The Great War

IV

I stretch my arms above my head letting out a silent yawn. I slowly get up, my back aching from the bark of the maidenhair stump.

I look around, swiping at my bottom getting dirt and anything else off the back of my dress. I cross my arms, rubbing them, getting rid of the cold goosebumps.

I walk the way back to the house knowing dad would be gone by now. Once I make it back to the house, I open the door and peek inside. Silence telling me no one was home. I step in and go to my room to get properly dressed and to get my bag.

Rebelling against father's wishes, I leave the house and head towards town. I smile at the wee hours of the still sleepy town, not many people out, only the shop owners setting up to open.

I head straight for the fountain, my comfort place. Before mom and Azrael disappeared at the dead of night, Azrael and I would sneak off and go to town just to see the fountain—he was the one who knew who created it.

I sit at the fountain and trace the hard surface.

I jump when someone touches my shoulder lightly, I snap my head towards the person.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you." Telephus chuckled and sat down next to me.

"You okay? I didn't mean to get you in trouble with your dad." He scratches the side of his neck looking me in the eyes, I give him a smile and shake my head.

"You did no damage, it's alright. He just gets... nervous when I'm around people he doesn't know."

Telephus nods understandingly, "Must be nice, I never really see my dad; nor do I know my mom."

I frown and scoot closer to Telephus and grasp his hand giving him a smile. "Well, I'm sure she would've loved you."

He gives me a small grateful smile, he lays his head on mine and wraps his arm around my side giving me a hug, I return it softly.

"So, what're you doing out so early?" He asks, pulling away.

"Well, I thought to enjoy the early mornings in town— enjoy the peace." I said looking around. Only now people started coming out, meeting up with friends or talking to the shop owners. 

𖤐

I let out a laugh as Telephus led me towards a place he and his friends often hang-out together. It looked like it was behind the school being built, it was a great landscape; green and beautiful—it was still a sad thing that many trees were cut from their homes for the school.

"It's very beautiful." I say, before stopping and looking around me. Telephus was nowhere in sight.

"Telephus?" I call out, confused. I let out a yelp when I'm pulled through a set of vines. I clasped onto the hands that held my waist. I look up and see Telephus.

"Where'd you go? Where are we?" I ask, holding onto his arms to get my footing back and looking around.

Telephuses' hands leave my waist, He spreads his arms out wide with a smile.

"Welcome to the Strange Cave."

I give a small laugh and a weird look at the name. I take a look around at the wonder of this cave. There was a drop-off and below was stagnant water, crystal clear and quite stunning. I looked out to an opening; it was wide and tall covered in vines; hidden in plain sight.

"How'd you find this place?" I ask, looking at Telephus as he takes a seat leaning against a rock wall.

"I stumbled upon it when Máni was chasing me and fell straight through." I snicker at the new information sitting across from him.

"Quite a find." I say with a sigh. He nods, smiling.

𖤐

I walked back towards home with Telephus, Máni, and a girl I met back at the cave whom I learned was Ceres both the supposed fancy of Máni and the owner of the cafe with the sweet buns. She was very sweet, quiet and seemed to be more of a loner.

I stop just near the cottage and turn towards them, "Well today was great, I loved meeting you properly!" I say directing the last part at Máni and Ceres.

Ceres was absolutely stunning; truly a work of art. Dark tawny skin with a golden glow, sigils crawling up her arms like bracelets, golden jewelry adorning her skin. She even had tiny caps on the tips of her head-horns to keep the sharp ends from stabbing into things from her tall stature.

Máni gives me a smile and nods, his eyes visible this time around, his hair was out of his face; it almost looked like he'd gotten it cut. I wanted to run my fingers through his hair. It looked quite soft.

Telephus throws an arm around Máni's shoulder and leans down, "They loved meeting you, Ophelia. Hopefully, we'll see you tomorrow."

I nod and give them one more smile before waving and leaving them behind, walking the rest of the way alone.

𖤐

I open the door and jump at the sight of dad right there with his arms crossed. The air immediately tensed, I stayed in the doorway, not fully inside yet.

"Where have you been?"

I look away from him, more towards the floor. "Out."

I felt his eyes narrow at my head, "Out where, Ophelia."

I let out a sigh and shifted, taking my hand off the door. "I was in town, I wanted to sit at the fountain." He lets out a growl type noise just before grabbing onto my arms and dragging me inside.

"Let go of me!" I thrash around in his vice-like grip.

I twist and turn, freeing one arm that I use to slap him with before he grabs it again and throws me onto the floor holding me down and staring at me with his blood red eyes, flaming with anger. His hands heating up hurting me even more.

"Please! Just let go!" I twist around uncomfortably just wanting to get away from him. I let out a short scream before he covers my mouth.

"Stop moving and just listen, you brat!" He yells into my face; I shake my head and bite down on his hand. He lets out a grunt and pulls the hand away. He grabs my freed arm and yanks me upward, into a standing position.

"You are forbidden from leaving! Ever again. You will stay here and learn how to be a proper lady! Just like we planned!"

I shake my head with even more tears entering my eyes, "I said let me go!"

I let out a scream and he releases his hands with a hiss of pain. I stare wide eyed at him, my breathing fast and shallow as I stare at his burnt hands, my body felt like it was melting on the inside.

I stumble as I turn around and get to my feet to run out of the door. Just wanting to get away from him, from the house. From everything.