Velentham got up and went through the moonwell to find himself in the garden of the cavern. He swiftly went through the various rooms, looking for Sanria. He would explain to her that she just didn't remember him properly and that Colin had brainwashed her to be against him. If she would just give him the chance to show her the right way, things would be alright.
It was clear she wasn't in the cavern, but she couldn't have gone far. As he went to leave the library, he heard the voices coming from outside. Velentham opened the door to see Sanria sitting on a blanket with Colin and their baby, sobbing. Colin's hand was on her shoulder and Velentham felt his bile rise.
"Colin." Velentham said by way of greeting, giving the larger man a nod.
"Velentham. What's going on? What did you say to Sanria?"
How dare Colin question him. "You want to know?"
"Please... stop it," Sanria said, turning to look up at him.
"He wants to know. I think he should know."
"Look, I don't know what you're playing at Velentham but Sanria told you to leave. I think you need to listen to her."
Velentham knelt down and put his hand to Colin's temple. He forced into Colin's brain, in a matter of seconds, everything from Sanria coming out of the cavern to chastise him to him pouring his energies into her to him relishing her body for an hour on the top of a mountain.
The big man suddenly knocked Velentham's hand away and nearly jumped to standing. Velentham slowly rose, looking down his nose at Colin with a very slight smirk. Colin spoke, his voice choked, "Sanria... take the kids inside."
Mountaintop Removal
Sanria should have sensed that things weren't going to go according to plan when she walked out to yell at Velentham. The truth was she was beyond angry. She had, indeed, loved Velentham in the past and had wanted to stay with him, but that was a lifetime ago. For him to come into her home and go into her mind and share all he found there with Colin to try to hurt him was beyond even her limits for forgiveness.
Sanria was adamant in her refusal of him, but it didn't seem to make the slightest impression on Velentham. He grabbed her and pulled her into an embrace and held her there against his chest. "You need me, Sanria. I need you. I came through the nine hells for you, I am not going to give up. I won't take no for an answer."
"You... are going to have to, Velentham."
"I won't see you unhappy."
"I'm not unhappy, and you're going to have to let go of me now."
"You can't lie to me."
Velentham lifted her easily into his arms, and Sanria felt her heart go into overdrive. She couldn't manage a singular protest before he was up in the air, flying faster than any spell could manage, and landing on top of a distant mountaintop. This was not playing out well at all.
It didn't matter what came out of her mouth, Sanria could not get Velentham to leave her alone. The more she refused, the more she began to feel a peculiar sensation enter into her mind. Her thoughts came to her slower, her whole body began to relax into every touch and kiss he placed on her. She felt as though her thoughts were sinking beneath water and no matter how much she tried, she couldn't rise above them.
It was at least an hour before Velentham finished with her and the weight of calm and relaxation began to recede. As his influence left her, Sanria was left sitting in shock. She couldn't believe him as he looked over at her, his face concerned. "Please, don't regret this..."
"Take me home... please."
"Sanria..."
"Just take me home. And when we get there... you need to leave."
"Sanria -"
Sanria got up, remembering only then that she did have abilities. Know- ing, remembering, that she could have left well before anything happened nearly made her sick. She had been so long without her magic, unable to cast, the idea had no place in her mind. She let out a sob and cast a moonwell, vanishing to the cavern beyond without another word.
Sanria was adamant in her refusal of him, but it didn't seem to make the slightest impression on Velentham. He grabbed her and pulled her into an embrace and held her there against his chest. "You need me, Sanria. I need you. I came through the nine hells for you, I am not going to give up. I won't take no for an answer."
"You... are going to have to, Velentham."
"I won't see you unhappy."
"I'm not unhappy, and you're going to have to let go of me now."
"You can't lie to me."
Velentham lifted her easily into his arms, and Sanria felt her heart go into overdrive. She couldn't manage a singular protest before he was up in the air, flying faster than any spell could manage, and landing on top of a distant mountaintop. This was not playing out well at all.
It didn't matter what came out of her mouth, Sanria could not get Velentham to leave her alone. The more she refused, the more she began to feel a peculiar sensation enter into her mind. Her thoughts came to her slower, her whole body began to relax into every touch and kiss he placed on her. She felt as though her thoughts were sinking beneath water and no matter how much she tried, she couldn't rise above them.
It was at least an hour before Velentham finished with her and the weight of calm and relaxation began to recede. As his influence left her, Sanria was left sitting in shock. She couldn't believe him as he looked over at her, his face concerned. "Please, don't regret this..."
"Take me home... please."
"Sanria..."
"Just take me home. And when we get there... you need to leave."
"Sanria -"
Sanria got up, remembering only then that she did have abilities. Know- ing, remembering, that she could have left well before anything happened nearly made her sick. She had been so long without her magic, unable to cast, the idea had no place in her mind. She let out a sob and cast a moonwell, vanishing to the cavern beyond without another word.
On Gaining Love
Velentham sat on the top of the mountain, the moonwell behind him still swirling after Sanria's departure, and let out a yell of rage. Things were not supposed to go this way. She was supposed to admit she loved him and admit she wanted to be with him. He shouldn't have had to use the energies to make her stay here with him. He shouldn't have had to use the energies to make her make love to him. Now she wanted him gone.
Velentham thought back over the day as it had played out. She had come to him upset. "What the hell is wrong with you?"
"I don't know what you mean."
"Those things you said to Colin! You told him things you saw while you were in my mind? Who does that?"
"I understand that you're upset, and I'm sorry. I was angry and hurt."
"Is that what you do when you're angry and upset? Try to ruin someone elses life?"
"I honestly didn't mean to ruin your life."
"And what in the hell is this business about coming to take me away?"
"It's what I came here for, yes. I make no qualms about that. I want you to be with me, Sanria."
"Well I'm with Colin. I told you that before."
"But you don't really want to be."
"That is not for you to decide. It's for me to decide and I've chosen to be with him. I do love him."
"But not like you should. You can't hide that from me, Sanria. I know."
"It doesn't matter! Throm is dead, Thasmudyan is... my past -"
"And I am right here. I know what we had, so do you."
It should have been enough but Velentham had been shocked by the bull- headed nature of Sanria's mind. "Colin is right here, too," she said.
"But you've had one moment where you really looked at him as a lover, every time after, years after, you've looked at him as someone you have to take care of - someone that you had to defer to. An afterthought!"
"That's not true."
"Isn't it? I've seen it, Sanria."
"That... that was before. Not now."
"All his jealousies, are you going to try to tell me that now that he is getting upset with you over Thasmudyan, worrying about your every move, speaking for you when you can speak for yourself that you're not feeling that small ball of regret in your heart?"
She kept telling him no. Kept claiming she loved Colin, but Velentham knew better. She couldn't lie to him. He had seen every corner of her mind. He took her to this very mountaintop. He had said everything he could say. "Why do you fight this?" he asked.
"It's not right, Velentham. If you saw anything, you should have seen how frequently my life was tied up in one affair or another."
"If I were Thasmudyan would you do it?"
"That is... low."
She had tried to get up, but he simply couldn't let her get away from him. "No, it isn't. You can't lie to me, Sanria. I've seen your heart."
"And you're not above using that to your advantage, are you?"
That stung. "For you? No."
He poured every ounce of calming, soothing, relaxing energy into her and had succeeded in bending her to his desires. But now, she wanted him out. Out of her life. No. He wouldn't leave until she was left with him.
Velentham thought back over the day as it had played out. She had come to him upset. "What the hell is wrong with you?"
"I don't know what you mean."
"Those things you said to Colin! You told him things you saw while you were in my mind? Who does that?"
"I understand that you're upset, and I'm sorry. I was angry and hurt."
"Is that what you do when you're angry and upset? Try to ruin someone elses life?"
"I honestly didn't mean to ruin your life."
"And what in the hell is this business about coming to take me away?"
"It's what I came here for, yes. I make no qualms about that. I want you to be with me, Sanria."
"Well I'm with Colin. I told you that before."
"But you don't really want to be."
"That is not for you to decide. It's for me to decide and I've chosen to be with him. I do love him."
"But not like you should. You can't hide that from me, Sanria. I know."
"It doesn't matter! Throm is dead, Thasmudyan is... my past -"
"And I am right here. I know what we had, so do you."
It should have been enough but Velentham had been shocked by the bull- headed nature of Sanria's mind. "Colin is right here, too," she said.
"But you've had one moment where you really looked at him as a lover, every time after, years after, you've looked at him as someone you have to take care of - someone that you had to defer to. An afterthought!"
"That's not true."
"Isn't it? I've seen it, Sanria."
"That... that was before. Not now."
"All his jealousies, are you going to try to tell me that now that he is getting upset with you over Thasmudyan, worrying about your every move, speaking for you when you can speak for yourself that you're not feeling that small ball of regret in your heart?"
She kept telling him no. Kept claiming she loved Colin, but Velentham knew better. She couldn't lie to him. He had seen every corner of her mind. He took her to this very mountaintop. He had said everything he could say. "Why do you fight this?" he asked.
"It's not right, Velentham. If you saw anything, you should have seen how frequently my life was tied up in one affair or another."
"If I were Thasmudyan would you do it?"
"That is... low."
She had tried to get up, but he simply couldn't let her get away from him. "No, it isn't. You can't lie to me, Sanria. I've seen your heart."
"And you're not above using that to your advantage, are you?"
That stung. "For you? No."
He poured every ounce of calming, soothing, relaxing energy into her and had succeeded in bending her to his desires. But now, she wanted him out. Out of her life. No. He wouldn't leave until she was left with him.
Fed Up (1-2)
Arlenia stared out over the sea, her eyes twin pits of despair. She picked up a rock and hefted it over the edge with a growl, then clutched her stomach. To do such a thing hurt. It sucked.
She sulked back down the mountain, her stomach preceding her. She hated that she was saddled with this child. She hated it. She loathed the father. She had to do something, and the idea struck her as she came down the path.
Arlenia went to Banion's hut. "Banion, do you have something to stop bleeding?"
"Are you bleeding child?" he asked with concern.
"No but, I'm concerned."
"Well there's no need to be concerned if nothing is wrong." "Please?"
Banion sighed and walked over to his cupboard. He pulled out a vial and handed it to her. "If you are bleeding or anyone else is bleeding, this will heal anything."
"And do you have anything for pain?"
"Arlenia..."
"Please, Banion."
Banion turned around and again fished through the cupboard. He produced another vial and handed it to her. "Anything else?"
"No, this will do. Thank you. I feel so much better already."
"Alright."
Arlenia walked slowly back up the mountain, hiking until she caught a stitch in her side and had to rest. She went deeper into the wooded area where she would not be seen. She pulled out a blade and looked down to her stomach. "I'll send you to your father. Piece by piece."
Arlenia took a stick and put it in her mouth. Biting down, she slid the blade into her stomach and immediately she started to sweat. She growled as the blade slid deeper. Stars began to fill her vision, but she forced herself to remain conscious. She cut enough of herself open to reach her hand into her own uterus. She felt the fetus within and pulled it out.
At the sudden rush of blood and amniotic fluid Arlenia nearly passed out. She laid the infant on the ground and downed the vial for pain. At last, she gained some focus. The infant squirmed, its airways uncleared, it's death immanent.
Arlenia severed the afterbirth from within herself and pulled it out. With the infant and the placenta laying on the ground, she quaffed the healing potion and watched the gaping wound at her side heal.
For a moment, she felt sorry for what she had done. Seeing the infant, no longer than 6 inches, open and close its mouth until it finally stopped... but then the madness that had come onto her rose again - and Arlenia set to work. She would send one piece for every month she was pregnant. Five in all.
The work was gruesome, but even the hot blood on her skin and the smell of iron didn't make her stop. Colin would have his child.
She sulked back down the mountain, her stomach preceding her. She hated that she was saddled with this child. She hated it. She loathed the father. She had to do something, and the idea struck her as she came down the path.
Arlenia went to Banion's hut. "Banion, do you have something to stop bleeding?"
"Are you bleeding child?" he asked with concern.
"No but, I'm concerned."
"Well there's no need to be concerned if nothing is wrong." "Please?"
Banion sighed and walked over to his cupboard. He pulled out a vial and handed it to her. "If you are bleeding or anyone else is bleeding, this will heal anything."
"And do you have anything for pain?"
"Arlenia..."
"Please, Banion."
Banion turned around and again fished through the cupboard. He produced another vial and handed it to her. "Anything else?"
"No, this will do. Thank you. I feel so much better already."
"Alright."
Arlenia walked slowly back up the mountain, hiking until she caught a stitch in her side and had to rest. She went deeper into the wooded area where she would not be seen. She pulled out a blade and looked down to her stomach. "I'll send you to your father. Piece by piece."
Arlenia took a stick and put it in her mouth. Biting down, she slid the blade into her stomach and immediately she started to sweat. She growled as the blade slid deeper. Stars began to fill her vision, but she forced herself to remain conscious. She cut enough of herself open to reach her hand into her own uterus. She felt the fetus within and pulled it out.
At the sudden rush of blood and amniotic fluid Arlenia nearly passed out. She laid the infant on the ground and downed the vial for pain. At last, she gained some focus. The infant squirmed, its airways uncleared, it's death immanent.
Arlenia severed the afterbirth from within herself and pulled it out. With the infant and the placenta laying on the ground, she quaffed the healing potion and watched the gaping wound at her side heal.
For a moment, she felt sorry for what she had done. Seeing the infant, no longer than 6 inches, open and close its mouth until it finally stopped... but then the madness that had come onto her rose again - and Arlenia set to work. She would send one piece for every month she was pregnant. Five in all.
The work was gruesome, but even the hot blood on her skin and the smell of iron didn't make her stop. Colin would have his child.
By Forces Known
Sanria knew something was definitely wrong when Colin didn't accompany her to bed that night. She wasn't sure where he had gone and while it worried her a little, she also understood that he may very well be taking care of other things. She stayed up, reading with Leandra nearby until the man slogged into the room. "Colin... where were you?"
"I ah... was training."
"Training? You haven't trained in... a long time."
"Yeah."
Something was definitely wrong here. "Please, what is it?"
"I had a long talk with Velentham." And there it was. Sanria sighed and shook her head, closing her book.
"What did he say?"
"A lot, actually. I really think he should leave. He threatened me, well, I guess I threatened him back but still..."
"What happened?"
Colin repeated the things Velentham had told him and the blood drained from Sanria's face. "It isn't true, is it?" he asked her when discussing Thasmudyan.
"Well... I..." Sanria knew she couldn't hide it. "Yes."
"Why didn't you tell me?" he asked. "You said you didn't feel anything."
"Because it didn't matter, Colin. No matter what I felt, I chose you."
"Yeah."
The look of pain on Colin's face tore Sanria's heart to pieces. She wanted to make it go away, but he continued asking her, and she continued to confirm what Velentham had said. "Do you think about them when you're with me?" he asked, looking down. The breath caught in Sanria's throat. How could she deny that many a time she had wanted the man at her side to not be Colin, but someone else?
"Sometimes..." she whispered. She looked over at the pain on Colin's face and turned him to face her. "I don't think you should ask me any other questions."
"Why?"
"Because they don't matter."
Sanria waited, hoping that the message would sink in. Hoping Colin would under- stand that she was here, with him, and not the others. At long last, he did. "You're right, damn it. We're together and all that matters is us."
"That's right," Sanria replied, pulling him into an embrace. "I'll have a talk with Velentham - he needs to be set straight."
"Do you think that's wise? I mean, he's proven he'll say anything. He means to take you away."
"Take me away?" Sanria shook her head. "I think it will be fine. If he said that, he'll not do anything to me. He needs to hear it again, I'm with you."
"I ah... was training."
"Training? You haven't trained in... a long time."
"Yeah."
Something was definitely wrong here. "Please, what is it?"
"I had a long talk with Velentham." And there it was. Sanria sighed and shook her head, closing her book.
"What did he say?"
"A lot, actually. I really think he should leave. He threatened me, well, I guess I threatened him back but still..."
"What happened?"
Colin repeated the things Velentham had told him and the blood drained from Sanria's face. "It isn't true, is it?" he asked her when discussing Thasmudyan.
"Well... I..." Sanria knew she couldn't hide it. "Yes."
"Why didn't you tell me?" he asked. "You said you didn't feel anything."
"Because it didn't matter, Colin. No matter what I felt, I chose you."
"Yeah."
The look of pain on Colin's face tore Sanria's heart to pieces. She wanted to make it go away, but he continued asking her, and she continued to confirm what Velentham had said. "Do you think about them when you're with me?" he asked, looking down. The breath caught in Sanria's throat. How could she deny that many a time she had wanted the man at her side to not be Colin, but someone else?
"Sometimes..." she whispered. She looked over at the pain on Colin's face and turned him to face her. "I don't think you should ask me any other questions."
"Why?"
"Because they don't matter."
Sanria waited, hoping that the message would sink in. Hoping Colin would under- stand that she was here, with him, and not the others. At long last, he did. "You're right, damn it. We're together and all that matters is us."
"That's right," Sanria replied, pulling him into an embrace. "I'll have a talk with Velentham - he needs to be set straight."
"Do you think that's wise? I mean, he's proven he'll say anything. He means to take you away."
"Take me away?" Sanria shook her head. "I think it will be fine. If he said that, he'll not do anything to me. He needs to hear it again, I'm with you."
Discussions (1-3)
Velentham arrived back at the cavern and walked into the kitchen the following morning. He searched the kitchen until he landed upon a bottle of alcohol and sat at the table with it and a glass. No matter how much he drank, it didn't get him drunk. It tasted awful, but he drank it anyway. No matter how much he drank, he couldn't wash down the bitterness that sat in his chest and kept choking him.
He had been sitting there for several minutes when Colin walked in wrapped in a cotton robe, as though he owned the world. Velentham wanted to slay him on the spot. "How is Sanria," he asked.
"Well enough, I suppose. I think she's still taking it all in," Colin answered, putting a kettle on the stove for tea. "So, did you plan on returning her memories all along?"
"I suppose I did."
"Then why the deception?"
"I came to win her back. Not really something you admit to the... husband."
"You are only here for a very few reasons. You returned her memories and spared her the pain, you are Gilean's cousin and we owe him much, and Sanria doesn't want me to throw you out."
"Right. Because if you wanted to, you could get me out of here?"
"It would be my pleasure. You know... as the husband."
"I'd love to see you try. You know... as the lover."
Colin scowled and in Velentham's vision something crept in. As Velentham grew more upset, his vision clouded, and in that vision, he saw Colin's body growing dark. There was something in him, something throughout his entire body that caused him to show up the same way demons and devils of the hells showed up. "Do you know what's odd, friend? What really seems, interesting, to me, to... mine eyes?"
"Do tell," Colin said, still fixing his tea.
"I can see an aura around you... in you. You've done something bad... are... something bad. I really hate evil things, you know? Gets in my blood, makes it boil."
"Funny how good and evil can be so... subjective. Don't you think."
The men tossed a few insults between one another and Velentham's soul grew darker as Colin spoke, "Velentham, you may think you love Sanria - but I don't think you even understand what love is."
"I was in her head, my friend," Velentham said with a laugh. "I know everything you've ever done with her. I've seen it through her eyes. I've seen your pitiful excuse for love - following after her like a dog even when she doesn't want you. You had to lie to even get her back here."
"You think you love her. You who has spent, what, a few weeks with her?"
"Would you like to know a secret? She doesn't want you. Even though she says she does, it's not you she's thinking of."
Velentham knew he had struck a chord as Colin leaned back, fighting to contain himself. The darkness within the man grew darker as Velentham watched, and it heightened his cruelty. "I recall when she discovered she was pregnant with your first spawn, the one that had a twin that she lost... how she wished it was Throm's child? I. saw. it."
"No... no..."
"Maybe this last time she slept with her ex husband, Thasmudyan? How she felt her soul merge with his, saw her life in his eyes... she liked it. A lot."
"You... you would say anything."
"She wouldn't mind doing it again, you know that? Apparently the guy is a really good lay."
"Funny, isn't it. That through all of that, and all of your pursuits, it's me she's married to. It's me she has children with. It's me who loves with her here in this house. Not Throm, not Thasmudyan, and most certainly not you."
"Not for long."
Velentham polished off the last of the alcohol that did nothing for him, barely able to contain the desire to slay Colin and the darkness within him. "I know what you're trying to do," Colin said, "and it's not going to work."
"Does she tell you that she dreams of him? That Throm fellow? The way he touched her, the way he loved her?"
"Does she tell you that? How does that make you feel my friend?"
"I was in her mind, Colin. And how does it make me feel? Nothing a little time in Elysium can't cure."
"Is that so?"
"She had forgotten you completely when she was with me last."
"Then why not take her there now? Why go through all this?"
The insinuation drove Velentham to madness. He couldn't take her there right now even if he had wanted to. He couldn't traverse the planes. He couldn't get back home. The only thing he had were the amulets around his neck, but even those wouldn't keep him from losing his mind in time. "I want her to choose me of her own accord. I could force her easily."
"Well then, enjoy the wait."
"Don't be shocked if things happen during the wait. I have convincing to do, after all."
Colin leaned across the table pointing a finger in to Velentham's face. Velentham barely held in check the desire to end him. The darkness that swirled within Colin stood out in stark contrast to the brightness that was swiftly blinding Velentham to all else. "You better watch yourself," the big man said. "You think it's fun to try to push me. You might not like what you find if you succeed."
Velentham grabbed Colin's extended finger, sending a shocking jolt of energy into him. He grinned as the large man recoiled, shoving him as he did so. "Just a taste my friend."
"Your time is very limited," Colin said, holding a fist.
"Come on... throw that punch. I dare you."
"No... now's not the time. I have Sanria... I have my family. And you better hope that that doesn't change."
"You couldn't do a damned thing even if you wanted to. I'd have your mind in a glob on the floor before you got within a ten foot distance."
Colin shoved the table in Velentham's direction and the Celestial smiled. "I'm done. And you will be soon." Colin walked out, leaving behind an untouched mug of tea. Velentham reached over, taking the mug in hand, smiling at the prospect of owning the world.
He had been sitting there for several minutes when Colin walked in wrapped in a cotton robe, as though he owned the world. Velentham wanted to slay him on the spot. "How is Sanria," he asked.
"Well enough, I suppose. I think she's still taking it all in," Colin answered, putting a kettle on the stove for tea. "So, did you plan on returning her memories all along?"
"I suppose I did."
"Then why the deception?"
"I came to win her back. Not really something you admit to the... husband."
"You are only here for a very few reasons. You returned her memories and spared her the pain, you are Gilean's cousin and we owe him much, and Sanria doesn't want me to throw you out."
"Right. Because if you wanted to, you could get me out of here?"
"It would be my pleasure. You know... as the husband."
"I'd love to see you try. You know... as the lover."
Colin scowled and in Velentham's vision something crept in. As Velentham grew more upset, his vision clouded, and in that vision, he saw Colin's body growing dark. There was something in him, something throughout his entire body that caused him to show up the same way demons and devils of the hells showed up. "Do you know what's odd, friend? What really seems, interesting, to me, to... mine eyes?"
"Do tell," Colin said, still fixing his tea.
"I can see an aura around you... in you. You've done something bad... are... something bad. I really hate evil things, you know? Gets in my blood, makes it boil."
"Funny how good and evil can be so... subjective. Don't you think."
The men tossed a few insults between one another and Velentham's soul grew darker as Colin spoke, "Velentham, you may think you love Sanria - but I don't think you even understand what love is."
"I was in her head, my friend," Velentham said with a laugh. "I know everything you've ever done with her. I've seen it through her eyes. I've seen your pitiful excuse for love - following after her like a dog even when she doesn't want you. You had to lie to even get her back here."
"You think you love her. You who has spent, what, a few weeks with her?"
"Would you like to know a secret? She doesn't want you. Even though she says she does, it's not you she's thinking of."
Velentham knew he had struck a chord as Colin leaned back, fighting to contain himself. The darkness within the man grew darker as Velentham watched, and it heightened his cruelty. "I recall when she discovered she was pregnant with your first spawn, the one that had a twin that she lost... how she wished it was Throm's child? I. saw. it."
"No... no..."
"Maybe this last time she slept with her ex husband, Thasmudyan? How she felt her soul merge with his, saw her life in his eyes... she liked it. A lot."
"You... you would say anything."
"She wouldn't mind doing it again, you know that? Apparently the guy is a really good lay."
"Funny, isn't it. That through all of that, and all of your pursuits, it's me she's married to. It's me she has children with. It's me who loves with her here in this house. Not Throm, not Thasmudyan, and most certainly not you."
"Not for long."
Velentham polished off the last of the alcohol that did nothing for him, barely able to contain the desire to slay Colin and the darkness within him. "I know what you're trying to do," Colin said, "and it's not going to work."
"Does she tell you that she dreams of him? That Throm fellow? The way he touched her, the way he loved her?"
"Does she tell you that? How does that make you feel my friend?"
"I was in her mind, Colin. And how does it make me feel? Nothing a little time in Elysium can't cure."
"Is that so?"
"She had forgotten you completely when she was with me last."
"Then why not take her there now? Why go through all this?"
The insinuation drove Velentham to madness. He couldn't take her there right now even if he had wanted to. He couldn't traverse the planes. He couldn't get back home. The only thing he had were the amulets around his neck, but even those wouldn't keep him from losing his mind in time. "I want her to choose me of her own accord. I could force her easily."
"Well then, enjoy the wait."
"Don't be shocked if things happen during the wait. I have convincing to do, after all."
Colin leaned across the table pointing a finger in to Velentham's face. Velentham barely held in check the desire to end him. The darkness that swirled within Colin stood out in stark contrast to the brightness that was swiftly blinding Velentham to all else. "You better watch yourself," the big man said. "You think it's fun to try to push me. You might not like what you find if you succeed."
Velentham grabbed Colin's extended finger, sending a shocking jolt of energy into him. He grinned as the large man recoiled, shoving him as he did so. "Just a taste my friend."
"Your time is very limited," Colin said, holding a fist.
"Come on... throw that punch. I dare you."
"No... now's not the time. I have Sanria... I have my family. And you better hope that that doesn't change."
"You couldn't do a damned thing even if you wanted to. I'd have your mind in a glob on the floor before you got within a ten foot distance."
Colin shoved the table in Velentham's direction and the Celestial smiled. "I'm done. And you will be soon." Colin walked out, leaving behind an untouched mug of tea. Velentham reached over, taking the mug in hand, smiling at the prospect of owning the world.
Midnight Memories
That night Sanria laid in bed with Colin talking. He was deeply unsettled by their visitor, and no matter how much she tried to calm him and reassure him, it seemed Colin was destined to inherently dislike anyone that came to visit or stay. They were getting nowhere in their discussions when Sanria felt the pangs of hunger. It was odd to her that she felt hungry at all, in general, once she had gone to bed for the night, she didn't feel the need to eat until the following morning. "I am going to go to the kitchen, I'm hungry."
"Do you think that's a good idea?" Colin asked, still on the heels of their discussion about Velentham.
"Colin..."
With a somewhat irritated sigh, Sanria got up and donned her robe. She arrived in the kitchen to see Velentham sitting at the table. His smile was warm and it set her at ease. "Oh, I didn't know you would be down here. I was just a bit hungry."
"I felt a little bit hungry myself."
Sanria noted the fact that the man did not have any food before him, but let this minor fact go. She retrieved a plate of fruit from the ice box, knowing it would be there so long as Colin was around. He always had fruit cut up and ready to eat at any time.
Before long, Sanria found herself in conversation with Velentham, and then his hands were on her head. She had wanted for the longest time to regain her memories and he was giving her the chance. Instantly, every single moment of her life flooded back to her - every man, every child, every good time, every bad. Finally, the death of Throm and the heart-rending, soul-crushing feeling that it left her with, and her own death. Tears came from her eyes and she felt Velentham's hands move to her chin. Her chest hurt, as though crushed, when his lips found hers.
In that moment, she was there in the plane with him. They were there, hand in hand, walking along - laughing. They were there, sitting at the edge of the pond - brilliant colors of the plane all around them - kissing. The overwhelming sensation of love flooded her, love for Velentham. She pulled away and looked at the man before her. That was the past, he was the past, and she had promised herself that if she remembered, she would let it all be the past.
"I thank you for everything you've done tonight. I - needed to remember all of this so I could say goodbye to it."
"What? Sanria, no..."
"I can't be that woman again. I... have to go."
"Please - wait..."
"Goodnight Velentham."
She rushed back to bed, to Colin's ever waiting arms. She told him she remembered. She told him that it didn't matter. And it didn't. She might have all her memories now, but it wouldn't change the current facts. She just wouldn't let that happen.
"Do you think that's a good idea?" Colin asked, still on the heels of their discussion about Velentham.
"Colin..."
With a somewhat irritated sigh, Sanria got up and donned her robe. She arrived in the kitchen to see Velentham sitting at the table. His smile was warm and it set her at ease. "Oh, I didn't know you would be down here. I was just a bit hungry."
"I felt a little bit hungry myself."
Sanria noted the fact that the man did not have any food before him, but let this minor fact go. She retrieved a plate of fruit from the ice box, knowing it would be there so long as Colin was around. He always had fruit cut up and ready to eat at any time.
Before long, Sanria found herself in conversation with Velentham, and then his hands were on her head. She had wanted for the longest time to regain her memories and he was giving her the chance. Instantly, every single moment of her life flooded back to her - every man, every child, every good time, every bad. Finally, the death of Throm and the heart-rending, soul-crushing feeling that it left her with, and her own death. Tears came from her eyes and she felt Velentham's hands move to her chin. Her chest hurt, as though crushed, when his lips found hers.
In that moment, she was there in the plane with him. They were there, hand in hand, walking along - laughing. They were there, sitting at the edge of the pond - brilliant colors of the plane all around them - kissing. The overwhelming sensation of love flooded her, love for Velentham. She pulled away and looked at the man before her. That was the past, he was the past, and she had promised herself that if she remembered, she would let it all be the past.
"I thank you for everything you've done tonight. I - needed to remember all of this so I could say goodbye to it."
"What? Sanria, no..."
"I can't be that woman again. I... have to go."
"Please - wait..."
"Goodnight Velentham."
She rushed back to bed, to Colin's ever waiting arms. She told him she remembered. She told him that it didn't matter. And it didn't. She might have all her memories now, but it wouldn't change the current facts. She just wouldn't let that happen.
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