Authors Notes: Yargh. I keep on making mistakes. X.X; I'll get it right
some day. I promise. Sorry about the mix-up with Chapter two. I didn't
mean to replace Chapter one with Chapter two. I'm still not used to the
system yet. I'm learning it though. And no, this isn't going to turn into
a Cleao/Majic fic. I'm having them react in this manner for a reason.
I'll get to the fluffy romance between Orphen and Cleao later. Just be
patient.
Warnings: Same as before.
"" Conversation
'' Thoughts
// // Letters, passages from a book, etc
{ } Flash back mode
"Majic!" Cleao ran forward and hugged her friend tightly. Before she could stop herself Cleao started to cry. Tears ran down her young face as she lost the remaining control over her already battered emotions. Cleao trusted Majic to understand her enough so that she could cry her heart out in front of him.
"C-cleao.." Sighing softly Majic just wrapped his arms around Cleao holding her close. Cleao buried her head against Majic's shoulder crying even louder than before. 'Cleao I wish you didn't have to go through such pain.' Whispering soft, soothing words Majic rocked Cleao back and forth in his arms gently. "I'm here for you Cleao. Always."
"Thank you Majic." Cleao mummers quietly as soon as she composed herself enough to speak clearly. Moving away from Majic, Cleao wiped the remaining tears from her eyes with her sleeve. "Sorry about that Majic. I didn't mean to get your shirt all wet like that."
"It's ok Cleao. You're going through a tough time. Besides, I can practice one of my new spells on it." Majic decided that before anything else happened he had better get Cleao inside. Taking her hand in his, Majic started to lead the still emotionally upset Cleao towards the house. Blushing slightly at the close contact he started to hurry towards the house. "Mariebella! Cleao's home." Majic yelled out. Helping Cleao climb up the steps, he led her towards the large doors.
Mariebella opened the door to Everlasting Manor as Cleao and Majic reached the last of the front steps. "I'm so glad you're home Cleao. Mother doesn't have much strength left. Please go talk to her now. I know you're tired from your journey, but this is urgent. You go as well Majic. Mother is ready to talk to you as well." Closing the door gently behind her Mariebella turned and faced them. "Follow me." Mariebella escorted Majic and Cleao to the left flight of stairs, then up the Hallway of Memories, and finally stopped at the main bedroom at the end of the West Wing. "She is in here."
"Mother?" Cleao asked hesitantly. Looking around inside the dimly light room she spotted her mother sitting at near the window. Wrapping securely in thick blankets Mrs. Everlasting seemed thin, pale, and fragile. Weak winter sunlight framed her mother, giving her a halo of filtered light. It was creepy.
"Cleao. I'm so glad you could make it in time." Mrs. Everlasting's voice was soft, and she could barely be heard. "I have something important to tell you. This concerns you as well Majic." Cleao rushed to her mother's side and kneeled down before her. Resting her head against her mother's hand Cleao looked up at her mother. Majic knelt down next to Cleao, wondering what she could possibly want with him.
"When I first married your father I never knew that I would get this sick. 12 months after we were married Mariebella was born. Shortly after Mariebella's birth, I got sick for the first time." Suddenly she started to cough violently. Raising her left hand to cover her face, the coughing grew worse. Flecks of blood, and yellow mucus appeared on her hands.
"Mother! You need.." Shaking her head Mrs. Everlasting shushed her daughter. "The doctors said that I would never fully recover. Getting pregnant again would just make my illness worse. So your father and I reached an agreement. We would have no more children." Cleao's eyes grew large with shock. "After that was agreed upon your father started to take business trips that took him far from home. The business trips grew longer and longer." Turning her head so that she could stare out of the window, Mrs. Everlasting drew deeper into her memories. "Until one day he came home with a baby."
"What?! Why didn't you tell me this?" Cleao shouted. She didn't want to hear what was coming next. However, she knew deep down in her heart what the news would be, and that no matter what she did, she couldn't change it.
"That baby was you. He never mentioned your mother's name. I was terribly upset with him at first, but I wanted children so badly, that I got over it and adopted you as my own child." Sighing with regret Mrs. Everlasting continued her tale. "I decided to tell you when the time was right, but a good time never came up." Shaking her head sadly, Mrs. Everlasting turned and looked at their shocked expressions. Cleao and Majic's eyes were incredibly large. Various emotions were racing across their faces, flickering from shock, sorrow, rage, and despair.
"My husband had had one more child out of wedlock. He agreed to father a child with local tavern owner's wife. She was already happily married to a wonderful husband, but she was sterile with her husband. The two of them desperately wanted a child." Looking into the dawning comprehension in Majic's startled eyes she wished that she had told them sooner. "I wanted to include you in the will Majic. There are papers that confirm who your father is, so that the will is valid. Cleao, Majic..the two of you are half siblings."
"What?!" Identical stunned expressions crossed Majic and Cleao's faces. Looking at each other in surprise, then back at Mrs. Everlasting they were uncertain as what to do now. Nothing had prepared for news like this.
"Cleao dear, you play beautifully on the piano. Would you kindly play a piece of music for me? I missed hearing you." Mrs. Everlasting glanced longingly at the grand piano that stood proudly in the corner of the room.
"C-c-certainly mother. I'd be glad to." Standing up slowly, Cleao headed over to the grand piano. Gleaming dimly in the weak light the piano seemed lonely, and forgotten. 'I never knew. I never knew. I never knew..' Sitting down on the worn and dusty seat Cleao started to play. Forlorn music filled the air, floating to every corner of the room. Mrs. Everlasting smiled a bit before relaxing. Her body went limp, as the last of her breath left her. As her hands fell to her sides, her rings slipped off of her fingers falling to the floor.
Cleao closed her eyes in a vain attempt to stop the tears as she continued to play the sad melody. Majic closed his eyes as well, clenching his fists at his sides, uncertain as what to do. His entire world had been turned upside down. Music steadily continued to play, as if it too were weeping.
"Who are you?" Demanded Orphen. Not bothering to even turn around and face the speaker Orphen's hands dropped to his sides. Sliding his feet into a ready position he prepared to fight if necessary.
"That is no concern to you, boy. I need you to do something for me." The voice was silky and feminine.
"What makes you think I'd do anything for you?" Smirking Orphen confidently turned around to face the speaker. Surprise then horror filled his dark brown eyes. 'This can't be! She is a heavenly one! They all died out years ago! This is bad. Very bad.' Backing up a few steps Orphen tried to think of a plan.
"My oh my. What a smart lad you are. I can tell you studied hard in school. I need you to go the island of Isymaar for me." The heavenly one was stunning. Long curly red hair highlighted with gold framed her face, flowing down her body in silky waves to her knees. A slender body was covered in a simple dark green dress. Eyes like fire opals flickered with an Inner Light.
"I thought all of your kind died out eons ago! How did you survive?" Orphen brought his arm up in the attack position. He wasn't certain if he could beat a heavenly one on his own, but he would try!
"You don't want to annoy me, boy. If you do so, bad things will happen to your friends. You wouldn't want that now would?" Smirking at the enraged expression on the sorcerer's face the heavenly one waited for the excepted response.
"You leave Cleao and Majic out of this!" Yelled Orphen. His hands dropped to his sides, forming fists.
"Good boy! I knew you loved her enough to listen to me." Her smirk grew even wider at the look on Orphen's face. 'Heh. Mortals are easy to manipulate. Sorcerers haven't changed at all since the last time I talked with one.'
"I don't love that loud mouthed, bossy, spoiled tom-boy!" His response was automatic. If anyone of his enemies found out that he had fallen in love then the results would be a disaster. 'Cleao already attracts enough trouble. I don't want her in anymore danger. She means too much to me.'
"Oh stop lying to yourself, and me. It doesn't do you any good. Now listen carefully, you need to get to the island Isymaar by the winter solstice or else." With that the heavenly one transported from sight.
"Now what do I do?"
Warnings: Same as before.
"" Conversation
'' Thoughts
// // Letters, passages from a book, etc
{ } Flash back mode
"Majic!" Cleao ran forward and hugged her friend tightly. Before she could stop herself Cleao started to cry. Tears ran down her young face as she lost the remaining control over her already battered emotions. Cleao trusted Majic to understand her enough so that she could cry her heart out in front of him.
"C-cleao.." Sighing softly Majic just wrapped his arms around Cleao holding her close. Cleao buried her head against Majic's shoulder crying even louder than before. 'Cleao I wish you didn't have to go through such pain.' Whispering soft, soothing words Majic rocked Cleao back and forth in his arms gently. "I'm here for you Cleao. Always."
"Thank you Majic." Cleao mummers quietly as soon as she composed herself enough to speak clearly. Moving away from Majic, Cleao wiped the remaining tears from her eyes with her sleeve. "Sorry about that Majic. I didn't mean to get your shirt all wet like that."
"It's ok Cleao. You're going through a tough time. Besides, I can practice one of my new spells on it." Majic decided that before anything else happened he had better get Cleao inside. Taking her hand in his, Majic started to lead the still emotionally upset Cleao towards the house. Blushing slightly at the close contact he started to hurry towards the house. "Mariebella! Cleao's home." Majic yelled out. Helping Cleao climb up the steps, he led her towards the large doors.
Mariebella opened the door to Everlasting Manor as Cleao and Majic reached the last of the front steps. "I'm so glad you're home Cleao. Mother doesn't have much strength left. Please go talk to her now. I know you're tired from your journey, but this is urgent. You go as well Majic. Mother is ready to talk to you as well." Closing the door gently behind her Mariebella turned and faced them. "Follow me." Mariebella escorted Majic and Cleao to the left flight of stairs, then up the Hallway of Memories, and finally stopped at the main bedroom at the end of the West Wing. "She is in here."
"Mother?" Cleao asked hesitantly. Looking around inside the dimly light room she spotted her mother sitting at near the window. Wrapping securely in thick blankets Mrs. Everlasting seemed thin, pale, and fragile. Weak winter sunlight framed her mother, giving her a halo of filtered light. It was creepy.
"Cleao. I'm so glad you could make it in time." Mrs. Everlasting's voice was soft, and she could barely be heard. "I have something important to tell you. This concerns you as well Majic." Cleao rushed to her mother's side and kneeled down before her. Resting her head against her mother's hand Cleao looked up at her mother. Majic knelt down next to Cleao, wondering what she could possibly want with him.
"When I first married your father I never knew that I would get this sick. 12 months after we were married Mariebella was born. Shortly after Mariebella's birth, I got sick for the first time." Suddenly she started to cough violently. Raising her left hand to cover her face, the coughing grew worse. Flecks of blood, and yellow mucus appeared on her hands.
"Mother! You need.." Shaking her head Mrs. Everlasting shushed her daughter. "The doctors said that I would never fully recover. Getting pregnant again would just make my illness worse. So your father and I reached an agreement. We would have no more children." Cleao's eyes grew large with shock. "After that was agreed upon your father started to take business trips that took him far from home. The business trips grew longer and longer." Turning her head so that she could stare out of the window, Mrs. Everlasting drew deeper into her memories. "Until one day he came home with a baby."
"What?! Why didn't you tell me this?" Cleao shouted. She didn't want to hear what was coming next. However, she knew deep down in her heart what the news would be, and that no matter what she did, she couldn't change it.
"That baby was you. He never mentioned your mother's name. I was terribly upset with him at first, but I wanted children so badly, that I got over it and adopted you as my own child." Sighing with regret Mrs. Everlasting continued her tale. "I decided to tell you when the time was right, but a good time never came up." Shaking her head sadly, Mrs. Everlasting turned and looked at their shocked expressions. Cleao and Majic's eyes were incredibly large. Various emotions were racing across their faces, flickering from shock, sorrow, rage, and despair.
"My husband had had one more child out of wedlock. He agreed to father a child with local tavern owner's wife. She was already happily married to a wonderful husband, but she was sterile with her husband. The two of them desperately wanted a child." Looking into the dawning comprehension in Majic's startled eyes she wished that she had told them sooner. "I wanted to include you in the will Majic. There are papers that confirm who your father is, so that the will is valid. Cleao, Majic..the two of you are half siblings."
"What?!" Identical stunned expressions crossed Majic and Cleao's faces. Looking at each other in surprise, then back at Mrs. Everlasting they were uncertain as what to do now. Nothing had prepared for news like this.
"Cleao dear, you play beautifully on the piano. Would you kindly play a piece of music for me? I missed hearing you." Mrs. Everlasting glanced longingly at the grand piano that stood proudly in the corner of the room.
"C-c-certainly mother. I'd be glad to." Standing up slowly, Cleao headed over to the grand piano. Gleaming dimly in the weak light the piano seemed lonely, and forgotten. 'I never knew. I never knew. I never knew..' Sitting down on the worn and dusty seat Cleao started to play. Forlorn music filled the air, floating to every corner of the room. Mrs. Everlasting smiled a bit before relaxing. Her body went limp, as the last of her breath left her. As her hands fell to her sides, her rings slipped off of her fingers falling to the floor.
Cleao closed her eyes in a vain attempt to stop the tears as she continued to play the sad melody. Majic closed his eyes as well, clenching his fists at his sides, uncertain as what to do. His entire world had been turned upside down. Music steadily continued to play, as if it too were weeping.
"Who are you?" Demanded Orphen. Not bothering to even turn around and face the speaker Orphen's hands dropped to his sides. Sliding his feet into a ready position he prepared to fight if necessary.
"That is no concern to you, boy. I need you to do something for me." The voice was silky and feminine.
"What makes you think I'd do anything for you?" Smirking Orphen confidently turned around to face the speaker. Surprise then horror filled his dark brown eyes. 'This can't be! She is a heavenly one! They all died out years ago! This is bad. Very bad.' Backing up a few steps Orphen tried to think of a plan.
"My oh my. What a smart lad you are. I can tell you studied hard in school. I need you to go the island of Isymaar for me." The heavenly one was stunning. Long curly red hair highlighted with gold framed her face, flowing down her body in silky waves to her knees. A slender body was covered in a simple dark green dress. Eyes like fire opals flickered with an Inner Light.
"I thought all of your kind died out eons ago! How did you survive?" Orphen brought his arm up in the attack position. He wasn't certain if he could beat a heavenly one on his own, but he would try!
"You don't want to annoy me, boy. If you do so, bad things will happen to your friends. You wouldn't want that now would?" Smirking at the enraged expression on the sorcerer's face the heavenly one waited for the excepted response.
"You leave Cleao and Majic out of this!" Yelled Orphen. His hands dropped to his sides, forming fists.
"Good boy! I knew you loved her enough to listen to me." Her smirk grew even wider at the look on Orphen's face. 'Heh. Mortals are easy to manipulate. Sorcerers haven't changed at all since the last time I talked with one.'
"I don't love that loud mouthed, bossy, spoiled tom-boy!" His response was automatic. If anyone of his enemies found out that he had fallen in love then the results would be a disaster. 'Cleao already attracts enough trouble. I don't want her in anymore danger. She means too much to me.'
"Oh stop lying to yourself, and me. It doesn't do you any good. Now listen carefully, you need to get to the island Isymaar by the winter solstice or else." With that the heavenly one transported from sight.
"Now what do I do?"