Author's Note:
Hello everyone, Mr. Anderson here (or more commonly reffered to as LightningTheKid), I'll be bringing you this chapter's AN, and this chapter. I hope you all have been enjoying the story so far, and I do want to apologize in the delay of this chapter and the frequency in which we have updated. Completely my fault. I'm trying to improve on that, and these chapters have personally effected us both, touching on some very sensitive and touchy subjects in our lives, increasing the difficulty in which these have been written
So, at the expense of our suffering, I do hope you enjoy this chapter, and it would be greatly appreciated if you could leave a review. Please spread the word of this to any Jaciana shipper or Julaar shipper you may know, or if you know someone who enjoys some good fanfiction. (especially if it's MTG related)
Sincerely,
Mr. and Mrs. Anderson.
Chapter 38:
The aether of the eternities cleared open and I was once again on the plane of Ravnica. The waft of the death and rot was no longer filling my nose, but was replaced by other smells, half of which would make Innistrad smell like a meadow of flowers. It was night time and the Ravnican moon hung lazily in the sky, clouds allowing it to peek out here and there, and stars dotted the sky. The cool air blew through this district of the city, and for once there was nothing going on. No riots, no massive bloodshed and no unnecessary violence, littering the streets with corpses and painting it red.
I looked around once more, and there were no visable signs of life or death, for that matter, and a quick mental scan showed no assassins or other people who would wish ill-begotten things on myself. There was the familiar sound of someone planeswalking, and I turned to see Lili walk free from the eternities. The midnight aura surged from her as the eternities left her perfect frame, and her violet runes stopped emitting with power. Her slender figure fit perfectly into the dark night of Ravnica, and she appeared in the dimly lit streets as a Queen of the Night. I giggle to myself the little joke I made and noticed she was staring directly at me.
"What's funny, Jace?" she asked, her wonderful gaze on me.
"Nothing dear, just a little joke I made," I say, holding out my hand. She grabs it, and wraps her arm around mine. We were bound for our house, and I wanted to head to the tavern later tonight, maybe I can drown out some of the terrors.
It was a short walk to the house, having planeswalked not too far from it. We walked up the steps, and unlocking the door, both step foot in, thankful to be home. I breathed in a deep breath air, taking in the usual smells of the house. The smell of water, and a myriad of tropical smells wafted through the house, and completely cleared my senses of that plane. I did not completely mind Innistrad, but it was always the smell that burned my nose hairs, and the overpowering stench of death didn't sit naturally with me. In fact, going to that plane reminded me of all the planes I visited that were nothing but islands, and blue mana so rich that it permeated the air and gave birth to some of the most exotic creatures to be birthed from the ocean. I missed the water, and sand beneath my toes, diving into the water and cooling my body. A wonderful idea popped into my head, and I was sure Lili would love it. When we get married, I'm going to take her to one of these planes and show her some of the precious gems that I hold so dear.
"Lili, I'm going to head down to the tavern for a spell, I'll be back in a little bit," I say.
There was the crashing sound of a plate hitting the ground, and Lili's figure appeared from around the corner.
"What?" she asked. There was venom to her tone, and a look of pure evil.
"I'm just going down there to have a few drinks and hopefully see Gideon and Ral. Did I do something wrong?" I tell her, turning to face her, closing the door.
"Have you lost your mind, Jace Rahl Beleren? After what we just did, after what happened today you want to go down to the tavern?!" she screamed. The purple runes flared a bit, emitting purple energy and illuminating the dimly room around her.
"I'm not going to get drunk, and no it was not for nothing" I say, dipping ever so slightly into her thoughts.
"Get out of my head, you prick! I can't believe you! That talk on Innistrad, did it happen the same way to you as it did to me? Or was the talk for nothing?" she said, a single tear left her eye. The cold chill of death creeped all around me, soaking into my clothes. As her dark aura leaked, I thought I hear the moans of a thousand tormented souls escape her aura.
"It wasn't for anything-"
"Get out!" she screamed, stomping up to my face, her face inches from mine, "but so help your soul Jace Beleren, if you come back through that door, and stink of liquor, you can kiss me goodbye. I will leave you and your pathetic ass here on this godforsaken plane."
"But Lili, I-"
"Don't you 'But, Lili' me Jace! You better pray to whatever deity you do pray to, or better learn the ways of one fast, because if you do come here stinking of that damned precious drink that you priortize over me, I will ensure you don't ever find me!" she yells, the mana now leaking from her and her runes flaring with violet energy.
"Liliana, that is not fair!?" I yelled back at her, trying to remain calm and collected, but damn she knew what to say to get under my skin.
"Not fair, Jace?! Not fair?! WHAT'S NOT FAIR IS EVERY FUCKING THING YOU HAVE PUT ME THROUGH THE PAST MONTH! To top it off, you want to go back there and drink, drink your life away and forget about me. Maybe I should have went to Gideon or someone else all those months ago, left you in your misery, you pathetic drunk!" She said, and as she does, she quickly opened the door and pushes me out, slamming and locking it before I can do or respond to her.
I turned from the door, not wanting to push the issue. I knew she wouldn't want to talk to me now, and I don't blame her. I begin the small walk to the tavern, pulling my hood deeper over my eyes, brooding the entire way. About ten or so minutes passed as I made the trek to the tavern, entered and grabbed my usual seat at the bar, and ordered.
"Usual, Jace?" said the bar attendant.
"Make it two to start," I replied, and the bartender fixed my drinks, placing them in front of me. I picked up the drink and raised in front of my lips, "Bottoms up," I say, beginning the slow and steady plummet to clear my mind of the hellish nightmares that have plagued me since the maze.
{Laurel's POV}
Jace has been gone all day today, and did not stay for the usual lunch we do every week, and I have been worried about he and Liliana lately. Jace has been on edge recently, and this is very out of character for him. Typically he is very well-mannered at the council meetings, and completes all of the necessary paperwork and signs all his documents on time. However, as of late he has dropped into a deep dark place, and neither Liliana, myself or any of Jace's friends have been able to put a dent in this shell he has put up.
I have known Jace since before he became the Guildpact, and back then we were just friends, acquantices through Emmara. We had had a few drinks when he and Gideon would go out, and never failed to invite me. In fact, Jace would invite many people, but it always seemed the same crowd was there. Gideon, Jace, Ral and I, would try to meet frequently once a week and 'shoot the shit,' they called it. Then, he became the Guildpact, and I was surprised to see the letter arrive on my door that I was to be summoned to the Guildpact's hall to serve as their Chief Assistant and Publice relations personnel. To my surprise upon arrival, I saw Jace standing inside the main rotunda, representatives from all the guilds flowing to and fro, and each of the ten sigils adorned the massive hall, adding to its eccentricy and glamour. Definitely wasn't Jace's handiwork.
I continued the walk to the Beleren house and pushed a piece of my bright blonde hair over my long and pointed ear, hoping this time the wind wouldn't put it back in my face. I pulled my deep purple robe closer, trying to keep the wind from chilling my bones as I continued the rest of my walk. After several minutes has passed, I'm only feet away from Jace and Liliana's house and to my joy, there were lights from behind the curtains. Maybe they worked things out on Innistrad and everything is okay? I do hope so, for both my friends' sake and this plane. There is no telling what the guilds could do to Jace if he can't live up to his duties. As I reached the door, I grabbed the knocker, and gave it a few sharp raps, hoping they would hear it.
There was no sound other than the wind picking up here and there, blowing my hair about and whipping the tails of my robes. I used the knocker a couple of more times. This time I heard the sounds of stomping feet coming down stairs, and felt the sudden flare of mana being pulled upon. Is everything okay? Who would come to their door with violence intended?
"I thought I told you to leave!" I heard Lili's voice call out, as the door swung open to reveal a very distraught and makeup streaked Liliana. She was out of sorts and looked as if something dreadful happened.
"Oh, Laurel. Hello," she said.
"Hello, Ms. Vess, are you well this evening?" I asked her, as she lowered her mana, and the wildness some what left her eyes, but the hurt and pain still remained.
"Uh..yeah, just had a long day..." she trailed off. Something was very off about Liliana, and I did not like it.
"Ms. Vess?" I asked her, trying to meet her gaze, as she looked away off into the distance. No response.
"Liliana? Is everything ok? Where's Jace?"
"He's down at the tavern, again," she said, meeting my gaze.
"Liliana, what happened? Is he ok?" I asked her, looking deep into those violet eyes, seeing misery instead of life in her.
"He's probably drinking, we had just returned when-" she started, but I need not know more.
"Liliana, I'll be back with that bastard, and he will fix this," I say as I storm off, heading to the only tavern that someone like Jace Beleren would stoop to go to at a time like this. He had many things to answer for, but the most important was Liliana's heart.
{Jace's POV}
My head was swimming with drink and my vision hazy and blurred. Maybe I overdid this time, not fully knowing why I had decided to drink so much. Was it pain? Was it to see if Liliana was bluffing? Or perhaps that I was so bullheadingly stubborn that I was going to do what I wanted to anyway? Either way, I knew what the outcome was going to be. Lili was finally going to have enough with me, and I would be left with my 'precious bottle'. I didn't want to lose her, and on the same coin, I wanted the nightmares to end more than anything. I could not sleep with those images of my hands tightening around her throat, and losing her. The eternities were beyond cruel to us.
Was it because we came from two entirely different time periods? Or was it become we had the 'gift' of the aether flowing through us? The beloved 'gift' that was bestowed upon us, I never wanted. But yet, here I sit in this bar, feeling my blood thin, and liver decay all because of power, from selfish people. There was a warm sensation in my hand. I looked to see blood pouring from hand, and weakly opened it too reveal a smashed glass. When had I done that? I just looked to the bar keep who offered me a rag, and pointed towards the bathroom, and she began to clean the counter and clear the blood away.
Wobbly, I managed to stand up from my bar stool, and make my way into the bathroom, washing the blood and clearing the glass from the gashes. I let the water run as I stared at the blood pouring for my hand slowly and steadily weaken, the wound healing itself. This was strange, and either I drank too much or that poison hit me harder than I realized. I put my hand under the water once more, and rinse the stench of blood from me. I exit the bathroom and begin heading to my seat to continue the poisoning of my liver, when a hand clapped my shoulder, stopping me.
"Jace, stop," Gideon's familiar gruff voice said.
"You've already made me do that, so how can I do something I'm already doing?" I say, back still turned to him.
"Why are you being this way? Have you completely lost all sanity?" he said, a bit of worry in his voice. He released his grip on my shoulder as I turned around.
"No, I just wanted a drink, and you're stopping me from having that drink," I say.
"I think you've had enough to drink, Jace. Why don't you go on home to Lili, she's worried sick about you."
"I'm sure she doesn't, after all, I'm an overwhelming disappointment to her and everyone else I know. I don't understand why you all would give a damn about a pathetic drunk anyway," I spit back at him, venom in my voice.
"Kallist wouldn't have treated her this way, nor would he have forsaken you, no matter what. So, stop playing the pity party, and get your ass back home," he said.
I push him away, "YOU DON'T KNOW A FUCKING THING ABOUT HIM!" I yelled, and turned to storm off back to my chair. Gideon didn't make a move to me until after I had already sat down.
"Have you lost it, JACE!?" he snapped, taking his place next to me at the bar.
Before I had the oppurtunity to respond, a very familiar female voice yelled. "JACE RAHL BELEREN!"
"It seems people have found the urge to use my full name, did my mother send you, Lili—laurel?" I say, standing up, turning around.
"Oh, that's not the first time that has happened. Tell me, do you enjoy breaking women's hearts, because you're doing a damn fine job of it!" she said, face to face with me. Laurel was shorter than most elves, and only came up to my chin, but that still didn't make her any less menacing.
Before I realized what happened, she reared her hand back, and slapped me with all the force she could manage, sending me to the ground. I broke the chair as I toppled over. There was a burning to my cheek and Laurel stood over me, tears in eyes.
"You will take your sorry ass back home, this instant or so eternities so help you Jace, I will make you regret ever knowing me!" she yelled, her face red. I've never seen Laurel this mad or, well cry for that matter. Her strawberry blonde hair was out of place, and her breath ragged.
"Laurel...I..."
"Save it, Jace," she said, trying to level her breath. "You have someone who loves you more than anything else in the entire multiverse, and you're throwing that away. When you're left alone, with nothing but a drink in hand, I hope you take full responsibility for your actions. Now you have two options, A.) leave this godforsaken bar and go and fix what you've broken or, B.) give up everything you love for a moment of painful drunkenness," she said, exasperated.
I look into her blue eyes and she stared back at me, the bar unusually quiet. I looked around as all eyes were on me, the patrons of the bar had stopped and stared intently at us.
"What?! Don't you have something better to do than get into business that isn't yours?" she yelled, and as she did the talking resumed and the world continued on around us. Gideon stood next to Laurel, and offered his hand to me. I stared at his hand for a moment, and was unsure to take it or not.
"Go on," he said. I grabbed his hand and he helped me to my feet. However, I should've known better, because the second I was off the ground, Gideon's fist met my face, sending me back to the hard floor of the ground.
"Ah, son of a bitch," I said, grabbing my face, trying to stop the blood from my lip and nose.
"That was for the maze, asshole," he said, reoffering his hand.
"Am I going to get hit again?" I say, staring at the hand.
"No, not this time," he said, once again, helping me off the ground. To my surprise, no punches.
They helped me out of the bar, and Gideon had to part ways, wanting to get back to Chandra. Laurel and I walked in half silence, until we were a block from my house and she stopped. The cold air kicked up her hair a bit, and it chilled me to the core. She looked at the skyline, and leaned on a railing that barred the curvature of the road, that ran the length of this district. I leaned over the railing with her. The floating portions of the city moving lazily through the night sky and the moon illuminated the plane. Despite all the mayhem and violence this city sees on a daily basis, it really was quite peaceful.
"Laurel, do you think we can make this city safe again?" I asked her.
"I do, Jace, but in order to do so, you need to get control of yourself. This includes fixing things betweeen you and Liliana," she said, looking at me.
"I understand."
"Apparently not, Jace. She loves you, and you have hurt her deeply. As long as I've known you and her, I've never seen her crying, and when I went to your house, she was crying. Jace, You've broke her, and you don't break the ones you love," she said, staring at me.
"Alright, I'll fix this," I said, and began to walk up the hill to my house.
"I believe in you, also, you have a giant stack of papers that need to be finished," she said, calling out after me.
"Thank you, Laurel," I said.
As I got to the door step, I tried opening the door, but it was locked. I knocked on the door, hoping she would answer. Nothing. I knocked again and called out for her, but I couldn't hear anything.
"Lili, are you home?" I called out, knocking again. I heard the sound of feet and heard the door being unlocked. The door swung open, and before I had the chance to say anything, her hand came across my face. Not once, not twice, but four times she slapped me with as much power as she could muster. She had slapped the other cheek, and caused my whole face to burn red with pain. I was not having a good night.
We stood face to face for a moment, her face was turned in a furious frown, her cheeks and eyes puffy. I didn't have to read her mind to know she was angry, hurt or worse; Considering leaving me. I wouldn't blame her. I didn't deserve everything that she has given me, and the joy she's brought me.
"I don't deserve you," I mumble, looking away.
"What?" she said.
"I don't deserve you, and I don't blame you if you decide to leave. Might make your life easier, and you wouldn't have much to worry about-"
Another slap came furiously across my face. Making the sting worse.
"IS THAT WHAT YOU THINK?! That after all of this, everything we've been through, seen and done I'm just going to up and leave you? You obviously don't trust me enough!" she snpped, stomping back iinto the house. I followed in behind her and closed and locked the door.
"Jace, I...I..." she tried to say. But, it was clear she was stumbling on her words.
"Lili, I'm sorry..." I tried to finish my thought, however my body had other thoughts. I felt a rising in my stomach and rushed to the downstairs bathroom to release my stomach's contents. Repetitive retchings soon made me pass out and fall on the cold hard bathroom floor.