Chapter THIRTY-SIX: Unwanted Despair-TALIA
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For the next hour Aydan packed and unpacked, swept and dusted, and went through many different magical and non-magical objects that belonged to his father that he had not seen for nearly seven years since his parents deaths. Part of him wanted to throw all of it away after what happened to them; but as painful as they were, these things also brought back many wonderful memories.
Aydan blocked his mind of any sad thoughts as he went about his tasks, and began to riff through the remaining items eager to finish, now motivated to hurry for dinner and help Talia if he could get done sooner.
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After a couple more hours, and a few more distracting visits from Dameon, Aydan turned to the tiny dreary room that his father had designated for his mother belongings before she died. Most of which were potions and spells, but he dreaded going inside to sort through them as it still pained him seeing them.
He closed the door to prevent Dameon from coming in as a precaution, and relaxed after realizing that it was a lot less stuff than he remembered.
Only a few boxes of books, vials, and a large empty cauldron remained. Perhaps, things Talia and he could use at some point, he thought optimistically. Yet, guilt from the love potion he had made, consumed him as he began looking through the old vials of what were now useless fluids, which he was still wary of touching, despite being part warlock and knowing that most were harmless.
The sad thought that he would never really know if Talia had loved him before the potion came to him again as it had so many times before; truths taken away by fate and bad decisions.
He felt like a coward for not telling her the truth, for making the potion in first place, and for not being able to tell her even now after proposing. "Maybe...maybe, years from now, I will tell her," he murmured to himself, then thinking it best to forget it ever happened.
Though, as he disposed of or saved some of the vials, halfway through the potions, he spotted a smaller wooden box within a larger one.
He opened it expecting to see an expired restorative or ingredient. However, inside, was a potion. The all too familiar bubble pink potion which had controlled him for so long, and had defeated him every time, now rested on his lap.
Aydan froze to a still panicked halt, unsure if it still worked. He wondered enraged why his father would have kept such a potion in his house; but perhaps, it was overlooked after his mother's death. Though, seeing it here, now, didn't make sense to him.
His skin went pale and cold as he checked the enticing potion, suddenly feeling as though he would fight or kill to hold it. After a moment of deliberating, he closed his eyes and hid the potion in his robes, attempting to forget it, and deciding to tell Talia if he were to think of doing anything more with it.
"Husband, dinner," Talia called and appeared happily at the door with Dameon, who already was chewing on a piece of bread.
"My love...I just need a minute...Please," Aydan blurted as he thought of telling her, but couldn't. He managed to gain his composure and followed his family to the dining table.
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At the table, Aydan managed to forget the contents of his pocket. They ate in peace together, like always.
The air was warm and dreamy as they finished their meal.
"Tal, I will make us a treat…Dinner was wonderful, my love," he said as he got up to help her put away the leftover roasted venison flanks and buttery corn and carrots.
"Oh, a treat?...Hm, how about cookies?" Talia said. "I do not want anything difficult."
"...Hah, perhaps I shall bake our son in them. Children and cookies, an old favorite, you know," he said a witches' joke, now nearly having forgotten all his troubles.
Talia chuckled. She looked out to the window, however, and realized that her time was limited. The sun was close to setting and she would need to leave for the Dreamworld, despite wanting to stay rather than fulfill her duties.
"Actually, Aydan, I think that I will not have time to help bake…" Talia said as she yawned. "Perhaps, something to drink to help me get over my sleepiness would help, love?"
Aydan gulped from the thought of her request. "My love, would you like wine or tea?" he said unwillingly too eager to make her a beverage.
"I think I want...coffee," she replied, feeling fatigue setting in from the lack of sleep.
"This late? Coffee!" Aydan questioned, as his hand ran over his robe's pocket, now wanting to tell the truth; but instead, he turned to brew her drink.
It took him a few minutes to make it. He used his staff to heat the water. His hands shook nervously as he forced himself to stop thinking about the potion. Although the mixture he was stirring was boiling hot, he closed his eyes as he reached for the potion.
He opened them again when he tipped the vial over the cup. A small drop hit the dark brown surface; the usual inadequate amount he had given her so long ago. But for some reason, his hand leveled the whole bottle upside down, mixing the rest of the nearly full love potion bottle with the drink, making the fluid inside rise to the very top.
Aydan reluctantly smirked. He had made his choice. It would be easier to find an antidote than to risk telling her and ruining their happiness, he told himself out of desperation.
Talia walked up to him when she saw him holding her cup. She smiled warmly as she took her drink.
"Talia…" Aydan sniveled low. A slow tear ran down his cheek, but she was already drinking the tepid coffee at an unusually fast pace to notice. He looked over at Dameon as she drank, having been unaware that he was there beside them watching his mother consume her tainted drink.
"…Aydan…I feel strange," Talia said beginning to wobble. Dameon saw his mother try to stay up and went to her. "Aydan, your eyes! I LOVE YOU! MARRY ME NOW! I NEED YOU! YOU'RE MINE AND ONLY MINE AND NO ONE ELSES! SUN PRIEST, ARE YOU NOT LISTENING?!" Talia pouted and yelled hysterically.
She looked down at Dameon who was standing close to his father now. Dameon tilted his head to the side in confusion from her abrupt yelling.
All of a sudden, she dropped the cup. It shattered all over the stone floor. She pulled Aydan towards her, knocking the boy over as she went. Dameon fell hard and cut his hand on a shard of porcelain.
Dameon crawled back unable to comprehend why and began to whimper.
"Mammy?...Mamma?"
"GET THAT BRAT AWAY! AYDAN, LOVE, I NEED YOU!" Talia continued, completely out of it, unaware of what she had done to her own son.
Aydan attempted to get to Dameon, but she shoved him in a jealous fit, when he tried. Out of extreme worry and fear for them all, he raised his staff, "Sleep!" the spell came to him.
Talia's knees bent forward and back, head slumping backwards. Her eyes shut with stun.
Aydan grabbed her before she fell to the floor.
Her unfastened engagement ring tumbled to the ground next to Dameon.
Dameon looked at it in shock and then to his father's staff. He had seen his father use that spell when he was about to kill a monster many, many times before.
"DADDY! DADDY!" the boy screamed and cried. He helplessly beat as hard as he could on his father's shins. "MOMMMMY?!"
Aydan remained still, taking in what he had just done to his Beloved as Dameon screeched from horror, "...Son, calm down…Mummy…just needs a nap," he finally said to calm him down. "...We all need a nap."
"…Nap?! Mammy, sleep?!" Dameon whimpered, a little relieved, "Nap… I want nap, too."
"Yes, we all need a nap," Aydan repeated over as he picked up Talia and the boy followed.
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Talia slept soundly without even a wince. Dameon snuggled beside her and pinched her a few times to wake her up before he too fell asleep.
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Aydan sat at the bed's edge, wishing he had told the truth. His hands covered his face from shame. Their plans for marriage and moving would have to wait. They would have to return to the castle for now so that he could work on an antidote.
The only person that could help him with potions lay motionless. He would have to make an antidote on his own.
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Later, when she woke, Talia found herself in the Dreamworld, unsure of what was happening. She thought of only one person and nothing else.
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Special Scene
The listless wind howled in an unknown territory, high up in the mountains, under the zenith of the night's gleaming full blood moon. A demon had traveled the lands in search of inheriting great power.
By killing the unsuspecting weak and innocent to regain strength, and for pure despicable enjoyment, his power grew despite the years it's taken...And so too did his wicked desires.
But not alone-yes, with an accomplice-he has found a few good allies, recruited in secret those who wished for dark rewards and deeds.
"Sire, at long last the creature has agreed to hand over the relic," a voice whispered.
"Excellent, excellent! We shall soon reverse the stone's effects to create more forces-Cover the lands with demons, will be my first conquest. Such excellent news! Mwahahaha!" the demon spewed, but stopped as a serious chilling smirk dressed his pruned face."...They, my percious minions, all of them, shall no longer be expelled from this place, and will be of great advantage to facilitate my coming triumphant return. Terror shall spread upon this weak and foolish world. All the lands will rock into the sea with our powers."
"Yes, I have been at hard work to accomplish your wishes, Sire…However, it was not easy, my lord...Secubus wanted children to please her appetite this time. The filthy little pests did not even know what hit them when I lured them to her," the voice cackled coldly, then stopped and was serious again. "…But my lord…we should not be so swift yet. You…you are not strong enough despite my best magic...and I am but a subordinate follower…If I am found…It must NOT happen!-The relic may not suffice against the mortals attacks and all could be lost.-The Child…we have years to destroy her. We must be patient in order to succee-"
"Nonsense! I will have my way! Too much time has gone by already... None shall suspect you-of all people. I, Lord of All, yearn for my revenge and for what was once mine: THE WORLD IS MINE! Muahahahaha!" the demon declared wickedly and cackled even harder.
His horrendous mauve face and black oiled wings lifted out of the dark night's shadows and were met by sulking flames of deep crimson. He suddenly turned to face the only other shadow, then murmured a horrible incantation.
"Ahhh!" the voice gasped. "Master… Have merrrccccy on meeee!" the voice wailed from intolerable pain. "My…my arm! Pleaseee…it was only a mere suggestion to wait!"
"Silence! I will not be content until their 'highnesses' have fully paid their debt in slow and painful deaths, of course!"
"...As...as...you wish...Your way it shall be...So long as I get what I have lost...You will give me what I want..." the voice said meekly with some obvious doubt.
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End of Part 4