The sun was fading down the lake. The reflex of its red light made the water seem like strawberry juice. The wind was warm on the uncovered skin, even if it was the last week of April. Madison was sitting on the bay, enjoying the moment of peace the end of the day was giving her. Her hair was long on her back, cradled by the wind. She had her eyes closed but she could hear the footsteps behind her, so she didn't jump when a warm hand touched her shoulder to get her attention.
'Thought you didn't come…' she smiled as she opened her eyes and met Nick's tired but smiling face. 'Thought I didn't manage to, but now I'm here and I want what I was promised' . He sat next to her, and put his left arm around her shoulders and put her closer to him. She sighed and rest her head on his left shoulder.
' Isn't the vision of the sunset with your adorable wife enough for you?' she laughed as she finished the sentence.
'This is one of the moments of the day I love the most: holding you tight in my arms, see the sun rose down the lake, make love to you and wait till the dawn comes.' He took her chin with his right hand and kissed her softly on her lips. She grinned as she went back to her position.
' This is the worst part of the day for me….. I would like so hard that they could see how beautiful the realm has become since the last war. I would like to share this beauty with my sister, Chip and Udonna. But it's not possible anymore. Imagine Cynthia's surprise in seeing that her beloved lake hasn't changed in all these centuries. She and Alex would have been happy here.' She closed her eyes to take back the tears. Nick held her tighter in his arms. She smiled sadly and opened her eyes again as Nick started to talk again.
'So what is the surprise you were talking about? You know I'm dead curious!'
Madison smiled again, this time a happy one. She stood up under Nick's smart look revealing a beautiful pot-belly, she was pregnant. She took his husband's hand, who had stood up too. She put his hand on her belly and waited.
Nick's face turned from worried to happy.
' Did our son just moved?' . Madison smiled as she said yes with the movement of her head.
' Now close your eyes and focus on the baby' Nick did as ordered. For few seconds he seemed not to breath for the absorption. Then he opened his eyes and smiled again.
' There are two!'
'Yes'
He took Madison in his arms and started to turn in circle . 'OH-MY-GOD-I-LOVE-YOU-SO-MUCH-MADISON-RUSSEL!!'
'I KNOW NICK BUT PLEASE PUT ME DOWN' she said laughing. ' I think it's time to tell it to Dad, he will be so happy. I can't believe I'll become father of two boys.' 'Actually they won't be two boys…..'
'Excuse me?' he asked his wife with a question look on his face. ' I saw them in my dreams!'
'Guess you were wrong…..There will be a Videline Luna and a Torn Alexander Russel ' she smiled as she saw his husband's face.
'Videline?' he asked confused.
'It was my sister's full name. It was my Granma's Grandmother name. She never really liked it, but I think our baby will.' She caressed gently her belly, smiling at the answer her babies gave her to that touch. It seemed like they were happy.
'If only we had known sooner that the Mystic Cup was hidden under this lake, they would still be with us. All of them, and we would be happy.'
Cynthia opened her eyes and stood up to reach the balcony that had the view on the lake. The sun was rising giving the water a strange colour : red like blood. Blood that would have flown on this beautiful country, blood of her friends, the ones who had accepted her even if they didn't even know who she was. Her blood, but that wasn't important. She only wanted to save as many lives as she could, no matter if she died. She wanted part of the vision she had to realise: Nick and Madison finally together, that was something she hadn't seen yet. She wanted them to be happy with the ones they love. And Alex…… she didn't even know if he still remembered her as he promised. But was that really important? She didn't even know him, he was nothing to her, but even if she repeated it in her head she knew they were connected in some ways she couldn't see yet. She couldn't stop thinking at the emotions that he kept out of her, at the feeling that he wasn't really evil, at the kiss he gave her…… Why do life must be so difficult? Why can't I save everyone? I hate myself. She sighed as she sat on the porch swing . She was mentally preparing her plan: she was going to fight with all the strength she had in her body and soul. She knew she was going to hurt her friends but that was the only way to protect them. She started crying as drops of rain drenched her hair and clothes and the whole forest.
Nick woke up with a smile on his face. The dream he had last night was so beautiful that he didn't wanted to wake up: he and Madison finally together, waiting for their babies…… 'I miss you babe, so much' he whispered.
'Oh, I'm sure she's missing you too, but I think you'll see your Madison very soon' Alex was in front of him, smiling.
'Don't say her name, you are not worthy of telling it. Shut your mouth and mind your own business!'
'Weren't you happier earlier? Must be the weather, you know it started raining, it's like someone's crying…….' Alex looked at the small window that was in Nick's prison, his expression now a little sad and lost in thoughts.
' You know I'll fight 'till death to see her again, I told you once, I say it again. She's the only reason why I still breath'.
Alex looked at Nick who was holding the bars so tight his fists were white. He smiled at the strength of his words. 'How can you trust so much another person? Humans are only capable of betray. They all think at their returns. Your Madison has probably already found someone to comfort her. She won't even think of you again?'
'What happened to you? Why are you so full of anger? What is your problem dude? How can you live without hope, trust, love? I feel pity for you…' Nick was really sorry for Alex, cause he could feel the emptiness around him. His words didn't touch him as deep as Alex hoped , he knew Madison, and he trusted her no matter what. She was the one who trusted him when he was accused of stealing the money from the counter, she was the one who supported him when everything seemed to end bad. She was his home, the place where he wanted to return to and stay forever. But Alex…..he looked like he had already lost his life, he looked like a shadow.
'I don't need your pity, nor anyone else's. I lived to regret I ever trusted someone ,I know how painful is to be betrayed. I don't care anymore' Alex gave Nick a sad smile.
' Madison will come and rescue me and my family: she, my friends and Cynthia '
Alex felt a shiver run thru his skin as he heard Cynthia's name…..This name, again…… he closed his eyes and he saw a faded figure of a girl with red hair that seemed to smile at him. He opened his eyes rapidly, like he thought the girl was in front of him, but he couldn't see anything.
' You'll suffer for your ideas. They won't come, nobody wants to risk his own life for others. Have your breakfast and stop hoping, it's a BIG loss of time' then he disappeared behind the wall as a table materialised in front of Nick, who started to eat the biscuits with milk that were on it.
'Cynthia? Are you awake?' Madison was entering Cynthia's room after she knocked few times without having any answer. She saw her friend sat on the porch swing, soaked from head to feet. ' C? What are you doing there, you'll take a cold if you stay there! Come in!' Cynthia turned her face to look at Madison, but it was like she couldn't see her.
'C? you ok? Come inside you're completely wet!' Cynthia turned again to look back at the lake.
' Have you ever been to the lake down there?' she said as she indicated the Lake with her hand. Madison moved near Cynthia and sat next to her.
'Nope, never. Must be beautiful on a sunny day. I never even knew there was a lake near here.' Cynthia realized the rain was still falling and closed her eyes and whispered something, then the rain stopped and the sun came back to enlighten the forest. She opened her eyes again and smiled.
' Why don't we go there? Just to see if it is as beautiful as it seams from here.'
'ok, but first you need to wear something dry.'
'you know, I've never get so deep into the forest. It's like being in another place. The trees here are different, even the colour of the leafs are strange….they seemed to have silver reflections. And the air…..it's like it's whispering something…..I know I talk too much but this place is….creepy….in a good way, if there can be….'
Madison and Cynthia were trying to reach the lake by walking into the forest. The sun that was filtering thru the big trees had a silver reflection that enlighten the path they were walking in. The branches were tight together, like they were trying to protect something.
'You're right Mad, but they are only doing their job.'
'What job? What are you talking about?' Madison was confused.
'long time ago, when the progeny of the lake had been assigned to protect the Mystic Cup, they put a spell on the forest, to shield the place. You cannot reach the lake if you aren't a Lakian or are not specifically invited by the Ruler.'
'And you are allowed to enter the forest because you are the heir of the Lakian King, right?'
'Yep. They recognize my powers, and yours…..' the last words were like a whisper that didn't reach Madison ears. They keeps walking for a while, then the forest finally ended and the view of the lake enlightened by the sun took their breaths away. The water was so crystal that they could see the stones under it, that reflected the sunlight and create some play of light on the surface of the lake.
'It's….. beautiful' Madison couldn't think anything else. She was amazed by the view. She wanted so much to share this sight with Nick, she missed him so much and this place was so romantic that the thought of Nick was the first thing that came to her mind. We will be here together one day, soon, we'll see the sun set from here……have I have to take the world down by myself…..
' It is Mad, it is'. Cynthia was both sad and happy. Her mind was now full of flash backs, some happy, some bad. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, there was no time to be nostalgic, she was here on a mission, she had to be as strong as she could.
'Mad, would you help me?' Madison turned to face Cynthia, who was looking at the lake.
'Sure, help you how?'
' I need you to lift up all the water in the lake. I know it sounds crazy, but I know you can do that too. Don't look at me like that!' Cynthia smiled at Madison expression: her mouth was wide open, as her eyes. She recomposed herself then looked at the lake.
' I really think you didn't slept much, and that you need much more rest. But I even trust you when you tell me that I can do that, and I really don't know why. I will try, but why? what's under all this water?'
Cynthia smiled, then answered ' You don't imagine? The biggest treasure ever buried……The Mystic Cup.'
'No way! How do you know that? Did you remembered it?' Madison was exited.
'I…..had a dream…..My mind seam to interact with me only in the dream state…. Which sucks a little…'
'Well……Where do I start from?' Madison was now focused on her mission. She didn't know whether the experiment was gonna work or not, but she wanted to see how far she could push her powers.
'Just concentrate on the water. You know inside the words. This spell is flowing in your veins. Your powers are flowing, they are in you. You are the ruler of the water, its human expression. Just feel the power inside you and release it.' Cynthia's voice was warm and calm. Madison closed her eyes while she was listening. She concentrate on her body, trying to find her inner power. She could see a light coming to her, a blue ball that was becoming bigger and bigger. In a second she felt her body full of energy and she heard a voice. That was the spell she was searching.
'LEVITA AQUA' her voice was so strong and determined that Cynthia was surprised.
The water in the lake started to divide, then it lifted up, giving her a passage to its bed.
She walked into the bed of the lake and reached the centre of the lake.
'I call for the powers of the Lakians. As a heir of the Ruler I ask the Lake to return what hidden here long ago. I free the sacred water from the pact. Return the Mystic Cup to its legitimate owner.'
'We greet the Heirs of the Lakians. We accept you as the new ruler, the water will give you what you ask and will consider itself free from the deal. May you use this power wisely' The voice echoed in the forest.
'I swear I will' answered Cynthia, then a light appeared in front of her. She lengthened her arms to reach the ball of light. When she touched it, and beautiful golden Cup materialized in her hands. Then she reached Madison. When she arrived at the river Madison let the water refill its place. She watched Cynthia as she approached her. The Mystic Cup was in front of her, a beautiful golden trough that contained the Powers to destroy the world, or save it.
' So what now? The others will be exited' asked Madison.
' We can't tell the others we have the Cup, we need to hide it again.'
'But… Cynthia this is our chance to destroy the evil forever.' Madison was disappointed.
'No Mad, using this powers without a purpose would mean destroy the world. Listen, I just wanted you to have the Cup, just in case I….' she didn't finish the sentence.
'Just in case you die you mean, isn't it? No one's gonna die here. We will destroy the Lord and rescue Nick and his family. Our powers are grown since the last time we fought.'
'No Mad, your powers are the same, I'm the reason why they seem to be grown. My powers can affect yours, but If I'm not around, your powers are the same as before. You need to practice a lot more to improve them, and you will do that. Now I need to hide the Cup. Fireheart!' as she said his name Fireheart materialised in front of her.
'How did you do that, Fireheart only answers to Nick's call.' Madison was confused.
'Let's just say he owe my one' she said as she approached Fireheart and caressed him on the muzzle. She put the Cup in front of Fireheart. ' You know what to do with that, don't disappoint me, please, their lives depends on this.' Fireheart nodded then opened his mouth and absorbed the Cup, that became a ball of light then disappeared into Fireheart' s mouth.
'Mad……..I'm sorry to do this to you but I can't allow you to tell the others what has just happened, you don't need to remember now…….. I'm so sorry……'
'What are you talking about C? What do you want to do?' Madison was now worried. She didn't like the way her friend was acting.
'Just hide the memory of the last few hours. I won't erase it, don't worry, you won't feel anything' Cynthia moved to reach Madison that was trying to back off .
'It won't hurt, I promise.' Then everything turned to black and Madison couldn't see anything.
I'm sorry it took me so long to write the ninth chapter. I'm sorry for the mistakes U'll find in the story. I swear there will be a full Maddik chapter very soon. I'll wait for your reviews and your comments, I really need you to tell me what's your opinion of the story. Thanks, see ya the next chapter.