The Tale Of Forbidden Love

Caspian and Victoria stood there frozen in their tracks, their eyes widening in disbelief. It was as if time had stood still, only the sound of their pounding hearts breaking the silence. Shock washed over Caspian, his mind racing and struggling to process the sight before him. He blinked rapidly, hoping to dispel the illusion, but Victoria remained there, her presence undeniable.

With cautious steps, Caspian began to approach, his mind filled with questions and doubts. Was this a cruel trick of fate or a miraculous second chance? As he drew nearer, he noticed a faint trace of pain etched upon Victoria's face. Her once vibrant eyes now held a glimmer of sorrow. The realization dawned upon him that she, too, had suffered, perhaps believing him to be lost forever.

"I've waited for you... for so very long," Victoria whispered, her voice filled with a mix of longing and pain.

"My apologies," Caspian replied softly. "I thought you had died."

"I sort of did," she admitted, her voice trailing off into a whisper.

"You're undead," he voiced the obvious.

"And you're a Lycan," she mirrored his keen eye.

"Does that bother you?" He asked, his tone tinged with concern.

"No," she replied. "Does it bother you that I am what I am?"

"No," he assured her, his voice gentle yet resolute.

"No?" Victoria echoed, her voice tinged with disbelief. "But we're like... mortal enemies."

“Honestly…” A heavy breath of relief escaped his lungs. “I really don't give a damn.”

Caspian's lips met Victoria's in a fiery collision, igniting a spark that consumed them both. His hands found their way to the small of her back, pulling her closer as if he couldn't get enough of her. Their bodies pressed against each other, merging every inch of their beings into one. The world around them faded into oblivion, leaving only the intensity of their connection.

"Ahem..." Lucian cleared his throat, pulling them out of their personal state of bliss where only they existed. "As much as I hate to interrupt this moment for you two," Lucian continued, "there is still the matter of my mate... who is, nonetheless, missing."

"You found your mate, My Lord?" Victoria's voice filled with surprise.

"Oh, he found her alright..." Caspian's tone resonated with condemnation. "And then he enslaved her."

Victoria looked between the two men, not failing to notice the hostility in Caspian's tone.

"Visenya is my mate," Lucian's confession hung in the air, leaving Victoria momentarily speechless.

"Oh...," she managed to find her voice. "Well, today is just full of surprises, isn't it?"

"Is she here, Victoria?" Lucian asked.

"No... Why do you think she would come here?" Victoria questioned.

"Your mate over here thought you might have abducted her for your father's revenge," Lucian blurted out.

"That's not what I said!" Caspian snapped.

"I would never do anything to harm Visenya, nor would I allow anyone to harm her," Victoria firmly asserted. "She once showed me mercy, and I owe her the same in return."

"If she's not here, then where the hell is she?" Caspian pressed.

"Can't you just use the mind-link to communicate with her?" Victoria wondered.

"Oh, you didn't know?" Caspian chimed in, his sarcasm detectable in his tone. "This dipshit made her sever her mind-link, and even if that were an option, she doesn't have a wolf anymore... again, thanks to this dipshit."

"She doesn't have a wolf?" Victoria repeated, unsure if she had heard Caspian correctly.

"It's a long story that we don't have time for right now," Lucian interjected, his tone urgent. "I need to find her. She's out there all alone, probably scared with no clue as to what's happening..." His voice trailed off, "...to her."

His eyes drifted back to Victoria, a new revelation evident in his gaze. “The last time we were here for your father's banquet, there was an old woman who was practically at Visenya's mercy, rambling on about a lot of nonsense... or so it appeared. Do you remember her?"

"Oh, you mean Eleanora?" Victoria recalled. "No, you're right, she definitely spews nonsense. She's absolutely mad. She claims to dream of the future."

"Where is she? I need to speak with her, Victoria," Lucian's tone grew dire. "She might not be as crazy as she seems."
———

Nestled amidst the majestic mountains, within the confines of a secret cave, Visenya bore her soul to Marienne, revealing the harrowing events that had transpired since that haunting day when they went their separate ways.

Marienne listened intently, the raw anguish in Visenya's voice stroking the fires of animosity within her towards this unforgiving world and all who inhabited it.

"I told you there was power within you...” Marienne's voice resonated with a sense of pride. “If you had come with me from the start, we could have found a way to bring it out without the need of that so-called mate of yours. Your power and strength exceed his, and with my help, it will be him who bows down to you."

"I have no desire for that," Visenya replied softly. "All I want is to understand what is happening to me."

Marienne took a seat beside Visenya, her eyes gleaming with the knowledge she had been eagerly waiting to share with her, as she began to unveil a tale of forbidden love.

"Long ago, in a world much like ours, the Moon Goddess, Astraea, reigned over the night sky with her gentle glow. Ethereal and radiant, her divinity and beauty captivated all who beheld her, adoring her for all that she encompassed. Yet, deep within her heart, she yearned for something more."

Visenya leaned closer, her curiosity piqued, as Marienne continued the story.

"One fateful night, as the Moon Goddess was casting her silver light upon the world, she caught a glimpse of the magnificent Sun God, Helios. He was a radiant being, emanating warmth and brilliance. But their love was destined to be forbidden, for they were from different realms. Astraea lived in the darkness, while Helios basked in the light. Despite the odds stacked against them, their love grew stronger with each passing night. They defied the boundaries between their realms, meeting secretly at the dawn of twilight, where light and darkness intertwined. There, they shared stolen moments, their love transcending the constraints of their existence. Through their unwavering commitment to one another, they discovered a way to merge their realms. They created a celestial eclipse, a rare phenomenon where darkness and light coalesced, enabling them to be together, if only for a fleeting moment."

"You, Visenya," Marienne placed her hand on Visenya's trembling one, her voice filled with reverence, "are the embodiment of the love between the Sun God and the Moon Goddess. You are the chosen one, the incarnation of their boundless affection, gifted to this world to restore balance, to illuminate the darkness, and guide those whose hearts have grown dim back towards the light."

"No..." Visenya’s frustration evident, the fire stiring in her irises. "I'm sorry, but that just sounds like a bunch of bullshit! So the Moon Goddess gets her fairy tale romance, huh? Well, what about me?! I got the short end of the stick, didn't I?! The manifestation of their love?! That’s what I am?! Well, you know what I say to that?! Fuck them both!"

"You are harboring a great deal of suppressed anger," Marienne smirked, a glint of amusement shining in her eyes. "Yet your docile soul does not know how to channel this untapped power. So, you keep it all inside, as you have been taught to do throughout your life, because that's how a proper lady behaves. You've witnessed the consequences of your imperceptible agitation, but what happens when you truly lose control, Visenya? How many people will you harm then? Whether you choose to believe it or not, what I'm telling you is not a mere fairy tale. It's the truth, and deep down, you know it.”

"You," Marienne emphasized, "are the Phoenix, bestowed with powers so unimaginable that no mortal mind can begin to comprehend. Astraea concealed you among her children of the moon, as even Helios did not deem his own Dragon progeny worthy of wielding your power. Their hearts have grown corrupt, despite their initial purpose as guardians of this world. They became consumed by pride and arrogance. And so, Astraea and Helios united and created a child, you, to ignite the flames of justice, to rise from the ashes of despair and bring forth a new era of order.”

"I didn't ask for any of this," Visenya despaired, her voice filled with anguish. "All I know is that I can't live in constant fear of hurting anyone else. Marienne, please, I beg you, help me. Help me learn to control these powers."

"Of course, my dear," Marienne happily obliged. "But in order for me to truly help you, I must experience your powers for myself."

Visenya looked at her, a mix of confusion and curiosity in her eyes. "How are you supposed to do that?"

"Let's just say... it requires your trust," Marienne replied cryptically. "Do you trust me, Visenya?"

Without hesitation, Visenya replied, "I do."

"Then you have to let me in," Marienne insisted. "Allow our minds to merge, just like you and your wolf were one. Together, you and I shall become one as well."

Visenya's apprehension lingered, the weight of doubt pressing upon her. Yet, her desperate need for Marienne's aid surpassed her reservations. After a moment of deep contemplation, she finally relented, her voice filled with reluctant acceptance, "Okay..."