was a terrible scene. The turned over limo with smashed windows, fire surrounding it, the sound of loud sirens approaching, blood splattered in the back. I was there to see it all go down, because I was Irene's chauffeur. The drunk driver had a cracked skull, and Irene... she got a whiplash then became paralyzed from her neck hitting the smashed window's glass. We were on a major highway; several other civilians called the authorities and an ambulance.

Her very last words were: "Take care of my family, Nilson..."

After a few moments of silence, her body went limp. It was official. She had died. Right before my very own eyes. Though I would NEVER wish harm on anyone in the Davis family, I was kind of relieved that I wouldn't have to kill her myself. That would've been reckless and messy. And I REALLY don't want to get my gloves dirty.

After all, Irene is the entire reason as to why I'm here in the first place. Well, technically it's Moxie who's so important for me to be looking after. The parents don't know about it, or about her in general. Praxidike told me ahead of time, warning me about her potential to bring me down. She's stronger and faster than any normal child. Not as easily injured as normal humans are.

Thankfully I lived, with only a sprained ankle and a mild concussion as my injury. Moxie was only three years old when that happened. Both me, and her father had to raise her without the mother. While Charlie was mourning, I had to take care of Moxie.

I didn't mind, really. I like kids, getting into shenanigans and all. I did have siblings, so it was something I was used to. You might be thinking, "Oh! Nilson must've been the older child then, right?" WRONG. I was the middle child. Ignored by my parents, who didn't have much back then. Only paid attention to my younger and older brothers.

Many times, I have tried earning the attention I so desperately craved, though none of it worked the way I wanted it to. I mostly got a pat on the shoulder and a halfhearted "Good Job" from them, but that was IT. Nothing more, nothing less. No harm, no foul, right? Negative! That affected me quite harshly.

How harshly, though? Sure, I still got good grades, honor roll, 4.0 GPA and apart of the event planning committee. But I was a terrorizer. Pulling harmful pranks on my peers. I don't say that with pride, but hey, it's true. I actually got the idea from my little brother who is a charming trickster, who does that for laughs instead of inflicting pain on others.

Moxie reminds me of my brothers, like a combination of them. She has a happy-go-lucky attitude, and always is an energetic athletic know-how. Basically, she's an optimistic tomboy. Not like that's a bad thing, though it is concerning for Tacito. He's not exactly the strongest guy, emotionally or physically. But he makes up for it in the mental category.

Tacito is insanely smart! Not as clever as me, of course, but he is more intelligent than others. He's a mechanical genius and an alchemy whiz. I've studied him thoroughly, seeing what makes him tick. He's incredibly lucky that he's earned himself a secure future with Moxie, because with her spontaneousness, anything could happen. Whether good or bad.

Although Charlie does spoil her a LOT. More than I would agree with. Thank the all-powerful deities that she isn't bratty, otherwise I've would've snapped a long time ago. She actually is very grateful for what she has, unlike some others who take the wealth for granted those son of a-

"Nilson? Are you okay?" Charlie was looming over my shoulder; he was so close that I could even smell his signature cinnamon scent. The look of concern on his face warmed my heart, and my face.

"I'm fine. I was just spacing out. That's all." I state confidently, even though I felt unsure. Was I fine? How long was I spacing out? Covering my face with my hands, I sigh. This is all too much to process. Praxidike wants me to collect the rest of the items to initiate the plan, I haven't found the rest yet, and he's becoming restless.

"If you ever want to talk about it, I'm always here for you. I can tell that you have something on your mind, but you aren't ready to share it." I stare into the man's kind, chocolate eyes that I just want to swim in. He breaks the eye contact by gawking at the dusty grand piano.

"It's been a while since we've played together," He glances at me, pausing for a moment to form the words correctly in that brilliant brain of his, "Would you do me the pleasure to play the piano with you?"

My breath hitches, how could I ever turn down a request from HIM? I'd be an absolute madman! "O-of course! It would be an honor, s-sir." I stammer like a fool. He sits down on the stool, and I awkwardly slide next to him.

He seemed to notice that I was tense. My hands were shaking, and my heart was racing. My face was flushed, and I was practically sweating BUCKETS. "Relax, it's only me." Charlie chuckles.

It was ONLY him? No, it's because of him. I have no idea why I'm this nervous. I've played the piano with him before, and this time is no different. Why am I acting this way? What's wrong with ME?

I slow my breathing, as I gently place my hands on the tiles. "What shall we play?" Charlie inquires, curious of my answer. "Flight of the bumblebee." He raises an eyebrow at me. "That's quite simple at our skill. How about a challenge? Let's do La Campanella."

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

My hands were hurting after doing that. Suddenly, my phone rang. "Excuse me Charlie, but I have to take this." He nods, understanding and I rush off out of earshot and into a vacant room. "What do you WANT? I was very BUSY and-" I growl at Morrigan of the phone, but she cuts me off, explaining that she and a bunch of other servants had finally found the last items. Except for one. The ancient wrath reeds.

The ancient wrath reeds are perennial grasses which are usually distinguished by having hollow stems and broad leaves. Well, this certain kind of reed is the complete opposite of the supposedly normal ones you find in wetlands. These ones are most likely to be found near hotter areas, like a volcano. The wrath reeds are full of this warm, sticky, sweet nectar that is oddly spicy. The plant's stem is quite thick while the leaves are thin.

If you were to put that very nectar into a potion, and give it to a person to drink, they would devolve into immediate madness. Bitter hatred that boils the veins. Even over something so small, they'll snap at you, to the point where they'd kill. The affects wear off after a day or two.

"Do not fret. I heard that there is a mysterious traveling merchant coming through our town during the Autumn festival, who has the reeds that we need." Morrigan blurted out frantically, trying to calm my nerves.

"When is the Autumn festival?"

"On the same days it's always been. Through the twenty ninth to the thirty first."

"So, it starts tomorrow... Morrigan, gather all the servants. We're going hunting."

-To be continued...-