Myrtle
The candles flickered and hissed as I continue to shuffle my cards. I am getting the same energy I have felt when I saw trouble in those lovely gray eyes. There is something going on in the back of her mind, but somehow I don't have the ability to dive deeper and examine her train of thought.
It's more complicated than you actually thought; I might be a Pandora (a term used to describe younglings who are gifted with an unusual magical ability) but my traumas and nightmares have prevented me from evolving my magic level from its current state.
The bell door jingled, I find it quite handy nowadays, and at least when I saw something strange, that little bell can help me prepare for the unexpected. I raised my head and immediately dropped my cards on the table to rush towards him.
Stuaghach, he should've heeded my warning before he left. I watch him as he tried not to wince from the pain. The wound wasn't deep on his abdomen but it was enough to make him bleed. He didn't cry there was indeed pain but so was courage in his eyes.
"Morair Bealdor,"
"Dhìochuimhnich thu," he muttered as he straightened up his body.
"You forgot that I'm no longer part of that damn court." He said filled with loath.
"Gabh mo leisgeul, my apologies," I said as I began my work to temporarily close his wound until he has enough strength to regenerate.
I frowned upon remembering the events that took place in that silly court. I don't even know why they aren't like the old days. Perhaps I am too old or maybe I am too stubborn to accept the fact that everything changed.
"Bhean, something is bothering you, isn't it?"
I forgot I've known him for three centuries; it was enough for him to remember my mannerisms, my expressions, and perhaps even my train of thought.
"I think we are scaring her," I said as I stood up.
"What makes you think so?" He asked.
I immediately went to the table and grabbed the shirt he left before he sprang into action.
"Her power is strong Myrtle, it only gave them the motivation to hunt her down," He muttered as I tossed his shirt at him.
"Elf, get yourself an armor if you want to experience less pain and injuries," I told him as I gave him an icy stare.
The silly elf only laugh at my suggestion but I know that he'll reconsider it if he doesn't want to be ripped into pieces.
"Alright, I'll try,"
He began to undress his bloody tunic before putting on his shirt.
"Back to you, what makes you think we are scaring her?" He asked once again.
His lilac eyes were filled with concern, he must've been thinking the same thing as well.
"She's a marfach," I told him
"No, I'm taking that back, she's a rìoghail, who was raised in the realm of marfach,"
I stared at the candles once again, feeling uneasy from staring too long into his eyes.
"She doesn't understand any of this because we are hiding the truth from her."
He nodded but I can tell that he was still unsure if she was the person that we are looking for.
"We're not yet sure if she's the one, Myrtle," I knew that he was going to say that.
"But, all the signs are leading to her," I argued.
"And if we got the wrong person, why did the skadus want to hurt her?"
He suddenly lowered his guard but it doesn't mean I got the upper hand.
"And if she isn't the one we are looking for, she has an unusual ability. Who knows, she might be a Pandora too."
Neo stood silently while he was trying to assess what I just said.
"Okay, so what do you suggest we do?" He asked.
I began to play with my hair as I think of the possible conflicts that might arise from my idea.
"How about we tell her the truth?"
I waited for him to say "Tha sin craicte!" But he didn't. He stared at me for a long time before he nodded.
"Honestly, I also felt the same thing on our first encounter."
I remembered how he cried after we got back to the apartment I've been renting during my "vacations"
"If we tell her the truth, do you think she will help us?" He asked. His eyes were filled with curiosity.
I too am curious if she will believe us, but when I told her I am a vampire, she was shocked at first then her expression became fleeting like clouds on spring day before she finally accepted the còmhdìon.
"She will," I told him
He raised his head and sighed.
"I guess there is nothing wrong if we try though,"
I finally convinced him but I guess it wouldn't be so easy on Athene's side. The crystal ball began to emit a strange white light. I only rolled my eyes as we both stood near the table.
The Draoidhean's smug face first appeared in the crystal. It was blurry at first before we got a good look at him.
"Oi, it's me vampy," He said using the same annoying tone I've become accustomed to.
"I'm here to remind you that you only have two months of marfach time left before the portal opens again on the gibbous moon." He said.
The tall white-haired elf with a calm expression sat beside him and nodded in agreement. Looks like they've come to agree on different terms after we left them. On a scale of one to ten, I am more worried about what's going on with these two than how to handle Athene's reaction.
"I just hope you two didn't cause any trouble while we were away," Neo said with full authority.
"Luckily, the Draoidhean here was able to keep his mouth when the Oifigearan insulted him."
Poor kid, he must've got a hard time controlling his emotions.
"I'll get back to him after this," He said filled with confidence.
I guess some things never changed.
"I'm not going to waste the mermaid tear after the trouble I went to,"
The white-haired elf stared at him and gave him a puzzled look as a response.
"Did you find the missing rìoghail?"
Neo and I exchanged glances; I lowered my head and let him deal with the Draoidhean's surprise question.
"We did, but it seems like we weren't the only ones who were looking for her," he said.
"Her? You mean the rìoghail is a she?" The Draoidhean asked.
"That's what we think," I added.
He started to mutter again like what he would usually do.
"But, the portal was close," The white-haired elf said.
"It would be impossible for any creature to enter it without disappearing into oblivion,"
The black-haired Draoidhean finally raised his head and smiled dryly.
"Unless someone has already threatened her before,"
Chills began to climb up to my spine when I thought of the possibility.
"If that's the case, they've must've been watching her for a long time," I said.
"Hmm, but if they were already watching her, something must've protected her from their grasp," Neo added.
"Maybe, she has unconsciously activated her magic earlier than we thought,"
I stared at the ball for a long time as I tried to gather my thoughts. What if she did activate her magic earlier? But, if she didn't do it
"Unless, someone already put up a protection spell on her," the Draoidhean confidently said.
"There's a possibility that whoever that person is, he or she might be dead already,"
A marfach who can perform a protection spell, is that even possible?
"That might be possible," The white-haired elf said.
"That person must've passed away and the spell slowly began to crumble as days or years went by,"
Impossible, I don't think the great wizard sent someone aside from the missing rìoghail in the realm of marfach. How can this happen? Is it even possible?
The light from the crystal ball began to grow dim. The Draoidhean only raised his brow and scoffed.
"Still not enough tears? Kaoma, you better help me next time gather those tears if you want to talk more often to your teacher." He said before the light completely disappeared.
I watched Neo walked back to the couch and pulled out the leather satchel he had been carrying since we arrived here.
"That doesn't make any sense," He said as he took out the scroll from the satchel.
"I understand," I told him
"We have our work cut out for us Myrtle," He finally said after rolling the scroll gently and tucked it back inside his satchel.
"We'll find answers to these mysteries Neo,"
I hope we do find answers before it's too late.
"You're right, let's just hope that girl is the one we've been looking for,"
I only sighed as I sat down on the table once again to reshuffle the cards. The flames danced and wavered as I stared at it. Looks like we will have a hard time convincing fate to stand on our side.