Somewhere in Maine.. or. Honestly? Does it even count as Maine?
Eh. Whatever.
On a street of abandoned houses there's one that seems less abandoned. It's got a driveway with a car in it, lights on inside, and a fairly large fenced-in yard. Hell, they've even got a swimming pool!
It's quiet, though. Inside, a twenty-something year old man sits in his study, reading a book. The title is unable to be read. It's in a language that doesn't exist.
The man himself is tall, around 6'4, wearing black sweatpants and a loose black hoodie. His face is obscured by shadows, but his glowing eyes can be made out easily. They appear to be clouded over, blind. There's a lavender colored mask on the coffee table next to him, along with a bottle of soda. Faygo Rock 'n' Rye.
The lamp next to him flickers a second as he turns the page of the book that, even if it were written in english, he wouldn't be able to read.
The door into the house is audible as it closes, a figure entering the home.
The figure is a 17 year old boy with purple hair in a mullet and brown eyes that scan the room. His oversized hoodie and sweatpants are covered in grey and black blood and he holds a human sized bird skull in his left hand and a bloodied broadsword in his right. He heads to the study, his eyes landing on the man.
"They're getting more hostile and there's more of them- more than normal." He tells the older man plainly.
"I've noticed," Daniel sighs, folding the corner of the page he's on and closing the book, placing it on the coffee table as he turns to the boy. "The Anti's getting closer. Moon won't be too happy about that. Honestly, neither will I." He laughs humorlessly as he leans forwards in his chair. "Just another problem we've gotta deal with. We can tough it out. I've dealt with these things before."
The wind picks up outside. Something walks by the window. Long, spindly limbs can be seen for a split second, causing those in the house to get a soft pins-and-needles feeling in their bodies. It doesn't last very long. Just long enough so that they know that he's listening.
"Do you think they'll make a move soon? Like something more substantial then... this." He sighs, not reacting to the familiar sensation.
"I can't say. The Anti's been here for a while, waiting for a chance to strike." He huffs, fidgeting slightly. "It's. Complicated, and really depends on a lot of factors."
Oleander nods, tapping his finger against the hilt of his sword idly. "I've been... having visions. One in specific where I'm walking in a dark forest and the sky is red... I get to a field and Moon stands in the middle. Large roots come out of the ground and wrap around me... and then I wake up." He takes a deep breath. "Do you know what that means?"
"Candlewick likes to play pretend that he's a tree sometimes, so I know what the roots mean, having control over you and whatnot." He looks away out the window, feeling sorry for the poor kid. "As for the red sky... Well, y'know how most of the Anti's servants like that color a lot? Yeah. Especially with the recent happenings.." He exhales deeply.
Oleander nods. Being under the control of others, especially Candlewick, was nothing new to him.
"...I see." He sighs. "After I get cleaned up can we watch a movie? Maybe something animated? I just... want to distract myself."
"Sure," Daniel smiles, sitting up. His teeth are sharp, almost like that of a shark. "I'll call Scarlett and Ava downstairs to watch, too. Cody's on scouting duties tonight, though, so.." He sighs. "I doubt he'd want to watch anyways."
Oleander smiles. "Alright- thanks dad." He says softly. "I'll be down in 20."
"See ya then, kiddo."