Yes, I am still working on the story. Sorry progress has been this slow, but I will try my best to keep chapters coming!
A big thank you to everyone who's been keeping up with the story and those that have only recently found out.
A review would mean a lot, I appreciate all feedback.
Don't be afraid to ask any questions, I always try to reply.
Enjoy!
Chapter 26: Inside
Despite the promise he and CJ had made of never mentioning Solomon again, let alone actually going to see him, Archer felt a sort of hesitant excitement at the prospect of confronting their defeated nemesis. Solomon was done. Beaten. Archer had nothing to fear from him anymore. When he would stand opposite him, he would do so in the company of those he loved, while Solomon would be alone and miserable.
As per Lancelot's suggestion, they waited two days before undertaking their journey in order to give him time to prepare the potions and spells they might need to use to wrench the truth from their adversary. Archer slept the bare minimum during those days. CJ angrily insisted he continue to share the bed with her, and he complied only after a series of heated arguments. As they lay beside each other, Archer tried his best to stay awake, lying in uncomfortable positions and forcing himself to think about useless and nonsensical things; anything in order to not fall asleep and possibly harm someone again.
The day arrived when they would be heading to Solomon's desolate prison. The authorities had rebuilt an already existing structure on a small island near Neverland into dungeon of some sort. Solomon was kept under permanent surveillance, his hands and feet shackled, and the amulet Mal had put around his neck during the final battle remained there as well. All in all, it was deemed a fitting end for a ruthless, power-hungry maniac who got what he deserved.
The journey took a while. Ben opted to drive to East Riding and take a boat from there to Solomon's island. They left early in the morning, but the sun was already far past its zenith by the time they finally set foot on the barren rock that was meant to house Solomon for the rest of his life. It genuinely was little more than a rock, most likely smaller than the grounds of Auradon prep. Large waves continuously smashed against the side, drenching everything in foam and water, the wind was howling and there was not a single tree or patch of grass to be found.
Most of the surface of the rock was covered by what had once been a lighthouse, but had now been rebuilt into Solomon's prison. Archer had been there alongside the likes of Ben and Lancelot to make sure the structure was safe and impenetrable, both from the inside and the outside. The walls had been thickened, surveillance updated, and a garrison of Auradon officials would patrol the island and its surrounding waters every minute of every hour of every day.
Those officials now escorted Archer, CJ, Ben, Mal and Lancelot across the rock and to the old lighthouse. The officers' quarters were a little dreary, but still provided them with every form of luxury they could desire. Solomon's holding cell was at the top of the lighthouse, and Archer could feel the tension rise as he and his friends ascended the winding steps.
What awaited them was quite shocking. The holding cell was small; just big enough to fit a bed, a toilet, a sink and a rickety old table and chair. The windows were barred and placed so high that you could not even admire the view of the ocean. The cell was blocked off by a transparent glass wall, allowing the guards to see everything in the cell without any obstruction. There was a door in the wall, as well as a slit to pass trays of food through and several air holes. Everyone had agreed that Solomon only deserved the bare minimum of luxury, and this sad cell was the result.
Solomon himself stood with his back to them when the group gathered in front of the cell. He was clad in old, frayed prison rags, his hair was very long and unkept, and his skin was pale and dirty. The amulet Mal had used to defeat him had been fastened around his neck in such a way that it was impossible for him to remove it, thus rendering him helpless. Reports from the guards had stated that Solomon did not behave erratically or hysterically, though he did often seek out confrontation with the guards, making teasing and mocking comments about the comrades they had lost during the war.
Archer, CJ, Ben, Mal and Lancelot lined up in front of the cell, all with serious, tense expressions. Archer felt a strange cramping feeling in his stomach; like he was looking at something disgusting and revolting.
"You were bound to show up sooner or later…" Solomon spoke, still with his back to them. His voice was raspy and strangely high-pitched. "What? Have you decided to have me executed after all? Or did your Auradonian consciousnesses catch up with you, and now you want to let me go?"
"Neither." Ben replied in a steely tone. "We want some information, and afterwards we will leave…"
Solomon peeked over his shoulder and smirked. "You look good, CJ. Hole in your stomach healed yet?"
"You son of a bitch!" CJ snapped, kicking at the glass barrier before Archer and Mal pulled her back.
"Just like old times… I've missed this… You were a fantastic punching bag…" Solomon went on.
CJ again tried to lunge at the barrier, but Archer kept a tight hold of her.
"We just want some information!" Ben spoke clearly. "You are in no position to mock or oppose us."
Solomon finally turned around. He still bore the scars from the relentless beatdown he had suffered during the final battle. His dark gaze switched from person to person, lingering on Archer a little longer before he addressed Ben. "Information? From me? And you expect me to bow down and do as you command, oh king? Sod off!"
Ben audibly exhaled. "You have no power anymore, Solomon. Nothing to threaten any of us with. We can do this the easy way, or the hard way. Either you tell us what we want to know, or we can use some of the equipment Lancelot has prepared to get it out of you either way…"
Lancelot, on cue, opened the briefcase he had brought along and showed its contents to Solomon. Several potions in flasks or vials, a large book of spells, and, most sinisterly, a long needle.
Solomon did his best not to react, but Archer saw his eyes widen slightly. "Huh… Seems you've grown some balls after all, Baby Beast…"
"So? What will it be?" Ben inquired, still in that steely tone.
Solomon sighed loudly as he stepped back and allowed himself to fall onto his rickety bed, which creaked and shook, seemingly on the verge of collapsing. "You've made your point… So, what is this information that you are so desperate to hear you have traveled all the way to my desolate hellhole for it?"
Ben looked over at Archer and then at Lancelot before urging the latter to speak.
"The spell you used on Archer…" Lancelot immediately spoke up. "Tell us every detail about it. Its origins, incantation and…" He hesitated for a second. "The counter-spell…"
Solomon raised his eyebrows. "Counter-spell? In case you hadn't noticed, nitwit, your boy is standing right there!" He pointed at Archer. "Seems you already found a counter-spell…"
Archer balled his fists, trying to resist the urge to burst through the glass door and punch Solomon to within an inch of his life. The way Solomon talked about him, after all he'd put him through, without showing an ounce of regret, disgusted him. To know that there were truly humans like him, with so little conscience or empathy, was a harrowing thought.
"Still…" Lancelot answered. "Tell us everything you know…"
Solomon looked between Lancelot and Archer, squinting slightly. Suddenly, his eyes lit up and he started smirking broadly. "It didn't work, did it? Not really…" He hissed as he stood back up.
"Watch it…" Ben snapped, squaring up to the glass.
Solomon paid him no mind, instead completely focused on Archer. "You were mine, you know? I controlled every inch of your being… I wanted something, and you did it for me… You were nothing… Just a puppet…"
Mal smacked the glass with her fist. "Asshole!"
Solomon just went on. "I admit, I was surprised to see you fighting on their side during the final battle… I truly believed my hold over you was unbreakable… And maybe it is… What is it, Archer boy? Nightmares? Headaches? Fits of rage? Black-outs? In what ways am I still controlling you?"
Archer tried to keep his breathing under control, but he felt the heat rise in his cheeks.
"If you keep going like this, we will…" Ben began.
"Do what? Lock me up? Take away my magic? Seems a little late for that!" Solomon interrupted Ben, making a mocking face before turning back to Archer. "So? Archer boy? My little minion… What is it? Please, tell me… I'm awfully in need of some excitement…"
Archer stayed silent for almost an entire minute, along with the rest of his group. He did not really want to share any of the intimate details of his situation with the person he hated the most in the world, but he also realized there was no way for him to be cured without exchanging said information.
"Nightmares mostly." He eventually answered.
"Archer!" CJ hissed, pulling at his arm.
"Headaches and nausea sometimes. But… But a couple of nights ago, a far more intrusive nightmare. I saw myself. Inside my dream. My dead self, or revived self, or whatever… It spoke to me and threatened CJ. When I attacked the figure in my dream…" Archer halted.
Solomon's eyes were wide with excitement, and he seemed eager for Archer to continue.
"Don't!" CJ insisted, slapping Archer on the shoulder.
He chose to ignore her again. "When I attacked the figure in my dream, I attacked CJ in real life… I nearly strangled her… I had no control… Until I woke up, at least…"
Solomon burst out laughing. "Hahaha!" It was a joyless and malicious sound. "Oohh… I needed that… Thank you, Archer boy…"
"So?" Lancelot inquired. "What's happening to him? I had accounted for ramifications of the spell, but none of this magnitude. Archer acted without intention. He carried out his actions as if he was still being controlled by you. This is no longer the case… You no longer possess your magic. Your ties with Archer should be broken!" His voice became louder the longer he went on, his face turning slightly red as well.
Solomon kept smiling and shrugged. "Maybe CJ was snoring and my minion got annoyed?"
CJ kicked at the barrier. "Shut up!"
"This is your first and final warning, Solomon." Ben sneered. "Answer truthfully and respectfully, or we will take drastic measures."
Lancelot tapped his briefcase.
Solomon sighed in a clearly exasperated fashion. "Fine… Fine! You'll get the truth, but I will talk to you however I want… I'll bow to you only after I'm six foot under. Okay, so… Archer boy… Were you conscious when you strangled CJ?"
Archer gulped. "No."
"And when you regained consciousness, did you stop?"
Archer nodded.
"How far did you get? Was her face all blue? Did she let out those hilarious little gasps for mercy?" Solomon's eyes twinkled.
"Bastard!" CJ again kicked the barrier.
"Solomon!" Mal snapped.
Solomon raised his hands defensively. "Just looking for the spicy details… But, fine… Do you ever have black-outs, Archer boy? Periods during the day when you had no clue where you were or what you did?"
Archer tried his best to recall if any such incidents had occurred in the past months, but he could not think of any. "No."
Solomon seemed disappointed. "No? Not a single time you suddenly found yourself covered in dirt or blood in a place unfamiliar to you?"
Archer got a little nauseous. "No." He responded with more conviction.
Solomon sighed. "Ah, well… You can't win 'em all…"
"So, what does this mean?" Ben asked, looking between Solomon, Archer and Lancelot. "What's wrong with Archer?"
"Nothing." Solomon spoke clearly with a small smile. "I simply did one hell of a number on him, and his weak, pathetic mind is still reeling from the experience."
"Don't you dare!" CJ called out.
"What? You wanted the truth? I'm ready to give it to you… Simply because I know it'll only make you pathetic lot even more miserable than you already are…" Solomon cackled. "The simple truth is that Archer boy spent too long as my puppet. I was a leech, latched onto him and draining him of everything that he held dear… I enforced my will onto him. He was an extension of me! My will! My desires! My convictions and my being!" He came closer to the barrier, standing right opposite Archer.
Archer balled his fists.
"And, like it or not, Archer boy, little has changed. Sure, you managed to break our connection, but the part of me in control of you never left. It has remained there, and will continue to do so, festering and digging in like an old wound… Even I didn't know my spell was this strong, but it has surpassed my wildest expectations… You have really made my day… It seems like we're bound together for eternity, Archer boy…"
"You miserable snake!" CJ snapped, furious with anger. "Archer has broken free from you! We have broken free from you! We want nothing to do with you! Go rot in hell!"
But Solomon just kept smiling maniacally. "Already there, princess… But knowing I will continue to cause you misery truly warms my heart…"
"You have no heart." Mal sneered. She had gone pale, but her eyes were smoldering.
Solomon just kept cackling.
"What is the cure?" Lancelot spoke up, his voice loud. "The counter-spell? The way to release Archer from your hold? You either tell us, or we'll force the answer out of you!"
Archer and the others looked a bit uneasy at Lancelot's words, but said nothing.
Solomon stopped laughing, though a grin persisted. "The spell I used on dear old Archer is ancient black magic, straight from the depths of Bald Mountain and concocted by the servants of Chernabog himself, my father included."
"We don't need a history lesson…" Mal began, before Solomon interrupted her.
"My point is…" He snarled. "Why would these glorious and powerful beings ever bother with creating a counter-spell to their most malicious creations?"
Everyone fell silent, much to Solomon's visible enjoyment.
"You have confiscated all my spell books, correct? Go ahead. Study them front to back if you haven't already. I promise you will not find a single chapter, paragraph or even the slightest reference to any sort of counter-spells… Use your heads, you imbeciles! These spells were made by villains! We don't poison you and then give you the antidote… No… We want to see you go down… We want to see you suffer and crumble…"
Archer swallowed heavily, his balled fists trembling.
"Lance?" Ben mumbled. "Is he right? Did you examine his books?"
"Of course I did." Lancelot replied. "And he is correct. None of his texts cover counter-spells, antidotes or healing properties of any kind. Only dark and terrible magic."
"The best kind…" Solomon grinned widely and spitefully.
"I say we use the more persuasive method anyway." Mal spat, a scowl on her face. "Make sure he's telling the truth."
Solomon turned to her, his eyes burning. "You would torture a prisoner who complied to all your demands? How very villainous of you, princess, I'm impressed… It won't get you any results. I have been honest with you this entire time. It's not my fault that the spells I used on dear old Archer are working even better than advertised…"
Archer was trying his best to stay calm and composed; a difficult task given all he was forced to deal with. The panic that was gnawing at him threatened to overwhelm him. He had spent the past months hoping for and working towards a complete recovery. He had convinced himself that, with time and effort, he could someday leave all his misery behind him and get back to his former self. Now, the person who had caused him all this pain was teasing him about the prospect of never getting better, and he was doing so with an insufferable smirk.
"So…" Archer spoke up before anyone else could. All his associates turned to him with worried expressions, while Solomon just kept grinning. "You're telling me there's no cure? There's no way to make this go away?"
Solomon shrugged, his expression one of amusement and indifference. "None that I know of, and that's the delightful truth…"
"Great." Archer muttered before abruptly turning around and stomping away, down the winding stairs of the lighthouse. His friends called after him, but he ignored them as he made his way outside. He was shaking in anger and frustration.
He had to process all the new information he had learned over the past hour, but he could not do so in front of Solomon. The last thing he wanted to do was break down in front of his greatest enemy.
The waves were still battering the rocky shore of the lighthouse's tiny island, with foam and droplets of seawater constantly splashing him. Several soldiers greeted him as he made his way past them, but he did not even acknowledge them. He went to stand on the edge of the rock. The wind and salty air felt refreshing, especially after spending time in Solomon's claustrophobic prison.
"What was that!?" A voice called out from behind him. CJ joined him at his side, her blonde locks swirling around her head in the wind.
"What?" Archer shrugged, his voice small.
"What do you mean 'what'? You walking off… That's not like you…"
"Can you blame me? I mean, it sounded like we were done… Solomon can't help me. And even if he could, it's not like he ever would."
CJ bit her lip. "Well… I mean, that's pretty much what we expected, no? Solomon's a vicious snake…"
"Still… That was a last bit of hope I clung to… Now I just have to accept that it's over…"
"Over? What's over?" CJ asked with a hint of fear in her voice.
"My life as I knew it…" Archer snapped, almost overcome by emotion. "I will have to keep living knowing that Solomon's darkness is forever tied to me, like a sleeping dragon threatening to awaken at any second…"
"You can still get better." CJ pleaded, reaching for his hand and grabbing a tight hold of it. "We still barely know anything about this curse, right? Who knows? Maybe, in time, you will get better all on your own… Just… Just don't give up, okay?"
It was heartwarming to Archer to see CJ show so much care for his wellbeing, but it also caused his doubts to grow. "I'm not planning on giving up, CJ… But… But I can't ignore this. I could have killed you… I don't want to take that risk again…"
"What are you saying?" CJ asked with a hint of both fear and anger.
"It means I can't be around you all the time anymore… Not when there's even the slightest chance I could hurt you again…" Archer spoke, trying his best to keep his voice steady.
CJ looked dumb-founded.
"For starters, I need to be isolated when I sleep… And, until I get better, it might be better for us not to, ehm, be together anymore…" Archer concluded, slowly pulling his hand away from her grasp.
"What!?" CJ's shrill shriek echoed over the rocky island.
Archer did not answer. He was too focused on not bursting out into tears of anger and sadness.
"Y-You're breaking up with me? You! Are breaking up with me? Here? Now?" CJ snapped, quickly turning red with fury.
"CJ, just please try to understand my position." Archer groaned. "It's not like I 'want' to do this! I love you, CJ! I am doing this because I love you!"
"You're breaking my heart because you love me!?" CJ sneered. "Well, excuse me for not patting you on the back!" Tears were glistening in her eyes.
"You will be in danger if you stay with me while I'm like this!" Archer fell out at her. "Don't you see that? If we go on like this, then I might wake up one morning and find out I strangled you in my sleep!"
"So? Archer, we have been sleeping in the same bed almost every night since the war. That 'incident' might have been just that… An incident…"
"But the risk…" Archer sighed. "The risk is too great… I-If doing this means you'll be safe, than I will be more than glad to do it."
"Well, I'm not." CJ stubbornly crossed her arms. "You always told me you were willing to fight for us. But I guess one setback is all that was needed to change the way you feel about me?"
"Nothing can ever change the way I feel about you!" Archer pleaded, trying his best to reassure her. "But I can't live with the thought of you getting hurt again… I won't stand for it…"
CJ appeared to be genuinely touched by his words for a fleeting second, but only a fleeting second, before her gaze turned to steel again. "I hated you, you know?"
"What?" Archer responded. If CJ was to improve his mood with some sort of pep talk, this was a strange way to start.
"After you died. After you sacrificed yourself to give everyone time to get out. I spent days hiding way, only thinking about you…" CJ's tone was still bitter, but also heartfelt. "I thought to myself that I could not hate you, not for doing something so heroic… But you did leave me, Archer… You left me, and I was not allowed to hate you, which only made me hate you more… I hated you so much… I hated how much I had grown to care for you… I wanted everything to just go away…"
Archer kept looking at her. They had talked about CJ's feelings following his death, but it was still a sore subject.
"And now you're telling me I have to live with you abandoning me again, just because you're scared?"
"CJ, that's not…" Archer sighed before getting interrupted.
"Tell me, Archer, do you think I'm weak?"
"What? No. Of course not."
"Then why no trust my judgement on this? You don't think I'm able to defend myself if push comes to shove?"
"You know I would always bet on you…" Archer tried to conjure up a slight smile. "But you heard what Lance said; I somehow manage to channel my magical energy, or whatever, and become freakishly strong whenever these episodes occur… And before you say anything…" Archer hastily went on when he noticed CJ trying to interject. "Not even you would be able to withstand that if you somehow got caught unaware…"
CJ bit her lip. "Archer…" She murmured, reaching for his hand. "If this, ehm, thing wasn't happening to us, you wouldn't want to distance yourself from me, right?"
Archer smirked. "CJ, if something else would try to come between us, I would never think of leaving your side…"
"So you trust yourself to protect me from others, not that I need protecting, by the way, but you don't trust yourself to protect me from, well, yourself?"
"Not when I have no control." Archer sighed.
"And you're willing to just give up on us right here and now? There's not a single bone in your body that still wants to fight for us?" CJ's tone became increasingly confrontational.
"I will never stop fighting for us!" Archer protested. "But right now, until I get better, the best way to make sure you don't get hurt is for you to stay away from me!"
"I thought our bond… Our, ehm, love made us stronger, or whatever…" CJ muttered. "Or was that a load of bullshit as well?"
"No." Archer replied in a small voice, before CJ again interrupted him.
"So why, when you're this vulnerable, do you not want me by your side? Isn't it more likely you'll get better if I'm right there with you?"
"But you could get hurt!"
"We can all get hurt every hour of every day!" CJ threw up her hands in an exasperated fashion. "Don't you remember all of us taking part in a somewhat disastrous and gruesome war only a few months ago? Archer, I've been in danger for most of my life. I have always been at risk of getting hurt! The only difference now is that I am voluntarily doing this… For someone I love…"
Archer felt his voice get caught in his throat as he looked deeply into CJ's eyes. He was starting to believe that she would never stop amazing him.
"What did I ever do to deserve someone like you?"
CJ smirked and shrugged somewhat cockily. "I am pretty amazing, aren't I?"
Archer sighed. "This will not be easy. I have never done anything like this. Lance has never done anything like this… My guess is there'll be a lot of sleepless nights and difficult days ahead…"
"I'm used to those." CJ argued. "And I realize that this probably won't be fun… And it'll probably take a while… It won't be a cakewalk… But I'm still gonna be here, by your side, through all of it…"
Archer realized at long last that, no matter how much he could try to dissuade her and warn her of the misery that undoubtedly awaited them, CJ would always follow her own path and make her own decisions. This path, he was surprised and happy to discover, very much included him.
He leaned in and kissed her, the by now familiar sweet and warm feeling rapidly spreading through his chest.
"You feeling better?" A voice shouted, the wind and waves almost drowning it out.
Lancelot exited the lighthouse, followed closely by Ben and Mal. They all looked worried and apprehensive. Mal was furthermore still red with what could only be anger.
"Yeah." Archer answered, placing his hand on CJ's shoulder. "I just needed a moment."
"I don't blame you." Mal muttered, her purple hair fluttering around her head. "I could strangle him… Honestly, I could…"
"Easy." Ben shushed her before turning to Archer. "We tried a little longer to get some more answers out of him, but we think he's been telling the truth. I'm sorry, Archer, but I don't think there's any sort of all-out remedy available out there."
"I took that possibility into account." Archer nodded. "It stings a little, not gonna lie, but I'm also confident for a positive outcome."
"So, you two worked something out?" Mal inquired, her gaze switching between Archer and CJ.
"Yep. I'm not gonna leave his side." CJ proudly replied.
"I'm not sure if that's the wisest-" Lancelot began.
"I don't care!" CJ interjected. "Archer and I, we're strongest when we're together. It's been that way since we met, so, you know, why change a winning team?"
Ben smiled. Mal rolled her eyes. Lancelot still looked worried.
"I realize it's not ideal." Archer admitted. "But CJ is incredibly persistent. And, frankly, I agree with her on certain points. These are uncharted waters for me and for magic as a whole, correct? I think it'd be best if I stay close to those I love and gain strength from them as well."
"Well… I mean… Familiar surroundings will most likely be essential as a means for you to enter the headspace necessary to hopefully fulfill your rehabilitation…" Lancelot pondered. "I'm not necessarily opposed to it, but I also feel like I should point out that others, and especially CJ, if she's determined to keep sleeping in the same bed as you, are taking a significant risk just being around you."
"That will be up to them." Archer specified. "I am not planning on attending where I'm not wanted or where I pose too great of a risk, but I also won't forcibly retreat into solitude. I have healed from many injuries, but I have never been able to do so alone…"
"This is no regular injury." Lancelot emphasized.
"And I imagine it will not be a regular recovery." Archer acknowledged. "But I am determined to get better and resume living as ordinarily as possible…"
"Fat chance with the cards we've been dealt." Mal rolled her eyes. "We don't do ordinary, Archer."
"I said 'as ordinarily as possible'." He insisted. "Preferably without nightmares and violent episodes…"
"Take it from a villain kid who's had to deal with nightmares most of her life…" Mal began. "You don't want to rush things. There will be setbacks and such, but you'll just have to keep convincing yourself that this is something worth fighting for."
"And you're no stranger to practice and discipline either." Ben joined in. "I mean, hopefully, a strict regiment with specific exercises and such will help to train your mind as it has done for the rest of your body."
"I will also offer council and aid whenever you desire." Lancelot nodded. "And believe me when I say I will spend every possible second trying to find more ways to help you. You left us once, Archer, and I want to make sure you will not do so again until the time is right."
Archer hastily blinked some tears out of his eyes and conjured up a reassuring smile. He took a few seconds to simply look at the faces of the people around him. The people he loved. His gaze then wandered to the desolate rock, the harsh sea and the battered, old lighthouse. Solomon would spend the rest of his life in this terribly depressing place, while Archer would someday fully recover, always supported by his loved ones. It felt like some sort of poetic justice, the kind that always happened at the end of every fairytale his parents had ever read him when he was younger.
On the way back, Lancelot already scribbled down his plans for Archer's recovery. He recommended meditation and a lot of breathing exercises; anything to help him grain the upmost control of his mental state. He even mentioned hypnosis, hinting that Freddie could actually be a big help in that aspect as well. Archer was no stranger to meditation, remembering his training from Mulan, but he was somewhat apprehensive at the thought of hypnosis, unwilling to just outright surrender control of his mind to anyone at the moment.
Later that day, after the group had long exchanged the rocky island for the comforts of Auradon Prep, Archer again contemplated.
He sat on the edge of the crowded courtyard, watching as Jay and Aden took turns juggling soda cans. CJ sat next to him, her head on his shoulder. His friends' behavior towards him was as normal as he could have hoped, given that they had seen him try to strangle CJ only a few days ago. He did notice a few looks of slight apprehension and even distrust being cast in his direction from time to time. He made a decision.
"CJ, do you want to hit the hay?"
She raised her eyebrows, both surprised and slightly apprehensive. "You sure? It's still early…"
Archer nodded. "I-I just feel like I need to try something, is that okay?"
CJ looked intently at him for a few seconds before nodding herself. They said their goodbyes to their friends before heading upstairs. Archer could not shake a slight discomfort as they got ready for bed. His heart was beating fast.
"CJ, can you try to stay awake for a little while? After I've gone to sleep, I mean."
She again nodded. "Sure, whatever you want."
They cuddled up next to each other under the covers. Archer's breathing steadied as he felt CJ's reassuring warmth and traced circles on her shoulder with his thumb. He felt himself doze off quickly, probably because he hadn't had a good night's sleep in a few days.
The surroundings were the same. Streaks of bright colors whirling around him as a constant rushing sound filled his ears. Archer took a deep breath as he turned around, knowing what awaited him. The grotesque being that wore his skin was back, but it looked smaller and slightly vague, as though Archer was looking at it through a foggy window.
"Weak…" The creature croaked, its voice hoarse and squeaky. "You're weak…"
Archer did not back down, nor did he lash out at the creature. "And you're fading." He replied. "Your grip on me is lessening."
The creature scowled, baring its pointy teeth. It raised a claw-like hand with sharp, unkept nails. "You will feel my grip on your throat, you insolent-"
"Enough!" Archer shouted. His voice echoed throughout the dreamscape, making his surroundings tremble as though it were caught in an earthquake.
The creature's dark eyes widened in apparent shock.
"I will not lie down willingly and let you torment me any longer!" Archer spoke loudly as he approached the creature, which trembled and cowered. "I have fought too hard and for too long to allow pathetic worms like you to enact your will upon me! I am the master of my own mind. The master of my own fate. I am not alone, and I shall see you perish!"
The creature continued to whimper and slink back like a beaten dog. Archer's surroundings slowly took on more notable shapes, and the constant rushing sound slowly lessened in volume.
Archer took some deep breaths. His body tingled, as though slight jolts of electricity were passing through him. It felt strangely familiar, like a hug from an old friend.
"I will cling to you…" The creature gasped as it continued to scurry backwards, slowly disappearing from view. "You shall not get rid of me so easily… I am a parasite… I will feed off of you… And when your guard is down, I shall make you perform the most heinous acts imaginable…"
Archer scoffed, knowing it would enrage the creature. "I would urge you to try, but it will not make a difference. I am stronger than you. I know I might not yet be able to cast you out completely, if that day ever comes, that is… But I can control you. I can keep you at bay."
The creature let out a high-pitched roar, but Archer remained unimpressed.
"There is nothing for you here. Not tonight, and not ever. You would be wise not to return. Now, go!"
The creature kept stubbornly growling.
"Go!" Archer repeated.
His surroundings took on more solid shapes. Grass. Trees. He found himself in a tranquil forest. The creature backed down even more, withering away like a snake into its hole. Archer kept imagining the faces of his loved ones, drawing strength from them. He felt a prickling sensation in his eyes and realized they were glowing, even inside his dream.
The creature let out one more shrill shriek before it disappeared entirely. Archer let out a deep breath. His heart was beating rapidly and he was sweating profusely. Despite his bravado and confidence, Archer was extremely relieved that the ordeal was over, for now at least. He looked around. The forest around him appeared to slowly dissolve, but not in a dark or malicious way. Archer wondered if he could wake himself up.
He closed his eyes and tried to steady his breathing.
It was easier than he had expected.
The next second, he found himself lying in CJ's bed, looking up at the ceiling.
"Archer? Are you awake?" CJ asked in a soft tone.
Archer looked to his left, finding himself face-to-face with CJ. She looked somewhat scared.
"You were struggling a little in your sleep." She immediately explained. "A-And then your eyes started glowing again… I-I wasn't sure if I had to go get someone… I didn't…"
"It's okay." Archer immediately reassured her, reaching out to stroke her cheek, a gesture that visibly calmed her. "I'm okay…"
CJ breathed a sigh of relief. "So, what? Did you do something? Did you have another dream?"
Archer nodded and briefly explained the events of his dream, complete with descriptions of the things he thought about and how he had tried to implement meditation inside his dream.
CJ's smile grew bigger with every second. "So, now what? Are you cured?"
"I don't think so." Archer murmured. "But I think I can control it now. It still takes some effort, but I hope it will get easier with time."
"And your eyes were glowing again, but this time you did not fly into a fit of rage." CJ encouraged him.
Archer nodded. "I think… I might be able to control that, my magic, as well… It feels like I can channel it somehow. The same way I used to do through Excalibur. Only now I just use, you know, my body…"
"Awesome! If this means you'll be more of a sparring partner again, I'm all for it!"
"Woah, I mean, it's still early days... I have never been able to do something like this... I'll have to ask Lance... Who knows, maybe Freddie can even help me understand all of this better..." Archer started rambling, overwhelmed by all the opportunities that lay within reach.
CJ put a finger to his lips. "Just, shush, will you? Let's just enjoy the moment..."
"And a sparring session tomorrow?" Archer smirked.
CJ squealed in delight as she leaned in to plant a passionate kiss onto his lips.
Archer couldn't help but smile broadly as he kissed CJ back. He could not wait to let his friends know that he had overcome his demons, but for now, he was happy to share this brief moment of peace with the person he loved most.