Chapter 20: Love and Sacrifice
Ryan Nanami walked into the door, hugging Dorian eagerly and putting his bags down. For having spent years away, there was a surprisingly small amount of luggage.
"I'm back!" He held Dorian's face, "I heard about what happened. Let me see what I can do?" He then noticed the child in the drawer, "Who's that?"
"Um..." Dorian laughed awkwardly, "It's a long story. But... she's mine."
Ryan looked down at the baby, "Who's the mother?"
"Uh...oh! No, nothing like that. I found her abandoned on my doorstep with a birth certificate saying Alexandrina Nanami. The weird thing is I'm a virgin, so it's probably just Maegan's attempt to make me marry her." He paled as he realized she would totally do that if she learned he had a baby. Well, both he and Kelly had crazy mind powers, so if it came down to it, they could force her not to.
Kelly shook Ryan's hand, "I'm Kelly, Dorian's roommate kinda. I've been staying and helping with the curse and baby situations. These," he gestured to Harrison and Amelia, "Are my friends, Harry and Mia."
Dorian sat down on the couch, "Dad, I love ya, but can we please save the small talk until we get a verdict on things that can be done about the curse?" He took off his shirt, "The black veins spread to my left shoulder in the last year. But it doesn't affect my stretching." To prove a point, he stretched his arm to grab Alexandrina all the way across the room, no strain whatsoever from the blackened veins.
Harrison and Amelia left when Ryan started examining Dorian entirely. However, Kelly stayed to handle the baby—and he really did hate getting in the way of Kelly spending more time with Harry and Mia.
But things had been different since Harry and Amelia became a couple, they went on more dates. Dorian admitted he had read Kelly's diary that one time he made the mistake of leaving it open, and Dorian mistook it for a fantasy manuscript. Kelly had admitted in there that he was afraid things would change in their friend dynamic since he needed to help Dorian, and Harry and Mia had been content without him for months in the time he was dead and an intern for the council. But they still hung out every Friday night as a trio, since Dorian didn't want to get involved. The last thing he wanted was to be a liability.
But deep down, he knew he was a hindrance to Kelly—even if Kelly always insisted the opposite—who could be perfectly happy spending his time in luxury at the Sommers mansion with his best friends. Instead, he got stuck with a cursed, borderline psychopathic, unstable, desperate classmate, who could only give him a couch to sleep on since Kelly was too damn polite to take the bed.
"Kels," Dorian smiled from where he was laying on the couch as his Dad examined him, "Go have fun at the pep rally with Mia and Harry."
Kelly frowned, "You sure? You can take care of her?" He gestured to the baby, and Dorian nodded. He saw Kelly brighten, "Want me to bring back dinner?" At the shrug he got in response, Kelly grabbed his wallet and ran out the door, "Guys! Wait up!"
Once alone, Ryan grew cold, not quite hostile, but Dorian also braced himself for an earful, "Cut the shit, Dorian. What's really the deal with that baby?"
Dorian sat up, "I... may have kidnapped her from the witch who cursed me. My plan is to use the baby as leverage to get my freedom back." He sighed, unable to hide it anymore. Better to get all the revelations out like ripping off a bandaid, "You want the truth? I killed Mom. I wiped out millions. I spent months dealing with a time traveler who was hellbent on me becoming an evil mastermind in twenty-something years, and I don't know how much time I have left. The only reason I'm not dead is that either Kelly saved my ass or damn time travelers tried to use a dragon to wipe my memory of the curse or some shit—so I can slowly go insane while oblivious. And even though Kelly is with me every day and he is an amazing person, I constantly wonder if he wishes he hadn't saved me, that way he could just get on with his life and not have me as his magical other half. He could be living in luxury at Harrison's mansion, but he's stuck here with me."
"Is he doing anything that makes you think that?" Ryan asked, sounding a little hostile now, but not towards Dorian.
"No. Kelly's not. He's been nothing but gracious and kind. I just don't want to be a burden to him."
Ryan sighed, helping his son sit up, "Just know that he's stayed with you through this. You're right that he could be at the mansion, but it's 1997, we have cell phones. The fact he's chosen to stay here with you in important." He nudged Dorian playfully, trying to lighten the mood, "I'm sure he's quite the chick magnet. Girls come here often?"
"No. Kels doesn't date—until recently, I thought it was my fault."
"Anyone on your mind? Anyone who fancies you?"
"I've got a stalker who will totally say she's Alexandrina's mother if she finds out. But... no girl interests me."
His father nodded, "Ah, so you've got the hots for Kelly."
"What!?" Dorian giggled awkwardly, "No. Can you imagine how awkward that would be since he lives with me?"
"No, I can't imagine that. But your blush is giving your true feelings away." Dorian purposefully looked away, afraid of what his Dad would think for his murderer, kidnapper gay son. He got up and cradled Alexandrina since she was getting fussy. When he didn't just see the spawn of Regina, she was actually pretty cute.
"You're probably realizing I'm a lost cause and going to kick me out."
"If you didn't show remorse for your worse actions, and I didn't know better, I would. But I've heard of power like your new psychic one on my travels—it's hard to control. Therefore a murderer is wrong because you didn't mean to. Even if this curse caused some bad things, you're trying to break it and better yourself. And since I'm barely part of your life, and will be leaving again in a week, I have no say in who you sleep with. Even if I did express my own feelings, you're eighteen and, as such, will disregard everything I say the second I turn around. So I won't help you with your love life, but I will also spare you the lecture. Just remember that your partner must treat you right."
"Thanks, Dad. Speaking of which, can I have the rights to the apartment? You don't come often, and I don't want Kelly confined to the couch forever."
Ryan sighed, "My little baby, all grown up and slaying motherfuckers—not the vision of your average parent, but as long as you're alive, out of prison, and not a crackhead, I can say I didn't totally fail as a father."
"Uh... thanks?" He looked down at Alexandrina, "Well, maybe we should bond with this little thing before I send her back."
...
Kelly enjoyed himself at the pep rally, where Amelia was one of the lead cheerleaders. He did find it annoying that people kept flirting with him. Just because he was single didn't mean he was ready for a relationship. Frankly, after living with the Blackwells for so long, he was barely attracted to girls and content playing wingman forever.
But he admitted he'd missed this. Now that he had a good enough handle on his powers to not be overly dangerous, he had started craving being out and about. He knew Dorian had noticed and felt horrible about it. At least Dorian understood the stir-crazy feeling.
Harrison wrapped an arm around him, "Kels, you okay?"
"Oh, yeah. I'm okay. Just strange being out with loads of people," Kelly sighed wistfully, "Two years since the incident. Mia and I will be eighteen in like a week. What do we do then? Tazri only let Amelia stay until she was eighteen."
"Um... Tazri's gone."
"What?"
"I-I told her about what you told me about other worlds. I may have tested it out. Now Tazri's gone, and I'm trying to pull her back."
"Harry! How did you manage that?!" Kelly threw his arms up, knowing the answer would probably be long and complicated, "Do any of us have parents in our lives?! Mine are dead druggies who left me to die in the woods. Amelia has Regina and an unknown father. Your parents are beating the living daylights out of people during wrestling or whatever the fuck kind of sport they're doing this month to the point I wonder if Makane's father is one of your ancestors. And Dorian has his father who's always off on quests to figure out the elastic stuff. How are we supposed to raise kids of our own if we'd be running like chickens with our heads cut off?"
"Beats me, but it's not like Mia and I would ever try for kids. Namely because of that whole 'boys die' rule in her family. Apparently, even Amelia doesn't know the reason, so it's been decided by us that Regina's just salty about sexism against women back in the day. And Mia has too many sisters. But then again..." he bit his lip, "Kels, I've been dating Amelia for over a year and a half, and I've known her for seven years. At that point—" Amelia did a flip in her routine, blowing a kiss to Harrison as she was thrown in the air by her fellow cheerleaders, "should I propose to her?"
"Damn. You're so sure?"
"That and my mother sat me down last night and gave me the family rings, telling me to make some grandkids for her. I personally feel very awkward, even though I know she's only doing this so early because I'm supposed to be dead in ten years max." He pulled out the box with the rings in it, "So now I am asking my best friend for advice."
"Um... maybe the winter formal? If I know anything about Mia, it's that she's a sucker for romance Christmas movies."
"I know that she's obsessed with them. But how should I go about it?"
"No idea, bro, and I would rather not invade any minds to learn. But this is your moment to shine, Harry."
Amelia started another routine, and she was the only one to not look tired. It was impressive how she could keep going—but she was a superhero, and her power as a witch was her speed and endurance.
Harrison coughed, coming from deep within his chest, meaning he needed to use his vest soon, "It's nice, knowing I'm going to live to at least 45 and all, but I'm still working on a cure because this sucks."
"I don't doubt it," Kelly took a moment to cheer for Amelia, turning back to Harrison, "And for the record, I'm gonna be your best man."
"You think that was a question? I better be yours too."
"I mean, I've been having weird dreams of my best man being a goat, so unless you're a goat in my subconscious..."
"I swear, Kels, if you elope and your best man is a goat, I'm gonna be so pissed. At least elope with Dorian because you two are practically married anyway."
"Huh?! I'm not married to Dorian."
"You live together, go to dinner together, do very little apart, and sometimes bicker like an old married couple. Not to mention the more-than-friends behaviors."
"So? Amelia and I were the same way for over a decade, and she's basically my sister. I'm just good friends with Dorian."
Harrison shrugged, "If you say so. I only ask because people have started talking, thinking you two are..."
"Oh. Well, when have I ever cared about rumors? Besides, Alexandrina is in the picture now."
"Who's Alexandrina?" Maegan appeared next to them, making Kelly jolt, "Is she important to Dorian?"
Kelly smirked a little, deciding to lie. Nobody had to know Alexandrina was a baby if they were careful. "Yup. She's the most important girl in Dorian's life, she might even move in with him."
"O-Oh. I may have to meet this harlot trying to steal my beloved and make her regret being born." She stomped off, and Kelly rolled his eyes, going into her head, and for the sake of everyone decided to attempt planting thoughts in her head. So he made her accept Dorian wasn't into her.
He grinned a bit at the power he felt, doing that, and not killing someone. He then rolled his eyes,
"Oh, Maegan, nothing makes you regret being born more than being the child of Regina Blackwell. Poor Alexandrina...or maybe we should start calling her Alexa."
Harrison chuckled, "I assume you just messed with her mind?"
"You know me so well."
"Regardless, Dorian has his scythe, and Maegan actually has parents who fact check. We should be fine." The announcement went off saying the pep rally was over, people cheered for the mascot, and Amelia bounded over to them,
"Kels, can you take the amulet for patrol tonight? The girls and I are gonna go to iHop to celebrate."
"Sure, have fun, Mia." She subtly slipped him the amulet, kissed Harrison, and ran back to her fellow cheerleaders. Kelly turned to Harrison,
"So, Harry, have I ever taken you flying before."
...
Amelia enjoyed her food and listened to the other cheerleaders' gossip. She usually hated the rumors, since more often than not, they concerned her or her family being in a cult or something—not entirely wrong, but still not something she had enjoyed being picked on for. But it was getting better since both Dorian and Kelly had returned safe and sound.
This was also useful since Macy had taken up being the cheerleading coach and was acting as a spy—but Regina was incorrect in Macy's real alliances—and served as a messenger between Amelia and her sisters.
"So, Macy, has Mother done anything about Dorian's stunt yet?"
"Not that I'm aware of. Whatever Dorian did, disconnected Maryalice from her Blackwell heritage and Regina's grasp. She might try to get revenge, though."
"What are you two talking about?" Christine asked, "We gotta discuss your wedding!"
"Huh?"
Juliet brightened, "There's a rumor that Harrison might propose soon!"
Amelia wondered how that rumor came to be. While she wasn't against the idea, she had Harry hadn't really talked about the future for anything except wondering what had happened to make time travelers come to visit. Besides, Kelly was the "go big or go home" type for this kind of thing, where little makes sense, but it's still great. But Harrison was quieter about stuff like this, and usually timid about making the first move.
Of course, if she did marry Harrison, she'd have to renounce her immortality first, since she didn't want to watch him grow old and die while she remained young.
She'd planned to do it anyway when aging stopped, but then Kelly became immortal, and things grew strange. But if she really was going to get married...
She shook it off. Who am I kidding? It's doubtful Harry's gonna propose soon, so why worry about that now? For now, pancakes and listening to gossip.
The moment was ruined by the sound of screams.
"Oh no," both she and Macy said in synch and groaned when they saw part of the city was once again up in flames. At least they were normal flames this time.
Amelia saw at least ten of her sisters fighting Dorian, and Blue Jay was helping him. She cursed and quickly pressed a button on her watch to create a suit made from the combined efforts of Harry and Dorian. She took off into the air, grabbing Blue Jay and hiding briefly so she could give him the watch, and he could give her the amulet. Then they jumped back into action, seeing Harrison was on this rooftop too, finally putting his portable death ray to use.
"Misfit!" Sparrow called, "Where's Alexandrina?"
"Safe with Dad," was the response as Misfit dodged a blow of electricity to the head. White Sparrow quickly noticed he was on the defensive, not planning to attack unless needed.
Kelly used the bow and arrow to attack, blocking some blows and attacking with others, backflipping with the same grace as he did years ago.
Harrison jumped back to Sparrow, "Are we going for the kill? Because these are your sisters, who won't stay in prison."
"I don't know. Hopefully, we can scare them away. Only kill if there is no other choice."
"Maybe," he whipped out a device that gave him claws like Wolverine, "Kels can," he coughed while deflecting a blow, "make them sleep!"
"That's a good idea!" Sparrow flew over to Kelly, kicking one of her sisters along the way, "Kels, make them sleep!"
"Uh... I can try? I'm only just starting to influence people with my powers," he tried, and Marco dropped dead, "I can't!" He then jolted, and Sparrow gasped as Kelly clutched his head and screamed, crystalline wings ripping from his back. Then his eyes rolled into the back of his head, and he collapsed, the scar on his wrist glowing brightly because Maggie had been holding his wrist while he had been distracted, and forced power in, causing his body to short circuit.
Sparrow used her throwing knives and threw Maggie off the building, and saw the exact moment Dorian saw red, going from defensive to offense in a matter of milliseconds, his movements becoming a death dance as he spun and whirled.
It was over within seconds. All their opponents, except Maggie, were dead just like that.
But what also happened...
Harrison dropped to the ground, having gotten part of Dorian's scythe through both lungs. He was dead in moments.
"No!" Sparrow detransformed, and a semi-conscious Kelly was helped up by Dorian, who didn't notice what had happened.
"Harry..." Kelly whispered, a bought of exhaustion leaving him unable to support himself, so he was being held by Dorian, who had paled.
"I-I..."
"Harry, come on, wake up! Please!" Amelia screamed as she realized Tazri had been right all along. Being with Harry would put him in danger, and now he was gone.
Makane appeared with a grim expression, bending down beside her bawling younger sister and weakened surrogate brother, "I am so sorry this happened."
"It's not... your fault."
"Maybe not, but perhaps I can make it right."
Amelia's eyes widened as she realized what Makane was going to do as the witch hugged Kelly, even though he was drifting in and out of awareness.
"Why are you...?" Amelia asked, and Makane smiled,
"I know how close you all are. And for him giving you both shelter, I owe him. Take care of each other for me."
She bent down beside Harrison's corpse and started murmuring a spell under her breath. Amelia was too stunned to react while Dorian was holding a crying and drained Kelly as Makane shed a tear, starting to glow before her body turned to ash, which left upon the breeze into the sands of dust and darkness. That remaining light entered Harrison, who started coughing,
"Harry!"
Harrison blinked a few times, but he was still breathing weirdly as he sat up. Then he started crying, yet also smiling.
"I can breathe," he announced, and at the confused look from Amelia, he grabbed her shoulders, laughing, "I can breathe! It's so easy!"
Then it dawned on her. Harry had been stabbed in the lungs, and Makane gave her life to heal him, giving him her immortality. Because she was over three hundred years old, her body was reduced to nothing.
But Harrison's cystic fibrosis was gone.
Dorian started crying both in guilt and fear as Kelly passed out.
Amelia didn't hesitate to pick up Harrison and did her best not to look at Dorian and the bloodshed he had caused, but sighed when she remembered it wasn't really his fault. It was the curse's fault.
But regardless, she still felt nervous around him, knowing they had to break that curse fast.
OoOoO
Kelly was being monitored while he slept, and Dorian wouldn't leave his side, waiting nervously and rereading the note he had found in Makane's place.
Dear Kelly,
If you're reading this, I yielded my immortality for you or a friend of yours. I've been working to gain Mother's trust, and I have a potential lead on how to break the curse.
In the Dark Realm, there is a kingdom formerly ruled by the Enchantress known as Iku. She has a stone, much like the six currently known, but it is unknown what the nature of hers is. Find it, and it may be Tanzanite with the power of restoration.
Take care, kids, and don't die.
Makane
Dorian sighed, knowing he had to hurry. If this didn't work, he would have to avoid Kelly at all costs and forcefully isolate himself. But would forced isolation even work with his powers?
He still couldn't believe he'd been so careless and let Harry get caught in the crossfire. He could tell that, because of his actions, Mia was debating leaving Harrison to protect him. Harry had been begging, insisting he was okay with danger.
He put the letter down and turned to Alexandrina in a bassinet. For his father's safety, Dorian had begged Ryan to return to his travels, saying he didn't want to risk hurting him. Sadly, this meant he was now alone with the witchling he had kidnapped. He picked her up,
"Alexandrina, I'm sorry I dragged you into this. I thought Regina would want you back, but I was wrong." She wasn't listening, too busy looking at the ceiling fan. Even if she was, she was barely six months old, so she wouldn't understand. "But I won't hurt you as long as I have my mind. You're safe for now."
Amelia came in, looking at Kelly with sad eyes,
"Any change?"
"No." He looked up, "Mia, is this Dark Realm thing doesn't work, I want you to lock me up and kill me if needed."
"Dorian, isn't that—"
"I killed your boyfriend, and your sister gave her life to bring him back! Kelly got hurt, and I wanted to kill, craved the feeling of blood on my hands. I'm getting too dangerous, and since I can no longer trust my body to not turn on me if I need to kill myself, I'm trusting you to finish me off. And I can't have Kelly living with me anymore, for his own sake."
Amelia sighed, "Fine, Dorian, I'll do it."