Blue Roses
Summary: Don't own Gorillaz, just my OC's! This ends up being more than two chapters after all. And before you ask, I'm taking a break from my other fanfic, Dead Rose Reaper. I'm trying to get the 7th and final chapter typed up, might be an epilogue afterwards.
Part 2:
Aviara awoke with the sun filtering in through the curtains of her canopy bed, yawning in the most unladylike manner before pulling the red drapes back. A maid knocked on her door, then slipped in as quietly as she could. "Miss Aviara, I trust you slept well?" Aviara only nodded, accepting a cup of tea from the tray the maid had brought in. "Yes actually. The new mattress was a very wise idea, Mary. I suggest getting one for Father, so that he might be able to sleep peacefully." Mary smiled, then frowned sullenly. "Miss Aviara, you're father wanted me to tell you to be ready in an hour. He's made an appointment with the local matchmaker today."
Aviara spat out her tea, her eyes wide with shock. "WHAT?" Mary looked away before walking over to the large wardrobe, opening it to reveal numerous dresses for every occasion. Aviara got up reluctantly, her face set in an angry scowl. "Miss Aviara, you really shouldn't do that. Your face might get stuck that way." Mary couldn't help laughing a little, getting Aviara to smile slightly as well. "Fine. Besides it's a nice day. Maybe Father will be in a good mood."
"Oh or maybe you'll be matched with Damian! He's a nice young man..." Aviara couldn't help but to tune her Father out as they rode along the muddy road. Matthew kept rambling on about potential suitors, ones that she had already turned down and some that she didn't want to meet. Aviara had heard one thing about them that they shared: they enjoyed their women for a night and then toss them back out on the streets. 'Bunch of pigs. They only care for themselves.' She hadn't realized that she had said it out loud until she found her Father glaring at her. "Well, they do! Besides, the matchmaker is supposed to help me find my soul-mate, not pair me up with a village idiot who only wants power and money."
"Aviara, please understand, you must marry a man of high social status. Otherwise, who will take care of you?" Aviara glared at him. That was the one thing that she hated being asked and every time someone did ask that, they always ended up with the same answer: Herself.
2D swallowed hard and slowly got up, the pain in his chest still there but had dulled to a point where he could move around. His heart was pounding rapidly, trying to get the blood circulating in his body once again as he stumbled slightly. 2D couldn't help coughing, the crimson liquid staining his hands as he continued to hack. It was almost routine to him. 2D groaned at the sight of himself reflected in the back of a pot, his mouth dribbling with blood as though he had his teeth knocked out again. He sighed, looking away and staggering towards the wash bin that he had been using earlier. The water had stilled and the soap bubbles had almost vanished, giving him a clear reflection of himself.
2D stared at it for what seemed like forever, studying his face before his fist hit the water. He bit down on his lip, trying hard not to scream in anger as his hands gripped the sides of the wooden wash bin. 2D's temper was very rare and often kept hidden. But it was times like this that he had a nasty habit of breaking things. Reflective things especially became a target.
The bin was sent flying, nearly crashing into a glass dish cabinet as it hit the wall with a dull THUD. The water now soaked the stone floor, pools of it reflecting back the broken mans' tear-stained face. "Why do 'ese fings 'appen ta me? Wha' 'ave I done ta deserve fis?" 2D collapsed on his knees, hands covering his face as the tears continued to fall.
Aviara glared at the small cottage before them, remembering the reason why she loathed the men in the village. The previous matchmaker from two years ago claimed that she was compatible with Damian Core, the local (dare she think it without laughing) Man-whore of the village. He had everything any man could've asked for: wealth, a noble family, and every woman that willingly threw themselves at his feet. But he didn't seem interested in them. He had his eyes on Aviara, planning on making her the perfect little wife every man in the village wanted her to be. That is, until they found out that the matchmaker was a fraud and ran him out of town. The matchmaker now only came about a year ago and already had a reputation as one of the best. As they began to walk up the path way, a girl no bigger than Aviara herself walked out with a broom in hand. "Um, excuse me Miss, but we are here to see the local matchmaker." Matthew grinned, trying to look as cheery as possible.
"That I am." The girl smiled, even though you couldn't see her eyes beneath the curtain of purple hair you could tell there was a mischievous glint. She also had an accent to her voice, giving that she wasn't from their country. Her clothes were simple, but they reflected a fiery personality that she seemed to emit. "My name is Noodle. It is a pleasure meeting you, Aviara." Aviara couldn't help a slight smile; They're first meeting and she already liked her.
"Now, I understand that your last match was not what you wanted." Matthew glared at Aviara from the corner of his eye before turning back and putting on a smile for their hostess. "You were right. He is not a good match for you. I do not think that you and him are a match at all." Noodle simply stated, smirking when the girl looked at her with confusion. "No, your match does not live in the village." Matthew was curious, but held his tongue as Noodle pulled out a deck of cards. But these cards were different than normal playing cards or even tarot cards. She motioned for Aviara to choose a card, which instead ended up being three as two fell off the top.
The first card was turned over, revealing a handsome man wearing fine clothes and a crown on his head. "Your match once held power, using it wisely as he was taught." The second card was then picked up and turned, showing the same man wearing rags and a shadow wearing the same crown. But instead of being handsome, his face was disfigured, turning all young women away from him. All except for one. "But now he is broken, slaving away for the one that has cursed him and his existence."
The third card was turned over. It showed the man smiling, though he was still disfigured, he held a young woman tightly to him. The crown had been restored and there was one on the girl's head as well. "He will not harm you, only hide from you. If you can show him acceptance for his appearance, then the match will be complete." Noodle smiled, noticing the light blush on Aviara's face. "So, my match doesn't live in the village, was once royalty, and is now cursed?" Aviara shook her head, "This sounds like it came from a fairytale."
"You're mad!" Matthew shouted as they walked up to the large manor, Aviara ignoring him. "I may be mad, but at least I'm trying to do something other than sit around the house all day and play house wife! You were hoping I would be matched with Damian again!" She screamed, not waiting for her father as she started up the stairs to her room.
"But you would be happy with him!"
"The hell I would!"
"Aviara Shade! How dare you use such language!"
"Don't change the subject! He sleeps with every woman, even if he was married! Besides, he's not right for me."
Aviara pulled out a small bag, opening her wardrobe and pulling out simple work dresses, folding them neatly into it. "You'll get lost in those woods! No one's seen the castle in over a year! What makes you think that you can find it?" Matthew growled, standing in the doorway as she continued to pack. "I don't know! I just have this feeling that I might. If I don't, you hold every right to say 'I told you so'."
The door slammed shut in her face, her hazel eyes glaring holes in it. " 'You would be happy with Damian.' When hell froze over." She mimicked her father, picking up the skirts of her dress and heading down the dirt road that lead to the forest. Living near the forest had made it easier for her to get there undetected by the neighbors, but it made her a little unsure. The forest was known to be a home of assorted demons, warlocks and other creatures that she couldn't name. "You really thought this one through, didn't you Aviara?" She muttered, looking up to the dark clouds that covered the sunset. The wind pulled her hood off and played with her hair, making her frown as she continued walking. "At least I can stay at the church for the night."
It had been quiet for the past few hours. Perhaps Murdoc was passed out again? 2D shook his head, trying to get his damaged mind to focus on cleaning the front hall. He was currently on his knees, scrubbing the once white marble floor with a brush. It had been stained a light grey and no matter how hard he tried, it wouldn't fade back to it's original color. 2D was miserable, lost in the memories of what had happened that night. He remembered many guests pouring in through those doors, every one of them greeting him politely as he made his way towards them. He could still hear men laughing and women gossiping to their friends, all smiling at the prospect of an enjoyable party. Back when it felt like he was at the top of the world.
But now, everything was gone. His handsome visage that made women swoon when they saw him, his status as a kind prince, and most of all, the place he once called home. His clothes over the past year had become worn, holes revealing his sickly pale skin beneath the dirty fabric of his shirt and crookedly patched pants. His shoes were worn to the point where he could almost feel the ground beneath them. 2D bit his lower lip as he continued to clean, not bothering to look up as footsteps echoed in the empty hall. He knew who it was and kept silent, hoping that maybe he could be left alone for a while. Why stay there? Why not just leave the castle and Murdoc?
Because they were the only things hiding him from the outside world. Murdoc would go down to the tavern and pick up several young women at a time, taking them up to his old bedroom for a night of pleasure. The women would come down one by one and upon seeing him, would scream in horror. He would step aside and let them run to the door. The first night of his enslavement, he recognized some of the young women as those that had attended the party. He tried to talk to them, but they shoved him out of the way as they ran in terror and screaming that a demon was after them. That was also when he found out about the part of the curse that affected his heart.
"Goin' down ta tha tavern again, your highnesh?" 2D muttered, continuing his job as the footsteps walked passed him. Murdoc stopped at the door, still in his cape and pants, and turned towards him. "Yea', wha's it to ya? Not like anyone woul' sleep with ya anyway, faceache." 2D groaned in pain, trying hard not to succumb to the agony that was stirring in his heart again. Murdoc didn't bother torturing him any further, walking out the door into the windy night. "Won' be back til mornin'. I expect everythin' ,and I mean everythin', to be sparklin' when I get back. Got it, dullard?"
"Yesh sir." 2D muttered, waiting for the door to slam shut. When it finally did, he threw the brush at it, wishing that it was Murdoc's face instead. "I wish tha' wanker wuz gone for good! I don' care if I'm alone! I wan' ta be rid of him!" That was all it took. Most would regret saying those words afterwards, but that was not the case for Stuart. His heart had been broken and rejected many times even though he remained the same, his confidence dwindled to nothing. And who was there to pin the blame on? Who had cursed him and his home in the first place? "I wish Murdoc woul' go back to tha' hell 'ole where he came from!"
With warlocks, there are two loopholes in their contract. It states that if they are wished back to hell, then they have to move on to another place. Wishing them back to the hell hole from which their powers originated from will drain them of their power until they are only left with enough to keep them alive. Murdoc felt a cold shiver go down his spine before collapsing on the ground, his body convulsing as his powers were being drained. But he didn't scream. No, he smirked, knowing that he had finally pushed the younger man over the edge.
And that he himself was free from the demons' grasp at long last.
Yeah, That bit about warlocks and loopholes, that was made up. It sounded like it would make sense in the story. Murdoc does get his powers back, just in a later chapter. Any way, as I've said before, I don't own the Gorillaz, just my OC's. Modern terms were used in this, I know. Please R&R and have a nice night.
