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madllamamomma · 2 years

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The Visitor~ Part 8!!!!

Chapter 8~

The King of Pentacles~

[WARNING: Major trigger warning! Scenes contain physical and mental abuse. My content is also for more mature audience, 18+ please!]

As the arrogant Sir R. Martin Alarie III strolls towards his daughter’s magic shop, Beatrix his familiar, lazily drapes around his neck. With his eyes unable to resist the glimpse around him, he can’t help but continuously be disguised and repulsed by the streets of Vesuvia, despite them being the best they have ever been and the people being as kind as they ever were.

Continuing his walk, the cogwheels instantly turn and tick in his head. With just a day before he was expecting to return to his ship, time was running out. Now, more than ever he felt now that his plans must be in full swing by this evening.

“... Taking Pigeon home tomorrow, Master?” Beatrix murmurs in her master’s ears as she wakes up from her short nap.

Still continuing his proud wide stride, and his nose straight up, the Archamagister quietly replies under his breath. “... Perhaps. The child has been rather stubborn about staying here with these filthy lowlives… But we will persuade her one way or another.”

The creature shifts her weight uncomfortably in his shoulders, knowing full well about this man's temper when things didn’t go his way. “... Master won’t hurt her… will he?”

“.... I do not plan to, Bea… perish the thought.” He answers, slightly shaking his head.

Beatrix relaxes her little head feeling slightly relieved.

“...But then again, we shall see what she makes me do after tonight…” He continues with a small shrug.

The badger glances her blue eyes up towards her master’s face. Feeling uneasy, her fur raised on end. “But Pigeon is nice now… didn’t try to burn Bea’s tail like before…”

“..Yes… well, ‘Pigeon’ doesn’t realize what she’s throwing away… You know that.”

“...B-... But Pigeon’s grown up now…”

“She is going to have something I never had at her age…. A father to guide her to the right path…she’s still a valuable asset in Charlès. She’ll see that when she is back home.”

Without a second thought, the beast blurts out, “.... Pigeon seems happy here, and Master shouldn’t–”

The archmagister stops dead in his tracks with a cross look on his face as he beams into his familiar’s blue eyes. Beatrix slowly shrinks into herself, getting as small as she can. She couldn’t believe what she had just said, she never questioned him like that, what had gotten into her??

With a sharp annoyed sigh, he softens his gaze and takes a look at his pocket watch before stuffing it back into his silk pocket. “It’s getting rather late... How about you go off to find dinner for yourself, eh, Beatrix?”

Poor Beatrix's hungry stomach grumbles as she innocently stares at her master. “.... Don’t make me repeat myself.” He quietly grumbles.

Slowly and reluctantly, she climbs down his arm and hops to the ground whimpering sadly, hoping he’s changed his mind.

But instead he picks up his cane and starts to walk along down the street again without an ounce of remorse. “...Why don’t you go find some rats to eat instead…” He shouts over his shoulder.

The poor badger whimpers a little more, having a bad feeling in the pit of her little stomach.

“...You should know better than anyone I don’t need anyone holding me back…” Martin mutters under his breath as he slicks back his hair.

______________________

The shop never felt more apprehensive before. As closing time came, Rhemi swiftly blew out the lantern and preparations immediately got to work on a grand homemade dinner.

Asra being the ever supported friend, even though hating every second if it, makes his special seafood curry. He cooked it to a mild spice level just in case the old man wasn’t up for the heat, yet it never lost any of its tangy flavor.

Muriel made fried bread, a special recipe he learned from his cousins back in the south, simple enough to make, but the results were always extraordinary. He was half terrified it wouldn't come out right, but part of him felt like he had been doing it all his life.

Of course Rhemi was in charge of the dessert. Her loving Muriel, despite completely hating the idea of having to be in the same room as her father, brought fresh apples from the forest to make an apple pie. Usually she liked to buy her pastries from the bakery, but something about homemade pie sounded good. Luckily Portia and Argippa taught her an amazing recipe which was perfect for the occasion.

After a few hours, dinner was done and set on a simmer and everything smelt amazing. The pie looked absolutely delicious and was ready to be put into the oven, and the fried bread was crispy yet light and fluffy at the same time, the curry was slightly sweet and very savory, probably one of Asra’s best batches yet. Everything was perfect.

Almost exactly on the dot, a knock was at the door, and dread hit Asra and Muriel instantly.

As she hears the much anticipated knock on the door, Rhemi quickly uses her magic to evaporate from the kitchen to the door in seconds before anyone else could answer. “I got it!” She shouts as the sparkles still loom over her while unlocked the door and she tries to fan them away.

“Père!” She overenthusiastically greets as she sees his almost grim face. “Welcome…. A- again…”

Martin steps into the shop with a polite grin, happy to see his daughter, but also attempting to hide his disinterest about tonight’s dinner.

Muriel and Asra drag themselves towards the door and try their best to be somewhat polite (or at least Asra is successful–The hermit, not so much).

“Sir Martin, what a pleasure to see you again.” Asra says lying through his teeth with a fake smile.

The old magician bats his eyelashes in a bit of surprise. “Oh, yes…. More of Rhemiela’s… friends…”

“....Fiance….” Muriel grumples under his breath.

“Hmmm… So you two will be joining us as well then?” Martin asks, almost annoyed before looking back at his daughter.

Despite the obvious tension already before the evening got started, Rhemi continued to smile and giggled sweetly, “Of course they are! Why, they both help make dinner!”

As they all feared. Dinner was awkward and slightly dull conversation wise. Luckily, Asra’s curry was the best batch he ever made, and Muriel’s fried bread went with it so well. Unfortunately, Martin barely touched his food, always looking at it suspiciously. He did however seem to like the wine, nearly finishing off the entire bottle himself.

Stopping before any of them were too full, they all made their way to the velvet couch area as Muriel placed the pie in the oven and Rhemi made a pot of tea, leaving Asra and Martin alone for a moment.

“So…” Asra says to break the awkward silence. “How was your stay so far in Vesuvia, Sir Martin?” He politely asks.

The archmagister slowly blinks, “As well as one could have expected… Other than finding Rhemielia here, this trip was dull and tedious as ever… The streets stink of low tide and oysters and the palace reeks of incense.”

As Asra and Martin lock eyes and stare at each other loathingly. Every time this man speaks, Asra continues to just despise him even more. Just before Asra finally gives him a piece of his mind, Rhemi returns with a pot of tea and cups.

Happy to see the tea, the old man smirks as he reaches down and takes a cup of tea his daughter poured for him“... Good thing we’re leaving tomorrow…” Martin scoffs as he takes a sip.

Seeing a segue, Rhemi decided now was as good a time as ever to ask her father about walking her down the aisle. “... Actually, Père, there is something I wanted to ask of you–”

BANG! – “Owww!” Shout the poor mountain man from the back.

The three of them nearly leap out of their seats as they hear the poor hermit cry out from pain. Finally ending the staring contest with the old magician, Asra places his cup down to the coffee table and smiles fakely, “Ummm, sorry… Hold that thought, Rem…”

He stands to his feet and peers over the corner to see his tall friend clutching his foot. “Muriel? You okay?”

“The hell is this chest doing in the middle of the hallway??” Muriel grumbles, shaking out his stubbed big toe.

“OH! I almost forgot!” Asra suddenly shouts out as he sprints towards the back hallway. He opens the once very enchanted and locked chest. “Hey, Rhemi, remember that chest?”

“The one that was enchanted shut?... And the one that my poor Muri apparently stubbed his toe on?” She shouts back to him.

“Yep!” He replies with a laugh. “—That's the one! I was trying it again today and realized that it finally unlocked!”

“You mean you somehow got it opened?”

“No! I mean, for some reason the lock was just unlatched yesterday afternoon!”

“Huh….” Rhemi’s eyes flutter and she shakes her head curiously. “That's… odd….”

“Anyways…. I was going through it and looking at what happened to stumble upon!” When he returns with Muriel tailing behind him, with a picture frame in his hands. With a large smile, he hands Rhemi a small glass frame about the size of a large book, with a delicate watercolor painted portrait inside. There were two women, both holding each other close and wearing beautifully embroidered clothing. One on the right who looked a lot like Rhemi, the one on the left was taller and had darker skin. Even though their faces were new to her, the apprentice knew exactly who they were.

“Is… is this..?” Rhemi stubbles over her words.

Asra smiles cheerily and points, the tall woman first, “That’s Athena,” he then moves to the other woman, “..and I am pretty sure that's your mother, Rhemi.”

Her mother was so beautiful, her hair was a dirty blonde, her eyes a deep hazel brown. Her frame was a bit skinnier and frailer than Rhemi’s but she did have a nice shape. She looked so kind, so loving, someone you would want to just hold you and sing you to sleep.

Muriel comes from behind and wraps his arm around Rhemi’s waist with a warm grin. She looks up with her eyes slightly watery and feeling so happy. “My mother….”

“...You were right, you are a lot like her, Rhemi.” He kisses the top of her head and she buries her face into his forearm. “...Even down to her smile.”

Martin just stares blankly at the three of them, feeling somewhat a whirlwind of emotions himself, the only portrait he had of his wife was back in his home in Charlès, and those were nearly two decades old.

Rhemi untangles herself from Muriel and cheerfully walks over to her father with the portrait, carefully handing it to him. Slowly he takes the portrait in his hands and he carefully studies the painting, nearly holding his breath as he takes in the painted images in front of him.

He seemed to take a long time to say anything, either it was the wine or he was in shock, but either way his disposition seemed to have rather shifted. A sense of vulnerability surrounding the man. Happy to finally have an opportunity to talk about her mother with him, she smiles and points to the woman in the painting and he takes a large hard swallow. “Look, Père! It’s Mum and—“

“—Phara…” Martin mutters under his breath behind his gritting teeth before his daughter could finish what she was saying.

Rhemi then notices that he’s starting to tremble the longer he looks at the picture, slowly baring more and more of his teeth. His icy teal eyes are now somehow colder and filled with malice and it sends a shiver down Rhemi’s spine.

“P—Phara?...” She scoffs tilting her head in confusion and shakes her head. “What? No! Father, that’s not not her, Phara was an evil witch!” Rhemi couldn't help but defend her poor deceased teacher, and she points to the tall woman with such confidence, tapping on the glass that protected the portrait. “That woman standing right there is—”

Quickly, her words start to die in her throat as she is suddenly overwhelmed with memories—Seeing Athena’s face for the first time in the hallways of the mansion in her nightmares. But she doesn't look like how she remembered her. Without her iconic long locks and traditional colorful clothes—no, instead she wore a bright scarf over her then short curly hair, and a rather plain looking Charlèsian outfit and large ornate earrings.

“....Rhemielia, my sweet dear.” Her mother’s soft voice rings in her ears, and sprouts pain to her temples. “...I want you to meet an old friend of mine… she will be your tutor from now on.”

Rhemi’s then acquaintance kneels down to her level with her sweet patient smile and tilts her head slightly. The woman’s golden yellow eyes stare into her own and extend her hand out to shake it. “Hello, my dear. My name is Phara. It’s lovely to meet you.” Her voice was deeper than most women, and she had a slight accent that she didn’t recognize. But her voice was the kind you wouldn’t mind listening to it all day.

Rhemi could feel her lips curling up into a shy smile as she reached her small hand to shake this beautiful woman’s hand. “Hello..”

“Rhemi??” Asra's voice mutter’s through the static.

By the time Rhemi realizes that she was staring off into nothing, it’s been nearly half a minute.

“....Athena…..” She quietly mutters her hand slowly drawing back to her body, feeling her breath become shallower by the moment.

Martin takes a few steps forwards clutching the picture in his hands, making the leather gloves squeak from his grip and his eyes glued to the frame. “You said…. You said that you didn’t know anyone else other than your mother….”

“I…. I…” A pit hits Rhemi’s stomach as if she was thrown off a steep cliff. Seeing the anger in her father’s face sends her absolute dread.

Muriel and Asra glance at each other, bewildered by these two's sudden change in emotions.

The trembling in Martin’s hands increased, the angrier he seemed to get. “... After all these years….. I scoured over half the world… Offered most of my fortune for her safe return….. I even prayed to the gods that I don’t even believe in to hope she’d return to me…. And what did I get in return?” Martin’s eyes gazed back to his daughter’s striking fear into her heart. “.... She fucking married the stupid frigid cunt of a captor!—”

——CRASSSSH!!

Without warning Martin hastily slams the picture frame to the ground, shattering the glass on the wooden floorboard. With a quick snap of his fingers the edges of the small watercolor portrait burst into flames. Asra gasps and Rhemi clasps her hands over her mouth in horror.

“—HEY!!” Muriel quickly lunges at him, but Rhemi throws up her hand and stops him.

“NO!” She waves her arm and closes her hand, extinguishing the flames before it destroys the portrait. “Wha—What the hell are you doing?!” She yells still keeping herself in between her father and her fiancè and Asra swiftfully snaches the painting from the ground. Clutching it to his breast for safety and he keeps his eyes peeled to the man as he slips the unprotected watercolor back into the safety of the large chest, and hasility placing a binding spell back onto the box so her father couldn’t destroy it or anything else in there for that matter.

Martin's eyes are still cold as he just stands there fuming with wrath and hate, starting into nothingness at the wall with his nostrils flared and breathing shallowly. “....I hope those stupid bitches rots in the hottest depts of hell…” he utter to himself, complete resentment painted across his his face.

Rhemi feels so confused and her heart starts to feel heavy filled with so many emotions and she grabs the sleeve of his long silk shirt. “—What?! That's the only portrait I have of my mother and Athena!! You told me this Phara person was evil…. But… if she was Athena– she… she never–... I.. she always was…. But you– …. And why the hell would you—”

Finally her father whips his head violently towards his daughter. “—You fucking knew about this, didn’t you?? You lied about forgetting things didn’t you?!” Her father raspily accusations just above a whisper, aggressively pointing his finger at her.

His rage is eerily similar to the man in Rhemi’s dream from before back in the south with Ezavior. For a moment Rhemi also seems to recall hearing that tone in his voice before. It’s so abrupt, and violent, and it feels toxic, dark, and resentful…

“You knew what that witch was doing behind my back, didn’t you?! What did that bitch tell you about me, HUH?? WHAT LIES DID SHE SAY ABOUT ME?!?” He continues to accuse her.

“Père, I never lied–”

—Smmmmack!!!

Dead silence engulfs all the shop for a few seconds, making the noise ring in everyone’s ears.

Rhemi’s cheek starts to dreadfully sting.

The archmagister slapped his daughter’s right side of her face so hard with the back of his hand, it nearly knocked her over. The uter smoothness of his actions rather sickening, as if it was almost a reflex. What was worse, he was so quick and unfazed by his terrible action.

Shocked and appalled, she stumbles backwards and lightly brushes her fingers on her stinging cheek, completely shocked and breathless. Why do I know this feeling of my cheek burning like this….. she thought to herself.

“RHEMI!” Asra and Muriel shout simultaneously.

Muriel’s eyes widen then he lunges forward to him again, intent on following through this time, but Rhemi quickly grabs his wrist with both hands, “—MUR, NO!!”

“WHY?!” He barks looking like he wants to rip the man in two.

“I-I have to know what’s going on!!!!” She desperately shouts back, tugging his arm harder. He stops reluctantly, fist clenched, putting himself in front of her, his arm blocking her body, but allows her to speak with him safely.

“What did Aunt Athena have to do with any of this?” Asra interjects standing tall next to Muriel and in front of Rhemi and just as furious as he. Athena was once his teacher too. She took him in from the streets, clothed him, educated him. He cared about her just as much as Rhemi did and wouldn’t stand for anyone trying to soil her memory. She was such a kind woman. A good woman.

Martin sneers at Asra, and just glares in disbelief. “…Athena?.....Aunt Athena?!?” A bone chilling laugh erupts from his lungs as with a matching crazed expression as he shakes his head. “This entire time… She was actually under my nose. So that’s what the bitch called herself all these years?? Of course she changed her name. But the ancient Augustan goddess of goddamn wisdom?? What a fuckin’ cunt you were, Phara....”

“No… No Athena was Rhemi’s Aunt! Not this Phara person!”

The confused expressions on all of their faces just infuriates Martin even more and his anger grows. “...Is that really what they told you, Ass-rat? That she was Rhemielia’s Aunt?” He laughs, despicably throwing back his head, strangely entertained by this. “Oh…. My! Is that rich!! I’ll tell you tha’! That is goddman FUCKING rich!!” He slicks back his hair with his hand. Traces of an arrogant, shrewd, high and mighty nobleman melt away. Exposing this angry, yet hurt and vulnerabile and even almost fear mix with his sadistic and toxic ego. It is off putting to see this side to the man, but he now felt more dangerous than ever.

“HEY! Don’t insult him!” Muriel growls, leaning his upper body over Rhemi’s shoulder.

Her father finally stops laughing, but keeps the same malicious grin as he looks at her. “.... My little pigeon... You really don’t remember anything at all. Do you??”

Rhemi squints her eyes and shakes her head slightly, unsure of what he is inferring to. But the way he says that, she’s almost afraid to know. “What—What am I supposed to remember exactly?..” She clutches onto Muriel’s forearm that’s blocking her from him.

Martin’s grin falls as he tilts his head sadistically beaming at her. “... Don’t you remember that your mother was a damn unfaithful slut?!” He mutters in a low vicious tone.

“W-What?!” Her face twists, not believing his disgusting insult. Muriel growls through his gritted teeth holding back the urge to pick him up, and throw him out the door. “How….. —How dare you call my mother th—”

“—Don’t you get it you stupid girl?? That fucking woman you for some reason or another, called your ‘Aunt’ was the witch who stole you and your mother away from me!”

“B-but….. A…. Athena was never evil…. She was kind…and…. She… She taught me magic–”

“–She’s the one who taught you what women should never learn! I told that bitch to help you control your magic! NOT TEACH YOU MORE! Magic is no place for a noblewoman in Charlès!! It would have absolutely destroyed our standing in the court! DO YOU KNOW WHAT THEY CAN DO TO PEOPLE LIKE US?”

“... What?!”

Silence chokes the shop once again, but the air now feels even heavier somehow.

Rhemi just stares at Martin’s face and an ice cold shiver runs down her spine once again.

Suddenly, she remembers his expression. “...Wha—?....”, she mutters as another flash of memory creeps in.

Her father is looking down at her the same exact way he is right now, but he’s much taller and only purple in his hair. She’s looking up, laying on the ground, blood trickling from her nose and forehead. Rhemi’s mother is trying her best to breathe. And Athena….. or was she Phara then…?? She’s fighting Martin with her magic... it’s all coming back so quickly— too quickly—It’s just.. too much! Make it stop!!!

A sharp pain hits Rhemi’s temples and spreads all the way over her forehead. This migraine…. it’s happened before, many times in fact, but not since Asra last told her about coming back to life. He’s always erased her memory to make this pain stop. She holds her head with both hands lightly, staring at the floor feeling more confused and disoriented by the second.

Martin trembles with fury as he continues ranting. “...Why do you think we haven’t seen each other since you were a damn child?! Why do you think you are called by a different name than the one you were given??”

A flood of emotions and memories pour inside her head all at once, the pain is just agonizing. She braces her temples harder, desperately wanting the pain to just stop. Her vision starts to even become hazy; In the corner of her eyes, for a brief moment, she can see her past self before she died, with her sick pale skin and blood red eyes just glaring so angry at her father. Her mouth is moving like she's giving him a piece of her mind, but she can’t hear anything coming out.

As Rhemi drops to her knees with a hard Thud, the old Rhemilia is gone. Muriel and Asra now turn their attention to the sound. “RHEMI !!” Muriel falls to the ground behind her and clutches her shoulders. “Rem!!! What’s wrong?!”

“It…. hurts….” She whimpers gritting through her teeth, eyes tightly closed shut, the light someone making it even worse. “It—it hurts so much!..... Muri-..... A-Asra!..... Fuck!!” tears overwhelm her eyes. “IT FUCKING HURTS!!!! Pleaaaase!…. Make it stop!!!!”

Muriel cradles her in his warm arms trying the best he can to comfort her. “.....I’m here, Rhemi.” He utters to her, fighting back his own tears. He’s never seen her in this much agonizing pain before in this realm. This is even worse than the dream with Ezavior back in the Steppe before the winter solstice. It's so hard for him to watch her be in misery like this, he just wants to take the pain away, but is left helpless as well.

But Martin just presses on and on, not even caring about his child’s obvious suffering. “Ugh! You blubber and complain just like your mother did…. I have had enough of this!!! We are leaving this godforsaken shit hole!”

“Stay away from her!!” Muriel growls.

Asra squints his eyes suspiciously towards her father and shakes his head. “Can’t you see she’s in pain?”

“I know my own daughter! She’s fine–” With a quick flick of his wrist his cane is suddenly in his hand. “Get up this instant, Rhemielia! We are going home.”

Muriel’s brow furrows even more as he stares a hole in his face. “What are you talking about?”

Martin’s nostrils flare as he glances back to his daughter and he presses his lips together angrily. “... Oh, so you mean you didn't tell them, Mielia? Why am I not that surprised.”

“... Tell us what??” Asra asks, staring at Rhemi with his purple eyes with hurt behind them.

“I….. I…” Rhemi’s bottom lip trembles, unsure what to say, she lied to them. All of them for the past few days hoping that she’d fix it. “I was gonna fix it, I swear–”

“–She’s coming home with me!” Martin finally says, cocking his head to the side. “Back home to Charlès where she belongs.”

“No…..” She whimpers through the pain and grasps her fiance’s arm. She could tell he was furious, she could only hope it wasn’t at her. “Muri… Muri I never…I tried to tell him–”

Feeling her tremble, he glances back towards her and takes her off guard to see his surprisingly understanding face. “Rhemi… It’s ok…” He gently strokes her hair, trying his best to soothe her through this terrible situation. She nearly collapses into his arm, wishing she was just honest with him to begin with. What was she really afraid of before??

“Oh for fuck sake—This game has gone on long enough, Rhemielia!!” Martin's angry voice interrupts, making her tremble all over again. “...So far, I was willing to play along, but I have now lost all of my goddamn patients!! Now get up, we are leaving!!!”

“.... LIKE FUCKING HELL!” Muriel aggressively grunts as he wraps his arms around Rhemi's, determined to never let her go. He still didn’t understand why she lied, but then again, this man was crazy… Deep down, she must have been terrified of him.

Asra stands in a wide stance, hand up and ready to do whatever he has to keep Muriel and Rhemi safe. “I believe you’ve overstayed your welcome, Sir Martin. Don’t you see that she doesn't want to go with you?...”

Unable to respond to a single person, she continues to wriggle around in pain clutching her head. It feels like hundreds of hot needles are pricking her eyeballs while simultaneously being hit with cold hammers in her temples as if she were a bell. The pain was absolutely agonizing.

But her father wasn’t apparently convinced as he started to hiss and spit with each word that came out of his mouth. “What little pigeon? Does the truth hurt? WELL HOW DO YOU THINK IT FELT FOR ME?!!—My family was ripped apart because of some FUCKING WITCH WHORE BRAINWASHED YOU AND YOUR MOTHER! And you and your mother was stupid enough to believe her! Then that STUPID BITCH TURNED YOU BOTH AGAINST ME!!! SHE EVEN ATTACKED ME!!”

Pulling up his right sleeve, he shows to everyone the terrible old burn marks across his entire forearm. “—THAT WITCH SET OUR HOME ABLAZE!!–EVERYTHING I WORKED FOR!! EVERYTHING I DID, BURNED DOWN ALL AROUND ME!! ALL OF IT WAS FOR YOU AND YOUR UNGRATEFUL MOTHER!!! Do you have any idea what I had done to get in the position I’m in, Pigeon?! HMMM??? What I had to do to secure your future?? And then your mother and that cunt threw it all the fuck away! AND FOR WHAT?! To live in a piece of shit like this??” He shouts guestering to the shop with his left hand.

“... I GAVE HER DIAMONDS! I GAVE HER SILKS! A MANSION! STATUS! EVERYTHING SHE EVER WANTED!!!!”

Asra eyes widen and he starts to panic as he watches Rhemi slump over in agony on the floor. “R-Rhemi!!” Confronting the Archmagister, he summoned magic into his hands about to strike. “You need to leave! NOW!!! You're no longer welcome here—”

“—STAY OUT OF THIS, YOU QUEER SACK OF SHIT!!” Martin shouted, holding up his cane pointing it at the white haired magician.

But Asra refuses to back down and starts to make a whip from the water in the air. “I said…. Leave. GET. OUT!” Asra shouts back, threatening him with his weapons. “Don’t make me hurt you in front of your own daughter!”

Martin looks him up and down with a sneer. “Do you really think an Archmagister fears water, you goddamn idiot?”

“She SAID, she doesn’t want to go with you, Martin!!!”

“... And I was not asking…” Martin hisses as the jewel in his cane starts to illuminate, his dark metallic magic quickly summoning to his fingertips.

In one swiftful move, Martin throws up his walking stick, the strange stone brightly illuminating, green and purple magic pours out of the stone handle, opening a barrier spell around him just as Asra conjures sharp ice sickles a half second too late. This barrier was the kind that would get stronger the harder someone from outside would hit it and the sharp sickles break instantly after impact.

With a smug look on his face, Martin starts to take a few steps closer toward walking past the magician no matter what he did. Now standing over Rhemi and Muriel, the barrier shielding just himself. “.... Get your disgusting monstrous hands off my daughter and give her back to me, you bloody creten.”

“Over my dead body.” Muriel grunted, holding his lover even tighter in his arms, refusing to let her go. “LEAVE HER ALONE!!” Muriel glances up at him hatefully and growls as he protectively tucks Rhemi closer to his chest and covers her body with his arms. “—GET. THE. FUCK. OUT!!” He shouts with his booming voice loudly cracks like thunder.

“What?... Are you gonna kill me? Indeed you were rather good at killing back in the colosseum, weren’t you, Scourge of the South?” Martin smirks once again. “....Are you going to cut me down with your ax?”

His sharp words make Muriel shudder, shaking him from his core. It’s been over a year since he has heard that name—no one dares to call him that after everything he’s done for this city.

Suddenly, Muriel can feel himself being ripped away from Rhemi like a powerful wave of dense, heavy water. Despite his strength, and tried as he might, he could feel himself being whisked away. “No! RHEMI!” It’s no use as he is overwhelmed with the force and is thrown towards the staircase.

“Muriel!!” Rhemi weakly cries out as she falls face first to the floor, her hand outstretched for her lover, tears streaming down.

SMASH!!! The poor hermit’s grunts out a heave of pain as he crashes into the staircase, breaking some of the wooden steps underneath him and ripping up the back of his shirt. His forehead is trickling blood slightly from the cuts. It takes a moment to get up, but he recovers himself, realizing that Martin expanded the small barrier, and pushed him out, leaving Rhemi alone with her father unprotected on the inside.

“R-...RHEMI!!” Muriel cries out, chest filled with dread as he scrambles to his feet, ignoring the pain that he’s in. “NOOO!!!” He yells, ramming his large right shoulder into the barrier as hard as he can, but it just makes a Thoom sound as he makes contact with it.

Now seemingly getting his way, her father seems to have slipped back into his prim and proper self as if he did just lose his temper. He clears his throat as he slicks back his slightly disheveled hair as he strolls over to where poor Muriel is struggling to break down the barrier with his bare hands. Somehow Martin looks down his nose at Muriel, despite him being much taller, sneering. “.... I thought I recognized your ugly botched-up mug, you bloody bastard…”

Muriel gnashes his teeth, so angry and terrified at the same time.

Martin glances down to his gloves to adjust them as he continues to speak, almost insanely calm, considering the situation. “.... Back in the day…. His Majesty liked to come here to this shit hole of a city for the tournaments and I would frequently accompany him… He and I won a lot of bets on you when you killed for a living in the colosseum….. I am right about that, aren’t I, Scourge of the South?”

The hermit could feel his jaw clenching as he slams both fists on the barrier like a gorilla, getting angrier and angrier by the moment and nearly only seeing red. But all his effort was no use as he was constantly being pushed back by the barrier. If he got his hands on this man right at this moment, he'd most certainly tear him to ribbons.

The Archmagister’s viscous smirk curls up wider. “Judging from your reactions, I am….. And to think….. someone like you believed they were going to marry my daughter…”

“FUCK. YOU!!!” Shouts Asra as he does his best to try and open the barrier with his own magic.

Muriel just stands there silent, showing his bare teeth before starting to pound on the barrier harder and harder.

“M-Muriel… Asra..” Rhemi whimpers as she opens one eye and still clutches her head, unable to think straight from all the pain. She tries to stand, but stumbles right back down again. Out of the corner of her eye she can see her sweet Muriel’s head trickling with blood. Quickly, anger swells in her chest, making her heartbeat ring hard in her ears. No one hurts my Muri. No one calls my Muri the Scourge. “...Get…. out…. of my house...” she mutters furiously. “L-... Leave…. us… alone…”

Martin turns himself back around to see the sight of his pathetic looking daughter on the floor. In just a few steps is standing over in front of her. “.... I don’t think you understand, child... You and I are leaving this place. You no longer live here. You and I are getting on that ship and we are never coming back here!”

“No… No I am not!” She hisses, trying to get through the pain. But then a sharp tugging sensation on her scalp makes her shrek yet again.

Suddenly, he snatches the hair on the back of her head and jerks her up to her feet. She cries out painfully, trying to hold his wrist as he peers down with such deep loathing into her eyes. “Look at what you are making me do, Rhemielia. I don’t want to hurt you, child, but you leave me no choice! You will get on that ship! Even if I have to drag you all the way there!”

“—Let me go!” She squeals pitifully.

“GET YOUR HANDS OFF OF HER!!!——LEAVE HER THE FUCK ALONE!!!” Muriel keeps punching, kicking, and ramming himself into the barrier repeatedly to no avail. His poor arms start to bruise under his shirt and his knuckles and elbows even start to bleed.

Asra cries out, “RHEMI! HANG ON!!!” As he desperately tries various spells to try and break it, but nothing is working. This is no ordinary magic… Asra inner thoughts scream in panic, completely confused at how this barrier was so strong for a simple spell. Soon, his fingers start to bleed him trying to claw the barrier open, but it's still no use.

Completely disinterested in Muriel or Asra, Martin leans his face into hers as she grimaces and bares her teeth in pain as he gruffly mutters. “I will never let you out of my sight ever again... You are my daughter and you will obey me! Now… We. Are. Leaving. Now—HOOOOF!!!!”

Finally, Rhemi musters up the energy into her right knee and shoves it into him with all her might. Just nearly misses his groin, she knocks all the wind out of his lungs and makes him release her, but the barrier still is holding strong.

She stands to her feet taking a wide stance, tightening her hands into fist by her side. “I said…. get out… of my shop!” She says through her gritted teeth, somehow now bearing the pain and fluid by pure fury.

Martin regains himself and starts to lurch forwards towards her angrily, about doing something drastic and violent. But she picks up her head, eyes wide and wild, revealing that irises have brightened to a fiery orangey-red and her body starts to steam with searing heat. Her father hesitates, sensing her power quickly building and Rhemi feels her magic suddenly stick in her throat.

“Père……. Get… the fuck….. OOOOUUUUUT!!!!!” Her voice amplified, making a god awful loud shriek like a banshee from her lungs as she continued to scream.

Suddenly, the unnatural screech shatters the barrier from the inside, breaking apart along with all the glass in the front of the shop that bursts into thousands of shards across the ground. Forcing Martin backwards slamming him against the front door. He holds his stomach as he tries to get to his feet.

Muriel and Asra are forced to cover their ears with their hands, and Faust covers her little head with all of her snake body. It’s so loud, feeling their eardrums wanting to rupture as their ears as they continue to ring loudly. The awful sound even disrupts all of their equilibrium, making them feel off balance as they attempt to stand.

Finally, she stops her awful howling, and sharply takes in a breath of air as if she came up for air in the middle of the ocean.

Martin coughs hard and it turns into a cackle, somehow amused by all the pain, or perhaps he’s still a little drunk. “That witch really was a piece of work teaching you that kind of shit magic…” He mutters trying to get himself off the floor.

Rhemi breathes shallowly trembling head to toe as she glares at him. “...You hurt my mum…... ” She mumbles to herself. Asra and Muriel finally regain their balance and they rush over stepping in front of Rhemi once again. “You tried to kill her…”

Martin barks a laugh and a little blood oozes from his head. “Phara made you think that didn’t she?! I never tried to kill her—”

The poor girl’s lip trembles as tears stream down but her forehead narrows so angrily. “—I… I never want to see you again.”

Martin pauses for a moment, his face stricken with pain. Not from the injuries, but what she had just said. “.... I want you to leave… and never…. EVER come back!!!”

His eyes seem to water for a moment, but then he shakes his head and pushes aside the sadness with a sadistic smile. “ Nooo…. No, no no.... You really don’t get it do you, Pigeon? I’m here to stay, whether you like it or not!! You are my daughter!!... YOU ARE MY CHILD!! Now that I have found you—I refuse you to end up like those lowlifes that stole you away from me!!!” He sticks his thumb into his chest hard.

Asra conjures a whip out of water finally getting to his feet with a ferocious wrathful expression. “Rhemi told you—you're no longer welcome here, Martin!!!” Quickly, he cracks it at him, breaking down the front door. He stops the blow by forming a small shield with his walking stick, but he’s still forced outside, shattering the wooden door from its hinges onto the cobble street. “... SO, GET OUT AND STAY OUT!!!!”

He stumbles to his knees, still laughing in amusement. “Interesting… You really are just like your fucking mother, Pigeon… she always had to run and hide behind people who are stronger too.”

Muriel and Asra stand their ground as Rhemi becomes breathless and suddenly feels so weak. Realizing that she was just hiding behind them. She’s never done anything by herself, ever. She had help with the courtiers, the battle with the devil, and even now. She’s always had help. So… what can I do?....

Martin slicks back his hair with his head, and wipes away the blood oozing from his head, slowly realizing that he is no match for two magicians and a nearly seven foot tall ex-gladiator.

He finally stands to his feet and brushes off the dirt from his clothes and straightens his neck tie, and summons his cloak and hat and dramatically bursts the door wide open. “I’ll be back.” He shouts before turning walking away down the street.

“WE’LL BE READY!” Muriel retaliates hitting the door frame with the side of his tight fist wishing it was the man’s face. He and his best friend watch as the man disappears into the night and onlookers just stare at the drama unfolding.

As soon as the tension calms down, and his anger subsides, Asra hastily fixes the now bellowed door back straight with his magic and places the locking spell on the door.

Muriel swiftly turns himself back around his beloved. Rhemi is just standing in the shivering, on the verge of hyperventilating and tightly digging her fingers into her scalp. Muriel rushes over to her and gently places his hand over her’s, letting her know that he is there. “.... Rhemi?”

“.... I—I let...him in my home—I-In our lives!… I let that bastard in here, Muri...” She whimpers through her tears.

She grabs his shirt with her trembling right hand and he pulls her into his chest. He winces slightly, her skin is hot to the touch—Not like a fever, but like a hot kettle under a fire. Despite this, he brings her close, and she goes willingly, immediately her skin cools down to normal.

“This is my fault...” Feeling something wet, she glances through her tears and sees the blood on his head and arms. “My god, Muriel, honey! Y-you—y- you’re b-b-bleeding!….”

“T-They’re just scratches—I’m fine.”

Burying herself in his chest, she cries even harder. “T-...t-this is all my f-f-fault… You tried to tell me…”

“Rhemi….it’s alright. He’s gone.. and he won’t ever lay another finger on you again… Not if I have anything to say about it.” Muriel mumbles looking furious and heartbroken at the same time.

“T-this is all my fault… this is all my fucking fault…..” She keeps repeating over and over again.

“What?? No! Rem—This isn’t your fault!!”

“—I let that—that— monster in here!!..... That’s what—what she’s—trying to tell me!!!—She was warning me!! Everyone tried to tell me—-but I didn’t—I didn’t listen….”

“What?? Who?—”

“That….. other me!! The o-o-ne in my dreams!!—AHHH!” She shuts her eyes tightly as a huge wave of pain hits her temples and travels down her neck and she can feel her heartbeat throbbing with the pain.

“...Y-....you couldn’t remember, that's not your fault, Rem!”

“I-I-I-I can’t handle this. This fucking hurts so fucking much!”

“I—It’ll be ok. You-…. You just need to breathe—”

“—Muri, I— I can’t…do this…...I-I-I—I can’t—I…. I—” Out of nowhere, a high pitch ringing in her ears takes over and her vision starts to fade into a dark gray nothing.

“.... I-... I...can’t….” She utters one last time. Without warning, her body collapses into Muriel’s chest, complexly boneless.

“Rh—Rhemi??” Muriel catches her before she sinks down all the way to the floor and his heart sinks sickenly. Gently, he shakes her, but she doesn’t respond in the slightest; She’s like a little ragdoll in his arms, and he soon realizes that she’s no longer conscious, her eyes half shut, and her pupils blown.

“Rhemi…… Rhemi???—RHEMI!!!!!!” His voice echoes farther and farther away like she’s being aimlessly transported into the darkness.

Tar-like hands reach out for her and pull her down into the mucky sickness, before she could cry out, her mouth is covered with black oozing hands as she is sucked into the darkness.

✨To be continued…

[WOW. Just.... fucking wow....

It's been more than a fucking year since I have posted. I am so sorry! I have had an incredibly tough year, between my own medical issues, selling a house, and moving, life has been getting away from me. I also know I'm kinda beating a dead horse here since the fandom has kinda died and I have no idea what even happening in the fandom lately. But whatever! Here this is! I still really for some stupid reason really want to tell this story, no matter how cringe or hyper-fixated it is. I really want to tell this story *shrugs*

Anyways! Thank you for all the lovely trash pandas that are still here <3. As always, enjoy my hot garbage!]

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