Behind the Mask

23. Saving the future

Mel

“Let’s not waste any time. We have to know everything,” Liv said, looking between Elric and Maximus. Avalon still had her engulfed in his embrace. 

“Yes, you all do and I don’t intend to keep it from you,” Elric said, his voice was gloomy. once again 

“I’m tired of words, the spoken and unspoken ones. Don’t tell us, but rather show us everything,” I told them. 

I was too emotionally tired to have to face one more hardship, but I better face it with my eyes open and my head up. No more staying in the dark

Elric nodded. “We can show you everything. I’ll only talk to the guards to reinforce security and make sure no one was harmed.”

I looked at Avalon, we also had to look after our people.  

“We will take care of our people and the security, and cancel the Olympic Games,” Avalon suggested. 

“No, we can’t cancel it. This way we will show them that we are afraid, that they have the power. These games are to celebrate peace and the union of the peoples of the Six Realms. We have to continue it, we have to show people that we as their kings and queens will protect them and ensure peace. Besides that, these nutcases have a clear target, hybrids and there is only a handful of us in the Realms, okay… maybe two handfuls,” Liv said. 

I was so proud to see my daughter putting her people first and being the amazing queen she is. 

“I fully agree, Liv,” Elric said with a small smile. I knew he was also very proud of Liv and what they achieved together, this Olympic Games. 

Avalon exhaled sharply and pulled Liv to his arms further. 

“This is the right thing to do as a king, but not as a mate and father, Liv. You and our baby come first,” Avalon said. 

“I will always be around one of my strong, delicious men, so I will be safe. Not that I need to, I have my own fire, but I know it will help you to sleep at night,” Liv told him, with a cheeky smile. 

“Lea, you and our pup aren’t safe here,” Richard told her.

“We can always be surrounded by the three of you. I have to be here today, for the opening at least, for our people, Richard,” she said, rubbing his arm in a soothing way and he nodded. 

“I’ve mind-linked Argos and Lysander, let’s go somewhere Mel can perform the memory spell,” Elric said and we followed him to one of the many rooms of the light-filled Olympic Palace. 

We arrived at an ample sitting room, richly decorated with light green velvet, in the curtains, the three sofas, and the chairs’ cushions.

“I’ll go to fetch the candles and the salve,” Avalon said as he took Liv’s arm and led her closer to Laius, almost into his arms, which made Liv roll her eyes. 

“Come here, Sugar. You will be safe and warm in my eyes,” Laius muttered close to her ear, wrapping Liv in his arms

Soon Avalon was back with everything we needed to perform the spell. 

He aligned the candles and brushed them with salvia preparing everything. 

“Who will show us what happened?” He asked, looking between Elric and Maximus.

“I shall do it,” Maximus exhaled, giving his hand to Avalon to hold.

It was better like this, considering Avalon and Elric’s recent fight.

Avalon chanted the ritualistic words, calling the past to meet the present and the images started forming in front of our eyes. We saw a white living room, where many wood-crafted objects were elegantly placed. It was in Maximus’s house

Elric was pacing around the room, looking restless, and Maximus was on the sofa and he had my sleeping and slightly trembling form in his arms. 

I remembered the pain and the long but tiresome sleep, but I didn’t know that he was there holding me while I was suffering. 

The only thing I could see in those days of unconsciousness was darkness. 

 ~ * ~

Maximus 

I adjusted my unconscious mate in my lap and placed a kiss on her head, she was still wincing. I would do anything to take her pain away, to comfort her, but there was nothing I could do and it was driving me insane. 

“We have to find whoever the hell is hurting her and kill them!” I burst. 

“We will,” my King tried to reassure me, but his voice vibrated with certain hesitancy. 

How can we fight it? When we don’t know who is hurting her and where they are? We are facing an invisible enemy!” I huffed. 

“Of course I wasn’t the only one to know about the Goddess’ prophecy. That’s exactly why no one can’t know about you and her, else the danger will rise tenfold,” Elric said looking at her. 

I exhaled sharply, as my gaze travelled to her contorted face. Elric’s words were true and I couldn’t have anything happening to her. I would kill the monster that was harming my honey and protect her better from no one, not letting anyone know about us, about her, not letting any foul get close to her.

I placed a kiss on her head and pulled her closer to my chest, nesting her in my arms. She was looking so pale, her beautiful dark hair was damp with sweat. 

My only wish was to love her, protect her. 

But I doubt that she could see and truly feel my love.

“I’ve tried to reach the Goddess, I only hope She listens to me, She assists us. You know how She avoids interfering with the Realm’s business and always allows our free will to intertwine with the plans of the Fates, at least to some extent,” Elric breathed. 

The Goddess normally intervened very rarely, and when she visited Elric it was usually in his dreams, her words were mostly cryptic and full of symbolisms, almost like riddles. 

“I will try again, while the Elite Warriors run around the whole Realm and everywhere else we can reach. We must save your mate, and save our future,” Elric exhaled as he halted in his restless pacing and turned to look at me. 

I nodded, I knew that the Goddess was our better hope, maybe our only hope. 

Elric left the room, I knew he was going to a Goddess’ temple, to surround himself with crystals and fumes, to call for the Goddess’ magic. 

* ~

After a couple of hours, Elric came back to my encounter, I still had Melinda snuggled in my arms and her winces of pain were growing even more intense. I looked intently at my friend, his face was half-worry and half-relief. 

“Whoever is attacking us is roaming through an unfindable sea of sand, where only golden dust meets the horizon. There they follow their stars, slipping through the abyss of time,” he exhaled, looking out of the window. The sun was setting, leaving only orange and pink rays behind. 

“Were those the Goddess’ words?” I asked knowingly. 

“Yes, those exact words.” 

“The vastest desert we have in the Six Realms is the one in the neutral turf,” I thought out loud. Elric looked away once again, his expression tense and his chin locked, he was lost in contemplation.  

“There are many deserts and arid lands in Hell,” he added after a few minutes of agonizing silence. 

“Indeed. But the one in the neutral turf is a sand desert. There aren’t many sand deserts in Hell, as far as I know.” 

“You are right. I will send all Elite warriors to look for the perpetrator, we will find out what is happening to her and heal her,” Elric affirmed. 

“I hate to leave her, but I have to do it myself. To find the attacker and save my Melinda. I know how skilled our Elite Warriors are, but she is my mate, she is my love. I won’t trust anyone else to carry this task,” I said with determination, as my eyes travelled to her fragile form. 

I ran my fingers through her hair and whispered in my mind, I will find a way to heal and avenge you, my honey.  

Only I knew how important she was for me, more important than any prophecy or any miracle baby destined to bring peace. Hence, I couldn’t leave the matter of her safety in anyone else's hands.