New Life: Chapter One
Wizards: Aeterna
Alex VS Alex:
The Battle for Everything
Chapter One: Inner Demons
I remember lying in the snow. The wind was icy and cruel as millions of blade-like snowflakes rained down from an uncertain and clouded sky. It was the heart of winter, and I was all alone. My parents told me one day that I was born like this: in the cold and uncertainty of winter. I wasn't alone then. I am now. My eyes are weak and heavy, but I try to keep them open: they're red, slowly glazing over with frost from the mist, bloodshot, burning, and laced with silent tears. I'm paralyzed and numb. I never really thought I'd be all alone. I always felt that way, but I was wrong: this is isolation. This is what it means to be alone. No one's coming for me. No one's on their way to save me. No one hears me breathing. No one feels me freezing. My arms and legs are spread to the four corners as I try so hard to raise myself up. I cannot move, but I keep falling. I'm…afraid. I've spent so long trying…lying to people: telling them all that I was okay: that I was unafraid and ready. Now, I'm all alone, and I'm helpless…and I'm scared. All strength has left me. All my will is broken. Finally gathering enough forbidden strength, I reach my right hand out, my breaths turning to tearful gasps, and attempt to reach the small blur that was once the sun. My arm is trembling: I can't keep this up, but I try to hold onto the sun: to the light. Now, I can't move or breathe, but I don't fall asleep: I don't blackout. I don't die. My hair is wet, frozen, and jagged like blades of ice, and each lock covers my eyes and blinds me. That doesn't matter, though: I can't see the sun, and the left side of my face is sinking into the snow as I look to the side to watch the mist blow off the lifeless trees. I choke in one last breath, and I close my eyes.
Running towards the indeterminate dark patch in the snow, Theresa desperately trudged through the thick snow, letting the flakes scratch at her face, struggling to reach her daughter. "Alex!" she cried out, her voice cracking with pain and fear. She couldn't be too late. "Alex! Alex, I'm coming! You're gonna be okay: I'm coming!"
Sitting at the table in the sanctity of The Lair, Alex Russo looked over her notes. Most of them were spells and potions, but the side notes and sketches meant the most to her: some of them were from notebooks from kindergarten, some from the previous year, and others were made at the moment. I'm a Wizard! I'm a wizard with my brothers! My name is Alex. I Believe in Magic. The world is beautiful. Our losses are great. Not sure I can keep going. We're Strong when We're Together! Magic is beautiful. Most of the drawings consisted of undeveloped pencil strokes and some spots of blue or red pen. Alex, her hair covering her eyes and most of her face, was standing in a long, flowing gown that gradually turned into visible currents of wind and small rose petals: it meant magic to a ten-year-old girl who just found out her wonderful gift. Other sketches depicted small, graceful dragons, unicorns, two stick figure girls holding each other's hand, an elaborate drawing of Alex as an adult, her eyes fully drawn and developed and her dress flowing into fire as she held her sphinx-haired wand topped with a sapphire gem, and Isis, Alex's ice lynx and familiar.
Alex's diary was the only outlet for her deepest, darkest, and truest thoughts, though. Locked on the outside, sealed by an invisible enchantment, and hidden in a safe and secure space, the dark blue, leather-bound book was seen by its owner and composer alone. That night, when the Russo sandwich station and apartment were silent, still, and shrouded in darkness, the Latina gently pulled off her sheets, rolled onto the floor, crawled half-way under her bed, guarded by the dangling blankets, and motioned her hands and fingers delicately, forming a dim aura between her palms that soon formed her precious book. Carefully taking the journal into her hands, Alex slowly pressed her diary to her heart for a moment and then tucked herself securely under her sheets. Her face covered, the young woman undid the seal, opened the lock with a key-shaped fragment of her sapphire mana, and began turning through the pages. Her eyes releasing a pink energy signature, Alex saw the enchanted writing and images come to life and reenact events of the past within the pages: Alex and Harper met one another in kindergarten, and then the two held hands with Gigi before a form of shadow drew the blond girl away with two girls similar to her in appearance. Scanning over the images, the young woman turned the page to her herself sitting all alone until Harper sat down beside her. Everything was still. My whole life, I've felt alone. Harper was the only friend I had for years. We love each other like sisters, and that won't ever go away. Her misty eyes frequently blinking, Alex gently touched the outline of a butterfly Harper drew for her on the first day of high school. Flapping its wings, the butterfly glided around the page before returning to its original spot and spreading its wings out. Wiping a tear from her eye, the Latina choked in a breath before turning the page: Alex and Mason held each other's hand, walking down a road composed of near-golden yellow bricks. Grass had grown between the cracks, and the trees overhead helped blocked the sun on a beautiful, flawlessly-rendered day. They both smiled at their partner, even as Alex's wand appeared in her and hand and Mason transformed into a werewolf. The next page revealed a massive full moon shining behind what resembled a massive medieval castle. Alex and Mason, both human and flowing like mist as the breeze touched them atop the highest tower, held each other closely and kissed. Their eyes closed, the boy and the girl felt something trying to pull them apart. On the next page, the unseen force prevailed, and Mason, struggling and desperately reaching his hand out for Alex, was slowly overpowered and consumed by a wolf that was a part of him. Swallowed whole, as was Odin by the maw of Fenris, the young English man declared his love one last time, as written in cursive at the center top of the page. The next page revealed a portrait of Justin, Alex's older brother of three years. Slowly shifting, the image turned into a Gothic and cloudy scene in which the young man held the hands of a pale girl with lightly-thin, flowing blond hair that touched upon her breasts, weakly shining red eyes and retracted fangs: her name is Juliet von Houston, Justin's second love and current lover. Her face expressed her kindness, love, and a misleading sense of happiness. Justin felt the natural chill of his girlfriend's skin as she took in the warmth of his. They were happy, despite all the pain they had gone through. After staring at the portrait for about ten minutes, Alex saw a subtle stream of blood slowly streaming down the page, forcing her to turn to the next picture. Composed entirely of dark lead strokes and blank ink, a foggy abstract of Mason Greyback and Juliet von Houston holding each other's hands, as the vampiress did to Justin years later formed. This time, Juliet was on the right side, her eyes at ease in their hazel form. The two were happy, but that ended decades ago. The question of Mason's heart still remained a mystery, though: had he stayed in love with someone he found peace with in a simpler time, or did he give everything to Alex? Was their love enough to bring him solace, and did it mean to him what it did to Alex? There could never be an answer: not in flesh or ink.
"I just wish…I could take everything back," Alex whispered, closing her diary and sealing it shut. "Just start over and erase it all…so I'd never have to go through all this." Taking her cell phone from atop her night stand, the Latina dialed Harper's number. "Hey, sis…I just wanted to tell you I love you and goodnight." You're all I have left, Harper. Everyone we cared about left us…You're the only person outside of my family that I care about now.
"Love you, too Lexi," the redheaded young woman replied, her higher-pitched voice so warm and sweet. "Sweet dreams."
"Thanks," Alex replied, her voice reduced to a trembling whisper. A single, hot, burning tear streamed down the girl's right eye. "Love you."
"Love you too, angel," Harper gently repeated, her understanding and compassion as miraculous as ever. "Night."
"Night," the Latina barely gasped out. Hanging up her phone, Alex pressed her left pointer and middle finger into the center of her nostrils, trying to stop the blood she could feel coming, and bit her lip as her tears blinded her.
Suddenly, a knock on the young woman's door sounded, causing her heart to leap and nearly forcing out a gasp. "Mi-hija?" Theresa Russo gently called in to her daughter, not wanting to disturb anyone. "Everything okay? I heard some noise." Quickly wiping away her tears and snuffing back the blood from her nose, Alex stroked her hand over her eyes, wiping away as many tears as possible.
"Yeah," the young woman lied, using all her might to stop her voice from cracking. "Just looking for something. Thanks, Mom."
"Okay," the brunette woman answered, silently leaning her head against the door, listening to her daughter and praying for her to find peace. There was no sound: Alex wasn't sleeping, and likely hadn't been for some time. Sniffling, Theresa folded her lips inward before releasing them, forming a futile smile, muttered a Spanish prayer her mother had taught her, and then departed.
Sitting on the edge of her bed, Alex stared into the shadows in her room. She was stilled, her vision still blurry and burning, and it was so late. Taking a photo of Mason out of her pocket, remembering how it was once a picture of her and her boyfriend, the young woman stared at the smiling young man she once called her friend and lover. The left side of the picture bore the scar from when Alex's image was torn away: she was the one who did it. It seemed right. Crumpling up the old picture again, Alexandria Russo, once the caring, spunky, loveable rebel of the Russo family, held the image tightly in her hands, cupped them together over her chest, lied down on her back, and closed her eyes.
"Come on!" Alex cried out, maintaining her grip on her boyfriend's hand as the two ran towards the heart of the city. Mason smiled back at his girlfriend, trying to keep up with her. "You're too slow, come on!" Mason burst out laughing as they pushed open the doors to the Empire State Building's bottom floor.
Watching the floor numbers move up on the small screen, the young lovers watched everyone else exit on lower floors. Finally, they were all alone. "Ready?" Alex asked, biting her lip.
"I'm ready if you're ready," Mason lovingly challenged. Waving her hands over the floor buttons, Alex muttered a spell in Latin, trying to speak in between laughs. Suddenly, the elevator increased in speed with a slight jolt. Taking each other's hand, the young man and woman watched the numbers flash by until they reached a hidden floor, leading them onto the very tip of the skyscraper.
Alex and Mason walked out, the incredible sight of New York City's skyline surrounding them. Taking a seat on the ledge, the teenagers let their feet dangle over the great fall before them. "I thought there were guard rails up here," the Lycanthrope boy said, his English accent showing.
"There used to be," Alex boldly answered. "But why should there be? Why hold all this back?" Nodding in agreement, the brunette young man stared into the horizon."I bet this would look awesome at sunset."
"It'd be beautiful," Mason replied. "Like a painting born in a dream."
Pulling out her wand, the Latina cast a spell, forming a horizontal image of a beach completely bathed in orange and red lights from the sunset. The waves were gentle, and a silent breeze cascaded across the single palm tree's leaves.
"Whoa," Mason exclaimed. "Aren't people going to see this?"
"How could they?" Alex answered. "We're at the very top, and there's only one opening. All they're gonna see is the sky. Ready?"
"Ready for what?" the young man chuckled, his heart pounding.
"To follow me," the dark-haired young woman answered, lifting herself onto her feet. Turning around, her back facing the flawless image, Alex smiled at her lover, and dropped backwards, falling several inches before entering the beach scene. His jaw dropped, Mason felt a smile overpower his face. Laughing, the brunette leaped forward into the portal as it closed behind him.
Splashing down into an immense body of cool, clear, welcoming water, the two young lovers swam up to the surface. Gently stroking her hair back with both hands, Alex laughed out loud, her eyes closed and drenched. Shaking off the beads of water from his hair, Mason stroked his hand over his eyes and gazed up at the beautiful skies. "My god," he exclaimed, his voice practically a whisper.
Alex lovingly splashed her boyfriend, catching him off-guard. The two burst into loud, unafraid laughter, and then began splashing each other like children: young, innocent, brave, and free. Mason quickly dunked Alex under the water, only to have her surface and tackle him, sending the two under the waves. Their laughter filling the air and sea, the lovers finally swam to the small beach island that separated the dark from the flawless sunset, their breath heavy and their laughter unending. "I love you, Mason," Alex declared, lying down on the sand.
"I love you, too, Alex," the young man replied, his heart warming over. "And I always will."
The two smiled at one another, their eyes gazing into their lover's. Their hearts were in sync, and all was quiet but the gentle crashing of the waves into the unmoving shore. Slowly, leaning in to the choirs of angels singing all around them, Alex and Mason kissed each other, feeling the other's love and passion like the warm blessing of a new sun. Their eyes closed, and all was like a dream. All was silent: All was still. Love was all there was.
Opening her eyes, Alex found herself all alone atop her unmade sheets and blankets. The silence was piercing and violent, and all was dark. Opening her hands, the young woman unfolded the picture, staring at the image of the boy she loved. "…You abandoned me," she declared, her broken, trembling voice reduced to a sorrowful whisper. "How could you leave me? I loved you…and you said you loved me…" Her fingers slow, almost limp, the Latina felt the choirs of peace and love flow out of her body as she tore the picture down its center, her left hand never moving, and holding the surviving image in place. Soon, the very memory of Mason was out of sight. Clenching the scraps in both hands, Alex tightly shut her eyes, as if to close out the darkness, letting hot, burning tears stream from her eye lids down t her cheeks, the young woman violently threw the pieces of paper to the wind before her, letting out a silent cry of rage and agony. As the fragments of love and peace lost fell to the ground like snow, Alex, feeling the loss every waking second, screamed out: "You abandoned me! I loved you, and you abandoned me! You left me here all alone…to deal with this by myself! How the fuck could you abandon me?" Her cries growing violent, the image of Mason's hand, slowly becoming a claw, falling lifeless to the ground that dark and horrid night returned to the young woman. The last glance he ever gave her was unclear: who did he give his heart to? Was it ever hers to begin with? All was silent. Her face blood-red, puffy, and clenched, Alex choked in breath after breath, trying so hard just to be still atop her bed.
I swore I'd no longer be…
The pall-bearer.
But I carried you to bed, so you could rest your head.
You were taking off a load: Heavy drinking.
"You abandoned me to take all this by myself," Alex whispered. "Now I'm all alone."
And the unmade bed you slept in…
Where I laid you down to rest one last time:
Goodbye…
Listening through the door, Theresa let a tear stream down her cheek, her eyes tightly closed. Times grew worse. Things changed. People changed. Comfort became harder and harder to find until the day it was gone, leaving her naked and alone on the floor. Nothing felt right. Nothing was the same. Justin and Max did all they could to help, but it did no good.
Clenching her forehead, Alex let in one last, long, quaking breath, and let herself slip back into her hated memories. "Alex!" Jerry demanded, throwing open the door and causing it to crack upon impact to the wall. Everything was dark but the bed. Unable to get up, Riley laid still, only his knees covered by the black blankets. Clenching the sheets, desperately trying to hide her exposed, sweat-laced breasts and lap, gasping frantically in a vain attempt to fight off tears, Alex felt her heart pound and race beyond the point of agony. Never forgiven. Never forgotten. A mistake made to take away the pain of a loved one lost.
Awakening from her nightmare, Alex whispered a spell, causing pink energy to shine from her eyes as her hands cascaded in front of her. Slowly, the shreds of the picture of Mason pieced themselves together in the air. Once completed, the portrait glided into Alex's hands, ending the spell. I can still hold onto this for the night, she told herself, placing the photograph under her pillow and laying down, her eyes closed. But I can't hide from what I did…can't hide from the sins. Gently pressing the tips of her fingers to her heart, the young woman felt the pain and darkness inside of her. There's a way…