Author: Colden Rose, Posted: Thu May 11, 2017 4:58 PM, Post Subject: Triumphant Return[P/R]

Colden had been somewhat prepared for her reaction, but at the same time he hadn’t expected it to be as heart tugging to him as it was. He felt as though he could cry for her happiness, but he strayed the tears away and smiled as big as possible. It was to the point where it was hurting his mouth but he didn’t care. Right there and then all that mattered was Crystaline’s happiness. “Yes…I wanted to do something nice for you. You helped me during my darkest time and I wanted to be able to give you something that was as meaningful as what you did for me. Whatever cost I have to pay pales in comparison to you getting your wings back.”

If it was still possible, he would have given her her sight back but fate was fickle. Still he couldn’t be happier to see her like this. He wouldn’t ruin it for her by telling her what he had originally tried to get back. “No, but I know that you’ve been through alot in your life and you’ve kept it inside you. I know a little bit about that. I just want to make sure I can keep the sadness away from you as much as I can.” He helped her up to her feet and didn’t mind the closeness she had to him. It wasn’t anything different from how they usually were with one another. Some would have seen this as them being much closer than cousins and more deeper than siblings were. He was protective of her as if he was a bigger brother but he felt different than he was with Kirika. Crystaline was very special to him and if he could do anything for her, Colden would without hesitation.

He looked to her as she explained how she felt about her gift, and there was some concern on his face and voice that perhaps he should have pursued getting her sight back instead. “Oh? Is there…?” Colden was unsure what she was trying to say and it seemed like she was annoyed by it but then she forced it out and he looked at her with his jaw hung open. “Me?”  He was going to protest that tidbit but she continued on. He never had anyone that expressed the feeling she had- his mother was unable to feel anything other than annoyance for him and he was working on building relationships with his siblings but Crystaline was a different matter. “I never been so happy until we have been around each other ever since. I can’t remember a time in my life that had been so joyous. I love it and cherish it.”

It was his turn to blush, “I felt…empty a little when I was gone to see Aunt Angela. I wasn’t sure why until I came back here with your gift. It felt as though the hole in me was filled.” He stood still as she brought her hands to his face and she started to hover on her wings. She looked even more angelic to him than before with her wings. His smile remained right up to when she kissed him and he kissed her back instinctively. His hands sought for hers to hold onto tightly, as if not wanting her to fly away. “You don’t need to thank me. It was you that saved me, after all. Save me from myself.” Colden thought about it for a moment or two before he moved into another kiss, this time one more sensual than before. He didn’t want to let her go, as selfish as that might have been, but he knew it wasn’t because she merely helped him out. It was because he knew that he felt something for her despite either of their flaws. Something that screamed that he wanted to be around her for as long as he could. It was the reason why he sought to make her as happy as he could like in this instance. 

Author: Crystaline, Posted: Wed May 10, 2017 10:15 PM, Post Subject: Triumphant Return[P/R]

Crystalline had just thought he was gifting her the kiss, she hadn’t thought about anything else that would come from it. She must have shocked him as she pulled him back into the kiss he gave her. His hands were on her hips now as she pulled herself closer to him. Her hands cupping his face, at least they had started to by the time the magic had begun to weave.

He was down by her now, she didn’t need to see to know that because she could feel the cloth tending to her tears. She knew he had been prepared for her to be emotional. “You asked her for a favor?” She didn’t want to know the price that Colden would have to pay but he did so without even thinking about what that price could have been. She was sure of it as she let the wings go.

Her lips trembled again as she tried to get her happy tears to stop flowing. “But I haven’t been feeling as sad anymore…” Her voice was soft as she pulled herself up using him as a guide. She was holding onto him. “I love my gift… almost more than anything in the entire world.” She was trying to find the words to tell him how she was feeling. “Almost but not completely.” She didn’t want him thinking she wanted something more and she bounced a little in frustration as she tried to make her shy mind say the words.

“You.” The word came out first and she blushed a bit as she stopped the bouncing and held onto him. “You are what I cherish more than my wings.” She had opened her eyes and while she stared at him it was her words that made it seem like she would be adverting them out of embarrassment. “I haven’t been this happy in a long time. Even before my wings… The time we’ve had together has been my favorite… It’s been the best.” She blushed deeper before reaching up and feeling his face for a minute or less. She pushed herself up gently using her wings to give her bit of a hovering. She hadn’t completely forgotten how to do that. She pressed her lips to his again. “Thank you, Colden…”

Author: Colden Rose, Posted: Fri May 5, 2017 8:46 AM, Post Subject: Triumphant Return[P/R]

“I’m not going to do this because I feel like I owe you for your kindness, Crystaline.” He was trying to find the correct words to use, but not matter what, he felt like he was stumbling around with them. He smiled at her the best he could before leading her outside. It was a bit chilly today, but he could barely feel it with how he was shaking from the nervousness. It took much effort on his part and some summoned courage but soon he was motivated enough to deliver her the gift.

He tried not to linger for too long into the kiss, unsure of how she being taking this all in. Not until he felt her jump at the gesture and decided to end it as quick as possible. He didn’t want to put her in a compromising situation but Colden soon found himself shocked as she took him and pulled him back into it. His hands, still quaking a bit, found themselves on her sides before he too noticed that the magic had begun its work. He didn’t say anything as the wings manifested themselves onto her back once more and Crystaline had taken to them. His throat felt dry as it all started to hit her at once and he brought out some cloth from his pocket and tended to her tears.

“I…went to see Angela. I wanted you to have something that was taken from you. That’s why I hadn’t been around lately. She had granted me a favor to give them back to you.” Colden looked onto her wings, seeing how beautiful they were and how they made her even more so. A feat he hadn’t thought possible before. Scratching the back of his head, he decided to complete the thought he had stated earlier. “I did it because I wanted to. I didn’t want you to feel sad anymore. You didn’t deserve to go through that pain.”

Author: Crystaline, Posted: Fri May 5, 2017 7:57 AM, Post Subject: Triumphant Return[P/R]

Crystaline’s face lit up red at his words and she smiled. “You don’t need to do anything for me Colden..” She held onto his hands and felt the squeeze, her ears heard the nervousness in his voice. “I trust you,” her voice was now quiet as she tried to figure out just exactly what he was up to.

When they got outside she could feel the wind against her as her white hair flew up in the breeze. He was shaking and she tilted her head as he began to speak. “Close my eyes?” It was a musing question but she did it without hesitation. His hand left hers and she was curious. She felt his fingers against the skin of her cheek.

She felt him getting closer to her and then his lips were against hers. She jolted back for a moment but only in surprise since he had never been this straight forward with her. Her body had a tingling feeling to it as she pulled him back as he tried to pull away. She only thought it was a kiss he wanted to give her but she felt the magic of the area change.

Something felt… different as she kissed him. It took her a few moments to realize it wasn’t just a mental feeling from being around him and that something was ACTUALLY changing. She gasped a bit as she felt the magic growing out of her back. There was no pain. She quickly let go of him in shock. “Colden what did you do?” She moved her hand and it landed against large feathered wings.

The wings twitched and she felt the twitch within herself. It took her a few moments of shock as she fell down and began to hysterically cry. It wasn’t a bad cry as she folded the wings around her to feel them and pet them. “How?” She choked the question out through her tears. “Why?”

Author: Colden Rose, Posted: Wed May 3, 2017 11:26 PM, Post Subject: Triumphant Return[P/R]

Colden felt bad that he had left Crystaline alone, even if briefly. It hadn’t dawned on him that they were nearly inseparable for the longest time. Hell, he couldn’t remember a time in Sularia where he hadn’t been visited by her or ended up seeing her in some fashion. ”Sorry, didn’t mean to make you worry. I just had to work on something.” That much was true, but he would save the details until a later time, should he had to reveal to her of it. He wished he wasn’t so damn nervous right about now, but he wasn’t sure how to approach this matter. He wished that their aunt had made this task much more simpler than what it was.

Even looking at her made him shy away a bit, whether she was sightless or not was irrelevant. He looked on enough to make sure that she was on her way and he felt guilty about his departure. But it also had to be done in his mind. “I’m okay”, he said sheepishly. The feeling of her hands against his own made this all the more tedious and he swallowed hard. “Because I wanted to do something for you for a change.” His hands squeezed hers back before he started to lead her out of the gardens. “Trust me, we have to go outside.”

Colden lead her out of the house and out to the front of it. He lead her a few more steps before pausing. She would likely feel his hands shaking but he mustered up the courage to look at her and take a step in her direction. “I know this is going to sound strange, but I want you to close your eyes, Crystaline.” Slowly he released her hand and he moved in closer. He reached out to brushed at her cheek before taking a quick breath and placing his lips against hers. He felt like his breath was leaving him during the embrace and hoped that he hadn’t gone too far with his actions. He didn’t want to ruin anything good between them because of this, but it was the only way to return to her what was taken so long ago.

Author: Crystaline, Posted: Wed May 3, 2017 10:20 PM, Post Subject: Triumphant Return[P/R]

Crystaline had a wonderful day and her dreams were happy too. She didn’t dream in pictures but she did dream in wonderful happy colors. She was so happy. It was all because of Colden and the way he seemed to protect her from all the negative. She couldn’t understand why she felt like he did but… she just knew he did in his own way.

She was disappointed to find him gone and she hadn’t seen him. There hadn’t been a day that went by when she hadn’t been with Colden and this was the first time in a while that she had been alone. It was odd but she knew that something important must have happened.

Crystaline was in the indoor night garden and she knew that the flowers were beautiful but the smell here was still comforting overall even if she couldn’t see. She ran her fingers over the petals and she tilted her head as she heard him. “I’ve been wondering where you were.” She mused as she stood up so he could see her. She smiled in his direction.

“Something for me? But why?” She had never asked for anything in return. She hadn’t even thought about it and yet here he was trying his best… even the thought of it made her blush and she made her way over to him with little help as she knew the area well. “I thought something bad happened to you… Are you alright?” She reached out and took his hands so she could feel them. She had been alone but she felt better now even in the darkness.

Author: Colden Rose, Posted: Sat Apr 29, 2017 11:19 PM, Post Subject: Triumphant Return[P/R]

Colden didn’t think too much of Crystaline’s mother’s warning, at least not at the time. He hadn’t minded the thought of her dragging him up and down the place. Her excitement was what mattered to him. No matter how big or small, he took keen interest in everything she showed him. Time slipped by very quickly and before long he found himself carrying a burnt out Crystaline all the way to her chambers and laid her on her bed. She seemed so peaceful as she slept and he backed away a few steps before turning to face his aunt at the door. “If you wish, then I can remain here. I’m sure that she would like that as well since she stayed at my home previously.” She was right, there walk home seemed rather long and he was still getting used to navigating his way through Sularia. Nighttime would only help to make things worse for him to get back.

“It was no problem, I did enjoy myself”, he said before returning the gesture and saying good night to his aunt. Colden went to leave and took one more look at his cousin before closing the door and headed for the room mentioned earlier. He fell onto the bed and soon he found the exhaustion catching up to him and he faded into slumber.

—-

It had been a day since his visit with Aunt Angela and the rosenite was a bit nervous to say the least. He had went to bargain with her for Crystaline’s sight to come back but there were complications. Fortunately there was something that he could do for her after everything she done for him and hopefully it would help to undo some of the pain that was caused to her.

The power to do all of that seemed very strange to him but at the same time he couldn’t say that he would refuse to do it. No, he owed her all that and then some. Colden was heading to the Purple Court, his fingers fidgeting as with each step closer he could feel his nerves seem like they were on fire. How was he suppose to go through with this? He counted to himself as he reached her home and slipped right in. “Crystaline? You here?” He looked around, room by room until he eventually found her. “Hey, I…have something for you. But… I was told not to give you it inside. We have to go outside… “

Author: Crystaline, Posted: Fri Apr 28, 2017 8:23 PM, Post Subject: Triumphant Return[P/R]

“That would be fun… Though I imagine going and seeing Aunt Toya would be quite a trip…” She chuckled a bit.

Cathrine laughed as soon as he said that he hadn’t seen anyone with wings. Though the vocal noise she made was a little different than most the mental laughter was sweet. “It is alright, it is unnatural for most Rosenites to have wings. Mine were a special circumstance. Maybe later we can discuss just how all the trials work if you would be interested.” She didn’t mind educating him on what he had once wanted. “Careful Boy, she will keep you out all day.”

The warning had gone completely over Crystaline as she pulled him around the home all around. By the end of the day she had completely wiped herself out and Colden had gotten her up to her room just in time for her to fall asleep.

It was well past midnight by the time she had gotten done showing him what all the Purple Court had. Crystaline was so lively and she had wiped herself out so much that she hadn’t even told him good night. She was out as soon as she had hit the bed, probably well before.

“You can stay here tonight if you wish,” It was Cathrine at the door in her night clothes. “There is a free room across the hall. It seems like an awful like of trouble for you to go all the way back tonight. She kept you out way too late,” the queen gave him a smile and bid him good night before disappearing.

Author: Colden Rose, Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2017 7:13 PM, Post Subject: Triumphant Return[P/R]

“I guess so. Perhaps we will go and see the homes of the other Courts.” Colden hadn’t visited any of the other three and he suppose that eventually he would have to explore those parts of his extended family since they had been so kind in trying to help him. Crystalline didn’t seem to have seen them either so he wouldn’t mind taking her some day.

He was curious as to what her mother was like; by some reason or logic he thought that his aunt would be similar to her daughter because how else would she had been as kind and sweet as she was? So far as he interacted with Cathrine, it seemed to prove his case. Colden nodded towards her as he stepped forward. “Thank you, Aunt Cathrine.” It was still so strange to be accepted by his family even with everything that happened. Had his siblings didn’t try to rescue him, he would have certainly been killed, one way or another. Such a thought made him shiver a bit before collecting himself again. “Sorry, didn’t mean to stare. Just…I never saw someone with wings before.” Crystaline would have likely been the first to have that, but…that thought alone made him all the more aware about her blight once more and it saddened him a bit for she deserved better than that.

He peeked over to his cousin as he felt her excitement in wanting show him nearly everywhere. He couldn’t help but to smile. “It’s fine, we can go see whatever you’d like first. Like your mother said, we have all the time we’d like.” He still couldn’t believe how their home was like, and he pondered if her room had any resemblance to this or was it her own slice of heaven. The gardens also sounded like a pleasant place to him though it sounded like it seemed out of place in a home like this. Regardless, Colden would go whether she wanted and take it all in into memory for later.

Author: Crystaline, Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2017 6:27 PM, Post Subject: Triumphant Return[P/R]

Crystaline frowned a bit and nodded. “I’m sure that with different eyes everything will appear fresh to you anyways. You’ll learn that Sularia rarely changes and when it does… It doesn’t happen fast.” Crystaline offered a smile to lighten the sad memory.

“Oh good!” Crystaline smiled as he found the path. “Happiness was always here but I think that your mind was clouded by whatever was going on back home.” She tilted her head as she thought about his words. “Is it much different from the others? I suppose it would be since all of our homes are so different…”

The half angel laughed a bit as they entered the manor and nodded her head. “Well yes, you know my mother is the Queen of Wisdom and Wind. I do suppose it would look more like an academy here. She collects books, paintings, and various other things of the arts.”

Cathrine nodded to the boy and smiled before turning back to her book. ”I do thank you for that. You may wander for however long you wish. You are quite welcome in my halls as you would be in your other aunts’ houses.” When Cathrine looked at him again she supposed he was looking at her wings. ”Granted to me by the spirits of Sularia. They hollowed my bones and allowed me to flight with a pair of wings. I have no angelic blood like Crystaline… and yes it hurt. It was part of my trial along with a logic puzzle that spanned days.”

Crystaline held onto Colden’s arm as she listened to them speak and before long she was tugging on him. “When you’re done talking to Mother can we go see the Gardens? Maybe my room?” She mused lightly. “Or whatever you want to see?”

Cathrine eyed her at first before chuckling. ”Careful, you don’t want his head spinning and falling off from every direction you are pulling him Crystaline. Take it easy, you have all day.”

Author: Colden Rose, Posted: Sun Apr 23, 2017 9:29 PM, Post Subject: Triumphant Return[P/R]

“Yeah, I’m just hoping she will welcome me as well”, he spoke with a smile though he was still somewhat self conscious about it. But if Crystaline insisted and if his deeds were forgiven, then he had nothing to worry about, right? Regardless the pair traveled down the dark road that usually lead to his home, not that he had known that since he had been out like a lamp when Steele carried him here. “Yes, it is. My father had knocked me out and my brother brought me here with the others. I hadn’t looked at…home in a long time.” Some of the things looked somewhat familiar and others things were added to the city or changed, But then again, for as long as he had been away, he wouldn’t expect much would have remained the same. He held onto Crystaline as they made their way through the Castle district and he looked on to see the hustle and bustle of the city dwellers at work. Many of them were women running the stands or conversing and children flocking and playing about the streets.

He led her until they came across the very brick road she had spoken about. “Found it”, he proclaimed as he lead her onto it and continued to watch the liveliness of Sularia. “Things seem so much happy than I remembered. But then again, it has been a long time since I found myself here.” He wasn’t sure, but they seemed to reach her home at the end of the path, but it seemed vastly different from what he had expected. A curious look came over his face before turning to Crystaline. “The manor is sure different looking. I guess the homes of the Courts differ depending on its owners and such.”

When they came inside, he stared and gasped in wonder in how it was from the inside. “I feel like I’m in an academy. Are you sure we are in the right place?” But then he heard the call from his Aunt, which made him jump a bit before remembering that she was muted. Fortunately his cousin seemed aware enough to lead him to the library where she was at. He was grateful that it seemed like she knew her way around the place. Granted this was her home, she had more than enough time to adjust to it but still he couldn’t help but to be amazed by it.

“Aunt Cathrine”, he managed to speak before bowing, “I wanted to make sure that Crystaline was brought home safe and sound, and also to see how it is over here, if you don’t mind.” It seemed like an angel he was talking to more than a Rosenite, and her daughter only served to prove that theory.

Author: Crystaline, Posted: Sun Apr 23, 2017 1:38 PM, Post Subject: Triumphant Return[P/R]

Crystaline smiled at him as she heard him yawn. “Probably but they knew that I was here so probably not too much.” She took her clothes from him and held them close before nodding to him. “I’ll be sure to let you know.” After she got the dress up she called for him to come tie it up. That was the one thing she couldn’t do by herself no matter how hard she tried and that was alright. She didn’t know anyone who could tie a dress perfectly by themselves.

She held onto his arm as they went out into the streets of Sularia. “Well, it should be. My mother welcomes all kinds of visitors.” She smiled at him as she felt the hot air upon her skin. “This is your first time out and about since you came home, isn’t it? You should enjoy the sights while we walk.”

The road to the Purple Court was easy enough to find as the obsidian stones of the black court turned to Sularia’s regular Castle district’s gold and silver bricked roads. “I’ve been told we need to look for the opal and amethyst decorated bricks.” She smiled up at him and soon they were on the right path. The manor for the purple court looked more like it was designed for functionality rather than regal flair like the others. It was made from the same glistening white stone the castle was with tall windows.

Once they made it inside Colden could be able to tell that the place was more like a giant library as tall shelves full of books were all around, with magnificent paintings and other works of art. Cathrine did like her art and books after all. She was the Queen of Wisdom.

”Welcome home Crystaline, I see you have brought Colden here,” Cathrine’s voice resonated through their minds and Crystaline smiled a bit and patted his hand.

“Where are you so we can come see you?” Crystaline called out and there was a shushing sound.

”The library.

Crystaline guided Colden to the library. It was gorgeously made out of many fine materials and it was many floors by itself. The library could have very well have taken up much of the space in the manor. Cathrine was by a book shelf. She was taller than Angela but built much the same way. Her long white curls fell just as far as Crystaline’s and she had wings as well. “What are you reading today?”

Cathrine’s green eyes looked over to them and she smiled. ”Ancient alchemical texts.” Crystaline tilted her head as if not really understanding. ”This is only my light reading of course. I found this in the market today.”

Author: Colden Rose, Posted: Fri Apr 21, 2017 7:15 PM, Post Subject: Triumphant Return[P/R]

Colden glanced onto Kirika, remembering that she likely knew little more than he had about their family tree. Both of them had been victims of their mother’s hatred and greed but were fortunate enough to still be breathing. Most of their siblings, on the other hand, weren’t as lucky. “Not sad. I’m happy, Cinder”, he reassured her as he hugged her with great care to not hurt her. He would have rather perish than to see her, her mother, or anyone else in his family have to suffer any more injustices.

“Guess you are right about that. I don’t remember him at all. I can barely recall Eldora and some of the others that she showed me. I hadn’t even known about you until later on”, he sighed. “Perhaps he is out there…” He followed into the conversation of his siblings, listening with keen and yearning ears while he held Cinder onto him. He could feel her tugging at him even in her slumber which made him smile brightly and made sure to plant a kiss onto her head before she was taken by Aria to be put into bed. He had lost track of time himself and so he led Crystaline back into his room. He slipped out of the robes and put on some trousers before getting into bed and she was adamant about joining him especially when the storm wouldn’t let up. Honestly he didn’t mind nor think much of it as he held onto her and made sure she was able to sleep before succumbing to its call himself. Her warmth made it rather an easy task to do so and when dawn hit, he was still soundly asleep and softly breathed before he could feel that she was awake.

Yawning a bit, he was still out of it but was enough to know what she was saying. “Sure, they must be worried about you. And it's only fair that I get to know where you live.” He carefully rolled out of bed with the grace of a canine before he turned over and retrieved his shirt. He made sure that her clothes were dry before handing them to her. “I’ll be outside the door until you are ready. If you need help, just let me know.” Colden made sure to close the door and waiting in the hall until either situation came up. Afterwards he led her out of the estate and started to the trek to the Purple Court. “I hope everything is alright as far as me coming over there”, he stated, still unsure if this was a good idea or not, but he wanted to return the favor and he was genuinely curious about her home.

Author: Crystaline, Posted: Fri Apr 21, 2017 6:37 PM, Post Subject: Triumphant Return[P/R]

“It’s not just your hair I guess. It’s your stature too,” Aria laughed a bit now. “Though he had the brightest bluest eyes just like Cinder.” It made the room feel a bit sadder as Kirika frowned a bit she realized that she hadn’t known her brother either.

“It’s alright Colden because of Mother I didn’t know Casimir either. I just know that Aria was sent here for the head of the household. If it wasn’t for Lotus recognizing the name I wouldn’t have known what to do.” Crystaline let his hand go and she turned on her aura sight just for a second to see what he was doing. She realized that Cinder was clinging to her uncle now.

Aria and Kirika smiled as he picked up Cinder and hugged her. Cinder patted his head. “Tis okay Uncle Colden, it is okay to be sad.” The little girl was hugging him back now as he held her.

The women all nodded and agreed with Colden that it was best that Cinder remained a secret. She was so bubbly and cute that even Crystaline was amused by her. She could almost catch Cinder’s happiness like a bug. When Colden rubbed at her arm Crystaline gave him a smile.

“Who knows when he even left Arri. It could have been well before you were born. Casimir is older than Lotus.” Kirika smiled at him. “I only know what Lotus has told me about him but it makes sense if he left way before you were born. That would help with why he was alive… and if he survived there might be others but it is hard to tell because we have no records.”

They spent the better part of the evening talking about the family and teaching Colden things about his brothers and sisters. Cinder was on his lap most of the time and eventually, she had even fallen asleep in his arms. The night of Sularia rolled in quick after that and Aria took Cinder up for bed.

Crystaline weaseled her way into sleeping next to Colden since it was still thundering out. She stuck close to him and slept with relative ease. In the morning, their clothes were all washed and dried for them just as the morning had arrived. They were laying out on the dresser. Crystaline had been awake for a while but she had been laying next to Colden taking in his scent. Once she knew he was awake she smiled. “We should go to the Purple Court today… You should meet my mother since you met Liz.”

Author: Colden Rose, Posted: Fri Apr 21, 2017 6:22 PM, Post Subject: Triumphant Return[P/R]

Once they came inside the room, his eyes immediately fell onto his sister before being guided towards another woman and then the girl with her. He was a bit confused about the matter, and it showed on his face and how much tighter his hand held on Crystaline’s. He hadn’t known that he had a brother but then again he thought back to the images Eldora feed him back where they fought their mother. There were plenty of brothers and sisters unaccounted for now, so surely it wasn’t strange to think that he had yet another sibling. His eyes looked from Aria to the girl, who was possibly her daughter, which meant… His eyes widened a bit in recognizing that it meant she was likely his niece. His heart stopped for a moment as he realized that had Cyprus had her way, she would have been harmed as well. “I guess I was still too young to remember…”, he offered to Aria before nodding his head.

 “I’ll take you word on it though. I guess I would look a lot like him.” He sounded like an honorable man and he wished he would have gotten to know him better. It would have possibly help served him to be a better man and not fall into his mother’s trap as he did. His sights fell back onto Cinder, who seemed just as amazed. But once she ran up to him and held his leg, he could feel himself choking up inside. Releasing Crystaline, his hand slowly fell onto the top of the girl’s head and stroked it.

Had he would have done what Cyprus told him and had ruined his family, especially Cinder then he felt that he would have deserved death. He couldn’t bear to think that he would hurt someone so young and gentle as she was. It wasn’t long before he picked her up and held onto her tightly and buried his face onto her shoulder, trying to keep from crying. “I…love you too, Cinder.”

He looked back to her and smiled. “No, she doesn’t deserve to be a part of this situation. I will do my part to keep it that way.” His family had been through enough, he wouldn’t subject his niece to this as well. He would protect her with every fiber of his being. His eyes searched for Crystaline rubbed at her arm to help cheer her up.

“He sounds like a good man. Wish I would have met him or at least remembered what he was like.”

Author: Crystaline, Posted: Fri Apr 21, 2017 6:02 PM, Post Subject: Triumphant Return[P/R]

His words made Crystaline chuckle as he told them he wouldn’t have peeked. She was sure that he wouldn’t have but Kirika was extra careful just in case. Kirika was gone by the time that Colden had tried to ask who he was going to meet. Crystaline tilted her head and shrugged just a bit as she thought about it herself. “No idea. I don’t know much about the Black Court other than you and your siblings… well, the living ones anyways.”

She blushed a bit as she gripped his hands. “I suppose,” she felt odd the way Colden made her feel beautiful. She couldn’t see herself but she supposed that she looked like much of their matron race. She nodded and got on her feet with his help. They wandered around for a bit before they finally found the room they were supposed to meet Kirika in.

When they got there Kirika smiled and looked to a brown haired woman who was small and petite much like Kirika herself. She had the Rosenite eyes and in her arms, she was holding a small little girl. She had bouncy brown curls and blue eyes. “Colden, this is Aria… she is our brother Casimir’s wife.” She was sure that Colden had no clue who Casimir is. “He disappeared not too long ago but he left Aria and Cinder here so we could protect them. Outside of Lotus and Eldora, no one knows about them. Casimir asked us to keep them a secret so Mother wouldn’t find out.”

Aria smiled at them. “I can see Casimir in you. He spoke of you just before he left and told us to wait here but he hasn’t come home so I fear that he might have been killed by Cyprus.” Cinder was staring at Colden with wide beautiful eyes. Aria put her down and pushed her just a bit towards Colden. “This is your uncle Colden. He’ll love you too Cinder.” Cinder stared up at him now and before long she was running to him.

“Uncle Colden!” She squealed as she wrapped her arms around his leg. “I love you!” She had a lot of love to give and Kirika was laughing just a bit.

“You love everyone don’t you Cinder?” Kirika asked before Cinder nodded to her and clung closer to Colden now.

“I had no idea there was a child here…” Crystaline mused.

“No, I think the only one who figured out she was here was Angela but nothing escapes her. We kept them hidden. Eventually I will tell the others but for now because of the threat of the council… They only think Casimir needs punishment.” Aria nodded.

“Casimir found me dying out in the desert years ago. We married in secret and stayed far away from Arri. When we had Cinder we knew we would have to come here… He hid us here and left to keep us safe.”

Crystaline looked sad as she thought about that sacrifice and knew that it must have made Aria sad as well. “I’m so sorry Aria. I couldn’t imagine that.”

“It’s fine if it was the one thing that Casimir taught me it was to remain strong. Despite my heart crying I need to be strong for Cinder and even Cinder understands now. At first, she didn’t but she’s only a child.”

Author: Colden Rose, Posted: Fri Apr 21, 2017 5:44 PM, Post Subject: Triumphant Return[P/R]

Colden felt weird ever since she had planted a kiss on his cheek. Sure it was likely to express her gratitude towards his words, but it was still something foreign to him. It was a good kind of weird feeling though. He knew that he had to learn a lot in a short amount of time- learning to be less cynical and more thoughtful of the world around him. Had he gotten his way to begin with, he would have surely ran everything down into the ground. His home, his family and people, the entire Court. All of it would be gone because he was never groomed to rule. He was unfit to do such given his upbringing and his temperament. It was one of the things he had to come to terms with as soon as possible when he was brought here, and it was a good thing that he had sooner rather than later. A lot of it had to do with Crystaline and getting him to see that he was capable of more than what he had thought at his lowest point. She was the one that helped picked him up and gather himself together, so of course he was going to think greatly of her.

“This one, that one. Any one to be honest”, he said without realizing what he was saying. “But right now, the one outside.” She wouldn’t have to feel so scared if he was there to support her like she had him. By chance, he looked up to Kirika coming inside. She offered to get her some clothing and he knew at some point he would have to get redressed himself. “Yeah, I hadn’t thought about that completely. We were just enjoying the rain outside.” He scratched the back of his head sheepishly while he waited for his sister’s return.

Kirika came back blushing and then when she explained what she found, Crystaline was doing the same. Colden felt as though he was missing something about his older sister but he put it aside once he saw the gown. Soon afterwards, he would be temporary blinded by the blanket thrown at his head, but as he was about to pull it off, he was warned against it. “I wouldn’t have peeked”, he spoke but knew good and well why she commanded him. His hand lowered away from it as he mentally counted to keep his thoughts busy as Crystaline changed into the gown and waited to be able to see again.

“Funny”, he said when he was freed and he looked to his cousin with a smile. He turned to the closet to fetch some dry clothes but turned to face the queen when she spoke about him meeting someone. “Wait, who…”, he started before she left the room. “I don’t know who she wants me to meet…or why.” Kicking off his boots, he undid his belt and shirt first before stripping off them and his pants. All the while he felt somewhat uncomfortable even if she couldn’t see him. He found a green robe to put on and laced his boots again. “Have any clue?”, he asked before walking back up to her and taking her hand. “ You do look quite stunning in it, but I guess that’s the sacrifice for practicality. Suppose we can’t leave them waiting for too long, whoever it is.” Helping her up, the two went on to find the parlor, which took him longer than he’d like because he had yet to explore the whole manor just yet.

It took a while but the two finally found their destination and his eyes scanned about, looking for his sister and this person he was to encounter.

Author: Crystaline, Posted: Fri Apr 21, 2017 4:12 PM, Post Subject: Triumphant Return[P/R]

Crystaline smiled as she felt the magic in the room. “I hope the rain doesn’t catch him,” she chuckled a bit about how she could worry about such a thing but even elementals were living creatures.

She didn’t know what her advances were making him feel she only knew how she was feeling. It was a far cry from how he was when she had first met him. She could feel the warmth rising to his cheek as she kissed it. It made her giddy as she grinned. “I know. It makes you beautiful Colden.” That was the only way she could describe it. “Strong and courageous to say the things on your mind. Despite what you may think about yourself.”

They huddled for warmth as she shivered lightly still from the sopping wet clothes that she was wearing. The half angel felt protected as he embraced her and soon put his head atop her own. “Are you talking just the storm outside but the one we face in Arri too?” It was a musing she had as she tilted her head in question.

Kirika wandered by the room and looked in, she was happy that they were getting along but she had noticed that both were soaked. “You both might want to change before you catch a cold. Are you staying here tonight Crystaline?” The half angel nodded and Kirika’s eyes wandered just a bit. “I don’t think my clothes are going to fit you.” The queen laughed just a bit. “I’m not as well endowed as you are.” Crystaline blushed a bit and Kirika left for a few seconds to the room just off to the side of Colden’s.

Within a few minutes Kirika was back and she was blushing just a bit. “Afraid the only thing we have in here to fit Crystaline is some of Lotus’s stuff.” Immediately Crystaline was red again as she could only imagine what it was that Kirika had found. It was a nightgown made of silk and lace, not overly revealing at all. “It’s better than catching a cold in my opinion and you can’t sleep in your clothes…”

Crystaline left Colden’s embrace and Kirika threw the blanket over her brother’s head. “Don’t look.” There was a nervous laugh from Crystaline as Kirika shut the door and helped her change. The young queen even helped the half angel take all the pins and braids out of her hair so it could dry. Her hair was long past her waist now filled with wild waves and curls. Luckily for Crystaline because she was so short and Lotus so tall the nightgown was a good size for her since it obviously was made to be upper thigh length on Lotus.

After they were done Kirika took the blanket off Colden. “You should change to Colden. Also, I don’t have to cover Crystaline up.” Now that made Crystaline chuckle just a bit as she wandered back over to the bed and sat down. “I want you two to come to the parlor after Colden finishes changing. There’s someone I want Colden to meet…” Kirika took off not long after that closing the door.

“I feel weird in this. Your sister has odd tastes.” The half angel was pulling at the nightgown and how stiff it was against her body. It was soft, yes but it was tight and that made it more morally uncomfortable.

Author: Colden Rose, Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2017 8:29 PM, Post Subject: Triumphant Return[P/R]

Colden listened closely to the description of her mother well. She seemed like one that had a good head on her shoulders and was good when it counted. She sounded like a good mother, which wasn’t saying a lot from him whenever he had to compare one to Cyprus. The only good thing she had taught him was that there were good people around him and he had to strive to be a better person. The punishment would serve to set him on the right path- he would be more of a parent than she could ever be. He didn’t wish for another little one to endure what he had to. “She sounds wonderful”, he added.

He wouldn’t let anything happen to her, especially when it came to the thunder. He suppose that her hearing was quite sensitive due to it be stronger to make up for her lack of sight. Either way, Colden would see to it that she was as comfort as possible. The rain was lightly coming back but another sound of thunder boomed throughout the area. They would be far safer indoors if lightning was to follow.

“It’s not problem really”, he ushered her as he opened the wind and brought forth a flame into his hands. In another moment the flame shifted into that of a bird like creature. “Pass this message onto anyone of the Purple Court that Crystaline is safe with the Black Court right now.” The elemental nodded and was sent flying into the sky. “My summoning should make it on time before it's dismissed.” With that, he closed the window and dried his hair off with a towel. He didn’t know how long the storm would last, but he was hoping that she’d be okay until then.

Colden wanted to get it off his chest, that he thought that she was a wonderful person that was too hard on herself at times and that other people didn’t appreciate her the way they should have. Despite the odds, she was what this world needed more of- those with gentle hearts. There was enough of those that held dark hearts or ill intentions as it was. He wasn’t sure how she would react, but slowly she approached him and he felt like he couldn’t breath for a moment. If he was a mind reader, he would have been doing everything he could to know what she was thinking, what she was feeling right then. She moved up and kissed him on the cheek and he blushed a bit. “I only speak what I was thinking.” He didn’t feel like she should have thanked him for it, but he was grateful that he could help her.

Colden returned the gesture and closed the gap between them as they huddled for warmth beneath the blankets. For someone so tiny compared to him, she was surprising warm. Also he hadn’t noticed it before but she was stunning physically. Then again, the Rosenite blood was pretty strong even in hybrids. But he hadn’t taken the time to notice it as he was enthralled by her personality alone. Resting his chin ontop her head, he held her as if she would blow away and he would be sure that she’d know that he was there to protect her against the storm, no matter what was thrown at them. “We can brave this storm, don’t worry Crystaline.”

Author: Crystaline, Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2017 6:04 PM, Post Subject: Triumphant Return[P/R]

Crystaline thought hard about what her mother was like. “She is wise and knowledgeable about most subjects, unlike Aunt Angela who is only knowledgeable noticeably in plants and alchemy. She is strong and kind but not overly kind. She expects payment when things are not dire because she doesn’t want people to abuse her kindness. She is loving but not in a coddling way. Mother is the one who normally ends the fights between Aunt Toya and Aunt Angela. Mother can’t speak but she can telepathically communicate.”

She blushed as he talked about her smile and might have had a bigger more dumb smile on her face as the words left his lips. “Well thank you, Colden.” Once the thunder scared her she was comforted by the draping of his arm. It was the same thing that her family used to do for her when she was younger. It felt nice in a way she could never explain and yet it was different when Colden did it. “Alright,” she smiled and was glad that Colden was there to take care of her. They moved slowly so she could move her feet and make sure not to stumble over anything. She shivered more once they were inside the cool air of the Black Court Manor and gratefully took the blankets and towels handed to her so she could try and dry off.

“No, I don’t think it will be for a while. The downpour might be over but the storm itself could last a few hours or the rest of the night.” She pulled a warmer dry blanket around her as she tilted her head. “Could you please? I know that’s a lot to ask for in this weather. Considering the Purple Court is quite possibly furthest of the courts from this one.”

Pulling the blanket tighter she stood just for a bit and tilted her head. He was quite for a little bit now and she wondered what he was doing. Finally, he started to speak and she blushed a bit more now. She heard him move to her and she was a bit taken back by him taking her hand. So much so that the blush was worse and she listened to his last few words and felt almost speechless towards him.

Taking a stepped forward she put her other hand with his so she could hold it and she moved her foot just enough to make sure where he was completely. She did this by lightly tapping the inside edges of his feet. She was quiet not really letting on what she was going to do as she pushed herself up on the edges of her toes and pressed her lips against his face. She thought she was going to lips but she ended up getting the side of his cheek closer to his jaw. “Thank you, Colden.” She let herself back down as it was hard to reach someone of Colden’s height when she was so small.

She took her hands from his and wrapped herself around him with the blanket now secure between each of her fingertips by the edges. She put her head on his chest and closed her eyes. “Those are the nicest words I think I’ve ever heard.”

Author: Colden Rose, Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2017 5:03 PM, Post Subject: Triumphant Return[P/R]

He was serious in his offer to bring her here whenever she wanted. Colden thought for a moment when it came to visiting her, which seemed only fair to him considering how gracious she had been to him since he got back to Arri. “Sure. Why not? It’s only fair that I see you in your own element.” It would be less of a strain for her to trek back and forth each day Besides, from her words, her family was even smaller than his own so he could see that it could get lonely sometimes.

There was another benefit from hearing her speak of how her family was when it came to her volunteering for this punishment he was stuck with. With how the others were, she seemed like the last hope for her own Court to grow it out again. He didn’t blame her for it, but again she did this out of sacrifice. “What’s your mother like, besides what you told me?”, he asked out of pure curiosity. He knew Angela to be loving and tough but fair, Toya to be a bit of a spitfire but well meaning and he knew of his ‘mother’, but when it came down to either of the other two Court Queens, he was unsure about Aunt Lily or Aunt Cathrine. At least he could learn more about the latter.

He hadn’t meant to explode the way he had, but Colden had enough of hearing about how men didn’t desire her for a relationship. No other woman could compare to her in his eyes and thought any man would be lucky enough to have her. He didn’t want her to just settle, he wanted her to be happy. She went to calm him down a bit and he could only take a few huffs as he recollected himself. Her eyes slightly changed but he only noticed because he was so used to their normal blue. “I don’t think that I’m…:”, he started to say but she cut him off. Honestly he had stewed in his sorrow and despair during that time, completely ignoring his desires. He didn’t think of himself like she had stated. Perhaps he wasn’t that little boy anymore, but he didn’t quite think of himself too highly, at least not like he had shamefully not too long ago.

Such thoughts left him as he went to cheer her up and for some reason he thought bring her outside would help with it. Perhaps he was hasty, but the rosenite wanted to help in some form or another. She seemed to rather enjoy it which helped to put his own mid at ease. The rain fell and went, but they remained, albeit soaked and cold but as she carried a smile on her face, so did he. “It’s no big deal. Just…wanted to help. You look better with a smile on your face.” He felt his own cheek growing red from the remark but he put it aside once he heard the lightning and felt her coming to him. He draped an arm around her for support and then nodded. “Yeah, let’s. Just follow my lead and I’ll make sure nothing happened to you.” Colden slowly led her back into the house and back into his room. Going into the closet, he took out several towels and blankets and handed her some of them to use to dry off while he did the same. “Perhaps the storm isn’t quite over?”, he said again, looking through the window. He could see the townspeople hurrying off the streets and into their homes. “Should I send word to your household that you may be stuck here, at least for a little while? I don’t want them to worry.”       

Colden looked to her again before he sat down on the bed and just watched her for bit. He still didn’t like how sad she had gotten earlier. It wasn’t fair for fate to treat her in this regard. If there was anything at all he could do, what he could actually do for her, he would in a heartbeat. “I see you differently than how you may see yourself. I know how it feels to think you aren’t worth anything. You’ve seen that from me and yet you helped me out. I see you as being stronger than most give you credit for.” He was trying to find the words that would reflect his thoughts on the matter. “Having gentle heart, especially in this world is harder to obtain than having power or wealth, titles or armies. It’s easier to give into anger and hate, but harder to be kind and loving like you are.” Colden moved to her and took her hand into his, “You, Crystaline, are a diamond in the rough. I don’t care what others say or think of it. That’s my two cents on that.”

Author: Crystaline, Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2017 3:18 PM, Post Subject: Triumphant Return[P/R]

“You would come get me?” She tilted her head. “That’s a lot of running back and forth between the houses isn’t it?” She had a thought for a moment before she smiled. “Why not come visit me on some days? I’m sure my mother wouldn’t mind having you around. The manor is really… well.. quiet. Our family is just as small as yours. If not smaller actually…” She frowned a bit as she thought about her dead brothers. “It’s just the three of us.” She hadn’t really thought about how small the Purple Court’s family was in comparison to the others before.

She was glad to hear the annoyance wasn’t at her and she chuckled. “I am not sure if Angela started it or not. To her though it was a lesser punishment if a punishment at all. Kirika saw that it was a way out and that was why she did it. She wouldn’t have wanted to put something like that one any of you unless it were necessary.” She nodded a bit and frowned. “It’s just like ours in that sense. My brothers dying had a huge impact on our court. I’m not even sure if Liz will ever recover enough to have children either.” It was a sad thing to think about. “My mother isn’t really the type to just have children because she wants to. She is a scholar and a researcher… Always that first.” Now that she thought about it, the deal with Colden would actually benefit them as well.

She didn’t jump at his outburst nor did she think it was unwarranted. The aura that fed off of him as she turned her eyes and looked at his outline told her that he was genuinely upset at them. “It’s alright Colden.” She reassured him. Crystaline laughed at his threat and chuckled. “Right now, I can see you. I mean not in the way that others typically can.” Her eyes had a slightly different hue to them when she was aura reading, it wasn’t drastic but the blue shifted just ever so slightly to a more vivid aqua. “I think that envy is the deadliest sin of them all,” she wasn’t scared of him but she was commenting. “That’s why you are so strong to be able to resist it like you have. You must rule it and not the other way around. Before you say that you didn’t… the past few days you very much have. At least to me, you seem stronger.”

The half angel took his hands and let him lead her out of the house. The courtyard she didn’t know as well as his room so she stuck by him and kept a firm grasp of his hand. She felt at home in the wind but she held out her hand as she felt the drops. A smile came to her face. “I love the rain. It’s just the thunder that bothers me. It’s soothing the sound rain makes when it hits a puddle.”

She tilted her head up so she could feel the raindrops on her face. The rain was good for her senses, it didn’t overload her like many things did. She could smell the rain in the air. “Very soon actually.” She chuckled as the closer the downpour got the more intense the smell became to her. Soon she was huddled by him as the rain fell down. She didn’t ask to go inside but she just stood in it taking in all the noises and the feeling of the rain against her skin. She was absolutely soaked within minutes but it didn’t bother her at all.

“The one thing about living in the desert even here in the oasis is how scarce the rain can be… This is good to have a downpour like this.” She brought her hand back in as she felt the drops against her body. The downpour only lasted for a few minutes but it was long enough that it left both of them drenched. She shivered now as the wind blew against her wet skin and clothes. “Thank you…” She said with a smile as she thought of them going out like a gift. She didn’t feel the dark mood she had been in earlier anymore. The rain was still coming down but nowhere near how bad the downpour had been.

The roll of thunder made her jump and she clung to him lightly. “Maybe we should go back inside?”

Author: Colden Rose, Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2017 5:21 PM, Post Subject: Triumphant Return[P/R]

“If that is the case, then…I will take you myself.” He felt different around her presence, around all of their presences now that he had learned to start letting go. He couldn’t be that little boy anyway, the one that wanted his mommy when she didn’t want to have anything to do with him save for trying to make use of him in her nefarious schemes and discard him. He had to move on and strive to be better. “Don’t worry about it, really.”

Colden shifted around and for a moment was thinking of what she thought he was annoyed with her. When it dawned on him, he frowned deeply. “I’m not upset at you or by this predicament. More so, I guess the punishment didn’t make sense to me until I thought about it. I’m guessing Aunt Angela had to do with it and Kirika went along and included herself into the deal, right?” It seemed to make sense given Angela’s domains, and he was not a fool when it came to the scarcity of the Court. “I may be naive, but I’m not so much to know the state of my family. There’s only Eldora, Lotus, myself and Kirika and possible a few more left of the Black Court. Once we are gone, there will be no one left to carry on the legacy. It makes sense that we would be tasked to do this” Still, he was still puzzled about Crystaline being so willing to offer herself to be the mother of his child.  Her words of the council fell on deaf ears for the most part; he didn’t know much about them, but he knew enough not to like them. They just seemed like he was- vengeance filled and since Cyprus would be gone, they wanted to punish her children now.  If it had just been him, then so be it. But…he didn’t want the others to pay for his mistakes now. His mind was much more clearer and he felt remorse and shame.

They talked some more and she seemed adamant about going through this, anything she could do help. Then Crystaline’s mood started to change and he watched. As she spoke, he stared at her as she belittled herself and told him that she wouldn’t be seen as a suitable mate to other men because of her blindness. Colden was starting to feel the hairs on the back of his neck stand, his hands closing into fists and tightened. He was trying to keep his cool, but the more he thought about it, the angrier he got. He didn’t see what these other men would; he saw a woman with a bigger heart than anyone else he’d seen. She had that and a strong spirit and determination. He couldn’t stand to see her sad.

What set him over the edge was when she discussed her former love and how he abandoned her. “To hell with the others! What do they know!?” The outburst slipped out from him, heavy breaths soon followed as he tried to collect himself. “…Sorry…I don’t know…I just..” He fell back and became silent as his thoughts were coming together. She did deserve better than that, even if she didn’t believe it. “They are fools, if you ask me. All of them- Xavier, the one that broke your heart, the other men. Anyone that thinks the way they do…I’d punch them right in their face.” He moved over to her and took her hand with care. He didn't want her to talk about herself in such a terrible way. She was a far better person than he was and yet she had to suffer more? What justice was there in this world?

“Follow me.” He led her off the bed and out of the room. He was sure that he had gathered attention from the others in the house, but he looked passed them as he guided her outside the manor and stood to the courtyard. The wind blew gently and the rain started to fall around the scene. He glanced up, “The clouds are darkened now. In fact, all around us is darker but don’t be afraid.” Soon he felt the rain hit him and he looked to her while he squeezed her hand. “It’s starting to rain. The downpour is coming shortly, I can feel it.”

Author: Crystaline, Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2017 8:35 PM, Post Subject: Triumphant Return[P/R]

Crystaline smiled at him and nodded. “She’ll forgive you, Colden. She loves you despite how she handles herself. How closed off she comes off, I could tell the way she sounded around you. Also, her aura whenever you seemed like you were in pain changed too.”

She listened about the stone and got excited just a bit. “What about the cut of the gems? What are they like?” She realized she was going just a tad overboard as she brought her hands over to the stone and felt them herself. They were cut in a variety of different ways. “Sorry, sometimes I can’t help myself. Though I can feel the cut by myself.” She laughed as she hadn’t thought of it before. She let her hands fall back down into her lap now.

She listened to him talk about the weather and she seemed to relax a bit more as she popped the cork of the wine. “Oh good. She is scary when she is upset.” She smiled a bit more now as he invited her over whenever she would like. “I would like that though I’m sure the house staff will get annoyed at my constant asking to go someplace.” She laughed gently at the thought.

When he told her just how red her face was she began to laugh more. “I knew it was red but I didn’t know how red it was. I’m sorry I just embarrass easily.” So she told him exactly what his punishment would be. She heard the surprise in his voice. The sigh that came from his lips was something she had heard Liz do a thousand times. “I’m sorry it annoys you, Colden.” She sounded sad now. So she told him exactly what she had done. “Because I wanted to help and I didn’t think that anyone else could relate to you, especially from Angela’s daughters. They don’t know what its like. I had heard Kirika fighting endlessly to bring you home safely knowing that you wanted to kill her. I figured that if she was willing to put that much on the line that you must not truly be all that bad.”

She felt him get off the bed and she stayed seated where she was. “Yes, the council was put in place to deal with situations like Cyprus, or rather to make sure it never happened again. Sadly the council is made up of people who Cyprus has wronged. She has killed their family and friends. They are biased and unfair. That is why the queens have started to discuss disbanding them or getting a new council elect in. Unfairly putting consequences on you and your family is not what they are here for. The law may be the law and it is harsh here in Arri but it shouldn’t be that harsh. You are not your mother and neither are your sisters. You have suffered enough because of her. You don’t need to anymore.”

She could now smell the rainfall that would be soon to come and she smiled a bit as soon as the breeze brought that to her nose. She thought about his question and for the first time, she didn’t answer quickly or confidently. “Because Colden, not only do I desire to be useful but I desire to help as well. The purple court is known as the court of sacrifice for a reason. We have the souls of valiant heroes who help those in need, or so the stories say. Avenging Valkyries is what my mother likes to say.”

She struggled for a long time and she pulled her legs up onto the bed and wrapped her arms around them. She was in deep thought it looked like. “I don’t necessarily think I deserve better. Colden in a place like Sularia I have my blindness against me. Even if I were to produce strong children the fact of the matter is that I am broken in the eyes of most men. I cannot do wifely duties, I cannot take care of myself, for the most part, I can’t even braid my own hair, but I do try. However, most don’t see that. They see the struggle that taking me on would bring. They don’t see me for my talents or for my kindness. They can’t see past the fact that I am disabled in a way. Most men in Sularia like warriors, I am no warrior even if I could see I am not very strong. My body is very light because of my angel blood and that makes me easily knocked over and other things of that nature.” She put her chin on her knees and perhaps for the first time since they met she was the one who was sad.

“I loved someone once and he left me. I don’t know where he went. I just know he’s gone and he never came back.” Her words were quiet. “I think it broke my heart more than Xavier betraying me. Maybe because I know he left because of my troubles. Despite how hard I do try sometimes it just doesn’t matter.” She offered a smile in his direction. “So I do the things I can for the people I feel like deserve it. I think you deserve whatever I can do to help you. I can’t tell you why just that it is a feeling I have. Deep down in the pit of my stomach, that’s all I know.”

Author: Colden Rose, Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2017 8:10 PM, Post Subject: Triumphant Return[P/R]

“Trust me, you don’t want to know what else everyone is doing besides fighting.” He hadn’t been in an actual fight himself, but he has seen conflict and death before. Too much to know that he didn’t want anything to do with it. He didn’t think Crystaline needed to know about that side of the world any more than what she had. “You were kind enough not to tell me that despite you being bothered. You could have told me, though I guess I was still in my funk.” Colden still was, but he seemed better, far better than before. Every now and then he noticed the girl’s face changing to red, though he was unsure as to why. But he wasn’t lying to her about the flowers, he couldn’t see any damage done to them as she trimmed them with care. To be fair, he was still unsure if he would have the patience or the gentleness that she had with that sort of work.

He looked to his own hands, which hadn’t created beautiful things- if anything they had only managed to ruin and destroy. He looked to cousin and shook his head, “It’s not. I’d imagine there’s plenty of people that don’t like storms. Everyone has something they fear, no matter who they are.” He feared being inadequate and alone; despite his darkened mood a few weeks ago, he needed connections. It showed in how he took to his sisters and brothers and the others. Especially Crystaline as he voiced to her things he wouldn’t have to any other. He kept eating the pear, not realizing how hungry he had really been until he all but devoured the fruit and went to cut some more slices for her and placed them softly into her hand before fetching the durian.

“I’ll…have to talk to my sister when I feel confident enough to. I do owe her an apology since the last time I spoke to her, I thought she was lying to me.” He had behaved  like a rabid, foaming mouthed fool towards her when she was his biggest support, even when he had sided with Cyprus against her. “We hadn’t seen one another, but I think she still is. I don’t care what anyone thinks or says about her.”

He wasn’t used to sharing hs feelings, much less allowing himself to be so vulnerable in front of someone else. And though she couldn’t see it, Crystaline was a good judge of when he was feeling a certain way. He didn’t think he truly belonged here and perhaps some day he wouldn’t feel so alienated despite everyone’s attempts to make him see otherwise. He looked again on the stone she gave him and counted the different gems. “There’s five gems on the stone. Ruby, sapphire, emerald, topaz and amethyst.” 

Glancing outside again, he looked carefully at the clouds as they nearly covered the sky above. “There’s plenty of thick grey clouds and a few white ones. The whole area seems to be caught in a grayish tint.” Colden merely watched her as she popped the cork out of the wine bottle and took his glass when given. “Don’t worry I won’t tell her.” He smiled. “I don’t mind it at all. It would be no different than you coming here every day now.” His eyes caught her blushing once more but didn’t make a fuss over it as he sipped at the wine. “You can come over when you please.” The wine was really good, but since it was crafted from the goddess, he wasn’t too surprised in the least.

“No. She hasn’t yet”, he said with with his eyes narrowing. No one had told him of the punishment he was required to go through. He had expected death, but Angela told him otherwise. It was something quite bizarre given his crimes. But even Crystaline seemed to know what was up with that. And again, she seemed embarrassed. “You know, your face keeps turning red like a tomato”, he said with a slight chuckle. He sipped at his drink right up until she spilled the beans and he nearly spilled his drink. “A…child?” He looked dumbfounded, but not nearly as much as when she confessed more of the stipulations. Apparently he wasn’t trusted enough to make his own pick, though given everything that happened, he couldn’t have been too upset. An annoyed sigh slipped from him, he figured that Angela had something to do with it when she was speaking to Kirika when they first brought him over here. Then his frustration tried to a bewildered look at her. His jaw dropped and would had hit the floor if it could. “I…don’t understand…why volunteer yourself?” His voice still filled with shock as he came to terms with all this. Was that why her face had been filled with so much red? Did his sisters know of this? She claimed that she was doing this out of her own accord and he couldn’t think otherwise. She had been so unselfish so far, so to think any differently seemed taboo.

“I suppose it was the council that wanted the death penalty, then?” He slowly rose from the bed and came to the window and opened it. The breeze was strong and he could smell the impending rainfall that would come. Colden leaned against the window sill and looked across the city. “Why put yourself through my burden, Crystaline? I think you deserve far better than what I am capable of. Especially if it means a child of all things.” He turned to her, his eyes watching with uncertainty. This was a big deal and yet she didn’t seemed bothered by it. Why?

Author: Crystaline, Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2017 5:29 PM, Post Subject: Triumphant Return[P/R]

Crystaline smiled as he offered to help her. It was the first time he had done so since he showed up. It showed he was at least trying to do as she suggested and that being here had been good for him. “I got it. Believe it or not doing little things like this makes me feel more useful. It’s so I push myself so much. Everyone is out fighting wars, battles, and who knows what else and I have to stay here because I can’t see.” She chuckled a bit. “So I do what I can.”

There was a large fit of laughter from Crystaline as she had to steady her hands with the shears. “You were starting to smell a little. My nose is rather good compared to most people. You can say I can see things through scent sometimes… Just like how I can navigate by hearing better than most.” She thought she felt her face start to heat up just a bit as he said he was fine with whatever she brought. “That’s good. I’m not too sure what you like so I tend to bring whatever I can find.”

She smiled that the roses were fine and did the last few touches on them. “That’s good. Sometimes I can’t tell if I’ve ruined the petals or not when I’m holding them.” She moved to sit next to him and she put her hands in her lap as she listened to him speak.

“You are speaking a lot more to me now… That’s good.” She offered a smile in his direction. Honestly, she was at a loss for words for staying. “That doesn’t sound like a bad idea, me staying if it rains. Especially if it thunders, I don’t much like the thunder. Might be because my hearing is so sensitive. Or that the thunder and lightning storms around here shake the buildings a bit.” She chuckled more. “That must sound silly.”

She heard him take a bite of the pear and kept the smile on her face. It was good that he was eating now too. “That’s good, I should be able to get more of them for you. They grow on this little tree out in our night garden. I had to bug Liz to tell me how ripe it was though.” She laughed a bit as she thought of the look on Liz’s face.

“Not at all. I am ashamed to say I haven’t eaten anything all day. It’s a real problem when I get busy doing something.” She took the slice offered to her and munched on it quietly. “They are really sweet this time of the year. Towards the end of the season, they tend to get a tad bitter but not overly.”

She listened to him tell her a little bit about what his mother used to do and she frowned. “That’s sad. I know Lotus is a genuinely nice person underneath the front she puts up. She’s had to deal with a lot from what I know about her. It’s only been recently she’s been allowed home, though recent for us is going back a decade or so.” She waved her hand while she thought about it. “All my things are made especially for my sight problem, at least that’s what my mother tells me. They are made for your other sensories so I don’t miss out on much. Though I do still like asking what color things are.”

She could feel it when he started to tear up and while he tried to wipe it away she brought her hand up to feel his cheek and the dampness. “It’s alright to be happy Colden. I think we all cry in happiness.” She smiled at him before putting her hand down. “It’s no problem. Liz said that the gems on it are all different colors. She wouldn’t tell me how many different ones there were though because she didn’t want to count.” She chuckled.

She thought for a minute before smiling more. “Would you tell me what the sky looks like right now? The colors and such? I have a knowledge of what the colors look like but it helps if I can put them to things like the sky or your features.” She reached for the wine bottle and took something out of her hair for a moment. It was a gem pin. She twisted it just slightly before feeling the neck of the bottle feeling the cork. She jammed it in the center and paused. “Don’t tell my mother that I use the expensive pins she gets me to open things.” She laughed a bit more as she used a slight force to pull the cork out. She fixed the pin and put it back in her hair before grabbing the glasses. “One for you and one for me.” She put them steadily on the bed, it was more like a balancing act as she blew a soft breath. The wind magic swirled around the glasses keeping them upright as she felt the rims of the glasses and filled them up halfway. When she was done she placed the bottle back on the stand and picked the glasses up letting the wind magic go. “It’s a nifty trick I’ve heard my mother use.” She offered the glass to him now.

After he took it she sipped on the glass. “You don’t mind me being here do you?” Now that he was better she could ask that question. Before she knew what the answer would be. “I don’t have many people to be with when Liz is out of town and she is out of town often. I think she was only here recently because you were coming home.” She blushed a bit at that mention and let her fingers play with the edge of the glass.

“Has Kirika told you what she was able to get the sentence down to yet?” She could feel the heat on her cheeks as she turned her face away if only to save her the embarrassment of him seeing her face that red if it was indeed as red as it felt. “I doubt she wanted to put that on your mind while you were still very upset.” She mused as brought the glass back up and sipped it softly. “Everyone in your family that’s left is required to have a child in ten years,” she sounded a bit sad as she knew that Lotus especially hadn’t wanted kids.

“And they put a stipulation on you that it had to be with one of your cousins,” her voice was low. “Angela was all for you having one with one of her daughters.” Crystaline laughed, “but… I’ve been to all the court meetings since this started. You sounded like me. So, I offered to be the one. I think Aunt Toya spit all the whiskey she was drinking out. Maybe it’s because I don’t speak up often in the meetings. I am not being this way because I feel sorry for you or that I just want to help your sisters.” She wanted to curb that thought before it started.

“I really want to help you, Colden. You don’t deserve the harsh punishment the stupid council wanted. You deserve to be understood and loved. I do the things I do because I want to do them. It’s just how I’ve always been.”

Author: Colden Rose, Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2017 4:40 PM, Post Subject: Triumphant Return[P/R]

Colden glanced up from the book in time to see his sister and Crystaline come in. “Hello”, he spoke meekly to her. Before he would never had greeted her and it would take some time before he would even open his mouth, but at least he was opening up to her more. Closing the book, he gave her his undivided attention and watched her while shaking his head. “I could do that if you wish”, he offered, referring to the flowers she tended to. There was plenty of times where he had noticed that she pushed herself too far because she was too kind for her own good. Had she always been like that?

“Better, I suppose.” He took it one day at a time, but then again she of all people would know of that. It was still hard, but he was trying to do as Crystaline had advised him and think more optimistic. Perhaps one day he would find his calling, but for now he would work on bettering himself. “Bath, is that what they are calling it?” He couldn’t help but to roll his eyes at what had happened during that time. “Steele and Dante practically burst into here and dragged me into the waters and threw me in while some of the ladies had attacked me with soaps and oils. I can’t even recall the last time I bathed., to be honest. Suppose I’ve been stuck in here longer than I thought.” The rosenite had lost track of time since he first arrived here and aside from that fiasco that his brothers had done, he hadn’t left the room. His eyes met with the scars on her back and it wasn’t hard at all to figure out how that came to be. He frowned at the sight of them as he recalled it happening to her in her youth. He couldn’t imagine the pain she must have felt and still, she seemed so cheerful. “I’m fine with anything you bring me”, he replied before he slid on the bed so that he was sitting with his feet on the floor. “They were well kept, so yes they still look fresh, Crystaline.” He would have offered again to trim them for her, but he decided against it.

“It looks like it will rain after all. I peeked out there earlier and the clouds were rolling up. If it does rain…you can stay here. ” Retrieving the goods, he took a bite out of the pear and let its juices roll about his tongue. “I do especially like pears though. They are…my favorite.” Despite the fruit being meant for him, he took the apple and cut it into slices with a knife he had nearby and and brought up to her. “Here, taste this. I don’t feel like eating alone today, if you don’t mind.” 

He watched her as the gifts were presented, more of them from the other parts of their family. His aunts were all caring and wanting him to be strong and better, even his Aunt Toya’s encouragement felt like it came from a good place.

Colden was wearing a green shirt and black trousers, his hair trimmed neater though and his black hair had strains of white at the ends. Fortunately he smelled far better too, like lilies though that was likely because of the oils used on him. He sat straight up as he went through everything as she described them one at a time. “Been too used to receiving hand-me-downs and broken things from my mother. From what I’ve learned, Lotus would used to sneak me things every now and then until mother would find them and punish us for them.” He was grateful for what his family was trying to do- perhaps he wouldn’t have been so messed up in the head if his mother would have just disappeared entirely.

Taking the necklace, he started to tear up when she said that he was one of them after all, but he quickly wiped them away and draped it around his neck. When she presented the stone to him, he brought it up to his eyes and watch its gems sparkle before glancing over to her and allowing himself to smile a little. “Thank you.” He didn’t know if it really worked either, but he would cherish it all the same. Colden bite into the pear again and chewed in thought. Glancing towards the window, he could see the sky getting darker. It was a good thing that she had made it here prior. “Your sister was right. A storm is heading our way.”

Author: Crystaline, Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2017 11:08 AM, Post Subject: Triumphant Return[P/R]

Crystaline felt him roll away and she just nodded as he asked her to go. “Just remember you are loved, you belong here, and that it will get better.” Angela helped Crystaline home but the half angel made arrangements for the days coming so she could come and make him feel better. Even if he were to brood the whole time she would at least try. She had brought it upon herself to helping him even if the others wouldn’t, not that it appeared like they would leave him alone.
–

She brought him tons of little things every day. They weren’t expensive or extravagant gifts but little thoughtful things she thought would make him feel better. She had even gone out of her way to get a few of the roses from her mother’s garden for him. The vibrant shade of purple was among her favorites, and she knew this from the aura of people and from how the roses were described to her.

Kirika brought her into the room with the armful of flowers and a basket on her arm. “There’s a vase on the dresser Cry. Want me to get it?” Crystaline shook her head and smiled.

“I got it, it’s alright. I’ve learned the room now.” Kirika smiled at Colden and left Crystaline in the room with him. She stepped forward and put her arm out until she felt the edge of the bed. She placed the basket on it and took out some shears. “How are you feeling today?” She asked as she made her way over to the dresser that Kirika had spoken of. She felt around and her touch was gentle enough not to even move the vase as she found it.

She set the bundle of flowers down and felt the stem on them one by one and began to trim off the thorns. “I heard they gave you a bath. There were girls talking about it in town,” she chuckled a bit as she started to put them in the vase as she got done. “I brought you some more fruit. I think they are from Angela’s garden this time. There is a pear, an apple, a durian, and I didn’t know if you liked sour or bitter things so I put a lemon in there too. I asked and made sure that they were all ripe.” She finished cutting the flowers. “Do they all look alive still? I was terrified they would be starting to wilt by the time they got over here.” She frowned a bit as she found a pitcher of water and brought it over to fill the vase. Her fingers touched the vase and felt where the water line was by the way of the ceramic getting cooler as the liquid settled in.

She was dressed in a light summery halter dress that dipped far down her back. It dipped enough to show the deep scars she had, rigid and not smoothly healed like most of Angela’s healing. Her white hair was pinned and braided around the back of her head. Her purple court necklace was shimmering just a bit as she moved to come back over to the bed. “What’s the sky like today? Liz said it was a little cloudy earlier like it was going to rain. I haven’t smelled any petrichor so I was unsure if it had happened and I just didn’t notice or if it just moved past us. The birds have been oddly quiet today too like it would storm.” She mused softly as she sat down on the bed next to the basket.

She reached for it and handed him the fruit and pulled out a bottle of wine and two glasses putting them on the nightstand not far from where she was. “It’s from Aunt Angela. She said you could probably use it, though I wouldn’t drink it in misery. I think it tastes good.” She took out another box and put it by him. “Aunt Lily made you some sweets to help cheer you up… and Mother got you another book. I think it is written by the same person who wrote the one I gave you.” She took out the book and put it by him. “And… Aunt Toya gave you…” She tilted her head. “She gave you some words of encouragement?” She blushed a bit as she hesitated. “But Uncle Blaine put some dried meat in there since Aunt Toya was being mean again as a sorry. She really is loving she just has a hard shell and is a pain to deal with.” She waved her hand in Colden’s direction as if telling him not to put too much thought into it. "Aunt Toya said that she would teach you fire magic since Lotus told her you were using it. Not that you don't know how to conjure it but fire magic is Aunt Toya's expertise. I guess that was her way of giving a gift too. She also said that if you weren't a pansy like the rest of us she would take you out for a ride on Karith." She chuckled a bit at that. "Not that being in the sky would bother me but it is dangerous for me to do things like that now."

“And Liz brought back some dried seaweed from the market. It is actually good if you like that sort of thing. It is supposed to be good for you… Has a texture like the dried meat if you like the taste of sea salt. Grandmother Willow also wanted me to give you a new necklace.” She took it out and it was one that matched Kirika’s. “You are home and one of us so she thought you would like a new one.” She shifted around things in the basket and smiled a bit more. "I also got you something else though. It's supposed to be a charm for good luck and healing. At least that's what our cousin Nymphaea told me when she took me to the market." She mused as she pulled out a rather odd looking little stone. It was cut into the shape of a moon and made out of marble inlaid with some various little gems. She reached for his hand and when she finally found it she put it in and closed his hand. "I don't know if it works but it's the thought that counts, right?"

Author: Colden Rose, Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2017 9:32 AM, Post Subject: Triumphant Return[P/R]

Dull green eyes glanced over to his sister and then to Crystaline. Generosity given to him had been few and far in his life, not that he felt he deserved it. He just wanted to be left alone to stew in his wallows, but apparently that wasn’t going to happen between the two of them alone. But apparently his siblings would take their leave one way or another, leaving the room with only Colden, Crystaline and Aunt Angela. Though he was greatly depressed and felt like he was drowning in it, for a moment the young halfling to her hand against his and then at her face. He felt as though she did understand his pain and although she went through a similar experience, she didn’t seem to be like him. She had adapted and wasn’t brooding like he was. He had to let it go, but for him it was the hardest part to do. After everything he went through and put his family through. How could it be so easy to push all that aside? Even with all the time in the world, he felt like he could crumble apart at any waking moment.

“I just don’t know what to do now. I don’t know who I am. I’ve been fed lies and false beliefs the whole time. I was made to think my family hated me, that my mother was the only one that loved me. That I was cast out from the Court and was supposedly the heir. She said that I would prove myself if I did what she said and that I would survive the trial.” He felt himself falling apart as tear started to stream down from his eyes, his voice getting choked up as he struggled to keep the last bits of himself together. “She would have saw me go to it, knowing I would die and was willing to see it. That or if I had…hurt Kirika the way she intended…I would have died. They all would have died because of me. Moth…Cyprus may have been pulling my strings, but I was willing to let her.” He buried himself into his arms, slowly rocking back and forth. It was something he hadn’t done since his youth. She said that he could make up for his misdeeds and become better and stronger. Colden lifted himself up enough for one of his eyes to peek up at her.

“Perhaps. I don’t really know about this world enough to know what I can enjoy or not.”

He felt her hand growing tighter and he felt himself coming out of the darkness a little. Not a lot but enough to continue to listen to her. “I trusted her, loved her even no matter how malicious she was. I guess that I always wanted the approval that I would never get from her.” Soon he fell back into the bed and turn his back at her as he laid down. “I just…need to be by myself right now. Can you please leave me be?” Despite it, when he felt that he was alone, he reached for the plum that she had given him and took a bite of it, if only to settle his stomach from hunger.

—

Colden hadn’t came out of his room for days, not that it mattered because he would be frequently visited by Crystaline. Most of the time he contributed little to the conversation as she gifted him with more things each day. He had desired to be alone but each visit had slowly worked over his darkness. Bit by bit he was pulling away from his fractured mind and listened to what she said. He couldn’t fathom why she kept up with seeing him, heaven knows that the average person would have gotten annoyed with his stubbornness, or in Steele’s case, would have slapped him to kingdom come. When he was alone, he would observe her gifts, especially the wood toy he received on the first day. He made sure that it went undamaged and was careful in touching it. He still had no idea of who he was, but it wasn’t long before his brothers came and literally snatched him up and dumped him onto bathing waters, clothes and all and let the women tend to him.

His mind was healing and his physical state improved as well when he finally got into fresh clothes and even his eyes seemed to be returning to their vivid green hue. Around the time Crystaline was to visit him, he was sitting on his bed, reading the book she had left. 

Author: Crystaline, Posted: Sun Apr 16, 2017 11:54 PM, Post Subject: Triumphant Return[P/R]

Kirika tried to comfort him more. “All can be forgiven with time Colden. You were misled and used but your family still wants you here. I still want you here.” She thought about the things she had heard and she smiled. “Most of it was from Lotus. She told me that you were lost and didn’t know what you were doing. That you had been led astray and that maybe we could bring you home. That you wanted to kill me, but I think that has changed now.” She reached over and stroked his hair again.

“Sorry, sorry,” Crystaline told Colden as he pulled away. “It’s the only way I can see you, so to speak.” She continued to feel until she was content and sat down by him as she found the bed.

Eldora nodded, “I’ll show you the castle,” she took Steele out of the room and Lotus did a double take at Colden before following Dante out. She was attached to his arm as if she would lose him. Kirika said her farewell soon and Angela continued her work as they spoke to each other. She was quietly listening to the two of them.

For a while Crystaline just listened to him and she contemplated what to tell him. “I understand.” She moved her hand to find his free one and held it. She shifted on the bed so it was easier to have a conversation with him. Even if she couldn’t see she needed to face him so he could at least read her lips if he wanted. “Xavier tried to kill me to get our brother back because he found me to be too much of a pest. I do understand Colden. I’ve lost a lot of my joy in life especially when I lost my wings. It was the only part of me that I didn’t feel disabled about. I don’t have the wind anymore. At least not in the way I used to.”

She gripped his hand and thought about his words. “Not entirely, you have Willow’s blood in you and all the ones before your mother. They are certainly not cursed. Your blood doesn’t set your life path, Colden. You learn and adapt and grow as a person, not as your blood. It is true that we are predisposed to the personalities of our parents but we can grow past that. We can become something more. That is why good people have bad children… and bad people have wonderful children. You can still change and you can make up for all the wrong you’ve done. If Xavier were alive today I would forgive him if he could change. Living your life miserable is no way to go. We’re going to live a long time people like us… We need to try and enjoy and not live with regrets for as much as we can.”

She scooted back so her back was against the backboard. “We are all foolish and sometimes it takes us a while to learn. We learn by making mistakes. Your mother was cunning Colden. No one could see through that unless you had experience doing so. No one can fault you for that. You will grow and learn as a person from this and it will make you stronger. What matters is what you do from this moment on. You control your own destiny now. You’ll see that it does get better. Maybe not at first but it does.”

Author: Colden Rose, Posted: Sun Apr 16, 2017 11:30 PM, Post Subject: Triumphant Return[P/R]

He was awake, but he felt dead inside. It was hard to feel anything other than pain when he found out his life, his existence, had been a facade. All he knew was that everyone was trying to be friendly and kind to him even though he knew he didn’t deserve it. It made no sense to him just like how he wasn’t sure why Dante had a bit of a sour look on his face as he pouted. He looked to the one that was Kirika, this having been the first time he had met his little sister, the one he was suppose to do heinous, unspeakable deeds towards. Simply because their mother demanded it. He looked to her almost as if he could stare right through her and was taken back a bit when she hugged him. Why? It made no sense to him as to why she was being like this after everything he had sought to do to take what was rightfully hers. Perhaps this whole family was crazy after all, and not just him. He knew next to nothing of either Steele or Dante or anything of his other siblings from Xunatar’s side, now that he thought about it. All he knew was that from the looks of it, they were…somewhat close to his sisters. Glossy eyes looked on and narrowed ever so slightly because they went over to Angela when she noticed something. He had no time to react before his Aunt’s hand was directly inside him. She was right, it felt weird having a foreign object inside him, moving about until she found what she was looking for. A sharp gasp came from his mouth and then some moments later, she removed some sort of metal. Eldora filled them all in and Angela added to the information on this Demon Metal. “So, if we hadn’t known…”, Steele spoke, rubbing at his temples before Dante finished. “It was her final attempt to insult us. Damn, that woman is vile.” It did nothing to help Colden’s opinions on his life. If anything it made his temperament worse. He would have voiced that maybe the wretched thing should have just finished him off, but before he could say anything, Kirika introduced herself and attempted to comfort him. “Better? I don’t think I ever will. Not after all that I have done…” His eyes shifted back and lowered submissively. “Yes, I’ve heard of you though it had been tidbits here and there. Me? I can only imagine what was said.”

His drearily mood was starting to be a pain to Steele but then he stopped from grabbing the boy and shaking him when Dante turned around from someone bumping into him. When the name Crystalline came out, the latter perked up from getting embarrassed earlier, but Steele wouldn’t let him act like a fool. Not now. Colden hear the new voices, but didn’t bother to lift his gaze to see his newest visitors. Not until he felt one of them feeling his face and he pulled away a little but gave up really quick. There was no fight in him right now and he wasn’t sure if he ever would again. Cyprus’ betrayal and abused had cut him very deep. It was hard to trust anyone really and it was harder to forgive himself even when they could do so. Angela assisted in having him catch the plum she offered and he finally looked up. It didn’t take too long to see that she couldn’t see him. More things were given to him, and for the longest time he couldn’t fathom why she was being so generous to him. Had he been his former self, he would have tried to insult her to no end. Now, he couldn’t bring himself to be that cruel. Not anymore.

He couldn’t help but to wonder quietly to himself as to why she was trying to help him, like Lotus had asked.  Her answer was depressing, so much that Dante looked onto the girl and shook his head. But her tale seemed to serve a purpose- that no matter how break the world seemed, there were rays of sunshine somewhere. Steele took Eldora by the hand, “Come on, I think we should go ahead and see Bryony like promised.” Dante followed the cue and nudged at Lotus.“I think we need to step out for now. You can show me around too”, he said with a wink, suggesting more than what he was saying. The half demons would soon depart and Colden watched them with lackluster eyes before coming back to Crystalline. “My life has been a lie from the start. My mother was deranged and wanted to see me dead. She lied to me and sought to turn me against my family, all for her sick need to feel relevant.” He didn’t touch nor did he pull the gifts away from him. Right now he didn’t know what could be done. What was left for him in this world?
 
“The blood that runs through my veins makes me twice as cursed, twice as dangerous and twice as foolish.”

Author: Eldora, Posted: Sun Apr 16, 2017 4:03 PM, Post Subject: Triumphant Return[P/R]

“Why does everyone always assume I’m so old?” Angela sounded a tad offended as she glared at Dante. “Adraejen thought the same thing.” The goddess mused.

“You’ve just been around, famous enough, and have enough lore around you that people tend to forget you are only a few centuries old.” Lotus laughed a bit as she grinned at Dante. “Angela is only the second oldest sister. Cathrine is the first and her and Angela only have a few years between them.”

Angela watched Steele and nodded. “Tell me about it. Cyprus was the demon possessing my current husband Adraejen. The shock I had when I found that out… I was digging ethereal daggers out of his back for hours while he told me that.” She sighed a bit. “Cyprus was always too much work.”

Eldora squeezed Steele’s hand as she came up and under his arm and snuggled into his side. With the doll, Sularia wasn’t nearly as painful as it had been in the past. “Does Bryony expect me down in the lake?”

Angela worked a bit more and stared up for a moment. “Of course, all oracles must come home every ten years to bathe in the water. For you Eldora, it’s been decades. It might help your mind’s eye Child. Steele when you are done here… Can you take Eldora to the castle? From there Bryony will meet you and take you underground. If you are lucky Eldora might be able to give you a tour down there. Maybe. If not and she passes out, Bryony can bring you back here. It’s important.”

Eldora made a face and buried herself in Steele more taking in his scent. “I dislike it.” She clicked her tongue and Angela sighed. When Dante began to flirt with her Angela casually got up and came over to him. She was almost as tall as he was. She moved her hand and put it up under his chin.

“What a naughty man you have Lotus. One that matches your father almost. Daughters do love to find men that remind them of such. He has quite the likeness of Xunatar. Should I have been single I might have sought company of such a man.” Angela let Dante’s chin go as she reached for some medicine by them.

“Give up the harem life style huh?” Lotus chuckled.

“Oh, Adraejen is enough man for me now. Ever since we started to court my ungodly desire to screw every man has come down greatly. You can thank the sphere of Fertility for that. My need to reproduce is… lets just call it a life force. It is a show of power. The amount of madness in the world is Xunatar’s trophy. The amount of children and even children from my womb are my power trophy.” Angela chuckled at Dante though. “He is fine by the way. Aside from the rushing of blood to certain areas… That is.” Lotus snerked at that comment and Angela went back over to Colden.

Kirika gasped as she came over to Colden and hugged him tightly. “Oh, Colden! No one told you?” Her blue eyes looked at him with concern. Angela pryed the younger sister off her brother.

“For god's sake girl let me do my job.” Kirika pouted as the goddess made her back off. “And never. As long as you follow the guidelines we have. Kirika told us if you were sentenced for execution we would have to kill her as well. We aren’t about to do that.” Angela booped Colden’s nose. “There is a punishment but we’ll tell you later. For now…” Angela felt his chest and his sides and she frowned greatly.

“What?” Lotus about jumped now as she seen the serious look.

“I’m going to have to get inside of Colden.” Eldora went to reach for her dagger and offer it but Angela shook her head. “My god girl… Do you ever not want to use that thing?” Angela was clearly used to Eldora and her solutions. “I’m a god of earth, which includes the healing artes.” She shook her head and Angela plunged her hand ethereally into Colden’s body. “This is going to feel weird.” She was chasing something as she moved from side to side. “This will probably hurt by the way.” she gave the warning a bit too late as whatever she was chasing was trying to rip his insides apart. “AH HA” She pulled out a wiggling shard of metal.

“What the fuck is that?!” Lotus yelled.

“Demon metal,” Eldora exclaimed as she came over to look at it. “I’ve heard about it but I’ve never seen it. It is a living piece of metal that infects the host. It was most likely put into Colden when Mother sent the message to me.”

Angela frowned a bit and threw the worm-like metal. Soon it was exploding and the powder lit on fire. “That’s what I think of demon metal. I saw enough of that stuff during the Godslayer War. Demon metal doesn’t get its name because it was made by demons but from the way, it slowly takes over and destroys the body. Believe it or not, it was developed by an Angelic society as a method of torture. It was deemed too heinous. Pieces of it still float around the markets.”

She got the salves and began to apply them. “Tell me where your insides hurt kid,” She pushed on different parts of his body until she had him covered where it needed to be. “Girl, why don’t you introduce yourself to your brother before you smother him?”

Kirika blushed a bit and nodded as she came over to sit by Colden. “I’m your little sister Kirika. I’m sure you heard a lot about me. They told me all about you too Colden.” She reached over and brushed Colden’s hair out of the way. “We’re going to get you all better… alright?” Kirika was the loving one out of the three sisters even compared to Lotus.

“Excuse me,” someone bumped into Dante. “Oops.” The voice was highly angelic and bell-like as a hand came up and touched his back and then Lotus’s.

“Cry, you need to be more careful,” an annoyed voice followed her.

“Hello, Liz and Crystalline. Coming for a visit?” Angela said softly as she continued her work without looking up.

“I tried to talk her out of it. She would have gotten lost had she come here by herself… and she is incredibly stubborn for someone who can’t see.” Liz huffed, she had the scent of lupine blood on her, unlike her sister. They both had long tresses of white but Liz more lithe where Crystalline was curvaceous. Liz was taller than that of Crystalline though as she helped Crystalline maneuver around the small group of people.

“I just wanted to make sure that Colden was alright.” Crystalline pulled away from her sister’s guide and Liz had an annoyed look on her face and brown eyes as she did so. The cloudy crystal like blue eyes peered around the area as if she were taking it in even if she couldn’t see. She had a basket full of fruits and other things. She took her hand and slowly made her way around the room so she could feel the faces. “Hello Lotus,” she started and she was puzzled at Dante. “Hello Eldora,” and then she was puzzled again at Steele. “And Aunt Angela and Kirika..” She ended it with putting the basket down and feeling at Colden’s face. She was expecting him to jump but she felt his face for long periods of time. “Liz,” Crystal cooed at her sister.

A scoff came from her sister. “I am not your translator. I’m hardly qualified to be your babysitter.” The half-wolf crossed her arms. There was a pout from the blind one before the older sister gave in. “He has tanned skin like everyone here. Black hair and his eyes are green like Aunt Angela’s and Mother’s. The first brother you felt has a blue like Itjivut Snowbelle petals and his hair is like freshly fallen snow. The second brother you felt has black hair and the same blue eyes as the first. Anything else?”

Crystalline mused a bit and reached into the basket. She was looking for something and Liz stepped forward to help her. “I got it, Liz,” the angel was reassuring as Liz sighed. “Here,” Crystalline held out what looked to be a plum. “They taste good and when you eat them they make your aura shimmer a bit.” She felt around a bit on the bed and Angela knocked Colden’s hand over as if helping her out without saying anything. Crystalline looked pleased as she found it and took up his hand to put the plum in.

“I’m going to go… Can you bring her home when she is done here?” Liz asked and when Angela nodded Liz took off from the house.

After a few minutes, Eldora spoke up. “What was up with her today. Normally she isn’t a bitch about helping you.” The bluntness of her words made Crystalline flinch.

“It’s the anniversary of Coriko’s death this week. She has been in a foul mood.” Crystalline answered and smiled. “She will get better eventually. My sister normally isn’t so abrasive but her son died not too long ago. They got stuck in a void storm in Parvpora and she couldn’t get him home. He died of illness.” Angela frowned a bit and nodded. It was a shame as Coriko had been a beautiful child. Crystalline looked happy as she reached into the basket and pulled out a book. “This is my favorite. It cheers me up when I get down.” She put the book in Colden’s lap.

“Why are you so eager to help?” Lotus spoke up a bit concerned about the angel’s intentions.

Crystalline’s fingers retracted from Colden’s hand for a moment or two. “Well, when I was a girl my twin–”

Eldora cut her off. “You don’t have to tell her if you don’t want to.” Eldora understood the pain the girl was about to share.

“It’s alright I don’t mind. I was going to tell Colden anyways. When I was a girl my brother Kai, he was Liz’s twin, died. My twin brother Xavier wanted Kai back so badly. My mother had gone back to Arri to deal with what Cyprus was doing so we lived in the forest together. Just Xavier and I, we had so much fun together. I’ve been blind since I was three but Xavier had always taken care of me. He taught me how to fly.” The clear lack of wings on the girl made Lotus dip over to look at her back. Maybe she was hiding them? “He taught me… how many trees were in a row from our house… where the roots were so I wouldn’t trip. Everything.” She frowned a bit. “I didn’t know that he was creating a surge of happiness in me so that angelic life force were in my feathers. It was really dark where he had me, I don’t remember how I got there.” Angela scoffed a bit and Crystalline jumped at the noise. “He tore my wings off and drained the blood and magic to bring Kai back. Said it was too much to take care of me and Kai would be worth being alive more than myself. I was sad and broken. Angela came and she healed me up the best she could. My wings had been separated from my body for too long for her to put them back on and by the time that she had found me… Whatever creature Xavier had spawned had killed him too.”

“She was holding on by sheer will. I took her in. We come from DaeLuin you know. At least a part of me does. There I was known for my healing skills but not on a godly level like now. I couldn’t piece things back together like I can now. I couldn’t heal her completely. I took her in and helped her live again. The best that I could anyways. Xavier was broken for some reason. I knew their father and he had this side of him that could be like Cyprus. It scared me to see it but I was so busy. At the time I was only mortal. I was helping run a guild, my potion shop, my children, I couldn’t make the journey to check on Crystalline as often as I should have. It was by some miracle that Bryony came to me and told me about it. I found her in a pool of blood almost drowning in it. I’m sure the blood wasn’t just hers.”

Crystalline nodded. “That’s why I want to help Colden. Because I do know.” She reached back into the basket and pulled out a small wooden toy. “Liz made this for when I was really young. She was already an adult and out on her own when I was born so I never got to hear from her much. She made this for me so I wasn’t ever alone or scared.” She put that with Colden too. “I can’t see it but I like that it’s there. And I can see just not in the way others do. I don’t do it all the time though because it makes me tired… but I can see your auras. You are so sad, Colden.” Her blue eyes peered at him now. “No one should be that sad. It takes time though. It took me a long time especially since we were twins. Twins have this connection to each other. There was a story once about how when you would kill one twin the other would feel the pain of it. Sometimes I wonder if Xavier felt what he was doing to me or if he cared.” She reached again for the basket and pulled out some lavender. "Lavender will help relax you too." She put that on his lap.

Author: Colden Rose, Posted: Sun Apr 16, 2017 3:01 PM, Post Subject: Triumphant Return[P/R]

Colden was out for most of the journey. Inwardly however, he continued to struggle with what was going on and what happened. The darkness shaded and seemingly comforted him but at the same time it drained as well. He could feel himself growing more numb by the second. What was left for him here? He had all but betrayed his family and sought for delusional dreams that would never come to be. Steele carried the lad through the streets of Arri while Dante walked alongside Lotus, cozening up to her to chase away her worries about Colden as they made their way through the city. Of course there was a problem here- this was the first time Dante had been in Arri and as he gazed about the place, surrounded by beautiful women as far as the eye could see, he couldn’t help but to feel like he was in paradise. He looked to Lotus and teased at her with his eyes. Despite it all, he still loved her. Steele paid close attention to Eldora, remembering that she had not been around this place for too long for a reason. “We don’t have to stay for too long”, he reassured her, worried about her safety before they reached the manor.

The moment the door flew open and a stunning redhead came out. Oh, she had Dante’s attention, front and center and Steele could only shake his head. “I think that’s Angela, you idiot.”

“And? You know how I am with older women…”, he clicked his tongue loud enough for only his brother to hear before setting eyes back on her again.

“Yes, dealing with a demon like your sister had became is surprising time consuming.” He adjusted himself with Colden still on top of him as they were lead inside the house. Reaching their room, the elder half demon finally set his brother onto the bed and stepped back to watch the goddess at work. His hand sought for Eldora while she hid behind him, squeezing hers back for support.

Colden didn’t know what was going on around him or where he was. When he was stirred awake, he immediately rose up to a sitting position and then looked about with a somewhat crazed look as he came to terms with where he was. “Oh good, prince charming has awakened”, Dante said smoothly with a smile. The young one looked at him and then looked blankly in front of him. “Well now that he is awake, I think I do need some tending too”, he said, referring to Angela’s recent question. Steele stomped on his foot which made him shut his mouth real quick. Colden lowered his head and for a while was silent before he uttered one question.

“When is my execution?”

Author: Eldora, Posted: Sun Apr 16, 2017 1:58 PM, Post Subject: Triumphant Return[P/R]

There was something about the way Colden dissolved into the little boy that she had known again. As much as she had promised and wanted to run away with Dante Lotus found herself at ends with herself. Luckily Dante had noticed and she gave him a soft smile as they went with the group. They could always run away together. Always.

The trip to Arri was fast and Eldora had the doll out now as they stepped foot into the hot weather. It was barely afternoon in Sularia. The sun was at its peak and Eldora groaned as she pulled Steele to her and huffed up at Lotus. “We’re going, we’re going.” Lotus pet Eldora’s hair as they walked through the crowded streets.

The merchants were yelling their wares and the children, mostly girls, were playing in the gardens. This was home and this was what they went to protect. The gold and silver roads diverted into darker bricks as they made their way into the Black Court district of the city. It wasn’t depressing as normal. People were hanging out their windows watching them. Lotus rubbed the back of her neck as she saw the glare from Eve, at least she wouldn’t be killed today.

The giant dark stone manor that sat on the edge of Sularia could be seen before they even got there. It was etched with glowing blue stone. The manor absolutely was gorgeous and the work that was done on it even had Lotus’s jaw dropping. “I didn’t think Kirika had remodeled that far. It looks great.” Lotus spoke to Eldora who was huffing and puffing. The doll was glowing as it kept the weight of the spirits off of her. “Eldora did you hear me?”

“Yes, I heard you. I heard all of it.” Eldora went spastic for a moment before she took a deep sigh and centered herself. Lotus frowned and knew that Eldora was maybe suffering from coming home. They got to the doors of the manor and they were flung open by Angela. The goddess was beautiful as usual.

“You took your sweet time getting your brother here.” She stared at both sisters and then Xunatar’s children. “Mind you he can’t die but that doesn’t mean anything in him can’t effect him. I’ve made a room up.” Kirika was standing behind Angela as she peaked around at them while they got chastised.

“Yes, yes we’re sorry we took so long.” They followed Angela and Kirika up the grand staircase and down one of them any hallways. They found the room had been decorated for Colden and Angela motioned for Colden to be put on the bed.

“Honestly, this boy has been a pain,” Angela muttered as she went about stripping him of everything from the waist up. There was a table of several herbs and premade remedies. Most likely that was what Angela had been doing while she waited for them to arrive. “His mind is a damn mess… his hand has been stabbed and crudely healed,” Angela glared at Eldora who hide behind Steele now. “It was a good attempt.” Eldora took a sigh of relief.

“Is he alright Angela?” Kirika was concerned as she stood by her siblings now.

“Deranged isn’t the word I’m looking for… but his world was built on a bunch of lies and not he doesn’t have that. His treatments are going to be similar to Toya’s. Except… he will probably be more willing. Did you discuss my proposal?” Angela looked up at Kirika and the Black queen was blushing just a bit.

“I actually think Crystaline will be able to help more than we first realized. It wasn’t too long ago that she was in a similar spot.” Kirika mused. “That might help more than whatever it is you do to Toya.”

“Now now. What I do to Toya is humane. It’s getting her there that isn’t. She fights me tooth and nail every time we have to go do it.” Angela reassured the group. “Time to wake him up.” She put her hands on either side of Colden’s head. “Colden, wake up now. Your siblings are here and I’m here too. We’re in Sularia.”

From there Angela needed him awake so she knew where to put the salves and ointments. “Are the rest of you fine? Steele? Dante? What about you?” She did love her goddess powers.