//------------------------------// // With company in the stormy forest of Everfree // Story: A not so dark art. // by Voltsthevoltvolts //------------------------------// Dead's house was surprisingly well lit the chandelier that hung in the hallway gave if a cozy feel. Various decorations such as wall flowers and a few paintings helped fill the empty space. A small table with a picture that depicted a happy family sat around the halfway mark against the wall. The house didn't reek of dead but it smelt fresh and well clean. The walls were made out of wood and painted a dark brown color and a rug along the floor had a red and blue diamond pattern on it. All these factors made the empty hallway feel vibrant and homey. "Wow." Was all Twilight was able to say, in her previous visits she had not seen much of the inside of the house. "This is really really nice!" She exclaimed. Spike jaw was dropped as his expectations had been blown away and Rarity was eyeing up the artwork that hung in the hallway. Skullworthy floated over to the group and addressed them. "Ah, greeting guests. For the rest of the day Mistress asks that you avoid going outside and she also requests that you do not split up. I will act as a translator for the duration of the storm." The skull polity smiled at the group, trying to avoid scaring them. "Requested? Asked? Really?" Spike questioned the floating skull. "Well more like ordered, but I didn't want to come off being rude." The skull said in a modest tone. "But well now its out there." A silence fell over the group and remained like a thick fog. The silence was broken when a shuffling pony skeleton came through the hallway with a broom in hoof. The skeleton walked out of the living room and down the hallway, it was viciously sweeping dust as it went. It stopped when it passed the floating skull and made several clicking noises. In return the skull made several clicking noises and then the skeleton kept sweeping, ignoring the group on living. "What was that about?" Rarity questioned. "What was with those clicking noises?" "Its just simple communication, nothing to complex." "What did it say?" "He just wanted to know if Mistress was planning any sacrifices and wondered if the ritual room needed cleaning." "What did you say?" Rarity spoke with concern in her voice. "I told him the truth. And yes it was a he. May I direct you to the main room now?" The group compliantly nodded and they followed the skull through a large doorway. Why did she let them in? Why didn't she just let them go back into the forest and get eaten? These were questions that Dead asked herself constantly. But she never answered them, instead she just made her way to the kitchen and called out with her mental focus to Skullworthy. Hey Skullworthy ask them if they want any drinks... Why am I being so nice? Never mind, but ask them anyway. A few moments later a voice popped into Dead's head. Of course, they all seem to want tea, par the dragon who wants none. Dead started heating up some water in a kettle, she poured the water into a small teapot and added a few teabags to the pot. She then poured herself a cup and added a her special bland of herbs and leafs to it. She then placed several cups on a tray and levitated it in front of her. She felt terrible, not only had she allowed the living into her house, her sacred place but she was now making them drinks, she might as well been wearing a maid outfit. She slowly walked out of the kitchen and into the hallway. She double checked the walls to make sure that nothing had vanished and then she headed to the large double doorway that lead into the main room. Twilight was sat next Spike on the large sofa, while Rarity was sat in a single seat coach. The silence in the room was silent music to Dead's ears however that music soon ended as she placed the tray down. "Thank you ummm..." Twilight stuttered. Not once had Dead told them her name, and she didn't plan on telling them yet. "Don't thank me yet. I don't plan on keeping you long. As soon as the storm lets up I will kick you out." A silence came over the room. A silence that stayed. The silent sips came from the group as they drunk their drinks, not one of them wanting to talk out of fear of what they receive in return. Dead would occasionally switch who she was glaring at, one moment she would be glaring at Rarity, then Spike and finally Twilight before she went back to Rarity. Every now and then Skullworthy would float around silently observing waiting for conversation. Conversation that never came. The sips continued until there was no tea left to drink. The tick-tock of a clock could be heard through the entire house as the silence ruled. The silence went on for another hour until Rarity broke it. "Whats your problem with us?" Rarity sounded frustrated and angry. "Us? What do you mean us?" Dead remained oddly calm. "Me and my friends of course! Why do you dislike us so much?" "You? Your friends? Oh no, its not you in particular. Its the living! They stab you in the back. They betray you when you need them. They ignore you when you plead and beg for help and they shun you when you don't match their rules. They send you away and expect you live with it... They let griffons murder your family and... And expect you to live with it. They blame you for their deaths when you seek revenge... They... The living have done nothing but cause me pain and misery. The dead do not do that. The dead are loyal, the dead always support me, they look out for me and I look out for them." "Are you alright? You don't look so well?" Twilight asked, she looked worried, she should have been as Dead was in an emotional state. She could do anything. "No, I am not. This is bringing back memories that I do not care for, nor do I want." Dead spoke flatly, unlike a few moments her voice was devoid of all emotions. "Do you want to talk about it?" Twilight asked "Why would I want to do that?" "When I am dealing with emotional stress I find it is always a good to tell somepony I trust." "I do not trust anything in this room par Skullworthy. But if you really think it will help I shall tell you. Least I relapse and turn into something I once was..."