Magic of a Young Girl's Heart – Ch. 10
Author's Note: Alright guys, we're about half way through Magic of a Young Girl's Heart. Hard to believe that we're on the downhill side of the slope. You guys have been a huge support this entire time, and believe me when I say that it hasn't gone unnoticed. To put it simply, my first book is going to be dedicated to you guys: the readers and fans that have helped push me forward no matter what. So thank you again for all of this.
As usual, if you wish to make a donation to my writing fund, which is essentially money I use to survive life (groceries, rent, bills, etc.) so I can spend more time writing than working, I always greatly appreciate anything you have to offer. The way you can donate is by going to my Tumblr which is kibavulpuselunal. tumblr. com. Then you just click the donate button at the top of the page. You're also more than welcome to check out the blog there where I provide writing tips that you may find handy. I update that about once a week. Thank you all again so very much for everything you do. I really appreciate your support. Best of luck in life and literature. –Kiba Elunal
As the sun filtered through the trees, my eyes stared deep into Brett's. Crossing my arms over my chest I glared at him fiercely. "Well?" I asked. "Get to explaining." The illusionist stared back into my eyes, the morning light giving them a haunting glow as he seemed to wrestle with what to say. But that was okay, I could be patient if I had to. But he would tell me what I wanted to know.
Brett looked at me, and sighing he reached up removing his top hat and holding it between his hands as he looked down at it. "When I was a teenager, a few years after you disappeared, I tried hard to find people who could help me find you. I worked hard and wound up attracting the eye of a secret society of mages within Noxus."
"The Black Rose."
He nodded solemnly. "That's right…while I was there I quickly began to work my way through the ranks. My illusions and my artificery were enough to take out most of the younger levels…but one day I bit off more than I could chew and I challenged a woman to a duel. Her name…was LeBlanc."
Biting my lip I looked at him puzzled. "LeBlanc?"
"Yes. She's the one who gave me this hat."
Immediately things got quiet between us. "So…then she…"
"Died? I'm not sure…"
"What do you…"
"When she confessed her love to me and I shot her down, she was found later hanging from her rafters, a note pinned on her corpse fingering me as the reason. But…it doesn't make any sense."
I frowned. "Well…sometimes if you really love someone…you can't imagine living without them. I know my mother feels that way about Kal."
Brett just shook his head. "No…you don't get it okay? Look…this woman, this 'LeBlanc' she was able to perform magic unlike any I'd ever seen before. She was able to make illusions that could fool even the most perceptive of mages, but above all else she was cold, calculating, and incredibly mischievous. She was too arrogant to kill herself I know it." He put his finger to his lips and bit on his nail nervously. I could tell it was something that still plagued him if he thought about it that much. "When the rest of the Black Rose found out…I was named as her successor…it stated such in her…her…"
"Her note?" I offered, causing him to give me a somber nod. "Just how high up are we talking that you would be named her successor?"
Brett frowned before clearing his throat. "The leader." He whispered softly.
"The leader?!" I shouted before he quickly shushed me.
"Yes…the leader. But I didn't want it okay? I felt terrible about what happened…so I took the hat she gave me…and I just left. I found Cassiopeia, hid with the Du Couteaus until they told me where to find you okay?" He wrapped his arms around himself, shivering as though a ghostly wind had chilled him. "Can we please just drop the subject? I don't want to talk about it anymore."
I felt my legs starting to grow weak. "What happened after that?" I asked. But he just turned away. "Hey…I'm not done talking to you." I snapped walking towards him but he just pulled away from me.
"Well I am. I'm done discussing this. I'm not with them anymore, end of story." He shot back as he tucked his hat further down over his eyes. "Let's just get the kids and get you back to the manor okay? We'll reach there before nightfall."
My chest rose and fell with anger. He was just blowing me off like it wasn't a huge deal about what was happening. "And then what Brett? Will you leave me too? Just like you left the Black Rose?" His fingers curled into a fist as he clenched it tightly, and I could tell I struck a nerve. "You are…aren't you? You're actually going to leave us. Just like you leave everything. You even left behind your own parents!" I snapped causing him to wheel about enraged.
"Don't you dare say that!" He growled.
"But it's true. You just watched them die, didn't you? You'd probably do the same to Vix, Vul, and I. You'd just turn your back to save your own skin." I crossed my arms triumphantly. I was winning this argument, and we both knew it. Otherwise he wouldn't be so angry.
"You just don't get it, do you?" He hissed, tilting his head downward so that the brim of his hat covered most of his face. "You just don't understand. Why else would you say such hurtful things to me?"
"Because they're true." I scoffed.
"You idiot!" He yelled, raising his head once more to show his tearful eyes. "Don't you get it? I don't want anything else! I don't want to be head of the Black Rose, I don't want to be some renowned warrior or expert mage or anything! I want to protect you, and that's always been and always will be my first priority! I spent half of my lifetime searching for you, so you don't get to make these accusations against me about being selfish! I've given up more for you than you can ever return, and you'd do well to remember that." He turned away from me, punching a tree hard with his fist, causing it to make a crunch that made me shudder. When he pulled back his sore and bloodied hand, where he'd struck the tree had been turned to gold.
"Brett…I didn't…"
"No!" He snapped. "No more apologies from you!" He glared at me and tilted his cap upwards. "After all this searching, you didn't even remember who I was. So you know what? When we get to the Manor, you'll get what you want. We'll part ways and you will never see me again." With that he went back towards the campsite, eager to get the children and move forward to the manor.
I couldn't move or do anything…I just stood there, stroking my sling like an idiot. I couldn't believe the words he'd said to me. Was it true? Did I judge him too harshly with my accusations? I'd never seen him so angry with me before. I'd hit him, slapped him, burned him, but through all of it he was so quick to forgive me. I don't think I'd ever hurt him as much as I just did.
Kal rubbed his eyes sleepily, trying to stay alert as he was made to stand guard for the new High General of Noxus. He hated this, every second he was here was another second he could have spent searching for Ahri.
"Problem Kal?" Rygus asked in a tone that indicated he didn't give a damn. "You look as though you've had a few rough nights." Kal's eyes fell to his. There was no way he could know that Kal was the one releasing the prisoners.
"Yeah well that happens when some asshole is holding your wife hostage." He shot back.
"Tsk, tsk. Ad Hominem Kal." Rygus lectured. "You need to be in top shape while you're protecting me. That's your job after all." Just as he was about to continue his lecture, the doors creaked open and Rengar walked slowly into the chamber, clutching on to his transmuted hand. "Ah…I see our tracker is back. What news Rengar?"
"I tried to get back the children sir but…" he glanced at Kal nervously, causing the Summoner's hand to tighten around the handle of his sword.
"But what Rengar?"
"The White Hat was there." Rengar whispered causing Rygus eyes to grow wide as he placed his hands on his desk and stood up quickly knocking over the chair.
"And you stopped him yes?"
The proud lion-like man just shook his massive head, his dreadlocks swaying behind him. "No…he bested me and left me with this." He held up his golden hand. "Please…do something about this." He whimpered, his body still feeling the agonizing pain that came with the transmutation of his nerves in his hand." Rygus glared at him before rolling his eyes and snapping his fingers. In a blood-curdling squelch, Rengar's hand returned to normal…just before it exploded into bloody lumps of flesh causing even Kal to wince.
"Next time you come in here Rengar you'd better have some damned good information otherwise I'm going to do that to your head do I make myself clear?!" Rygus roared at him.
Kal glared at the man before walking over to Rengar and removing a strip of cloth from his uniform. Whispering a few words of magical power he managed to seal up the stub for the lion man before wrapping it with the cloth. After he was done, Kal turned back to Rygus. "And just what children is this man referring to?" He asked.
Rygus smiled politely. "Why yours of course? After all, what better way to ensure their safety than by bringing them here to stay with their mother. A child shouldn't be separated from their mother for too long, don't you agree?" Kal's rage was boiling as he contemplated impaling this arrogant mage on his blade. But all that stopped him was the thought of Ahri suffering if he lost control now.
"We had a deal Rygus. You said you'd stay away from my children!" Kal growled. "I'm holding my end of the bargain, but you've got to hold up your end too!"
Rygus just laughed. "Your end of the bargain? Just what part of releasing prisoners at night is your end of the bargain?" Kal took a sharp breath. "Oh don't play dumb, I knew it was you the entire time."
"Then the other guards…?"
"A signal to the rest of my employees that failure is not an option. You released some very promising candidates Kal, and you're lucky I'm letting that go unpunished. After all, you're our prime candidate so far."
"Prime candidate…?" Kal growled. "Candidate for what?!"
"All in good time Kal. All in good time. For right now, you need to just go to the barracks, it's time for your break after all." Kal frowned , glaring at him. He didn't know what the High General was up to…but he intended to find out. He paused for a moment, looking at Rengar, unsure if he should leave him, then realizing he didn't have much choice, he walked out of the room towards the resting quarters for the guards.
Rygus watched the sword-wielding summoner leave before turning back to Rengar. "Alright Rengar…you've got one more chance. Don't screw this up. Go into the forest, kill a white fox, and bring me its tail. Then I want you to do some recon and find out just where The White Hat and the children are going. You are not to engage, understood?" Rengar nodded, standing up slowly and scratching at his no longer existent hand.
"Yes High General…I will not fail you." He whimpered.
"Good." Rygus shot back, before sitting back down in his chair and pulling it to the desk. There he began to open up the rolls of parchment, examining the strange designs written on the scroll. "What was that man up to?" He muttered to himself, trying to make sense of what the blueprints were telling him.
Brett led the way in silence as he reached the Manor where Ahri was waiting at the gate in anticipation. He hadn't spoken a word to me since our fight, and with every step I began to dread the thought of arriving at the Manor as that'd be when he finally left. The truth is, I'd rather him hating me and stick around than leaving me alone. I reached out with my left hand to take his, but he stepped aside as Vix and Vul hurriedly rushed past us to our mother who was waiting at the gates.
"Momma, momma!" They both chimed excitedly as they came to the gates, their tails flowing behind them excitedly. As the gates slid apart to allow them entrance Ahri wrapped her arms around them both hugging them close as tears streamed down her cheeks.
"Hello my loves." She sobbed through tears of joy as she hugged them both close, kissing each of them on the forehead as they threw their arms around her. I was surprised to see the smile on Brett's face, given the scowl he'd worn for the last leg of our journey. Turning towards me he nodded for me to go and join my mother's embrace.
"Well?" He asked. "Go on then." I took a step away from him but stopped. Without a second thought I turned back to him and pulled his lips to mine in a loving kiss. I sighed into the kiss, feeling the softness of his lips against mine before I finally pulled away with sheepish grin.
"I've got some more things to talk about with you…so please don't leave yet…okay?" I asked softly causing the stunned magician to simply nod. Content I rushed to join my mother, wrapping my arm around her also. "Hi Mom, we're here." Ahri beamed at me and rewarded me with a kiss on the forehead too before her eyes fell on my arm.
"Annie…what happened to your arm?" She asked in a panic. "Did Brett do this to you? If he did I swear…I'll…" I quickly shook my head.
"No Mom, it wasn't him I swear." But already Ahri had set down the twins and was storming towards Brett. Seeing my mom's expression he straightened up, unsure of what had been exchanged for us.
"Like I said Ahri…I brought them back safely." He called, which only made her clench her teeth more as she came closer. Immediately I ran after her, just as she was about to be on him.
"Safely?! My daughter has a broken arm and you call that safely?" She growled at him, causing him to understand what was going on.
"What happened to your daughter was an accident, one that I could not have foreseen. But I have to say…your twins are very brave for the way they protected their big sister. And while I may not have been able to stop it, I was able to mend her arm so it can heal. There was nothing I could do, and I'm sorry."
"Not as sorry as you will be!" Ahri snapped raising her hand to rake him with her claws. As she did though, I managed to catch her arm and stop her.
"Mom wait! It's true. He was the one who was able to protect me from all of our attackers. The only reason he couldn't stop what happened to my arm was because if he hadn't we'd all have died. Please mother…don't hurt him." I pleaded causing Ahri to look at me and smile softly. I released her wrist with a sigh of relief. Ahri wheeled about on him and looked him dead in the eye.
"You're off the hook…for now. But if you hurt my children again, be it directly or indirectly, I will end you. Do I make myself clear?" Brett frowned, biting his lip.
"Crystal." He replied causing her to smile.
"Good. Then we shall see you inside. Come on kids, it's time to wash up. You all must be hungry." I watched as Ahri left with the twins towards the manor before going to follow her. But before I could Brett took my hand in his.
"Annie wait…" he whispered causing me to give pause. "Thank you, for sticking up for me to your Mom. But I'm sorry…I can't talk about what happened any more, okay? So I'm leaving…I only say this because I didn't want you to think I was being ungrateful."
"Brett, you don't have to leave…" I whispered, holding on to his hand tightly, my eyes meeting his. He frowned, and I could tell he was already torn. "I don't want you to go." I whispered. "And I'm sorry for the accusations I made…I was out of line. The truth is…the truth is…" my words trailed off as I struggled to tell him what was on my heart.
He frowned, waiting for me to spit it out, but already I could feel his grip weakening on my hand. Damn it Annie, just say it! I ordered myself, trying hard to force out the most difficult of words that were trapped in my chest. "The truth is…I need you!" I finally released in one large exhale. "I don't want you to leave, because before I met you I never realized how boring my life could be. I don't want to just be the same girl anymore that gets in fights at school or gets made fun of for carrying around her teddy bear. When I met you again, I thought you were just a fake but you've made me believe again! I believe in magic." I said finally, sniffling as I tried to make him understand all of the feelings that swirled around inside of me. "I believe that the two of us together makes something magical, and I don't want to lose that. Not now, not ever! So please don't leave me…don't take that magic away from me." I grabbed on to his shirt and buried my face in his chest, tears running down my cheeks as I tried to get ahold of myself.
I felt his arms wrap around me drawing me closer to his breast, and shivering I looked up into his eyes to see they had tears in them too. "Annie…not another word…" he whispered softly before he leaned closer and kissed me lovingly. I kissed him back, surrendering myself to someone else for the first time in a very long time. With every second that passed with our lips together I could feel the layers peeling away from, as though he was able to lower every one of my defenses. I threw one of my arms around his neck pulling him deeper into the kiss as I felt his hands on my hips. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything." A voice called behind us causing us both to part immediately, ours cheeks burning bright red. Behind me was my mother, a knowing smirk on her lips.
"Mom…I…" I began to explain but she just put her finger to my lips to hush me.
"Don't worry about it Annie." She replied, her eyes scanning Brett up and down as though she were able to read everything about him like a book. "Well…at least he's somewhat attractive." She muttered and turned to leave. "If you two could hurry up and come get dinner, the rest of us would appreciate it. You can continue your 'discussion' at a later time okay?"
Brett and I exchanged glances before giggling like children as I took his hand in mine and led him towards the manor. Already I felt better about everything that happened between us. He could take care of us, I knew it. Dad may still be in trouble…but that's okay. With Brett at my side, I knew we'd get him back, no matter what we had to face. That was the power of our magic.
Kal sat on his cot, glaring at the two guards who stood between him and the freedom he needed to search for Ahri. He contemplated taking them both out; maybe he could find her before the alarm was raised. He immediately chastised himself for his recklessness. He couldn't do anything to endanger his love, and the last thing he wanted was to also endanger his children if they were here. Burying his face in his hands he began to dig deep, trying desperately to come up with a plan to get out of this. His champion was way too far for him to be able to summon her to his side. He couldn't reach or connect with anyone, he was utterly trapped.
Suddenly there was a knock at the door, causing Kal to raise his head in curiosity. As the door opened, the guards stepped aside to reveal Rygus, a cruel grin on his face. "Kal…I trust you weren't planning on coming up with a way out of here were you?" Kal bit his lip. Was he so easily predicted? "Ah…I see…" Rygus chuckled. "Well, allow me to offer you something to occupy your thoughts. After all, idle minds tend to wander." Placing a box on the ground he kicked it towards Kal. The Summoner, brought his heel down on it to stop it before cautiously leaning down and picking it up. Pulling the top off, he immediately dropped it on the ground. Inside was a white fox tail…Ahri…he'd taken this off of her!
"You son of a bitch!" Kal snapped reaching for his blade. Before he could however, the two guards placed their own blades at Kal's throat stopping him in his tracks. "You bastard! If you kill her you'll need a lot more than two guards to slow me down! You'll need an entire damned army! And even then I'll cut my way through every man, woman, and child that I have to in order to get to you!" Rygus just yawned as he turned to leave the room. "Don't ignore me!" Kal roared after him by the High General had already gotten what he wanted. Now that Kal had evidence they had Ahri, it wouldn't matter if he could escape or not. He'd be obedient like a good dog, and that's all that mattered.
There was one problem he had not counted on. The White Hat was with the group trying to resist his rule and that wasn't good. Add to it that the kids had managed to squash out some of his best warriors, and he knew there would be a problem.
But he had more pressing concerns at the moment, he decided. As his boots clicked across the tile, he could already smell the foul stench of smoldering metal and noxious chemicals. Pressing open the door he walked briskly into the lab. "Singed!" He barked causing the scientist to turn and look at him with a sigh.
"It is not a good idea High General…to make such sudden loud noises while I am working." Singed replied, turning back to the equipment he was tinkering with. "If you are coming to ask if my work is complete, it is not. That man was cleverer than even I'd assumed. These engineering plans are incredibly intricate. One loose bolt could cause the whole machine to backfire."
Rygus swore to himself. "Damn…that Viktor has been such a pain in the ass. How does he expect me to build this stupid thing by ourselves?" Singed glanced at the High General over his shoulder.
"Would you care to tell him that we haven't figured it out?"
"And allow him to mock our intellect?" Rygus scoffed. "Not a chance. We need this machine up and running as soon as possible. Can you handle it Singed? Because if not, I'll find someone else who can." Singed just rolled his eyes before turning to look back at his boss.
"Consider it done. Though there is one more slight hitch." He replied causing Rygus to glare at him.
"What sort of hitch?" He asked.
Singed looked at the plans before pointing to a certain part of the schematics. "Here. It says the machine requires a pair of rings in order to power it. I trust you are in possession of those rings?" He asked .
"You let me worry about that." Rygus growled before turning to leave the laboratory. "I'll get the rings, you just make sure this thing gets put together. We don't have much time left and as long as Kal's family is out of our grasp there is always a danger that they could put a stop to our plans. One thing is for sure, I won't make that fool Magnus' mistake and underestimate that summoner. Keeping him under our thumb is priority number one." Singed just nodded.
"As you say sir. Best of luck." He sighed again as he heard the large door swing shut behind Rygus. It's true that Viktor was being a pain, but if the High General said his work was more important, than Singed had no choice but to believe him.
"Aunty Kat!" I cried happily as I hugged the scarlet haired assassin tightly. "It's so good to see you again."
"Annie. Look how you've grown. Sorry we didn't get much time to talk in Zuan. You simply have to tell me all about your journey. It's been so long since we last spoke that so much must have changed in your life." Just as I was about to speak, I noticed Brett's eyes focused on the kitchen doorway, where from the trim I could see a reptilian tail slither away.
"Ummm…yeah…" I started, trying to tear away from focusing on the thought of Brett and Cass's previous relationship. "If you could excuse me for a moment." I finally said softly as I followed Brett out of the dining room. He was chasing after Cassiopeia and I wanted to know what the two of them were discussing.
And so the pattern went. Every time I turned a corner I could see the fluttering of a cape as he chased after what I could only imagine was observed as a slithering snake tail. When at last I followed the cloak to the roof of the manor, I knew I'd reached the end of the chase, and so I slowed listening carefully to the conversation.
"Alright Cass…I'm here. What did you want to talk about?" Brett asked. I could note nervousness in his voice that seemed out of place. The snake woman turned to look back at him, a smile on her lips unlike any I'd seen before. She seemed more cheerful, more upbeat than she usually was.
"I just wanted to say…thank you. For the scepter. And for what you said about me being beautiful. Thank you for that."
Brett let out a sigh of relief. "You're welcome Cass. But you know…this doesn't…"
She quickly cut him off. "Look, I know it doesn't change anything. I know you're sweet on Annie, but that's okay. I'm not the woman for you Brett, and I can accept that. But I am somebodies, and I hope when I find him you'll be there to help me through it."
"Of course I will Cass, but you couldn't have called me up here just for all this." The serpent smirked and nodded slithering closer to him.
"You're right of course. I just wanted to say…I'm happy for you. Thank you for not letting me down, and whatever you do, don't ever change. Because you're perfect the way you are." She wrapped her arms around him in a hug and he chuckled, returning the gesture.
"I do believe that's my line. And thank you for being so supportive all this time Cass." As he stood there hugging her I smiled softly to myself. So this was the sort of man he was. "You know…" he finally said. "It feels so unreal. I've been searching for Annie my entire life, and now that I've found her, I feel like I don't have any idea what to do. It's like, I never even gave a thought to what would happen when I finally found her again, and now that I have, I'm lost."
Cass thought about it for a moment before asking a question. "Does it scare you?" Her words hung in the air, causing an unsettling silence to hang in the air as I held my breath, waiting for him to answer.
He sighed softly, releasing Cass from his embrace as he turned to look out over the estate. "To be completely honest, it terrifies me." I shuddered at the chilling sound to his ominous words. "But…even if I'm lost, at least I won't be alone too." He finished, his second comment bringing back the warmth that had faded with his confession.
"Ah so that's what you see in him." A voice said behind me, causing me to jump a good five feet in the air before whirling around to find my mother smiling at me playfully.
"Mom! Don't scare me like that!" I gasped, placing my hand over my chest as I felt my heart racing inside. "Why are you here?"
She gave a playful hurt expression. "Why, I was just following my sweet little girl. It hurts to think you don't want me around." I rolled my eyes and hugged her. "That's much better. Now tell me, why are you spying on these two?"
"No reason…just wanted to make sure Brett behaved himself is all."
Ahri chuckled a bit. "You may want to ease up on the reigns Annie, or else he's just going to escape his pen someday." I frowned at her.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means you should give him at least a bit of trust. I know I'm the last person who should say anything about trusting him, but the way you defended him made it seem like you truly care about him. And if you do, then you need to also trust that he cares about you."
She hugged me close, wrapping her tails around me protectively as I contemplated her words. "But…what if I'm wrong? What if he can't be trusted?" I asked softly.
She smiled nuzzling against me and stroking my hair. "Then it's going to hurt. A lot. That's heartbreak for you. Love is a gamble honey, putting your heart in to it and risking the pain is what it's all about. And there will be hard times, even when things are going good. But you'll know you have a keeper if he helps you through it all. It's a fair trade love." I nodded to her as she smiled down at me, kissing my forehead. "Now off to bed with you dear, we've got a long day tomorrow. I'll keep watch over him…for tonight only. Then the rest will be up to you."
I smiled and hugged her tightly. "Thanks Mom. I hope you sleep well."
"You too."
As her daughter's footsteps faded down the hall, Ahri turned back towards the roof to see Brett and Cass standing there, staring up at the stars. She couldn't begin to get a read on this man, but something about him just seemed so odd, she knew she'd have to ignore her own advice and keep an eye on him. It wasn't hypocritical, really. After all, she wasn't the one in love with him and it was a mother's job to keep an eye out for her daughter. One thing was certain, if he broke her daughter's heart, she'd ensure that she broke him. "Oh Kal…" she whispered, "I wish you were here to help our daughter with her fragile heart."
To be continued…