Married For Magic

Chapter 5: Misfortune

Antonio sat stoically at his desk, alternating between rubbing his temples and clutching his scarred chest. He couldn't remember the last time it had hurt this badly, he wondered if it was a result of all the excitement of the day before. Antonio let out a small sigh and leaned forward in his seat, even with the pain distracting him from his work, he found his mind was more or less preoccupied with thoughts of Dahlia. He had slept so well with her soft hair nestled beneath his chin, and her delicate chest rising and falling against his own. In fact if it hadn't been for the abrupt pain in his chest waking him this morning, he might've stayed in bed asleep with her wrapped in his arms all day. Instead, Antonio found himself staring wistfully out the window making a meek attempt at signing a few time sensitive documents. Work had been brutal lately, there are few things about being a Duke that Antonio found pleasant, and clerical work was definitely not one of them. He sighed yet again and leaned back in his smooth leather chair, rubbing his hands through his hair and gazing lazily about the room.

The country side estate lacked the warmth and buzz of the main estates. It was gorgeous, no doubt, but the small staff size and its inconspicuous placement nestled in the woods meant there were few events and even fewer visitors. Antonio found himself yearning for the pleasant distraction of passerby's in the corridor, or elected officials dropping by unannounced for a mid day cigar. Simple as it were, he lived for those meaningless distractions. They provided a pleasant digression from his usually solemn mind. It was this particular thought that caused him to realize that last night may have been the first time in years that he had genuinely laughed, or rested. And it was certainly the first time in years he'd felt the pleasant company of a woman.

He sighed aloud. Despite his rather devious reputation, he had found little success with women over the years, and even less with wives. Almost all of them had been either repulsed or frightened by the pulsating scar on his chest. He found himself wondering if perhaps Dahlia's ignorance to magic had been the reason she'd so willingly accepted him. Was it possible that she didn't know any better? Magical scars were rarely discussed in proper company, and held a particularly nasty stigma amongst the elite. Antonio had done a rather exceptional job keeping the existence of his own scar a secret, at the behest of his family of course. Magical scars were unpredictable at best, and toxic at worst. When he'd first acquired his, he had been examined by every revered magical doctor and healer in the country. All of them had determined that his scar posed no risk to anyone but Antonio himself. Though they couldn't say exactly what was causing the pain, or how the scar would progress.

Over the years, the scar had grown slightly and still caused Antonio some occasional pain, but never as badly as today. Antonio cursed himself for lying to Dahlia last night. He should've known it would come back to haunt him. In his eagerness to claim his new bride, he hadn't wanted to burden or upset her with idea of him being in pain. Now of course, he'd have to somehow hide his growing discomfort or confess to his doe eyed bride that he had in fact lied to her on their wedding night.

Antonio rose to his feet and began to pace the length of the office. He rubbed his chin, deep in thought. It was starting to dawn on him, that he had a wife to consider and care for now. He truthfully hadn't expected to make it this far. For all he knew, he could have an heir on the way already. A wave of panic washed over him all at once. Was he equipped to handle a family? Wealth and status aside, he wasn't sure he possessed the appropriate sensitivities to nurture a wife and child. He'd like to think himself capable of it, but his family had never been close, or kind for that matter. Everything in his family centered around wealth, status, and most importantly magic. Which placed Antonio at the bottom of the totem pole, despite being the eldest of three siblings. When he was young he had possessed a great deal of magical potential, but as he'd aged, for some inexplicable reason, his magic had begun to flicker and fade. And after he'd been scarred, well his magic all but disappeared. Antonio reached up and undid the collar on his button down. He was beginning to feel suffocated, sweat beaded on his forehead, and his jaw clenched involuntarily. Suddenly a piercing pain shot through his chest, forcing him to his knees in the center of the room. He groaned, clutching at the front of his shirt. A curt knock at the door cut through the sounds of his labored breathing and groaning. He attempted to call out, or rise to his feet, but found it impossible to do so. Elise's voice rang through the door.

"My Lord, your wife is here to see you! She's been to the seamstress and is quite eager to debut her new dress for you."

Antonio looked towards the door, his vision slightly blurred. Still he found himself winded and unable to speak. The panic and pain in his chest growing with the imminent threat of his new bride discovering him in such a state.

"My Lord?" Elise's voice sounded concerned, albeit slightly annoyed. A few seconds passed before he heard an indignant huff, and the sound of the door being pushed open.

"My La- Dahlia, please wait! Lord Bailey may be working still!" Elise's shrill tone followed the sound of Dahlia brazenly storming into the room.

"I expected to find my husband in bed with me this morning, not holed up in some dusty office working our honeymoon away. I have half a mind to -"

Dahlia stopped abruptly, her breath hitching in her throat as she surveyed the scene. Antonio tried to hide his face, turning weakly away from the door, but his position on the floor gave far too much away. Elise let out a terrified squeal and Dahlia rushed to kneel at Antonio's side, pulling his face towards her.

"What's wrong, are you hurt? Look at me." Dahlia was gentle, and calm. But her tone was stern, and clearly laced with concern. She peered into Antonio's eyes, her brow furrowing in what appeared to be focus more than panic. Antonio tried to meet her gaze, his vision still steadily blurring. Dahlia lifted his wrist to his chest, seemingly taking his pulse and checking his breathing all at once.

"Elise, please call a doctor immediately. Preferably one who specializes in magic. Hurry."

Elise barely nodded before rushing out of the room. Dahlia gently pulled Antonio further onto the floor, forcing him to lie straight with his head resting in her lap. She slipped a hand through his unbuttoned shirt and placed it directly on his bare chest. Antonio murmured incoherently, her cool touch soothing him ever so slightly.

"It's okay, I've got you now. Just breathe, that's it. Just focus on breathing..."

Antonio blinked up at her, she was beautiful even in his blurred vision. She looked like an angel bathed in the soft light that streamed through the window. Her voice seemed to get farther and farther away as he watched her. He tried to speak, to tell her how perfect she looked, but his words melded together as his vision darkened and he slowly slipped out of consciousness.