Fantasy Descendants of the Curse

[Valjean24601]

"Sit! Sit down! Oh damn it!" Gaston helped her to sit up against a nearby tree and was quick to untuck his shirt from his belt and wrap off af a chunk of the blouse to wrap around Phiona's arm tightly
If only Mary were here. She'd know what to do.
Gaston shook his head quickly to dismiss the thought. He could handle this. There was no reason he couldn't and there was no reason to need Mary either.

 

[Valjean24601]

He nodded slowly and tipped his head to the side closing his eyes as she fiddled with his too long, mopping red fair.
"And if we can't? Perhaps there's something wrong with one of us?"

 

[EvelienLocalArtist]

"Gaston what are you-?" She tried to ask but watching her blood soak into the cream colored scrap of fabric she flet like she was going to be sick. "Oh...golly goodness." She muttered looking away from her arm. "We- we should go..." Her voice shook as she stood up and used Gaston for support as she made her way over to the pinic blanket and tore off a large piece and used it to cover the blood stains so she wouldn't have to look at it anymore. "My father should be able to fix it...maybe..." She muttered knowing she could cauterize it with her powers but that would cause it to scar and she would be left with nerve damage. So she needed to get to her father quickly to keep anymore damage from happening. Quickly as her weak body would let her she folded the blanket up with everything still in it and tossed it onto her cart before then attempting to mount her horse though with how much her head was spinning at the thought of all the blood she had a hard time staying conscious.

 

[EvelienLocalArtist]

Amber shrugged, "Then we will just raise our boys to be the strongest wolves in the country." She said with a gently chuckle, "Or maybe we can just adopt some lost pup we find." She smirked. "Though to say something is wrong with us would be a terrible understatement." Her fingers gently traced the white scars on Apollo's chest as if to help make her point, though she wasn't just referring to their physical issues.

 

[Valjean24601]

"Stop! Phiona, stop!"
Gaston sighed as he carefully pulled her down from off her stirrup. The girl was entirely too pale and on the verge of passing out, what made he think she could hop on a horse?
His hand sparked violet as he pulled her into his arm and gently guided her over to his horse, all the while numbing the pain in her arm. He helped her up on top of his horse, draping his coat up around her shoulders. Grabbing the reins of the other horse before climbing into the saddle on his own behind Phiona.
"Hold tightly."
He nudged his horse onward and towards Phiona's home.

 

[Valjean24601]

"An understatement? Do tell, what's wrong with me? Despite the fact I can't seem to produce any daughters that is."
He chuckled softly, relaxing further into his mate's gentle touch.

 

[EvelienLocalArtist]

Phiona was holding onto him with all her might as they rode on, which was about the same strength as a sleeping newborn.

Yet eventually they made it her home. It was quite the large house, boardering on a mansion and had a large fountain in the front yard that you had to ride around in order to get to the large front door. The most eye catching part of the house, besides the yard and the massive ornate doors were the stained glass windows. There were fifteen of them on the front of the house each depicting a different animal, with the fifteenth being a small black rabbit.

Before Gaston could enjoy the view let alone even get off his horse there was a crowd of servents and men of different ages bursting out into the yard.

"Who are you?" Servents demanded, "Miss Phiona?!" "I'll go get the master!" "What happened?!"

All this and more came from the servents but it was the group of men that took Phiona from Gaston and rushed her inside. Though different they all held traits of pale skin, dark hair, and dark eyes, they were Phiona's brothers. Like the protective brothers they were they thanked Gaston for bringing Phiona here, but then refused to let this stranger follow then past the front hall, instead having him wait there surrounded by what felt more like a museum than the inside of a house. There were exotic animals of all sorts mounted on every wall, and artifacts both magical and not ranging from ancient Chinese scrolls to Native American head dresses.

Though he only had to wait mere moments before a spritely woman of her early 40's came rushing down the stairs into the front hall. Her curly dark brown locks were falling out of what was once a nice Gibson bun. Her frightful eyes scanned the room quickly landed on Gaston.

"Hello, my good sir and welcome to my home, I am Lily Grewillow, and you are?" Her voice shook as she curtsied to him and extended her hand, she trying to be polite even though you could clearly tell she was searching for her daughter.

 

[EvelienLocalArtist]

Amber grinned at that. "Oh don't get me started!" She teased. "First of all you are far too literate for the big strong alpha wolf you try to be. It's one thing to read a page torn out of a book, but to have memorized as many plays, poems and stories as you have would put a human or witch to shame in no time!" She snickered. "Oh and you're too nice too the pups, my father tried to eat my brother twice by the time he was their age!" She continued. "Your hair is too red, your ears are pointed at a different angle than mine, and you're belly button is odd too, you're the only person I have meet who has one like yours. Oh! And on top of all that, your nose is slightly crooked!" She giggled then paused for a second. "Even though that is technically my father's fault."

 

[Valjean24601]

Gaston was baffled by the sheer size of the home and of the Grewillow family. The ornate aspect of it greatly rivalled that of the Forticoven home but still it felt familiar, as all coven houses seemed to be.
He straightened himself before speaking.
"Gaston Forticoven. I'm sorry I had to arrive in such a manner."

 

[EvelienLocalArtist]

Lily Grewillow smiled politely. "Oh no, don't apologize I am grateful for your arrival, I can't image what would have happened to my poor darling without you." She said briefly looking up stairs but not seeing anything she looked back to Gaston. "You'll have to forgive me for all the commotion, my husband is currently away, but he should be back sometime this afternoon." She said then after a small pause gestured down the hall. "Care to join me? I'd like to ask you some questions." With that she lead him down to the parlor where she sat down gracefully in a large maroon leather chair, the armrests were made from long and winding antlers as was the chair across from her that she gestured for Gaston to sit in. "Gaston Forticoven... Are you by chance related to Malcolm and Belladonna Forticoven?" She said as the rushing of footsteps were heard above them but she ignored it knowing it was her children helping Phiona, who she prayed was okay now.

 

[EvelienLocalArtist]

(Back at the Forticoven Coven)

The chaos infront of Phiona's room has calmed and the young man responsible for the enchanted writing got nothing more than a slap on the wrist for what he did.

Meanwhile Mary had Jacques in the infirmary she had managed to get him to calm down and was now holding him close in her arms. "What happened sweetie?" Mary asked gently when Jacques had stopped shaking and no longer bursting with green magic.

She blamed herself for the way he was. While she was pregnant with him she was using dark magic to take the power from other witches and the things they enchanted. Though she never took enough to kill the living when she took from them it often left them weaker and ill. It was also while she was pregnant that she took the last remains of Felicity and Ben's magic when their bodies were found. It was a dark secret she kept from everyone, as she thought it only affected her. It was when Jacques was born that she saw how wrong she was. So much of her stolen power seeped into her unborn son overwhelming him and tainting the bright future he could have had. She had learned her wrong doings and stopped when Jacques was born, but it was too late. So many times she had tried to drain him of excess power, but it was part of him melded into his very being and she feared what would happen to her beloved son should she try to remove anymore.

She was responsible for him, and responsible for everything he has done. But it was a burden she would take to the grave with her. The doctors, her family, not even her ex-husband knew she had practiced dark magic, not even Jacques himself. No he would never know. That was why she must take care of him, this was her fault, this was all her fault.

 

[Valjean24601]

Apollo laughed loudly, sitting up on his elbows before pulling himself onto his knees and leaping onto his mate with a grin, his throaty chuckles never ceasing as he playfully tackled her.
"You know Amber-- I completely agree! I have been far too kind to the pups and yourself! I should make the three of you a three course meal!"
He growled playfully and nibbled at the base of her throat and her earlobe.

 

[Valjean24601]

Gaston fallowed suit and sat on a long ornate and scrolling green loveseat, sitting prominently and poised. It seemed only appropriate as he was a visitor in another coven house.
"My mother and father. Belladonna has recently passed and my father aging quickly and unable to carry out his duties. I have been guiding House Forticoven as regent. I'm surprised your coven hasn't been notified."

 

[Valjean24601]

"Phiona-"
Jacques shook his head slowly in disbelief and rubbed his temples, a splitting migraine burning through the front of his head after such a horrific fit.
"The rumours and what they did to her and how upset she was. I was so angry... I was so-- enraged."

 

[EvelienLocalArtist]

Amber gasped as she was tackled smirking as he nibbled at her, she was glad that they were able to go back to the ways of playfulness after such tense times, the fight with the other pack and then their small quarrel afterward. Taking a small moment she paused pulling Apollo away looking into her mate's eyes. "I love you." she whispered softly after a moment of silence her hands coming up and stroking his cheek.

 

[EvelienLocalArtist]

(Aneirin Ryhnaen is the head of the coven that Phiona's family belongs to.)

Lily Grewillow nodded apologetically. "I'm sorry to hear that, your parents were some of the best in the country." she gave him a gentle smile, then continued. "I wouldn't know if Aneirin Ryhnaen would know about it or not though, my husband and I don't have much back and forth communication with them. We simply send the information and samples we collect from our travels. The most they tell us is how much our patrons the coven of Kornwhich have donated to our expeditions." She informed him with her eyes looking upstairs now seeing that the noises upstairs had stopped. "Mr. Forticoven...May I ask you what happened? Was it highway men? An animal? I need to know..." She asked, her voice quite, almost a whisper.

 

[EvelienLocalArtist]

"Oh sweet heart.." Mary coed patting Jacques's hair trying to use her magic to help with his head ache. "You had me so worried, you needn't be so worked up over this. Phiona is a strong woman, she can take care of herself." She said with a smile trying to keep her son from having another outburst.

 

[Valjean24601]

"No, no, no foul play involved at all. It was more so an accident. Phiona will be better to explain it to you when she's awake."
Gaston explained as best he could, although he wasn't even entirely sure what had occurred.

 

[EvelienLocalArtist]

Lily eyed him curiously his explanation making her worry that he had something to do with it. "In that case may I ask why it is that you are here?" Just as she asked that one of the servents came into the room with a tea tray and three cups on it. "Miss Phiona will be down in a bit." The servant said arranging the tea set on a small decorative table between them placing a tea cup infront of Lily, one beside her for Phiona and one infront of Gaston. Then curtsied and left. "I'm glad she's alright." Lily muttered pouring herself a cup of steaming hot tea. "But as I was saying, Phiona usually travels alone, and going by the amount of luggage you brought I can only assume you were traveling with her. Which again leads me to ask why?" She added two sugar cubes to her tea and a splash of milk, stirring as she continued talking. "If you would be so kind as to pardon my bluntness, but given your age difference I can only assume you are here as her escort. Which draws me to more questions then answers." She concluded sipping her tea as she eyed Gaston, waiting for his response.

 

[Valjean24601]

"Again, Mrs. Grewillow-- may I call you Lily?-- it may be best to have Phiona here to explain our situation, mother to daughter if you will."
Gaston didn't bother stopping to pick up his cup but merely beckoned it towards him by curling his fingers which were run through with his violet aura. The dainty porcelain cup seemed oddly small in his hands although fitting against his coven rings, ascot and embroidered coat lapels.

 

[Valjean24601]

Apollo admired his mate through lowered eyelids as the significantly smaller female crooned to him gently. There had been a time not so long ago where she would have scratched his eyes out for even breathing too near to her.
What a difference a near decade had made, what tradgedy made, what his sons had made for them.
She loved him as he had loved and still loved, albeit much gentler.
"Sweet words won't save you now little dove..."
He smiled and closed his eyes, pressing his mouth to hers in a careful and warm embrace.

 

[EvelienLocalArtist]

Lily frowned at his explaination but nodded. "You may." She nodded then sat there quietly sipping her tea thinking it almost rude that her guest was seemingly avoiding her questions. Moments later the thunderous sounds of footsteps could be heard followed by Phiona and her brothers bursting into the room.

"Mother!" Phiona cheered as she rushed over to her mother.

"Phiona darling!" Lily cried seeing her daughter was alright and embracing her tightly, and peppering the young woman's face with kisses. "You had me so worried, what happened?!" So Phiona quickly explained what happened with the wardrobe falling and why it took so long to heal because non of the family were healers so it was harder to heal it properly.

"I'm sure you met Mr. Forticoven." Phiona asked smiling as she looked over to Gaston.

"I have." Lily nodded then sat back down and ushered her children to do the same.

"I trust Gaston has filled you in on everything?" Phiona asked picking up her tea cup and drinking from it eagerly as she was so exicited to be home again and to have Gaston here too.

"No I'm afraid not, he thought it best that you did." Lily said and Phiona frowned some but it didn't stay long as she giddy set down her teacup and looked from Gaston to her mother her hands shaking with excitement.

"Well I had wanted to wait till dinner to tell everyone but I don't know if I can wait any longer." She said giddily watching Gaston as all the others in the room were silent. "Gaston and I are engaged!" She blurted but she pink lips spread wide in a happy smile, but none her her family were smiling.

"I'm sorry, that's not possible." Was all her mother said and all the color drained from Phiona.

"Pardon?" She squeeked her voice uneasy.

"You are already engaged, our families have decided this in the beginning of the school year, I thought you got my letter?" Her mother continued gently touching Phiona's hand but Phiona pulled away and stood up, she had so many thoughts going through her head right then she couldn't get out anything more than "To who?" Her voice was trembling as she spoke not looking at anyone.

"We decided that it was in the best interests of both families, and he has been notified of the engagement and should be here sometime this evening." Lily said but Phiona shook her head covering her face in her hands.

"Who?!" She snapped harsher than she meant to.

Lily flitched slightly at her daughter's reaction but ignored it for now and simply straightened her dressfront. "Xander Kornwhich."

 

[Valjean24601]

Gaston had remained politely indignant the entirety of the Grewillow women's conversation however as news of Phiona's betrothal came to light he was quick to stand.
Furious, Gaston scoffed at the notion and shook his head incredulously.
"Inconceivable! You've engaged your daughter to the boy who assaulted her little over a day ago!"
He was quick to his fiancee's side, drawing her away from her family and tucking her against him tightly and then turned to her brothers.
"Phiona speaks so highly of you all and obviously trusts you to protect her. You can't possibly allow this as her siblings and caretakers, as men?"

 

[EvelienLocalArtist]

"What a shame..." Amber cooed kissing Apollo back her hands cupping his face as her fingers combed through his beard. "Will you promise me something?" She asked pulling away just enough to speak before letting her lips linger back onto his again.

 

[EvelienLocalArtist]

At Gaston's sudden outburst the entire Grewillow family stood up in defense. "I beg your pardon!" Lily demanded shock and anger clear on her face. "Let her go at once!" "Hold your tongue!" "How dare you!" Phiona's brother's demanded thinking Gaston had taken Phiona hostage, but Phiona only clung to Gaston tighter weeping into his chest. "You have no right to make such horrible accusations about that young man! He and is family have been good to this family for many years! And this engagement should have come to no surprise for her!" Lily exclaimed then as servents came rushing in wondering what had happened she cleared her throat and calmed down beckoning her sons to do the same and extinguish their defensive auras. "Had Phiona gotten our letter than she would have known of this engagement for months now, just as Mr. Kornwhich has, they were to travel here together yesterday afternoon. And as for this assault you speak of I refuse to believe it without proof. Now I love you Phiona, and I'm sorry this comes as a shock to you, as this isn't the surprise we had in mind for you, but please sit down." The Lily herself sat down and took back up her cup of tea, trying to regain composure. Phiona still clung to Gaston a feeling of betrayal shook her small body to its very core but listening to her mother's words she slowly realized that her family didn't know what Xander had done, just as she didn't know about the planned engagement. So with quivering hands she wiped her eyes looking up at Gaston she gave him a weak smile thanking him for standing up for her. "Please Phiona, I am not the enemy." Her mother said solemnly as she watched her daughter stroke Gaston's cheek before sitting down beside him not her. "I want to know two things. One, how long have you two been engaged? And two, how exactly did this assault happened?" Lily asked with a raised eyebrow looking to Gaston as Phiona refused to make eye contact.