The Never Realm
Summary: While visiting Sir Finlay and Gabriella, Cedric and Sofia are surprised to learn of an uprising of the dark world that once caused Arabella's life to spiral out of control: The Never Realm. (References specifically to "Arabella" as well as all the other Helvetian Family stories)
Disclaimer: I only own Sir Finlay, Gabriella, Sapphire, Davina, Arabella, and the concept of the Never Realm.
A/N: This chapter will be a little bit shorter than the first, but what happens with Arabella in here is a direct correlation with what sort of dark powers the Never Realm possesses. It will also give you a pretty good idea of what our duo will be up against in the upcoming stories…in a manner of speaking, anyway. You're about to learn a secret about a certain someone in here too. 😊
Chapter 2: Cultish Upheaval
Arabella had somehow managed to will away the pain her hands were causing her, and before she knew it, there was nothing left at all. It was so strange how that had occurred out of nowhere, but she wasn't about to question it.
The girls had already given their mother a hand-made card and some "birthday cookies." Arabella got much the same, but she received some varieties of candy instead (which she preferred anyway). Cedric and Sofia had not given them anything, as requested. They instead enjoyed just having the duo as company, which was better than a typical gift, according to the sisters.
"Happy birthday, my darling," Sir Finlay told his wife kindly as he passed her a gift. "I hope you like it."
Gabriella smiled playfully as she untied the black ribbon from the purple box. "There hasn't been a single gift you've gotten me all these years that I haven't loved, Finlay. I'm sure this will be no different." When she opened the lid, she withdrew what appeared to be a tiara with sparkling amethyst stones. She then blinked before eyeing her husband curiously. "Uh, Finny? You do realize I'm not royal, right?"
"Perhaps not," he started as he took the diadem from her hands, nestling it atop her head, "but you are the queen of my heart, mon cher."
Gabriella blushed as Arabella made an over-exaggerated gagging sound, laughing as her twin balled up some of the inner fabric lining and threw it at her to get her to stop.
"I just wish you guys would have let us bring you something too," Sofia told the sisters with a sheepish smile. "I feel sort of bad not having something for you."
"Oh, nonsense, Sofia," Gabriella laughed. "You've done more than enough for all of us at this point. And just being here—both of you—is plenty. Trust me."
"I agree," Arabella concurred. "To be honest, before I met you two, I thought all royals were scumbags who had too much power and not enough empathy."
Sofia's smile fell from her face, replaced with an annoyed deadpanned stare. "Gee, thanks."
The red-clad twin laughed. "But you more than proved me wrong. And like Gabby said, we're grateful for everything you and Cedric have done for us. You're like our unrelated, newly-discovered 'cousins' or something."
"I'm surprisingly fine with that," Cedric told them as he felt Davina tugging at his ear. She'd somehow squirmed out of her mother's arms not long ago and made herself at home between him and Sofia. He winced a bit before gently taking her tiny fist and lowering it, smiling patiently at the little girl. "Easy there, little one."
Davina just grinned at him. "CEDDY!" She threw her arms around his neck, seeing as he was still sitting next to Sofia and was at a more approachable height. "YAY!"
"Funny," Sofia giggled. "I remember feeling the same way when I first met you too."
The sorcerer chuckled as he gently held Davina, softly patting her back with his right hand. "I remember that as well. You might as well have been my very own fanfare."
"I still am." She grinned and playfully nudged him.
"Agh!"
All eyes in the room turned to Arabella, who was all but doubled over in pain as Gabriella and Sir Finlay quickly moved closer to her, placing their hands on her back as she groaned in misery.
"Ari, what's wrong?" Gabriella asked, frowning. "Tell me!"
Without speaking, the other woman slowly and carefully lifted her hands up for the others to see. She winced as they gasped in shock. The dark marks etched into her skin appeared to be sizzling and scorching her hands. She screamed in agony as one particularly sharp jolt nearly caused her to fall off the sofa.
"What's going on?!" Gabriella demanded, trying her hardest to placate her sister yet failing.
"It's got to be her connection to the Never Realm," Cedric told her remorsefully. "Whatever cult created those marks on her cultivated a link that will forever bind her to it unless she somehow severs those ties. Doing so is highly difficult though."
"But it's not impossible, right?" Sofia asked hopefully, her eyes trailing to Davina, who seemed rather focused on her aunt right now. Of course, that didn't surprise her; the little girl was probably highly concerned, as they all were.
"Not impossible, but not promising either," the Enchancian sorcerer responded, addressing them all.
"We must try," Sir Finlay insisted as he briskly approached the other sorcerer. "Cedric, Princess Sofia, please assist me. We'll need to investigate my library and see if there are any answers there."
Cedric nodded and placed Davina on a sofa next to Sapphire, who seemed really perplexed and conflicted. "Show us the way, Finlay."
As the trio left the room, Gabriella sat beside her sister, gently rubbing her back and trying to soothe her somehow, whispering comforting words to her.
"I wish I knew what to do," Sapphire told her little sister sadly, frowning as the toddler blinked up at her. "I feel so helpless, Davvy…"
Davina leaned over and hugged her big sister, smiling happily when the older girl returned her hug. She just wanted to see people happy again.
Sir Finlay, Cedric, and Sofia must have sifted through hundreds of books in record time, yet not one of them held viable information on cult marks from the Never Realm. There were several books about the dangers of being struck by magic from the Never Realm entities, and there were some about illegal experimentation and corrupt leaders turning to dark magic for success. Yet there was still nothing about Arabella's situation.
Empty-handed and unsuccessful, the trio returned to the common room where the girls sat. While Cedric and Sofia sat on the loveseat once more, Sir Finlay stood to the side with his arms folded and his eyes downcast.
"There wasn't anything, was there?" Arabella asked bitterly before gasping sharply as another surge of pain shot through her. "There never is…"
"The problem with the Never Realm is how secretive they are," Cedric lamented, frowning. "They know exactly what they're doing when they recruit impressionable young magic enthusiasts—sorcerers or no. They enjoy toying with people and causing them to suffer at their own expense."
"It was my own fault. I was stupid enough to think that I could use magic to get a guy to notice me and love me, and now I'm paying for it." She inhaled sharply before sighing. "Which I deserve."
Sapphire felt her bottom lip trembling as she watched her mother comfort her aunt. Even for all the powers she possessed, she knew that even she—one of the most powerful young sorceresses in the Ever Realm—would never be able to help Arabella get rid of those dark marks. She could move things with her mind; she could hover midair; she could do all sorts of things that most kids only dreamed of doing… But she couldn't save Arabella from one dumb mistake, and that broke her heart. She sniffled as she turned away, hiding her tears from the others.
Davina, however, noticed her sister's distress. She noticed the hopelessness nearly everyone around her was displaying. And naturally, wanting everything to be right again, she made a choice. She gently hugged her sister and kissed her on the cheek before sliding down to the carpet, hurrying over to Arabella and gently grasping her hands.
"Davina, no," Gabriella told her daughter, shaking her head and beginning to reach over to remove her hands. "Auntie Ari is in pain."
"Davvy help," the little one insisted, smiling serenely.
"Look!" Sofia gasped as she pointed toward the toddler's hands, which were clasped over Arabella's. "Are you guys seeing this?"
Cedric exchanged quick glances with Sir Finlay, who frowned in confusion. "It can't be…"
Sapphire even turned, wiping her tears away and looking toward her little sister. "Davvy?"
Everyone paused as they watched the toddler. Her eyes were closed, her head was lowered, and her hands were glowing around Arabella's. Arabella sat, eyes wide and mouth agape, as she stared at her niece. This couldn't be happening…
To be continued…
Next Chapter: Divine Davina
