“You don’t have to seal the cave away if you don’t wish to,” Nuci answered. “Your nest isn’t in any danger, I assure you. You and your sisters are perfectly safe.”
Saffron nodded then looked down to Aeon, seeing one of the world’s most dangerous monsters lying peacefully on a deathbed of flowers. The ant girl then squeaked at Nuci while tilting her head in question.
“To explain why she’s special to me would be very difficult,” Nuci gently replied. “She’s someone who… is very precious to me. Someone I’ve known all my life. I know that must not make sense to you, but it’s true. You don’t need to worry though, she’s not going to be harming you or your sisters. She won’t be hurting anyone else ever again.”
Saffron glanced down to Aeon for a moment then squeaked at Nuci before walking off. The alurane watched the ant girl leave the cave then turned her saddened gaze back down to Aeon while the three desuwraith sisters knelt down around her.
“Is it okay if we stay?” one of them asked.
“Yes,” Nuci softly answered. “You can stay with me, girls. I appreciate that.”
“Was this Dark Queen not really evil?”
“She was…”
“But you were friends with her?”
“Not quite…”
“You liked her?”
“Very much…”
“How come?”
“Girls… you wouldn’t understand. Nobody could.”
“Please tell us,” the three pleaded together.
Nuci sighed and gently brushed Aeon’s hair, taking a moment to admire the chronofly’s face that finally had a peaceful expression that she hadn’t seen on the woman in the longest time. The alurane leaned down and held Aeon dearly, with the desuwraiths watching in silence as Nuci took a shaky breath while she dealt with the passing of someone who was more important to her than anyone would have imagined. Her vines and tendrils hugged the body as she felt her heart aching for the loss, as even though Aeon was known as a Dark Queen to the world, the alurane knew her by another title that she quietly whispered to the fallen chronofly.
“I love you, mother.”
Chapter 5
Worthy of Their Love
In the world of Eden everyone went through troubling times at one point or another. Some would experience heartache from losing someone close to them. Others could be subjugated at the hands of lustful monsters that would offer no mercy or rest. And there were those who might fall into depression when life turned bleak and unforgiving around them. Whatever the reasons were these difficult periods could be soul crushing to many, especially if they were left alone to deal with it themselves. Having someone to hold their hand, to comfort them, to remind them that hope wasn’t lost was invaluable. Even those that put on a mask to hide their struggle would need a caring heart to help them carry on.
After all, everyone needs help lifting their spirit now and again.
*****
Sitting atop their enchanted carriage Daniel and Star were gazing up at the night sky together. Nearby Lucky was sitting on a bedding of tall grass as he turned his head one way then another, seeming to be on alert and sensing a disturbing presence nearby despite the calm night under the stars and moon.
“I wonder if she’ll come back to us tonight,” Daniel pondered. Star mewed while resting her head on his shoulder, her tails gently waving about behind them while she held his hand.
“It’s one thing to be worried sick about her, it’s a whole different thing being worried sick about her and fearing how she’ll take seeing what remains of her home. What am I supposed to say when she gets here? How can I even begin to say how sorry I am for her loss? What can I do?”
Star slowly glanced to him while remaining silent, her expression appearing calm while her eyes watched Daniel trying to repress his anxiety the best he could.
“Honestly, I do feel rather useless here,” Daniel sighed. “I can’t do anything to help guide her back to us, I can’t say anything to soothe her loss from this tragedy, and I can’t even find her while she’s out there somewhere, lost and alone. I can’t do anything for her, I can’t do anything for the girls here who are worried sick about her. I can’t do anything at all, it’s all so-”
“Stop it,” Star said, with Daniel pausing for a moment before jumping and seeing the jinx showing an irritated scowl at him. “Stop being so weak and afraid. It really makes you less desirable in our eyes.”
“S-Star?” Daniel stuttered, seeing the jinx yanking her hand away with a scoff then hopping off the ride.
“You promised to take care of us, remember?” she sharply questioned glancing back to him with a harsh glare. “Or did you just want to fuck us and that’s it? Were those comforting words you spoke only to get us to be your doting sexual relief out here?”
“Wh… no… I…” Daniel managed to get out, words failing him as the cat spoke in a clear and sharp tongue.
“It’s nice to know when we need you the most you’re absolutely clueless on what to do,” Star sneered before walking off into the woods. Daniel stared in stunned silence as she left then quickly scrambled off the carriage, dropping to the ground with a thump, and chased after the jinx in the dark forest.
“Star? Star!” he called out while running blindly through the woods. Beams of moonlight pierced through the branches above, providing only a little light in which to guide his way.
“We’re counting on you,” Star’s voice said all around him.
“Star! Where are you? Come back!”
“We’re depending on you.”
“Wait, come back! How are you talking right now?”
“We need you.”
“Star? Star!”
Rounding a large tree he quickly came to a stop, his eyes staring in horror at the sight of a large black tar pit resting under the moonlight that had turned into a deep crimson hue while stuck deep within the dark sludge was a familiar centaur.
“Daniel,” Kroanette whimpered, the sticky black mire having all but swallowed her body up to her chest. She slowly sank with the dark bile gurgling around her, her eyes showing a heartbroken soul behind them as she slowly shook her head.
“Kroanette,” Daniel breathed out.
“Why didn’t you come for me?” Kroanette wept. “You promised you would take care of me. You promised you would always be there for me.”
“Kroanette! Hang on, I’ll get you out!” Daniel shouted. He quickly looked around for anything to pull the centaur out with then turned to see only her head remaining above the sifting black tar.
“Why didn’t you protect me?” she sniveled. “I needed you and you weren’t there. Why didn’t you come for me? Why didn’t you help me?”
“Kroanette!” Daniel yelled as he dashed towards the centaur, getting only two steps closer before his feet were stuck in the heavy sludge. He cried out in horror as he watched Kroanette silently slip down into the tar, his painful screams echoing into the shadowy woods as he started to sink down into the dark bile himself.
“No! I’m sorry, Kroanette! I’m sorry, I wanted to help you! I wanted to save you! Please forgive me! I’m sorry I failed you, I’m sorry I couldn’t be there for you! I’m sorry for being so useless to you all!”
“Stop it!” Star yelled from behind. Daniel looked back to see the jinx standing at the edge of the black pool while watching him with frustration. “Stop letting your emotions control you! Stop condemning yourself! Stop letting us down, Daniel!”
“Star?” Daniel quietly said.
“We need you,” Star told him. “We need a man who will take care of us, just like you promised to.”
“But-” Daniel worried, looking back to where Kroanette sank before Star warped in front of him. The jinx remained atop the tar as if it were solid for her, the cat giving him a hard slap before grabbing his head and forcing him to look at her.
“Stop blaming yourself for Kroanette leaving! You did not fail her! You did not let her fall! You didn’t do anything wrong! Stop
thinking about her dying out there, stop letting go of hope that she’s going to return to us any minute now. You need to have faith that she will return, you have to believe in her! You have to remain firm!”
Daniel stared at her in stunned silence while feeling greatly confused about what he was seeing and hearing.
“Stop letting your fear of losing us pull you down,” Star begged. Daniel tried to speak but couldn’t, his eyes fixated on the jinx who was almost crying now while holding onto him. “You promised to take care of us no matter what, so do it. We need you, Daniel. We need you to help us stand in this world, we need you to be a man for us and remain strong, even in the worst of times.”
“Star… I…” Daniel said, looking down to see his legs sinking further into the tar before she pulled his gaze back onto her again.
“No matter what you need to own up to your promise,” she ordered. “You can’t give up on that just because one of us runs awry. Even if one of us is truly lost the rest still need you, Daniel. For warmth, for comfort, to cry with, to hope for better days beside. You need to protect us, all of us, from being alone.”
“Star…”
“We need you!” Star pleaded. “We need the man who saved us from being alone and miserable in this world, who was stronger than anyone we’ve ever known! Don’t run away from your responsibility to us, don’t forget who you are to us, don’t forget your mates are counting on you! That hasn’t changed at all with recent events and it never will! No matter what happens you can’t let go of us, you can’t!”
Daniel slowly reached up and held her hands, his body halting from sinking further as the jinx mewled with watery eyes.
“We’re all scared,” she whimpered. “We’re trying to put on a brave face, we’re trying to push on and hope for the best, but we’re terrified of our family breaking apart. We need you to hold us together, Daniel. We’re only here as we are now because of you. If your will and faith falter… ours will too. We’ll fall apart. Please… stand and help us do the same.”
Daniel closed his eyes as her words echoed in his head, the moonlight above slowly turning to a soft white while sapphire specks began drifting through the air around them.
“You have our hearts, Daniel,” Star vowed. Opening his eyes he saw the jinx smiling hopefully at him with a few tears dropping from her cheeks. “You have our strength. We’re here with you, we’ll always be with you. So please, don’t let anything pull you down. Should you fall, we shall follow.”
Daniel slowly held Star by the back of her head, the two gazing into each other’s eyes for a moment before she pulled him into a kiss. Lifting his feet up Daniel was able to pull free from the tar that hardened and crumbled around his legs. Standing atop the dark ground he held Star close while feeling a familiar pull in his mind from this monster girl’s love. It was all around him, almost as if her aura was everywhere in the forest. After the kiss ended Star took a slow breath, a relaxed sigh escaping her lips before she smiled a little at Daniel.
“You promised to take care of all of us,” she reminded him with a wink of her green eye. “No matter what. Allow nothing to keep you from doing so. Nothing at all, not even the fear of losing us or even if one of us should indeed fall.”
“I promise,” Daniel agreed with a nod. “No matter what happens I’ll keep my head held high, I’ll protect each and every one of you with everything I have. I’ll be the knight you all deserve to have, and I’ll take care of you all just as I promised.”
“All of us, not just one,” Star clarified.
“All of you, not just one.”
Star slowly nodded then showed a sultry smile as she shifted her hips around, dropping her skirt down to the ground that was then followed by her tunic she took off. Daniel eyed over the jinx’s figure that was flaunted before him in the moonlight as she held her arms around his neck and brushed her tails against his crotch between her legs.
“Take care of us,” she breathed while poised to kiss him. “And we’ll take care of you, Daniel. We promise.”
Daniel pulled her into a kiss while closing his eyes, feeling a pulse of warmth booming around him while sapphire orbs of light began to brighten the forest nearby. Everything then melted away to black, with Daniel then feeling himself lying down while slowly waking up. Opening his eyes he saw Star looking down at him with a loving gaze, the jinx having his head resting on her lap while they were on the front seat of the carriage. Blinking a few times Daniel realized he was now awake, his gaze remaining locked on the jinx who merely tilted her head slightly with a quiet mew. Her hair ruffled in the breeze while her hand gently stroked Daniel’s hair with a delicate touch. With the stars and pale glow of the moon behind an overhead cloud he was able to make out the jinx well enough to see the blush she had on her face and a tear that she quickly wiped away before showing a small smile at him.
“Star?” he quietly asked. Sitting up on the seat he looked around, seeing Clover standing near the carriage with her quiver and bow slung behind her and a sharp eye keeping watch for their missing centaur. Alyssa was using her magic to create a bedding of flowers for Lucky to lie down on, and also fashioning a canopy overhead with large vines to help conceal the horse in its shadow. Noticing Daniel was now awake Clover walked over and hopped up onto the wheel of the ride to get closer to him, his eyes slowly going over the surrounding area before seeing her showing a worried smile.
“You okay? You were out for a while.”
“I don’t even remember falling asleep,” Daniel admitted rubbing his face.
“Maybe you should go inside and rest. It’s late. We’ll keep watch for Kroanette a little longer.”
“Are you okay, Daniel?” Alyssa asked as she came closer. “You look really tired.”
“I guess we have been out here for a while now,” Daniel mused looking up at the night sky.
“Go inside and get some sleep,” Clover insisted, giving him a light punch on the shoulder before hopping off the ride. “We’ve got this.”
“We’ll be in later,” Alyssa agreed. “You’d better go inside and stay out of sight. No telling what kind of monsters might be prowling around here at this hour.”
“Thanks for having faith in me being out here,” Daniel dryly replied.
“We have nothing but faith in you,” Clover corrected. “You’re out here talking to monsters about living peacefully with humans and changed all our lives for the better in doing so. I have nothing but faith that you can succeed with your quest.”
“We just don’t want to risk anything happening to you,” Alyssa continued. “You’re very important to us. The most important.”
“It’s the woman’s job to protect the man, remember?” Clover said. “Go on inside, leave dealing with the danger to us. It’s what we do after all.”
Daniel noticed the witch and elf showing worried smiles at him before they turned their sights onto the surrounding area, both holding in their uncomfortable sighs while Star continued to watch Daniel closely. After a moment he showed an irritated scowl, something the girls jumped a bit at seeing as his mood suddenly changed.
“Um, Daniel?” Alyssa worried.
“I-I didn’t m-mean anything bad by what I said,” Clover hastily defended as Daniel hopped down from the seat. “I was just saying, it’s a woman’s duty to take care of her man.”
Daniel walked over to Alyssa and lifted the witch up into his arms, the girl yelping before watching him holding her close and turning to Clover with a stern expression.
“It’s my job to protect my women,” he declared. “You’re all more than important to me, you’re priceless in every regard. I’m not going to go inside and leave my beautiful mates out here alone like this or expect you to be my personal guard and face whatever is out here alone. What kind of man would I be if I did that?”
“Daniel?” Alyssa wondered before he shook his head at her.
“You’re all coming inside where I can keep an eye on you.”
“We’ll be fine
out here, Dan,” Clover reassured. “I’ve spent plenty of nights out here alone before.”
“And the last thing I want is for you to have to do that again,” Daniel argued with her. Clover jumped with a startle as he walked over and held a hand to her cheek. “I want all of you inside our home with me tonight, and that includes you. That’s final.”
“But-”
“That’s final, Clover,” Daniel sternly told her. “I know you’re trying to be tough and help with us dealing with Kroanette missing, but I don’t want you out here at night and out of my sight. I want you safe inside with your family and with me.”
“It’s fine,” Clover reasoned with a troubled smile. “I don’t mind keeping watch out here, really. It’s my job to protect you.”
“No, it’s my job to protect you,” Daniel countered shaking his head. “You are not a shield for me to hide behind, none of you are. You are my mate that I’m blessed with having. I love you, I want you to stay safe with me, and I’m going to make sure that happens. You three are coming inside with me for the night so I know for a fact you’re safe and sound where you belong.”
“But… Kroanette…” Clover breathed out.
“I have faith she’ll be fine out there,” Daniel promised as Clover gently took hold of his hand. “That’s all we can do, believe she’ll be okay. Maybe she’ll find her way back here tonight, maybe Kitten already found her, or maybe we’ll have to wait until tomorrow to find out where she went with Twilight’s help. Until then I’m going to hold onto hope that she’s fine, and I’m going to focus on the only thing I can do with any certainty.”
“What’s that?” Clover asked before he pulled her into a kiss. Alyssa and Star watched in awe as Daniel not only gave the blushing elf a kiss but a rather powerful one by the look of it. Clover held onto his waist while feeling her heart beating faster, her breath nearly being taken away as her worries about everything else slowly started to fade. Breaking from the kiss her eyes slowly opened to see Daniel smiling knowingly at her, the same look he gave to Alyssa then Star as the girls remained speechless.
Chronicles of Eden_Act XI Page 16
