C2 Oleander

Two weeks after they settled in the human realm, Genève ran out of patience. She'd been begging her mother and Aunt Adonis to let her see Talon since the day they had arrived.

Every day, they asked her to give it some time. Her mother pleaded with her, “Derik must blame us for his fall from grace. He is hurting and angry. They will not protect you."

While she waited, she searched for the ingredients to make her magical magical brownies. She had to go to multiple shops to find what was neede but it helped to take her mind off things. On the fourth turn of the moon, when she had located all the elements but one, a reply arrived.

My dearest Genève, how could we ever blame you? Our parents bear this burden; the fault is theirs alone. My father spends his days sick with grief. He lost his wife, mistress, and best friend all in one day.

He has tried more than once to reach out to your mother, but all the letters get returned. We are of no risk to you. I need to see you. Please come quickly, my dear. Your presence will make living bearable again.

Genève felt blistering anger when she realized that her mother had known the entire time that she was in no jeopardy. She understood now that her mother just wanted to keep them apart.

The rage was short-lived, though, as Genève could not hide her excitement. She decided that she would set out as soon as she made a batch of her magic brownies. They were a perfect way to relieve pain, which was overpowering the very essence of the home of the man she loved.

One bite would render someone incapable of feeling sad for hours. Genève remembered her mother keeping her magical herbs in the house, and she was sure Oleander had the last ingredient she needed, so Genève began a frantic search of the cupboards.

Her mother walked in just as Genève started panicking and asked, “What has gotten into you? What on earth are you doing?”

Genève sighed, handed her the telegram, and explained, “I am trying to find ground amber so I can make a batch of brownies. Once I finish making them, I will be leaving. His father does not blame us, and I cannot go another day without seeing Talon. I will forgive all of your selfish lies if you just help me find this last ingredient."

Oleander regarded her daughter with a weary look, which was tainted with another emotion that Genève could not figure out.

“Yes, I will assist you, darling. As a matter of fact, I have a whole jar of amber in my chamber. I will get it. You are right–it is time to settle this once and for all.”

Oleander went into her room and began rifling through her herbs. She found one with a pinch of powder in it. Shaking her head, she picked up a second container. It was almost half full. She dumped the second one into the first and happily walked into the kitchen, shaking the spice as she passed.

Genève and her mother spent half an hour mixing ingredients and watching the wood-fired oven. She could not help but be surprised by how nice her mother was being. She thought that, just maybe, the human realm and losing her husband had finally brought her mother to her senses. Maybe coming face-to-face with reality was the only way to cure her narcissism.

As Genève entered Talon's home, pure joy overpowered her. With her arms wrapped around him, peace overcame her. All was now right with the world. Genève scanned the compact house, searching for Derik.

He was all alone, sitting in a darkened area. She signaled him over and hugged him close. Talon called for his two brothers, and they all sat down to have brownies and catch up. The bliss radiating through the chamber was almost instant; it felt just like old times again.

Suddenly Genève realized that it was getting late, and Oleander had told her to be home before nightfall.

No one wanted to disappoint Oleander since it seemed like she was trying to be a good mother for the first time in her life. Genève got up to leave, but Talon would not hear of her walking home by herself. She reluctantly hugged everyone goodbye, and they set out on their way.

Outside the sky was gray, yet the moon was bright. Ten minutes into their journey, Talon's entire demeanor changed. His breathing became raspy, and it sounded as if there was fluid somehow trapped in his throat, trying to escape.

Genève wordlessly willed him to cough. She walked over to him and grabbed his hand, noticing that his skin had grown cold to the touch and his face had grown disturbingly pale. With a smile, she stared him in the eyes and only half-joked, “Does my gallant knight need to stop and rest?"

He looked at her. Unable to hide his fear, he simply nodded. His legs buckled, and he hit the ground. Within seconds, Genève noticed his chest was sinking in, and his ribs protruded a little more as he struggled to breathe.

Genève’s smile died a slow death as she fell to her knees, taking Talon in her arms. He reached out and touched her face, smiling weakly. Even now he tried his hardest to protect her from the inevitability of what was to come.

“You are my greatest treasure, my truest friend; alike in death, our devotion will never end. Our souls will one day meet again," he whispered as he closed his eyes for the last time, and one last tear rolled down his cheek.

Genève had never felt the level of pain and fear she had at that moment. She had thought nothing could hurt her more than the death of her father.

Oh, but she was wrong. Adrenaline coursed through her body, and her heart suffered as if it were a rope bridge holding a thousand armies. The weight of it all would be too much, and she would surely break into a million tiny pieces.

Her thoughts were racing, keeping pace with her feet while running to get help. She told herself aloud, “Breathe in, breathe out. Pull yourself together, Genève.”

There was no time for mistakes. They hadn't made it very far, and they were closer to Talon's residence, so that is where she ran as fast as her feet would go.

As she ran, she repeated to herself, “He cannot be lost, there is no way. This is just a dream or a mean joke.”

Finally, Talon's house appeared in front of her. She slammed open the wooden door, seeking answers but coming up short. What was now in her view stopped her dead in her tracks.

She opened her mouth and screamed as loud as her voice would go. Genève was sure she would never stop screaming. The world started spinning, and her eyes closed as she slipped into sweet blissful nothingness.