March 24th, 2038.
It's officially been nine years since Aarion and Magus awoken, and it's officially been nine years since Aarion has been on a search for a way to get the primal eye of the Cloaked One... In order to fully eliminate Magus.
But what's more important is that today is the fifteenth birthday of Eden Williams.
At the house in Clairwood
D'D'D'DUN
D'D'D'DUN
D'D'D'DUN
At the third ring of her alarm clock, Eden awoke in her bedroom, sitting up so she can stop the alarm coming from her phone. She gracefully tossed her cover off of her body and she turns right, readying to get up.
Then, her phone rings again. This time it's a phone ring. A facetime call.
"Happy birthday to you!"
"Happy birthday to you!"
As soon as Eden picked up, Aarion began singing happy birthday.
"Happy birthday, dear Eden,"
"Happy birthday to you!" He finishes and Eden smiles warmly.
"Thank you, dad," she says sincerely.
Her nightstand beside her bed lightly rumbled, and when she turned, a black circle appeared with a cupcake rising out of it on top of her nightstand.
"You got it?" Aarion asks.
Eden turned back, "Oreo cupcake? Yeah, I got it. Thanks!"
Aarion nodded and gave her a light smile, even with his calm composure, Eden still noticed it.
His skin looked pale, his eyes with the darkest of circles, and his face looked as if it were stuck to his bones. He was beyond skinny
"Dad... you look worse," she mutters,
"No... It's-- It's just Magus is tryna break through my barrier spell, along with having to look for the primordial eye... I'm just tired. That's all," he says with a slight solemn tone and Eden lightly nods in understanding.
"Well, how's my bro?" Eden asks.
"Marcus? Uh," Aarion slightly side eyed a space in his home.
"He's good, yeah. He's sleeping still, but you know he'll call," he says.
Eden smiled "Of course!"
"Oh, shit. Dad, I gotta go. Isaiah is gonna come in and tell me we'll be late for school any moment now," she informed.
Aarion chuckled lightly. "Okay, then. Just call me later, okay?"
"Kay. I love you, dad,"
Aarion smiles warmly, "As I do you," he says before pressing the hang up button.
He puts his phone on the counter, near a plate of breakfast food and lets out a deep sigh.
He lifts his grey sweatshirt up, and there it was.
The marks of a black palm. The marks glow simultaneously every few moments, like that of a heartbeat getting slower and slower.
Aarion gulped and then let his shirt fall down. He puts his phone in his pocket and grabs the plate of food.
In the living room, Marcus floated in the center.
Then suddenly in a blue flash he vanished.
Aarion stopped by the staircase, awaiting from him.
After several seconds, Marcus repapered in the same spot.
He eyes shoot open and glared straight ahead for a moment, just before he sees Aarion from afar.
"Well?" Aarion asks now that he has Marcus's attention
Marcus shook his head.
"No... I went to this place called Elarion. It was another magic realm, but... not the Realm of Magic," He clarifies.
Aarion sighs.
"That's the 104th dimension you tried... I think it's safe to say that not even your power cosmic can lead us into the Cloaked One's realm," says Aarion and Marcus eyebrows lightly rose as if he realized something.
"Power cosmic," he whispers to himself as Aarion makes his way upstairs.
In Clairwood, Eden rushed down the stairs with a black halter top on and beautiful navy-blue jeans with heels.
"Ayee," Trey, Aiyana's son walked past, "Birthday girl looking fab!"
"Thanks, Trey," she chuckles.
Isaiah walks down the stairs and Eden looks up.
"You can't complain today, Isaiah. I is the one who made it first," she jokes.
He chuckled then reached in his pocket.
"Yeah, yeah... but here," he pulls his hand out and a beautiful necklace with a purple charm is in it.
"Happy birthday, Eden," he says with a smile.
Eden examined the necklace with a marveled expression before pulling her off her neck and turning around.
Isaiah carefully puts it on, and Eden immediately places her hand on the charm.
"Thank you, Isaiah... It's beautiful," she says.
"I knew you'd like it," Isaiah says.
For a moment, they are captivated by each other's presence, then Trey walks in and shouts from the hallway.
"Hey, come on," He says and the two of them steps back.
"My mom made breakfast," Trey said before walking back off to the kitchen.
"Ouu," Eden whispered as she walked away from Isaiah and to the kitchen.
When she walked in, she saw several plates full of breakfast food on the island counter, and sitting in chairs and standing around were Aiyana, Trey, Harmony, Jaden and Quincy.
"Happy birthday, sweetie," Harmony says as she picks ups one of the plates and hand it to her.
"Thanks," Eden says taking bite out of her blueberry waffles.
"That's not all, E," Trey spoke out.
"Me and Isaiah are throwing you a party," he says with a smile.
Eden's eyes widen in wonder, "Really?"
"Yeah, really," says Isaiah as he walks in the kitchen.
"It's going to be the party of the season! We got people from all classes coming," Isaiah tells her with an excited expression.
"I'm glad I talked with Kristen about having it at his mansion then," Jaden spoke out just before he sips a glass of orange juice.
"Hey, Isaiah," Trey spoke from across the table, "You didn't invite Nina, did you?"
Isaiah squinted his eyes and slightly looked around, taking his time to answer. Then he says, "Whoever comes to the party, comes to the party,"
Trey scoffs, "Isaiah, did you not listen when I told you I don't want her around me? Literally, did you not remember me telling you that I-"
"Hey!" Aiyana lightly shouts, getting Trey to settle.
"I don't wanna hear none of that in here. And not today. It's Eden's day," she maintained.
"Well, for one, I agree with Trey. Nina is all too bad for Trey and he's trying to be better ever since spring break," Eden spoke delicately whilst eating. "But... I won't refrain anyone from entering the party unless they cause problems,"
"There you have it," Aiyana smiled lightly. "You'll just have to deal with the worst of your exes tonight, Trey," she says gracefully taking a sip of her orange juice.
Trey exhaled with a defeated look of irritation while Quincy, Harmony and Jaden lightly giggled.
In Aarion's bedroom at his Manhattan home, he sat in a chair holding a plate of breakfast food in his left hand. On his right there was a fork.
Xavin sat up in Aarion's bed, his eyes were completely white. He's completely blind. With the fork in his hand, Aarion assures the food on the plate is eaten by Xavin, feeding Xavin himself.
"Done," says Aarion as he placed the plate on the nightstand beside them.
"Thank you for taking care of me, Aarion. I know you don't have to," Xavin uttered
"It's fine, don't worry about it," Aarion smiled faintly, "I want to take care of you," he assured.
*cough
*cough
Holding his stomach tightly, Aarion coughed and coughed, just until he looked on the palm of his hand to see blood that uprooted out of his mouth while coughing.
"Aarion, it's time,"
Aarion shifts his body back towards Xavin. At that moment, his eyes weren't completely white...yellow glowing pupils shined up to Aarion.
"What..?" Aarion genuinely looked confused.
"It's been nine years since I sat on your porch waiting for you to open the door. Nine years since we decided we'd do what it takes to find the Primordial Eye of the Cloaked One...
"We assumed it'd take eight years at first but fate changes. Now... Now it is the time we prepare for war against Magus," Xavin elaborates.
Aarion's face quickly shifts to shock.
"What?! Now? But I haven't found the eye yet. I... I am not-"
"That doesn't matter," Xavin softly interjects.
"Rather, what you think doesn't matter because you are ready. Magic eye or no magic eye, you're ready," he tells him just before his glowing pupils faded away back to white.
"We need to leave now. Magus should be able to break this house's barrier spell when the moon rises. By then, you, me and Marcus should be in your hometown again, where you'll finally be able to regain your strength after holding up this spell for a decade," Xavin rattled on,
"After you regain your strength, your coven will place a barrier over the town while you all plan for Magus's attack... Hopefully fate doesn't recolor our thread, and everything, even my curse. It will be over,"
Aarion chuckled softly, "Sounds like it's really our time, huh?" he monotoned and Xavin nodded.
"Well, I'll go tell Marcus then come back up to pack our stuff," Aarion's states as he stands up, heading towards the door with the empty plate in his left hand.
"Wait!" Xavin boomed.
At the door, Aarion turned around to face Xavin. Xavin's pupils were glowing yellow once again.
"Ah, that face," Xavin smiled gracefully.
"Even if it's for a moment, I love seeing your present face," he spoke sincerely.
Aarion smiled lightly whilst looking at him, he then side eyed the floor with a jittery expression, casually fidgeting his fingers on his thigh.
"Xav... I...." Aarion still looked around, then back to Xavin. Xavin's eyes are still glowing, meaning he's still using his seer power to see his present. To see Aarion
"I...lo..."
Aarion gulps, swallowing the words that are in desperate need of escape.
"I'll make sure to be quick," Aarion moved swiftly out the room and shut the door behind him.
Xavin's glow in his eyes fade back to white. He relaxingly sighs before saying, "Thank you... I don't mind waiting a little longer for you
As Aarion walked through the hall and found his way walking down stairs, he began to yell out Marcus's name
"Marc!"
"Marc!"
Aarion nearly approached the first landing,
"Marcus Gyatsmi-Williams! I know you..."
Aarion finally made it to the first floor, yet ahead, much was happening. The thing he noticed first was the dozens of blue portals appearing and disappearing in the low level of his home.
"hear.. me," Aarion finishes his rant in complete astonishment. He slowly approached the living room quarters, blocking the strong wind coming from the portals that appeared near him.
He cautiously looks up at Marcus and as he got closer to him, the wind got stronger.
Squinting his eyes to look up, Aarion gets a clearer view. His eyes widen with the most bewildering expression.
Marcus was in a trance, but that's not what shook Aarion.
What shook him was the blue indigo skin that glossed the entirety of Marcus's body. The long, sharp, darkened fingernails which now resembled claws. His black hair, flourished and drifted in midair while blue like waves swept through his black hair as if they were moving highlights.
His horns were wide and long, and the both of them had multiple twigs on the inner side... like that of a majestic stag. Intricateantler like horns on top of his head stretched to his side and curved up like a lengthy and wide oval.
In the center of his antler-horns, a shimmering bright four-pointed star floated in between the many twigs of both horns.
The wind intensified, and after a moment observing Marcus's ethereal 'alien' form, which Aarion never seen before. He immediately began to call out for his son,
"Marcus! Can you hear me?"
No response, portals remained opening and closing throughout the house, and Marcus's eyes remained closed.
"Marcus!"
"Marcus!"
Aarion grits his teeth as the wind begins to push his body away and he struggles to hold his stand.
"Margar'd!"
Marcus gasps loudly before he fell down from midair. The portals disappear, this time for good.
Aarion rushed over to Marcus as Marcus woke up from the trance, beginning to sit up.
Marcus looked down on his hand and saw that his form reverted back to a human form.
Aarion approached him, though Marcus pulled back as soon as he was a few feet away. Marcus held his hand closer to his chest
His face showed a burdened fear crashing down on him.
"Margar'd..." Aarion began, "I'm not afraid, son," Aarion slowly stepped closer.
"STOP! I told you that's not the name I want to be called!" he retaliated and Aarion stopped closing in on him.
Marcus began to breathe heavier...faster.
"UGH!" He lashed out
"I tried to use my full power to help you find a portal into Alshr, but nothing works!"
"What's the point of having all this power if I can't even help my dad? What's the point of knowing my true name, knowing I'm a cosmic entity, knowing that I can't truly die if I still don't have any idea of who I was or where I came from!? What's the point!?" he bellows and Aarion listens, lightly startled at how loud Marcus's voice could get.
"All I knew since birth was that my birthday will always be June 2, my names are Margar'd and Marcus, I'm a cosmic entity with cosmic power, and I've lived three lifetimes just to forget each one!"
Marcus scoffs, water beginning to fill his eyes.
"What's worse... what's worse is that I am a monster. A true monster," tears drop from his eyes and Aarion looked at him solemnly
"A true monster,"
"A true monster,"
"A true em..." Marcus's face shifts in realization.
"Empyrean..."
Marcus wiped the tears flowing down his face as he stood up.
"Dad! I remembered something. I belong to the race of Empyreans. Cosmic entities that...they..... Well, I forgot our purpose but-"
Marcus stops talking once Aarion hugged him.
"Dad?" Marcus asks before Aarion pulls away.
He sniffs, "Look, I'm sorry I put so much on you. I should've never asked you to use your power for me, it was selfish! And about helping me... just talk! Like, what you did a few moments ago...telling me how you feel even when it's hard to talk about is what I'm here for. You help me when, I help you.
"So, please never call yourself a monster, my son! I'd rather hear that.. 'Empyrean' word any day. Okay?" he gives a warm smile, yet Marcus looks at him with a slight worried look.
"I hear you dad... but please don't cry. You never cry," Marcus gently intoned.
Aarion immediately looked puzzled.
"What?"
"I'm not-" he stops himself once he touches his moist chin. It's wet from running tears.
Aarion lightly pulled the collar of his shirt up, wiping away the tears. Marcus noticed the black palm markings, glowing faster than a track runner's heartbeat.
"Sorry, I don't know what that was," Aarion says releasing his collar. He rubs his hands over his face exhaustedly.
"Oh, right can't forget," he sniffles, "Pack your essentials. We're leaving for Clairwood in an hour and thirty," Aarion says before turning around, heading upstairs.
"Dad?"
Aarion stopped on the first step and shifted towards Marcus, "Yeah?"
"How about I make you some dumplings and rice for the road? I don't know if it's your condition, but you look like you haven't eaten in weeks... I don't think that's okay,"
Aarion's eyes lightly side eyed the floor beneath him.
"Yeah," he whispers in agreement.
"Dumplings and rice sound good," he muttered before walking up the stairs.
He reaches the top step and staggers onto the landing.
"Pathetic," a raspy voice echoed.
Aarion quickly refocuses as he hears a shallow voice.
"When will you learn what you learnt?" the voice echoed again.
Aarion stood tall and turned around. No one was there.
"Marcus is fit to be our son. He's just like us,"
Aarion turned back around, and who he faced...
was himself
"No," Aarion whispers, "No," he whisphers again reaching into his pocket.
He pulls out four pill tablets, but his hand is shaking more than bacon particles on a hot skillet.
He finally swallows the pills after his mirror-self watches Aarion closely.
Once he gulps, his mirror-self smirks.
Aarion chuckles, "Bye. In 3, 2.-"
"OMPH!"
Aarion clenches his hand onto his throat as he began to gag.
He then falls to his knees and throws up water.
His mirror-self chuckles.
Then... the water changed from clear to red. He was now throwing up blood.
His mirror-self continued to chuckle as he strutted closer to Aarion.
"Rememberrr," the mirror-self sung
"Remember!"
Aarion rolled over on the floor, away from the throw up. Exhausted, he look up to see his mirrorself gone.
"Dad?" Marcus shouted from downstairs.
"Everything alright?" He asks
"Yeah!" Aarion shouts back, coughing quietly so Marcus wouldn't hear.
"Everything's alright!" he says to Marcus
He then whispers to himself,
"Everything is alright,"
"Everything is fine--I'm fine!"
"Everything is fine"