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Chapter Six – Marco POV

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I couldn’t help it. I knew it was wrong of me to let her kiss me like that. She was still in a relationship. I was a rebound. That’s all. Right?

But she intoxicated me. I knew I’d never say no, to anything. I couldn’t. And frankly, I didn’t want to. She came to me, so I was going to be there for her, no matter what ways she wanted me to be.

Watching from a distance, I noticed Morgyn and Jade’s interactions to be far more strained than usual. They were incredibly cold. I sighed. Noticing Jade eating in the kitchen, I went off to find Morgyn.

“Marco, what do you need?” He asked.

“To talk to you,” I replied, matter of factly. “Alone.”

He nodded. “What is it?”

I looked around to make sure no one was nearby. “It’s not my business, and I know this. But I can’t stand to sit by and watch as you and Jade practically ignore each other.”

He turned toward the bookshelf. “Then don’t watch.”

“She loves you.”

“No, she doesn’t. She loves you.”

I shook my head. “No. I’m just a friend being there for someone being in a rough patch. The least you could do is work together with her. You are sages.”

Morgyn shrugged. “Not my problem.”

“Are you hearing yourself?!” I snapped. “You’re acting like a goddamn child! You’re hurting her. Is that what you want?”

Before I could say anything else, Morgyn blasted me with magic, knocking me down to the ground. I gazed up at him, shocked.

“She wouldn’t be going through this if she had fought the urge to kiss you!” Morgyn snarled. “I trusted you, Marco! I trusted her! You both broke my trust and I’ve fallen out of love with her. Take her. I don’t care. But leave me be!”

I stood up and started to walk away. “As a safe, I would think you’d know the difference between a real kiss and an infatuation spell.”

“Oh, don’t start, Marco!” He rolled his eyes. “Confronting me, trying to twist this to make me look like the bad guy? You’re no better than you were five years ago! Manipulative, spiteful, pathetic!”

I couldn’t hold back my anger. “What did you say?” I got in his face. “I have done nothing but help here! I helped you and Jade create the most powerful spell in the realm. I killed Vlad! Was that all for nothing?” I sighed and stepped back. “Even now, with my blood boiling, I would rather walk away than escalate this. Good day.” I walked away.

“Yeah, walk away. Like a coward.” I barely heard Morgyn’s taunts because as I walked through the doorway, I saw Jade. She had heard everything. She was in shock, her eyes glassy as she held back the tears.

“Jade,” I said quietly, immediately calming. “I thought I could….I tried….I…”

“He doesn’t love me,” she whispered.

“He’s hurt and angry. Holding a grudge. I’m sure he still-“

“He said it so effortlessly, Marco! No hesitation. He doesn’t love me.”

I didn’t know what else to do, so I pulled her into an embrace. She broke down, sobbing into my shoulder as I held her. I just wanted to hide somewhere and never return. Ever. I broke them. This was my fault.

Aidoneus stopped and I gazed at him sadly. He gave a small nod and walked through the corridor to see Morgyn.

“What happened?” He asked.

“Not now,” Morgyn replied coldly.

There was a pause, and I knew Aidoneus was just staring at Morgyn. Waiting patiently for Morgyn to give in.

“Listen, I’m tired of being interrogated!” He exclaimed. “This mess has torn all of us apart, and I just want to be alone. Away from it all.”

“Morgyn…”

“No! Stop! I want peace. I want this to end. All of it, okay? I know you’re looking out for me, but I’m tired. Emotionally exhausted.”

“You need a vacation,” Aidoneus said quietly.

“Yeah,” Morgyn agreed. “With Caleb.”

I rolled my eyes. Once again, no mention of Jade at all.

“Mommy, mommy!” We heard. Jade let go of me and turned, wiping the tears from her face and clearing her throat.

“Hey baby, what is it?”

Orion held out his hands. “Look what I can do! I showed Simeon and scared him. He told me to tell you!” He flicked his wrist and a few sparks shot straight up to the ceiling, fizzling out. “I can make fireworks!”

Jade and I were dumbfounded. She had told me he was a born vampire, and there were no born spellcaster/vampire hybrids. It was impossible. The only hybrids were vampires who had been granted spellcaster power by a sage. I understood why Simeon had been worried. Orion was the first of his kind; a born hybrid.

“That’s…” Jade stopped. “That’s wonderful, Orion!”

Orion clapped excitedly. “I’m strong! Like you, Marco and Morgyn!”

Jade laughed quietly. “Yes, my big, strong baby.”

“I’m not a baby anymore, Mama! I’m a big boy who knows magic!”

“Yes, yes, of course, ba- erm, Orion.”

I grinned. Orion improved Jade’s mood immediately. It was nice to see. And of course, I understood why. Orion was a bright, chipper child who was very fun to be around. He lit up the room for everyone. And this itself was a big moment. His first magic manifestation? Yes, definitely a big deal.

I left Jade and Orion to celebrate, my work day coming to a close. Saying my goodbyes, I left. Just as I approached the portal, I saw Aidoneus.

“Shh,” he whispered. “Come here.”

I followed him to a secluded area down the hill from the portal.

“Something weird is going on,” he said.

I crossed my arms and grinned. “Weirder than normal?”

He gave me an unamused look. “I have a bad feeling. Please be careful.”

I nodded. “I will.” I gestured inside. “I’m going home, so I’ll be okay, but go warn Jade. She’s with Orion. His magic abilities just manifested.

Aidoneus stepped back. “What?” He didn’t seem happy about it. He seemed scared.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

“That’s impossible.”

“Yes, I know, but-“

“But in the book of master spellcasters it says that there will be one. A boy. His powers will manifest at preschool age. He will be born to the most powerful spellcaster and a powerful vampire.” He stopped. “My god.”

I stared blankly at him. “What?”

“He will be the realm’s downfall.”

I stepped back, shocked. “How? That’s a load of shit! He’s a sweet boy.”

“He won’t always be. Please, don’t tell Jade.”

“She needs to know so she can stop it!”

“She can’t. And if she tries, she could, and would die. She wouldn’t be able to be revived.”

“So what can we do to prevent that?”

Aidoneus shrugged. “I don’t know.”

I furrowed my brow. “So you’re just going to drop that info on me, tell me I can’t tell Jade and say you don’t know how to stop it?”

He sighed. “Marco, I may be wise, but I am not all knowing.”

I looked away. “Looks like I have a new goal.” Looking back at him, I shook my head. “But Jade needs to know. She could help.”

“No.” Aidoneus’ eyes widened. “If she helps, she will die. I said this. Others can do it, but not her. Recruit anyone, but never ever tell Jade. I will do my best to help you as well.”

I nodded. “Thank you. I’ll keep it quiet. Why will she die?”

“She will see him differently, treat him differently. He will notice this and know why. Once he understands his power, if she defies him, he will kill her with no mercy.”

“So, she’s the only one at risk?” I asked, worried.

“Anyone who defies him could die, Marco,” he explained, “but we have many years to prepare. He won’t see us coming if we plan well enough. But if we never find a way, it could be our demise as well.”

I nodded, taking it all in.

“I’ve heard that another child born to the mother could be the best match for The Destroyer,” he said. “But that is just a legend. I don’t know if it holds any truth.”

“Ambrosia,” I said.

He shook his head. “In a technical sense, Ambrosia was born to Ruby. This would be another biological child to Jade.”

My heart sank. “I see.”

Aidoneus smiled reassuringly. “Again, this is just a legend. I don’t know how true it is.”

I nodded. “Right. Okay.”

I went home, fearing for Jade more than ever. Even having a child couldn’t bring her the joy she deserved. Was there a way to stop it? What would happen to him? Was he going to die or surrender in defeat? I assumed I couldn’t tell Morgyn or Caleb either. I opted to just not tell anyone.

Ever.

I stepped in the door and sighed, heading right for my kitchen to pour a drink. As I went to take a sip, Damien stepped out.

“What a shame,” he said. “Orion is a bright little boy too.”

I put my glass down. “Damien. How did you know?”

“I told you, I have your abilities. I see everything. I hear everything.”

I thought back to something Jade said. When Damien and I had taken control of the realm, I was able to see and hear everything there at all times. But there was a device; a bracelet that could be worn that would block my ability to hear or see anything within a certain radius of it. Jade had obtained one and made copies for Caleb and Morgyn. I needed to find one of those. Or rather, many.

“And see,” Damien continued, “all you had to do was join me in my plan. But you refused. Too much of a softy to go against your precious Jade. It looks like she’s taken quite the hit from my little spell and my revival if Ruby, hmm? It’s fun to watch.” His grin turned to a scowl. “But she finds comfort in you. She’s happy with you. Something I never expected.” He sighed and shrugged dramatically. “Looks like I will need to solve that problem as well.”

“What are you going to do?” I growled. “You’re too much of a coward to do anything to me. Who is more powerful here?”

“You’re only powerful when you see me coming,” he taunted.

Before I could even think, he blasted me backwards with magic, sending me flying over the half wall into my living room and causing me to land on my head. It started to pulse and throb. Everything was blurry when I opened my eyes, spinning quickly so I couldn’t tell which way was up. I groaned, the taste of blood in the corner of my mouth making me realize the gravity of the situation. My head hurt all over. Where was the blood coming from? I reached up and touched a gash near my temple, a burning sensation immediately rushing through my face. Oh, this was bad. I knew I was very hurt.

Damien grabbed my arms. “Get up.”

“I can’t,” I said quietly. “I can’t see.”

He yanked on my arms. “Get. Up.”

I crawled, preparing myself to attempt to stand. Damien, agitated with me taking so long, used magic and pulled me up to my feet quickly, sending a horrible wave of dizziness through my head again. I couldn’t move, the magic holding me completely frozen in place, but my body was so weak.

He approached me. “Oh my, look at that gash.”

“Damien, please. I’ll join you if you want, okay? Like old times? Just please release me.” I thought I was looking at him, but my vision still hadn’t returned. He was just a blur, spinning with the rest of the room.

“It’s too late for that,” he mocked me, slamming me down to the ground again. I yelped in pain.

“If you kill me, you know Jade will show you no mercy,” I said quietly, my voice hoarse. I charged my magic as best I could, despite my weaknesses and readied an attack. I blinked a few times, trying to focus my eyes. Sitting back on my heels, I trained my eyes on Damien and shot the attack, immediately falling forward again, too weak to move. I rested my head on the floor, closing my eyes. I didn’t really care what happened from this point on. I didn’t even know if I had hit Damien or what happened. I thought maybe I had knocked him unconscious, but I realized quickly that wasn’t the case. Once again, he used magic to pick me up, sending me backwards, over the half wall again. Not wanting to hit my head and cause further damage, I tucked it forward, landing on my back instead. The pain was excruciating. I swear I heard a snap, but that could have been my imagination.

This needed to stop. I couldn’t take any more and knew he would kill me if it continued. But I was far too weak to fight with magic. I did the only thing I could think of to end this. I played dead. I closed my eyes, resting my throbbing head on the floor, rolling to my side to be more comfortable on the floor. A stabbing pain surged down my back as I moved, but I kept my breaths still. I heard Damien approach me.

“Stand up,” he commanded.

I didn’t say anything. I didn’t even twitch.

“Get up, or I’ll force you to.”

Silence.

He used magic, slightly lifting me up. I let my body go limp and he dropped me to the floor again, pain surging through every part of me. Still, I didn’t even flinch. I heard him let out a small chuckle.

“That’s what you get, old friend.”

After a few moments, I heard my door close. He was gone.

I quickly reached into my pants pocket, searching for my phone. I couldn’t find it. I opened my eyes, but still couldn’t see anything. I attempted to crawl, feeling around for my phone, but I felt nothing. Finally, defeated, I rested my head on the floor again, closing my eyes.

Chapter Seven (click here)


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