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Veronaville, 1461
“These scars long have yearned for your tender caress
To bind our fortunes, damn what the stars own”
“Rend my heart open, then your love profess
A winding, weaving fate to which we both atone”
“You flee my dream come the morning
Your scent - lemon tart, earthy fresh”
“To dream of raven locks entwisted, stormy
Of amber eyes, glistening as you weep”
“The wolf I will follow into the storm
To find your heart, its passion displaced”
“By ire ever growing hardening into stone
Amidst the cold to hold you in a heated embrace”
How long has it been since he saw her last? Four centuries? He had stopped counting when he had seen her by his grave.
To Grim Reaper, the personification of Death, seeing her again, up there on the stage, was like seeing her for the first time. He could still remember the day, even if his human memories were hazy…
“Are you aware that your Magelight gives you away, peeping tom?”
“…Shit.”
How long has it been since he saw her last? Four centuries? He had stopped counting when he had seen her by his grave.
To Grim Reaper, the personification of Death, seeing her again, up there on the stage, was like seeing her for the first time. He could still remember the day, even if his human memories were hazy…
“Are you aware that your Magelight gives you away, peeping tom?”
“…Shit.”
Human. Average. Not as skinny as she was accustomed to, though. Nobility, perhaps? Lolita Gossamer had never understood humans’ inability to equally share wealth.
Regardless, she immediately disliked him. He stank of corpses. And considering his use of Magelight, that could only mean one thing.
“I’m really sorry!” he yelled from across the water. “I d-didn’t mean to stare or anything!”
“Sure you didn’t, necromancer.”
“I’m really sorry!” he yelled from across the water. “I d-didn’t mean to stare or anything!”
“Sure you didn’t, necromancer.”
Ignoring the nagging question he had about how she knew he was a necromancer, he jumped onto the tone of her voice instead.
“Is there something wrong with me being a necromancer?”
“That depends. Do you raise soulless corpses and haunt people with them?”
“Uh…no.”
“Do you raise corpses with souls?”
“Goddess, no! That requires a lot of external energy. And well, if I were to do it here, the magic would come from this forest.”
Lolita raised her eyebrows. “So?”
“So,” Thanatos continued, “that would kill the forest. Or part of it. And this forest belongs to the fae. Or so says the rumours. I could not take that away from them.”
“Do you believe the rumours?”
Thanatos blushed. “Er, well, it is why I came here tonight. To see if the rumours are true. What about you? What are you doing out here?”
“This is my home.”
It took him a few seconds to grasp what she meant.
“Are you aware your presence is obvious, peeping tom?”
He knew he should not have lingered. But the nostalgia had gotten the better of him.
The fact that she had sensed him, however, was a surprise. Okay, only a little. But still a surprise.
He wondered if she knew. So he asked.
“Do I know who you are?” Lolita echoed. “Did you seriously just ask that?”
She approached him and reached out, as if to touch him. When her fingers grasped his bony ones a strange tingle spread through him, and his rib cage, where his heart would have been, constricted. He could taste the magic in the air.
“I always know who you are, Thanatos” she whispered.
That was when he noticed his reflection in her eyes.
Dumbfounded, he wiggled his fingers. He was…human again. But how?
Oh. Of course.
He pulled away to test his theory. He could feel the magic brush his skin and then he was flesh no more.
“Goddess, no! That requires a lot of external energy. And well, if I were to do it here, the magic would come from this forest.”
Lolita raised her eyebrows. “So?”
“So,” Thanatos continued, “that would kill the forest. Or part of it. And this forest belongs to the fae. Or so says the rumours. I could not take that away from them.”
“Do you believe the rumours?”
Thanatos blushed. “Er, well, it is why I came here tonight. To see if the rumours are true. What about you? What are you doing out here?”
“This is my home.”
It took him a few seconds to grasp what she meant.
“Are you aware your presence is obvious, peeping tom?”
He knew he should not have lingered. But the nostalgia had gotten the better of him.
The fact that she had sensed him, however, was a surprise. Okay, only a little. But still a surprise.
He wondered if she knew. So he asked.
“Do I know who you are?” Lolita echoed. “Did you seriously just ask that?”
She approached him and reached out, as if to touch him. When her fingers grasped his bony ones a strange tingle spread through him, and his rib cage, where his heart would have been, constricted. He could taste the magic in the air.
“I always know who you are, Thanatos” she whispered.
That was when he noticed his reflection in her eyes.
Dumbfounded, he wiggled his fingers. He was…human again. But how?
Oh. Of course.
He pulled away to test his theory. He could feel the magic brush his skin and then he was flesh no more.
“You do not seem surprised by...this.”
The fairy smiled knowingly. “How did you think I knew it was you?”
“I do not understand.”
“I see you,” she replied, putting emphasis on the ‘see’.
“You mean, I look human to you? Even when we are not touching?”
She nodded. “Something like that.”
He would have frowned if he could.
He made a mental note to ask Her about it later.
Present day...
“Come in, come in!” Tango Caliente greeted his new neighbours excitedly.
“Dinner will be ready soon.”
“We’re also waiting for the kids.”
“Onward, my noble steed!”
He would have frowned if he could.
He made a mental note to ask Her about it later.
Present day...
“Come in, come in!” Tango Caliente greeted his new neighbours excitedly.
“Dinner will be ready soon.”
“We’re also waiting for the kids.”
“Onward, my noble steed!”
Nina had to refrain from snorting in amusement. “Are you going to ride him later?”
“I shall ride the both of you!” Don continued the charade.
“Why do I even hang out with you two?” Michael muttered under his breath.
“Why do I even hang out with you two?” Michael muttered under his breath.
“Greetings, peasants!” Don exclaimed.
“Ignore him,” Michael quickly stated.
“Michael?” Frida gasped.
“Frida!?” the trio gasped in return.
“Michael?” Frida gasped.
“Frida!?” the trio gasped in return.
It had been years. Michael would never forget the panicked call from Gunther Goth to Jocasta Bachelor all those years ago. ‘My father chased my sister out of the house. Is she with you?’
The answer had unfortunately been no. And Frida was never seen or heard from again. Gunther had later managed to squeeze information out of Victor Goth about Frida’s disappearance. The Goth patriarch had tried to marry her off and she had refused. Everyone knew Victor’s leanings towards violence, so it was not hard to imagine what happened afterwards.
To think she had fled to the safety of her estranged uncle’s home…and they had never considered the possibility. It was laughable.
She had aged. He knew the lack of grey in her hair was cosmetic. And yet somehow her unusual beauty remained.
A deep sorrowful sigh interrupted his inner thoughts. He could see she was fighting back tears.
“I knew this day would come,” Frida whispered.
“My beloved brother is dying,” she muttered. “And I did not even know.”
“How are Cornelia and Mortimer?” Frida asked, her sorrowful gaze still lost beyond the darkness outside the window.
“Well, considering the circumstances,” Michael replied. At least, he assumed they were doing alright. They weren’t alone, after all.
“I suppose I won’t be staying in Strangetown long then.”
“My beloved brother is dying,” she muttered. “And I did not even know.”
“How are Cornelia and Mortimer?” Frida asked, her sorrowful gaze still lost beyond the darkness outside the window.
“Well, considering the circumstances,” Michael replied. At least, he assumed they were doing alright. They weren’t alone, after all.
“I suppose I won’t be staying in Strangetown long then.”
‘Oh well, I’m the type of guy who will never settle down
Where pretty girls are, well you know that I’m around
I kiss ‘em and I love 'em cause to me they’re all the same
I hug 'em and I squeeze 'em they don’t even know my name’
Lolita inwardly snorted when the volume of the music turned up and blared through the paper thin walls into the staff room of the diner. Nicole must have just shown up. And she chose weird music from the wrong decade, again. Thank the Mother her shift was over.
“Er, Miss Lolita,” a deep voice came from the door. Bob Pancakes was fidgeting with his fingers, indicating he was either nervous or confused. “I know you just clocked off, but there are people here asking to see you.”
Lolita raised her eyebrows. “Oh?”
The diner was relatively quiet. The early morning rush had passed, after all.
“Er, Miss Lolita,” a deep voice came from the door. Bob Pancakes was fidgeting with his fingers, indicating he was either nervous or confused. “I know you just clocked off, but there are people here asking to see you.”
Lolita raised her eyebrows. “Oh?”
The diner was relatively quiet. The early morning rush had passed, after all.
“It’s that blonde lady and her companions, Miss Lolita. I recognise the blonde - she’s a regular customer,” Bob motioned to the group by the front door.
“I know the blonde too, and her male companion,” Lolita replied. “Thank you, Bobby.”
The man she had known since he was a boy smiled and nodded before wandering away.
Lolita wondered what Gunther’s son and his partner wanted with her. And who was the other woman with them?
Lolita joined them and took the chance to get a look at the stranger.
She blanched. That face…but it couldn’t be! This woman was not Assiah, Gehenna, or its original owner, so how?
“What?” Bella demanded when she realised she was being stared at.
“Nothing, sorry,” Lolita muttered. Could this woman be…?
Lolita cleared her throat and pushed the thoughts aside. She’ll worry about it later. “What can I do for you?”
“We need to ask you something,” Mortimer stated. “About my father.”
After telling Lolita most of the story, Mortimer finally asked the question they really wanted answered: “We think my father was cursed. We were hoping you may be able to confirm this. Did you sense anything when you visited?”
Lolita wondered what Gunther’s son and his partner wanted with her. And who was the other woman with them?
Lolita joined them and took the chance to get a look at the stranger.
She blanched. That face…but it couldn’t be! This woman was not Assiah, Gehenna, or its original owner, so how?
“What?” Bella demanded when she realised she was being stared at.
“Nothing, sorry,” Lolita muttered. Could this woman be…?
Lolita cleared her throat and pushed the thoughts aside. She’ll worry about it later. “What can I do for you?”
“We need to ask you something,” Mortimer stated. “About my father.”
After telling Lolita most of the story, Mortimer finally asked the question they really wanted answered: “We think my father was cursed. We were hoping you may be able to confirm this. Did you sense anything when you visited?”
Lolita stared at Gunther’s son, surprised. She knew that her youthful appearance would have raised their suspicions, but to have them identify what she was so quickly was impressive. Especially since she had none of the obvious physical attributes of her kind.
“How did you know?” she asked.
Dina immediately knew what the redhead meant. “I have,” she trailed off, inhaled sharply, and then continued: “I have alien blood. Fae minds are…harder to read.”
Dina expected to see disgust on Lolita’s face, perhaps even anger at having her mind invaded, but the redhead simply turned to her and looked at her with a kind and understanding expression.
“Yes,” Lolita finally breathed. “There was a darkness in Gunther’s blood.”
“Darkness in his blood?” Bella asked. “Do you mean blood magic?”
Lolita was about to answer, but they were interrupted by a knock on the door.
Dina immediately knew what the redhead meant. “I have,” she trailed off, inhaled sharply, and then continued: “I have alien blood. Fae minds are…harder to read.”
Dina expected to see disgust on Lolita’s face, perhaps even anger at having her mind invaded, but the redhead simply turned to her and looked at her with a kind and understanding expression.
“Yes,” Lolita finally breathed. “There was a darkness in Gunther’s blood.”
“Darkness in his blood?” Bella asked. “Do you mean blood magic?”
Lolita was about to answer, but they were interrupted by a knock on the door.
Lolita stood to open the door. She was greeted by the sight of an old friend.
“Jennicor?”
Jennicor Tricou did not miss the fact that her daughters’ friends were sitting inside by the dining table. She had not known they knew Lolita.
“I’m sorry to interrupt,” Jennicor said. “But we need to talk. Now.”
“The Queen is concerned about the series of Supernatural murders that has been happening in the city,” Jennicor said after they had stood in the rain in silence for several minutes. “She has summoned the Elders.”
Jennicor Tricou did not miss the fact that her daughters’ friends were sitting inside by the dining table. She had not known they knew Lolita.
“I’m sorry to interrupt,” Jennicor said. “But we need to talk. Now.”
“The Queen is concerned about the series of Supernatural murders that has been happening in the city,” Jennicor said after they had stood in the rain in silence for several minutes. “She has summoned the Elders.”
“Or, well, me, I suppose,” Jennicor muttered a few seconds later. Lolita was not looking at her, but Jennicor could see the redhead was confused.
“And why does The Circle care about Supernatural murders?” Lolita asked. “We cannot die.”
Jennicor was silent for a moment, then she sighed. “Zephyretta was attacked. She’s in a magic induced coma. Rose does not know when she will wake up.”
“I know there is bad blood between you two,” Jennicor continued. “But I thought you would want to know.”
Jennicor was silent for a moment, then she sighed. “Zephyretta was attacked. She’s in a magic induced coma. Rose does not know when she will wake up.”
“I know there is bad blood between you two,” Jennicor continued. “But I thought you would want to know.”
Lolita looked away, her mind racing. First Gunther, now Zephyretta. It was as if someone was trying to hurt her through those she cared for. She knew it was unlikely, but what if it was not a coincidence? What if something more sinister was going on?
“Thank you, Jennicor,” she finally whispered.
“Well,” Jennicor puffed. “I suppose I should get going. Shouldn’t keep the Queen waiting.”
“You’re right. We shouldn’t keep Her Majesty waiting.”
It took a few seconds for Lolita’s words to sink in. “Wait…we?” Jennicor echoed, surprised.
Lolita was smiling. “She did summon the Elders, did she not?”
The night air was chilly, but the cold no longer bothered Shannon Copur. A benefit of being undead. The intense smell of the dumpster behind her though…At times like this her enhanced sense of smell was not a good thing.
She silently prayed her contact would hurry up. Not just because of the dumpster, but because she was lingering in claimed territory. She did not wish to alert Vicki’s Court. She was already taking a risk by coming here alone without a disguise.
Luckily she did not have to wait much longer.
“Ah,” Shannon hummed. “So you are the witch Lady Elvira is assisting.”
Author's comments:
Yes, I am back! As always, the next chapter will be posted in parts on tumblr until it is done and will then be compiled here.
The first song in the chapter is an adapted version of Wolven Storm from The Witcher. The song played in the diner is The Wanderer by Dion.
“Ah,” Shannon hummed. “So you are the witch Lady Elvira is assisting.”
Author's comments:
Yes, I am back! As always, the next chapter will be posted in parts on tumblr until it is done and will then be compiled here.
The first song in the chapter is an adapted version of Wolven Storm from The Witcher. The song played in the diner is The Wanderer by Dion.
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