Dark Master 1988: OK, people. This here is Chapter 3 of 'Lament of a Flame Witch.' Sorry if this is slow, but try writing these stories while in the middle of a lecture-riddled week. I'm lucky I even got this written, but hey at least it's soemthing, all right. As usual, read and review.
Disclaimer: There's no way I would have created this series. I would've been out of college right now if that were to happen.
Chapter 3--Bittersweet Reunion
The bedroom was in silence as Taranee gazed at her mother with contempt. Caleb, who still bore scars on his body, looked at the two young women; a mother and her daughter. Two people who haven't seen each other in a year.
Her mother stood in shock to see that her daughter was dressed in torn clothing. But, that was the least of it as what she saw next was that her daughter sprouted wings from her back.
"T-Taranee, y-you're back." quivered Mrs. Cook at the presence of her daughter. She walked over to her and hugged her. Taranee, however, didn't feel warmth from her mother. Instead, she felt anger flowing through her mother's body.
SMAK!
"How long have you been keeping this from me?!?" she yelled after slapping Taranee with her ice cold hands. "First, you ran away from home for a whole year. Then you come back and bring home some bum off of the streets; and now?!? Look at you! The way you have been dressing yourself and those WINGS! What have you done to yourself this last year, Taranee?!?"
Taranee glanced at the ground when she asked that question. Caleb noticed that Taranee's hands were clenched with the utmost fury that resided in her. He, however, could tell that Taranee wasn't really happy with her meeting with her mom in one year's passing. She wasn't crying, but at the same time, she was. She refused to exhibit it to her mother.
Finally, she arched her face towards her mother with whatever confidence she could muster.
"All right, mother. I tell you what happened to me...it's kind of hard to explain, but there's a world that exists parallel to ours. I know it sounds weird to you, but what I'm saying is true." she states while her mother is befuddled with what she is saying. "Now, this realm is called Meridian and is ruled by a tyrant named Phobos. He has murdered everyone that stood in his way, including his sister, the true heir to the throne, Elyon."
"You mean your friend, Elyon?" Mrs. Cook spoke in shock of hearing that statement.
"Not only had that, but my friends Will, Irma, Cornelia, and Hay Lin also died at the hands of this bastard." Taranee spoke with her teeth and hands tightly clenched. The sorrow involving her friends' demise began to take its toll on her as tears slowly flowed down her body. "I don't even know what the fuck I am saying as you probably won't get any of this! You're just a soulless bitch to me…" she admitted.
"…You watch your tongue, young lady! I don't care if your friends are dead or not." Mrs. Cook spitted her venomous voice at Taranee. She was getting furious with her daughter and her so-called 'job' changing her behavior. Caleb, who was still lying on the bed, could feel that this argument is getting ugly fast. The only thing he could do, besides risking pain for any movement whatsoever, is to see where this is going. "They were always setting a bad influence on you and I don't see why you just don't give up this 'Guardian' job of yours."
"Mother, this isn't something that's taken lightly. Our world could be in danger and you just simply write off my friends as a burden!" yelled a fuming Tara, reaching a point where she just wants to retaliate against her own mother. She pulled out the Heart of Candracar and showed it to her mother. "See this?!? This is what Will gave to me before dying. She left this to me for safe keeping, and I can't let her down!"
Mrs. Cook stood in silence after hearing her daughter's comment. She didn't know whether to accept this as friendship or lies. Did she really receive this from her friend or did she steal it from her, she kept asking herself. One minute she's becoming a rugged rebel on her and the next she's becoming a thief on her.
"Look mother, I am sorry this had to happen to me, but I can't turn down this proposition."
"…I know you are. I didn't realize that this is what's going on in this fake world of yours. Maybe at least one day, you'll come to your senses that what you are standing on is the real world. You're just like yourself before this 'dream' of yours occurred."
What, how dare she allude everything I said to a dream, Taranee thought angrily, reaching to point where she wants to bust out of the window in the bedroom.
"Fine mother, if you say so, then you could get out of my life for all I care…I…hate you…" she whispered in a sinister tone. "…Get…out…"
Her mother looks at her daughter, whom she feels is now a disgusting creature filled with contempt and ice-cold hatred. The closing door creaks in a shrilly tone as Taranee and Caleb were alone in the room once again. Silence enveloped the bedroom, with the wind silently blowing. Police sirens are heard in the background of the city of Heatherfield, along with some crows cawing as the day slowly got darker and darker.
"…Taranee, I…I don't what to say to you…I didn't know you felt this way before…" Caleb spoke quietly after the whole ordeal between Taranee and her mother.
"…It's nothing new. I kind of expected this to happen when we got here…" Taranee said while cleaning her eyeglasses. "I'm going downtown, by myself. I'll be back, Caleb."
With that said, the Fire Guardian crawled out of the window and towards the city.
The city glowed with street lights illuminating the scenery. Cars were honking everywhere as Taranee walk aimlessly through the small city. She didn't care where to go, as she wanted to get rid of the voice of her mother. What she didn't know (or didn't care) is that many people were eyeing her with uncertainty and confusion.
Minutes passed and the sky is getting darker. Taranee decided to eat somewhere nearby. She saw a pizza parlor across the street from where she is. Once she got inside, she noticed that the place was empty; no one was here but the music heard in the background.
"Hello, is anyone there?"
Footsteps approached the counter as Taranee awaited to make her decision on what to eat. She gazed at her boots when the person asked her, "What would like tonight, little sister."
"I don't know; I guess a slice of pizz—Peter?! What are you doing here?" What she saw was her older brother Peter Cook. He hasn't changed a bit since she last saw him. He still had his braids, but they looked significantly shorter.
"Well, I am working here to save up for college. So what brings you here after a year long absence? And uh, what's with the fairy get-up?"
"…Where do I start? There's this 'Outworld' called Meridian that a tyrant has killed everyone including my friends. He's now searching for the rebels living in that world, hoping to kill them altogether. And now I'm back with one of the rebels in my care right now, as well as getting a verbal lashing from mother."
Peter looked in confusion when she told him her story. Nonetheless, he understood what she was talking about. Still, he wanted to know more.
"All right, Taranee. I'll believe you, but I need to know more about what you're telling me. My shift should end pretty soon, so I'll meet you at the house, okay?"
Taranee just realized that Caleb is still in the bedroom back at the Cook residence. She stopped to tell Peter, "You should just meet me over at the Silver Dragon."
"Uh, why?"
Taranee stammered, looking for an answer as to why she wanted to meet Peter at the Silver Dragon instead of their house. "I can't explain it right now, but just meet me there, alright?"
"Okay, that sounds plausible; I'll meet you there. Oh, don't forget your pizza slice." He said, stopping her just in time.
"Thanks, Peter." she then ran out towards the Cook residence.
When she got there late at night, she snuck through the window to her bedroom. She saw Caleb, still awake, just sitting there on her bed.
"…Hey, Caleb. I'm back…"
Caleb lifted his head to see his friend back after her walk downtown. He is holding a picture of the girls at a Halloween party a few years back.
"…Caleb…?"
"…Oh, hi Taranee…It just happens so fast."
"What do you mean?" Taranee wondered, though she knew what he was talking about.
"…It's nothing, really."
Taranee walked towards Caleb to see if the wounds have (somewhat) healed yet.
"Do you mind if I…?"
"Nah, I'm fine. It's better than what it was before."
As the Fire Guardian checked his wounds, a knock is heard coming from the entrance. Taranee didn't know if it was her mother or not. The last thing she wanted is an apology from her.
"Caleb, we need to go to the Silver Dragon." She grabbed Caleb's hand and led him to the window. As she made Caleb take a travail effort on his body, the knocking got louder.
"Open up, Taranee! I need to talk to you."
Right when the door knob started jiggling, Taranee felt she was in a dire situation: She needs to get Caleb over at the Silver Dragon, but Caleb's wounds haven't healed completely. She needed to do something to get Caleb out of here.
"Taranee, I'm coming in, right now!"
What can I do, she kept repeating herself as the weight of Caleb's body is taking a toll on her. She was running out of options, until something struck her mind.
"Trust the Heart, Taranee."
"What? Trust the Heart?" she whispered as if she is still here.
When Taranee's mother came to her room, she saw that the window is shattered, leaving only the billowing curtains in the night.
"…She ran away, again…I'm not surprised…"