The ToyMakers Volume 1

Epilogue: Enchancements and Distractions

So I decided that since I love you guys I would just power through this is the final page of volume one for the ToyMakers. I am exhausted but feel good so I hope that you guys love this. Please remember to VOTE and COMMENT it means a lot to me. ~ XOXO BUTTERBALL
___________________________________________________________

-Corina-

I woke up slowly to the sound of flickering candles and crackling leaves.

My mouth tasted like cotton and my head throbbed as though someone was beating it against the wall. My back was on fire at the moment, I was lying on it and it felt like something was clawing at my skin trying to tear its way out.

I rolled over on my side letting out a whimper as my stomach clenched.

What in the hell is wrong with me? Am I hungover? I remember fighting and killing Elize, but after that...ugh.

Rose suddenly appeared in my peripheral vision smiling slightly as she mixed something in a bowl. "So, how do you feel? I healed your burns from the phosphorus but, some of it will scar," she informed.

I let out a groan as I wrapped an arm around my stomach. "If you healed me then why do I feel like I'm hungover and dying," I groaned.

Then I frowned as I realized something. "Wait...how are you outside of my head? Did I finally lose my marbles?" I asked her.

"Don't worry, Corina your mental health is as fine as it can be. That's just an astral projection of, Rose. At the moment we're inside her tomb I brought you here upon her request," Taiga told me. He walked over so that I could see him without moving.

I let out another moan as the burning pain in my back increased. "So what is happening to me?" I asked them.

"Well, whenever a Puppet Master or potential ToyMaker defeats one or the other, the winner is branded with a marking that enhances their abilities whatever the ability maybe. Due to this being your first battle, however, this will, of course, be painful because your body isn't used to magic of this level," Rose explained carefully.

I gritted my teeth as my head pounded and I felt something warm trickle down my back.

"This is bad it's starting," I heard Taiga mutter.

Rose held up something in her right hand, it took me a moment to realize it was an eye. One of her eyes, from her real body.

"I'll do it now since the enhancement is hitting so hard," she said softly.

"But what if she passes out in the middle of it?" Taiga asked quickly his tone strained.

I noticed his face looked pale. Rose looked at him and smiled sadly. "That's what you are here for keeping her conscious and awake, no matter how much it hurts. Because if she passes out in the middle of this then she is as good as dead," Rose informed him.

I reached out blindly and eventually grasped Taiga's hand.

He looked at me with wide eyes as he bit his lip. "Taiga, can you please get Opal? I need him, please," I whispered.

For a moment or two, he was silent then he left returning with Opal, who was in his regular cat form.

Rose rolled me onto my back and I let out a strained chuckle as Opal was laid on my chest.

"There you are, big guy. My, my you've gotten a bit round at the seams haven't you," I muttered. I began shivering as Rose pried my blinded eye open with her fingers, however, I forced myself to focus on Opal and Taiga.

Opal narrowed his eyes and playfully poked me on the nose with one paw as he let out a meow. His eyes were focused on something I couldn't see, that I didn't want to see.

A sharp pain shot through my back like lightning, however, I forced myself to stay still. "Yeah, I know it's probably my fault for feeding you fish under the table back home but you were the one who constantly begged," I whispered through chattering teeth.

A moment later pain shot through my skull hot and fast. I saw a flash of white light and I gasp my whole body tensing up.

"Corina!"

I felt Taiga grip my hand and Opal place his paw into my other one. I bit my lip until I could feel blood trickling down it, as I furiously tried to blink my vision clear with my one working eye.

"How much longer is this going to take, Rose?" Taiga snapped at her.

"Don't rush me! This isn't something that can't be rushed and you know that! So if you want me to rush it and kill her sure I'll do that," Rose snapped back.

Taiga gave Rose a look so full of anger and frustration, it made me question if they had even been lovers at one point.

I could feel something warm trickling down my back.

Blood. This whole room smells like blood. My blood.

I heard an odd ripping sound and my whole body felt strangely warm. Opal poked my nose again getting my attention as he pointed to Taiga.

"You know, I don't know why you keep this little four-legged beast. I am telling you he's a health hazard, in fact before I even met you he carved me up," Taiga mumbled.

I chuckled weakly and squeezed his hand. "I remember that. You made a very big deal about it in the asylum especially during lunchtime," I muttered.

Taiga picked at his stitches but squeezed my hand back. "Only because your fat ass cat would steal my food sometimes," he told me smiling slightly.

I forced myself to lie still as a sharp pain shot through my whole back then it suddenly stopped. All that was left behind was a burning feeling and slight itchiness.

It's like those tattoos that those sailors have.

The only thing that still ached was my head which was throbbing like I was hungover and had hit my head on many cement stairs.

"Opal isn't fat, he'd just round," I whispered.

Taiga gave me a warm smile and it made him look younger, kinder. "I'm not complaining too much, after all, I managed to find you and you're a wonderful Mistress. Despite being on the stubborn side," he told me.

For a few moments I was silent then I looked at Taiga. "Mikleo, I'm glad that you're happier now," I whispered.

Taiga's eyes went wide then he looked away from me, but I noticed a faint blush spreading over cheeks.

I lost track of time as I lay there talking with Taiga and cuddling Opal. A few times I had some close calls, but Opal would bat at my face with his paws until I managed to stay conscious.

As Rose once again appeared in my vision, covered in blood and holding my old ruined eye. I realized something.

"I can see... I can see out of both eyes!" I exclaimed a little too soon because my head instantly throbbed again.

"Yes, my eye will also help you see through some illusions while in the arena. It is limited by your own abilities so you have to learn as you kill," she explained.

I felt reached up with one shaky hand and touched underneath my previously blind eye. "Taiga! Opal! I can see!" I exclaimed rushing off the table and over to them.

However, it perhaps wasn't my best idea, because a moment later my legs gave out on me and the run spun. I felt someone catch me as Rose spoke, "Oh don't worry she'll be fine now, but get ready to have fun when she wakes up."