Wizards Aeterna
The Battle for Everything
Chapter Two: Born Into Darkness
It is said that Eden was paradise. All that resided within the garden were blessed and free of suffering. Adam was born of the forces of nature by the will of The Creator. Residing among the plants and beasts of Eden, man was content for many days, until he found that he was the only one of his kind, and, therefore, alone. Many have heard the name, Eve. Born of Adam's rib to exist at his side as an equal, Eve was the mother of all who live. However, through the eyes of the serpent, another laid beside Adam during his years in Eden. Her name was Lilith, and her heart was rampant. She and Adam shared the garden, basking in its eternal glow, until Lilith discovered her taste for the night. Darkness soon became her as her heart grew cold and her wrath made great. Into fire and her own icy hatred, the woman made her way beside Archangel Samael. The two lived in isolation and sin for untold centuries, birthing a new generation of evil. Adam and Eve, who lost paradise by their own mistake, became the mother and father of all who live. Lilith and Samael, though the archangel claimed to have repented, became the queen and king of the demons. Existing among the astral plain of existence, slowly caressing the realm of dreams, generations of corrupt and rampant succubi and incubi feed off the sexuality of those lost within their own dreams.
The bloodline of the wicked angels has remained a mystery by the hand of their entrusted followers, known only by those existing in harmony with the magical realm as the Gorog. Over the years, most of the descendants were slaughtered for their evil deeds and nature. However, several survived. Wrapped into a tight fetal position, an embryo swaddled in an orb of flowing dark energy levitated in dark matter. The creature itself, bathed in shadow, grew slowly, bloody veins gradually becoming more and more prominent over its body. Held in the icy love of its ancestor, the beast's eyes finally parted, revealing two large, blood-red orbs with sharp, piercing black pupils in their center. It's first breath was sin. At last, in the heart of the darkest of nights, the child of darkness was born: shedding the black, blood-thick slime that covered its infantile body, the beast reached forward with all its might, attempting to crawl towards something unseen. Its fingers spreading and straining, the evil thing felt jagged, animalistic claws slowly became exposed, peeling away at the soft, tender flesh around them. Gasping and choking on the heavy air, the creature continued forward, only to be grabbed, lifted into the air, and swaddled by the chilling hands of a woman. She was tall, healthy in her form, sensuous and passionate in temper, crowned with long, flowing, unkempt, and grizzly hair like unto darkened gold, and her body fully exposed with the exception of a dark and sadistic snake draped only over her loins and right leg. Nuzzling the child to her exposed breasts and allowing it to feel her devastatingly frozen heart, the proud and wretched woman whispered softly to the babe, her sin-kissed lips gentle upon its face. "The last of our bloodline," her breath declared through a blood-red smile. "You will rule over them…show them our way…love never, trust none that live, give freely of yourself and take from those who surround you. My wonderful, blessed boy…you will walk amongst them until our hour arises. Then, our race will be born anew, and all shall fall to their knees and worship you, my child. They will call you many names, all of them forming a mask that will allow you to touch them all. But never forget the name we have bestowed upon you…" Gently pulling the child's head to her mouth, the woman kissed him as she whispered, "Gancanagh." Silently, the infant writhed in its caregiver's arms, fixing its unholy red eyes upon her. "Go now," the woman whispered, setting the child down before departing from the horrid place. All alone once again, the alp began crawling towards its distant reward.
"Alex," Justin patiently called through the door. "Alex?"
"What?" the young woman groaned, sitting atop her bed and staring out the window. Waverly Place was always the most beautiful place to live: if not for its peace and neighbors, then for its view of the skyline in the heart of the city. The sky was warmly colored with light auburn, fading red, and yellow streams, though the world below was chilled. Unwelcoming tides breathed into the city, creating an icy breeze.
"Are you okay?" the half-Italian young man replied. "You've been locked up in your room since last night. I don't know what's going on, but I can recognize pain when I see it."
"…How could you?" Alex whispered, letting her hair block out her moist, bloodshot eyes. You've always had the perfect life…people who love you, respect, freedom from all the shit and mistakes I have to live with…Free from all the vices that kill me. "Justin…just do something for me, please."
"Yeah," Justin answered, his tone lightened. "Sure. What's up?"
"Just…go see Juliet today," the young woman answered, gazing at the photograph of the only man she ever loved. "Tell her I said hi, and tell her you love her…just do that for me."
Leaning his head against the doorway, the dark-haired man let silence fill the area for a moment. Alex and Juliet had been friends for years: this wasn't about formalities. She wanted Juliet and her brother to remain close: to keep what her and Mason lost. Alex loved Justin and Juliet, and never wanted to lose another friend ever again. "Yeah," the young man agreed. "Yeah, I'll do that…Alex, if you need to talk…"
"I'm fine, Justin," the young woman shot back, not turning her head. "Please, just…just leave me alone." Knowing there was nothing more he could do, Justin bit his lip, nodded to himself, turned, and walked away.
I can't keep pushing them away, Alex told herself, desperately trying to meditate. Especially not Max…He's my little brother: just trying to help me. Taking in a long, trembling, cleansing breath of air through her nostrils, the young woman closed her eyes. Her legs crossed atop one another, her physical body relaxed, her arms at her sides, and her fingers positioned carefully and touching at the tips, Alex released one final breath through her mouth, and closed herself. Her aura slowly growing, encompassing the wizard in her warm, flowing mana, Alex felt her energy stream from the divide of her eye lids. Safe inside her magic, the young woman allowed her conscious mind to reach her soul-self, releasing her spiritual being into her own plane of existence. Her physical body stilled, safe, and devoid of any form of consciousness or awareness, the young wizard, now an astral being, composed of only her soul, mana, mind, and spiritual heart, allowed her blue, mist-like body to rise higher within her own haven. Free from all constraints, Alex gazed around at the flowing wonder of a world unseen. Slowly moving her hands onto her chest, the young woman felt her heart. It was still solid and beating against the current. My heart's disconnected, Alex's echo sounded. Transferring all of her spiritual senses to her center, the graceful being tried to listen; to watch; to learn. All was silent but the constant beating of her wounded heart. It's in me…This is my fault. Suddenly, the endless stream of flowing energy and womb-like warmth came to a halt, consuming all in fire. Shocked, Alex felt her connection to her inner self become frail as she started gasping for physical air. Clenching her throat, the young woman watched in horror as the flames licked and consumed themselves in an eternal void of darkness. She was at war with herself, and it was destroying everything in existence. Jolting forward, Alex awoke from her meditation, her heart pounding and her breath rampant and heavy. Her hair dangling down over her eyes, the young woman felt icy sweat chilling the back of her neck as well as her body. Her eyes open wide, the young wizard tried to calm herself. She was terrified. Everything was shattered. Her jaw trembling, Alex looked down at herself, trying not to vomit. "There's a way," she whispered, accepting all the pain she would soon endure.
Outside the girl's window, fluttering its wings against the orange and red sky of dusk, a single white butterfly remained still in the air, watching the wizard. Trembling, Alex rose to her feet, her heart violently pounding, and walked towards a mirror. The butterfly clung to the window, its entire body still and fixated on the young woman. "There's too much evil inside of me," Alex told herself, remembering that night with Riley, failing to save Stevie, involving Harper in the affairs of magic: Then, she turned with regret to her artwork, her friendships, her hopes, her dreams, and everything that made Alex who she was. "I don't want it anymore…I don't want any of it." Slowly touching her right hand to the center of her chest, feeling the loving embrace of her mana covering her entire arm, the young woman closed her eyes, allowing herself to feel her rampant heart. Muttering a prayer to herself, Alex made contact with her physical and spiritual heart, clenching her eyes shut in agony, and slowly pulled a part of herself out of her heart. A flash of white energy struck down in her room like lightning. Screaming in anguish and turmoil, Alex felt herself crying like a child. At last, the storm ended, and Alex raised herself up onto her feet, clenching her desk corner for support. Staring at her reflection in the mirror, the young woman remained still. Her skin was somewhat white, but not pale. Her eyes were vibrant and her pupils intense: a direct window into her cleansed soul. Her dark brown hair was long, flowing, and straight, as it was in her childhood, while rejuvenated with a vibrant rendition of her natural color bleeding over the extinguished shade of black. Her heartbeat calm and gentle like a child at rest, Alex slowly reached her lightened hand towards a mirror, gently making contact with the glass. The nearly angelic image the young wizard witnessed began to darken, its essence bleeding like a melting glacier. Pulling her hand back in shock, Alex watched what was once her reflection corrupt itself: its clothing turned black and flowing like ink, its eyes darkening and becoming sharp and scornful, nearly glowing with wicked red energy, her hair fading closer to black with only light-expressed undertones of the natural brown color, her skin becoming pale and cloaked with shadow, lips turning to the color of blood, her expressions contorting into sinister and horrific perversions of their former self, and blood-rose red silk bled over an exposed portion of her arms, ending as fingerless gloves to keep her sharp, red nails visible. The image of a nightmare: all of Alex's wickedness and sin was staring back at her. And it was not ugly or horrid but beautiful and terrible. The evil reflection of Alex stared at its opposite, dawning a serpent-like smile.
Her jaw dropped, Alex slowly walked back. Proud and still, the evil being gazed into the girl's soul. "Why are you running away, Alex?" she mocked in Alex's voice. Evil and hatred laced every word. "What do you have to be afraid of? You're free, aren't you? Free from all your sins…Free from the monster you've always been deep down. Can you still feel it? Do you still remember how it tastes? All that regret…all that hatred…all that pain? It's all still there, isn't it?"
"That doesn't matter anymore," Alex shot back, slowly mustering her strength again. "I'm not like you…I'm not you…anymore."
"But I'm you," the cruel image replied, her tone hurt and mockingly childish. "It's because of you that I exist…you made me. Just because you threw me out, doesn't mean you're any better because of it."
"…No," Alex shamefully admitted. "But I'm going to try…I can make up for it…I can start over and be a better person now. I won't have you holding me back…I won't hear your voice inside of my head anymore!"
"But it's your voice," the evil Alex replied. "No one held you back but yourself…no one but you did those things. Alex Russo did all of this…and aren't you still Alex Russo?"
"…No," the Latina answered. "I'm not…I'm a better person now. Alex Russo died when I locked her away in a mirror. My name is Alexandria." Picking up a sheet, the young wizard cloaked the mirror, blocking the reflection. "And I'll never be you again," Alexandria whispered, sharply turning away and leaving the room. Remaining still, as if learning, the white butterfly focused its eyes on the mirror.