HELLO MY BEAUTIFUL HUMANS!
My update schedule is fucked and I have no fucks to give to fix it lol I hope that is alright with everyone. I'm legit just writing when I feel like writing and going by stories or ideas I feel like writing. Atm, the stories I feel like writing are my new Soulmate AU, this one, The Wizard and the Huntress, and Even Ink Roses Have Thorns. So look out for updates on those!
If you follow any of my other stories though, I'm sorry but they might be put on the back burners for now.
ANYWAY! I hope you guys enjoy this update and much love to ya! Hope your day ends up going well for ya!
I swallowed hard as I watched Claire who was putting another sign into the ground with a soft cough.
It has been a few days since she had made the portal.
I felt my face fall as she just continued on like the cough wasn't persisting and that the tired look on her face wasn't concerning.
But it seemed to be eating at her since the moment started.
I closed my eyes as the images of her veins turning black and the ink-black look in her eyes.
And I couldn't help but worry about it every moment I was awake. It was starting to haunt me when I sleep.
I noted the warming on my chest as I opened my eyes and looked over toward the sickened sorcerous next to me.
But she was persistent on the idea that nothing was wrong.
I doubt it.
"Jim." I gave her a surprised look as she looked over toward me with a curious look. "You're staring again." I gave her a soft look as she turned her attention back before her. "I told you a million times that I'm okay. It's just a cold."
Just a cold that miraculously appeared after I refused to leave your side when you fucking nearly died but you know nothing major.
"I know." I let out a soft sigh as I knew fighting against her would be as difficult as reasoning with myself in a way. "But I can't help but worry."
"I know." I kept my eyes on her as she turned her attention toward me again. Her hand reached out and took my free one with ease as we continued walking down the street. The campaign signs tucked away under my right arm as I tried my best to keep my left hand in hers. "But you trust me, right?"
"More than anything." I squeezed her hand a little as I glanced down at the signs under my arms. "At least your mom's signs are working in our favor. The ruins we were able to put on them keeping the Gum-Gums at bay is a blessing with all that's going on."
"You're changing the subject, Jim." I gave her a sheepish smile as she just smirked in reply.
"Wonderful weather, right?"
"Jim."
"Sorry." I gave her a sheepish look as I just rubbed the back of her hand in reply. "I just-." I swallowed hard as I looked down at our joint hands. "I just don't need to be losing you or anything." I felt her squeeze my hand tightly as I had my attention pulled away from our hands and back up toward her once more. She gifted me with a soft smile as she brought us to a stop suddenly before moving in close to me and placing a small peck on my cheek.
"You won't lose me, Jim. I'm okay."
"If you say so." I gave her a soft smile as we started turning back onto the path once more. "But I'm going to keep an eye out on you." Claire just giggled a little in reply before sniffling a little.
"I don't expect anything less from you, mi amor." I looked at her with wide eyes as she just looked out before her as if she hadn't said anything at all. But in reply to her silent declare, my face flushed and the crystal on my chest burned in reply. I felt my heart flutter in my chest as I tried my best to ignore the words as my brain seemed to completely ignore my worries for a moment.
Mi amor, huh?
I smiled as my blushing face made it hurt a little to do so.
I love you too, Claire. I love you too.
"How about this house?" We stopped suddenly as Claire's hand slipped out of mine to place another sign into the lawn. "Blinky said every six feet, right?"
"Yeah, I guess so. This should be far enou-."
"HEY! Get that damned thing out of my lawn!" Claire and I whipped our heads toward the man that was now barging out of his house.
"Oh sorry, sir." I looked over to Claire who instantly jumped into character with ease. A smile plastering on her face nearly made her sickness unnoticeable to the naked eye. "We're just putting these signs up for my mother's re-election. If you want Arcadia to be safe, pick Nuñez, as she would say."
"Well keep her trash out of my yard."
"Excuse me, sir." I stepped up beside Claire as I place an arm protectively around her. "What exactly is the problem? It's just a sign. You could have just asked nicely and we would just carry on."
"Well as in the idea that she's my rival, I rather not be reminded of her as much as I can." He pulled the sign up from the lawn that Claire had already set in. He tossed it at our feet before turning around and making his way back into his house with a huff.
"Huh." I felt the word out with a sigh before dropping my arm from around Claire so I could pick up the sign. "That was special." Claire went back to her normal self with ease as she just shrugged in reply.
"I never met Mr. Hammes until now, but I can gladfully say I will never want to meet him again." I chuckled at Claire's reply before she sneezed. "Good God I hope this cold blows over." I just chuckled in reply as I grabbed out a workshop rag from my small collection I gathered and handed it over to her. I figured with her cold that it might be good to keep a few on hand for her.
"I hope so too." She took the rag with a smile before swiping it under her nose with her left hand. As she did so, I took her right and had us start heading back down the street. "How about we just skip this one? A little bit of a distance won't hurt anyone, right? The faster we get this done, anyway, the sooner you can get some rest."
"Jim. I'm fine."
"I'm your boyfriend. Let me baby you, damn it." She just giggled in reply as she pocketed the rag I gave her.
"Don't jump me then when I end up doing it right back, sooner or later." I just chuckled in reply as I smiled toward her.
As long as there's a sooner or later, I'll take it.
I handed Claire a new rag for the day as she sneezed for probably the millionth time that morning.
"Claire, your cold is getting worse." She just went about cleaning herself up a little before pocketing the rag and pulling out a small thing of hand sanitizer from her bag. "Are you sure you don't want a break? A night off at least?"
"I told you," She started to rub her hands together to get the sanitizer where she needed it to be. "I'm fine, Jim."
"You keep saying that, but I can tell it's getting to you." I sighed as I adjusted my school bag across my chest so I could lean next to the locker by hers. "You need to get some rest. I know you say that you can handle yourself, but you're really making me worried, Claire." She closed her locker with a soft click before turning her attention completely toward me and resting her right hand onto my shoulder.
"How about this, huh? I'll take the night off, get a good night's sleep, and go back into the swing of things tomorrow?" I gave her a soft smile as I felt a warm feeling spreading across my chest stemming from both the crystal as well as the gentle gleam in her hazel eyes. My mind still switching back and forth between the ink-black orbs that were still cemented in my memory with the ones before me.
"Yeah. Sounds good." I glanced over toward my left as I heard a small bit of chatter coming beside us. "What's all the fuss about? Got any clue?"
"Honestly? Not a single one." She dropped her hand from my should to instead take my hand in hers as she looked over the crowd with me. "Actually, I think Mary said that an academy kid was transferring here. Maybe everyone is fussing over them or something?" I shrugged at it as she started pulling me away from her locker and started heading over toward the direction of our first hours. But before we could get too far, Claire sneezed and went to cover it, yet ended up dropping her books in reply. I released my hand from hers and started picking up her few books that fell to the floor nearly instantly, but I stopped as I noticed another set of unfamiliar hands aiding me in the endeavor.
"Nice to see someone else has a heart here." I looked up toward the source of a soft chuckle to see a black and indigo-haired punk smiling at me. His full British accent making it rather known that he was a bit more different than anyone else I've encountered before. "Nice to meet ya, mate." I gave him a curious look as I just him a simple nod and got up to my feet to give Claire her books I grabbed. "Nice to meet you too, love." The punk gave Claire a wide smirk as he handed her the book and folder he gathered for her as well.
Oh fucking no you don't.
"Hi." I looked over toward Claire to see she was giving the fellow punk a sweet smile. One much unlike the one she gave her mom's rival the night before. It was genuine. I swallowed hard as the crystal against my chest seemingly screamed in reply to the situation.
At least I know that it's not just a me thing then if the crystal is feeling it too.
I swallowed hard as I adjusted my jacket to make sure the crystal's resting place was covered. If I knew anything about having it for as little as I have, the thing likes to cause a light show when it really wants to and right now is not the time for my jealousy to decide to make a rave party under my shirt.
"The name's Douxie." The dude was sly as he gave her a lopsided smile and presented his hand toward her. "But you must be a breath of fresh air since you blew me away."
I swear on all that is holy, I feel like beating this dude already.
I snapped my attention toward Claire as she gifted the taller boy with a giggle.
"Claire's just fine. Nice to meet you." I just watched like a fool as she took his hand with ease and the boy proceeded to take it and kiss the back of it like some kind of wanna-be knight from the Camelot era.
"No, the pleasure is all mine."
That's enough.
I instinctively wrapped my free arm around Claire's shoulders as I let out a soft cough to remind the bastard of my presence.
"Not to break the nice greetings, but huh," I cleared my thought as I slipped my left hand into my jeans pocket and tried my best to keep my cool. "What brings you to Arcadia Oaks High?"
"Got sick and tired of the scruffy uptight classmates of mine I had in the academy. That's all." He gave the both of us a lopsided smile as just put his hand into his hoodie pockets. "But you know my name, a little unfair that you're asking me questions and I don't even know yours in return."
"Jim. Jim Lake Junior." A knowing look came over the man's face as he seemed to understand something more than I was.
"Well, Jim, nice to meet you." His smile just widened as he gave me and Claire a soft wave. "I'm sure I'll see the two of you around." I gave him a curious look as he turned and made his way off toward wherever he was heading. Only two thoughts ringing in my mind as I pulled Claire close to my side.
What in the hell is that dude's deal?
I glanced over toward Claire who was giving me a knowing look as well.
And I'm not jealous.
Right?
"You're jealous."
"I'm not jealous."
"A cool accent-wielding punk dude that's older, seemingly six foot something, and a little bit older? Don't forget the fact that he has almost every girl swooning over his ass?" Toby chuckled as we walked down the main street of Arcadia. "I would be jealous too." I gave him a pout as we stopped so I could check the sign Claire and I put at the next random house.
"I'm not jealous, Tobes."
"It's okay to be jealous, dude. It's natural. Hell, I would be jealous too." Toby slugged me in the shoulder as I knelt down to check the ruins on the back of the sign. "Your powers come from your emotions anyway, so why fight it, dude?"
"Isn't it an ugly emotion though?" I stood back up as I dusted off my knees for what felt like the hundredth time that night so far. "Vendel used to tell me that the ugly ones are the ones that I would be vulnerable to as the Eclipse. Isn't this just telling me that I'm treading the line or something?"
"I think it means your still human even everything going on, ya know? That you're still a normal person underneath the magical armor and daddy issues." I gave him a half-hearted glare as I moved to join his side again.
"You know, when you speak like that it makes me think at the beginning that you're going to be sincere, and then you just have to balance it out with a statement to counteract that, huh?"
"Would I still be Toby if I wasn't a prink every once in a while?" My best friend gave me a toothy grin as I just rolled my eyes in reply.
"No, I guess not, huh?" For a moment Toby kept his toothy grin on his face, but all of a sudden, a more sincere look took over as he reached out and placed a hand on my left shoulder.
"It's okay to feel things, dude. Even if it's not the kindest or prettiest emotions. They're still emotions. It's what makes life worth living, ya know? If life was just walking around numbly to everything, then what's the point? Right?" I just stared at Toby for a moment as the short boy instantly went defensive. "Hey! Don't look at me like that! I can be actually sincere when I want to be!" I just smiled at the boy as I shook my head with a soft chuckle.
"It's not that."
"Then what is it then?" I just smiled at him before turning my attention back toward the sidewalk as we both continued our way to check the neck sign.
"Just thinking how lucky I am to have you as a friend, is all." I didn't have to glance over toward the smaller boy as he joined my side once more to know a bright shining smile was gracing the red head's face. Until at one point, he seemed to just give me a curious look as we continued down the main path.
"Hey, since all of this stemmed from Claire and everything, do you think she's getting any better? Her cough has been getting worse, at least from what I noticed." I swallowed hard as I just slipped my hands into my jacket as I tried my best to stay calm despite the worry swirling within me.
"Honestly? I thought it was all in my head a little. She keeps saying that she's okay, but I don't know if I believe her."
"Do you-." I turned my attention toward Toby as he gave me a soft look before turning his own attention toward the concrete sidewalk. "Do you think it's stemming from the portal? She was okay beforehand." I felt my mouth run dry as pulled my eyes away from him and looking down toward the sidewalk myself.
"I don't know, Tobes." It felt bitter, saying words that I couldn't really believe as I tried my best to not let my true fears show. As if I actually showcased my emotions and thoughts, that they would be true. "I hope not though. We have enough issues on the magic front."
"That you're right on, dude." Toby gave a broken laugh as he spoke his last set of words for the night. "That you're right."
"Are you sure?" I gave Dr. L a curious look as she just nodded at me once more.
"All your tests came back normal. Nothing looks out of sorts." I swallowed hard as she just simply put down the file she now had on me onto the coffee table between us. "You're physically just a normal healthy teenager. Your body did go through a lot of turmoil. Maybe it's a defense mechanism. Like your body is reacting as if there's something that needs to be removed, but there isn't any." I nodded along to her words as I tried my best to stay calm.
Makes sense. Especially after that dream.
I mentally shook myself out of my thoughts as I did my best to not make it obvious.
Not now, Nuñez. Not. Fucking. Now.
"Besides that though," I snapped my attention back toward Barbara as a soft smile graced her lips. "How are you and Jim? How are things outside of everything?" I smiled at the thought as I just pushed my worries aside to answer her.
"We're good. Better than good, honestly." I gave her a genuine smile as I continued. "Set for I can tell he's getting jealous a little."
"Jealous? By what means?"
"There was a new guy at school who introduced himself to us after I dropped a couple of things. He and Jim helped me gather everything back up again, but it was obvious Jim didn't care for how he was talking to me. It was sweet, really." Barbara just smiled at that and shook her head a little.
"That's my boy. Just, don't be hesitant to put him in place, alright? He's a good kid, but he gets in his own head a lot. He might need to be reassured at times."
"Oh most definitely. I've seen it happen a few too many times already." We shared a soft laugh as she just gave me a curious look in reply.
"Kinda hard to not love him still, right?" I felt a small blush appear on my cheeks as I nodded in reply.
"Yeah." I smiled softly as I let the rest of my reply fall from my lips. "Love him."
"Alright, I'm prescribing to you to get some rest. I'm coming to the conclusion that you just need a bit more sleep and some steadiness for a little bit. No trollhunting, no late-night study sessions, just some decent sleep and a good eating schedule for a few days, alright?" I nodded my head once more as I got up to my feet.
"Thank you again, Dr. L. Means a lot."
"No problem, Claire." She gave me a sweet smile as she gathered up my file. "And please, call me Barbara."
"Alright. Thank you." I hesitated for a moment as I stopped myself from saying 'Dr. L' again. "Barbara." Her smile seemed to brighten ten times more as I gave her a soft wave and made my way out of her house we were meeting in.
You're good and healthy.
I shot the front door to her house behind me as I just stood on the front porch for a moment.
But then why am I always having these nightmares? Why all of a sudden after making that portal?
My thoughts kept ragging within my head as I readied myself up to bike my way home.
And why do I feel as if they're a lot more important than I think?
I placed my right foot on the right pedal as I adjust my helmet for a second.
Because we all know that the Eternal Night is coming. That's for sure.
But having dreams of releasing a witch whose laugh is haunting me even when I'm awake?
I pushed off and set down the road as my last set of thoughts echoed within my head.
What if it means that I'm the source for the Eternal Night?
What if these are not just dreams?
What if this? This idea. This illness. These nightmares. These voices.
Is the source of my destiny.