by Jacob White
“There is just so much I wish to do. So much with you all.”
“Then come inside and tell us… or show us…” Her smile became wicked.
“I'm sorry I cannot. The Les I know wouldn’t want this, well I think… I don’t know, but that’s not the point.” They were all outside with me now. Matching my steps backwards.
“Weaver, do you wish to have us alone?”
“Of course, but once again I must decline.” They took another step towards me as I took another back. “You see, I still have things I need to do. I still need to protect you all in the real world.” Anna walked up to me and kissed me so deeply that I found my hands on her beautiful rounded backside.
“That felt real, didn’t it? She grabbed a hand and placed it on her breast. Her nipples hardened at my touch. “Doesn’t this feel real? You can protect us from here. All of us.” I removed my hands. I had to resist. I couldn’t let this go further.
“I am sorry, I'm going to take a walk now. I hope to see each of you later.” I turned to walk but only made it a few steps.
“No, Weaver, I think not. You will eat or you will enter this house.” I turned and saw them baring their teeth at me. They gave me the impression they might do the eating instead. Something had changed within them all. Their eyes looked at me as if I was prey. Their bodies looked as though something was trying to escape. The skin would bubble then recede.
“I can't… I am sorry.” Then the entire village disappeared, and I was surrounded mountains of bones. They were all a dark red coated in many layers of dried blood. The only thing familiar was the house I needed to stay out of. This place had become a place of pain. Les, Anna, and Laila stood there outside of the house. They all smirked as my parents came crashing down in front of me. The three women began to transform before my eyes. First, they dragged their hands into where their eyes were housed and ripped them out. Then where their knees should have been, buckled backward and became haunches. Their skin became a dull gray, and all their hair just fell off. They no longer had chests. It was as if they all had a bone protection underneath their leathery skin.
“I kissed you?” I then gagged on nothing and now more than ever I was thankful I hadn't eaten.
“You did and would have brought us much pleasure. Even more so after we were to torture you for all eternity as our god commanded.” They spoke as one with a raspy voice.
“Liam.” The all shivered as if caught in a cold storm as I said his name.
“You filthy creature. You do not say his name.”
“Oh, you mean Liam the oh-so-high god of shit.”
“You will pay for your words.” I thought of the kiss.
“I think I already have. You're wasting your time, I will not eat or enter that house.”
“We shall see.” Then my parents were lifted into the air with arms spread. “Do you know who we are?” I shook my head, refusing to look at my parents. “We are fate, and we see all and know all. There is no way you can win. Just give in, and we will return you to your place of rest. Your parents will not be tortured—”
“And the world will burn!” My father said. His fingers were spread apart. I heard the skin tear apart along with the bones separating from one another. The foul creatures shrieked in ecstasy as they took in his screams.
“Here’s, the thing ladies…err, uhh… people... fates… Never mind, incredibly ugly looking creations. I am going to return to my body and shove my foot so far up Liam’s backside, that I will make sure you all feel it on the other end. Now put them down and leave us be.” My mother's hand did the same, but it didn’t stop there. My mother's face contorted in pain as her hair ripped from her scalp matching the sound of separating a fur from a wolf. She tried to hold in her screams but couldn’t. Blood was rushing down her face now, as her neck stretched further trying to hold onto its property. “Mother, I'm so sorry.”
“Weaver… Please... Do not give in… any price is worth the lives who must be… saved!” She screamed the last part as all her hair was ripped out at once.
“Any price? This should be fun.” The fates said. Then my father's short hair mimicked my mother’s. He did, however, hold his screams. Grunts of pain and spit flying from his mouth he held the pain at bay. Gods, what I’m I supposed to do? Can I even fight these creatures? My insides were being torn apart from the sights I was witnessing. Annoyed by my father’s lack of outward expression of pain. One of the fates floated to my father. It brandished a knife as its head turned to me. It took that same knife and began plucking out his teeth one by one.
“Stop this, please!” I fell to my knees.
“You know what to do.” A plate of food sat before me. I looked up.
“I'm sorry, I cannot stand this. So many have already been hurt because of me.” I saw my parent's mouths moving, but no sound came out.
“Hush now, dear child, simply eat and it will all be as it once was.” I picked up an apple and felt a tug on my shoulder. I turned and saw nothing behind me.
“Eat, my patience wears thin.” Then I heard my mother's screams again as her mouth became bloodied. I felt it again this time much stronger than before as it placed me back on my feet. I'm being called back.
“If you do not eat, I promise you they will re-live the pain of a thousand worlds until you return to join them!” I looked to my parents. A tear ran down my face. I smiled.
“I will win.” They both cried as I was ripped upward. My stomach was being pulled through my mouth. I soared so high the mountains became tiny on the lands below. I then flew through clouds and stars unable to breathe. My lungs began to burn; I was going so fast now I couldn’t even lift my head from my chest. Then everything went dark back to light again as I awoke screaming.
“Mama! Papa!” A hand touched my forehead. I jumped at the touch. I looked and only saw Laila smiling down at me. She placed her hand back and laid beside me. Warmth filled my entire body as we laid there silently. “How… long?”
“Almost a month now, but I did not leave your side. You have been in my chambers ever since that night. I was so scared I had lost you, but then this past week you began to sweat and breathe heavy. I knew something of yourself was coming back.” She stood only to return with a small cup filled with water. “Drink this.” I did as she came to sit back on the bed.
“My parents… everyone… you. I'm so sorry. There was so much pain… I almost didn’t leave.” I had trouble putting my thoughts together.
“I for one, am glad you did.” She kissed my cheek and then rested her head once again on my chest. I was too tired to think about her implications and only fell asleep again to her breathing
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Uncontrolled Magic
Laila was nothing but gentle in nursing me back to health. Every once in a while, I would hear banging on the door from the king all the way to Master Nimm. None could convince the princess to let them into her room. She wouldn’t even allow the maids to drop the food off inside. Finally, Les came to the door.
“Princess, I'm sorry to bother you again.” Her voice sounding depraved of energy and life. I looked to Laila, and she shook her head no as if she already knew my question. “Is his condition any better today? Is he awake? Is there anything I can do?” The princess walked to the door but didn’t open it.
“Les, I know how you are suffering, how you don’t understand, but as soon as Weaver regains his strength, you will be the first I come too.”
“Wait… regain his strength? He’s awake?” It sounded more than a plea than a question.
“Yes, my dear Les, he is. I shouldn’t have told you, but I know how you long for him. Please keep this between us.”
“Of course, can he hear me?” The princess was silent. “There is no one close, please tell me.”
“He can.”
“Weaver.... Gods, Weaver… I love you, thank you for coming back to me… there’s… so—”
“I'm so sorry, Les,” The princess interrupted. “But you must g
o. I assure you I'm doing everything I can to aid him.”
“Thank you, Princess.” Her voice filling with hope again as she walked away. I tried to imagine her smile as she walked away.
“You should know she comes to check on you every day.”
“Not to sound ungrateful, but I thought it would be more often.” A grin came to me.
“Well, it was at first, but she has aided me a great deal in taking some of my duties that didn’t require my… Royalty. I thought it best to keep her busy. She loves you very deeply.”
“I know, and thank you. She is more than I deserve.”
“You deserve a great deal, not only for saving a princess of the realm but for what you carry and what it means.” I nodded my silent thanks and looked through the window.
“How much do you remember of the... Nightmare with Liam?” I quietly asked her. I'm not sure why but I wanted to know I wasn't the only one suffering by the scares left upon my mind.
“Everything I'm afraid. How he violated me. Sometimes I can still feel his hands on me. Some nights I would wake in tears. Since you have woken, it is has been less. I assume it’s from Gibi’s gift. Therefore, I sleep next to you at night. Not for pleasure, but for peace.”
“I feel the same. There's so much that happened, so much pain, I didn’t understand how it didn’t affect me here. Now you have quite literally shed some light on that matter.” We both smiled. She reached for my hand. I hesitated and pulled back a bit. Again, she gently grabbed it and held it to her mouth. “I didn’t mean to jump, it's just… where I was…” I avoided her gaze.
“Weaver, think nothing of it. I do have one question if you would permit me to ask.”
“Princess, you need not ever ask.” She smiled softly.
“Why do you speak of my name with Anna’s, and Les’s at night?” I instantly felt my face turn crimson and she saw it. “Oh… I didn’t mean to pry.”
“It's not like that, really, well kind of... but not… uhh, I don’t know.” I told her about what had happened.
“There's more, but it's all pain, and I would only like to say that part once.” She gave me an apologetic look.
“Of course, but… is that something you desire? Or other men in general? I have never been with a man, so I do not know. If you remember you were the first to see me without clothing.”
“Trust me I remember, but i wasn’t. Just an illusion from the result of a mad man. As far as your question, well, I suppose it’s a fantasy all men think about.”
“Oh…”
“A fantasy that all men know would never happen under normal circumstances. I don’t know… maybe it’s only possible to have in the afterlife.” I began to get weak and had to apologize as I started to sleep once again. She tucked me under the blankets and asked if I required a small brazier for extra warmth. I didn’t feel as though I needed it and I told her as such, but she got one anyway. She closed the curtains and the room went dark. Everything was lit by the light of the burning brazier.
“Weaver, I meant what I said about you being the first. I know it was in my head, but it felt as real as anything I felt that night. It wasn’t my choice, and it made me feel powerless when Liam ripped my clothes from me. I know you don’t understand, I just haven’t had anyone to speak with. I had imagined our first encounter not to be so, you know.”
“Trust me, Laila, I understand more than you think.” Her eyebrow raised “I have never been with a woman. I've made a choice as well to make my first time special. At this rate, however, I keep dying. I'm about to grab the first woman I see and just do it, so I know I won't die without being with a woman. But it’s a choice all the same.” She laughed. “I mean imagine the stories, Weaver the one who save all the world but never felt the warmth of a woman. That would make for an awkward tavern song.” We both kept laughing.
“You know, Weaver, I’m a woman, and from the looks of it the only one you see.”
“Very amusing… and no.... One, I would most likely die from exhaustion, and two, Les would kill me for betraying her, and three, your father would hang me for sleeping with his only daughter. Not many of those options seem appealing to me.” She laughed again, but then it slowly died out.
“You saved me, Weaver… from that thing… I can’t help you fight, or cast magic but I will do all that I can.”
“Princess, I don’t understand how all of your feelings, Les’s, and Anna’s are coming towards me. Such kindness and attention but I assure you it is much more than I deserve. It is however, creating chaos where simplicity should lay. But aren’t you promised to another? I’d hate to start a war.”
“Yes, but think nothing of it.” Her tone silenced any other questions.
She stood and removed the blanket covering me. “Laila.” She put her finger on my lips.
“I wouldn’t want Weaver, the savior of the world, to be remembered as a man who hasn’t felt a woman's warmth.” She put her head on my chest and then once again I felt the warmth of love and peace, a hope for a better future. I didn’t understand how this kept happening. I did feel a woman’s warmth just about every night, but I didn’t say it. I tried to do the same in giving her hope, but I wasn’t sure if I was doing it right. I heard a small gasp. “Thank you.”
“No thank you. I would be dead without your help.”
The next day came with a shuddering pain throughout my body. Then I looked down to my hand. The stone glowed underneath my hand. This time it glowed so bright with a sea-blue tint. It lit the entire room as if I was looking at the sun underneath the water. I felt its power wash over me. I gently woke Laila, and took in her full beauty before she noticed I was looking. Her eyes widened in awe at the new light in her room.
“It’s beautiful.” I didn’t dare ruin the moment with words. There wasn’t another way to describe the scene before us. The pain faded but the light remained.
“I think this means the stone is ok.” A sweet tone of laughter left her mouth. She grabbed at her night dress and slid the straps back over her shoulders. “I'm not sure if this helps anything. But in all my time, I have never seen a beauty as such as you. I genuinely thank you, for everything. One day a man will realize the gift he has and treats you accordingly. You and he will rule with kindness over the lands.”
“Thank you. I also wish for this.” She murmured with her back to me. “I felt the magic surge in you. I take this will be our last night together.” I immediately knew her concern as I received my own. I wasn’t sure if I was ready for what was going to haunt me without her next to me, but I had to be.
“I guess so. I will try to find you before bed, maybe I can comfort you before you sleep.” Her shoulders relaxed as they shifted down. She turned with an appreciative smile on her face.
“Truly?” Her hands clasped before her chest in hope.
“I mean, you are the princess. You could just order me to do it.”
“Fine, then. I officially decree you will comfort me before each night until you retire for the night.”
“I humbly accept this offer that will lead to Les murdering me.” We both laughed again.
“Don’t worry, I will not compromise the situation you are in. I only wish to help.”
“I know. But now, we are going to need everyone here, so I can discuss what happened. With both of us.” She also knew that she would have to reveal what she had experienced that night with Liam, but she took it with grace as she went into the bathing chamber.
“Let me clean up first. and I hope you will do the same.”
“Wait, you want me to bathe with you!” I heard a laugh from the chamber the door re-opened and her head stuck out.
“If you wish it, but you would have to know… It could only be with me… and you would have to promise to marry me, so I can retain my honor.” My mouth hung open in shock accompanied by wide eyes.
“You can't be serious.” She smiled.
“I guess we don’t have to marry...”
“Laila.”
&
nbsp; “I'm only jesting. You may bathe after I am finished.” I sighed with relief and realized I had just turned down marriage to make me royalty, tease or not. I walked to the door and spoke through it.
“Wait, so what if I had said yes… about the marriage, not that I would go through it.”
“Well, I would have married you of course, silly. Can't have princesses running through the lands not following through on her word.”
“Funny.”
“I thought so.” I walked back to the bed and sat, waiting for her to finish. I half expected her to walk out naked. Luckily, she didn’t. Instead she only told me to hurry because she was starving, and she didn’t want others to see their princess shoving her mouth full of food.
After we had eaten, and I was cleaned off, everyone shuffled into the room, even the king and queen came and were relieved to see Laila’s face. Master Hor didn’t have a single look of worry on his face, but Anna and Les, both shared bags under their eyes and sluggish movements. I felt a twang of guilt knowing that I did this to them or were at least responsible in some fashion.
“My king, I must apologize as I am the one to blame for her absence.” I said as I lowered my head in respect.
“Well I sure as hell hope it’s a good reason. I had half a thought to burst in and throw you in the dungeon, stone or not.”
“Papa, I assure you it was worth it,” Laila interjected. She looked at me with a smile, and I nodded for her to start. Nobody said a word. The Queen had to sit once she began to describe the torture she had went gone through. She went through what had happened when I arrived, and it led to my story. I went into my details but had to admit to everything even the luring. Les, Anna, and the princess all looked at each other with daggers. I then let out a long sigh as I reached the point to where the fates tortured my parents.
“They promised to torture them until you return… Weaver, I am so sorry,.” Anna said as the silence went awkward.
