Chapter 97 - A tale of sadness

Demos choose 'Through the looking glass' by Lewis Carroll from his library. There were more children's stories and 'The Wizard of Oz' piqued my interest. It was strange that artificial like children's classics. I thought they would appreciate complex ones about human history.

"Did you already know the story?" he asked when he saw my expression. I smirked, for a different reason. I wonder if Demos wore glasses would he look like a book nerd? Definitely not. He would rock those like a pro. A super hot nerd. I rolled my eyes internally.

"I guess, all children heard about Alice at some point or in different adaptations," I said. "I'm a bit surprised. It's in your favorites, so you already know the story, right?" Grant shook his head eagerly.

"Demos like this one but I prefer the Wizard of Oz. Especially the tinman seeking a heart. I relate to the story," Grant explained. I ruffled his soft curls while laughing. So cute. If Grant wore glasses booklovers would follow him around like flies. Better not try it. A wicked smile lingered on my lips at the thought.

"I also like that story. Dorothy is awesome," I turned to Demos. He was focused on his screen. "What about you? Why do you like through the looking glass?" he looked up.

"If I'm a fake here, maybe in I go to the looking glass house I will become real," what he said made my heart skip a beat. I pressed my lips together to hid my grin, I didn't want to mock him. He said it with such a serious face it could kill me if I crush his dream of becoming real. I didn't care he was not made with flesh and blood.

"Then you should check Pinocchio, it's about an old toymaker who created a puppet who could speak. Pinocchio did a lot of mischiefs. He wanted to be a real boy," they listened with interest.

"Can we buy this one?" Grant's lit up. I caressed his hair but Demos snatched my hand and placed it over his.

"I'm also interested," our gaze met, I held it. I missed him all day. A slow smile spread on his lips.

-I missed you too.

Grant sighed next to us and crossed his arms over his chest. I leaned into Demos and wrapped my arms around his waist.

"Jealous?" I teased. Grant tilted his head to the side with a serene face. There was no ill-feeling there. Guilt stabbed at me. "Come here," I reached for him and he snuggled against me. Holding both of them this close felt right. Yet, there was that little voice from the back of my mind. The one planting a seed of discord. Did I rely too much on them, that I couldn't function as an individual?

-Don't listen to it.

Grant's voice snapped my focus back at the present moment. I inhaled and let go of my worries. Grant was right. I should focus on the present and not fall into crazy scenarios of 'what ifs'.

Demos turned to his book and we settled down, I placed my pillow on his lap and lay there listening to the story. Grant sat with his leg crossed, eyes sparkling with awe at the part when Alice entered a forest and met with a talking insect. Both laughed when she mentioned that humans have names for all things because of it only useful to them. I had no idea why they find it funny. It must be another case of artificial humor. At some point, Grant rested down and placed my hand over his head. Before I knew I was fast asleep, dreaming of Alice in the garden of talking flowers.

The next day came like an icy bucket shoved in my face. I sprung up in shock. The sun was already high in the sky and the room was empty. I ran my hand on the cold bed where Demos and Grant should be. My heart raced as I looked around. The intense feeling from the dream still lingered.

"Grant?" I called. But the room next door was silent. Did he already leave for work without waking me up? Throwing the covers to the side and quickly got to my feet. My bracelet said 6:13 AM. I sighed in relief, it was still early.

"Grant? Demos?" I called louder. Still, no answer. I went to the living room and found it empty. What was going on? Where did they go, so early? There was nothing around. Jill appeared on the bar surface, yawning and stretching her arms. I finched at the sight. She rose her eyebrows at me.

"How rude jumping when you see me. I'm no ghost," she commented bitterly.

"Good morning, Jil. Do you know where are Grant and Demos?" I gave her a nervous laugh. She lifted her tiny face at me with her fists on her h.i.p.s.

"Master is charging, Demos also. Since the cabin is shielded it cuts off all communication from the outside. He will be here shortly. He did mention that he prepared tea and toast for you," I approached the tiny hologram with curiosity.

"Mm, Jil? Why do you call Grant, master?" she peeked at me puzzled by my question.

"Well, he restored me. He is thus my savior. I am grateful and will serve him with all my might," she said full of conviction. Jil placed her tiny palm on her heart with a beaming smile.

"That oddly sounds like a love declaration me to," I commented. The tiny AI blinked.

"Love, I don't understand," I smiled at her innocence.

"You know, love like when you feel sad and lonely when the person you care about isn't here. When you feel the need to protect them from danger," I chuckled. However, I'm unable to do the latter. How I wish I could protect them instead of being the damsel in distress all the time. I smiled at my thought. Those two didn't need rescuing. The intense stress from the white room rushed back in waves. Yes, I did make a difference. Somehow, I wasn't useless. And if I follow what Olga teaches me, I can really become helpful to my mates. I went back to our room filled with a newfound resolve.

Voices came from the other side of the bathroom door when I was drying myself after a shower. I quickly slipped into the clothes I wore yesterday. We really needed to find a way to do some shopping. I've never worn the same thing to go to work two days in a roll. It still smells fresh but I doubted it will last with this tropical weather. Retrieving my glasses I went to the room greeted with hugs and kisses from my loving mates.

"Did you slept well? You seemed a little agitated last night. We didn't want to wake you up," said Grant as they stepped away to let me breathe. The images of my nightmare threatened to flood back. However, I just shoved it at the back of my mind. I didn't want to think about sad things.

"It's just a dream," I ran my fingers in the messy hair. "So, where were you guys? Jill told me you were charging?" I steered the conversation away from the troublesome topic. Demos' grin at me.

"I've never experienced anything like it," he lit up which was pretty unusual from his soar character.

"Why is that?"

"Well," Grant stepped in. "It's like being high," he chuckled. I laughed with him.

"Really?" both laughed with glee.

"Totally, normally it takes four to seven hours to charge our internal batteries. With that cabin, you can do it in less an hour. It's pretty amazing. The cyborg couldn't give us any information about the technology. Olga said that she couldn't get anything about it either. Since her clearance is limited. When I'll talk to Atlas I'll definitely ask," said Grant with enthusiasm.

"You are going to speak to him?" I felt a little uneasy about the whole Atlas business.

"Yes, he said we'll have a talk today," he said like he was looking forward to me. To my dismay.

"When did he said that?" I narrowed my eyes at him. Grant switched nervously.

"When you were having lunch," I sighed. So I missed a whole episode while I was stuffing my face. What a shame. And it's now that he reveals such an important piece of information. I sighed again.

"Liliane, it will be ok. He won't do anything to hurt me. Atlas is just curious," he rubbed his hand on my shoulder for reassurance. It did little to comfort me.

"I'm hungry," I gave him a tight smile then went to the kitchen for breakfast. I ate without tasting my food. My mind kept roaming back to that AI. It definitely wasn't serving our interest. Then what were Atlas' real intentions? Was it really ok to be here?

Demos came to meet me in the kitchen area. He pulled the fridge and peeked at its content. Then pour some tea for me which he placed on the counter. Jil materialized next to the mug. She was as high as the mug, she pulled herself up the rim with both hands to peek inside. Steam rose from the hot tea. I chuckled as she staggered away as if affected by the heat.

-I like it when you smile.

I lifted my head to met his cooper eyes filled with love. He brushed my hair away from my face. I eased into his hand leaning forward and lightly kiss his lips. Jil cleared her throat to interrupt us. I pulled away abruptly. I've forgotten we had a new roommate now.

"If you are kissing De, does that means you love him?" I almost choke on my tongue. I shouldn't have mentioned the thing about love to her earlier. Demos placed his elbows on the bar, cupping his face in his hands. He grinned from ear to ear.

-I'm waiting for your answer.

I just stared at both of them. To hammered the nail to my coffin, Grant came to the kitchen area fresh out of the shower. His clothes dried but had wrinkles from hanging on the washing line all night. He appeared very interested in my answer too. Jil faded and reappeared perched on Grant's shoulder. A broken princess. A grumpy werewolf. A charming elf. The pixie who guarded our castle. This was definitely a fairytale.

-I'm not grumpy!

"Mm, I love both of you," I did my best to stay as calm as possible then I said it. Both smiled. The threats connecting us lit up. I felt warm bursting my chest. Jill hopped and danced.

"What about me? What about me?" she sang.