Episode Forty Seven - Venetia Rubart

Chapter Song Suggestion "Lost in Darkness by Marika Takeuchi"

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THE PAST | Veres

It was that overzealous woman again. He didn't understand why she enjoyed sticking with him and meddling in his business. Truthfully, he had hesitated to partake in this affiliated expedition with the marine scientists when his mentor accused him of being an oyster in a shell.

And so, he found himself traipsing around the wilderness of Craole which equated to being stranded on an islet with a bunch of men — and one woman. Venetia Rubart. She became his self-appointment helper and she talked — a lot. But strangely it didn't irritate him as the others did. Her voice was mellow and soothing, and he realized they shared plenty of the same interests, which was a rare occurrence for him.

"Commander Falconer!" Venetia shouted, waving two lobster-like creatures in her hands. "Look what we've caught!" She nearly stumbled in her haste to reach him, and he shot to his feet, expecting to save her.

"Whoops!" she giggled airily. "How clumsy of me."

He relieved her of the reddish-blue crustaceans. "What are these?"

"These are Nephropodes, the evolved species of old era lobsters. Nephropodes have the juiciest, most succulent meat you'll ever taste. They are absolutely delicious, I promise you." Venetia bustled around the little campfire, preparing to cook the little creatures.

"You're cooking them here?"

She threw him a mischievous look. "Why not? Do you think just because I stay in a lab I can't cook?" Her laughter was pure amusement. "What's so difficult about roasting seafood over fire?"

Still unconvinced, he rolled up his sleeves. "Allow me to help you. To be honest, I'm famished. Two sets of hands are handier than one."

"I like the way you think, Commander." Venetia smiled. "It's simple, all you need to do is..."

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PRESENT DAY

Lars hopped off Aeolus's back, his boots thudding against the giant tree trunk. The Gryphon had tracked Eira's scent here but, there was no sign of her or Xue Long, just an empty cottage sitting in a shroud of greenery.

Aeolus made a frustrated noise, picking intently at a bunch of twisted overgrown roots.

"What is it, Aeolus?" Lars strode over and bent down to peer inside the shadowy holes. At first, he saw nothing until something green winked at him. Curiously, he forced his hand into the tight crack and pulled out a solid, familiar object. His breath shallowed a touch.

It was the bracelet he had given to Eira. What was it doing here? Had he been right? Was this mission a set-up for Falconer to get his hands on her? He imagined the predators were a distraction.

"Are you the one they call Captain Verhelst?" a mocking voice addressed him from somewhere up above the trees.

Lars couldn't see the stranger because Aeolus blocked his view, attempting to protect him. This was the first time the Gryphon had done so. "Who wants to know?"

"They never told me you have a Gryphon," the man grumbled. "I guess I just have to kill you both."

Without warning, an ambush of fireballs volleyed through the thick foliage, burning holes into the trunk, singing Lars's uniform by a hair's breadth. Swiftly, he vaulted onto Aeolus's saddle. "Go, Aeolus!" The Gryphon didn't hesitate to spread its wings and take off, breaking through the canopies and into the sky.

"You won't get away that easily!" their attacker exclaimed.

Lars ducked in time to avoid the fireballs aiming at his back. He twisted around and returned fire, partially stunned to see the apex predator chasing them — a marrow eater. He had never seen one in the flesh but, he heard of their vile eating habits of picking at bones. These bird-like predators resembled the extinct pterodactyl, and they were equally vicious. Its master was undoubtedly Falconer's subordinate, the carved symbol on his right cheek was all the proof Lars needed.

"Where did you take her!" Lars roared over the wind.

"I don't know what the fuck you're talking about. I was sent here to kill you." The man catapulted another series of attack.

"Aeolus, head into the trees," Lars ordered the Gryphon. "We'll lose them there."

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Was she dreaming?

Cracking her eyes open, she found herself lying inside a strange, utilitarian tent. She released a groan and sat up, freezing at the foreign voice. She didn't sound like herself but there was no one else with her. She was alone.

Where was she? What had Regis done to her?

She lifted her hands and gave a short cry. These were not her hands! Pale, long fingers stared back at her. There wasn't a single scratch from handling knives or battle scars. Scrambling to her feet, she rushed outside only to be temporarily blinded by the sun.

"Venetia! You're awake!"

Her body turned on its own and words that weren't hers poured out. "Veres! Good morning."

Wait a minute! Did she just call out Veres's name?

The man who appeared before her was indeed Veres Falconer – from ten years ago when his hair was still brown. Who was this man? He was smiling broadly with affection in his eyes. It was…uncanny. Eira couldn't relate this past Falconer with the existing one. This man was…happy.

A warm tender feeling for Veres welled inside her chest, and Eira balked when her body leaned up to kiss him.

I'm sorry, Lars! This isn't my doing! she screamed on the inside.

To Eira's amazement, Veres turned as red as beetroot and couldn't look her in the eye.

"Are you still shy?" she openly teased. "Don't worry, there's no one around. It's just us." She took his hand, lacing their fingers together. "You promised me a date, and I'm looking forward to it."

Veres's gaze melted, making Eira feel like an interloper in this weird situation she was stranded in. Was she experiencing another's memories? It felt too real not to be. How on earth was she going to get out of here?

"There's a water festival today. I thought you might like it," Veres said with a trace of unspoken anxiety.

"A water festival!" She clasped her hands in excitement. "It sounds wonderful! When do we leave?"

"After breakfast." Veres took her hand, leading her to the edge of the open campsite overlooking the babbling river. "I caught us some fish and made a simple meal. I hope you don't mind."

"Pfft. I'm so hungry I could eat a horse!"

Veres smiled. "Horses no longer exist in this era, my love."

Eira cringed. The existing Veres would never spout such words, and he was old enough to be her father…well if he had a child at eighteen. Watching him interact with this woman was like seeing her parents falling in love. The thought of her own parents brought a twinge of pain in her heart.

"Are you alright?" Veres asked, concern in his tone.

"Oh, I'm fine."

Strange. Was this woman affected by her emotions?

Through Venetia's eyes, Eira saw a whole new side of Veres Falconer. It amazed her how easily they talked, joked, and laughed about everything. They shared the same passion for science and Eira learned Venetia was a marine biologist – the reason why they were in Craole.

She felt everything Venetia experienced, especially the deep-seated love for this awkward, bumbling man. It was intrusive but, she couldn't stop the memories floating around in her head.

Venetia and Veres met months ago on a joined expedition and fell in love. Venetia was the one who approached him first. She had heard rumours about the Ataxian Commander-in-Chief who was eccentric and rude to his subordinates. It made her curious. When they met, she attached herself to his side by volunteering to be his assistant.

"You're nothing like the rumours say," she said to him, a secretive smile playing on her lips. Venetia was also a brave woman who didn't mince words.

Veres looked taken aback by her frankness. "What do you mean?"

A soft chuckle escaped Venetia, and Eira saw the moment Veres Falconer became attracted to his future wife. "I think you are a misunderstood soul. People say you're too serious and don't know how to have fun. They also say you're too intense and uptight. While they aren't wrong, I believe those are your personal charms."

"You're a strange woman."

"As a fellow scientist, I understand your dedication and how you'll always invest one hundred percent of your abilities into your work. That's how I see it." Venetia shrugged. "Anyone who cannot appreciate that part of you, doesn't truly know you, Commander Falconer."

Eira supposed Venetia had a point.

After that, Veres started opening up more, probably touched by her words. Days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months. Eira wasn't surprised when Venetia was the one who kissed him first and confessed her love. It was cute how Veres blushed and reciprocated her affections.

In one memory, she found herself staring at Veres's scarred hand. It looked…terrible. The stumps were gnarled, their mobility limited and the twisted, bumpy scars running from knuckles to wrist made it look like acid on rock. "What happened to your hand?"

"I was attacked by a predator when I was a boy," Veres said slowly and almost painfully. "This was the result."

Venetia presumed this was another reason why the others shunned him. They found his crippled hand offensive. Anger bubbled in her chest, and she lifted it to her lips, shocking him by raining kisses all over his mangled hand.

"Stop it! What are you doing!" he cried in dismay, attempting to yank his hand in fear of contaminating her.

"I love every part of you, Veres," she boldly declared, shutting him up. "I don't care if your hand isn't beautiful. It's not just your hand that I love, it's you and every part that makes you. I'm going to be mad if you think I'm dating you for my amusement." She cupped his cheek. "I love you. And I want to commit my entire life to you, and my work too."

Eira wondered if Veres was going to break into tears. Even she was moved by how strong and loving Venetia Rubart was. She only knew this woman through her memories but, Eira would have loved to meet the real Venetia were she still alive.

"It's not fair," Veres mumbled, his gaze lowered.

"What isn't fair?" Venetia cocked her head.

Veres startled her by yanking her into his arms and seizing her lips, kissing her into oblivion. She didn't mind. She burrowed closer and let him have his way with her. When he finally let her up for air, he said, "I said it's unfair how you always speak so freely. I love that side of you. We're so different but when I'm with you" — he gazed into her eyes — "I feel like I belong, and I can be myself."

Venetia's heart skipped a beat. Veres tended to bottle up his feelings but, she was glad she could move him to express them. Her smile was brighter than the sun. "Then I'm happy because I feel the same way." She entwined their fingers together. "From today onwards, let's be together forever."

Back to the present, Eira joined the couple as they spent the rest of the day watching the toot-toot dinghy races, the dancing water nymphs, taking lovey-dovey photos together and trying out the local cuisines. They even visited the capital of Islingrane — the Craolean capital that was isolated from the mainland. It was beautiful and ethereal, like it belonged to another world.

The piece of land was raised off the ocean by four gigantic warrior statues bearing the crest of the royal family carved onto their armours and giant waterfalls flowed off the edges, back to the waves below. The couple enjoyed a wonderful dinner and watched the fireworks before retiring home for an intimately sensual night — one Eira wished she was spared from the details.

Venetia's memories shifted to a point where Eira stared down at a pregnancy test kit. A feeling of déjà vu assailed her. Venetia bolstered her courage and left the lavatory, slamming the double-lined stick onto Veres's table. "I'm pregnant."

Veres froze, stiff as a statue.

Venetia never lacked for confidence but when her husband stared at the pregnancy test, unmoving and silent…she started to feel anxious and scared. "I-I know we've never talked about children…but I want this baby and if you —ahh!"

Veres swept his wife off his feet, spinning her in a mad circle that had her begging to be released. He rained kisses on her face, tears in his eyes. "Thank you, my love. This is one of the best gifts you will ever give to me."

"A-Are you crying?" Venetia sounded appalled.

Veres wiped the tear from the corner of his eye. "I'm deeply touched. You know about my unfortunate childhood." He became thoughtfully silent. "I never ever imagined I would be lucky to fall in love and marry a beautiful woman who is willing to bear my child."

That night, Venetia cried liters of tears as he opened up about his abusive childhood – not by his parents but by society itself. His father was a fundamental provisions soldier who died in action, and his mother turned to whoring just to survive. Veres never begrudged his mother for trying to keep them alive but, society wasn't that kind. They looked down upon his family and made his life a living hell.

She loved how only she could see this soft side of him. To strangers, Veres was stiff and unapproachable but, with her, he was an awkward softie. And it kept the women away. Unknown to Veres, he was an attractive man with a hint of mystery, and when his uncanny eyes looked right at you, it could make a woman melt. And his accent, Venetia always made him whisper naughty things into her ear when they had sex. Veres had developed an inferior complex about his appearance after being crippled which resulted to his ignorance to female attention. He didn't know how to deal with brazen and coy ladies, so he avoided them like the plague.

Venetia was determined to keep it that way. Veres was hers.

"Would you like a girl or boy?" Venetia asked excitedly.

"It doesn't matter to me. I'll love them all."

"All? Does that mean you want more than one child?"

"Of course. I want at least five."

She tapped his nose playfully. "One at a time, Mr. Falconer."

"As you wish, Mrs. Falconer."

The memories shifted again, and this time Eira found herself waddling through water. It was dark, save for the emergency lights casting a soft red glow inside a…ship? Then it hit her. This was the submarine Venetia drowned in.

She shivered from the cold. Sirens blared noisily in the background, adding to her growing fear.

"The log. I have to send that log!" Venetia exclaimed to herself. Tenaciously, she started for the communications room, thankful all the water hadn't ruined the equipment. She logged into the system and saved her video logs, willing them to upload faster before the power cut off.

Venetia fumbled in the dark. She was scared. And all alone. The water was ominously up to her chest. Was this how she was going to die? Tears flowed and she cried with the urge to see Veres. She wanted to tell him how much she loved him. She wanted his arms around her and for him to take this nightmare away. She shouldn't have insisted on joining this expedition. She should have stayed home. "Veres…forgive me. I couldn't keep our promise after all."

Eira gasped sharply, flying out of bed. Hand around her throat, she fought to breathe, feeling the fear and suffocation of Venetia Rubart's final moments. Adrenaline coursed through her veins, and she felt restless.

"Are you awake?"

Her eyes lifted at that accented voice, emotions overwhelmed her — mostly love, relief and remnants of fear. "Veres!" Before she knew it, she tore out of bed and jumped into his arms, hugging him tightly. "You're here! It's really you!"

Veres's eyes widened imperceptibly as he caught her. The way she did it was exactly how his wife used to do so. He couldn't help himself. Burying his face into her neck, he returned Eira's embrace, holding onto Venetia's final memory.