Chapter 2: Twilight of the Nightmare
Lincoln slowly woke up. As soon as he was able to open his eyes, his mind was filled with all that happened. Lucy, Leni. He felt so empty despite the storm of feeling in his heart.
"Feeling better?" asked a mature female voice. It was, for some reasons, comforting for Lincoln.
He took a good look at her. She was a slender woman with pale skin. Her long dark hair was let loose, giving the illusion that it was flooding. Lincoln didn't respond kindly to her hand coming to rest on his head. He slapped it away, under the illusion that it was Lucy. He searched for his sword with his eyes. "What are you doing? I'm just trying to help you here." calmly claimed the woman. The eyes of the fallen Duke crossed those of the woman. "You're not Lucy?" he finally asked. But it felt like he was realising it. "No I'm not. Don't you remember me?" she asked. Lincoln just tilted his head, "I've been taking care of you for over a month now!" Lincoln had a gentle smile, " Sorry." She sighed, looking at him. "I shouldn't be surprised, you were in a horrible condition after all."
Lincoln had his eyes lost in hers. A minute, that felt like an eternity for Lilith, passed before she called him. "Hey, are you listening to me?" The white hair boy blinked before excusing himself, "What were you saying?" Lilith rolled her eyes before repeating, "So,I suggested that we reintroduced ourselves"
"I am Lincoln Loud, the Duke of the Loch." He raised his hand, waiting for her to take it. Lilith looked at it for a while, and shook it. "Lilith Clawthorn." She found herself smiling at him, while Lincoln was already smiling. "Your hand is so soft." he said, before gasping, "Sorry!" Lilith just giggled. "Thank you." she answered softly. The two new friends left the room together, in a weird comfortable silence.
Lucy was watching from afar the funeral of Leni. Instead of sadness, her eyes were filled with anger. "I should have known that he would survive." she growled. She grabbed a glass of red wine and threw it at the door, which opened right after. Lucy let a breath of rage out. "What do you want Lynn?" she hissed. "You should know that your magic tricks don't work on me Luce." Lynn made her way over to the window, " Now, it's kind of surprising how you messed up that…Project of yours." Lynn looked at Lucy, a hint of malice in her eyes. But Lucy remained unfazed. "After all, I wasn't the one called the 'man with the plan'." Lucy took place next to her sister. "How did you do it?" asked Lynn, not looking at her sister. "I staged it, like those Netflix movies. But when I killed Leni? He lost it. I underestimated his rage potential." the Demon Queen explained. "Luce, Luce, Luce. That's the thing, Lincoln always had this rage inside of him." Lynn turned her back to the window, crossing her arms under her chest. "I built it." Lucy looked at Lynn.
Then something hit her. "You didn't freak out about…" But Lynn finished for her. "You? You're my sister Luce. I heard your late night conversations with Lucille. And I don't know, I just kinda expected this to happen." she explained, pointing at Lucy. "No matter what, I'll always be by your side, Luce." Lucy let Lynn's words sink in. "No matter what?" she asked in a whisper. "No matter what." replied calmly Junior. Lucy looked deep inside the eyes of her sister. And she smiled. "My dear sister, I'll make a princess of War out of you." Lucy vowed, spreading her wings. Lynn kneeled in front of her, head low. Lucy took a silver viking axe for her sister from a huge chest. The axe had only one huge blade with a tribal three-headed dragon engraved on it. As Lynn took it, she was engulfed in a harmless blue fire. When it died down, she was clad in armor.
It consisted of shoulder protections of bear fur under metal plates, forearms, legs were wrapped in fur too. Lynn's stomach, thighs and upper arms were not covered. A wrapped skirt was around her waist. Her hands were protected by a metal plate and her feet were wrapped in fur boots.
Lynn looked up at Lucy. "Rise dear sister. You will be known as the Iron Queen, Wrath of the North. I trust you to carry my will beyond the Loch." Lynn stood up, "Yes Luce, my Queen." Lucy giggled softly. Putting a hand on Lynn's left cheek, she said, "No need to call me Queen. You're my only equal Lynn. My precious sister." The two sisters joined foreheads, before Lynn kissed Lucy foread. The two sisters then looked at each other. Lucy turned around, gazing at the horizon through the window. "Find our brother. Do whatever it takes but I want him alive." Lynn nodded. As she made her way to the door, Lucy called her, "Burn the land that took him in. As a warning for the future." Lynn looked at her sister, "How?"
Lucy smiled.
Lincoln was smiling. Today he got to meet new friends, Lilith first, then there was her sister Eda, who never missed a chance to remind him that she "didn't trust him." She was a little thicker than Lilith and had a beautiful mop of grey-ish white hair with golden eyes. Despite that, Lincoln liked her. Her apprentice -a young latina with short hair named Luz- made up for it with a warm personality. There was a purple haired 'elf' named Amity, who Lincoln learned very quickly that was in a relationship with Luz. A dark skin and hair elf named Gus and a chubby dark haired elf named Willow. He learned later that they were not elfs but witches.
He took pleasure in being around them, going on adventures and just hanging out. Days after days, he would get closer to each of them, except for Eda. "The most powerful witch of the Boiling Isles" would always watch him, and listen carefully to his stories in the shadows. He tried and failed many times to talk and get her to warm up to him. Until one day.
A year had passed and Lilith found herself alone at home. Her sister and the 'dumb kids' were on an adventure with King, yeah "Another great day alone…Ah!" she screamed of surprise after bumping into Lincoln only in his underwear. "Wow, Lilith! I'm sorry." He rushed to his room, changed and just rested there for half an hour. Lilith let out a breath. She was standing in front of his door for almost five minutes. She finally decided to knock on the door, but as she was about to do so, Lincoln opened the door. "Hey,"said Lilith shyly. She hated it. She was nervous to just have a normal conversation. But there was something in this young man that just made her heart sing. "I'm sorry for earlier, habits die hard you know. Lilith let out a giggle. "Don't worry about that. I already saw more." Lilith put a hand in her hand and blushed. Lincoln smiled, "You're funny." As he touched her arm, both of them shot their eyes wide open. A thrilled invaded them, causing the two to laugh nervously. Lilith then slowly raised a hand with Lincoln mimicking her gesture. Looking into each other's eyes, they touched their hands. And the warm feeling came back stronger. It was like they had already known each other. Slowly, Lilith lost control of herself, giving herself into the feeling. And she kissed Lincoln. It was a quick peck on the lips, but still a kiss. And it was like fireworks, bright and intense. As soon as it came, it vanished. "Wow" was all Lilith could say right now.
Lincoln loved it. His eyes lost themselves in Lilith's. She was a blushing mess and soon lowered her face down, smiling shyly. "Hey," said Lincoln. Lilith looked at him with glitter in her eyes. He gently caressed her cheek before she took his hand, lowered it. Their fingers underwined, she used her free hands to gently touch his face and kissed him for a second time. What was meant to be a tender kiss, became passionate. Lilith let Lincoln's hand go to fully grab his face, her tongue asking for entrance. He let her in. Their tongues were dancing with each other while their hands explored their bodies. The slender woman put her legs around Lincoln as he carried her over the bed. Her chest was freed from her 'low battery' tee-shirt. Lincoln took a look at her tits, which made Lilith a little uncomfortable. But the feeling was quickly forgotten as the white haired young man gave one a gentle kiss. His kisses moved from her boob to her stomach. Then Lincoln took his shirt off, grabbed her leg and gave it a kiss. She let out a giggle and nodded to him. Understanding her, he took off her skirt as she was already bare feet. Her core was burning with desire. She didn't had to wait long as Lincoln kissed her between her thighs. She let out a moan of pleasure, grabbing his head. "Lincoln…" she loudly whispered. So Lincoln removed his pants. Now that both of them were naked, they realised what they were about to do. Lilith's eyes grew wide. She tried to hide her nervousness, but Lincoln caught it. "Hey, it's okay if you don't want to, I kind of get too excited and…" But Lilith didn't let him finish, using her foot to silence him. "Don't worry darling, I'm excited too. Just, be gentle please." Lincoln got the message. He smiled at her and spread her legs. As pleasure invaded her mind, Lilith put her arms around Lincoln, hugging as tight as she could. Lincoln was making love to her slowly, taking a moment to enjoy the feeling of being inside her, to kiss her and caress her body. But hearing her moans was building his hunger for more. So he started to go faster and harder. "Lincoln!" Lilith was surprised at first, but she followed his excitement, her hands now resting on his strong neck. As the minutes passed, Lilith felt something build inside of her, just like Lincoln. "Lincoln, my love I'm about.." She couldn't finish her sentence as she felt Lincoln filling her with his semen while she reached her climax.
The two lovers were now laying side by side, still naked. Lilith's head resting on Lincoln's torso. Lilith had a huge smile. She felt complete. Her mind soon took her to the future, where she saw herself living with Lincoln, kids playing around while she fed a baby. But it vanished suddenly as she remembered one thing. Linocln was away from his home, meaning that he had to return. Meaning that he wouldn't stay here. Lilith felt tears coming with this reality, but with a kiss on the forehead, Lincoln banished them and her smile came back. As foolish as it sounded, it was decided. Lilith will follow Lincoln. She would leave this life behind without hesitation.
And this time, it was Lilith's mother that watched them like a hawk.
Eda was walking back home after a near death experience this morning, once again. Luz and Amity were right behind her, deep in conversation. "Why do you think Eda doesn't trust him?" ask Amity and Luz took a moment to think. "I don't think that it goes beyond that. She hates him." And of course the Owl Lady heard them. "I don't hate him. I just," she groaned. "I know my sister. For years Lilith is a cold hearted witch, even this all sharing the curse didn't change her that much. And then boom! White young man appears and suddenly she's all like, like… Luz! She transformed into a dorkiest version of Luz. She's obsessed with Lincoln. That's what I hate." This made Luz realise something. "Eda, Lilith isn't obsessed. She's in love." remarked Luz. Eda said nothing, she just sighed and walked a little faster.
Away from the Boiling Isles, on the other side of the sea, a small army was walking toward the shore. Lynn was leading it. As she stopped in front of the sea, her feet in the water, she raised her battle axe. A huge three-headed Dragon landed next to her. The beast was made of metal entirely covering a thick black reptile skin. The eyes of the beast were bloody red. While being smaller, another Dragon landed on the other side of LJ. That one was still big, a slender red dragon with yellow eyes. The three-headed Dragon rested on four powerful legs terminated by paws with massive claws and the red one only had two legs. He used his bat-like wings to be on all four. Behind them, there were thousands of dead knights, found in the secret cave where Leni died. Lynn climbed on the red dragon's neck, using one of his horns as a handle. "Prepare for the Lynnsanity brother." And the Dragons took flight while the army charged in the sea. Huge Shadows waiting for them in it.
Laying on his bed alone, Lincoln was still thinking about his morning with Lilith. And of course, the scene was in his mind. In fact, that was almost all he could think about. But despite his young age, Lincoln wasn't naive. It would be foolish to even dream about them going somewhere. Like Lilith he knew he had to go back to the Loch. He would go back. He knew it. But his heart was stubborn. Sighing he walked around the house. He found himself in the room she gave him. His eyes fell on his sword, thus shattering his dreamy thoughts. His smile was gone. He could hear his sisters again.
"Lincoln, you're not losing me. I'll stay forever in your heart."
Lincoln grabbed his sword. He raised it, the fuller resting close to his face as the cross-guard was just under his eyes. A single tear fell from his eye. As he closed his eyes, the memories came flooding his mind.
You're…my he-heroe Linky
He hardened his grip on his sword, more falling down from his closed eyes. Lilith came into his room, "Lincoln?" she called him softly.
Lincoln, what's happening?
Lincoln felt his rage building up, pushed by his pain. "Lincoln snapped out of it!" said Lilith as she began to worry.
Raise that sword, be the hero…
Lilith tried to call for him again in vain. She felt something coming from him. "Lincoln, I'm begging you!" pleaded Lilith. Lincoln wasn't responding. And far away from them, Lucy felt the episode of Lincoln too. And it made her smile.
You're…my hero Linky
"I'm not a hero, I failed you." whispered Lincoln, still in tears. "Lincoln, what are you talking about?" asked Lilith. "Of course you are." added Lilith.
Heroes die Brother. they always do.
Lynn was approaching the shore of the Boiling Isle. Lilith was still calling Lincoln, trying to get him out of his state. Lincoln opened halfway his eyes, seeing the dried blood stain still on his sword's blade.
"You want to join her don't you dear brother." Then he saw Leni fall on the ground, dead. He heard her scream.
He let out a roaring no of agony and raised his sword as he charged Lilith. Time slowed down as everyone watched him raising his weapon, Lilith was frozen. She closed her eyes as the sword was falling down. Everyone else was holding their breath. And the sword sinked in the floor. She opened her eyes to see Lincoln kneeling in front of her. He was facing the floor, not letting go of his sword. "That sister that I talked so much about, Leni. I failed her. I should have protected her. But it was too late. I was paralyzed by fear just like you." Lilith tried to say otherwise but Lincoln didn't listen. "I reacted too late. And she died,"cried Lincoln. Lilith kneeled too and put a hand on his back. For the first time, she was speechless. Lilith had some tears too, she tried to comfort the white haired young man as best as she could. He then let go of his sword. "I'm not worthy of this." And he cried. Her palm was caressing the jaw of Lincoln as he cried in her arms,curled like a baby. Lilith felt teardrops fall from her eyes and she let them, embracing the sadness of her beloved. Of course, it was crazy. Falling in love with a young man, so quickly. But her soul was his, there was no reason to deny it any longer. "I love you Lincoln."
Lincoln looked at her, he kissed her, "I love you too Lilith." smiled sadly Lincoln. Suddenly, the Raven Witch found herself in a tight hug. "I'm sorry." repeated Lincoln in a whisper. "For what?" softly asked Lilith. "She wants me dead. Lucy has found me."
As Eda and the kids exited the city, a powerful roar was heard.
There was a shadow in the sky. Then two. A roar was heard in the sky, a powerful one. People stopped what they were doing, fruits fell on the ground, a kid too. Every soul had their eyes fixing the sky. Waiting. On the shore, kids get back to play in the sand but as two teenagers, that was Gus and Willow, walked in the water, the ground shook. Gus just had the time to push Willow to the side as a huge black metallic hand crushed him. Then thousands of undead knights charged, coming from the water. On a black ram, sitted Scott. He had a black shirt, covered by a silver chestplate that had a red ram head painted on it. The Rest of his armor was light. His helmet didn't hide his face, and two ram horns decorated it. "Bring me the murderer, no matter the cost." As he said that, Lynn smiled, watching the slaughter that was this invasion. The witches and guards were quick to assemble a defence. Hundreds of soldiers fall from the native. But then, a witch scream loudly of pure terror. Standing in front of her, was a giant metallic skeleton with only rotten pieces of armor on him. He had two swords, and in a swing, he crushed her. "Hunt down the traitor." Barked Lynn, jumping from her Dragon, the three-headed one. She landed on the palm of the zombie Guardian Knight. As magic beams were shot at her, Lynn's cheeks were shining with an inverted blue triangle. She laughed at the two young witches. "Come on girls, you'll need to do better than that." And she beheaded the blue haired cyclop who charged at her. The other one, a regular one with deep red hair, tried to run. But Lynn threw her axe, which lodged itself between the shoulder blade of the poor girl. "LINCOLN!" shouted Lynn, "I know you're here, so stop hiding!" she said loudly, cutting in half a young boy witch from head to toe. "Innocent blood shall flow on the ground until you come out." She killed a woman with just a big monster mouth by stabbing her axe in the head of her victim. She beheaded five more and killed dozens after that. And her patience ran out. "That's it! I'll exterminate all of those freaks! Fight me now brother!" she shouted, standing at the top of a pile of corpses. Luz and Amity arrived at the same time. "Something tells me that you two arrived at the right moment." and Lynn charged at them.
"I knew we couldn't trust him." growled Eda. And she ran towards the roars, feathers popping up on her skin. "Eda!" shouted Luz. "Come on." called Amity. And the two girls followed the same path as Eda.
