“Still?” the fey worried. “Please, you’re being far too cruel. It’s difficult enough to restrain my feelings when I see the wonderful father you are to your daughter and knowing what a perfect man you are from head to toe.”
“Again, you’re going to make me blush,” VelRyan said shaking his head.
“Please, I beg of you, give me a chance,” Syliandanchevas implored. “Lylyian was an amazing wife and nobody can ever replace her, I hold no delusions otherwise, but you still deserve to be with someone, especially after you’ve been alone for so long.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” VelRyan replied. “I’m not alone. I have a beautiful daughter to raise and enjoy my days with, amazing friends who I trust to have in my home, and plenty of monsters depending on me for protection from a cold, harsh world.”
“You know what I mean,” the fey pouted. “You’re blocking yourself off from loving again, you’re holding on too tightly to the past. Please, Lylyian wouldn’t want you to give up on finding someone to be with, and I certainly don’t want you to give up on such a thing either.”
“I’m sorry, Syliandanchevas, but the answer is still no. Now can we discuss our unique patient we have here with us?”
“What does it take to open your heart up to love again?” Syliandanchevas desperately asked. “What do you need in order to embrace loving another again? Tell me so I can give it to you. Whatever it is you need, I can give it to you.”
“Syliandanchevas…”
“What? What do I have to do?” the fey begged. “What can I do to gain your love? Tell me, I’ll do anything you ask!”
“You can’t do anything to change my mind on this. I’m sorry.”
“I won’t accept that,” Syliandanchevas argued with a huff. “I’ve loved you since the day I met you, that’s something that can never be changed. I held my tongue and was on my best behavior while Lylyian was your wife, and even after her death I waited as long as it took for your heart to heal so that I may one day hope to take my turn with cherishing it. I’ve been a very good girl the entire time we’ve known each other, I’ve done everything you’ve asked without question and I’ve kept my inner nature in check to the highest possible regard. I’m prepared to serve you until the end of my days and will gladly do anything you ask of me, so please explain why there can never be anything between us.”
“Because I don’t feel love towards you, Syliandanchevas. I’ve told you before, I only see you as a friend.”
“You only saw the old me as a friend,” the fey rebuked, setting her hands at her hips and giving her body a small wiggle. “This is the new me. I don’t understand why you don’t feel anything more now, I made myself younger all to please you. Is my body still too old and unsightly for you to become aroused by?”
“First off, you’ve never been old and unsightly, don’t be so hard on yourself. Second, even appearing younger doesn’t change the way I feel about you, that’s not how love works.”
“That’s how lust works,” Syliandanchevas coyly quipped. “And lust leads to love. It’s the spark that kicks off a great and everlasting life of passion and sensual lovemaking.”
“You’ve been reading your romance novels again, haven’t you?” VelRyan asked with a raised eyebrow.
“Well, then how about if I make myself even younger?” the fey proposed. “Would that help initiate a romance between us? I could even create another me, or two even. You could have an entire harem of me all to yourself, all young and fertile, ready to mother your children and live out the rest of days as loving wives to the greatest sorcerer in all of Eden.”
“For the last time, stop trying to make me blush,” VelRyan calmly requested.
“Then please give me a chance to have your heart,” Syliandanchevas begged with hands held together. “It’s so hard to keep holding in my feelings for you, and you deserve to have a loving wife again. Please, we could work, I know we could. Just tell me what to do and I’ll do it. Anything for you.”
“What I want you to do is stop this,” VelRyan sighed, earning a devastated look from the fey. “Please, understand that I’m just not looking for another wife. I don’t want anyone else. I’m honored to be your friend, but a lover isn’t something I can be with you. I do hope you’ll understand when I say this.”
“But… but…” the fey whimpered.
“I’m sorry, but this conversation is once again over. It’s late, you should get some rest. I’ll take care of the new patient tonight, you don’t need to worry about her. Go on and get some sleep, you’ve earned it.”
“But-”
“Please, friend,” VelRyan said to her with a concerned smile. Syliandanchevas opened her mouth to protest, words failing to form in her mouth as the man slowly shook his head before walking past her. Hearing his footsteps gradually fading behind her the woman shut her eyes and trembled in frustration, a low whine being made as she lowered her head before she took off her glasses and wiped away her tears.
“Master… VelRyan,” she breathed out. Slowly she put on her spectacles again, her expression now being downtrodden as she appeared to withdraw into her thoughts. Walking forward with soft steps she wiped some tears off her cheek before glancing to Bermuda’s door that she passed by.
“What I wouldn’t give to be your father’s bride,” she quietly bemoaned.
On the other side of the door Bermuda was resting against it while all was nearly dark in her room. The arachne softly sighed as she heard Syliandanchevas walking off, the young girl then slowly skittering towards her canopy of webbing and blankets with a remorseful frown on her face.
“I’m sorry, Silly. But my father isn’t ready to love again. Not yet.”
Further away in the sanctuary VelRyan was trying to once again set aside what had occurred between him and his close friend who wanted to be much closer than friends with him, his attention shifting to the paperwork of an unusual patient they had admitted recently which brought about many other potential problems for him to deal with.
“That woman’s infatuation with me certainly is persistent,” he said to himself upon stopping in front of one of the bedroom doors in the hallway, flipping through a few of the pages as he read them carefully. “Vale’s was easy to quell, but Syliandanchevas just won’t let go of her feelings no matter how many times I politely reject them. What am I going to do with that girl?”
Shaking his head slightly he then glanced to the door next to him with a cautious eye.
“Then again, what am I supposed to do about her as well?”
Inside the bedroom in question it was softly lit despite the curtains being closed over its window. Although the décor and amenities were standard amongst the patient quarters in the sanctuary, this particular one had a unique resident currently resting within it, one who had a soft, warm glow to her that illuminated the room with a shimmering radiance. Her wings of white feathers were draped over each side of the bed she laid on, with patches of blood covering parts of them while the right limb had a noticeable break in it. Her voluptuous body was clad in a simple white dress provided by the sanctuary, her thighs and left arm wrapped in bandages that had blood stains on them, the same as the one around her head over her silver hair that was long and had red streaks running down through the ends. And her eyes were shut as she appeared to be in pain while confined to her bed, the woman flinching and murmuring to herself in a daze as she cursed her reason for being there on that night.
“Da…” Valentina breathed out before cringing in both agony and anger. “Damn… bird.”
Chapter 5
A Night of Celebration
In the world of Eden there are no shortcomings when it comes to misfortune and disaster. Trouble could strike at any moment, peace could shift to war at the worst of times, and one could even be ambushed by a lustful monster without warning. This wasn’t to say there weren’t peaceful moments to be had; rather it was important to savor the good times you were dealt, whether they be great or
few in number. For all the hardship and suffering there could be in your future, always enjoy the moments you had to smile and laugh, to be near friends and loved ones, to relish in the delights that life could offer you.
For it were times like this that noble leaders and visionaries strived to bring to all.
*****
The barren plains surrounding what was once the centaur homeland of Ruhelia used to be filled with ghostly memories of the fallen kingdom and mere shadows of its former glory. Nobody was left after the great tragedy of The Sisterhood invading the land had spilled blood in an ungodly massacre, and their lingering remnants being wiped out by a mysterious, merciless holy force afterwards. It seemed for a time that the entire countryside was doomed to be nothing but a graveyard to the deceased and keeper of lost tranquility that once blossomed throughout the land.
Now, however, a spark of jovial life had been rekindled. Not in the foreboding chasm that was ruptured in the center of the former centaur kingdom, but rather on the outskirts of such where an entire community of elven women and children had been brought in an effort to spare them a similar fate as the centaurs. On this night the elves were feeling fully elated, not just because they were free from a life of forced slavery to the likes of The Sisterhood, but because they were blessed with a hero who dared to forge a better path of living for all of them with the courage and fortitude of a noble knight like no other they had ever heard of. And it was on this night that his rallying decree that they would be monsters no more but instead women and daughters of Eden who would forever shed the horrid title of their past actions and misdoings, that his gallant crusade to unite them and other races with mankind in an effort to establish peace and prosperity for all, invoked only the most jubilant enthusiasm within the elven community. And that meant only one thing for the elves and their honored guests on that fateful night beneath the celestial radiance of the heavens above.
“Let’s fucking party!” a ranger cheered amidst the merry outcries of nearly everyone around her. Yes, it was indeed a time of celebration, as the elves were thrown into a frenzy of joy and festivity for what their hero had brought them. Campfires all throughout the elven community were surrounded by women and children, all dancing as if in ritualistic salute to the gods for their good fortune and yelling with renewed spirits as the night was young for them still. Drums forged from wooden logs and animal hides were pummeled as the rhythmic beats echoed through the air. Generous helpings of roasted meat and fresh vegetables were served to all as the surrounding wildlife and fauna they had foraged were used to fuel the never-ending energy everyone was feeling coursing through them like thunder and lightning.
However it wasn’t just the elves who were enjoying the night, as their esteemed guests were also invited to partake in the festivities which they gladly did so.
“This is all so yummy!” Cindy squealed with excitement, the sand wraith eagerly shoving any and all food that came remotely close to her by the many elves who all generously kept the fare coming her way. Sitting on a long log the bubbly sand wraith passionately savored and devoured everything she could, while on the ground in front of her Snapper was being treated with similar reverence as young elven children were taking turns holding food speared on sticks towards the swarm’s mouth.
“I’m so glad you like it,” Yanee giggled, watching with curious amazement at Cindy who appeared to be so happy she was on the verge of literally exploding with joy.
“It’s so good!” Cindy moaned as she rolled the tasty cutlet around in her mouth. An elf sitting next to her was even holding the girl upright as Cindy wavered on her seat with overwhelming pleasure spreading across her from her mouth.
“I didn’t think it was that good though,” the woman laughed as the surrounding elves showed similar amusement. “Though I’m happy to see you’re enjoying it.”
“I’d say she is,” another agreed. “It looks like she just came from putting that in her mouth.”
Cindy gave a big gulp, quivered with a look on her face that resembled a woman having just finished an entire night of torrid lovemaking with her vigorous partner, then hugged Yanee close with an ecstatic cry.
“I love this so much! I love having friends and yummy food! This is so amazing! Thank you for having me here!”
“Haha! Of course, Cindy,” Yanee laughed as she somewhat struggled to escape the sand wraith’s forceful embrace. “Please, eat as much as you like, we insist. You deserve it. We can never thank you enough for what you did.”
“Holy shit!” a child laughed as she yanked away from Snapper. “That time she nearly got my hand!”
“Haha, you nearly lost it,” another chided as she held smoking venison towards Snapper, the young swarm staring intently at the sizzling meat before she promptly lunged forward and chomped it right off the stick.
“Use some caution, you little shits,” a woman laughed as the children giggled playfully. “That little dearie’s teeth mean business, so make sure you’re holding the treats far enough away from your hands. You lose a finger to her and you’ve got nobody to blame but yourself.”
“Yes, mother,” a young girl agreed as she carefully held her stick out towards the swarm, with Snapper buzzing her wings before chomping the food and wood apart with vicious snaps.
Nearby Luna and Falla were eating their delicious worm-filled apples in the company of many elven women, with Luna munching her apple with fevered laughter and twitching eyes while Falla was casually speaking with the elf next to her.
“So I’ve been meaning to ask,” Falla spoke up while her sister was lost in her own little world. “How did you people manage to spread the propaganda about you being so weak and dainty across the world so well? Until we met Clover we had no idea you were all so… well, much tougher than that.”
“It wasn’t so hard,” the elf remarked with a careless shrug. “Our ancestors established the common perception about us by enforcing such behavior with our people. For generations we purposefully acted like shy, scared, little weaklings in the presence of any humans we came across. We flaunted our vulnerable bodies before them, spread gossip in monster cities to further the ruse, and we became accustomed to acting like little bitches to bait men into coming after us. After a while it stuck, and humans always thought we were helpless damsels in their presence.”
“But didn’t them hurting and abusing you detract from that success?”
“A little,” the elf remorsefully admitted. “It was a price we were all willing to pay. It was either that or take up arms and work much harder to try and steal men away by force. Having them come to us just seemed easier in the long run.”
“I can understand that,” Falla had to agree. “Giant butterflies are able to tie down men pretty easily if need be, but in the end we preferred it when the men came willingly to us and we didn’t have to use such barbaric methods.”
“Is that how you met Lord Daniel Sorres? Did you bait him into coming after you as well?”
“I don’t want to talk about that,” Falla frowned shaking her head. “You’re not the only ones who made stupid mistakes in their past. I was a rotten butterfly before Daniel found me, that’s all you need to know.”
“So he led you onto a better path just as he preaches?”
“He led all of us onto a better path,” Falla corrected with a small smile. “Flairwood now stands with Daniel and his beliefs, and that includes me and my sister. I can honestly attest that having a man choosing to be with you out of love and true affection beats any other way of getting one. My people will see that very soon, and so will yours. What Daniel said we could have is true, and it’s something we’ve always wanted, whether we realized it or not.”
“He said that we could have men as husbands someday,” another elf mentioned as she sat closer to them. “That men would choose us as wives because they loved us. Has that happened to you? Are you and your sister… his wives now?”
Both Falla and Luna froze from hearing that, the two girls glancin
g to each other with deep blushes before timidly lowering their heads as the surrounding elves showed great interest in their reactions.
“We’re not… officially married yet,” Falla admitted. “But I think that’s something in our future.”
“Especially after he knocked all of us up,” Luna giggled. “He’s going to be the father to our daughters just like he promised he would be, so of course he’s going to marry us too. I just know he will.”
“What?” the elves exclaimed in surprise and amazement.
“Here we go,” Falla said before taking a bite out of her apple, with the elves immediately swarming them with questions and details about how Daniel impregnated them, with a lot of repeating inquiries for more explicit details regarding what all he did with them in bed.
Around the campfires elves were seen dancing in the warm glow of the lively flames, the women and children hollering in celebration with fevered shouts and energetic prancing. Among one of these groups a harpy was also dancing with them, the woman’s wings waving about in the air in ritualistic merriment while her shawl barely kept her bouncing assets from flying up into her face.
“Oh my,” Doku joyously remarked. “I’ve forgotten how much fun this could be. I’ve missed it so much and never realized it. This is simply ecstatic! I feel like I’m back in my old village now.”
“You seem to be just as talented a dancer as all harpies are,” an elven woman commented. “That comes as no surprise.”
“Oh, I don’t know about that,” Doku shyly remarked. “I’m not that talented with doing this, I’m really not. I’m sure I’m out of practice, I haven’t had the chance to do this in so long. Back home my sisters are much better-… wait, how did you know harpies dance like this?”
“Where do you think we learned it from?” another woman laughed as she hopped next to Doku. “Our ancestors were visited by your shamans long ago. They taught us how to channel our positive energy in revelries such as this to bring good fortune upon us from the gods. Our kind became much closer to the divine spirits and their bitchin’ graces thanks to you harpies.”
Chronicles of Eden - Season II - Act II Page 14