Chronicles of Myth Volume One: Twisted Daydreams

Scene Thirty-eight

I dropped my sword as I walked up the stairs of my previous home, I saw Harvey wearing a black BDSM mask with a zipper for his mouth; I watched his lips curve into a grin as he pulled out a large scalpel from the pocket of his warg leather vest; his abdomen flexed under the black muscle shirt, "Elaine, how have you been"? He was my inner demon? Why... Why do I have to kill the man I consider to my dad? Why do I have to kill the only family member that took care of me? On his feet was a pair toe tags, he tugged his rocker jeans and adjusted the decorative chains connected to the exposed skin of his lower back, "Are you prepared to die, my daughter"? "No I never was". "I used to be a monster until I met you, you're a good girl that didn't deserve to die". "So you took me in"? "Yes, my pride and joy, the only good thing that I've ever had was you. You showed that me I could be happy, I never wanted to let go of you". "You always wondered where you came from... so I'll tell you: I killed them, there I said it; just like that... it was so simple, it was pathetic; a dragon and a succubus shouldn't have died from a slit to their throats, but then again I did carve them both up like a Christmas turkey". I stared at Harvey blankly; no I was speechless... I couldn't believe that he killed my parents, "Then why did you spare me"? "What did Nikolai and Astoria mean to you"? I picked up my sword and adjusted my kite shield onto my left arm, "Because you'd be a waste of life, if you died". "As for them, I simply gave them the rest they deserved; they didn't need me to tamper with their lives both of them have gone through enough suffering before they met me, I took in those strays because they had no home; Nikolai was battered to shit I found him in one of the marsh fields, surrounded by the lifeless corpses of those who would harm him and Astoria, the girl; she was much like you, that's why I couldn't bear to take her life, you three were the only ones, I found worthy of caring for as my kin". He took his stance and closed the zipper of his mask; "Hear me now, today one of us will die; the fact you stand before me, means you're strong to stand against whatever the world throw at you, my witness, my penance, and my dearest child... Elaine, I don't want forgiveness, I want closure... for I am to you, can you give me this before I go"? "I buried that memory so deep in my heart that I could forget what had happened; Harvey as we're concerned you are my family, but to kill my own flesh and blood is unforgivable", I held my sword and against my shield: taking a deep breath I spread my feet to shoulder width and braced myself. "I'm not going to kill you, by any means; I don't want revenge... I want to find peace in my life for once, in exchange I'll give your peace for mine". "Thank you, but before you we continue, I want you know something: Grief has five stages: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance". "We stand at the doorsteps of finding the meaning behind our suffering, but for me there is no acceptance only insanity at looping through the process again and again, every day I see my sins and hear them call out for my name, maybe today will be different". His lips curved upward behind the mask and adjusted his sandals; he sealed up the zipper of his vest and looked at me with hopeful eyes, "Let's have some fun shall we"? Harvey lunged forward and sliced away in the air, I stepped back and smashed his face with my shield before smashing the base of his neck with my sword hilt; I grabbed the back of his head and kneed his face, I plunged my sword into his back and lifted him away from me; "It's never that simple is it, Elaine". I placed him on his feet and kicked his lower back, he slid the down the sword and hit the ground in a bloody lump... I reeled back clutching my forehead, a brief vison of my past showed up, I was in my home and my world was burning down around me. I snapped out of it and sidestepped to the left as Harvey thrust forward, I caught a glimpse of the tags on his right foot: they had our names inscribed on them, "Please strike back... the pain is so wonderful". I caught his arm during the next swing and bent it out of the socket, I spun on my feet and wrapped my legs around his right shoulder, I smashed Harvey into the ground face first breaking his neck and left arm, I snapped his right arm complete as I caught my foot on the ground; I stood up and kicked his back, he went skidding across the floor and twitched as his bones reset into place; he stood up and cracked his neck. Harvey took off his leather vest as he undid the zipper, the vest dropped to the ground with a loud thud and he blurred toward me, I was stabbed in the gut and he disarmed my sword by slapping my wrist; he caught my sword by the tip and spun it around in his hand before stabbing me through the gut: Harvey followed with a sweep kick and removed the sword from my belly before trying to stab me through the neck, I caught the blade my clapping my hands to stop his thrust, I rocked on my back and spring kicked him in the gut, he stumbled back and I grabbed the sword by the handle as I shot up to my feet, tilting my balance I spun like a pinwheel and with a back handed slash I cut him in half ; inky blood sprayed profusely as I cut all his internal organs in two, I skidded to a halt as I watched the two halves slowly separate the bloody film and muscle as he dropped to the ground cleaved in two; I heard a sickening laugh mixed together with the sound of squishing organs, his sinews of his body reconnected and he stood up, as the blood from his wounds seeped back into his body. He popped his jaw as he clapped his butterfly cut head together with bloodcurdling squish, "That's better", I looked in horror... "What the hell are you"? "I'm jack the ripper". He stepped forward and embraced me, I felt his scalpel drive between my seventh and ninth ribs; "It's my turn now". I was cut nine other places before I saw the blood drip out of my wounds, he slit my wrists and I was dropped to my knees as he kicked in my shins; I felt his blade poke through my head, stabbing my frontal lobe; he lifted me by my neck and tossed me across the ballroom, I smashed into a column; I felt my head bang against the marble and my vision fuzzed over, Harvey shot forward and smashed his fist into my stomach, knocking the wind out of me, the blood I coughed out splattered on his mask; he licked off my blood as he opened the zipper covering his mouth, "You're delicious". I staggered up and caught his wrist as he was about to deliver the finishing blow, I let go and fell back on my knees; I heaved for breath as let go of my sword and shield, I staggered away to the center of the room as I took off the scarf around my neck and took off my ruined armor, I left in a grey turtleneck sweater; I pulled the down the zipper covering my throat and pat down my tattered jeans, I retied the laces on my tennis shoes, I took a deep breath and fell over on my knees, I hit the ground face first, my wounds slowly healed and closed up; Harvey looked at me with pity, he approached slowly and rolled me on my back, he laid down next to me: "You could never beat me, no matter how many times you tried; you always failed, but you always got back up... I'm proud of you, Elaine". I felt tears stream out of my eyes, "I killed them didn't I"; I sat up and Harvey embraced me taking off his mask, I felt his warm arms wrap around my back' "Let it out... it's okay, you're safe now... let it out". The memories of my childhood came back, I discovered the fire inside me and let it out... my home burned to the ground with my family inside... but I was spared lying the ashes of everything that was. The odd thing there was no remains of anyone... did I burn them up into nothingness. But I was alone, I remember standing the library holding the charred remains of my teddy bear, I looked in the grey horizon and saw Harvey walking toward me down the ashen path; he cried tears of blood as I was taken in his arms. I fell asleep, in his warmth... the memory stopped. I looked at him again, "I'd do the same thing again and again, for all its worth... I'm glad I met you... Elaine... they never died... I hope you find them again, but please don't be disappointed with whatever you come across". I felt the tears flow out of my eyes as I came to realization that my life with Harvey was an illusion, "You were never real were you"? Harvey pushed me away, "I never was". He wiped my eyes, "Tell me... are you happier now". "Yes". "Then I can leave". "Go ahead and wake up". I thrust my hand forward and pierced Harvey, I pulled out my hand ripping out his guts: "Forgive me". The warm blood hardened over on my hand and I watched his body fade into the wind as red specs of dust, in my hand was an ever dimming crystal shard... the magic, I had fooled myself into believing was now gone. The blood crystal shattered my hand as I looked at my surroundings, it was old home; I stood in the burned down ballroom and looked up into the grey skies above me, I saw the light shine down from the clouds as they parted, I set down my pictures on the ground and placed the dust on top of the folder. With a snap of my fingers I set the document ablaze, the fires were blown out in a matter of seconds; I breathed a sigh of relief, in the horizon I saw the warm orange and purples in the sunset, the field around me was now starting to bloom with life, fresh sprouts came out of the ground; I placed my sword at my side and placed the shield on my back, I left the tattered remains of my armor on the extinguished flames; wrapping the white scarf around my neck I walked forward to an oddly shaped post in the middle of the ruins, hung on the arms I found a crimson gown with a phoenix emblem on the back; I found a charred note staked to the head of the post: "This is the remains of the Alighieri estate, as the heir; we entrust the family treasure... the family right you Elaine. With all love, our dearest. Your father and Mother: Dante & Lorain". I put on the gown and tied the loose bands around my waist, I walked away from my past; I kneeled and closed my eyes, when I opened them; I was back in Harvey's estate, a young burly man in church clothes greeted me as I found myself back in the Victorian style ballroom. This man was the real Harvey, the man who took care of me; in my parent's stead, he was my godfather. "Harvey", I hugged the stout man and he awkwardly embraced me; "My dear I am simply the butler remember". "Master Dionysus await in the study, Elaine". "I'm sorry never caught your name". "Reginald Franklin, at your service". Franklin held my hand as he took me down the stairwell, "Let's not keep the young master waiting any longer, shall we". Our footsteps echoed through the marble halls, we stood in front of a pair of double stain glass doors, I placed my hands on the carbide steel door handles; I opened the doors, as my eyes adjusted to inviting light inside, my eyes adjusted as I found Harvey sitting next to the planetarium doors in his study; he looked at me taking off his mask from earlier. He wheeled himself toward, before standing up he placed his cane on the ground; he shakily stepped toward me and held out his hand holding the remains of the soniferium crystal, "This was your favorite toy when you're younger, you kids always grow up so fast; it feels like it was just yesterday, you were crying because Astoria took your lollipop". He looked wistfully into my eyes; with a hearty laugh and jovial smile; he handed me a new crystal in the shape of a key, "Truly you're the best thing that has ever happened to me... now I have to send you off again; happy birthday dear, how old are you anyways"? He kissed me on the forehead: "I'm twenty years old now". I pocketed the key in my gown and hugged Harvey, "Feel free to come here when you want, this is also your home; for refuge or to pass the time with me and Reginald, for any reason come over". "For now, enjoy the night while you're young". Harvey straightened his back and walked toward the other of the room propped up with his cane, he stepped into the planetarium and closed the doors behind him; Franklin handed me a glass of thick red liquid, "A toast"? We clinked our glasses: "Cheers". We downed the liquid; as the wine lined my throat I felt a fire inside my stomach, Franklin smiled at me wiping the blood red smear on his mouth, I felt my vision blur and I blacked out; he took me in his arms, "Rest your heart and soul... my dear".

When I came to I found myself in the lobby of an apartment building, I sat up on the couch as I heard the elevator open, ding: I saw Ashton with a cup of coffee in one hand and birthday card in the other. I looked around me: I saw the lobby was decorated with streamers, balloons, and Christmas lights. He set down his coffee on the table next to my legs and sat down next to me on the couch, "It's hard to believe that I'm just three years older than you". He took a sip and handed me the mug; "Anyways happy birthday". He passed me the embroidered red card:

Dear Elaine, I've only known you for the past six months; but if anything thing else, any happiness I've found recently in life would have been in this time, I'm glad to have met you and everyone else. I can't say I understand the grief inside your heart, I can't say I ever understand anyone, but getting to know you I learned a couple things. One: You're a brave young woman with a heart of gold, and two: you've become the person in my life, I can't live without; you've joined in hopes seeking out the thrills in this life, but you and I know; we've got more than what we've bargained for, this goes for everyone here. More than anything: this is our family, this is our home now; for all I am worth to you, I hope you can be happy here.

Sincerely Ashton Queen.

I felt the tears well up under my eyelids, Ashton wiped them with the sleeve of monkey pajamas and embraced me; "I'd never thought in a million years, I'd ever meet someone like you; you've come to mean so much more to me, than a friend. I can honestly I say love you". I wrapped my arms around Ashton, "Welcome home". "You're an asshole, but you're my asshole; Ashton... I love you too, please I don't want to be alone anymore". "You never were, you just were afraid of opening up to the world". "Is it wrong for people to want to understand each other"? I asked into his ear: "No, what's wrong is trying to force a person to change, to conform to your image and standard of life... I'm fine with the person you are, are you"? I rested my head on his shoulder: "Now I am".