I sat down on a chair and sighed. I did what I needed to do. They're gone, they're safe, and my magic—
—Connor, you did this for your kids, nothing more. At least, that's what I told myself. I looked down at my chest, imagining the necklace tied around my neck, its stone carved in the shape of a moon glistening in the lamplight. It's safe with her, and she's safe with it. Isn't that all that matters?
I looked out the window. Children played in the park outside, running and laughing as kids do. The sun shone bright above them, only covered by the highest trees. I opened it, feeling the wind blowing into the room, spreading a few pieces of paper on the floor.
I shook my head. 'Right… It's windy today…' I muttered and bent down to pick one up, letting out a hiss in pain. I held my knee. 'Agh…' Aging. Of course. I picked a piece of paper up with my free hand and flipped it over to see what it was. Three faces stared back at me, smiling bright without a care in the world. Two girls dressed in brown and white, both with dark hair, one of them with hair tied in a ponytail and the other with a bob cut. The former had a necklace tied around her neck with a stone shaped like a moon. My necklace.
Behind them stood a man with a wrinkled face molded by the hands of time. His smile didn't quite reach his eyes, but the awkward scrunching said he at least tried to make sure it did. I stared at the man in the picture, trying to smile for his two children, my lips pursed in disappointment—not at him, no, but at myself now. Even after all the joy they brought me… I can't seem to let go. It's intoxicating, what that power can do for you. I know I should, but I can't. I can't, no matter how hard I try.
Not that I want to let go. It's an unnecessary loss, one I won't take lightly. then again, neither are my children. But they're gone now. Things will be safer this way; for the magic, for them, for everyone—
—DING!
I snapped out of my thoughts and turned to the door.
'Come on, I know you're in there! Open up; I'm not here to hurt you… well, not yet, but who's counting?' A familiar voice called to me on the other side. One I knew very well.
I clenched my fists and gritted my teeth. 'What do you want?'
'Just open the door! It's just a little chit-chat.'
'Nothing's ever just chit-chat with you.'
He paused. 'Okay, maybe not, but just open the door, won't you?'
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I rolled my eyes. I can't really ignore him now, can't I? As much as i wanted to, it's either I hear him out or he'll make me. And I have enough sense to know the latter is a horrible option. I dragged myself to the door, still clutching that piece of paper.
I turned the knob and stepped outside, looking down at the person in front of me. His hat, with a miniature hourglass at the tip of the point, was long enough to trail to the floor. Or maybe that was just his size; he was about the size of my garden gnomes, anyway. A blue and yellow overcoat blew with the wind, and so did his short light brown hair. In his hands was an hourglass like the one on his hat, but it's bigger. A smile was plastered on his face, a vibrant and dare I say, annoying, sight.
'How the hell are you so cheerful after all you put me through?' I narrowed my eyes and scowled.
'Maybe because I'm not sorry?' He looked up at me, still smiling.
I pressed a hand to my forehead. 'Look, what do you want?'
'I'm sure you know…' he trailed off.
'Enlighten me, then.' I crossed my arms. I'm not giving you that satisfaction.
'Fine,' he pouted, but his smile quickly returned. 'So! You know how I was this close to getting that necklace of yours, right? From your stepdaughter? I think her name was Lucinda…'
I knew what he wanted. And I would not give it to him. I'd rather die than tell him, of all people. 'No way. Listen here, you little gremlin: I'm never, ever telling you where my stepdaughters are. I'm not telling you where they are, ever.'
He tilted his head, his smile mocking now. 'You sure you won't tell me where they are? And you're not just referring to your magic?'
'Now, what makes you think that?' I raised an eyebrow and pursed my lips, betraying my stoic act.
'Don't play coy with me now. Between you and me, we both know that if you had to choose between them and the necklace, it's not a hard choice.' He shrugged. 'Just admit it.'
I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came out. I shook my head and finally managed to choke out a coherent sentence after a few seconds. 'That's… That's not—'
'—Not true? That's all you have to say?' He rolled his eyes. 'Anything other than that "That's not true" or "You don't understand" BS, Ruel Rambos?'
I furrowed my brows at the mention of that name. 'I'm not that man anymore. I'm Connor Auledainne now, and you especially, of all people, will call me that.'
'Sure, Connor,' he drawled. 'You know, changing your name won't really change your past'
'But I can pretend it will, right?' I shouted.
'And you know what'll make that easier—'
'—In your dreams.' It took every ounce of patience I had to not direct all my attention to the forbidden finger and close the door in his face. I sighed. 'So what do you even want?'
'You still won't tell me, so I guess nothing else.' They went down the stairs to the lawn and pulled their hat to cover their face. 'But don't say I didn't give you a chance.' They turned to me once more.
I took a step forward and pointed my finger at him. 'You touch even a single hair on either of those girls' heads, and by the stars above, I'll make you pay!'
'You still underestimate me, don't you?' He turned towards me and chuckled as if he found this funny. 'Well, I'll see you when you “make me pay”. But don't think I can't find them without you; I have all the time in the world.'
'Well, I've made sure they're somewhere you'll never find them anyway! I'm sure of it!' I spat and closed the door behind me as I stormed inside, leaving him outside.
I was very, very wrong.