Crystal: so we're back with another chapter. So rather than continuing with unwanted intros let's get this going :D
Taken
Maria cried in her room as some of the blood she still had on her wounds stained the sheets of her bed. Christina, her nanny came in shocked and helped her, more of forced her, into the bath as she carefully cleaned the teen's wounds. "Nanny, why is mother so unfair?" Maria asked looking in disdain at the wounds her mother had created on her.
"None of that child, your mother wants just the best for you, and your safety", Christina whispered beginning to wash her hair. "No, she's killing me in the process. She treats me so unkindly. It makes me wonder if I was a mistake, and she never wanted to have me and my brother", Maria whispered.
"Maria Isabella Carriedo, stop this nonsense! Your mother loves you both with all her heart. I'm not the right person to tell you how I know so, but you have to believe it. She has her reasons for being that way with you. You just have to be patient with her dear", Christina said soothingly as she finished helping her bathe and handed her a towel. Maria just stayed quiet. She would apologize to her mother later for the way she had yelled those obscenities at her.
She was given a simple gown to wear for the evening. A yellow one that wasn't too sweaty, and one that was just right for the summer. She sat on the bed placing on her shoes before she heard a knock on the door. "Come in", she said nonchalantly . She looked up to see her mother in her own summer gown. "Mom…I" Maria began, but Lovina hushed her. "No, don't say anything. I just have to apologize for the way I've been treating you. I know, I was wrong to have let everyone be so cold, but I just wanted to train you without any distractions", Lovina sighed.
"Mom, you made me feel as though I was a mistake to be born", Maria looked down. Lovina's eyes widened. "Never! Don't ever think that, Maria. I love you and your brother more than anything in the world. I never wanted to tell you this, but I guess you're all ready to learn this. This is one of the greatest reason I treated you coldly and why I want you so badly to train", Lovina explained holding her daughter's hand.
"What is it?" Maria asked.
"After we had finally sealed the evil, everyone had gotten married, and had their own children. When my wedding came, it was the best moment in my life, but I had no idea that evil that I had sealed had managed to control your Nanny and place a potion that allowed her to implant a virus in my stomach. Your father and I had well…our first…night together that day, and right after, I collapsed. Someone had informed your father that him and I….having made love would result in my child having that virus they placed in me", Lovina began to explain.
"Mother, did your child die?" Maria asked. Lovina shook her head, "No, it didn't. Your father had slept me for four months and I realized then I was pregnant. I told your auntie Madeline to forward time to just a month before the baby was suppose to be born. I was planning on reversing time so that I could avoid the virus from being placed, since the beginning , but the evil figured it out and tried ripping my insides to ensure the baby was forced to come out. It was extremely painful. I as well as the child was dying, but someone appeared", Lovina muttered.
"Who?" Maria asked curiously.
"My mother, she came from the heavens with a rare plant called the scared flower that had magical powers that managed to save me and my child", Lovina smiled. "And where is that child now?" Maria asked feeling a bit betrayed of a possible third child. "Maria, that's you. You and your brother are those children", Lovina said with tears at her eyes.
"But how? You said one child", Maria said shocked. "When I was saved, you were the first to be born, but it wasn't until your auntie Alice said there was another child, and it was your brother. You were both born with blonde hair because of the flower, but we used magic to hide it. The reason I wanted both of you to train was because I'm afraid that evil will take both of you away from me. After all I did to keep both of you safe and alive. I wouldn't bear to lose either you or your brother. I have suffered too much, and I didn't care as long as you children were born healthy. I don't want to lose you, your brother, or your father, or just anyone I love. I've already lost my grandfather I don't want to lose anyone else", Lovina cried.
Maria began to cry as well and hugged her mother tightly, "mom…I had no idea. I'm so sorry I yelled at you. I'm sorry for how I've acted these past 15 years". Lovina shook her head wiping away her daughter's tears. "I still think like a 16 year-old, honey, I was the same and still act the same as I did before, but now I have a greater responsibility, but I promise I'll give you, your brother, cousins, and friends all the support you need", Lovina whispered before smiling.
"Come now, it's time to eat", Lovina smiled holding her hand. Once they reached the dining room, Maria sat next to her mother and father. They had begun to eat when Lovina paused suddenly as they had gone halfway through the meal. She stood up quickly in complete fear. Everyone knew that look, but didn't stand quickly enough as the wall was exploded. They all ran next to Lovina as she held onto Santiago as well. All the others made the children get behind them all as a wave of dust settled in avoiding them from seeing beyond the table.
They heard a loud cackle, and it made Lovina shiver all over. When it cleared she saw none other than 2P Romana and the other 2P. The kids gasped they looked like their parents, but they still had at the same time huge differences. Maria clutched tightly to her mother's dress. "Ahh, it's so good to see you again. Dear me, you haven't changed one bit. Oh you're still 16. How lovely!" 2P Romana laughed.
"2P! Romana, you disgusting thing. How did you manage to come back?" Lovina said through gritted teeth. "Oh, that was no hard task. How could I have forgotten to mention. I never did quite bury Sadiq so I revived him. Well I'm still not out of there, but Sadiq is working on my escape do not fear the time hasn't come yet. I just like you to know my children are indeed free, and are going to kill your vile children"
"Lovi, I'll make you mine after we escape", 2P Spain winked grinning maliciously. Lovina was taken aback, and Antonio retorted, "She's mine!" The kids just hid there, scared out of their minds. "Don't worry, you're not in danger yet this is just a signal. See you soon, Lovi", 2P Romana winked before they disappeared. Lovina sighed heavily and walked forward. "Stay back", Antonio told the kids as they neared the area where the evil 2P's had just disappeared. Finding no traces of anything Lovina and the others turned around, until suddenly, a great creature the kids did not recognize appeared behind their parents.
They gave a scream and Lovina turned around as her eyes widened, "Sadiq…" she mumbled. Sadiq grinned widely showing off his new fangs. He took a hold of Lovina while his evil minions grabbed everyone else. "Let me go!" Lovina thrashed as she tried to use the elements, but it worked to no avail. "My foolish gypsy princess…" Sadiq began. "I'm not a princess anymore, I'm the Queen of Espania", she yelled. He seemed angered by this and he raised a hand slapping her across the face. She gave a slight grunt as Antonio thrashed.
"Mom!" Santiago and Maria yelled. "Oh, are these your children?" Sadiq smiled endearingly. Lovina glared at him when she saw a glint of an evil act he was about to do. The guards ran in lunging forward, but where thrown back. "Guards lead the kids to the horse stalls and keep back anything that nears them!" Antonio yelled. The guard moved into actions pushing the kids along.
"RUN!" Lovina yelled to the kids. They shook their heads frozen. Sadiq raised his hand about to send an evil ball of energy towards them. Lovina managed to kick it to the other direction. She punched Sadiq with her fist on fire as he hissed. Lovina used her wind to send a white feather to them. "Use this to go unlock the elements, but get away from here NOW!" Lovina yelled as she was suddenly hit so harshly she fainted.
Sadiq grinned picking her up bridal style. "Mom!" Maria and Santiago yelled. "She said run!" Julia told them pulling them along. "Get them!" Sadiq yelled to the other minions. Antonio, Gilbert, and Alfred managed to make the creatures slip. Antonio wet the ground floors and the creatures stumbled. Alfred summoned inside tornadoes that made them clash. Gilbert made them go crazy for a few seconds, while the guard slashed them with swords and lances.
They reached the horses' stalls, as Julia jumped on the horse and directed the others to do the same. Alexander saw Maria completely confused and stretched out his hand to her. She took it as Santiago grabbed onto Johanna and they galloped full speed. Once they reached the outside, they gasped. Everything was dead the people had become zombie like. They continued riding going towards the forest. As they galloped they noticed a girl on a black bird.
"Oh no, they found us", Julia said worried. They stopped in front of the girl completely trembling. "Don't be scared", they heard her say. She was wearing a hood covering her face. She got off the magnificent bird revealing her face. Maria gasped. Another look alike of her mother was present before them. This girl was the complete copy of her mother except she had crimson eyes. "Who are you?" Johanna asked defensively.
"I am Lovina's shadow, Romana. The goddesses asked me to come assist you. The evil wasn't expected to come up until you all turned 16. You aren't ready yet, but with my help we can get something done", Romana explained. "I want you to gallop a few more minutes there you will find the forest no one dares enter. Even if it looks scary go in there no matter what", Romana told them before her and her bird sunk into the ground like shadows and left.
"Let's go", Alexander said. Johanna looked at him as if he was crazy. "Al, are you crazy. You're my cousin and stuff, but seriously you got to be kidding", Johanna mumbled. "He's right if she knows about the goddesses, she must be right. So I agree with Alex", Maria blushed slightly obviously not going unnoticed by Johanna and Santiago. They both smirked before they noticed each other and blushed.
"Let's go then. It's decided we must head for the forbidden forest". It wasn't as far as they first thought and by a few hours they had reached it. Maria jumped off the horse cautiously and saw the entrance was dark and creepy. She stepped forward the other following and suddenly all of them were pulled in. It was exactly as Lovina had left it. Beautiful, and untouched. "Wow, it's not like it looks on the outside at all", Julia said in awe. They turned finding the same girl that looked their age.
"Good, I must explain now. This place we'll use to train you just a bit more. You see the reason you were even decided to be trained is because you aren't 16 yet, which is the age were the elements are more manageable. Your parents received the elements at that age, thus the reason why they remain 16 year olds. People must think you are rather sisters or brothers more than just their children. Now the training won't be just a practice. Your lives will really be in danger. You must unlock the elements and that will be training", Romana explained.
"Maria Isabella, give me the feather", she stretched out her hand. Maria did as told as Romana took it. "This will help you be guided into the right direction of the element. Fire, is first followed by Earth of course since they have been united", Romana told them. "Now before you head out of course you need a change of clothes, weapons, and some songs that will help", Romana said making her harp appear. She swirled her hand and their clothes transformed. "Wow, this is so cool", Maria beamed as the others agreed.
"Well, let me just tell you your mother had chosen these clothes when they first headed out to unlock the elements. Those clothes you are wearing are the very same ones they used", Romana smiled. Maria grinned. She finally understood, in a way, how her mother thought. She still kept forgetting her mother was still in the body of 16 year-old girl and could still fend for herself, but they had all given her half of their element so now her priority was to save her mother. "Now these are the weapons they used years ago when Lovina have grabbed them in Germania kingdom", Romana said as she summoned the weapons they had used years ago.
Maria reached out as a bow and arrow reached down to her. "Cool", she smiled. The others were quite satisfied with getting a sword in exception of Julia who grinned at having received two very sharp long daggers. "Now I will proceed with passing on the memories of your parents as if all of you live it. Most of you will have both of your parents memories, but Santiago and Maria will have just one parent. Maria you will get Lovina's memories, and you Santiago, you'll get Antonio's", Romana said softly playing her harp and humming.
They all clamped their eyes shut as memories flowed in rapidly. Once they were done they all seemed like they wanted to cry. "I'm sure you've seen everything your parents had to go through at just 16, is that right?" Romana asked them. They nodded, Maria let herself sit on the floor as the memories still flowed fresh in her mind. She saw how her grandparents were killed. How her mother's sister had been taken away. How she had met her father that one night and had quickly fallen in love. Her mother finding out the person her grandfather had taken in as an advisor was the murderer, and the one who was the demon king.
Trying to find a way to free herself from the crystal, almost being forced to marry the demons king. The appearance of the 2P. What shocked her completely was seeing through the eyes of her mother how her father had been killed. It went on until her father had revived. Her parents first night; she blushed furiously, but she could not blink that memory away, and finally her birth up until today. Maria had a few tears, but she wiped them away. "Your mother, had helped me and the other shadows see color and have color. For that I'm very grateful to her", Romana smiled.
"I understand how she thinks now", Maria explained calmly. "It's funny how she was a person to curse a lot", Maria laughed. "She still does, that girl, I know her so well, but not in front of you. Even with this, she still has a much more amazing voice than me", Romana sighed. "Well, I don't remember the last time my mother sang to us", Santiago interrupted. "Dude, my dad was fucking awesome, but it was kind of heartbreaking having to see my mother die", Johanna grinned.
"Well, I think most of them died at least once, but as always love was there to save them. It was such a scary sight. Just imagine dying and seeing those you love die", Romana explained. They remained thoughtful for a bit just thinking of seeing any of themselves die. After all, they were family, well at least most of them were related, and they were best friends nonetheless that have been together since forever. "Ve~? That would be horrible", Julia mumbled ve-ing softly. "This is why your parents were trying to train you. They don't want the same experience for any of you", Romana explained.
"I get it… I can't believe I was so cruel to her", Maria mumbled. "Look, it's alright. We'll talk more in the morning why don't you go to sleep?" Romana smiled. She nodded as Romana disappeared. They decided that it would be better if they did sleep. Maria Isabella didn't sleep. She just lay on her side crying silently to herself. "Maria, don't cry", her brother whispered. He was crying himself and he had gotten up to lay next to her and hug her. They hugged each other tightly letting themselves weep just for this one time.
They heard a voice call out to them and looked up to see their mother. "Mom!" they yelled in unison. Lovina nodded from the room they had locked her in. She was reflected in a sort of smoke cloud. "Mom, I'm scared", Maria whispered. "I know, but I believe in you two. I know you can do it, your much more stronger than me and the others ever were", she whispered placing her hand against the smoke reflection as if she were standing behind a window or mirror.
They both began to cry, and suddenly, they heard light whistling. They looked up before Lovina began to sing, (1) "Es pronto para comprender. Que pueda mirarte y verme a la vez. Que escuches hoy mi voz que tanto te canto, los meses que tu fuiste yo"
Maria and Santiago sniffed lightly as they remembered that song their mother had sun for them as children. "Es pronto para comprender, la vida es tan bella como tu la quieras ver. Si lloras, cantare. Si sufres te hablare. Si mueres, moriré también", Lovina sang feeling herself tear up.
"Si te cuentan que llore, cuando te cogi en mis brazos. No me pude contener porque te quiero tanto", she smiled sadly letting one tear slip down her cheek. "mom, we love you", Maria muttered. Lovina nodded, "I love you both with all my heart. Take care of each other. You must remain together", she whispered. Maria and Santiago nodded before they heard something in the background on Lovina's side.
Lovina looked startled and looked panicked as she backed away. "Who are you talking to?" they heard a gruff and deep voice say. "That's none of your business!" Lovina yelled. Santiago and Maria looked horrified at the mirror as they saw true fear in their mother's eyes. "Mom!" Maria yelled. Lovina looked to the side at them and shook her head for them to stay silent.
"Respond to me!" they heard the man yell before he neared their mother and slapped her across the face. They finally saw it was the man, Sadiq. He carried Lovina with ease from the ground and slammed her to the floor. Santiago placed a hand at Maria's mouth to keep her horrified scream from escaping her lips. Sadiq picked Lovina up again who kicked him and did a backwards flip clenching her fists. When he lunged towards her he managed to use the life sucking dark tentacles and hold her.
She gave choked gasp as it sucked the life out of her. Maria couldn't watch anymore and she hid her face in her brother's shoulder. Santiago watched in anger as he finally let her mother fall limply to the floor trying to regain her breath. Sadiq chuckled walking up to Lovina and picking her up in his arms. She tried struggling, but it was no use. Sadiq saw the reflected smoke mirror, and he smirked towards them. He pushed back her head moving strands of her loose hair behind her ear.
He licked his lips before forcing them onto Lovina. Santiago wanted to scream for him to get his dirty lips away from her, and when Maria looked it started to make her blood boil. "Let my mother go…" she muttered angrily. She saw her mother trying to pry him off and she only whimpered clearly disgusted. He parted as Lovina tried spitting. He reached the hem of her summer dress and smirked at them once again. Maria shook her head and her eyes began to glow.
"Maria….don't" Santiago said, but didn't really mean for he wanted the man to leave his mother. Maria's hair began to swirl everywhere and when she saw him slip her dress just a bit more, a bit above her breast, she gave an angry yell before sending a beam of all elements to Sadiq. The surprising thing was that it passed through the smoke vision and directly hit Sadiq. Lovina fell to the floor trying to hold herself up. Sadiq seemed shocked that he was hit. He obviously had no idea who it was that attacked him. "I thought it was your husband", he hissed at her.
"I'm here now", they heard Antonio's voice. Sadiq lunged for Lovina, but Antonio managed to slip her into his arms. "You stupid brat!" Sadiq yelled. "You are not hurting her!" Antonio yelled. They saw nothing more as Sadiq attacked and wiped away their vision. "Santiago! We can't stay here. We have to go before Romana finds out. We don't have time to train any longer! That monster will do something to our mother!" Maria yelled in tears.
"You're right. We have to go", Santiago agreed as they began to wake everyone.
Crystal: so another chap for all of you. Review :D
(1) SONG: PALABRAS PARA PAULA by LODVG Note: this song was on chapter 5 of Gypsy heart if you want to understand its special value… lyrics in case you didn't know spanish. Lol so here are the translations:
"Es pronto para comprender, que puedo mirarte y verme a la vez. Que escuches hoy mi voz, que tanto te canto; los meses que tu fuistes yo" "it's soon to realize that I can look at you and see myself at once. That you hear my voice today that had sung for you so much. The months that you were me".
"Es pronto para comprender, la vida es tan bella como tú la quieres ver" "it's soon to realize, that life is as beautiful as you want it to be"
"Si lloras cantare"= "if you cry, I will sing" "si sufres, te hablare"= "if you suffer, I'll speak to you" "si mueres, moriré también" = "if you die, I will die as well".
"si te cuentan que llore cuando te cogí en brazos, no me pude contener porque te quiero tanto"= "If they tell you that I cried, when I had picked you in my arms, I just couldn't resist; because I love you so much".