Nom Nom Nom

Raewyn could see from the 'arrivals' electronic board that Liryc's plane had landed more than half an hour ago and she could also see that the flow of people from that particular flight had lessened to a trickle and appeared to be slowing to a stop.
Hopefully, she hasn't changed her appearance too much. Or she isn't wearing something that will hide her.
"I'm sure I could recognise her." Raewyn murmured.
What is this Liryc like?
Sad. Libys and Raewyn thought simultaneously.
Sad? That seems somewhat vague.
"It fits her." Before she could elaborate, she spotted her. Liryc walked slowly, carrying a large wooden casing for her lyre. Raewyn could just make out the outline of her sharp nose and the glint of her emerald eyes. In her other hand, Liryc held a little girl's hand. The girl was small and petite, seeming on the verge of puberty, not much older than thirteen, Raewyn guessed. She wore a slightly mud-stained dress and appeared to be timid and frightened by the surroudings.
But what shocked Raewyn was what she saw following her, whispering into her ears. She could see a tall human woman whose eyes had lines leading down her cheeks, trails of innumerable previous tears. Bloodshot eyes and scarred arms, Raewyn could see very clearly who she was, thanks to Evolution's gift of sight.
"Melancholy." Raewyn cursed.
No wonder... I always thought that she was far too emotional for any mortal. So Melancholy has been affecting her all this time...
Raewyn strode forward, undeterred by the presence of the Persona. At worst, she would call upon Evolution, but she doubted that Melancholy would do much to her.
"Liryc."
Liryc's head jerked up, woken from her reverie. She looked about and caught sight of Raewyn. She let go of the girl's hand just as Raewyn caught her in a tight embrace.
"Raewyn! You.. you..." Her voice started to quaver and diminished in volume. "You came back." Those three words were so full of hurt and accusation that Raewyn could not think of something to reply.
Instead, she glared at Melancholy and said, "Get the hell away from my friend."
"Wind, who are you talking to?" She asked, a confused expression settling on her face.
"I'll explain later." She looked at the Persona. The Persona stared back at her.
"You can see me?" Melancholy asked softly.
"Yes. Begone from my friend."
"No." Melancholy whispered. "No. She is of me, she is my own, you cannot take me away from her. I will stay. But... I see that you know the other Personas. I will stay silent with her for now."
"Better than nothing, I guess." Raewyn muttered.
"What's wrong with you, Raewyn? You disappear and don't even leave a message for several years and suddenly you find me and then start talking to the air." Her tone was like a silent shout, soft yet accusatory. Liryc took hold of the little girl's hand once more, even as the girl started shivering. "Don't worry, Rika, I'll play for you soon, just hold on. Raewyn, I don't care what your explanation is, I cannot talk with you now."
Liryc immediately seemed so much more assertive the moment Melancholy had ceased her sibilant whispers. She brought the girl away, leaving Raewyn to keep up with her.
"I'll follow you back to your home, Liryc. I can wait."
"Wait if you want, but it is better if you do not follow us directly. I will explain. And so will you."
What an odd woman.
"She was more depressed before. I wonder who that Rika is." Raewyn walked back to her car and followed slowly as the pair took a taxi.

Who was that woman with the black and purple hair? She had started talking to the air and hugged Liryc, and it was obvious that she was Liryc's friend. But... being around so many people is making me so hungry. I try to stop myself from shivering, but I know that I can't stop it. First sign. I close my eyes and try not to think about Liryc's warm arms around me. It's so hard not to think about them. My stomach hurts so badly. Second sign. I want to, I have to. But I hear her melodic voice telling me to endure for a while more. A while more. Just some more time. The driver is speeding up in response to her command. The driver is so tempting as well. I want to, but I mustn't. I keel over in my seat, the pain growing. It's so cold. Just like back in Necropolis. At least there, they let me... But I must control myself. My teeth are chattering. Third sign. Please, driver, if you value your life, hurry.
"Liryc," I murmur weakly, "third sign... Hurry.."
She nods and tells me that we're almost there, just hang on a little more. Just a little more...
And we arrive. She pasts the driver several notes and tells him to keep the change. She carries me out of the car. Oh, her warm hands about my small body, so inviting, so horribly delicious-looking...
No... I blink and I realise that I'm already in her room. She lays me on a bed and quickly removes her lyre. Thank goodness... She starts to play a haunting tune, eerily captivating me. The pain slowly fades away as I listen to her beautiful and enchanting voice and I forget my pain and urges.

Raewyn had let herself in behind Liryc and waited in the living room. The house wasn't too shabby and was decorated with the dark and depressing colour scheme so characteristic of her. At least now Raewyn knew that it was due to Melancholy's presence. Not that she could do much about it. She heard Liryc's muted singing coming from a floor above.
Still singing the same tunes.
"Yeah. She is a dirge-singer after all. She sings the funeral songs and others of that genre." Raewyn said, explaining to Aida.
After a while, Liryc's singing stopped and she came down the stairs.
"She's worn out, the poor girl." Liryc said.
"Who is she?"
"No, before that, you answer me. What the hell are you doing here, Wind?"
"I've come to... what's the word.. patch up any hurts I may have caused you. I miss our friendship."
"So only now you come to find me. After all this time."
"I know. I am sorry."
"Did you even care about what I felt when you left?"
"I did. But at the time, my own priorities dictated that I leave."
"You don't sound very sorry about it."
"But I am, Liryc. I truly am sorry. I was inconsiderate and failed to think about how you'd feel."
"I was... I am heartbroken, Raewyn. You meant the world to me."
"I'm sorry. Please forgive me."
"What the hell was all that about at the airport? Are you mad now?"
"Personas. I can see them. It's a long story."
Raewyn explained. When she finished, Rika was walking down the stairs, her hair slightly messy. She announced, "I'm feeling hungry, Liryc."
"Signs gone?"
"Yeap." The girl was more energetic and lively now. Also, she was less afraid of Raewyn. She went into the kitchen to look for something to eat.
"So. You were telling me who she was?"
"Enrika."
"Who is?"
"That girl."
"You are infuriating."
"And you are a bitch."
"Since when did you get so angry?"
"I.. don't know. I don't know nor do I particularly care."
"So who is Enrika?" Raewyn pressed.
"I was in Necropolis, city of the undead. I was engaged for my services and I did the wedding of this undead bigshot. So after the whole thing, I decided to stay there for a time. I decided to perform on the streets, to see their reaction. I was quite popular. That's when I found Enrika. Or rather, when Enrika found me." Liryc paused to get two cups of coffee. She sipped and continued. "She came to me after one of my performances. She asked me for my help. Enrika is addicted to fresh human flesh. I have no idea whether she can stomach other humanoids'. But apparently my music had taken away her desire for flesh, albeit temporarily as she felt the signs coming back after a time. I agreed as I needed a guide. But she wanted to stick with me. I was rather attached to her by that time and so I brought her back with me."
"That is one screwed up child."
Be glad I never drove you to such extremes. Libys' voice echoed through her mind.
"Yes. But I don't mind."
"Liryc!" Enrika called out. "There's no food in here!"
"Of course there isn't! I left this house for several months! Why would I have left perishables in there! We'll go out and eat something, okay?"
"I'm just worried that I'll feel like eating people again. It hurts whenever I try to resist, you know." Enrika walked back into the living room and caught sight of Raewyn. "Oops, I forgot that we had a visitor."
"She knows, Rika. Raewyn, this is Enrika, Rika, Raewyn."
"Hello." Enrika immediately turned back to Liryc. "Do you have a knife around here? My hair's growing long again and I don't wanna be licing."
"You won't have lice on you. Not if you bathe."
"Bathing and using that weird soap makes me smell weird and feel raw."
"You'll get used to it."
"Never! What do I do about my hair then? It's getting in my eyes."
"Tie it up."
"How?"
Liryc sighed. "You know, Raewyn, I never anticipated these problems."
"So only Slanel, possibly Necros, the Shifter and I don't have children." Raewyn remarked with a smile.
"And, Liryc, must I really wear a dress? It's really annoying!" Enrika cut in.
"And so are you, Rika. I should never have adopted you."
"I know! Back in Necropolis, at least I had human flesh to eat almost everyday. The undead there are quite nice, you know."
"You don't have any of the signs yet, right?"
"Yeah. But still. Human flesh is quite sweet. Especially raw." Enrika shivered slightly, remembering the delightful taste it left in her mouth.
"I should be going now, Liryc." Raewyn hugged her tightly.
"Goodbye then. Take care of yourself. Drop by often."