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The sun is setting in the ea— setting in the west, casting a beautiful array of oranges, yellows, reds, and pinks. The sky darkens as the moon rises and the stars shine brightly. It's a beautiful night, a perfect night even. He stares up at the stars, he feels drawn in by them, like he can't keep his eyes off of them.
"Jericho!" A voice that sounds oddly like Marius called, pulling Jericho out of his staring.
He pulls his head down, looking around he sees that he's in a meadow, full of wildflowers. The flowers are op— closed because it's night time but they're surrounded by fireflies. His eyes fall to each one of his friends, first to Marius, then Lethica, Farryn, Briggsy, and finally Yorgrim. They all appear to be sitting on a large red and white checkered blanket, with a large basket placed delicately in the middle of them.
"Can we eat now?! I'm starving!" Briggsy yells, reaching for the basket.
Farryn rolled her eyes. "Will you take a breath, you can't even taste it." She scolded.
Briggsy and Yorgrim both ignore Farryn's comments, taking food out of the basket and laying it on the blanket. It seems like there's an endless amount of food and drink coming from the basket. Soon the group is feasting and drinking.
Lethica and Marius are on each of his sides. It's Lethica who leans into him, pressing her body close into his side, whispering to him.
"Starbeam, why don't you sing us a song?"
He could feel her warm breath through the mask. If burlap could blush, Jericho would be incredibly flushed from head to toe… foot… wood?
"St-st-starbeam?" He stuttered, nearly dropping the cup of sarsaparilla.
Both her and Marius chuckle. One of Marius's hands comes and rest on his thigh, while Lethica's hand rests on his shoulder.
"Yes, like our Moonlight said, Starbeam, did you forget?" Marius teased, rubbing a thumb against Jericho's thigh, his eyes light up orange for second.
Jericho pauses, thrown off for a second by the orange eyes, and he swears he saw black crosses or were they four pointed stars in the cent— no. that's silly Marius always has had red eyes. Now, Starbeam? When had Marius or Lethica called him that? It takes a moment before the memories come back, dripping into his head like a leaky facet. Yes, Starbeam, the name his lovers called him. Yes, yes, his Moonlight and his Sunshine. He remembers that night, the night where he became theirs and they became his.
A night filled with soft touches, kind words, warm embraces, and the feeling of safety blanketing him. He remembers walking into the room in the house, formerly know as the Crooked House, where Marius slept. Having been asked just a few hours earlier to meet him and Lethica in that room. Remembers walking in on— them having a deep conversation. Yes, and it made head hurt with how strong the wave of envy that washed over him was. He remembers them turning almost in sync to face him. They had both taken his hands and led him to sit between them. The couple had explained to Jericho how they wanted to become a trio so to speak. Explained how they had both fallen for him while also falling for each other. Jericho to this day doesn't know how he managed to have not one, but two amazing, beautiful, powerful, caring, splendid, and about a million other adjectives creatures fall for him. Him, a worn out old scarecrow with a gross, creepy crow that followed him around. Where is Virgil?
The thought pulled him out of his head, as he looked around, not seeing that horrendous crow anywhere. That's odd, he's always around. His lovers both seem to notice his attention has swayed from his inner thoughts to something outside of the group.
"Jericho, my beloved, what draws your attention away?" Marius asks, attempting to draw his attention.
"Where's Virgil?" Jericho wondered, gesturing to the sky and space around.
That's what stops the group, as they all look at Jericho confused.
"Virgil? My dear, are you feeling alright? You seem to be forgetting things today?" Lethica commented worried, examining Jericho carefully.
"I'm feeling alright, just wondering where Virgil is." Jericho replied, a look of confusion coming over his burlap face.
Poor either of his lovers could speak, it's Farryn who answers.
"You locked him away, lad. Remember? After we defeated Mother Midnight." She explained, slowly, joining Lethica in her inspection of Jericho.
"When did we defea—" Jericho started, before the memory resurfaced in his mind.
It takes a moment, it comes back a little fuzzy. He remembers a great battle, bloodshed, and gore. A hard and difficult fight, Jericho remembers being knocked out in the battle. Maybe that's why it's hazy and taking longer for him to remember. There's a flood of memories of a party, a masquerade where he danced with his lovers and friends. Of turning the amber key into the cage and locking Virgil away forever.
"Uh, yeah… I remember now." He mutters scratching his head. "I don't what's happening with noggin."
"It's okay, Starbeam, just relax, we'll take care of you." Lethica cooed, mask suddenly gone, as she pressed a kiss to the side of his face.
Jericho instinctively went to protest; but the pressure of Marius and Lethica's bodies pressed against him, the feeling of belonging that washed over him, and something pushing those silly thoughts away stopped him. He instead relinquished his doubt, bathing in the attention from his lovers and friends. Maybe in a few minutes, he would get out his banjo and play a tune. Not now though, for now he would relax in between the chit chatter of his dearest allies. As he shut his eyes he felt himself being moved and laid down on a lap. A hand running over the top of his head, a faint smell of roses in the air.
"Rest now, dear Jericho, we'll all be here when you wake up." Marius whispered, as Lethica pressed slow, faint kisses to Jericho's face and body.
Well, how could he argue with that? He was so warm and his brain was so fuzzy, he couldn't help but fall asleep.
"JERICHO STOP!" Marius screamed at the top of his lungs, as the now enlarged form that was once Jericho stepped toward the group.
Large orange eyes with black four-pointed stars stare at them. "THERE IS NO JERICHO HERE. ONLY RAUM. THAT FOOL IS GONE." The demon, Raum, screeched in his demonic voice, swinging his arm, sending Marius flying across the room.
"MARIUS!" Lethica cried, rushing to her lover's side.
"I'm fine, I'm fine." He coughed. "Just a little winded." He grumbled, attempting to sit up with Lethica's help.
Farryn upon seeing Marius flung across the room, plants her staff in the ground as rot and moss cover her as she transforms into a large bear. She attempts to strike at the demon form in front of her but she too is flung, as four large demonic crow wings sprout from the demon's back. Farryn sails into Briggsy, knocking the two of them prone, and Farryn out of bear form. Briggsy's voodoo gun goes off in a random direction. Inside of the demon's chest they could see the cage that once housed the very demon in front them. Inside lies Jericho, curled up in a ball in the center of the cage.
Upon seeing the knocked over form of both Farryn and Briggsy, Yorgrim lifted up his shovel and went to attack the demon.
"I'll save you Jericho!" Yorgrim screamed, racing towards the demon's chest.
Unfortunately, he was too late, the large wings flapped once, twice, then the demon, Raum, flew up into the air, out of reach.
"Goodbye pathetic beings." Raum screeched once again.
The five allies left behind in the dust, looks of fear and worry across all of their faces. Had they truly lost their dear friend Jericho? They had no choice but to watch as the demon that had taken over their beloved Jericho fly off into the distance. You could almost hear the sound of five hearts breaking in unison.