Monique
Two…maybe three weeks had gone by since the incident had occurred. It’d been the first time in a long time that she felt at peace. The more memories she was able to obtain, the smaller Ezekiel shrank. She couldn’t understand this wonderful phenomena, but she was glad something was being done about him. However, she experienced an unsuspecting backlash, thus eliminating any signs of peace she was trying to conquer. When she’d finally be done for the day, drifting on and off to dreamland, memories of her past life would surface as nightmares. They lingered in the background of her mind throughout the night. Soft screams bellowing all across the battlefield, as if she had never left that god awful place. Her eyeballs darted back and forth as sweat came profusely from every pore that could produce it.
: Murderer!!
: Devil!
: Please, save us.
Voices of Dr B would surface in the foreground of her mind. Voices that always edged her on, voices that pushed her over the edge.
Dr. B: You’ve done well, my Goddess of Death.
He’d whisper that to her over and over, as if attempting to persuade her into the glory of battle. But the screams, the cries, the agony of the innocent plagued her mind and soul that it was too much for her to bare. That’s why she ran. That’s why she never wanted to come back.
Echoing voices continued to distort across her thoughts. Eventually, it led to her piercing her eyes wide open. She did not want to chance another memory from her time at Twilight Baleful, so she immediately rose up and tried to regain her consciousness. Sweat continued to formulate as she tried to distract herself with the night light that constantly drifted between softer shades of blue, green and purple. It was almost sufficient, almost. The screams of peril softly rang across her mind. She slipped out of her room, cursing at Ezekiel and sluggishly roamed around the house.
Ben had once said that the house Lee had purchased was more of a castle, and she found that he wasn’t entirely wrong about that. The room she inhabited was a lot closer to one of the kitchens which was adjacent to one of the living rooms that led to one of many, many, exits. Jesus Christ, why on God’s good green Eridelium did he even purchase this? She’d think to herself while perusing down the hallways.
Eventually she would wander aimlessly until wandering became reminiscing. Yet, this was her first time exploring the castle. Most nights she’d spend in the kitchen struggling to make tea only to have Lee help as the sounds of the fire alarm would wake him up. She was determined not to bother him for anything. Still, somewhere in the back of her head, she had wished she could ask impossible questions she would never be able to get answers to. Questions that Lee would never have answers to. Like, why’d the hallways looked so familiar? And, why’d her feet take her to a secluded garden? Why did it feel so intentional to go the way she went? Was she purposely guided to the garden? The same garden from the painting? Did she know all along where it was? Or was it just coincidental? She’d wander around the field of blossoming roses, lilies, irises, violets, and tulips. She was in awe. Everything felt as if it had a purpose. As if it were significant to be there. A sense of peace danced along with the light winds that carried the floral scent.
Yet, as soon as she’d felt those words coursing through her veins, she felt the presence of two people. She quickly hid herself behind an oak tree, carefully observing in on the conversation.
: Lord Faustus! Just what are you doing??
: Well, it’s very apparent that you do not want to be here Miss Persipnei. It’s best you leave before the court finds you.
Persipnei: But you asked me to be your bride. Your father literally requested it the day I was born! Why stop now??
Faustus: This was a life forced on you! Had I known my court was going to not only pressure you to follow along but try and imprison you, I would have sent you back myself.
Monique was taken aback as she glanced at the person called Lord Faustus. He looked so much like the man she saw in Lee’s consciousness, in other words, a demonic version of Lee. However, she could not see the girls face. All she could tell was that this Persipnei person had rosy, red wavy hair. A hue almost matching her own.
Persipnei: So, what if that’s how it happened! That doesn’t mean I don’t want to be here!
Faustus: Do you not understand!? I do not want to force this life nor these feelings I have for you!!!
Persipnei: You…
She punched him square in the jaw. Faustus recoiled in confusion as Monique softly gasped.
Persipnei: You’re a bloody idiot! I don’t care how we met! I don’t care what the circumstances were! You…you gave me a place to belong…you…you gave me a home…and now you want to take that away!? You’re such an arsehole!
Faustus: I-
Persipnei: You didn’t consider my feelings at all. I wasn’t lying to you when I told you that you and I shared the same kind of loneliness. I-I thought that if you were okay with it and that I could stay by your side. That I could be with you until you no longer needed me.
He gently pulled her in for an embrace. Monique’s heart was beating fast. It was as if she could feel what Persipnei was feeling. Monique wondered what connection they shared or if the powers she had also allowed her to feel someone else’s feelings.
Faustus: You see, I love you too much to put you through this. I did not wish to be selfish I –
At this point, Monique felt she was intruding in on a private moment between the two. She desperately desired to make a steady exit. However, her curiosity was slowly taking over. She wanted to know who they were and what they were doing here. She also wanted to know how a demon that was supposedly intertwined with Lee was able to have a physical manifestation. Unfortunately, her attempts to reach them were futile. They had disappeared, leaving no trace of their existence. How do people suddenly appear and disappear? It would have been more explainable if it had occurred in that maze of a castle but out here? In the opening? Bizarre. As she pondered their existence, she heard footsteps approaching her. She turned to see a sleep deprived Lee.
Lee: Oy! What are you doing out here so late at night?
Monique: Eh? Di-did you happen to see two people pass by?
Lee: Two people? At this hour?? Are you insane? Day dreaming? Sleep walking perchance?
Monique: What? No! I’m being serious.
Lee picked up Monique and hoisted her over his shoulders.
Lee: Uh-huh. Sure, you are. Come on. I’m taking you back to your room, crazy.
Monique: Hey! Put me down! I’m not crazy!! And I can walk on my own!!
Lee: I just want to make sure you don’t get lost. This place is a maze to get through.
Monique: Then why the hell did you buy this place?
Lee: Felt like home.
Monique: Wasn’t it like crazy expensive??
Lee: No? I think?? I’m not sure. The locals did say this place was haunted. I think that probably lowered down the price? Yennoe, I don’t really know the cost of things now that I think about it…
Monique: HAUNTED!?!?!??! Why!?? Why would you buy something that’s haunted??
Lee: Like I said, felt like home.
Monique: And I’m the crazy one.
Lee: Of course, you are. Only crazy people would be out gardening at 2 am.
Monique: I wasn’t gardening!
Lee: Sure, you weren’t.
Monique: I wasn’t! And can you please put me down now?
Lee opened the door to her room and placed her down. He then proceeded to sit on the floor, resting his head on the edge of her bed.
Monique: You can go now.
She sat on her bed, her legs dangling right next to his head.
Lee: Sure, you’re not going to randomly wander around the hallway and chase ghosts?
Monique: Damn, was I that obvious?
She proceeded to angle herself onto a lying position, folding her legs closer to her bum.
Lee: Just go to sleep. You’ve got school tomorrow. Shant be late for that.
Monique: Ugh. I almost forgot. An 18-year-old going to what feels like high school. Loads of fun I’ll have.
Lee: Yeah! You’ll make loads of friends and maybe get a boyfriend.
Monique: Just in time for prom!?
They both laughed.
Lee: I’m surprised you even know what prom is.
Monique: I may have been deprived but I snuck into enough people’s houses to figure out what that whole mess was.
Lee: So, is school giving you the first day jitters? That why you can’t sleep?
Monique: Sure…nothing gets by you.
Lee: Ha-ha. Wanna tell me what happened?
He looked at her. Her eyes hurried to look the other way.
Monique: Just the usual. The more I can try to remember things, the more Ezekiel loves to stick the past in my face. He tries really hard to remind me how much of a horrible and terrible person I am. Futile attempts to remain relevant, I guess.
Lee: If only I could sock that kid in the face. Why is his existence such garbage?
Monique: He was probably born that way. Who knows? I mean why is Alice such a B?
Lee: You can be an adult about it and call her a bitch.
Her eyes met his. She had a feeling his glare never left. As if he’d been attentive to her every word.
Monique: Is it alright if I ask if she’s all gone form your head?
Lee: Yeah…just about. Kind of felt good about it. Like a whole weight was lifted off of me.
Monique: Must…must be nice…to…to have that sort of silence.
She yawned.
Lee: Go to sleep.
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
Monique: You…first…
She closed her eyes. It was as if the news itself made her relaxed enough to fall asleep.
Lee
He rose up from his position and sat back down on her bed, gently caressing her face, and gently replacing the loose hair strands back to behind her hair. He felt too relaxed and lied down in the open space next to her, drifting off into an awkward slumber.
He felt as if he were floating through drifting particles that were just passing on by. Slowly yet surely the particles grew in size and gathered, building a place all too familiar. The mansion he grew up in was all in one piece. No burn marks. No sense of destruction. The garden his mother ran was at peak bloomage. Spring was very much in the air. Peace at its purist setting. He wandered in and all about the safest place he had ever known and crept on in his hallway of memory. He hadn’t been here since Alice had been around. He just wanted to ensure the entirety of her existence was gone. That the only thing left plaguing his mind was in fact the demon he was bound to. A creature who’s name he never bothered to learn. A being whose existence is a rather troubling one.
When he found himself at the center of the hallway, he saw the thing in a form that mirrored his own. But it had horns and narrower eyes. Minus those features, the thing looked much like him in all of the ways Monique described.
Lee: Can I help you?
: She’s nothing like Persi…is she?
It had been staring at the memory of when Lee first met Monique.
Lee: What are you doing here?
:She’s much more timid when she isn’t putting on a brave face. Much more haunted than I would like…
Lee: Don’t talk about her like you know her!
It turned to face him, staring at him in the eye.
: You love her…don’t you?
Lee: Don’t talk to me like you know me!
:Haven’t I had that right, Lee? You have all the luxuries of avoiding me, but I cannot say the same for myself.
Lee: That’s because I hate your guts.
: Do me the courtesy of at least using my name once.
Lee: No.
: It’s Faustus. Lord Faustus to be exact.
Lee: I don’t fucking care.
The thing called Faustus sighed.
Faustus: I would not like me either. Can I ask you a question?
Lee: No.
Faustus: Would you have let her go if you knew keeping her with you would have been her demise?
Lee: Shut up. I don’t even know what you’re talking about.
Faustus: Maybe you won’t have to understand at all. Just…do yourself a favor. Protect her. Even if it costs you everything.
Lee: If you even touch or go near her I’ll –––
Faustus: Protect her, please.
It starred at him with so much sorrow and pain and agony. As if the creature had experienced enough for several lifetimes. All of these bitter cruel emotions coursed through Lee. Was it their bond between each other that he felt just as much as the creature before him? Or was it because deep down inside, Lee was actually sympathizing the creature.
Faustus: And whatever you do…do not…do not go in that room.
Words uttering out of Faustus’ lips soon sent Lee to a pearl white door with floral patterns carved on the sides. He inspected every corner of the entrance, wondering where he was in the first place. His thoughts soon were interrupted by a feint scent of iron. It was all too familiar. He looked down at his hands to see that they were perfectly clean, but the floor underneath was flooded with blood. Maniacal laughter echoed all about.
[https://i.pinimg.com/564x/26/c3/f0/26c3f0b03ade80bff91fa1f3803ee254.jpg]
His eyes pierced wide open as a jolt shocked him awake. He got up and saw how peaceful she was in her deep sleep. A sigh of relief lifted his worries away. It was just a nightmare. It wasn’t real. He’d cling to those thoughts as if they were his only saving grace. He lied back down, this time facing her. He didn’t once think about the repercussions this may bring. Or the fact that any sane person would have left the room. He only thought how much calm she had brought into his life. How much he probably did not want to go back to his own bed. The spot right next to her was the only place of comfort he ever needed. Slowly yet surely, he fell back asleep. Back to the pleasant dream land he hoped to attain this time around.
Monique
Very few things spooked Monique in the morning. One of them was being physically dragged into constant battle, training, and torture. Another was being caught and being brought back to Twilight Baleful. And alas, now a brand-new fear had developed. She had no idea that a boy, whom she was rapidly becoming familiar with, would be the one to develop it. A person she caught herself falling for. A person who was sleeping oh so peacefully right beside her.
Her bed was indeed big enough to fit her and another person, yet she didn’t think it also be small enough for Lee to be THIS close to her. So close to her that she could literally smell him and feel his warmth. So close that she could hear his breathing and heart beating so rhythmically. Her face flushed red as her mind went into panic mode. What do I do what do I do what do I do??? What Do I do???? As her thoughts went hysterical as he wiggled closer to her. By some odd strength and power, she viciously pushed him off the bed.
Lee: ...ow…
Monique: PLEASE GET OUT.
Lee
He had been profusely apologetic. Every sentence he spoke just ended with one sorry after another.
Monique: It’s okay. Just please don’t do it again.
Lee: augh. This is embarrassing. I’ve almost made you late for your first day at the academy.
Monique: I could’ve teleported there. You didn’t have to drive me here.
Lee: Generally, people don’t teleport the way you do. Besides, I need to be here to help the teach set up for sword fighting lessons.
Monique: Anyway, I can crash the class?
Lee: Maybe at lunch? Also, you really didn’t have to war the uniform.
Monique: What? It doesn’t look good on me does it?
She sported a short-sleeved button up tee with a rustic vermillion bow and a red and black pleated skirt with black leggings. A tinge of blush shaded his upper cheeks.
Lee: N-never said that. I-I was just saying you didn’t have to. It’s pretty unusual for an invited guest to wear the uniform.
Monique: I really wanted too though! I thought I’d look cute in it too! Don’t you agree?
Lee was too flustered to even answer. Monique chuckled, figuring that was the answer she had to accept. As they approached the widened steps. Monique kept teasing Lee about it as he fumbled with his words. I can’t even stay cool around her. How can I not like her? Thoughts swirled all throughout his head. It was as if every braincell he had was just focused on her. Like nothing else in the world mattered. I just want to see the world through her eyes, and her eyes only. I really wish I could have found her a lot sooner.
At the top of the steps, he caught her astonished gaze. Her eyes were tangled up in the details of the landscape and architecture. The entrance was littered with blossoming alliums. The emblem that sat above the opened gates was that which looked like a shield with a phoenix surrounded by four sprites. Upon closer inspection, each sprite held different attributes. One of a sword, one of a cross, one of a bow, and one with a stone tablet. To the left and right of the much larger emblem laid many smaller ones.
Monique: What are those?
Lee: Protection spells and runes.
Monique: Protection? From what?
Lee: Demons and monster attacks mostly. There’s also a lot of groups that still oppose the idea of allowing outsiders to learn magic. As well as groups who weren’t too keen on the idea that all types of magic should be taught to other clans.
Monique: Do attacks on the school happen normally?
Lee: Nell’s made those nearly impossible since implicating techno magic. So, you should be fine. Hopefully nothing will trigger your PTSD.
As she awkwardly laughed, one of the professors came up to introduce themselves. She had short blueberry hair and some notable facial tattoos underlying her amber eyes. She was Professor Layla who teaches runes, alchemy and the theory of ancient and chaotic magic.
Monique
She had asked Lee why Monique was in the school’s uniform.
Lee: Uhm…she umm…
Monique: I’ve never been to a proper school before…and well I thought since I’ll be coming here, I might as well try the uniform. But if its too much I’ll stop wearing it after today.
Layla: Of course! Lee, Sensei Guillermo will be meeting you in the training hall.
Lee: Gotcha! Take care of her for me!
As Lee left the two of them alone, Layla’s eyes gleamed with curiosity.
Layla: If you don’t mind me asking, did you really bend the earth the other day???
Monique: Y-yeah…
Layla: Fascinating!! Do you bend other elements as well?
They began walking towards the lecture halls as Monique carefully tried to piece together answers. She had felt as if she wasn’t being probed like the scientists at T.B had did day in and day out but instead as a fascinated person gawking at a rarity. Many students didn’t blink twice at Monique. They were all too busy figuring out their own spells to gawk at a newcomer.
Monique: Yes, with ease might I add.
Layla: Interesting! Have you casted a spell before? What kinds of spell circles do you have to use? Or do all the elements share the same one? Can you do bend metal? Can you cast enchantments!?
Monique: Uhh I…I don’t know. I can just sort of do them.
Layla: Oh! I guess what I am asking is how does magic work for you?
Monique: I’m not quite sure. The way I was told was that I can manipulate stuff at a molecular level but that’s kind of hard for me to grasp. Like I can change organic and inorganic material. But I’m not quite sure how I’ve done it. It just kind of feels like…
Layla: Like second nature?
Monique: yeah.
Layla pondered Monique’s response as they walked into the lecture hall. Monique was taken aback to how many people had littered the seats all around.
Monique: Whoa.
Layla: A lot of people huh?
Monique: I’m not used to it.
She awkwardly laughed.
Layla: That’s fine. If you ever need to be excused out for fresh air, you are more than welcomed to!
As the students began to settle down, Layla placed notes onto a podium. She cleared her throat and proceeded to introduce Monique.
Layla: Good morning class! We have a very special guest today who’s more than eager to learn the theories of ancient and chaotic magics. Please give a warm welcome to Ms. Monique.
Scattered claps resounded the hall. Whispers soon covered the silence as Monique was offered a seat up front next to a blonde haired and azure eyes girl. Fake smiles and empty gestures lingered in her mind. Oh, how it felt like home. A sudden sharp whisper beckoned and bellowed from ear to ear. A string of words that once painted her traumatized childhood soon followed. It was as if she couldn’t escape it or rather it stalked her from Earth to Eridelium. A five letter phrase that sent chills up her spine and reminded her of the days where she’d sit quietly in the backs of SUV’s and airplanes as she never once felt part of anything. This time it was different. Instead of flowing from the rivers above, slapping her across the face it came from the valleys behind, nervously pushing her forward. That god forsaken phrase of:
What makes her so special?