Chapter 10: Les Deux Amours
The Negaverse
"So." Said the Negaverse Morgana, tone heavy with contempt. "You have finally decided to come out and face me like a true sorcerer."
"I intend to fight you, if that's what you mean." Said the aging Monoculo, scratching his head in a lovably self-depreciating way. "I made the mistake of swearing on your mother's grave I would find a way to break that duck's hold on you."
The dark Morgana and her father stood across from each other on the high rooftops of downtown St. Canard at night. The search for the boy was becoming nearly as difficult as the one for the girl. The witch knew they were receiving help and protection from her fool of a father; the rumored 'fifth member of the Friendly Five.' The comparatively vulnerable-looking old man thwarted her at every turn, and the dark Morgana knew she would find no real pleasure until she fulfilled her mission.
"Quiet you senile old fool! Spat the sorceress. "Be still about things you cannot possibly understand!"
The duel began quite suddenly, as Morgana rose into the air dramatically, hair wildly ripping across her face. She rushed forward in a blur, hand blazing, and Moloculo just stood there for what seemed like forever, before Morgana went right through him. An illusion!!
The real Monoculo Macabre fired a point-blank blast of magic at Morgana's side, who was thrown off her feet, and off the edge of the building. Monoculo waited, knowing it would not be that easy. He shook his head, quite frankly heartbroken. " Your relationship with him is difficult for a sane person to understand, my daughter."
Just then, the floor beneath him shook, and a great red dragon burst out onto the roof! The building crumbled, and there was fire as the great reptile thrashed; and above it all, Monoculo heard the evil laughter of his lost child.
Meanwhile, in the Normalverse...
Morgana's cauldron bubbled and hissed in its setting. Eek and Squeak fluttered above the noxious brew, fanning it with their wings. It didn't look like anything anyone was supposed to be drinking, yet Archie was a brave soul. The spider lowered himself on a shimmering thread, and dared just one taste!
The arachnid promptly swooned, and dangled limply.
"Come now, aren't we being just a bit over dramatic?" Morgana chided, scooping up the little familiar in her hands. Archie gurgled.
"You know it's not finished. Honestly, sometimes you're just impossible."
Eek and Squeak allowed themselves a snicker or two, relieving a little of their nervous energy.
"All is ready my friends." I just need to procure the final ingredient."
Morgana ascended the stairs of her home, emerging from the subterranean depths of her lab. She checked on her daughter Gosalyn, who's healthy and enthusiastic snores were heard, far earlier than she was seen.
Morgana smiled. She meant to have a word or two with that girl about a few things, but the moment to do so always seemed to elude.
The next room, Honker's room, was quiet. Morgana knocked gently.
"Come in."
Honker was sitting on his bed, in much the same pose he had been in all day; bent over his modified laptop. His expression was somewhat unreadable in the reflected glare on his glasses.
"Honker, let me take you home.. You have always been mature enough to make your own decisions, but it is wrong for us to keep you here. And of course, we have all been lying to your mother and father from the beginning."
Honker rubbed his tired eyes resolutely from under his glasses, and looked over at Ms. Macabre.
"It's all my fault." he said. "I'm a traitor, but...this is about saving the world, right?
"Somehow, I suspect saving the world isn't quite as interesting to you as protecting Gosalyn."
Honker flushed a little, suddenly interested by what was flickering on screen.
"It is no secret." Said Morgana sympathetically. "Your devotion to her is admirable, but remember: your love for her is being exploited. Never forget to do what is best for yourself."
"I won't." Said Honker simply.
"Goodnight Herbert. Get some rest."
"Goodnight Ms. Macabre."
Morgana continued her ascent upward. She passed the room containing Mr. Grizzlikoff. The creaking of the boards suggested he was pacing the floor.
Further up, past ancient artifacts, weird specimens, and doors to environments fantastic and mundane, Morgana heard the sound of music drifting through the corridors.
Drake was playing his guitar.
Morgana had, by this point, changed her mind.
Why facilitate this madness? She could lock her family away and keep them safe, indefinitely. So help her, she would do it! Generations of long-dead Macabres seemed to approve of this idea from beyond the grave. Their proud and headstrong blood flowed hot through her veins!
The music stopped.
"Morgue?" Called Drake softly.
The sorceress swung the door open eerily in the semi-darkness.
There he was, sitting there with his guitar, unmoving. Morgana had always admired his courage.
Morgana glided forward a little, and the door shut and locked behind her with an air of finality.
She looked at him.
He looked at her.
She looked at him some more, and he looked at her some more.
The silence spiraled into the absurd. Now was the time to act.
"Dark honey, please play something for me."
Drake obliged, perhaps feeling his last moment of autonomy ought to at least be one of artistic excellence. The air was soon lightened with music; a dark lullaby of a tune, yet filled with hope and beauty. Drake gave the composition great warmth of feeling.
When the song was finished, the sorceress stood before her husband in her night gown. She took the guitar away from him and set it down on the floor. Then she straddled his lap, and pressed against him like she'd never get close enough. She whispered in his ear as Drake struggled with a combination of love, sex, and fear.
"Dark...you know...you seem to be under the delusion your life is reasonable payment for his."
Morgana's embrace turned vise-like, as she continued.
"I will not enable you to go to the Negaverse under that premise." She said. "I cannot stand by you on that. Do you realize how cruel you are being to me? How I am being asked to rip my soul in half and serve it on a silver platter to that monster?"
Morgana drew out the moment on purpose.
"It makes me feel like...you have never fully comprehended the extent to which I need you."
Morgana kissed Drake deeply and passionately.
"How's that? All this time, have you assumed you needed me more?" She said, almost playfully. "Promise me you will win, and that you and I will come home together. Those are my conditions."
"I promise." Said Drake hoarsely, nearly overcome with emotion.
They kissed again.
"I seriously considered making it so you could never leave this room." Said the sorceress with an edge. "And I may just do it yet."
Drake and Morgana made love for hours, and Morgana felt such an intense release as Drake moved deeply inside her. She felt like she was on the edge of death; as if love might swallow her whole...all in all, a good way to go.
