~ Right where I've always been . . . ~
The scene changed. The dirt road faded, and green walls appeared. Trees painted themselves upon the walls, becoming more real with every stroke. She reached out, fingers coming away coated with paint, but smelling of pine. Dark blue sky came into being over head, dotted with stars. Sounds filled the darkness, sounds of nature at night. "Jakareth?"
"Here."
He appeared before her, and she flung herself into his arms. "I'm so sorry," she sobbed repeatedly, "It was all my fault."
Smoothing her hair with a soft caress, he whispered, "It wasn't your fault love, it was never your fault."
"It was," she weeped.
Jakareth grabbed her face in his hands and forced her to look him in the eyes, speaking so that every word stood on its own. "It. Was. Not. Your. Fault."
Sniffling, she collapsed against him in relief. The guilt that smothered her left. "I love you . . ."
He smiled, "Not as much as I love you, which is why I've come. You've got to let me go. Move on."
Cyathea looked him in the face, "But I don't want too . . ."
"You have to. You can't go on like this." He hugged her tightly. "I love you Cya, never forget that, but don't let it stop you from living, and loving again."
She sighed, "If you say so . . . but it'll be hard getting over you."
"You've already started. You're sleeping in someone else's arms love," he said, with no jealousy. "Now why don't you wake up. You've got a busy day ahead of you adjusting to the idea of him sticking around." He kissed her passionately, and then faded away, along with the surroundings. The elf was left floating in a void before waking up, feeling even better.
"Moran?" she called softly, feeling his arms around her still.
"Yes?" he murmured.
"I don't suppose you had any plans for the next few years?" She was a bit nervous, worried he'd reject her, despite that he had come to her.
"Well," he began, "I was thinking about settling down and getting a teacher. I've much to learn about being a ranger it seems."
"Oh . . .Alright then," Cyathea said with sorrow.
Moran ran his fingers down the side of her face, "I was talking about with you silly."
"Oh!" Cyathea giggled as she turned slightly in his arms, and kissed him fully on the lips.
"We should head back to the inn soon, before the others send out a search party," Moran pointed out with a sigh as the sun rose, painting the sky a brilliant magenta and changing the cool moonlight to warmth.
Cyathea raised an eyebrow in curiosity, "They came too?"
Moran nodded. "Wouldn't let me go after you on my own. Probably worried I'd screw up," he chuckled.
The elf smiled to herself, glad that they'd followed her. She felt loved, cared for, needed. It was the greatest feeling in the world.
Siris sat in the corner booth yet again, playing catch with Threnody and a dagger. Jason dozed very unpaladin-like, snoring. Thankfully, the common room of the inn was practically empty besides them, and Jadarek. "So . . . Where do you think they are?"
Threnody shrugged. She'd been the one to find out the rangers were gone. "They're Rangers, so probably out in the woods somewhere, up a tree or under it." After realizing Moran wasn't in his room, or the inn, she'd cornered the barkeep and found out that he'd gone after Cyathea during the night. It was what they had come for, so she wasn't about to complain. She just hoped he didn't screw it up. When the pair walked in hand in hand, she knew he hadn't. She nudged Siris under the table.
"Well good morning you two," the rogue said cheerfully. "Are we moving on, or moving in?"
A Bloody Mess
This collection of connected shorts (which would have been combined into one book) began as an experiment. The set has never been finished, with only one part written in full. What follows are scraps with summaries and the full Masque of Theophania.
Chapter 1: The Stake is Mightier than the Laptop – Introduction of Lucy, Darian and Sophronia.
Chapter 2: Death Could Only Be So Kind – There are no fragments of this story written. It was to be done as a recounting by Sophronia to her therapist. It tells of a time she was doing some investigation into a new local necromancy cult. She is discovered by them and tortured, something she has yet to forgive Basil for. ** WARNING: NOT WRITTEN, JUST PLANNED **
Chapter 3: Dangerous Descent into Darkness – Investigation of a haunted house, introduction of Luthern Lukas O'Rielly, Lucy discovers her vampiric nature.
Chapter 4: The Masque of Theophania – Complete work.