Miracle

Pt. 49

Valentine....

Valentine didn't know how long he'd been in the dungeon in Hell, but it felt like an eternity compressed into an agonizing moment. The days, if they could be called that in this realm of perpetual twilight, bled into weeks, then months. He was starting to lose hope, the vibrant spark that usually defined him slowly dimming.

When the demon guards would come in to torture him, he'd stopped answering their taunts completely, keeping his head bowed, his matted black hair falling over his face. He simply endured, wishing for the blackness that would bring temporary oblivion, hoping they would be quick today and just leave him in peace. He just hoped Jinx wasn't foolish enough to try and come save him; she would just end up getting herself hurt, and unlike him, she could truly die.

Suddenly, he heard a pair of soft, impossibly light footsteps land directly in front of him. He didn't have the strength to lift his head, preparing himself for the inevitable sting of a whip or the cold bite of a blade. He hoped they would be quick today, just leave him alone.

"Meow."

Valentine's brow furrowed, a confused frown creasing his bruised face. He must have truly lost his mind now, because he was hearing things. It sounded liiiike...

"Meow."

A cat? He managed to lift his heavy head, his curiosity, even in his weakened state, impossible to suppress. Before him sat a small, fluffy orange cat, its green eyes, startlingly bright in the gloom, staring intently at him. What in all the realms was this? Some kind of cruel joke? How did this cat, of all things, get here, deep within Alistair's most secure dungeon?

Valentine's gaze swept around the gloomy, cavernous dungeon cell. It was completely empty, save for him and the cat. "What are you doing here, little kitty? Get out of here," he whispered, his voice hoarse, looking directly at the cat.
And then, the cat suddenly began to grow. Not slowly, but rapidly, impossibly, swelling to six feet tall, its fur bristling, its form taking on an imposing, almost fearsome majesty. Its muscles rippled under its orange coat, and its once-cute meow deepened into a rumbling growl.

Valentine's eyes widened, a genuine shock momentarily eclipsing his pain. "What the hell?" he whispered, his voice barely audible. Just then, the heavy iron door of his cell creaked open, and a squad of guards rushed inside, alerted by the sudden surge of unknown magic. They skidded to a halt, their eyes widening at the sight of the gigantic, fluffy orange cat. They roared, raising their crude weapons, trying to fight it off, but the cat simply arched its massive back and let out a furious, guttural hiss that vibrated through the stone floor.

With effortless power, it swatted them against the thick stone walls with its colossal paws, sending demons sprawling, their armor clanging, their cries of pain echoing through the dungeon. One of the dazed guards managed to grab his walkie-talkie, his voice crackling with panic. "We're going to need backup! Escaping prisoner! Escaping prisoner!"

Before more could arrive, the giant cat easily snapped through the thick chains holding Valentine up. The heavy iron links shattered with a sharp clang. He immediately fell straight to the ground, a heap of weak, aching muscles and bone, his body completely spent. But before he could even register the impact, the cat gently, incredibly gently, held onto the back of Valentine's ripped shirt in its enormous mouth, careful not to pierce his skin.

More guards rushed into the dungeon, their numbers growing, their angry shouts filling the air. The cat looked back at them, its green eyes glowing with fierce determination. It raised a massive paw, swiping its glowing claws through the air, tearing open a shimmering, swirling portal, crackling with raw energy "Stop them! Stop them, you morons!" one of the demons shrieked, rallying his confused comrades. But it was too late.

The cat, with Valentine still clutched safely in its mouth, sprang through the iridescent opening, the portal quickly closing behind them, leaving only stunned silence and the faint smell of ozone in its wake.

****River's Past (300 Years Ago)

"Maximus, please!" River begged, her voice high and insistent, her iridescent wings fluttering rapidly behind her, a blur of light. She followed closely behind Max, who was walking back to his intricate treehouse home, his arms laden with stacks of ancient, dust-laden magical books. She had spotted him emerging from the grand, oak-paneled library, a place where fairies like her were rarely permitted, and had immediately darted over, her curiosity piqued by the forbidden texts.

River had always wanted to learn magic, like Max. The library owner, a stern, ancient gnome with spectacles perpetually perched on his nose, had never allowed her to even touch the magic section, always clucking that such potent magic shouldn't be "in the hands of such a free spirit." River knew the different magical creatures in Nearon often saw her as an airhead, flighty and naive, but she didn't care. She would continue to be herself, full of joy and unbridled curiosity.

"For the last time, no, River!" Max exasperatedly sighed, his voice firm but affectionate. "You're immortal. Why don't you just practice your water magic? You're a water fairy, after all. Focus on what you're good at!" He shook his head, speeding up his pace, the stack of books threatening to topple. She effortlessly flew to keep up with him, her form a vibrant blur of color and motion.

"But Maximus..." she whined, trying a new tactic, her brow furrowed in a plea.
He sighed loudly, finally facing her, his shoulders slumping in defeat. The afternoon sun dappled through the leaves, casting shifting patterns on his face. "Listen, River, if I give you one, will you leave me in peace?"
She nodded enthusiastically, her face lighting up with a beaming smile that could rival the sun.

He looked through the heavy, ancient volumes in his hands, muttering to himself. He was trying to think which book would be best for River, preferably one that would cause the least amount of damage to Nearon Village if her experiments went awry. "Here," he finally said, pulling a particularly thick book from the middle of the pile. He handed her a worn, leather-bound tome with a faded green cover, titled "Immortality and Its Uses." The leather felt surprisingly soft beneath her fingers.

She took the big book, her hands reverently tracing the gold-embossed title. She immediately began flipping through the old, brittle pages, a faint scent of parchment and dust rising from them, her eyes scanning the complex diagrams and arcane symbols. "Okay, River, I have to go now. You can keep the book, okay? I'll see you around." Max smiled, seeing the pure, unadulterated joy on her face. It warmed his heart in a way few things did. He decided he would even give her some of the other old books he owned that were just taking up space in his overflowing house.

He waved at her one last time before walking towards his treehouse. She watched him walk away, the smile still on her lips, a newfound purpose blooming in her heart.

She floated over to a nearby picnic table, its wooden surface cool beneath her. Carefully, she sat the heavy book down and flipped to the front chapter, her eyes alight. It was titled, "Helpful Tasks with Immortality." To many, the book would seem long and bland, a tedious academic pursuit. But to River, it was a world of possibilities, a key to understanding herself and her powers in a new way. Her immortality, once merely a given, now held profound purpose; the vastness of time stretched before her, rich with the promise of endless discovery.