Voicemail and OOC contact
Hey what's up pups? You've reached the voicemail of Leda. Leave a message at the beep peeps, and I'll hit you back.
Danan Estate, Friday
"Holy....holy shit." Leda gasped. "Ladies of Never You Mind, Mother Night and...Tori Amos. We did it."
"What's this 'we' thing?" Tristan grimaced, rubbing his injured wrist. He'd likely have to get that looked at. Also his nose was bleeding. She may have shouted in his mind at one point. "I just added an ingredient. You did all the baking."
The midwife gently handed the slightly wriggly bundle into Leda's arms, and Tristan lightly stroked it's head.
"Well, easy part's over for you dad." the Elf Queen snickered exhaustedly. "Before you know it you'll be performing those speeches you think I didn't know you were writing."
Tristan blushed. All throughout Leda's pregnancy he'd been surreptitiously composing fatherly lectures for any circumstances he foresaw. Everything from why one must learn to use a toilet to what to watch out for when dating.
"Also, don't think you're getting away with any 'It's your turn to check on her' bullshit. I'm taking you with me every time."
Tristan actually had not plans on not being the one to go check on the baby every time. His own father had not been the most present parent, and he expected he might wind up over compensating.
The infant squirmed again, and Leda tickled one of the baby's ears.
"We made a person."
[Yep, baby's here. Definitely open for calls or what have you.]
"What's this 'we' thing?" Tristan grimaced, rubbing his injured wrist. He'd likely have to get that looked at. Also his nose was bleeding. She may have shouted in his mind at one point. "I just added an ingredient. You did all the baking."
The midwife gently handed the slightly wriggly bundle into Leda's arms, and Tristan lightly stroked it's head.
"Well, easy part's over for you dad." the Elf Queen snickered exhaustedly. "Before you know it you'll be performing those speeches you think I didn't know you were writing."
Tristan blushed. All throughout Leda's pregnancy he'd been surreptitiously composing fatherly lectures for any circumstances he foresaw. Everything from why one must learn to use a toilet to what to watch out for when dating.
"Also, don't think you're getting away with any 'It's your turn to check on her' bullshit. I'm taking you with me every time."
Tristan actually had not plans on not being the one to go check on the baby every time. His own father had not been the most present parent, and he expected he might wind up over compensating.
The infant squirmed again, and Leda tickled one of the baby's ears.
"We made a person."
[Yep, baby's here. Definitely open for calls or what have you.]
From Leda's social media
Twitter: If anyone's wondering about what to get me for Christmas or birthday, canes are now a safe bet. But cool ones.
E-Mail to her friends: Right so, my leg's fucked up. Apparently permanently. That evil version of me that was trying to destroy the universe or whatever got sucked into the septic tank of the cosmos and tried to drag me with her.
But I'm okay, the baby's okay, and the Universes seem to be okay. I love you, and hope to talk to you soon.
E-Mail to her friends: Right so, my leg's fucked up. Apparently permanently. That evil version of me that was trying to destroy the universe or whatever got sucked into the septic tank of the cosmos and tried to drag me with her.
But I'm okay, the baby's okay, and the Universes seem to be okay. I love you, and hope to talk to you soon.
Kids, don't experiment with Chaos
Long ago, in a time I've nearly forgotten, I had a fondness for adventure stories. And in many of those stories, the villain has a “what have I done” moment. I can feel my mind slowly shred as Azathoth awakens right in front of me. I scream as pure entropy swarms out of my every pore. It destroys the attacks of my enemies, but it is kept at bay by the musical shield erected by their support minions.
The Dark Elf laughs in harmony with my horror.
They say that your life flashes before your eyes when you die. But as I scramble to keep hold of reality I instead get flashes of other people's lives. My mind slips around these others, unable to gain purchase. There's that degenerate version of me who's still trying to make up for her decadent lifestyle as a “rock star”, that ridiculous frontierswoman who fancies herself a sheriff.
And then there's her. She thinks she is safe on that space borne vessel, but Azathoth is there. Connecting us all.
( What have I done? )
I cling with all my fading clarity. It's not enough to save myself, but maybe it's enough to take her with me.
The Dark Elf laughs in harmony with my horror.
They say that your life flashes before your eyes when you die. But as I scramble to keep hold of reality I instead get flashes of other people's lives. My mind slips around these others, unable to gain purchase. There's that degenerate version of me who's still trying to make up for her decadent lifestyle as a “rock star”, that ridiculous frontierswoman who fancies herself a sheriff.
And then there's her. She thinks she is safe on that space borne vessel, but Azathoth is there. Connecting us all.
( What have I done? )
I cling with all my fading clarity. It's not enough to save myself, but maybe it's enough to take her with me.
The Azathoth Nebula
"We cannot scan it properly." Captain Leda explained to her counterpart. "We call it a Nebula for want of a better term, but it is actually...something else."
"Is it sentient? Like Vampire Me says?" Leda asked her.
"If so it is not a sentience we can understand. It is, according to her, a being of pure chaos. Neither the laws of physics, nor of magic apply to it. And yet, music can contain it."
"Let's hope so." Leda's hand once more rested on her belly, in an unconscious gesture of protection. As if she could hug her unborn child through the flesh of her body.
"It irks you, does it not, to be left behind in this way?"
Leda smirked. "In a way I suppose. Normally I'd be charging into battle for friend and family, yeah. But when it comes to more existential stuff...if that's the right word, my instinct is to run away."
"You run towards physical danger, but flee from emotional turmoil?"
"That's the one. So going up against a fascist megalomaniacal version of myself? Someone who looks like me but represents everything I despise, scares the shit out of me." She looked down at her abdomen. "Thanks for giving me an out." she cooed.
"Captain?"
"Yes Commander?"
"We're ready. Captain."
"Very good. You may commence."
"Aye aye, Captain Mom!" Sila broke in. It was a testament to the stress they were all feeling that the emotionless Space Elf snorted in brief laughter.
The bards assembled from across the multiverse began to play, using their instincts to tap into the music of the spheres.
"Now we have to trust our other selves to put an end to the disturbance at it's source."
"Is it sentient? Like Vampire Me says?" Leda asked her.
"If so it is not a sentience we can understand. It is, according to her, a being of pure chaos. Neither the laws of physics, nor of magic apply to it. And yet, music can contain it."
"Let's hope so." Leda's hand once more rested on her belly, in an unconscious gesture of protection. As if she could hug her unborn child through the flesh of her body.
"It irks you, does it not, to be left behind in this way?"
Leda smirked. "In a way I suppose. Normally I'd be charging into battle for friend and family, yeah. But when it comes to more existential stuff...if that's the right word, my instinct is to run away."
"You run towards physical danger, but flee from emotional turmoil?"
"That's the one. So going up against a fascist megalomaniacal version of myself? Someone who looks like me but represents everything I despise, scares the shit out of me." She looked down at her abdomen. "Thanks for giving me an out." she cooed.
"Captain?"
"Yes Commander?"
"We're ready. Captain."
"Very good. You may commence."
"Aye aye, Captain Mom!" Sila broke in. It was a testament to the stress they were all feeling that the emotionless Space Elf snorted in brief laughter.
The bards assembled from across the multiverse began to play, using their instincts to tap into the music of the spheres.
"Now we have to trust our other selves to put an end to the disturbance at it's source."
A safe distance from the Azathoth Nebula
“The music of the spheres?” Kessler asked.
Captain Leda nodded. “A poetic term for the frequencies emitted by each Universe. And, in essence, a lullaby keeping the entity known as Azathoth asleep. Or at least complacent. As the universes succumb to chaos, the song is changed. The activity we have observed in the nebula is due to this entity stirring.”
“And its activity further weakens the natural, meta-physical barriers between universes, speeding up the process. What happens when it fully awakens?”
“In all likelihood, all sentient life will have already been extinguished.”
“that's what I love about you Captain, you always look on the bright side.”
“So what can we do?”
“My Vampiric doppleganger has provided us with the location of the source of the disturbance. I suggest that we send a strike team to shut it down, while another group stays here and attempt to slow the nebula's expansion.
“And how the hell do we do that?”
“Why with bardic magic of course.”
* * * *
“So we channel the vibratory frequencies through the deflector, directly into the nebula to counteract the effects of whatever evil Leda is doing?” Sila asked.
“Right. And once your mother has shut her down, the multi-verse should be able to correct for the error and Azathoth will once more be at rest.”
“So we're saving all of creation through the power of song.”
“...Yes I suppose we are.”
“I just had to say that out loud. Okay everybody! Let's rock this baby back to sleep!”
“That last part did not need to be said out loud.”
“No I think it did.”
* * * *
“If this doesn't work,” Vampire Leda said, “If my universe isn't restored, promise you'll stake me?”
“Are you sure that's what you want?”
“Yes. I miss my sires, my friends, even my enemies. No one hurled threats and curses like Karla.”
“Did you say sires? Plural?”
“Yeah. Eleanor and William both fed me their blood after Eleanor drained me.”
Captain Leda nodded. “A poetic term for the frequencies emitted by each Universe. And, in essence, a lullaby keeping the entity known as Azathoth asleep. Or at least complacent. As the universes succumb to chaos, the song is changed. The activity we have observed in the nebula is due to this entity stirring.”
“And its activity further weakens the natural, meta-physical barriers between universes, speeding up the process. What happens when it fully awakens?”
“In all likelihood, all sentient life will have already been extinguished.”
“that's what I love about you Captain, you always look on the bright side.”
“So what can we do?”
“My Vampiric doppleganger has provided us with the location of the source of the disturbance. I suggest that we send a strike team to shut it down, while another group stays here and attempt to slow the nebula's expansion.
“And how the hell do we do that?”
“Why with bardic magic of course.”
* * * *
“So we channel the vibratory frequencies through the deflector, directly into the nebula to counteract the effects of whatever evil Leda is doing?” Sila asked.
“Right. And once your mother has shut her down, the multi-verse should be able to correct for the error and Azathoth will once more be at rest.”
“So we're saving all of creation through the power of song.”
“...Yes I suppose we are.”
“I just had to say that out loud. Okay everybody! Let's rock this baby back to sleep!”
“That last part did not need to be said out loud.”
“No I think it did.”
* * * *
“If this doesn't work,” Vampire Leda said, “If my universe isn't restored, promise you'll stake me?”
“Are you sure that's what you want?”
“Yes. I miss my sires, my friends, even my enemies. No one hurled threats and curses like Karla.”
“Did you say sires? Plural?”
“Yeah. Eleanor and William both fed me their blood after Eleanor drained me.”
Email sent to Leda's friends and family
*frustrated sigh* You know what's not fun? Finding out that an evil, bigoted version of yourself from an alternate timeline is pissed at you for not also being a bigot and sent a psychotic version of yourself to kill you for it.
Well, technically she sent the psychotic version to kill another non-bigoted version of me, but Great Grandma Mab rescued her in the nick of time.
Apparently there's a big snafu in the multiverse because someone (I'm looking at you, evil bigoted me) can't stop fucking around.
I gotta go deal with this before another nothing wipes out creation.
-Leda
Second E-Mail
Okay now I'm in space. Just met a Vampire me who was sent to kill Space Girl me but turned against Evil me as revenge for destroying Vampire me's reality.
There's a lot of me here, trying to figure out what to do about this. Also my great-great-something something grand child who is blue and a cyborg.
-Leda
PS: Everyone says hi.
PPS: Cowgirl me is still besties with Ember, 'cept that version of Ember prefers turning into a horse rather than an Elf.
Well, technically she sent the psychotic version to kill another non-bigoted version of me, but Great Grandma Mab rescued her in the nick of time.
Apparently there's a big snafu in the multiverse because someone (I'm looking at you, evil bigoted me) can't stop fucking around.
I gotta go deal with this before another nothing wipes out creation.
-Leda
Second E-Mail
Okay now I'm in space. Just met a Vampire me who was sent to kill Space Girl me but turned against Evil me as revenge for destroying Vampire me's reality.
There's a lot of me here, trying to figure out what to do about this. Also my great-great-something something grand child who is blue and a cyborg.
-Leda
PS: Everyone says hi.
PPS: Cowgirl me is still besties with Ember, 'cept that version of Ember prefers turning into a horse rather than an Elf.
Bordertown, Someday, Somewhere
"As a matter of fact," Leda said matter of factly, "The fact that I fucked up so much when I was a kid is exactly why I'm the one to lecture you all about it. I learned the hard way, so hopefully, you won't have to."
Leda didn't remember if Headmistress Washburn had taught any classes or even workshops at Fandom. But if the workload of actually running the school was any indication, Leda was inclined to doubt it. Oh plus being a mother. And in her own case, there was also keeping a close eye on the situation back in Faerie.
Her voluntary exile had gone rather smoothly, once the revolution had made it's intentions clear. The leaders had been aware of her political leanings, though they hadn't known quite what to make of the rumors that the very anarchist texts they subscribed to had been imported by the queen herself.
"Here's the risk with revolutions," Leda had said to them during the negotiations, "From what I've seen of Earth history, way too often the regime being rebelled against is replaced by one just as bad, if not worse. So yeah, I'll abdicate, happy to. But don't think for a second that if you turn out to be a fascist in anarchist's clothing, I won't be back to show you what a real anarchist can do."
So far that hadn't been necessary, and she was just as glad. She had been quite pleased to retire to Bordertown. Not long after her arrival, she'd procured a weird looking palace that hadn't always been there, and turned it into the Bordertown Academy. A school that in addition to attracting Fandom Style weirdness, had become a haven for the dispossessed, just like her old Alma Mater had.
"But maybe lecture's the wrong word." she went on. "This was meant to be a group therapy session or something, not a class. Maybe a...what's the word?"
"Seminar?" one of the kids suggested.
"Sure."
* * * * *
The Dark Elf waited in the shadows just outside her office. He was impressed to see that this version of the Danan matriarch had learned from her past. Red brick dust at almost every entrance, wards all over the place. But no security system was perfect, and he knew every loophole.
While he waited, he began to hum to himself. It was a habit he'd never quite managed to break. The tune was otherworldly, not what most beings would consider to be music. One human writer who'd heard it had described it as droning, and monotonous, but that man had only heard a fraction of the song. It was the song that kept the Dark Elf's master content and asleep.
Which made it really annoying that it had been such an earworm. After all, the Dark Elf wanted to wake his master. As chaotic as these world bound creatures might find existence to be, it was stiflingly ordered to those who could see the real workings of the universe.
And so, while the Dark Elf worked to keep it's master content and undisturbed by pesky mortal dreamers, he also looked for ways to shake things up. And he believed he'd finally found the right tool.
"Ah, there you are my dear." he grinned, stepping out of the gloom to block Leda's way.
While Lady Alton searched the multiverse for a pure version of Faerie with which to base her new world order upon, she kept finding these other versions of herself. Versions that were, in her mind, abominations. And while it didn't really have anything to do with her overall plans, she occasionally sent assassins after these others.
One thing that seemed to remain a constant throughout the worlds, Lady Alton and her alternates would face any physical danger without hesitation, but give them an emotional challenge, and they balked. Hence, Lady Alton refusing to kill her alternate versions herself.
Leda didn't remember if Headmistress Washburn had taught any classes or even workshops at Fandom. But if the workload of actually running the school was any indication, Leda was inclined to doubt it. Oh plus being a mother. And in her own case, there was also keeping a close eye on the situation back in Faerie.
Her voluntary exile had gone rather smoothly, once the revolution had made it's intentions clear. The leaders had been aware of her political leanings, though they hadn't known quite what to make of the rumors that the very anarchist texts they subscribed to had been imported by the queen herself.
"Here's the risk with revolutions," Leda had said to them during the negotiations, "From what I've seen of Earth history, way too often the regime being rebelled against is replaced by one just as bad, if not worse. So yeah, I'll abdicate, happy to. But don't think for a second that if you turn out to be a fascist in anarchist's clothing, I won't be back to show you what a real anarchist can do."
So far that hadn't been necessary, and she was just as glad. She had been quite pleased to retire to Bordertown. Not long after her arrival, she'd procured a weird looking palace that hadn't always been there, and turned it into the Bordertown Academy. A school that in addition to attracting Fandom Style weirdness, had become a haven for the dispossessed, just like her old Alma Mater had.
"But maybe lecture's the wrong word." she went on. "This was meant to be a group therapy session or something, not a class. Maybe a...what's the word?"
"Seminar?" one of the kids suggested.
"Sure."
* * * * *
The Dark Elf waited in the shadows just outside her office. He was impressed to see that this version of the Danan matriarch had learned from her past. Red brick dust at almost every entrance, wards all over the place. But no security system was perfect, and he knew every loophole.
While he waited, he began to hum to himself. It was a habit he'd never quite managed to break. The tune was otherworldly, not what most beings would consider to be music. One human writer who'd heard it had described it as droning, and monotonous, but that man had only heard a fraction of the song. It was the song that kept the Dark Elf's master content and asleep.
Which made it really annoying that it had been such an earworm. After all, the Dark Elf wanted to wake his master. As chaotic as these world bound creatures might find existence to be, it was stiflingly ordered to those who could see the real workings of the universe.
And so, while the Dark Elf worked to keep it's master content and undisturbed by pesky mortal dreamers, he also looked for ways to shake things up. And he believed he'd finally found the right tool.
"Ah, there you are my dear." he grinned, stepping out of the gloom to block Leda's way.
While Lady Alton searched the multiverse for a pure version of Faerie with which to base her new world order upon, she kept finding these other versions of herself. Versions that were, in her mind, abominations. And while it didn't really have anything to do with her overall plans, she occasionally sent assassins after these others.
One thing that seemed to remain a constant throughout the worlds, Lady Alton and her alternates would face any physical danger without hesitation, but give them an emotional challenge, and they balked. Hence, Lady Alton refusing to kill her alternate versions herself.
Bordertown of the Wastelands
"This place is massive," Wanwa observed.
"Walter." Walter nodded his agreement. He led the way down into the catacombs of the castle, carrying Crow in a sling on his back.
"Believe it or not," Crow said, "This place used to be a school. Before the storm, I mean. Kids from all over came here to learn."
"Learn what?"
"All sorts of things." The Danan's tone was wistful and melancholy. Not for the first time, the Bowslinger wondered about her inter-dimensional twin. But like herself, she didn't seem to be one to volunteer information. "The teachers were from all over as well."
Crow and Walter led them into a cavernous chamber filled with rune-carved standing stones and old computer banks.
"What the hell is this?"
"The heart of Bordertown," Danan gasped, "I didn't think it was real!"
Crow explained how he and Walter had found it while exploring, but had only been able to divine some of what it meant.
"Some kind of long dormant, magical artificial intelligence. Even before the worlds ended, Bordertown existed on a nexus of ley lines. They're what powered it."
"What did it do?"
"It led at risk kids here, and the adults to teach and protect them. And occasionally cause weird shit to happen." Danan's chuckled, remembering. "We used to joke about the town being alive, I guess it wasn't just a myth after all."
She reached out and laid a hand on one of the stones. "B-Town was protective, but it had a wacky sense of humor too."
"The storm, fried it's brain I guess," Crow said softly. "But I think I can get in synch with what's left, and hopefully tell you where this Dark Elf of yours went. Because you need to find him Wanwa. It's more important than you realize."
"Care to elaborate on that?"
"Love to, but I don't know any more than that. Being prophetic isn't all it's cracked up to be I'm afraid."
"Walter." Walter nodded his agreement. He led the way down into the catacombs of the castle, carrying Crow in a sling on his back.
"Believe it or not," Crow said, "This place used to be a school. Before the storm, I mean. Kids from all over came here to learn."
"Learn what?"
"All sorts of things." The Danan's tone was wistful and melancholy. Not for the first time, the Bowslinger wondered about her inter-dimensional twin. But like herself, she didn't seem to be one to volunteer information. "The teachers were from all over as well."
Crow and Walter led them into a cavernous chamber filled with rune-carved standing stones and old computer banks.
"What the hell is this?"
"The heart of Bordertown," Danan gasped, "I didn't think it was real!"
Crow explained how he and Walter had found it while exploring, but had only been able to divine some of what it meant.
"Some kind of long dormant, magical artificial intelligence. Even before the worlds ended, Bordertown existed on a nexus of ley lines. They're what powered it."
"What did it do?"
"It led at risk kids here, and the adults to teach and protect them. And occasionally cause weird shit to happen." Danan's chuckled, remembering. "We used to joke about the town being alive, I guess it wasn't just a myth after all."
She reached out and laid a hand on one of the stones. "B-Town was protective, but it had a wacky sense of humor too."
"The storm, fried it's brain I guess," Crow said softly. "But I think I can get in synch with what's left, and hopefully tell you where this Dark Elf of yours went. Because you need to find him Wanwa. It's more important than you realize."
"Care to elaborate on that?"
"Love to, but I don't know any more than that. Being prophetic isn't all it's cracked up to be I'm afraid."
On the Border of Chaos
“Who runs Bordertown?” the Crow smirked mellowly.
When the cosmic storm had ripped apart the border between Faerie and Earth, both realms had been ravaged beyond hope. Now The Danan, heir to the throne of a land that no longer existed, held one of the last remaining cities together. But not alone.
Bordertown was where the storm had erupted, and had somehow been spared the brunt of it. Crow said it was like being in the eye of a hurricane. He had once been a climber of great skill, but the storm had left him paralyzed. At the same time, it had endowed him with as yet unmeasured mystical insight.
His friend, Walter, had been a scrawny mechanic, a genius really. But now he was a physical powerhouse, so stricken with aphasia that he could only say his own name.
“Who runs Bordertown?” Crow asked again.
“Was I doing it again?” Danan asked. Every time Crow thought she needed it, he reminded her that she needed this odd duo. Sure, she had the confidence of the people. She kept them going. But Crow and Walter kept everything running.
“Hey uh, Danan?” one of her lieutenants interrupted their friendly confrontation. “You've got a visitor, and I don't think you're going to believe this if I just tell you.”
Refugees from the Wastelands were getting rarer, but not enough to spark this reaction. Curious, she followed her lieutenant to the reception hall. Walter followed, carrying Crow. Why the big guy insisted on that, rather than a wheelchair, was none of Danan's business.
When she saw the newcomer, she realized why she had to see it to believe it.
The Bowslinger looked up from the map she'd been studying, and saw why the aide had been so jumpy.
“Well.” she drawled. “Hello, me.”
When the cosmic storm had ripped apart the border between Faerie and Earth, both realms had been ravaged beyond hope. Now The Danan, heir to the throne of a land that no longer existed, held one of the last remaining cities together. But not alone.
Bordertown was where the storm had erupted, and had somehow been spared the brunt of it. Crow said it was like being in the eye of a hurricane. He had once been a climber of great skill, but the storm had left him paralyzed. At the same time, it had endowed him with as yet unmeasured mystical insight.
His friend, Walter, had been a scrawny mechanic, a genius really. But now he was a physical powerhouse, so stricken with aphasia that he could only say his own name.
“Who runs Bordertown?” Crow asked again.
“Was I doing it again?” Danan asked. Every time Crow thought she needed it, he reminded her that she needed this odd duo. Sure, she had the confidence of the people. She kept them going. But Crow and Walter kept everything running.
“Hey uh, Danan?” one of her lieutenants interrupted their friendly confrontation. “You've got a visitor, and I don't think you're going to believe this if I just tell you.”
Refugees from the Wastelands were getting rarer, but not enough to spark this reaction. Curious, she followed her lieutenant to the reception hall. Walter followed, carrying Crow. Why the big guy insisted on that, rather than a wheelchair, was none of Danan's business.
When she saw the newcomer, she realized why she had to see it to believe it.
The Bowslinger looked up from the map she'd been studying, and saw why the aide had been so jumpy.
“Well.” she drawled. “Hello, me.”
Alternate Faerie, Former Safehold of House Alton
Lady Alton and her Vampiric doppleganger stared in undisguised shock at the third of their trio.
“What?” Macha, as she called herself, demanded. Her skin was still tinted blue from the woad that was her addiction, but it was hard to tell, as she was also quite drenched in blood. “I managed to kill only the bad guys this time.”
“Um,” the Vampire ventured. “Is any of that blood yours?”
Macha shrugged. “Could be. Won't know for sure till I've cleaned up and come down.” She hated that part.
*****
Lady Alton fumed. Everywhere she looked, every world, every iteration of Faerie, the taint of the other had corrupted her land and people.
Ever since she'd killed Corwyn, the former master of House Alton, she'd made it her life's work to fulfill his vision of the True Lands cleansed of the rot of the False Realm. But due to her parents' misguided efforts, the corruption had spread so far that she couldn't even be sure what was actually part of Elven culture, and what had been taken from the mortals. So she searched. Searched for a pure version of Faerie to serve as an example.
The Dark Elf came to her more and more often now. Encouraging her, helping her. It was he who had first showed her how to tap into the center of all creation, to peer and reach into other worlds.
“You will find the purity you seek.” he assured her. “You only need to reach deeper. Search further.”
And she did. Never mind the collateral damage.
“What?” Macha, as she called herself, demanded. Her skin was still tinted blue from the woad that was her addiction, but it was hard to tell, as she was also quite drenched in blood. “I managed to kill only the bad guys this time.”
“Um,” the Vampire ventured. “Is any of that blood yours?”
Macha shrugged. “Could be. Won't know for sure till I've cleaned up and come down.” She hated that part.
*****
Lady Alton fumed. Everywhere she looked, every world, every iteration of Faerie, the taint of the other had corrupted her land and people.
Ever since she'd killed Corwyn, the former master of House Alton, she'd made it her life's work to fulfill his vision of the True Lands cleansed of the rot of the False Realm. But due to her parents' misguided efforts, the corruption had spread so far that she couldn't even be sure what was actually part of Elven culture, and what had been taken from the mortals. So she searched. Searched for a pure version of Faerie to serve as an example.
The Dark Elf came to her more and more often now. Encouraging her, helping her. It was he who had first showed her how to tap into the center of all creation, to peer and reach into other worlds.
“You will find the purity you seek.” he assured her. “You only need to reach deeper. Search further.”
And she did. Never mind the collateral damage.
Danan Estate, Wednesday Evening
"Hello?" Malantha the Gorgon called out. "LedaQueen? TristanConsort?"
"They're on the rain deck Malantha." Lady Danan told her, glancing up from where she was constructing an elaborate castle out of lego with some of the children. "I'm afraid Leda's had a hard day."
That was putting it mildly. Though her frustrations today had not necessarily been worse than usual,
"Sometimes it all catches up to her." Tristan explained, when she found him and Leda. They were curled up together on the couch, but Leda was wrapped up snugly in a blanket, looking more unhappy than Malantha had ever seen her. Her hair writhed in sympathy, wanting to add their warmth.
She immediately went to Leda's other side and snuggled up to her, before seeing something on the table before them.
HOW TO CARE FOR A SAD PERSON
She studied the directions and noticed the wide array of (mostly caffinated) snacks.
"I see." she said. "But, what is a sushi roll?"
"They're on the rain deck Malantha." Lady Danan told her, glancing up from where she was constructing an elaborate castle out of lego with some of the children. "I'm afraid Leda's had a hard day."
That was putting it mildly. Though her frustrations today had not necessarily been worse than usual,
"Sometimes it all catches up to her." Tristan explained, when she found him and Leda. They were curled up together on the couch, but Leda was wrapped up snugly in a blanket, looking more unhappy than Malantha had ever seen her. Her hair writhed in sympathy, wanting to add their warmth.
She immediately went to Leda's other side and snuggled up to her, before seeing something on the table before them.
HOW TO CARE FOR A SAD PERSON
She studied the directions and noticed the wide array of (mostly caffinated) snacks.
"I see." she said. "But, what is a sushi roll?"
Another Leda, Another Earth
( The Rowan Gentleman )
( Return of the Rowan Gentleman )
( Survivors )
"Hey Baby.
"I suppose you never thought you'd hear my voice again. That's what she told you isn't it. Did she tell you I wasn't coming for you? Did she tell you I was dead? Hell, maybe she thought I was. She certainly tried her damndest to get rid of me. That...I can't think of a word bad enough to describe her. She thought she could kill me. She thought she could keep me from you. She underestimated my determination. My...love, for you.
"Yes, I love you. I'm sorry I never said it before. But...not as sorry as I am for underestimating her. Her obsession, her insanity. Her cruelty. I told you once I could protect you, that I'd never let anything happen to you, and I failed you.
"It's my fault she got to you, and I pray you can forgive me, but I don't know if I can forgive myself.
"But...but it's okay now. This time I can truly promise you that she will never hurt you again.
"For what it's worth, I made it last. I made her pay for every ounce of pain she caused you. But it's not enough. When I see you lying here, your wounds still fresh, I wish I could kill her all over again.
"It's not enough, and it's not okay and it won't be okay until I know that you're okay. Please be okay my darling.
Please, wake up!"
( Return of the Rowan Gentleman )
( Survivors )
"Hey Baby.
"I suppose you never thought you'd hear my voice again. That's what she told you isn't it. Did she tell you I wasn't coming for you? Did she tell you I was dead? Hell, maybe she thought I was. She certainly tried her damndest to get rid of me. That...I can't think of a word bad enough to describe her. She thought she could kill me. She thought she could keep me from you. She underestimated my determination. My...love, for you.
"Yes, I love you. I'm sorry I never said it before. But...not as sorry as I am for underestimating her. Her obsession, her insanity. Her cruelty. I told you once I could protect you, that I'd never let anything happen to you, and I failed you.
"It's my fault she got to you, and I pray you can forgive me, but I don't know if I can forgive myself.
"But...but it's okay now. This time I can truly promise you that she will never hurt you again.
"For what it's worth, I made it last. I made her pay for every ounce of pain she caused you. But it's not enough. When I see you lying here, your wounds still fresh, I wish I could kill her all over again.
"It's not enough, and it's not okay and it won't be okay until I know that you're okay. Please be okay my darling.
Please, wake up!"