Ghouls Don't Exist

Cassia cocked her head like a confused animal, then flopped it over to the other side.

Saph led Inkdrop over to Cassia.

“This is my friend Inkdrop! Inkdrop, this is Cassia! Ink can take you home Cassia!”

A smile broke out on Cassia’s face and she started bouncing up and down.

*Yay! I can go home! I can go home!

Inkdrop smiled “Yeah! I can take you home. Where do you live?”

*I live in the Underground!

She proudly proclaimed where she lived as if she had been born there, and as far as she was concerned, she was.

Cassia cocked her head like a confused animal, then flopped it over to the other side.

Saph led Inkdrop over to Cassia.

“This is my friend Inkdrop! Inkdrop, this is Cassia! Ink can take you home Cassia!”

A smile broke out on Cassia’s face and she started bouncing up and down.

*Yay! I can go home! I can go home!

*Okay…

Cassia warily held out her hand and shut her eyes.

Saph took Cassia hand and put her other hand over her heart. She closed her eyes and imagined the very core of her being, her soul.

She could feel it teeming with life. She felt her memories rush past her like flipping through the pages of a book. She felt her happiness, her anger her sadness and her fears. She felt everything that made her, her. 

She opened her eyes and turned to Cassia “Did you… feel that too?”

Cassia nodded, eyes wide.

“See. That’s my soul.”

*That’s amazing!

All Cassia had seen were monster souls, and it was difficult to read them to to their frail nature.

“Thanks! I didn’t know I could transfer my soul sensing abilities to other people! I’m really glad you could feel it too!”

Cassia giggled, then it was followed by a yawn.

*Is… Is it okay if we go to bed? I’m kinda tired.

“Yeah I’m a little tired too.”

Cassia was there for a week until a humanoid creature made up of blackness and green clothing came to the castle of the Underworld.

*Hey, Saph…? Who’s that?

*Okay…

Cassia warily held out her hand and shut her eyes.

Saph took Cassia hand and put her other hand over her heart. She closed her eyes and imagined the very core of her being, her soul.

She could feel it teeming with life. She felt her memories rush past her like flipping through the pages of a book. She felt her happiness, her anger her sadness and her fears. She felt everything that made her, her. 

She opened her eyes and turned to Cassia “Did you… feel that too?”

Cassia nodded, eyes wide.

“See. That’s my soul.”

*That’s amazing!

All Cassia had seen were monster souls, and it was difficult to read them to to their frail nature.

“Thanks! I didn’t know I could transfer my soul sensing abilities to other people! I’m really glad you could feel it too!”

Cassia giggled, then it was followed by a yawn.

*Is... Is it okay if we go to bed? I’m kinda tired.

*Okay…

Cassia warily held out her hand and shut her eyes.

Saph took Cassia hand and put her other hand over her heart. She closed her eyes and imagined the very core of her being, her soul.

She could feel it teeming with life. She felt her memories rush past her like flipping through the pages of a book. She felt her happiness, her anger her sadness and her fears. She felt everything that made her, her. 

She opened her eyes and turned to Cassia “Did you… feel that too?”

Cassia nodded, eyes wide.

“See. That’s my soul.”

*That’s amazing!

All Cassia had seen were monster souls, and it was difficult to read them to to their frail nature.

*Okay…

Cassia warily held out her hand and shut her eyes.

Saph took Cassia hand and put her other hand over her heart. She closed her eyes and imagined the very core of her being, her soul.

She could feel it teeming with life. She felt her memories rush past her like flipping through the pages of a book. She felt her happiness, her anger her sadness and her fears. She felt everything that made her, her. 

She opened her eyes and turned to Cassia “Did you… feel that too?”

Cassia nodded, eyes wide.

*That name means ‘he laughs,’ which is something that you will be doing a lot more from now on.

She was determined to make him happier. Cass had enough of him putting on a faux smile and would see to it that he would have a true one from now on.

“I hope so! But first I want to make you smile. I missed your birthday didn’t I? I want to make up for it.”

*Eh, I didn’t do much for my birthday this year, anyway. Just went out with Miz and got a Spider Birthday Cake from Muffet’s.

10 percent of Muffet’s bakery’s royalties came from Cass. She got her coffee, snacks, and a good chunk of her diet from the bakery - as long as Cassiopeia was around, Muffet would be in business.

“Then I’d like to take your somewhere. Anywhere you’d like to go. Maybe I could show you around my world, or maybe Sornieth.”

*To be honest, Sorienth is the one place I never really know much of. All I know is that there’s dragons there.

She didn’t go back for one reason, and one reason only:

She couldn’t bear to see Sep’s grave.

Inkdrop jumped up, disturbing Ceph who was laying on her lap.

“Yay! Then let’s go! My home!”

“Well I mean we don’t have to go now, and besides I don’t know what will happen if I go back,” Sepulchral said “Like will I still be a hatchling, or what?”

*Hopefully not. But if you are, that means I can help.

*That name means ‘he laughs,’ which is something that you will be doing a lot more from now on.

She was determined to make him happier. Cass had enough of him putting on a faux smile and would see to it that he would have a true one from now on.

“I hope so! But first I want to make you smile. I missed your birthday didn’t I? I want to make up for it.”

*Eh, I didn’t do much for my birthday this year, anyway. Just went out with Miz and got a Spider Birthday Cake from Muffet’s.

10 percent of Muffet’s bakery’s royalties came from Cass. She got her coffee, snacks, and a good chunk of her diet from the bakery - as long as Cassiopeia was around, Muffet would be in business.

“Then I’d like to take your somewhere. Anywhere you’d like to go. Maybe I could show you around my world, or maybe Sornieth.”

*To be honest, Sorienth is the one place I never really know much of. All I know is that there’s dragons there.

She didn’t go back for one reason, and one reason only:

She couldn’t bear to see Sep’s grave.

*That name means ‘he laughs,’ which is something that you will be doing a lot more from now on.

She was determined to make him happier. Cass had enough of him putting on a faux smile and would see to it that he would have a true one from now on.

“I hope so! But first I want to make you smile. I missed your birthday didn’t I? I want to make up for it.”

*Eh, I didn't do much for my birthday this year, anyway. Just went out with Miz and got a Spider Birthday Cake from Muffet’s.

10 percent of Muffet’s bakery’s royalties came from Cass. She got her coffee, snacks, and a good chunk of her diet from the bakery - as long as Cassiopeia was around, Muffet would be in business.

*It wasn’t your fault, Sep. Besides, we wouldn’t use you.

She grinned.

*Well… Except when we need a Starbucks-level cup of coffee…

“You wouldn’t be using me, because I’d be happy to get you both Starbucks,” Sep grinned.

Cass laughed, something that she hadn’t done a lot in the past few months.

“So what have you been up to Cassie? How… how long was I gone anyway?”

Mostly she just mourned Sepulchral and rarely left the house.

Instead she mulled over what she should say for a minute and said:

*…Not… Not much. And it’s been 6 months.

“Six… Six months? Spirits… I’m sorry.”

*It’s cool! I mean, I’m fine now. Or… I-I will be.

Cass was already infinitely better now that Sep was here. She hoped it would be only up from here.

Sep hugged her again.

“I know I keep saying this but… I’m sorry.”

After a moment, Cass hugged him so tight to the point where it was almost uncomfortable.

*So am I, Sep. So am I. I never really told you what you meant to me, and when I wanted to… It was too late.

She pulled back and wiped at her eye.

*You just… You come here if you need a family. Show up at my door. I don’t care if it’s the middle of the night, if you need someone, I’m here.

“Thanks Cass. That means a lot. But uh… I actually have new parents now.”

*You do? Oh my God, Sep! That’s great!

She was so happy to know that Sep had someone by blood that loved him.

*It wasn’t your fault, Sep. Besides, we wouldn’t use you.

She grinned.

*Well… Except when we need a Starbucks-level cup of coffee…

“You wouldn’t be using me, because I’d be happy to get you both Starbucks,” Sep grinned.

Cass laughed, something that she hadn’t done a lot in the past few months.

“So what have you been up to Cassie? How… how long was I gone anyway?”

Mostly she just mourned Sepulchral and rarely left the house.

Instead she mulled over what she should say for a minute and said:

*…Not… Not much. And it’s been 6 months.

“Six… Six months? Spirits… I’m sorry.”

*It’s cool! I mean, I’m fine now. Or… I-I will be.

Cass was already infinitely better now that Sep was here. She hoped it would be only up from here.

Sep hugged her again.

“I know I keep saying this but… I’m sorry.”

After a moment, Cass hugged him so tight to the point where it was almost uncomfortable.

*So am I, Sep. So am I. I never really told you what you meant to me, and when I wanted to... It was too late.

She pulled back and wiped at her eye.

*You just... You come here if you need a family. Show up at my door. I don’t care if it’s the middle of the night, if you need someone, I’m here.

*It wasn’t your fault, Sep. Besides, we wouldn’t use you.

She grinned.

*Well… Except when we need a Starbucks-level cup of coffee…

“You wouldn’t be using me, because I’d be happy to get you both Starbucks,” Sep grinned.

Cass laughed, something that she hadn’t done a lot in the past few months.

“So what have you been up to Cassie? How… how long was I gone anyway?”

Mostly she just mourned Sepulchral and rarely left the house.

Instead she mulled over what she should say for a minute and said:

*…Not… Not much. And it’s been 6 months.

*It wasn’t your fault, Sep. Besides, we wouldn’t use you.

She grinned.

*Well… Except when we need a Starbucks-level cup of coffee…

“You wouldn’t be using me, because I’d be happy to get you both Starbucks,” Sep grinned.

Cass laughed, something that she hadn’t done a lot in the past few months.

*Finally!

Cass could tell that when separated, Sonder and Sep were somewhat miserable. But together, they thrived.

Cepheus of course, didn’t care about such things. He just wanted more attention.

Inkdrop was happy to give the cat as much attention that he wanted.

Sonder laughed “Finally? You mean you expected us to get together again?”

*Listen guys, there are certain things that are staple events in time. Your relationship is one of them. Besides that you’re good for each other, you thrive together, but apart…

She paused for a moment.

*Anyway, it’s good that you’re back and in a better state.

“I don’t know if it’s a staple event, but it is nice to be back with Sep.”

Sep took her hand and squeezed it “It sure is.”

*I’m glad you two are in a happy, healthy relationship. All I’ve ever wanted for you Sep, is for you to have someone to make you happy.

Sep meant so much to Cass - it hurt her SOUL that he had to suffer so much, it wasn’t right for someone so kind-hearted.

“Aww thanks Cassie… But uh I can’t help but wonder… What happened to Aureole?”

Sonder snorted “Oh I chased her away after you died. I’m sorry Sep but… She was using you.”

“Oh…”

*She has a point, Sep. If she wanted help defending herself from her dad, she could have asked, but no, she just had to be manipulative.

She would have thrown a swear word in there somewhere, but since Inkdrop was in the room, she refrained from doing so.