Legion [Book II]

No More Running

*One Month Later*

                                                                              --Addeline POV--

Exhaustion. That's the only word I could use to describe every muscle and joint in my body. I plop down onto the grass of the courtyard, my head heavy. The days passed in a blur, me training harder each day than the day before, anything, anything to get my mind off Luka. It seemed like no matter what I did, I couldn't shake the thought of him, his eyes as blue as the tide of the purest beach. My heart ached. Is that even possible? For your heart to ache for someone who you hardly knew. I roll my eyes. That was a lie. I knew him. In all the ways in which people spend years trying to connect, we did, I knew him. He was mine, and what pained me more is the realization that I was his. 

I MISS THE HUMAN

Legion's voice hummed at me. She'd been asking for him since the day I decided to walk away. I look up at the sky, attempting to hold in tears. "Please don't do this to me today." Not today. I didn't want to cry today. I'd given my best friend away, a constant reminder of all the things I would ultimately have to sacrifice anyway. "I've been training...I've agreed to let you take over, to let you have everything. Just please don't do this today."

THAT'S NOT WHAT I-

"Are you alright?" Pink hair blocked my view of the sky, and a pair of bright eyes tinkled at me in concern. "Hey Jamie, yes I'm okay." I say smiling softly while rising. "What are you doing here?" Jamie bit his bottom lip. His eyes dancing wildly. 

"I asked if I could come visit Ive."

"Ive?" I asked tilting my head. In the distance I could see my little brother cautiously walking towards us. After a moment he joined looking the most perplexed out of all of us. "What's happening?" He asked, his eyes rotating from Jamie to me. "I don't know, your sister was screaming at herself so I was worried." For the first time in a month, I laughed. A hard, uncontrollable laugh. I knew I must have looked insane, but I couldn't help it. 

"I wasn't talking to myself, I was talking to Legion." Jamie's eyes widened. "Wait! you can hear it?" I nodded and smiled. "She doesn't like to be called it by the way." Jamie shot me a quick apologetic look, and I smile again. "It's alright." That seemed to perk him up, his pink curls bouncing in the wind. "I'm glad you're okay...Ive, I'm going to find frogs..coming?" Ivan nodded as we watched Jamie skip towards Magical Fall. "You two seem close." Ivan's cheeks reddened. "It's nice to have a friend." I looked at my brother. His face holding so much emotion in. 

"It's nice to be seen for Ivan and not as a mutt."  My nostrils flared. "Who the f**k called you that?" Ivan hung his head low. "It's fine Addy really." I wanted to scream. Nobody messes with my little brother. I don't care what they say about me, but Ivan had a heart of gold, he didn't deserve to be treated like that.

 "They're just afraid Addy."

"That doesn't make it right."

"No, it makes it normal...and I'm not normal..I'm...I'm different." The storm in Ivan's eyes was unreadable. My little brother, who was far beyond his years, the responsible one, who carried the weight of expectations in a way I secretly admired. "You're perfect...and anybody who says different can get their ass kicked." Ivan gave me a bashful look, his small horns protruding proudly at the compliment. "Now go play with your little friend." He nodded and turned to leave, but stopping abruptly. "I'm glad you're my sister Addy." My heart catches in my chest as I watch Ivan run away.

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                                                            --Addeline POV--

After a brief shower and clothing change, I vanished to meet Rumy in the Light Realm. She'd said she had something to show me, and to be honest, I could use the distraction. 

"Hey Rumes what the surprise?" My mouth immediately drops open as I take in the scene. Gorgeous flowers and plants line a made garden. Different shades, sizes, colors, flowers I'd never seen before in my life. Their rich smell and fragrance heightened every sense. On some of the flowers, I could see the small bodies of faeries as they worked to take care of the exotic succulents. It was stunning, and even more, standing in the mist of it, with a crow on one shoulder, and a long stemmed red rose in her hand, Rumy looked like a dark angel. The glee written on her face was unmeasurable.

"Do you like it?"

"Rums...you did all this." She shook her head excitedly. "The Light Realm need more flowers for Fairy dust collection, so I managed to convince them to incorporate all types of flowers from each of the different realms. We weren't sure if they would coexist successfully but they have!" I'd always knew Rumy had a gift, she was kind, thoughtful and could find a solution to anything, but this was on another level.

 "Rumy...this is amazing..you're amazing."

"That she is." Elder Bedivere said joining us. I shot him a small smile. "Good to see you Elder Bedivere." He nodded. "..I told him that you were sad about having to ditch your boyfriend and that I was inviting you here!" I gave Rumy a devilish glare. She's told the Elder about Luka? I was going to kill her. "Don't look at me like that...I told you it was dumb in the first place. You like him, he likes you...go for it!" I wanted to ring her neck. Did she ever stop talking?

"Rumy you had no right-"

"I'm actually glad you're here..we need to talk." Elder Bedivere said interrupting my tyrant. 

Of course

I think to myself in annoyance. "I think it's time you cut distractions out of your life." I was confused. What the hell was he talking about? " You're approaching your 21st birthday, and with it comes real responsibilities...you can't have certain people pulling you away from that. Today was just an example of which I speak." Elder Bedivere looked from me to Rumy his purple eyes glaring. Rumy looked down at the ground. After a few seconds it hit me, he was talking about her. My face reddened and my nostrils steamed.

"With all due respect Elder you can't tell me who I can and can't be friends with." My voice hitched and I searched Rumy face which never left the ground. Was she buying this?

"Be upset with me all you want child. Having her around is not good for you. She's all over the place and she brings that same flighty response out in you. "

"I-" Rumy looked up from the ground at me, her eyes with tears in them. "I'm sorry...I didn't even think about it..maybe..maybe he's right....I shouldn't have taken you away from training today." My balance faltered, and I shifted my weight to stand. She was listening to him.

"RUMES! How could you even say that. You're not a distraction, you're my best friend and you're good for me!" I was furious. I turned to Elder Bedivere with clenched teeth. "I'm so sick of people telling me what's good for me. I KNOW WHAT'S GOOD FOR ME! I may not have it all figured out, but I'm trying and Rumes is one of the few in my circle who genuinely pushes me to be better. Look at what she's done here! For you! She might be flighty, but she's strong, brilliant, kind and thoughtful. All the things I strive to be because I have a first hand example of what it looks like. You don't get to decide what's best for me, I MAKE THAT DECISION."

"Perhaps, your human friend deserves the same courtesy." Elder Bedivere said lowly, his eyes sparkling.

"Wha-" Both Rumy and I say together, stopping short when we hear him laugh. It was a low rumble, that rose through me like music. "You children are always so willing to martyr yourselves when no one asked you to." He walked away from us, and admired the garden. "From what Rumy tells me...this human had brought out things in you for the better, and I have the inkling, you've done the same for him. Maybe...and this isn't a request but a suggestion, give him the same courtesy to make his own decisions that you so eloquently demanded I give you." Elder Bedivere walked towards me, his claws extending to softly touch my face. "Now, this is a request. Don't walk away from something that makes you happy, out of fear. Tell him the truth...whatever happens, you face it. No more running." His purple eyes bore into mine, and filled me with warmth.

"I can't believe you played us like that Elder B." Rumy said mockingly. "Hey..even an old dog knows a few tricks." Laughter erupted through the garden as Rumy held onto Elder Bedivere tightly. No wonder everyone loved him so much. He was amazing.