Sinister Bonds

Chapter # 4

“I told you she is dating him.” Zaria smirked, closing her arms at her chest. “Yeah, so?” Amber scoffed, rolling her eyes. “I don’t understand, how did you become so serious with him to the extent of offering him to come over?” Alyan asked, the siblings were intrigued to know how their sister could fall in love. 

“What? I love him.” She shrugged, trying to ignore their talks. The twins exchanged glances before breaking into a peal of laughter, “Amber and Love?”

“Don’t tease her. She knows she found the one for her.” Raven scolded, coming and taking a seat. “Yeah. It could happen anytime. Do you guys know I found your mother at the age of fifteen?” Adrian said, sitting on the armrest of the couch, wrapping his hand around Raven’s shoulder.

“From them, do you guys know, everyone used to say Mama and Papa are soulmates.” Amber said, turning to Alyan and Zaria. “Yeah. I really don’t understand why but they say our parents are the number one couple.”

“Hey, my love for Raven isn’t enough to know?” Adrian frowned, complaining. “No, I mean there must be a special spark.” Amber smirked. “Well that spark is love, kids.” Raven chuckled. “Besides, we are here to talk about Amber, not us.” Adrian cleared this throat, turning his attention back to the main topic. "Oh, yeah. Zaar wants to come."

"Amber..." Alyan called her. "What?"

"For how long you guys were dating?" He asked. "It's been more than six months." She replied casually. "Six months!? Why didn't you tell me?" Zaria whine. "Because I was not sure about him and I cleared it before that if he wants to make an official bond, he has to meet my family first." Amber grinned. “And that being said, he is coming on the weekend.”

“Why didn’t he come before?” Zaria asked. “Because he was not stable. With Papa’s help, he opened his own shop, got himself a house. The chairs are pretty good.” She chuckled. “Well, yeah. They are.” Adrian nodded. “So, now he thinks he should come as you guys have no reason to deny.” She said, getting excited just by thinking. 

“Okay, okay…” Raven chuckled. “Yay!” Amber beamed, utterly elated to know that Zaar would come over. They shared a family conversation filled with laughter and silly arguments, living an effervescent moment as they gradually went to sleep.

When Adrian and Raven were left alone, they were drinking tea alone as Raven spoke up, “I hope everything goes well.” 

“Zaar also teaches kids magic.” Adrian said. “He is from the Capital… Do you think he could be a light user? Because if he was.. We.. can’t.” Raven said sadly, biting her lips. “Amber can’t use light magic and I don't want my daughter to go through the same condition.” She whispered, Adrian put his hand over hers, passing her an assuring smile, “Nothing of this sort would happen.” Adrian whispered back. “But, Adrian. What explanation would we give her if she asked? How would she feel after knowing about everything hidden from her for twenty years.” Raven said in vexation.

“Hey, You are my Raven and she doesn’t waver in all conditions.” Adrian grinned, holding her close. “It’s not about me that I become carefree, Adrian. It’s about my kids and I cannot bear anything about them.” She said, hiding her face in his chest.

“Me too… but I am willing to bear her anger but I won’t let the past repeat again. I won’t let any of my kids go through the same condition.” He reassured, kissing the top of her head.

“I will tell Edward to get some information about him.” He said, she nodded and pulled away. “Okay.”

“Let’s hope for the better.” He said sweetly, she smiled, “Yeah.” And got up as they went to sleep as well.

On the weekend, Zaar came, dressed up formally to meet Adrian and the Everette family, hoping to leave a great impression on them. Everything was prepared accordingly.

When he came, the twins greeted him politely, “Come in.” Alyan said, motioning him to come after him as they sat down with Adrian.

“Good Evening, Sir.” Zaar said, bowing a little. “Good Evening. The crops didn't have trouble in the night, did they?” Adrian asked. “No, Sir. It was fine.” He hummed as they all sat down and talked.

“Amber speaks of you all the time.” Zaria said. “Do you love her as much as she loves you?” She asked. “Hey.” Amber called her scoldingly but sparing a glance at Adrian in nervousness, he turned back to Zaria, passing her a gentle smile and nodding. 

“Dinner is served. Come, everyone.” Raven said as they all sat down, talking and spending a great time together. “By the way, Zaar… what do you teach to the little kids?” Adrian asked, casually.

“The basics of Dark Magic.” The couple sighed in relief, earning a weird look from the kids. “So, you are a dark user, aren’t you?” Raven said, her face glowing up. “No. I am not. My Father was a light user, so am I… but since Dark magic intrigues me, I am learning it and teaching it to the kids as well.” Zaar replied, sinking the couple’s hope. Amber not inheriting Adrian’s magic power, leaves her hanging in the middle and now their last ray of hope vanishes. 

They would never let another child be born dead.

“I see.” Adrian hummed. “That’s great.” Adrian smiled as they dinner continued in silence.

“It was nice meeting you, Sir.” Zaar said and left. 

“Alyan, show our guest the way out of the fields.” Adrian said. “No, It’s fine.”

“Oh, we have wild dogs here, are you sure you can go?” Adrian asked. “Yeah.” He nodded and left.

After he left Amber turned to her parents, “So, what do you guys think!?” She asked in glee, “Hmm.. Why don’t we talk about it tomorrow?” Raven suggested. “But-”

“Amber, your Father and I need to discuss something.” Raven said in her usual cheery tone, not wanting to make the kids suspicious. “Uh.. If you say so.” She shrugged. “Come on, kids. Go to your room.” Raven said, motioning them to leave.

After they went to their room, Raven sighed and said to Adrian, “So… we are doomed.” Her tone came out mockingly, closing her arms at her chest.

“How about I ask Edward to teach Amber light magic?” Adrian suggested. “If she could then it would be possible Adrian. Amber can’t.” 

“What now? Shall I tell her this can’t happen?” Adrian asked, sitting on the bed, emitting a sigh of frustration.”

Amber who couldn’t sleep by unnerving sensation, decided to see her parent, the moment she walked down and held the knob of their door, she heard Adrian saying, 

“What now? Shall I tell her this can’t happen?”

“Yeah, as if she will listen.” They can’t do this. I love him. She thought apprehensively, biting her lips in nervousness, heartbreak evoked in her heart, hurting her. “What else are we supposed to do? I am not going to let it happen.”

“I can understand, Adrian.”

“He is a light user. It’s impossible.” Light user? So, that’s what it's about? A grimace appeared on her face, making a silly assumption that Adrian hates Light Users and he wouldn’t let them become one and went furiously to her room without hearing their talks further.

“Then tell her everything, Adrian.” Raven said. “Yeah.. you are right.” Adrian hummed, falling into a bed, mentally preparing himself to tell the kids everything.

Just at the same time, in the midst of darkness Lylia was sitting on the tree with her partner Bella who was checking the corpse on the ground, “What now, Master?” She asked. “It is burned as well and half of it’s ashes are missing.” Bella told her. “How could someone do this?” She asked.

Lylia got down and touched the ashes. “It wasn’t a spell, it was real fire but that means it’s not a spell.” Lylia said, making Bella perplexed. “Could you explain in an easier way?”

“The person… it’s neither a light nor a dark user. It’s an elemental user.” Lylia sighed. “Really!? Do they still exist?” Bella asked. “Of course they do! Julia and Jane are elemental users.” Lylia scolded. “Wow, I didn’t know that.”

“It seems like he is a fire user… Do you know, Bella? Twenty Years ago there used to be a cult named Despair, it’s user was also a fire user.” 

“Really? Then what happened to the cult?” She asked. “They died… all of them.” She sighed, remembering the time the havoc Despair massacred caused. “Really? How?”

“Leave it.” She said, getting up. “Anyways, we need to find this person as soon as possible. He is preparing for a truly great spell and we have to stop it at all cost. Bella, go and find in which spells human ashes are being used.” Lylia ordered. She nodded and left.

“What are you planning to do?” She asked herself, looking at the sky, wondering with a strange yet terrible omen given to her heart.

The next day, the Everette family sat down at the table to have breakfast, Amber held a furious look on her face all the time, growling and ready to punch the person who would dare to piss her.

“Why is your head hanging low, Amber?” Alyan asked, coming and taking a seat. “Leave her, Alyan, she must be furious that Mama and Papa didn’t tell her their answer right away.” Zaria said groggily, putting her head on the table, “Hey, no sleeping on the table.” Raven said, pulling her head up. “I am awake.” She whined, putting her hand under her chin, “I was learning so well, I wondered when Aunt Lylia’s work would be done.” She mumbled as she learned under her surveillance. 

“Morning…” Adrian smiled, taking a seat. “Good Morning, Papa.” The twins greeted him at the same time. “What happened, Amber?” Adrian asked, noticing her look. 

“Are you asking me what happened?” She hissed, glaring at him. “Amber…?” Adrian called her vaguely. “You guys think I am stupid and wouldn’t know?” She growled, slamming her hand on the table and getting up.

“What happened, Amber?” Raven asked. “Your judgement is not fair, Mama!” She shouted, curling her hands in a fist, shaking her head with tears brimming in her eyes. “What judgement, Dear?” Raven asked softly, not knowing what happened to her. 

“You guys think I wouldn’t know!? Papa hates Ella's family, he hates light magic and you guys won’t accept Zaar all because he is a light user.. I know it all!” She shouted, bursting the assumption her heart believes. “I heard you guys talking about it last night, just because he uses light magic you guys are not going to let us become one, Why can’t you see I love him.” She said, breaking into a sob. 

Adrian and Raven didn’t know how to react as she began to cry, “I love him, Mama, Papa.” She whispered, wiping the tears. 

“We know but-”

“You guys don’t care!” She shouted, her steps retreating. “Amber.” Adrian tried to call her but she ran out of the house not wanting to listen further.