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aelin-queen-of-terrasen · 4 years

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𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐭 | 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 - 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞

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The day after the dinner party in the late afternoon, Celaena was whiling her time away by flipping through the pages of the latest monthly issue of the fashion magazine La Belle Assemblée when she recieved a note of invitation from Lady Towper, one of her recent acquaintances, to a walk in Hyde Park later that afternoon with her and Mrs Burnwell, another society lady Celaena had befriended. The wording made it quite clear it was more a summons than an invitation and having spent the morning by herself, Celaena was eager enough for company that she happily put down her magazine and called for her pelisse and outerwear with alacrity. Twenty minutes later she was roaming around the park when Lady Towper spotted her, gliding across the path—there really was no other way to describe her graceful movement—with an elegant swish of her skirts and a look of exaggerated distress on her countenance, followed by Mrs Burnwell who looked rather piqued. "Dear Miss Sardothein," cried the former, looping an arm around hers. "How glad I was to hear you accepted my invitation. I wanted to take a walk around the park, refresh myself and Mrs Burnwell recalled you were rather fond of exercise and suggested we take you along with us."

Celaena rather thought that on a fine weather such as this, the ladies' primary motive for a walk was perhaps to see and be seen by the upper ten-thousands of the ton, most of which had returned from their summer estates for the social season which was to start soon but said instead, "I am grateful for the invitation. Your Ladyship has quite rescued me from certain death at the hands of boredom."

The ladies tittered politely, protesting that it was no great sacrifice on their part and the trio walked along the paths making light conversation until Mrs Burnwell jerked to a halt with a pinched expression. "Mrs Whitethorn."

Though Celaena had only met the lady once, she had been left unimpressed and could not fault Mrs Burnwell for looking piqued.

Mrs Whitethorn did not improve on a second meeting - not that Celaena had had any expectations that she would - and participated as much in the conversation with as much fervor as a lifeless statue, making occasional noises of agreement and dissent. Celaena who prided herself on being able to draw someone out of their reserve met with failure at every turn and it was not long before the ladies ran out of polite remarks to exchange and their party took their leave. Celaena spotted a group of children from her neighborhood racing each other in a less scenic path around the park and soon abandoned all sorts of decorum to join in on the shouting.

"FASTER, TOM! FASTER, YES, A LITTLE FASTER!" cheered Celaena, bouncing up and down in excitement.

Her cheeks were flushed with exertion and her petticoats muddier than usual. She let out a high-pitched noise when little Thomas reached the finishing line and beamed. "I did it, I did it, I said I would, did I not? Oh, Cece, did you see me? I won!"

"You did very well, dear," said she, kissing his cheek. The smug look he sent his siblings' way had her struggling not to laugh.

"Yes, you won this time—" said his eldest brother in an arrogant tone, "—but I shall be the winner next time. Shall we play something else now?"

"Hide and seek!"

"Hopscotch."

"No! We must play cops and robbers today. You promised!"

"I want to play tag."

"We don't," said the twins simultaneously.

"Then blind man's buff?"

"I suppose we could—"

"Oh, no, I will not play that ever again."

Celaena smiled, watching the children argue over what they wished to do and looked at two children - presumably brothers - finely dressed and staring at the brood of children she was so fond of wistfully. "Here, you two, why don't you play?" asked she.

The younger boy beamed at the prospect but the elder looked uncertain.

He glanced over his shoulder anxiously biting his lip. "Oh, no, mama will be furious if we get our clothes dirty." But he looked at the noisy little children with such longing and he looked so serious in general with those deep blue eyes filled with sorrow and the brows that remained creased as if by default—more serious than a nine-year-old should be; he held himself with a ridiculous amount of poise, posture stiff and yet looked unsure of every little movement or sound he made, Celaena had a whimsical desire to have him enjoy himself.

"I shall tell you a secret," she gave him a conspiratorial wink. "It is healthy to disobey your parents once in a while."

The poor boy looked scandalized at the thought of disobeying anyone. When had he last had some fun? she wondered.

He looked at the boys again, then at his boots, properly polished and finely made, then straightened as if he had come to a decision. "I-I thank you, miss, but my brother and I shall take your leave now." The formal tone so became him, she was struck by the intelligence in his expression and the confidence of his words despite the apprehension evident in his posture. He continued in a softer tone, "Mama says it is not proper to talk to anyone without being introduced."

"Then perhaps we might perform the service ourselves since no one else can? I am Miss Celaena Sardothein of Raven Hall in Derbyshire." She curtsied formally, suppressing a smile.

"Oh." He looked down at his feet.

Celaena took pity on him and smiled. "It's alright, I shan't force you into anything. You are a good boy, dear, to obey your parents so." He looked so surprised, and blushed all kinds of red, though his chest did puff out a little. When had someone last praised him? Knowing there was no more she could do, Celaena was about to bid the child a farewell when a familiar figure rounded the corner.

"Papa!" cried the little boy, latching onto his father's leg.

Mr Whitethorn patted his head and gently freed himself to step forward. "Stephen, what have I told you about talking to—Miss Sardothein!" He jerked to a stop, then recalling himself, bowed to her. "I cannot say how surprised I am to see you."

"Are you really, sir?" asked she. "You know me to be unconventional. This is exactly the kind of place you should expect to find me in." She nodded towards the elder boy who looked vastly relieved to have someone else do the talking on his behalf and the younger who clung to his father for attention, bouncing on his toes. "These fine young gentlemen are your sons?"

He confirmed that they were.

"Perhaps you and your sons could join us for a while?" Both boys looked excited for such a prospect though one was more successful at hiding it than the other.

"Please papa?" asked the five-year-old.

Mr Whitethorn rolled his eyes fondly. "After recieving that look, I should not dare refuse."

The child hugged his father tightly, then ran towards the group of boys. They accepted him immediately, having settled on the blind man's bluff finally and noisily took up positions, directing and misdirecting the child with the blindfold.

His elder brother looked lost standing by the side. He looked down at his hands. "...And he has run off already."

"Why don't you join him?" she nudged gently. I know they will be happy to include you."

Stephen swallowed, looking at his father who had a neutral face on and turned to her. "I thank you, but no—" then at her stern look, he admitted, "I, I won't know what to say to them."

"Just say you want to play."

"But surely, I don't, oh, I am fine here."

Celaena signalled for him to offer her an arm and escort her there. When he refused, she said, "You know it is not gentlemanly to refuse to escort a lady somewhere, do you not?"

Stephen huffed but gave in.

Shs clapped to get everyone's attention. "This is Master Stephen Whitethorn and that—" she nodded towards the younger, "—is his younger brother, Master..."

"Charles," the boy happily supplied.

"Right. Master Charles Whitethorn." The boy grinned toothily. "Be nice to them."

Stephen blushed at the attention, standing stiffly as one by one the boys spoke their names. He half expected them to call him names like wuss or a dreadful bore like his cousins and friends always did but no one did. In fact, as long as he played well, no one cared how loud he shrieked or how often he stumbled on the tree roots or how dirty he had gotten. As every minute passed, he relaxed some more until he was laughing and jumping along with the others with no care for his clothes or boots which were already ruined. Mama would have his head if she found out, yes, and she would scold him until his ears bled but was not all this fun worth it? How often did he have such a chance? He looked back at the spot where his father stood beside the woman—Miss Sardothein—and noticed she was watching him. He rolled his eyes when she mouthed 'you are welcome' but could not help the smile that followed after.

"Poor boy," Celaena sighed to herself. "He is too shy, and he feels inferior to his brother."

Mr Whitethorn said, "He is wise beyond his years. I do not know what to do with him sometimes." He looked down at his feet, a gesture she recognised as evident in his eldest son. "You sound like one talking with experience but I cannot imagine you being shy at all." The concern expressed on his face touched her deeply and she had the strangest urge to smooth the wrinkles away from his forehead.

"I should imagine not." She chuckled. "Eleanor, my adoptive sister is very shy—not like your son, mind—but I have seen firsthand her longing to join in on the fun and her hesitance to act on it."

They watched the children play and he chuckled. "Their mother will have a fit if she finds them so muddied."

"Their mother," said Celaena, barely restraining herself from snorting. "I do not think your wife likes me, sir."

"I think that is a point in your favor, Miss Sardothein," he replied dryly, though his lips twitched. Had she paid more attention to her dance partners the evening of the Thorpe's ball or less occupied with Lord Fenrys' veiled hints, trying to figure out the meaning behind his pointed commentary and the suspicious dinner invitation she had accepted out of curiosity, she would not have been surprised by how handsome he looked. But indeed, occupied as she had been on the previous occassions, it was not until he smiled a little that she was taken completely by how well the expression of fondness became him, how his features so perfectly formed, looked more beautiful and pleasing than ever. She gasped at how beautifully his green eyes sparkled when he stood just so, with the sunlight shining in them and how gracefully he carried himself with a hint of pride that was not unbecoming on his noble mein. If at that moment he had told her he was a prince from the fairytales, she would have easily believed him.

"Are you well, Miss Sardothein?"

Celaena flushed bright red with mortification. "Oh, yes," she breathed out. She spent the better part of their afternoon walk attempting to squash the flutter in stomach by conjuring a confused, miserable Mrs Whitethorn waiting for her husband to return home. The trick did not work as well as she had hoped and when the sun started its descent, she was grateful to be able to part with some measure of equinanimity.

"You met who at a dinner party?" asked Lord Rhoe incredulously for the fifth time.

"Aelin." Seated across from his father in his private study and being the current object of the Earl's ire, James felt like the nine-year-old recieving a lecture from his father over one mischief or another when Rhoe could be bothered enough to care about something more than his next meal or the port supply. He had retreated into his own world soon after they lost his little sister and neither brother was inclined to give him more courtesy or respect than what was his due as a father. James felt he would have been perfectly justified in not informing his father of this discovery but he felt an uncharacteristic anxiety about her visit and was not inclined to risk her running into his ignorant father who would easily recognise her from afar. "Aelin was at the Thorpe's ball, the one my cousin and I attended recently, though we were not introduced. Fenrys ran into her at a nearby bookstore the other day and recognised her. Though I was initially sceptical and asked my solicitor to launch several inquiries into the girl in question and her family, Fenrys convinced me to meet her once and I—" there were hardly enough words to explain himself on this and James fell silent.

Lord Rhoe looked his disbelief.

"I know you do not wish for false hopes, sir, but I would not have come if I was not sure."

"I grieve her still," said Rhoe at last in a tone of gruff affection, "—and I know how it feels to latch onto hope but it is insanity to claim this-this madness—"

"It is not madness."

"You are letting your sentiments rule over reason. Aelin is dead, boy," said he, "and you had better drop this."

James was in no mood to drop it but Rhoe was overcome by a fit of coughs and slumped into his armchair. James rushed to his father, not sure what he would do but there was something so wrong about seeing his ever stoic, ever impassive father reduced to a fit of helplessness - no matter how small - like a common fragile old man that disturbed him greatly. James rubbed his father's back and called for a maid.

Rhoe tried to speak but a hoarse whisper was all that came out.

A maid stood at the doorway while the other rushed inside, fetching a glass of water from the pitcher. Rhoe drank it slowly, allowing the coughs to slowly fade.

"Aelin died," he choked out.

"You don't know that," reminded James gently. He was hesitant to press more but James wanted to clear this first hurdle before she arrived.

"I saw—I saw her body." Rhoe closed his eyes shut as if he was trying to block out a vision. "There was a body. Her body."

"Aelin disappeared," corrected James. "You found a body and identified it as hers but what if-what if it wasn't?"

"The magistrate found her anklet near the body. It was her. I saw the anklet."

James snapped his mouth shut. He had been nine when his sister disappeared and what little he knew about it was pieced together from eavesdropped bits of conversations and accidental slips from his uncle and aunt between the years. The Earl of Narrowcreek all but banned talk about Aelin in his home and neither son mentioned her for fear of his temper until memories of childhood acquired a dreamlike quality in his mind.

"The other anklet?"

"They never found it," said Rhoe.

James tried to consider his words carefully but . "I am aware my story sound like wishful thinking but I have—sir, I would not have believed my cousin if I had not seen her. She looks like my sister but more than that, she is-she is what I always thought Aelin would grow up to be: witty, charming and-and so wickedly clever." His words were more passionate than rationally thought out now but his father looked unaffected. James blew out a breath. "I invited her here for dinner, father. I wish to make Miss Sardothein aware of my-my suspicions. Despite what you say, something tells me I am right. I know I am. If you change your mind by dinner, you are welcome to join us tonight."

He thought his words might cause his father to at least promise to come; instead Rhoe latched onto another part of his sentence. "Miss Celaena Sardothein?!"

"The very one."

"You cannot mean to invite a tradesman's daughter into my house!"

"She is your daughter, sir!" said James sharply, feeling himself losing his control. "I mean to tell her of her identity today and you will not dissuade me from it." So saying, he quit the study door and left, suddenly quite anxious for the upcoming visit.

Celaena felt strangely off-kilter looking at a house that was as familiar as it was strange as she was handed down the carriage by a footman. Her nerves hightened for some unfathomable reason and in an attempt to distract herself by looking around the foyer of the Galathynius Townhouse, which was very grand. In the pride of the place stood an elegant water fountain, around which she could imagine a noisy brood of children splashing in and out. The elegant structure captured her interest until she stepped inside, feeling a vague sense of deja vu though she could swear she had never seen such a fine house before in her life—surely she would remember it if she had? It was not a forgettable sight—she pushed her unease aside, squared her shoulders and allowed the butler to divest her of her cloak and gloves while a maid waited to escort her to drawing room. The old servant started at the sight of her before he hid his surprise with an impassive expression like a well-trained servant, efficiently performing his duties, though she did not miss the way his eyes flicked back to her face repeatedly. Having never been invited to a private dinner before, Celaena had no expectations from the evening but was nevertheless surprised to be ushered into a private study instead of the drawing room.

A man sat in his armchair in a posture more befitting a young gentleman than an old, wealthy peer, though the grey hair at the edges of his temples belied his age.

"Miss Sardothein," said he.

Lord Rhoe noticed her surprise at being addressed by her name and smiled strangely. "Your reputation precedes you, dear. You have the whole town in a tizzy and you have in twenty four hours coerced my son into issuing a dinner invitation that is quite improper; an unmarried lady dining with two bachelors? Huge scandals have been created on far less."

"Then I wonder at your son's reasoning, for he issued the invitation. I only accepted it."

The Earl shook his head. "I know his reasons but I wonder at yours."

"I was curious."

He raised an eyebrow but she did not offer more explanation than that. "By accepting his invitation, you are putting your reputation in jeopardy, and with it, my son's."

She dimpled. "I might argue he did that himself when he issued it."

"I told you—"

"No, I told you," said she, rising from her seat, "—I am here on invitation. If you wish me gone from your home, ask and I will. But I will not accept an interrogation."

"I demand respect, Miss Sardothein."

"I shall never give it for that reason alone. I could not respect you if I wanted, sir," said she defiantly, rising from her seat, "for you were decided against me before I even entered your house—you who valued the gossip's opinions, or was your prejudice because of the grave sin I committed in being raised by a tradesman?" Her eyes flashed with ire and her breaths came faster. The Earl noticed none of it, struck as he was by the image of another adolescent ages ago shouting at his own father in the very same place. Miss Sardothein was a little older, perhaps and her features were not as delicate and soft but there was no mistaking her. He had crossed swords with his wife's younger sister to recognise her ashryver eyes and the colouring—

"Evalin," he whispered.

Bloody Hell.

Celaena's eyebrows creased when the older man looked at her in shock, then collapsed into the armchair he had been occupying.

"Uncle Rhoe? I heard raised voices—good gods, Aelin! Whatever happened here?"

If either of them noticed what name Lord Fenrys had unintentionally called her and to which she had answered, neither gave any indication. "He was telling me I should not have come and I was-I was defending myself but then he was, he was shocked at something and he said a name—Evelyn or something similar. Then he just collapsed into the chair." Lord Fenrys quickly and efficiently took charge of the situation, pouring her some wine for some semblance of calm, sending for his cousin and a footman to escort His Lordship back to his chambers. Lord Fenrys and his cousin had apparently been waiting for her in the drawing room downstairs and were not aware of her arrival. He had come to fetch a book from the adjoining library to pass his time when he heard raised voices. This assured her to some degree that she was not unwanted in the house, however as it belonged to the master whom she had quite shocked into fainting with her poor manners, she was not sure how much longer she would be welcome and expressed her desire to leave.

Lord Fenrys said immediately, "Leave? Goodness—no, my cousin will be quite cross with me if I let you leave before he comes. Do feel free to look around."

She did look around, taking in the elegant but never ostentatious furniture and the wall patterns which, though pretty, looked rather outdated. The study was well-lit with wax candles but looked cozier than she would expect an Earl's private sanctuary to look like. Her attention was caught soon by a bookcase by the farthest wall—presumably his favourites—and was surprised she shared similar tastes in reading with a man who had in a few minutes embodied all the worst qualities of the aristocracy. She moved past that wall only to come face-to-face with an unexpected portrait. It's objects—a husband, wife and their three children—sat in a formal pose but the picture radiated contentment, happiness and affection. It was perhaps something in the way the refined, elegant woman stared adoringly up at her husband or the look of affection he in turn bestowed on his two sons and a daughter who looked by turns bemused, bored and awfully wicked.

Her stomach twisted uneasily looking at the eldest son. "That. Who is that?"

"Edward," answered he. "Viscount Layton is not much fond of society. By the way his expression darkened, she surmised there must be some rift in the family—

Edward.

Edward Galathynius.

Celaena felt her own disquiet increase. Where had she heard the name before?

She glanced quickly at her host's cousin who was rifling through the drawers and examined the painting more closely. The children and the woman looked a great deal similar in colouring and in their eyes which were turquoise—

Turquoise eyes ringed with gold.

"Miss Sardothein?" Fenrys asked.

"Yes, yes, forgive me, Lord Fenrys. I feel a little, a little warm. He, your cousin—cousins, that is," she corrected herself, "they have—their eyes are a very unusual colour," she lamely finished.

"The ashryver eyes, yes." His tone was flippant, as though he had not seen her eyes. "As rare as they are beautiful, won't you say?"

Her stomach plummeted. She wanted to go somewhere—anywhere else.

Celaena tried to leave the room, her skin feeling too hot. Her knees buckled.

"Aelin!" Mr Galathynius stood in the doorway with his eyes wide.

Aelin.

She tried to ignore the implications of all that being called that name entailed.

Mr Galathynius gently led her to a seat away from the fireplace. Her head spun and her palms felt sweaty. "Home," she croaked out, unable to make out her own words. "I want home." Her skin flushed even more, her palms grew sweaty and her clothes felt coarse against her body.

Ashryver eyes.

The fairest eyes, from legends old

Of brightest blue, ringed with gold

She shut her eyes closed, willing her hands to stop shaking. It didn't work. How did she know that? She couldn't have known that. She had never met these people before, had never seen this place.

She had not.

She could not have.

Aelin was my favourite cousin—you, uh, you remind me of her.

Aelin.

But how could it be?

Aelin died in a fire thirteen years ago, Fenrys had told her. When she was but five.

Arobynn brought her home and introduced her as an orphan the same year, the year she had turned six. Arobynn had found her as an orphan roaming the streets of London when she was five.

The dates matched.

The fire. A warehouse. Two men. A pistol. She tried to remember but came up short.

"Aelin," a voice gently called out.

"You are wrong," she insisted vehemently, "I am not, I am not your sister!" Her voice turned screeching. "I was—my family gave me up, they didn't want me. Arobynn saved me. He told me they didn't want me, he told me so himself."

Arobynn lies to everyone.

But he had never lied to her. To her, he had been honest as he should.

He would not.

"Shh, It's alright, Aelin." James scooted closer and talked in a gentle tone, wishing his elder brother was present to comfort her. Edward would have known how to calm her.

Edward always had.

"Don't call me that." She shook her head tearfully. "I am not Aelin. I am not."

James placed an arm on her shoulder cautiously. The gentle touch, the compassionate voice and the genuine concern almost undid her. "Aelin," said her brother—her brother, she thought with amazement that the words did not sound as strange as they should have—"I am sorry you found out this way. Indeed, there are a great many things we are not sure of but—but my father's reaction and your own confirms what I suspected."

"You told me she died." The words came out almost as an accusation.

"It is all speculation on my part, mind, but we were informed my sister died in a fire in a nearby warehouse. The owner was a rather genial fellow and my sister—you—were friends with the man's clerk. You were playing with Edward that day—that is our elder brother—and you broke your ankle. He went to fetch help from the manor house but by the time father was able to come, you were not there. The search parties could find no signs of you until the magistrate informed her of two bodies found in a nearby warehouse. The first a child, had near her an anklet we knew you wore that day and father thought—we all thought it was you. I do not know where you did go and how the anklet appeared there but—"

She frowned. "You think Arobynn abducted me for some nefarious purposes."

"Indeed not—"

"You do," she accused, looking away from the hurt in his ashryver eyes. "You think—you think he did that. But he did not. He would not do that to me."

"Aelin, I never—"

"He wouldn't!" Celaena sobbed hysterically. "And even if you do not, everyone else will. No one will believe this—this story of ours—your father, oh god, he doubted it! He thought me a fortune hunter and—and everyone will—"

"Father did not wish to hope only to be met with disappointment, dearest."

"I all but told my father to go to the devil," she said between sobs.

"And it is a darned good thing you did," said Lord Fenrys in a flippant tone. "Someone needed to take that old man down a few notches. Besides, I suspect when he wakes up, he will have his fair share of apologising to do."

Mr Galathynius hesitantly placed an arm around his sister's shoulder as though he expected her to pull away and run. But she was too exhausted to protest and too grateful to have something solid to hold onto while the earth shifted beneath her feet. Aelin buried her face in his chest, clutching at the lapels of his coat and James felt a tender affection towards this creature who was clever and witty in ballrooms, whose ire faded as easily as it was stoked and who went from one emotion to another to another in a few moments. If in that moment someone had told him he needed to fell a dragon in order to protect her, he would have happily taken the beast on with his sword. James had been too young to do anything but squabble with his little sister but he felt all the protective instincts of an elder brother now and the first stirrings of hope that his family might not be doomed to unhappiness forever after all.

Aelin pulled back and sniffed. "I am sorry, Mr Galathynius, I suppose—"

"It would please me greatly if you would call me by my first name, dearest." James wished again he had his brother with him. "I do not think father will be angry and even if he is, I hope you will not mind him too much. I sent an express to Edward the moment we returned from the dinner party. He will be here soon and he will be ecstatic. I know I am."

"I don't remember anything."

He shrugged helplessly. "It is to be expected, Aelin. You were only five."

"But Arobynn told me I was given away by my family to, to an orphanage. He found me on the streets."

Mr Galathy—James looked at her seriously, clutching her hands in his. "I don't know if he lied or not, Aelin, but know this: your family did not give you away—indeed, we have been miserable since you left us." He bit his lip, swallowed and asked, "Do you remember even a little bit of that day? You and Edward were playing outside, you broke your ankle and he came back to the house to fetch help. He was—"

"He told me to stay there," she whispered, tears rolling down her face. "I didn't."

"You were but five," said Fenrys in an attempt to soothe. "You could hardly be expected to listen to anyone." The siblings started in surprise, having forgotten his presence.

"Do you remember what happened after our brother left?" James prodded gently.

Celaena shook her head, eyes shut. She tried to remember the day on the field near the estate. A mud puddle. A fallen ribbon. Her anklet's weak clasp. Why are you alone here? A voice.

It was a man's voice.

He had promised to take her back. I will carry you home, come with me. Into the carriage, there. She had climbed into the carriage. Perhaps she knew the man? Surely she would not have climbed into a stranger's carriage?

You were but five.

She tried hard to concentrate but could not remember anything beyond that and she told her brother so.

"You need not force yourself to, but if you do remember anything more—"

"I will tell you," she agreed. "I always wanted an elder brother, you know?"

James Galathynius was an affectionate man and he itched to embrace his sister tightly, but restrained in fear of overdoing things. The last shreds of his reserve melted with her words and he pulled her close. His little sister. He wondered if there were sweeter words in the world. "I missed you so," he answered tearfully, "So did we all. Edward refused to look at pianofortes for months, they reminded him of you, he hardly ever comes to town and father so retreated into his study and there I was—Oh, Aelin, please don't leave again."

"I shan't," she promised.

"A gentleman's word?"

She raised an eyebrow. "I am a lady."

"It's the only kind of promise you didn't break when we were children. A gentleman's word?" She heard her own voice ask the question long ago. A vague memory.

Celaena smiled. "A gentleman's word."

Fenrys broke the moment, his eyes glimmering suspiciously. He sniffed. "Stop monopolizing her, cousin."

Celaena hesitantly rose from her seat, pressing a kiss against her cousin's cheek. "I know it's all a muddle still but thank you for finding me, Lord Fenrys." She smiled sweetly at him. "You told me Aelin was—that I was—your favourite cousin, did you not, Lord Fenrys?"

"You were—you are." He grinned. "Do stop with the lord business though—I am already determined we shall be the dearest of friends. We have always been alike in our dispositions."

"What he means," James grinned back, "is the both of you have always been utter rascals, making all our lives difficult."

"I don't know what you are talking about," huffed she with feigned indignation in her voice. "I am positively an angel."

"Oh, hardly!" Fenrys shook his head. "I never saw a more mischevious child. Aunt Meave swore you were the devil's spawn."

"Oh no," she said.

"Oh, yes." James grinned at a fond memory. "And I cannot blame her. You once sneaked a frog to her dinner table. It ended up in her plate somehow; it was horrific."

"Indeed, you scarred the poor woman," Fenrys quipped. "She specifically invites only adults ever since. James told us later how you twitched and groaned, shifting in your seat, trying to hide it in the folds of your dress."

Celaena narrowed her eyes. "If you knew, why did you not help?"

"I did not want to incur her wrath," he said. "Our father or brother would have protected you from her. I was on my own."

The remark brought her back to reality. "Father—Lord Rhoe—my goodness, I implied he was proud and arrogant and—and he fainted!" James hurried to assure her that he fainted occassionally and a physician had been sent for in any case and she should not worry overmuch about that but she could not help herself. However, not wanting to worry him more—the poor man was acting so casually as if expecting another fit of hysterics—she changed the subject to one she was curious about. "And Edward—you said he has been informed."

"If I know him at all, he will come running." Then, with due caution, "I know you don't remember a thing but Edward and you were particularly close—you filled buckets worth of tears when he left for Eton, you know? And when he came to visit for the summer or holidays and you were obliged to return to the nursery in the evenings, you threw such a royal fit until father allowed you to spend the nights in his room." By the tone with which he said it, Celaena rather thought it cost him something to admit this to her and she thought she heard a touch of envy in those words.

"It was perhaps not proper," agreed Fenrys, "but you would not eat or drink and he was forced to acquiese."

Celaena laughed. "That does sound like me." Then, sobering, "I should not—it's too late, I think I should return home."

"Home?"

Celaena amended with a smile, "Well, not my home, then. But I could not move here today, not with Lord Rhoe so—"

"Father will not object," said he, with conviction. "This is your home as much as it is mine or his. I am sure Edward will be furious with me if I let you leave." Then, noticing her reluctance, he gently smiled. "I understand you will need to get used to reality and I really would like it if you stayed but if you cannot—"

"Oh, no," said she, interrupting him. "I will—I will stay if you send a note to the Rhunns informing them where I am and if my maid and a few of my clothes can be brought—Elide, my maid, she will know what to bring—then I shall stay."

This was agreed to with alacrity and orders sent to prepare one of the finest guest rooms for temporary occupation. James noticed her pale countenance and offered to send a dinner tray to her rooms in a half hour if she would like to retire early. After they were informed that Lord Rhoe had been given laudanum to calm himself and would see them in the morning, there was nothing left for her to do and she accepted her brother's offer happily. Celaena thought she would not be able to sleep for hours, ruminating on the eventful day but the overwhelming emotions of the overdeal caught up with her and she was asleep before dinner arrived.

tags:

@thesirenwashere // @courtofjurdan //@little-crow-corvere // @the-dark-swan // @queenofgreenbriar // @clockworkgraystairs // @julemmaes // @rowaelinforeverworld // @mymultiversee // @queen-of-glass @strangely-constructed-soul // @mijaldraws // @http-itsrebecca // @aesthetics-11 // @lord-douglas-the-third // @flowersinvegas // @towhateverend17 // @aelinchocolatelover // @justabunchoffandoms // @cool-ish-nerd // @faerie-queen-fireheart // @sad-book-whore // @didsomeonesayviolin // @atozfantazyxx // @hizqueen4life // @the-gods-killer // @booknerdproblems // @annejulianneh111 // @aelinfeyreeleven945tbln // @b00kworm // @mysweetvillain // @curlyredqueen06 // @moondancer-204 // @thesurielships // @witchling-leonor // @ladywitchling // @amren-courtofdreams // @ifinallygavein // @jlinez // @faequeenaelin // @df3ndyr // @in-love-with-caramel-macchiato // @bitchy-knees // @superspiritfestival // @xx-fiona-xx // @stardelia // @maastrash // @miihlovesnoone // @totenhamboys20 // @sanakapoor // @louisleblancdiggory

#throne of glass #rowan x aelin #rowaelin #rowan whitethorn #sarah j maas #aelin ashryver #rowaelin fanfiction #throne of glass fanfiction #valiant #aelin-queen-of-terrasen

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matildasdoingwhat · 3 years

Text

wattpad link : https://www.wattpad.com/830032417-strange-family-values-chapter-3-the-fairy-eater

The Strange Family Values Chapter 3 The Fairy Eater

Artist name: Matilda Sparrow

Disclaimer: This Chapter is an FF for the world of Hp. It is like an extension. you'll find out why in the later stories. but the stories and characters so far are mine.

I love the HP stories so much I just wanted to live it through at least one chapter,

I love Hp so hard, and I am in no way near the level of greatness obviously, but when we love stuff so much we want to be part of it as well. I hope you like this FF.

Norway, Bergen, Mystik Kyster, August, Present Day.

Scene 1

It was a beautiful cloudy day, the trees were bowing and some of the vines were trying to drink the water from a tiny stream as it quietly made its murmur in the forest. It was one of those days where you can feel the coolness of the air in your skin and a day where you can also hear the rustling foliage as the wind passed by.

We see a girl's feet entering the forest.

Next, we see a little bear with patches, being held by the little girl.

Then, we see a woman's feet join the little girl.

It holds her hand.

The woman's dress was peachy cream and sheer it had a few flowers, leaves, moss, and vines as if she rolled around them and it got stuck there for good.

They both skip happily and their laughter rings as they go further and further away... deeper into the forest.

Scene 2

Four children were running in the forest.

They were swift and seemed to defy time.

Lupus jumped over a tree branch and seemed to lead. Matilda sucked her teeth out of irritation. She noticed Lupus wanting to transform, His pupils pitch black and the veins around his eyes are becoming darker.

"No cheating Lupus!" Matilda exclaimed.

She tried to outrun him, but Lupus was quick and dashed using all four of his arms and legs. They reached a hill and continued to outpace each other. The twins followed and they hastened as fast as they could until they reached the edge of the cliff, It was steep and Lupus charging at an unbelievable pace, almost fell, but Matilda caught him, spreading her regal magnificent black wings.

"Good Catch D." Lupus said.

"What?" Matilda was confused.

"D for Death. Coz you look so dead..." He snickered then ordered, "Can you put me down now?"

Matilda looked at him mischievously and replied "Down there?" referring to the precipitous space between the cliff and the rocky shores below.

"If I was Death, I wonder what would happen if I let go of you."

"You dare?," Lupus paused then continued. "Meh. I'll live." Lupus sneered proudly.

Then she let him go.

"shiiiiiiiiiit!!!!". He screamed as he slowly fell but Matilda dove quickly and caught him on his sleeve.

And then she laughed at him mockingly. It was a fruity laugh, She was completely elated.

Lupus scowled and was angry. "You're dead Matilda!"

He tried to hit her on the head, but she evaded and kept laughing.

Then she threw him off the hill.

Lupus sneered at her while he cleaned himself off.

small little laughter was also heard in the background, The twins were cackling.

Scene 3

Earlier.

Mr. Strange was lounging in his luxurious wine bathrobe, it had accents of gold and his soft hair was flowing freely as the wind kissed it, he looked like he smelled really good, even though he just woke up. He was holding a book titled, "How to catch a prey" while he had a scrutinizing look on his face and murmured, "pfff...stupid." referring to the book, but continued to read it anyway, after which he changed his attention to Caedmon and Waldron, he smiled then coyly asked the babies. "Did you guys enjoy your first meal last time?"

Mr. Strange was a serious man, but when it comes to the twins he is not shy to show his affections.

The family was all sitting in the dining room, having their breakfast. It was a cloudy morning, It was always cloudy lately, Morgana made it so. The adults were having steak. Raw steak for Sullivan of course and Mr. Strange was the only one having coffee with blood, or blood with coffee. or blood with rum or vodka. I'm not so sure. while the kids enjoyed bacon pancakes, sausages, and sweet honey syrup.

"Yes, Poppa!" said Caedmon

"When will we eat human again?" says Waldron

"Aw did you enjoy it that much Waldron?" asked Mrs. Strange.

"Yes, it made me stronger lately, see." Waldron showed off his muscles by making a strong man pose.

"Me too!" Caedmon excitingly shared and showed a strong man pose as well.

"Ahhh, let me check!?" Mr. Strange playfully replied, then he carried the babies using both his hands while pretending to fall because of how heavy they were. "Oh my goodness! you're so heavy! agh! you guys are so strong!"

The twins giggled as they squeezed Mr. Strange's face.

Scene 4

Later that afternoon.

"What are you guys wearing?" Matilda referred to what Caedmon and Waldron have decided to put on their heads.

"We found it there..." Caedmon pointing at the forest.

"Hmmm." Lupus sniffed. "I smell blood."

Lupus looked at Matilda, "It's tainted."

Matilda surprised, "Did you guys eat someone?" she suspiciously asked.

"No... not without Mums and fathers permission," defended Waldron.

"Let's throw these things away..." Matilda hurriedly threw it off the cliff.

"Hey?!" Caedmon said.

"Those are tainted Caedmon, someone died in them, be careful next time okay?"

"Ok.." the twins replied conjoinedly.

"Did you eat someone Lupus?" she asked.

"No... maybe mum or father did, let's ask

Lupus got out a small smartphone and texted.

Lupus: Mum did you guys eat some kid in the forest?

Scene 5

At home:

"Sullivan, have you eaten someone recently?"

"No, Madame. I actually have lots of stocks in my home fridge. Mostly Deer brains Ma'am, nothing tainted. Not without telling."

Mr. Strange looked up from what he was reading and looked at his wife.

"Lupus is asking me if we ate some people, did you eat someone?" Morgana asked Mr. Strange.

"Not here, outside of Bergen, somewhere in Trondheim, but not in this town." Replied Mr. Strange

"Agh, that is why I told you to pick somewhere where there are not too many people..." Morgana complained.

"Well, our house is isolated." Mr. Strange defended.

"But there are too many people in Bergen, too much trouble. we should've just moved to Iceland." Morgana confided.

"Ah, but what will we eat there? there are already too many magical creatures there. We cannot eat them that would be like cannibalism, There is even that school for wizards there. If they find out we ate people, they would probably hunt us."

"We don't know that. I heard their laws are much looser compared to the ones in that American wizarding school." Morgana defended.

"You are not thinking of making our children study there?" Mr. Strange ranted.

"Well just a thought, maybe for a change?" Morgana asked.

"No! Morgana, we have talked about this." Mr. Strange had a firm and concerned tone. "It is too dangerous, we shall not be bounded by their laws. We come from bloodlines of Gods and dragons, Amongst many other things. I refuse for my children to be exploited and experimented by other Lowly pathetic creatures."

"Hush now, Mortimer Strange, then we shan't. No need to be aggravated. Besides, I prefer that British wizarding school." Morgana jested lightly.

"Morgana!" Mr. Strange jeered impatiently.

"Just kidding love, why too serious?." Morgana smiling coyly at her husband, touching his arm, calming him with a spell.

"I apologize for raising my tone. but you know how I feel about these things." Mr. Strange starting to calm down.

"It's quite ok love. I actually find it quite adoring, rawr." Mrs. Strange flirting and making a cat paw.

"Oooh well, in that case, Mon Cherie. Let me ravage you violently, *roar*" Mr. Strange making lion noises to please her wife. No, not those lion noises that people make, its literally real lion noises like a hungry beast. The Savageness pleased Morgana so. Then she took her wife in his arms and nuzzled her neck.

Morgana giggled then Motioned Mr. Strange to wait."Oooh, hold that thought."

"Hmmm, better text them." Morgana raised her phone.

"Tell them to stay away from the place where someone was eaten." Mr. Strange implicated in a concerned tone, looking up from Morganas Neck.

"Mmm, kay," said Morgana and proceeded to text.

Morgana: Lupus, no we haven't eaten anyone. Also, your Father strictly said not to go to where the human was eaten.

Lupus: k. Mum.

Then Morgana smiled at Mr. Strange. "You were saying?"

"Ah yes!" Mr. Strange giggled and agreed, then continued to ravage her wife.

Scene 6

In the forest:

"Mum said not to go to where those children got eaten?" Lupus informed everyone.

"Not now, maybe tomorrow. If it ate now. It won't eat again. until tomorrow. " Matilda paused then continued "Depending on what it is. "

"It can eat tomorrow or maybe next week." Lupus added.

They started walking home on an unbeaten path through the forest, Matilda and Lupus had a small conversation while the twins played while following them.

"The 2nd blood moon is pretty near. If it's going to eat it's going to be soon. I know coz I've been growing strong recently." Lupus announced.

"Oh, thats why you're being bitchy lately." Matilda ripped, then the twins giggled.

"Hahaha Omged, I'm Manyilda I'm so funny!" then continued "And if you must know I am not bitchy but angry the sun rose at four am today, It wakes me up too early and I can only run around for a few hours at night

and then its morning already."

"Yes, us too." the twins eerily replied.

" Ugh you don't have to tell me about it," Matilda replied.

"But don't worry babies, come fall it will be pretty normal, I'm guessing, we just moved here so I don't know, but in winter I read that there will be darkness, its called the winter darkness..." Matilda informed them.

The twins and Lupus eyes widened.

"That means, the sun doesn't come up at all in the middle of winter" Matilda explained.

"ooooooohhhhhhhhhhh" The twins and Lupus replied.

"By the way don't forget to tell Mum about the 2nd blood moon, you lose control on that day, you have to be chained up, like a dog." Matilda quipped. "Remember the last time?, hahaha, You ate the neighbor, your friends family, hahaha" Matilda laughed heartily unable to control it, while she spoke.

The twins giggled with her like an echo.

Lupus sneered at Matilda.

"I'm not the only one you know, Father goes crazy on that day, and who knows maybe you will go crazy too."

"Not yet, I'm still partly human. It's disgusting. but I'm not looking forward to my first death either.

"You know what I am looking forward to?" Matilda mischievously voiced.

"Ha!" they both gasped. They remembered something.

"The blood harvest!." they spoke together.

"As much as I don't like, mingling, I'm looking forward to the sacrifice, plus the light of the moon will make us stronger, and... it's finally the day that I will ask our uncles to give us their blood."

"I don't think they'll give us their blood yet Matilda.? I don't think they will give you their blood ever." Lupus stating that what she said was ridiculous.

The twins were now confused."What's a blood harvest.?"

The kids reached their house.

"It is what it says it is Waldron. We will harvest blood and bask in the light of the moon so we can grow stronger." Answered their Mother as they arrive on the porch of their house.

"Aaaah" the twins replied together.

"Also there's a ball, with lots of Vampires, Witches, and otherworldly creatures."

"Aaaaaaaaah. party!" the twins eerily said together.

Scene 7

"Augustus..."

A woman with curly red hair, in her mid-thirties, wearing a grey plaid dress was looking for her child.

"Augustus?!" the sound of her voice rang loudly in the air as she called out to him, we zoom out of her house and zoom in to where Augustus is, he was eating berries in the forest. He was fat, and plump, with red hair, he had freckles on his face and his cheeks and his mouth were covered with blue and red juice, from the berries that he was engulfing.

He ate and enjoyed what he was eating and he put some of it on his shirt pocket and he wiped some of the juice on his pants and shirt, it was messy, but he kept chewing full and delightfully enjoying the berries, then he looked up, a woman was looking down on him, It was the woman with the flower dress.

The boy smiled an awkward smile, and the woman reached out her hand.

Scene 8

WTFS station.

A woman was looking at her reflection in a vanity Mirror.

Pulling the skin on her face, to see her younger self, hoping her wrinkles would vanish.

She walks into a booth to go to use the toilet.

Two women and a child entered the powder room, A woman with wild red hair, named Melena wore a simple gray dress and talked to a woman with short blonde hair and bangs named Lise, she was wearing a sheer black lingerie top, a short black skirt and high heels.

"Ugh can you believe how she treated us yesterday, I said hi and she didn't even notice me. She's too proud". Melena ranted.

"I know right". The woman with the blonde hair fiddled with her makeup, placing lipstick on her lips, and checked how she looked like in the mirror, then responded, "She still thinks she's all that but she's spent, that's what old age gets you."

"How long has she been an actress?" the red-haired woman asked.

"I don't know for a long time I guess."

"Her skin is wonderful though I'll give her that." The woman with the red hair confessed.

"Pff," The woman with a blonde hair objected. "That's science for you...but pretty soon you know, all that sciencey stuff will stop working and inevitably they will end up looking weird."

"Ah, you're too harsh Lise."

"And you are too nice, Melena."

Lise bobs her head from side to side as a sign of disapproval. "Myrka

Drummond does not deserve your kindness, she has been nothing but been rude to us, she is just a passed off diva."

The woman in the bathroom booth fumed, her left eye squinted every so slightly, It was Myrka Drummond.

She looked out secretly and stopped herself from arguing with these women, and told herself that she had class and was not beneath these pitiful creatures.

"Trine lets go." Lise motioned to a child that she is with.

Scene 9

"Please, he has been gone for more than a whole day. I have a bad feeling about it."

"Maam, are you sure he's not just playing at his friend's house."

"Noh, Augustus doesn't have lots of friends, he goes to the forests and collects berries and comes home dirty, at exactly four, five or six give or take, that is his routine, and he has not come back yet for a few hours now."

Detective Alexander sits on his desk and overhears a red-haired woman complaining to his colleague. They were in the Police station, with pale white lights and white walls with accents of gray. There were also simple tables and chairs. It was a depressing small office, with people all busy with their office job, slaving away like zombies, some walking here and there to get coffee or to go in or to go out to do their duties, its where time slowly passed and nobody seemed to care.

"Hello Ma'am, My name is Detective James Alexander, and you are Miss?"

"Mrs. Melena Hansen."

"What's happening here?" Detective Alexander looked at Melena and the officer interviewing her.

"Mrs. Hansen said her child has been missing for a few hours now."

Melena worried, interjected "He has been missing for hours! Augustus has a routine, he always comes back, at this hour!."

While the woman was talking, the chief came out of his office.

"Alexander, Sandvik, Aadberg..." The chief called three names, "Christiansen called in a Homicide in the Myrkviðr forest, in Mystik Kyster. Go now Chop chop..."

The chief had a grey suit on and had grey hair and had a friendly face but even though it was friendly, he looked tired as if he had gone through a lot through the years.

The detective looked at the woman, and the woman covered her mouth, upset, and was about to cry.

"Where did you say you live Ma'am."

"In Mystik Kyster." The woman started to tear up.

"Ma'am there's no reason to be upset, wait here. "

Alexander shortly entered the chief's office, "Chief did Christiansen happen to give a profile, of the victim? "

"Yes, It's ah, very unfortunate, it was a young girl. aged about four to six. Go there now Alexander, let's catch this sonno' of a bitch."

Detective Alexander went back to the lady, who was much calmer because of the information, "Ma'am this is officer Bohle.." Detective Alexander referring to the middle-aged man, with thinning yellow hair, pale skin and had a white uniform and blue vest on, sitting at the desk.

"He will help you." He reassured the woman.

"Bohle check out the Madames area," Alexander asked Bohle.

"Sandvik, Aadberg, let's go..." Detective Alexander motioned to his colleagues, and they left the station.

Scene 10

A big wooden door was left open, sun shone inside the wooden house, the cool wind crept inside which can be felt on the wooden floor, it was a big cabin, the smell of flowers and the thick forest with different color of greens in the surrounding emanated the house, Nissa was playing with her doll, she was wearing a turquoise tutu skirt and a matching shirt, she saw something outside, was it a firefly? she asked herself. She went outside, there was laughter.

Then she saw it just above their pool.

Its eyes blinked.

what was it?. It looked like a flower with eyes. It was a pixie.

It had a long body but no smaller or bigger than a flower. It's olive arms and legs seemed like flower stems.

It had a long slim lithesome body and fingers. It smiled at her, It had scary pointy teeth but its face was friendly, it had cute black orb-like eyes and its head was purple and white that looked like petals and it had wings,

It beckoned Nissa to come.

Nissa looked back at their house and it flew around her and then she motioned for Nissa again, inviting her as if to play.

It went inside the thick forest and Nissa followed It.

Scene 11

"Nissa!!!"

Kalen screamed and called out to his sister. Kalen was looking for his sister.

He had noticed something strange, normally there would be the noise of a girl jumping up and down, running around and making cute noises, but while he was playing his pocket game after a while he had noticed it was incredibly quiet in their house.

"Nissa!" he called once more.

she saw Nissa's doll on the floor near the pool.

"Where did she go.?" He asked himself with a confused look on his face.

Scene 12

Detective Alexander looked at the scene with disgust and a heavy heart. He kept silent and was pensive, he asked himself who would do such a monstrous act.

CSI units Aadberg and Saandvik collected physical evidence from the site, He saw the body being covered while Police Officer Christiansen was explaining the situation to the Detective.

Medical examiners and forensic units were already in the area as well.

"She's abot four or six, a female child, poor kid. she didn't deserve this, her guts were all out. What kind of Monster has done this, I heard this done in the city a few weeks ago. do you reckon it would be a bear?" Christiansen asked but was not hoping for a reply.

"I dunno but this gives me the hibbee jibees," Aadberg replied.

Detective Alexander started to look around while Officer Christiansen was talking then he noticed something out of the bushes.

It was a brown object with patches, It had blood on it.

he wore his gloves and picked it up and murmured.

"Gotcha!."

"Aadberg send this to forensics."

Scene 13

Philomena Opened the door, It was Detective Alexander.

"Hello, Detective. How may I help you?"

"We just wanted to ask. If you've seen any fat boy roaming around or if your nephews maybe know him..." The Detective inquired.

"Not that I know off, wait lemme call them," Philomena replied.

"Matilda! Lupus!, Detective Alexander is here to ask some questions, can you guys come for a second, like normal people coz were normal."

The detective had a confused look on his face.

"Coming!" Lupus can be heard from afar.

Lupus and Matilda appeared slowly behind Philomena.

"Hey, wazzup?!" Lupus greeted Detective Alexander.

While Matilda just stared blankly.

"Hey, what's up buddy.?" Detective Alexander greeted them and made a fist bump to Lupus to make the mood lighter. which Lupus gladly accepted and then pretended it exploded afterward.

Matilda rolled her eyes and moved her head from side to side as a sign of disapproval.

Detective Alexander was easily entertained and smirked but continued "I was wondering if you know this boy," The detective showed a picture of the boy.

"His name is Augustus Hansen, He's been missing. He..." He stopped himself because he did not want to scare the kids.

"No, we don't know him," Matilda replied.

"No, bruh, we haven't seen him." Lupus remarked.

"C'mon Lupus..." Matilda motioned to Lupus because they were going out. Today was the day that they were going to look for the murderer.

"Aaah I wouldn't do that If I were you..." Detective Alexander warned, "I'd like to warn you guys, as well," The Detective now averting his eyes to Philomena, "There has been m-u-r-d-e-r in the area, it was unfortunate but some creep has been kidnapping kids in the area.

"We can spell you know." Matilda scrunching her face as she was slightly insulted. "ugh."

"Uhm.. yah, so it's best if you make your niece and nephew stay home. Uhm. Ms.?" The Detective was unsure of what to call her even though the Detective knew her name. Philomena took her glasses off for a second to wipe it with her shirt and For the first time The Detective saw her up close in broad daylight, and he noticed how beautiful she was, her skin was so soft and her lips so plump and pink, her eyes were big and blue, and her cheeks were blushing pink, its almost as if she came out of a painting, her hair was unruly but even this looked beautiful to him, she was enchanting, he never noticed this because of her shabby clothes and huge glasses. He was overwhelmed a bit, Then when she wore the glasses again, he realized he was staring. when he brought himself back together, he started to say his goodbyes.

"Mena..." She looked at the picture and said "I will try to remember his face and well let you know if anything comes up" then finally smiled.

The detective started to think to himself. "Shit. You have to go."

"Well thank you for your time Ms. and nice seeing you again." he handed out his hand for a handshake.

"It was nice seeing you too, Detect..."

She held his hands, then stopped, a vision came, one that she didn't expect to see, something that made her blush which made her pull her hand away from the detective.

It made her google-eyed, and she laughed incoherently and then started to talk nervously.

"Ahah sorry, vertigo.." She reasoned

"Are you okay?" the Detective asked out of concern.

"Yes, yes, yes I just get vertigo sometimes." There was a silent stare that seemed like forever and Matilda stared at Lupus mischievously and he snickered quietly...

"Let's go" he motioned to Matilda, as they quietly tiptoed away...

but their Aunt noticed. "Ah Matilda, Lupus... come inside.!"

"Uuh, Noooooooh?!" Matilda sarcastically replied, then Matilda and Lupus ran.

"We won't go, Far Mena!" Lupus assured her aunt as they ran away.

"Uh, I'm not sure thats a good idea.? " Detective Alexander asked Philomena.

"Do you want me to come after them.?"

"Uh, no! no! it's okay, I'm sure they'll be fine. I'll just run after them." Mena replied knowing full well that they can handle themselves.

The Detective felt a little nervous because he didn't want another dead body, but he thought he was just being paranoid, so he just said." Just look for them ok? the situations sorta serious..."

"Sure... sure..." Philomena reassured.

Then the Detective made his way to his car.

and murmured "Get your shit together Alexander. " while entering his car.

Scene 14

"Start sniffing dog." Matilda mocked her brother playfully.

he glowered at her for a few seconds but continued to do it anyway. He started to smell the air then,

"This way.." Lupus Motioned.

It was mid-afternoon and they ran and ran until they ran deep into the forest, the color of the trees was warm, Some of the trees were so old that their trunks were so wide, most of the trees and rocks were even covered with moss, some trees were like skyscrapers of the glade, high, mighty and proud, and some were young and looked friendly, and the leaves rustled as the wind danced around them. You could barely see the sky because of the shady glades and leafy canopies. They could hear singing jays, scampering hares, and scurrying squirrels. There were mushrooms of different colors growing on some of the tree trunks, some were vegetating on the ground, there were different berries in the bushes and the grass floor was almost covered with brown, green and red leaves and you can see nuts scattered here and there. It smelled of green grass and leaves, the peace of the forest was soothing and comforting. The twigs crunched under their feet as they walked and then they heard someone.

"Nissa!"

"Nissa! Where are you?!"

It was Kalen Maurelle.

"Psst," Matilda called him.

Kalen Maurelle was surprised, a shot of arrow flew past Matilda's face directly puncturing a tree.

"Woah!" Lupus grinning wildly. " Nice shot bruh!"

Matilda glowered at his brother and then to Kalen.

"Wtf was that man.?" Matilda

"Sorry, I was startled..." Kalen replied.

"Pfff, Oh please you wanted to show off..." Matilda exclaimed.

"No..." He soundly confessed, then followed with..." well, yes, actually I was." then half smiled.

"What are you doing here?" Kalen asked.

"Prolly the same as you, were you looking for your sister, we heard you call her name out?" Lupus inquired.

"Yeah, mum, and dad are in the hospital, and I'm in charge of Nissa. and she's been missing since this afternoon"

"Do you have some clothes of her.?" Matilda asked.

"Well no, it's in the house. but I do have this?" Kalen showed Nissa's doll then Kalen handed the doll to them.

Matilda and Lupus looked at each other for a few seconds.

can you turn around please? Lupus asked.

Matilda could've easily stopped time but they already realized Kalen was also magical so she didn't bother.

"Why?" Kalen replied in confusion.

"Never mind." Lupus smelled the doll.

Kalen laughed, "What are you guys, some sort of dogs?."

"None of your business actually, " paused and continued "But he is." Matilda referring to Lupus.

"This way," Lupus said as Matilda and Lupus walked further ahead of him.

Kalen laughed and thought it was a joke.

Then slowly came to a realization the way little red riding hood had found out about the wolf, as he watched the children in front of him, It's as if he came to see them clearly for the first time. Everything about them was off. They just evaded an arrow that almost no one would normally miss, Their black clothes and ashy white skin. Their super dark hair was in contrast to the trees. They did not look normal at all. He had his hunch before but the warmth of the forest compared to their skin was like a revelation, There was a faint whisper of "careful. careful. careful." as

if the trees were talking and whispering something to him.

"Wait... you're the family of hybrids* the Huldufólk* and Maskas* have been murmuring about.?" Kalen began to raise his arrows and pointed it at them.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

*Huldufólk - Hidden People. (usually elves, dwarves etc.,)

*Maskas - short for Magiske Skapninger which means Magical creatures including Wizards, Sorcerers, Witches, Magis, Healers, Warriors, Dragon riders etc., they used creatures instead of beings because the European school is much more accepting of equality between creatures and beings.

*Hybrids - Mixed Race, of any kind.

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Matilda and Lupus both stopped as they heard the string of the bow, being stretched.

They both looked back and Kalen's arrow was pointed right at them.

"You wouldn't wanna do that?" Lupus grinned and warned.

"Did you eat my sister?!"Kalen beseeched.

"You're not very smart are you?" Matilda calmly replied.

"Would we be helping you, if we ate her?" She knocked some sense into him.

"I dunno, maybe you are just luring me and want to eat me too," Kalen replied.

"Enough of this," Matilda said as she stopped time and took the bow from Kalen. She was surprised at how heavy it was. She looked at Kalen, Mildly impressed then looked at the bow for a few seconds, it had an intricate pattern carved beautifully on the bow. It was too heavy so,

she dropped it on the floor when she came back to her position, after which she unfroze time.

Kalen was surprised and looked at his bow beside her. Thinking if there was time to grab it and fight, but Matilda spoke,

"If we wanted to eat you, it would have been done by now."

"Best we move along if you want to save your sister." Lupus confided.

"What do you mean?" Kalen picked up his bow and realized they were right.

"Someones been murdering in this area," Lupus retorted as they continue to walk.

"So what are you?" Matilda coaxed.

"I asked first." Kalen shot back. Kalen was 16 and towered over them, he had long blonde hair, he looked a bit different today since he had his hair in a ponytail and braids and the sides of his head was shaved.

He wore something different today, A cottony moss green shirt inside, dark green coat, dark shorts, and Chuck Taylors sneakers.

"We're many things," Matilda replied mysteriously.

"So your Elves? I reckon with your pointy ears, Plus you said Hulderfolks" Lupus asked.

Kalen touched his ear forgetting his hair was tied up. "I guess we are," Kalen answered.

"Has your family been here long?" Matilda Interested in how old their magic was.

"Mother and father wander for a few years to different towns so we can, help people."

"We've never been in trouble before, this is the first time, well the second time, I hope Nissa is alright."

"I didn't mean in this town," Matilda replied.

"Oh. that's pretty personal. but I will say they have been here long, but my sister and I are new. and you?."

"Same as you," Matilda answered.

"You said the second time, what happened to the first time?" Lupus asked.

"Ah some trouble with trolls, but I managed it." Kalen confided.

"By managed, does that mean ran away?" Lupus jested.

Kalen smirked and replied, "Yes, that and many other things."

"So, you guys are hybrids? how does that work? I'd Imagine that you know, you'd come out as some sort of monsters, no offense. I'm just basing on what I hear."

"Actually we are," Matilda replied.

"No, I mean like physically..." Kalen paused and thought before he spoke: " wait, are you?" Kalen was curious.

Matilda and Lupus looked at each other and smirked.

"Since you're that curious, I'm a werewolf. She's... how can I say this without getting hit in the head?"

Matilda rolled her eyes.

"She's a witch I guess, but as you've said were hybrids, she also has wings. so maybe she's some sort of other thing." Lupus confessed.

"Enough Lupus. TMI." Matilda chided.

"How does that work?" Kalen confused.

"Our Family said we have Dragons blood and God blood, long long time ago, which makes an abomination unlikely, even though we also have some Fallen angel blood, angel blood, fairy blood, demon blood, witch

blood, wolf blood and a bunch of other things, Dragon Blood resists any kind of Bad Magic towards them and well God blood has too much magic in it, instead of our DNA binding and making abominations, It

chooses the most dominant DNA and thats what we come out of as. My Grandpa's a soldier but he's also a scientist, he also found that out through our DNA and a bunch of other things that and I mostly don't understand, but were still monsters, just not the kind you were thinking of."

"Lupus! have you had your fun? will you please shut up!" Matilda commanded.

"I imagine you are grandpas favorite..." Kalen told Lupus.

"You know it..." Lupus retorted as he laughed with Kalen, while Matilda scowled at them.

They wandered deeper and deeper into the forest, The trees became thicker and thicker, Matilda noticed it became more mystical, They saw vines that hung from the trees, they were thick and lush like majestic

beautiful goddess hair, there were also different kinds of flower that grew even though they were out of season, it grew on the ground, the trees, and the bushes.

There were pink, purple and white peonies, snapdragons, hyacinths that looked liked nosy neighbors growing everywhere. A little up ahead there were thin white trees covered in moss, that were linked together as if it was friends up in arms and served as a fence in an average-sized arena. In the middle of the circle, there was an archway of green and plum-colored vines linked together, as well as pink, purple and white wisterias falling like rain from the archway and a pathway of leaves and fallen petals.

Suddenly everything felt weird Matilda felt sleepy, Lupus and Kalen were also rubbing they're eyes and yawning, she came back to herself when she realized what was happening.

She looked just a little far right the trees linked together, she thought that they were just bushes and flowers but now she had a closer look there was a bunch of Lavenders, Valerian, Gardenias, Jasmine, Sages, California poppies, Golden pothos, Tahoe OG Kush, Grandaddy Purple, Skywalker, Gods gift, Afghan kush, Northern lights, Ogre, Querkle, Big bud and 9-pound hammer growing around the trees and was emitting some sort of mist.

Her eyes grew wide. "cover your nose." Matilda warned,

"Why?" Kalen replied.

"Those flowers and bushes are enchanted, and it'll make you fall asleep."

Matilda knew those flowers because she has been studying it with Aunt Philomena, she is particularly fond of these plants because she likes the fact that you can make sleeping potions out of them or brownies,

sleeping brownies were the best.

They covered their nose with their shirts. Kalen covered his nose with a handkerchief.

Matilda pulled out a black wand while making swirls. "Ne protejeaza"

"What was that?" Kalen asked.

"Protection spell, against those flowers. If the mist sinks in our skin, the handkerchief won't do any good, just think of it as a preventative measure. but you can remove it now."

"Oh!" Kalen replied.

"Sssh!" Lupus motioned everyone to be quiet, "were near." Lupus huddled them behind a tree.

"If we come across a monster, You shoot it and I'll rip it apart. ok?" Lupus commanded.

"OK.?" Kalen replied, although he was confused, he was more concerned about getting his sister because if they missed his arrow, he trusted that these two kids will be able to help him.

Matilda gave them a condescending look.

"If we see Nissa, she is the priority?. we grab her, and then all of you come near me and hold on to me, we'll fly, out of here."

"Oh my God, Matilda! you're such a pussy!" whispered Lupus patronizingly.

"I say we kill that monster!" Lupus whispered in excitement.

"You idiot! by this time it ate a lot of humans already?" Matilda argued.

"So?" Lupus looked confused and Kalen looked worried.

"If it ate a lot, then, it'll probably be super powerful by now," Matilda explained.

"Will you two idiots stop fighting! my sister might be in danger." Kalen protested.

They hear subdued eating sounds.

Subsequently, while they were talking they hear a buzzing sound in their ear, It was the sound of pixie wings flapping. Small lithesome creatures were listening to them and two was incredibly near them

huddled as if they were also friends, and a dozen were flying around them.

As Kalen turned around,

one was looking straight at him, suddenly, It punched him in the eye.

"Oww!" Kalen exclaimed.

The Pixies grabbed on to Lupus hair and bit Lupus arms and feet. "ow!"ow! ow!" Lupus bellowed in pain.

"Shit!" Matilda muttered in surprise but before she could nab her wand or freeze them, a few Pixies

grabbed both her feet which quickly knocked her off while the Pixies grappled onto her hands, she fell

headfirst and slammed on an old tree trunk so she passed out for a few seconds.

Kalen tried to use his arrow, but to no avail, since the other pixies were biting him, grabbing his hair,

and he was only using one of his eyes. As he tried to shoot one of the Pixies, the pixie saw the arrow catapulted to it in slow motion and was able to evade quickly. It saw the arrow puncture the tree, and its eyes became googly-eyed out of fear, then it glared at Kalen as it felt anger, after which a small faint sound of scream can be heard "aaaaaaaaaah!" as it charged against Kalen, which made Kalen slowly fall on his back.

"Ouch," Kalen groaned.

"Damnit.!" Lupus was now scowling out of rage, his eyes blackened and small black veins started to appear next to his eyes and his hands slowly turned black as if it was watercolor paint spreading on paper, crawling in his skin. His fingers darkened as claws started to erupt in each one.

Suddenly he was faster and grabbed one of the pixies that were grappling his hair, he threw it and it slammed in one of the trees, Green blood splattered all over. He snatched another one that was biting his arms, then he grabbed another and another, and one by one they were flung across the trees and on the ground, with such force that as they slammed, It chipped the tree trunks and made a faint snapping sound and their green bluish blood splattered everywhere, as they hit the trees and the floor, soon enough he got so pissed that he bit one pixie which cut it in half.

"Huh!!!!!!" a faint conjoined gasp from the pixies can be heard, as they looked at the remaining half of the pixie that Lupus was holding on to his hand.

Lupus bellowed in his demon voice "Ugh vegetables! ew!" and threw half of what's left of the pixie on the ground.

"Matilda!" Lupus boomed with his demon voice to wake up Matilda.

The pixie started to panic and fly in different directions and started to fly away, but by this time Matilda woke up from passing out, she was clutching her head because it was in pain and was still half asleep but she grabbed her black wand from inside her coat pocket and pointed upwards in the air.

"Akinitopoió"*

====================================

*The immobilus charm in another language. if you are not learned from school, the language of magic is different from school versus passed down magic, or the same if it came from the same source. and of course preference.

pronounced

/aki-ni-to-pi-yo/

===================================

The pixies floated in the air immobile, their eyes were still blinking

and everything seemed to slow down.

Then she used her hands to cast another spell "Somno!"

and then all the pixies fell on the ground sleeping.

Lupus was breathing heavily and was calming himself down.

His eyes were still all black but the black veins and his claws started to disappear as he calmed himself down.

While Kalen was just looking at them sitting on the ground and

said, "what the fuuuuuuuucccck.?"

Scene 15

Myrka was eating what's left of the man that she had captured.

And was so engulfed with devouring the man, that she didn't notice the noise around her, but it was barely audible from where she was.

Nissa was asleep under a huge old Myrkwood tree. There were big and small vines, Several which looked like they were hairs that kissed the ground.

There were white trees linked together that surrounded the place, everything was covered in moss and flowers and the huge Myrkwood tree looked as if it was a natural altar, she heard a faint noise from behind her but saw nothing. So she came back to what she was doing.

It was Kalen, Matilda, and Lupus that made the noise; they were not too near but not too far from Myrka. Kalen saw what she was doing to the human and saw her sister. He was worried and jumped in anger and was about to storm the place, but Matilda stopped him.

"Kalen. look..." They were whispering

She pointed at medium-sized rocks surrounding the place, They were rocks that had runes written on them.

"What does it say?" Lupus asked.

"It's not witches rune, so I don't know?" Matilda replied.

"It's High elven..." Kalen replied, my elfen is not good.

but if I'm right it says." Kalen tries to read it slowly " None shall pass. lest blood of kings and queens be lost, thine shield will yield when the runes are cast."

"There are four High elven runes that are not transliterated I am not good with mixed runes. I don't know what it says." Kalen said.

Then Matilda looked closely. " There is a protection spell cast here. I can see the thin film. It might alert her if we just storm in."

"So?" Lupus remarked

"So we don't know what she can do. If it alerts her she might take Nissa away quickly, and she's too far, we also don't know if it will let us in. If she sees us and were not able to come in, Nissa will be in trouble."

"I also can't fly because we don't know how high the protection spell is."

"We need Elders," Matilda replied.

"Someone needs to stay here with Nissa."

"If we text them, It will take time before they find us, better I Go." Lupus volunteered.

"No. you're too slow."

"Where are your parents again.?" Matilda asked Kalen.

" If I find them will they be able to help us?"

"Yes! they are at the Alston hospital" Kalen replied.

"You guys stay here, I'll fly to mum and dad and your parents."

"she'll see you if you fly you, idiot! its broad fucking daylight."

"Wait." Matilda saw some flowers moving inside. She tried to stop time for a few seconds and it worked.

"Okay. I can stop the time for a few seconds if she tries to hurt Nissa."

Matilda stated.

"I knew you guys were hybrids but not to this extent," Kalen mentioned in amazement.

"Says the boy who is probably pureblood, which means incest right?." Lupus remarked.

"Were not incest!. why do people always say that! we just don't marry off other kinds, because it's not allowed." Kalen defended.

" Ugh, you elves are weird. Ya'll look alike." Lupus mentioned.

"Omg! will you guys shut up!" Matilda exclaimed "Can we please focus on to more important things. Okay, New Plan, Lupus I'll pm Mum and Dad, meet them at the forest entrance. Kalen, PM and find your Mom and your dad, then meet Lupus on the forest entrance. understood?"

The two nodded their head twice.

"Now, Go!" Matilda said.

Before he left, Kalen looked back, "Matilda... Guard her with your life."

"Sure, but you owe me." Matilda declared.

Kalen nodded and then left with Lupus.

Lupus and Kalen silently walked away and as soon as they were far enough, Lupus ran as fast as he could,

and Kalen headed to meet his parents.

Meanwhile.

Matilda sent her Mum a message.

Matilda: Mum, Nissa is in Danger, meet Lupus at the Forest entrance.

Scene 16

We then zoom into Myrka, she was preoccupied with eating the man. As she was eating, her hollow back started closing, slowly, first the blood and muscles melded with each other then the flesh started to bond, after which her skin started to look younger, then the wrinkles on her skin seemed to fade. Her skin was firmer, tighter and her breast lifted as if it were pulled up by an imaginary string, her face and hands were filled with blood and looked softer and warmer, she licked her lips of the remaining blood, it was not enough. Slowly She felt the skin on her back detaching, not as hollow as before but there were still hollows that can be seen and a few of her wrinkles came back, she touched her face and felt it and was extremely unsatisfied, the man was not enough she grew angry and she screamed!

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"

Frustrated, She threw the already flailing body against the trees. "Pesky human!"

she looked up to where the child was.

she stood up.

She started smirking.

She reached out for Nissa. She touched her cheeks,

"You'll make me very pretty, honey, boop!" while she touched Nissa's nose with her forefinger, and then she opened her mouth and it became bigger, It was so big, a watermelon can fit right in and her teeth grew fangs, a hundred pointy things all to devour one little child, but just as she was about to reach and bite Nissa...

"Oh! No, You don't" Matilda stopped time.

Matilda breathed heavily she knew she was not supposed to yet, because there were no elders, but she had no choice.

She held Myrka on her left hands.

and tried to slam her palms forcefully and angrily on the barrier using her right hand just trying to destroy it.

but it did nothing. They stayed like that for a few minutes, but her hand was getting tired of staying in that same position. Holding on to time was also heavy, it felt as if you were carrying something, the longer it went.

She breathed heavily, she couldn't hold on to time that much longer.

Scene 17

Kalen and Lupus were already at the forest entrance.

"My parents aren't responding..." Lupus informed Kalen.

At home.

Morganas Phone and Mr. Strange Phone were both in silent mode in the table and a little off ahead, you can see movement and giggling on the bed.

*Narrator winks*

They were both very very very busy.

"I have to go get them..." Lupus said

"I understand, Mine as well, I have to find them too." Kalen disclosed, "Let's just meet there, at whatever that place is.

"Okay." Lupus replied

"And Hurry," Kalen asked.

They both ran.

Lupus tried to call Aunt Philomena on her Phone.

"Yoohoo!" Mena answered.

"Oh my god!' where are you guys? I've been trying to call you so hard!"

"Why?" Mena asked.

"Look, remember Nissa, the neighbors' daughter? She's in danger. She's about to be eaten by a creature, I'm coming, look for Mum and pops."

"Oh my, okay." Philomena worried then ran upstairs.

Mena heard giggling sounds and rolled her eyes, then knocked very loudly.

"Uh, guys!"

Morgana heard the knock "What?"

"Ugh! I thought you might want to know, your children along with the neighbor's children are in danger."

"Oh." Morgana sighed as she was being nuzzled by Mr. Strange. " We best get dressed then.

"Well be right down."

Morgana called to her Husband...

Scene 18

Myrka was freed from being frozen

she stretched a little bit and smiled at Matilda.

"Well, well, well if it isn't little Matilda Strange. So what are you?" Myrka was pensive for a few seconds.

"That's really none of your business." Matilda snatched back.

"Oooh... You know what, you look a little freakier than I am, I bet you want a little taste of this child as well..." Myrka tried to reach out and touch the child's cheek, but before she could.

*Slam!* The sound of Myrka's body, slamming into one of the elder trees resounded as she was flung by an unseen force, this made the trees shake, It made the leaves of the trees rustle which made the birds fly.

Myrka quickly fell on her butt and was discombobulated for a few seconds.

"Ugh! what is your problem!" Myrka screamed and fumed.

"Best stay the fuck away from her," Matilda warned.

"Oooh you and your potty mouth, but how long can you do that to me really, you can't even get inside. especially when you're busy."

Matilda confused.

"Viens mekare," Myrka whispered.

As she said this, white tree looking creatures same as the color of the trees with long thick spear-like branches materialized out of the trees as if they were melded there for a long time and just came out from a long sleep, some were shaped like men and some were shaped like women they moved slowly but violently.

Matilda tried to evade them but some had vines and tried to catch her feet until she can no longer move.

four tree creature seemed to enclose on her.

Their vines wrapped around her tiny hands ...then it crawled on her tiny legs quickly wrapping itself tightly, squeezing her tiny body. Everything happened so quickly.

Then *rip!,* with its thick needle-like branch one of three creatures stabbed Matilda on her shoulder with so much force, that it created a hole over her shoulder.

She saw the wounds with her eyes and felt it quickly.

she screamed out of pain. *AAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!* she bled profusely and then she started breathing heavily.

It had struck her so hard that her eyes were enveloped by darkness immediately.

her forehead wrinkled, out of anguish and exasperation she moved her head from left to right and it emitted so much force that the tree person that stabbed her snapped its head instantly and was hurled away from her and as its needle-like hand was removed from matildas shoulder...

and it seared so she shrieked out of distress! "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" and with her scream, a force so strong came out of her that everyone around her was propelled away from her; the tree creature were all hurled on the invisible wall including Myrka, she was lobbed against the wall so intensely that she had to get a hold of herself, otherwise she would've fallen asleep with the blow.

She scowled at the girl in front of her, Matilda was worn out.

but she was more than anything, worried, the girl in front of her was not to be taken lightly.

Matilda knelt on the ground, she was exhausted and bleeding, she was bleeding heavily but more than anything pissed beyond belief at how exhausted she was, she palmed the ground for support, she rested for a few seconds.

Myrka felt elated for a few seconds as she has not seen anything like this in a long time, she wanted to fight her, but she wanted to live more, so she made her way to the child, again.

"Don't you touch her bitch!" Matilda warned with her demon-like voice, aggravated.

She raised her hand as if cupping Myrkas neck and raised her from the ground to strangle her using only dark magic, Myrka couldn't breathe, she kept coughing and gasping for air.

Myrka's hand was free and was able to move it and with just a flick of the finger, a tree creature materialized out of the tree, his hands formed a sharp needle looking branch it was suspended in the air for a few seconds then like a bullet, with force it accelerated towards Matilda's direction and stabbed her, puncturing her left shoulder again and it grabbed hold of her, which set Myrka free from the invisible force holding her.

And from outside Matilda got agitated out of pain, and acted swiftly, she used her hands in the air in front of the tree creature, as if mangling something and her dark magic shredded it apart.

Then when she was done she pounded on the invisible wall, using her hands as she wailed out of rage.

but it was to no avail.

Myrka just almost gasping was laughing realizing she cannot get in.

Now this time she pounded it with dark magic and the walls shook and everything around it shook.

She pounded and pounded and everything shook as if she was a wolf blowing the little piggies house down.

But the wall was strong, it was bound by runes.

When she got so agitated she howled and then stared at the wall for a few seconds and then made a decision.

She started chanting a spell.

And was whispering words.

She cupped her hand together and it was dark electricity first and then it was black fire and smoke and it formed a black orb, at first it was just as small as an apple but as she started chanting it became bigger

and bigger.

It was dark old magic.

And it consumed her already black eyes and spread black ink across her face.

and the darkness in her hands spread until her hands was black, it spread like black watercolor and water spilled on paper, crawling in her arms and clothes and the orb got bigger...

nox atra

quod sanguis ac tenebras

ignis inferis

formam mearum

Conteret me

quos superposuit basibus

et stellarum lapsus

Sol ardentior

and bigger ...

nox atra

quod sanguis ac tenebras

ignis inferis

exitio mundos

unde non stabit

And bigger...

She was calling on the power of the Lord of Nightmares, it was some, old magic, that she came upon reading, but one that requires too much. That if you cannot handle it, it will devour you, this was a sacrifice.

It was not about saving the girl anymore, her ego was bruised and she was pissed.

As she chanted the black orb got bigger and bigger and heavier and heavier, and every time she chanted the wind blew harder, every time it grew bigger it emitted a force so heavy It was destroying the ground beneath her, the ground shook, and surface of the earth around her started detaching in small portions and the wind pushed back everything that surrounded her, the strong wind encircled her and dark cloud formed above the sky and loud thunder started to ring.

And every time she chanted It seemed a little bit of her disappeared

until she was no longer there, but something older in her was chanting,,,

Exitio mundos

Unde non stabit

Something more ancient.

When suddenly someone called her.

"Matilda!"

Morgana had called her.

The wind blew strongly and it seemed as if there was a storm in the forest.

Behind Morgana was Mortimer, Lupus, Kalen and his family.

Mena fortunately was able to get a hold of Kalens parents.

Kalen was pointing an arrow at Myrka. His Bow was shining through the darkness.

"Don't you dare move!" Kalen warned Myrka.

"That won't pull through" Myrka proudly voiced out.

"Would you like to bet?" Kalen asserted, his hair blowing in the wind,

Kalen's Father calmly worded, "Skogsvänner

innehålla henne."

Four Tree creatures then materialized out of the trees, but this time they had leaf hair and its human-like features were more defined.

They surrounded Myrka, Myrka tried to fight but before she could do anything, they had covered her mouth and its branch and vines wrapped around her face, while two held her hands and suddenly vines and branches with leaves came out of the earth and wrapped around her feet.

And two tree creatures came to guard Nissa.

Kalen's mother cut her hands and bled it in the runes and she read the runes.

"Edr- hi ambar edr- hi fen edr- hi coe edr- hi fen -iya tari can ldë..."

As the blood dripped on the runes, it glowed an illuminating blue and the invisible walls were no more.

Kalen came to her sister and his Father carried her away.

Meanwhile

Mathilda was not her self anymore and was not responding to her mother.

"Dear, would you be so kind as to hand me that ball."

Morgana was reaching her hand out to Mathilda.

But by that time the black orb was so big, that it was bigger than a car, its force was so powerful that violent hot winds surrounded it.

She was staring blankly at Morgana.

Her father said "Dear give your mother the ball.

"Come now be a nice little girl." Her Mother told her warmly,

Her mother's smile was nice and welcoming.

"Should we help them?" Kalen asked

"No, it is dangerous..." Mortimer signaled The Maurelles to move back.

"Mathilda," Lupus called her, " Give mom the ball,"

She tilted her head to the side, curious as to what was happening.

"Why would I do that?" with a demon voice.

"We'll, let you eat that Pretty little woman at the back if you give us the ball." Her mother bribed.

She looked back and saw the woman and It angered her more and the orb seemed to grow bigger.

"Mathilda! Mathilda! come now?," Morgana distracting her, Then she looked at her husband for a few seconds to signal him to catch her.

"Tu lassus, somnolentus tu non es.." Morgana reached out her hand then there were small orbs that flew to Matilda and as it reached her skin it made her sleepy.

"You are tired, You are sleepy. Love..." her Mother told her.

"Tu lassus, somnolentus estis vos...."

Matilda felt sleepy, she was closing her eyes but was still holding the orb.

Morganna called a chant, and Golden lit words enveloped her face, hands, and arms.

"ut terra alliges duplicia vos

et vestra essentia dispergat in tenues caeli"

Then a big golden bubble of gold orbs enveloped the black orb.

Matildas eyes already closed because of the spell, then she fell, she let go of the orb but thankfully they all have inhuman speed, Mortimer Caught her, while Morgana caught the orb, she held it in her hands but it was too heavy, a small lacerations started to form on her face and her hands and clothes,

something her husband has not seen in a long time

"Morgana?!" he uttered in concern as if to ask if she's okay.

"Leave me be." She commanded.

She grabbed a black wand inside her coat pocket, this was the first time in a few hundred years, he saw her use it.

Mortimer was worried but trusted her well enough to know that this was just a hiccup.

she pointed it to the black orb.

"Dispersio."

The black orb exploded violently into small tiny black flecks but luckily it was contained in the golden orb that Morgana used to bind it but there was still force and impact, it had wounded her and made some fresh wounds and scratches ripping the flesh on her face and hand, and her wounds bled, and it also catapulted everyone and everything from afar.

Except for Mr. Strange, that was able to turn his back but, he felt the impact on his back, Lupus was thrown into a three but had quick reflexes and was able to hold on to the three, and hid behind it, luckily the Maurelles were far back and were hiding behind an old tree, but they felt the force like strong hot wind passing through them, some of the trees were shaken and wounding its trunks, burning some of the leaves, shaking everything even the rocks that were perfectly still rolled around as if it was as light as a pebble.

Slowly the tiny orbs disappeared.

Morgana was gasping for breath, it made her tired, but her wounds started to heal but the blood dried up, Mortimer checked Matilda and laid her on the ground and seeing she was breathing and her eyes started to open, smiled and scratched her cheek, then made a faint grin chuckle "You'll do fine."

Although Matilda was bleeding profusely it didn't bother, Mr. Strange since it was family blood, family blood gave off a different smell, it was like smelling his own blood, which did not hunger him, he looked back and her wife was tired but smiling, and then he came to her aid.

He was slightly worried, but she trusted that she was okay, his action showed more of a sweet gesture for her "Are you okay?" he asked, and touched his cheek,

"Of course." Morgana Smiled. "Always."

"Your hair." Some of Morgana's hair specifically the front sides changed into white.

"Oh look at that, new hairstyle." Morgana retorted.

Then he hugged her.

"Ew, disgusting... get a room" Matilda cracked.

Lupus also making a gross face.

Then making a painful groan, as her wounds started closing slowly.

It was healing slowly, so Mr. Strange made her way to Matilda and He bit his wrist, and it punctured his skin, blood was on his mouth, and now gushing from his wrist, he let the blood drip on Matildas shoulders where the punctured wound was, and it started healing faster, until there was only dried blood left.

Her body wasn't fully recovered, not from the wounds from the tree creatures, but the from the fire of the lord of nightmares, it was a different kind of magic, old magic, it stayed on your skin for a long time, and it was searing, had they been ordinary people, the wound would've stayed for months, or even caused death, but since they were not ordinary at all, It only left pain, the kind of body ache that you get from fever. Matilda had it all over, her body, Morgana felt it more so, and Mortimer, felt it in his back.

It left a very dark feeling for everyone.

They heard a muffled sound, it was Myrka Drummond scarred and wounded from the impact, was trying to fidget her way out of the tree people, the tree people had empty wooden faces but even they were annoyed and tried to restrain her.

The look of annoyance in her eyes was so evident.

"What should we do with her?" Mortimer asked Morgana.

"We will deal with her in our council, "Alfrigg Maurelle declared.

tagging along with his family behind him.

"I say we kill her..."Lupus voiced out.

"Lupus... mind your manners..." Mortimer instructed.

Then lupus made a sad face and hugged her mum from behind.

"Are you okay, mummy?"

"Yes, I am love.." Morgana replied cupping his chin.

Elga Maurelle kneeled, next to Matilda, teary-eyed, "You, our family, owes you a huge debt of gratitude, you have saved our daughter, I would not have known what I would have done if anything were to happen to her. Thank you, she planted a kiss on Matildas, forehead.

Although annoyed she made a weird face, but when Elga looked at her she just smiled awkwardly, as if to say, no problem.

Then she looked back at Kalen. "Oy, you heard that you owe me, making a mischievous face. hehehe."

Then everyone smiled.

"Yeah, yeah..."

Then Alfrigg spoke," Your family is always welcome in our house if you need shelter, it is yours. If you need any help, then we will aid you. This is our oath to you."

"Are you sure? we take oaths very seriously, It may not always be of a friendly favor?." Morgana quipped, but deep inside everyone knew she was serious, The Strange, always takes oaths and agreement seriously, it is because they know that allies are important, they know that in the art of war, you cannot win things on your own. They knew that although they are a strong family, there is always strength in numbers, but most importantly honest connections are very important.

Allies that can be trusted, are people that can save your life, this was not a war, but they have been through many things, that they understood the power of one oath and that there is power in a loving coven, strength in a clan of vampires that treated each other like family, and that a pack of wolves can accomplish many things if they trusted each other.

Alfrigg noticed the weight of the question and looked back at her wife. and her wife agreed without question.

"Yes, this is a promise. No, a pact." He handed out his hand.

And Mortimer Strange shook it and looked at Alfrigg in agreement.

"We would also be grateful if you would not mention us in whatever council, your going to." Mortimer asserted.

"Of course... your family will be kept a secret if you wish."

"Thank you," Mortimer replied.

"No, Thank you..." Elga uttered while looking at Mr. Strange and Mrs. Strange. Elga hugged, Mrs. Strange.

There was a brief silence then Nissa woke up.

"Mummy, where are we?"

Scene 19

Mr. Strange and Mrs. Strange were seated at the dining table, Mr. Strange reading a newspaper while Mrs. strange was reading a book.

Lupus was eating his steak and Sullivan was serving more food. Footsteps were heard going down the stairs.

It was Matilda, she was still feeling a bit weak,

"Took you long enough.."

"How long was I sleeping?" Matilda asked.

"3 days you idiot hahahaha" Lupus quipped.

Lupus and the twins laughed.

"Why are you laughing?" Matilda asked this is when her mother looked up, "You seem to have something on your face dear."

Matilda disappeared for a few seconds to look at her face in the mirror and found that there were things drawn on her face, one of them was a mustache.

"Lupuuuus! You're dead!!!!!!"

Then ran after Lupus and tried to strangle Lupus, Mrs. Strange then waved her finger.

"Ah, ah, ah." as if to say no.

Matilda was now floating immobile in the air, as if there were no gravity while she tried to reach for Lupus, "Mum, ah!?" she violently opposed.

"Take your crystal baths first, to cleanse yourself of magic, its already prepared for you in your tub," Morgana was now controlling her and she was now floating back upstairs."

To which Lupus teased her more, "See you later Matilda.. if you can fiiiind meee hahahahaha" Lupus laughed.

Matilda grew angrier "Argh!!!!!"

"Lupus! stop it," Morgana ordered.

Then lupus made a face.

Then Matilda stopped moving mid-air

"Morgana walked in front of the stairs removed her glasses and Matilda now floating, and was upside down, playing with her positions.

"Yes, mum.?"

"You must not do that again.?" And she looked at her sternly waiting for an answer.

"I'm sorry."

"Good, now take your bath."

"What happened to Myrka.?" Matilda asked in a serious tone.

"According to Elga, She will be put to death.

"Because she ate people?."

"That and she was not too careful, that it risked the community being discovered."

"I reckon her family is pissed, but they don't know it was us. if they found out..."

Mortimer raised his eyes from his newspaper.

"Take your bath Matilda, your mother already took care of that,"

Morgana made an I told you face.

and Matilda continued floating upstairs.

Scene 20

Matilda was now taking her bath, and playing with bubbles, glowing crystals were submerged in the water, she had her headset on and was listening to metal music but was pensive.

a vinyl record was playing in the background.

The family hung out at the dining table and then after eating, Lupus declared "Going out..."

The twins started to crawl out of their chairs and play.

Sullivan was in his room, bobbing his head to the vinyl record.

Mena, was brushing her hair and looking in the mirror.

Scene 21

Meanwhile.

An extremely large hall made of grey walls, huge stained glass windows with colorful designs of elves and their history surrounded the place, it looked ethereal and the light was passing through the windows and reflecting on everything, gold accents can be seen on each of the corners supporting the high court table for the council. In each corners, there were trees, old trees, and butterflies thats seem to support the corners of the hall. This council was not the end-all and be-all, it was only the council for elves and fairies and forest creatures.

There were four very serious people sitting there, they did not look young or old, they looked wise beyond their years, they had white-bluish hair because of the reflection of the window very soft and delicate features for the ladies and strong sharp handsome features for the men, one of them was wearing a gold crown.

"Myrka Drummond...-o in huldra lie"

/*Myrka Drummond of the huldra race*/

Myrka sitting in the middle, hands bound by leaves and vines as well as feet, she was heavily guarded by tree creatures. however something was different about her, her mouth was stitched together and she tried to speak but she couldn't.

Alfriggs and Elga Maurelle a little bit far off behind her.

The head council started speaking.

"-lda crumguru -o matië firya a yo raxe -Ima mar -o návë túvima

*be na i sanyë carina bui mín núr a exa onna cin indo n- manda vanda host ennin. "

=================================================

You are guilty of eating humans

and risk our world being discovered,

In accordance to the laws made by our race and other creatures you will be imprisoned for 100 years.*

================================================

Myrkas muffled screamed can be heard, as she tried to escape from her restraints.

While the Maurelles looked at each other in shock.

"The Strange will not like, this..."

The Maurelles, although pained, by what had happened were extremely forgiving creatures.

"Just by judging from the boy, we have to tell them differently, or they will hunt her..." Alfrigg informed his wife.

"nányë brigol na rac -ita estel.*" Elga confessed

/I am afraid to break their trust*/

"nalmë ala rac qe estel, rather it is a concern that they will be in danger, in case they tried to find her." Alfrigg disclosed.

/*we are not breaking any trust*/

"hanya*" Elga agreed.

Scene 22

===============================================

*Marius....*

He heard someone, a woman was calling her.

How strange, there was no one there.

Marius has just come out of the pub and finished a session of the night drinking, very heavy drinking.

He smelt of vodka and cigarette.

He already put out his keys and was on his way to his car, struggling to keep his balance, he was fidgeting with his keys and wanted to put it in the cars lock to open it, when a night patrol, appeared out of nowhere crossed his hands across his chest and menacingly looked at Marius, and said: "Are you really gonna do that you alkiz?"

So he put his keys back in his pants pocket, made an awkward smile, and continued walking.

Marius continued walking in the stony pathway that led to the forest, he thought, "Well there is a short cut, here..."

There was a short cut in a beaten-down path that he always takes in the morning when he comes home from work.

It's was a little bit darker today, but he was sure that he can find his way.

He was halfway through when someone started calling his name.

"MARIUUUSS..."

Her voice was gentle and sweet, he looked for it.

"Mariiuuuuus...."

It was enthralling and heavenly....

He started to walk deeper and deeper into the forest,

It was a beautiful woman, her skin was translucent rather glowing under the light of the moon ...

"Marius..."

Her voice was like butter sliding down his skin, he couldn't help but close his eyes, whenever she called on him.

She was beautiful.

That's all that he could think about.

gently she traced her fingers on his face.

she cupped his face and kissed his neck and by now Marius was just dying of euphoria, and then she bit his neck and ravaged it, until all the blood spurt and gushing vehemently out of his neck and then she punctured his stomach with her hands like knife cutting butter, gripping his guts and forcing it out of his body and right then, he lost his consciousness until he no longer can stand up on his own and was just bleeding profusely. He laid pallid and lifeless on the ground, her long brown hair gently falling on his skin as she continued to eat what was left of him. The hallow on her back started to close.

*We can hear subdued eating sounds in the background*

*mischievous rock music playing*

Scene 23

===============================================

"Mother?"

Matilda found her mother in the library, looking at a mirror and her right hand was glowing, yellow.

She watched, Myrka being judged.

"They aren't going to kill her?" Matilda asked.

"No. I don't think so."

"You implanted a tracking spell on Elga."

flashback to Elga hugging Morgana. Morgana has placed a very light tracking spell, her hands glowed yellow on Elgas back.

"Mother, you got to the forest real quick by teleporting.

how does one get that power again?"

Morgana felt the gravity of the question and looked down, for a few seconds, and then answered it.

"By birth or by sacrificing, something powerful."

She had understood, that it was not often that they can have this kind of opportunity, and that Matilda was going to try to do it on her own, and she would rather be there to guide her properly.

Myrka was trying to scream in her cell, her hands and feet were bounded, but it was all muffled since her mouth was stitched. She was crying and pissed and planning of all the bad things she was going to do to the Strange Family.

One grown-up feet showed out of nowhere.

There was some glowing blue light in the background.

Then another set of feet, much smaller settled on the floor.

"Hello, Myrka. The Elves have been nice to you.

Much too nice." Morgana muttered, she took a step back.

Myrka tried to scream and kneeled and begged as if to say no.

"Do it quickly."

Matilda circled around Myrka, and she followed her with her eyes, asking what are you doing? but she couldn't be heard nor understood.

she used her wand to form a Magic circle.

she whispered a chant.

"Gud ef gáttir

styrk ég

yfirferð

ég gef þér þetta tilboð"

Myrka kept crying. She was kneeling, and Matilda pulled her hair to make her kneel upright.

"Ssshh, Myrka, Everythings gonna be okay."

Then Matilda Slit Myrka's throat with an Athame.

She convulsed as the blood gushed out of her throat it spilled all over her clothes and she fell on the floor and the blood poured out even more as it made its way through the lines of the magic circle, it glowed blue and showed the sign of the sun, and moon a dodekagram with different symbols.

It glowed bright and summoned twelve portals.

She looked at Morgana.

"Close the portals," Morgana ordered.

As she waved her hands. It became much smaller ane became light blue orbs that went to her arms and then became symbols that lit up in light blue as it sunk on her skin and then disappeared.

Until each one is closed.

"Let's go home."

There was a blue portal, they both stepped inside.

Myrka's eyes were wide open, she was no longer convulsing, nor in pain.

There was only silence.

Preview for the next Chapter.

===============================================

We see Mena brushing her hair, in front of an old victorian vanity mirror in her room.

Her room was designed like she was living in the 1970s, mustard, navy colors and old rose in her bed pillows and cushions, and her furniture casings were of old antique brown wood.

Her eyes were empty, She seems different, strange, she wasn't herself, she was all made up, and brushing and brushing and brushing her hair and when she was done she placed her brush on the table and we pan in on her face and her eyes widened and she tried, to force a smile, a big eery demon smile, uncomfortable, big, and empty, it looks untrustworthy but most of all hungry.

* Mischievous rock music continues to play in the background*

*End Scene*

Artist Name Matilda Sparrow

The Strange Family Values The Fairy Eater by is licensed under a . Based on a work at . Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at .

#Matilda Sparrow #Strange Family Values #The Fairy Eater #Gothic #Macabre #Comedy

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