Blood Magic's Bond

Ch 24: The Fantasy's End

Time moves on. No matter the magic one possesses, or the desires or wishes for it to stop, it is of a singular mindset; to continue forward despite all obstacles or pleas. And thus, the sun rose.

Light crept through the little window above Astasha's workshop, and despite her and Calder's desperate desire for it to crawl back behind the world, it smiled its bright face and called to them of the future they did not wish to come.

As slivers of daylight crept into the room,Tasha curled herself deeper into Cal's arms. She nuzzled her face into the crook of his neck and pleaded with the Gods and Goddess to grant them more time. But she knew they wouldn’t.

His fingers slowly trailed along her back, his lips pressed into her hair.

There was a nervous anticipation, not of excitement this time, but of dread. It flowed between them, each moment, one closer to their last. Neither knew what to say, or do, but it felt as though a part of them was slowly being hewn away.

Astasha refused to be anything other than completely in the moment with him, feeling every fiber of his energy, of his emotions, of him. And so, she was unaware of the presence of someone approaching her door, until at last, a quiet but obvious knock broke the silence.

And so the dream ended. Their last night together was officially over, and she was no closer to making peace with what had to happen than she had been before it had begun.

She dug her face deeper into his chest as his grasp tightened around her.

“Prince Calder, the King has requested your presence in the War Room immediately, My Lord.” The voice was soft and apologetic, no doubt a servant sent by his father to rouse them from their sweet escape and remind them of his bargain.

But neither moved, as if by holding still they could prolong the inevitable.

There was silence for a moment before the knocking sounded again. "My Lord?"

Astasha's heart began to splinter. She knew it wasn’t the servant’s fault, but she wanted to damn them to hell nonetheless. "You have to go." She whispered.

He kissed her hair. "I know."

“This isn’t fair.” She clung to him as if by doing so everything would suddenly change.

He tightened his arms around her. “No, no it’s not.” Sighing loudly, he finally released her from his grasp and slipped out of the bed. Pulling his trousers on, he went to the door and opened it just enough to address the small servant standing outside. “Tell the King I will be there shortly."

The young boy looked shocked to actually see the Prince, shirtless, in the bed-chamber of a member of the Royal Magic Advisory at first light, almost as if he believed the whole thing to be some kind of a prank. He knew better than to make remarks on whatever it was he saw though, so he simply bowed his head.

"Y-yes Your Highness."

And with that, he scurried away and Calder shut the door.

Astasha sat up, hugging her knees to her chest, a sheet wrapped around her. "I know we don't have a choice, but I don't know how to let you walk out that door." She looked defeated. More so, he could feel defeat within himself that he knew was coming from her.

Crossing the room, he sat next to her, running his hand down her cheek before lifting her chin with his fingers to look into her eyes. "We simply pretend that I'll be back here with you again tonight. We tell ourselves that I'm going off to take care of my duties for the day, and that I'll be back in time to kiss you goodnight and hold you in my arms as you sleep."

If only that were true. Tasha knew she had to be strong, not just for herself, but for him. She wasn’t the one who had to actually walk out the door, return to his life as the Prince of Trenue, as if none of this had happened. And so she tried to convince herself of the lie, convince herself that he truly would return to her with the setting sun, but despite her attempt, it didn’t make the truth hurt any less. Still, she forced a weak smile and a small nod.

They stared into each other's eyes, neither of them wanting to break the moment. And for a minute, it seemed as though neither of them would be able to. She would take every second she could get with him after all. But another knock made Astasha cringe and forced a sigh from Calder's lips.

"Sorceress Astasha?” It was Helia. “I’m sorry for disturbing you, but Errant has sent me to help try to reinforce the demon’s trap. He was quite insistent that it couldn’t wait any longer."

Tasha closed her eyes. Of course he had sent someone to make sure the King’s deal was followed. The Grand Sorcerer wasn’t about to give them more time together than he had to.

This truly was it… the end of the fairy tale, and there would be no happily ever after.

Life was cruel.

Cal brushed a strand of hair from her face, and she opened her eyes to look at him.

"I love you more than the moon loves the stars in the night sky." He said, and he leaned forward to kiss her. It was gentle and soft but filled with all the things he couldn't say, all the things he wanted her to know, and she wished for it to last forever.

But at last he pulled away and stood.

She watched as he put his shirt on and a part of her wanted to grab him and pull him back onto the bed, to refuse to let him leave. Nothing good would come from that though, so she forced herself to get up and find a gown, slipping it on as she fought back the tears she so desperately wanted to weep.

Once she was done, Cal took her hand in his, and together they approached the door, stopping to face each other one last time.

"We will find a way to be together again, my love." He whispered, leaning his forehead against hers.

"I'll always be with you." She whispered back, touching his wrist where the tethering spell was tied.

“And I you.” His hand touched the scar on her chest over her heart.

They kissed a slow deep kiss and then Calder opened the door.

Helia stood behind it, a look of pity appearing on her face. "Your Majesty," She said, bowing her head slightly.

"Sorceress." He responded. His hand was still linked with Tasha's and he turned to look at her, raising it to his lips. "I love you." He said before kissing her palm, his icy blue eyes looking deep into her soul. And then his hand slipped from hers and he turned and walked away before she could muster the breath to respond.

“I love you too.” She whispered. And with that, he was gone, and the fantasy was over.