Dinner
[Many Years Ago...]
"I can't believe this!"
Maedus entered through the door of his study, carrying an old worn book, the sturdy unfastened metal clasp jingling as he walked. He glanced up with a smile as he looked upon the dazzling rays of sunshine glowing around the radiant beauty peering out of his study window. In that moment, Maedus would have sworn that the rays of light were emanating from her entirely, making but a mockery of the sun's charm. It was his greatest delight that she share in his triumphs, that she enjoy the fruits of his labors. She was his focus, and drive; his very muse. He loved her immensely, and felt the blessings of her light each day - the gifts she gave, and the grace he never truly earned but always received.
He shook off the state of allure as his mind returned to his discovery. After a quick glance back down, Maedus placed the open text on the table with a thud, before swinging a headlamp affixed to a boom-stand on the desk over the book.
"I've pored through every single one of these pages but… they're changing, Chalea! Every time I read it, it says something new and different! It's… it's the most amazing thing I've ever seen!" He placed a hand on his forehead. "I… I can't explain it. I know it sounds crazy, but… but I think this book is something special!"
Chalea looked over at the Grimoire and raised an eyebrow. Maedus seemed quite excited about this old tome, and yet there was something unsettling about it that she couldn't quite comprehend yet. This was the first time she had ever seen it, though certainly not the first time she's heard Maedus ranting about it. She was almost drawn to it, her fingers already reaching out to touch the yellowing pages as though it held the answer to some soul-bound conundrum she couldn't decipher. But at the last moment, she retracted. Maedus glanced up at her perturbed face, frowning slightly in her direction.
"What's the matter, my love?" he asked, taking her hand in his and placing a soft kiss on her knuckles. Chalea didn't know how to answer.
"N-nothing," she replied, cocking her head to the side. "Nevermind."
Chalea knew nothing of alchemy, nor did it particularly interest her, but if this was what he wanted her to see the beauty in, then by God, she would see it! He looked up at her with weary eyes and she smiled. Shaking her head in amusement, she kissed his forehead lightly and took his hand in hers. How beautiful he looked after a long day of work! How she longed to hold him now that he was spent, to comfort him and provide him with the love he so rightfully deserved from her. As he righted himself, Chalea took the opportunity to guide him to a chair, where he collapsed languorously.
"Well then, Master Alchemist," she crooned, softly stroking his face and neck with her gentle fingers. "It seems you've now discovered the secrets of the world. How about you lay them to rest for now and sleep a little, hm?" He was about to protest, but she shushed him gently.
"Ah, the secrets of the world... I'm afraid one can only ever hope to scratch the surface. I am a man like any other."
Maedus smiled, his eyes hanging heavily, before he reached up and eased Chalea into his lap, laying back with her before kissing her gently on the forehead; such peace he felt with her in his arms. Her presence was soothing, incredibly warm; it wouldn't have been long before Maedus had drifted into a deep, much needed sleep, but he was less interested in sleep, and more concerned for the beauty he'd been ignoring for hours
"I've no mind to sleep, when I feel so content to lay with you here, Chalea."
"Well then," she whispered, offering him a gentle peck on the lips, "let us lay here until you change your mind, my dear."
[Present Day]
After telling the cook to begin preparations for the meal, Chalea went back to the foyer to retrieve the candle that she had forgotten there in her haste to escape Maedus' wrath. After igniting it once more from one of the many lamps that hung there to light her way, she scurried up into the farthest wing of the guest quarters, and entered the room where she had once whiled away the hours reading and studying her own dark pleasures. She shook her head to clear her mind of its terrible thoughts, thoughts that nagged her day in and day out, thoughts about who she had been before she had remembered her past...
Rolling up her sleeves to reveal countless scratches and marks from past arguments with Maedus, she set to work preparing the bed sheets, cleaning the carpets, and carrying hot water from the reserve down the hallway to fill into the small washtub that stood in the corner. And despite the distraction of her own discontent pulling her attention this way and that, her task was completed so flawlessly that she was able to hurry downstairs in time to deliver the food to Maedus and Aesus.
She entered, carrying two silver trays on her pale arms and setting them down on the table in silence. Her lord didn't so much as flinch as she approached; he had been in the middle of saying something, but was suddenly no more inclined to continue talking about it. Aesus however, gave her his full attention, despite trying his best to emulate his uncle's impartiality. Maedus wasn't convinced - the boy had done nothing but let his thoughts linger on Chalea since the moment she'd been sent away to her duties.
As she worked, Chalea felt a pair of eyes watching her. But they weren't the same, piercing eyes that haunted her in her nightmares, eyes that held no compassion or warmth within them. These eyes were different; they watched her, but not with the intent of a predator. They were curious and naive, kind... loving... she knew immediately that these must have been the eyes of Aesus, the newcomer. Warm, glowing eyes that traced her every movement as though enraptured.
She sighed to herself. That poor, poor boy... nothing could save him now that he had so much as glanced at her with anything other than hatred and indifference. Her skin tingled with fear and pity for the young man, and her fingers shook as she refilled his glass, glancing up at him momentarily before looking away, her soul ridden with shame. He was doomed to fall into darkness and she, a creature of light, was powerless to stop it.
"You're awfully quiet," Maedus said after a moment, and Chalea offered him a sideways glance.
"I did not expect you to request a meal tonight," was her immediate response. "Cook tells me you've been taking your dinners in your laboratory. I'm... glad a guest was able to draw you out of there for an hour or two."
Maedus' eyes narrowed, sensing defiance where there was none. Perhaps he had grown too used to her constant malice towards him, so that even the most benign comments were received as personal attacks on his character. He glanced at Aesus, who was absorbing the exchange with an unreadable expression. Maedus inhaled; he would think nothing more of this interaction with the help, as there were currently more important things to deal with.
Chalea crossed the room when he gave no response, and a moment later, out came the plates and water goblets from the nearby cabinets - ancient things that seemed to match the ornate dreariness that dominated the ambiance in the castle. A large serving dish of beef and potato stew was set between the two men, filling the study with a rich aroma that left Aesus' stomach growling in anticipation.
Once she had concluded her service, Chalea looked up at Maedus, her eyes devoid of emotion as she bowed slightly.
"Your dinner, My Lords," she said coolly, casting a warning glance towards his younger counterpart before heading over to the liquor cabinet to refill their brandy glasses.
Maedus hid his face behind his folded hands and scowled as Aesus offered Chalea an appreciative smile. Such unbridled wanting, and intrigue, but what was there to be sought but defiance and betrayal? She was no more creature of mercy than an angel of death. She was a shepherd of God's mad whims, sent so she would deny Maedus' soul and cast him as the monster and foe, when in truth he was closer to God than any mortal ever had been! And yet, Maedus had long ago decided that He would not have her - no man, creature, or deity would have her! - lest it be Maedus himself in a fit of lunacy. Nothing of worth was there under that light. Nothing tangible. Nothing real.
"Er--Thank you." Aesus said quickly, temporarily lost in thought as she refilled his glass a second time. He, at first, was content to allow her to go about filling his uncle's glass as well, but spoke out nonetheless.
"It is so late," he said curiously, evoking a piercing stare from Maedus that immediately sent a shiver up the his spine. "Wouldn't… wouldn't you rather have a seat? Come, there is plenty of food. Sit down."
Though his words were addressed to Chalea, Aesus eyes darted from her to his uncle almost immediately after the request was made. The air seemed to spark for a moment, before Maedus drew his hands together and propped his elbows on the table-top. How dare that upstart brat upheave the order and maintained status of his home? How dare he to invite this deviant temptress to share alike at her master's table??
...But then again, why not? It wasn't as though it would make any difference. In fact, it could only make matters all the more fitting.
Chalea's breath caught in her throat as Aesus offered her a seat, and immediately her eyes shifted over to Maedus, as Aesus' had. She wanted to run and hide, to scream and shout and tell Aesus to save himself while he still could - but she remained silent.
She always remained silent where Maedus was concerned.
"Hmph... yes, yes. Indeed, sit," Maedus replied, looking at his nephew. His icy gaze shifted to Chalea with an eerie grin. "Eat with us... I was just talking about what I do; Aesus, he's such a curious lad, you know."
Those eyes… in that moment, Chalea could hardly believe that this was the same being, the same creature that had taken her in so long ago, feeding her and caring for her to the absolute best of his ability. She felt miserable knowing that she had been doomed to fail, to fall and writhe within the clutches of his black talons while another soul was lost to the Grimoire.
She had cried so often before that fateful night, when she had been compelled to take a dagger and extinguish that which had given her so much joy and light. But Maedus was unable to see that now, nor had he seen it then. He was so ridden with darkness and saturated in his own deceit that he could never had guessed her intent to be but a benign gesture of... affection? No... justice. She would have done it out of justice... and ended her own life out of love.
And then he had trapped her! Hidden her away from the eyes of the world like that pitiful fairytale girl with the long blond tresses... doomed her to follow his every whim and desire without being able to protest even for a moment.
Finally, she sat - but only with the utmost caution, like a bird poised for flight. Her eyes were level and emotionless as she looked first at Aesus, and then at Maedus, although the latter would be sure to sense the seething fury that sat underneath her impeccable façade.
"Curiosity..." she replied smoothly, her voice soft and light, and her eyes innocent, belying the fact that she was truly hateful and cold. "What a... binding character trait."
Aesus released a sort of nervously harmless laugh as a he pondered the stark differences he'd noted between Maedus and himself; but he supposed that curiosity was indeed a binding trait... it was what brought him there alone. He was the youngest of his siblings, and the only one who had any sort of interest in alchemical science. His brothers had no interest in seeking their estranged uncle for anything.
"I've always been fascinated with chemistry and biology, but could never imagine the breakthroughs you're describing, Uncle!" Aesus continued after a moment, sipping at his brandy.
Ah yes, there it was - that same illuminated expression, that spark of discovery, that excitement for the unknown. It was like staring at a blank template of Maedus' former self, an alternate version born elsewhere as so to escape the fate laid upon the original. Chalea couldn't bring herself to pay attention to anything the young man was saying. She was subtly fixated on his person as a whole; the way he talked smiled, laughed and ranted in circles about nothing in particular stirred something within her bitterness that she hadn't let herself feel in years. He was a shadow, an underdeveloped version of he who must never be thought of.
Who was this boy? What had brought him to this horrible, dismal place, where his only fate was worse than death?
Even Maedus could see the past in him, and it sickened him; what weakness he had possessed then! Frail gestures and heartfelt smiles, and all the petty trifles of a forgotten past.
Chalea averted her gaze from Aesus' enthused face, and repressed a sneer of disdain. She regretted ever accepting that vision, ever taking the quest that she was given the choice to pursue. A choice!! Most martyrs were forced to yield to the wishes of their unmerciful gods, but Chalea had actually been granted the option of forfeiting this mission! She hadn't of course, thinking that denying her Creator would plunge her into the eternal pit of pain and suffering... oh, the irony!
Maedus shook his head; it took him a moment to remember what his nephew had been prattling on about, but found his place in the conversation easily enough.
"Mere trifles, my lad. The fruits of recent years make all I've done a menial attempt at a greater science and a more fulfilling world."
Now however, Maedus realized that he wanted nothing more to return to the pages of his work, to forego any more forced pleasantries. His appearance, after all, had been only to ensure that the new arrival felt suitably comfortable, and it would seem Chalea was indeed taking good care of his estranged nephew. Maedus felt his presence no longer necessary, and in fact felt the flicker of annoyance growing into disdain at each passing moment pretending he wasn't furious at Chalea for what had just occurred.
"Well, not wanting to seem rude, or discourteous as your host, but it really is growing to an obscene hour and I've much to accomplish." He stood from the table, the wooden legs screaming across the floor from the effort. "Please, feel free to finish dining alone. I'm... certain, you'll have no trouble settling in tonight," He added on his way out, slender eyes aimed over his shoulder at Chalea.
He left without another word. Aesus simply took a sip of his drink with a raised eyebrow before offering Chalea a nervous and apologetic grin. Chalea took that as a sign that he was ready to retire for the night and sighed, standing up and walking over to the red rope that hung near the curtain that hid the door to the den. She pulled it once, summoning the scullery maid, before nodding politely to Aesus.
"Follow me, Lord Brigham," she said kindly, before taking a candle and leading him towards the stairs.
The walk was spent in silence, for the most part, since Chalea was too caught up in her own thoughts to hear anything the young man was saying to her anyways. He asked her a few questions about the architecture, about the town a few miles below the hill on which the castle sat, and about anything really - anything to fill the air. But, after a few unsuccessful attempts at making conversation, he simply fell silent and allowed her to lead him upstairs, into what he determined to be the west wing.
She showed him to his room, saying that if he should need anything, to please tell her promptly so she may provide it for him. With those parting words, she bid him goodnight, and headed for the darkest part of the castle swiftly.