Potent
Chapter 13: And So the Mask Slips

Valentine sat at his desk, struggling to get his new melody written just right. He wasn’t sure whether it was in six-eight time or four-four time. And his hand-drawn notes were starting to look messy. He sighed and wondered if he should come back to it later. If he had been honest with himself, it was really just a distraction. A distraction from his thoughts.

He hated that his mind kept going back to Gemini. He shifted uneasily when he remember how she wanted to understand him. While the thought was a little comforting, there was still no way on earth she would ever understand. Even if he showed her his memories of that horrible day and the days following, she would be disgusted by him once she saw the end of the story. .

Something caught his eye. Black tendrils of smoke seeped through the window and onto the floor. Valentine recognized it. It was the kind of smog a Dark Creature emitted. What do they want now?

It swirled around one spot in the room, forming a… person.

He looked human. His hair was blood red and his was skin so white, it looked like milk. His eyes told Valentine he was not human. They were the same black irises tinted with red that every demon had. Valentine glanced down at the demon’s attire. It was simple, crisp, and black.

There was only one demon he knew who was powerful enough to take the form of a man.

“Zotox. How nice of you to pay me a visit. I assume you want something,” Valentine said, flatly. He had no wish to waste time talking with him.

Zotox flashed a dangerous smile.

“Everyone wants something.”

“Don’t give me attitude. I have one of my own.”

“Very well. I do want something particular from you. I want to join you,” Zotox replied.

“Oh? Join me in what?”

“Spreading fear and terror across Dunstorria.” Zotox grinned, as if he’d thought of something that excited him.

“And how would you, demon, propose to do that?” Valentine propped his face up, pretending to listen. This wasn’t very surprising. As demon, this was his dream job.

“Simple. I walk the land on the other side of the mountains as a man but I amplify everyone’s fears. I fashion what they love into a weapon and wound them with it. And I say that I do it all in your stead,” Zotox explained, running his fingers over the strings of Valentine’s harp. “All I need is your protection against the light beyond the mountains and I can--”

The door to Valentine’s study burst open. Gemini froze in the doorway.

“My lord,” She started hesitantly with unease. “I’m so sorry, I can come back another time--”

Gemini stopped when she saw the way Zotox was looking at her, which made Valentine clench the armrests of his chair. A helpless feeling draped itself over Valentine as he realized it was too late.

“What are you, sweet creature?” Zotox inquired, with an awestruck smile. “An angel? Or a faery?”

“I’m-I’m just a woman,” Gemini gulped. Once again, she tried to address Valentine. “My lord, should I--”

“But you can’t be. No mortal woman has ever looked like you,” Zotox interrupted, stepping closer towards her, his eyes running up and down her. Gemini’s face paled and she couldn’t seem to replace any words to say. “Lord Valentine, let me have her and I’ll do whatever you ask.”

Valentine found that his heart was shrinking with horror with each passing moment. But he quickly found something to say.

“No, Zotox. I’m afraid this one is mine and is not for sale.” He poured all his disapproval into his voice. “However, I do accept your previous offer. You will report to me every seven days.”

“Very well. I shall begin.” Zotox smirked. He turned back to Gemini and took her hand, pressing a kiss to her knuckles. Valentine swore he saw her flinch.

Zotox winked at both of them and melted into black smog, curving back out the window.

Gemini gasped. The man who flirted with her, wanted her, and kissed her hand… was a demon. Wait… why was Valentine talking to him? What was his “previous offer?” One more question loomed largely in mind. Was he one of the demons who ate my family’s souls? But Gemini swallowed her questions, horror, and disgust.

“My lord, is now a good time?” She asked hesitantly.

“Why would it not be?” His tone was still disdainful as usual but he wouldn’t look at her for some reason. He seemed preoccupied with the armrest of his chair.

“I--I don’t know, my lord.” Gemini struggled to ease the awkwardness. “I wanted to ask if you could return Orion’s soul. I’m… ready now.”

“Are you sure?” Valentine probed, finally looking at her. Gemini blinked. She tried to form a reply but she was distracted by Valentine’s… anger? He looked like he had swallowed a mouthful of salt.

“Yes,” She said, carefully. He considered the floor for a moment.

“Fine. Let’s go.” He snapped his fingers and Orion’s jar appeared in his hand. With another swirl of smoke, they both vanished and reappeared in her family’s home.

Gemini’s mother and father were each by one of the twins,’ checking their pulse and forehead for any signs of life. Gemini opened her mouth to greet them but then she pressed her lips together. She glanced at Valentine, who gave an impeccable nod. She could hardly believe her luck.

“Papa? Mama?” She couldn’t help but smile. They both turned around and saw her.

“Gemini!” Norma cried. Both of her parents ran to her and embraced her, tearfully.

“Are you alright?” Cornelius whispered.

“Yes, I’m fine.” They all wiped a few tears away. Looking at her parents, Gemini couldn’t think of anything to say.

“Why wouldn’t he let you talk to us before?” Norma asked, glancing at Valentine, who was hopefully out of earshot.

“I… I don’t know. He’s only here to return Orion’s soul--”

“Wait,” Cornelius said, sharply. “What exactly was this deal you made with him?”

Oh, no… I should’ve known this discussion was coming…

“I--he--well… the Dark Creatures attacked our home and… they ate your souls. But he tricked me. I thought you were all dead. But he kept your souls and now--he wants something from me for each of them,” Gemini explained, quietly, praying Valentine couldn’t hear them.

Valentine had walked over to Orion and was guiding Orion’s soul back into him. All three of them watched in suspense.

“That man is a monster,” Norma murmured, holding on to both Cornelius and Gemini.

“Aye. It’s a miracle he hasn’t killed you yet.” Cornelius didn’t take his eyes of Valentine.

And I think I’m starting to love him…

“Oh, Gemini…” Her mother hugged her again. “What does he do with you all day?”

“What? Nothing. I’m just a servant… I just clean his mansion.” Gemini prayed that they wouldn’t question what she just said.

“But has he--”

“Papa, no!” Gemini shushed, her face growing hot. “He only implied that. He hasn’t done anything like that.”

Both of them breathed a sigh of relief.

“You’ve no idea how worried we’ve been,” Cornelius muttered.

“I know, I’m so sorry. But I wouldn’t have been able to bear it if Carina or Andromeda were in my shoes.” Gemini felt her throat close up.

“It’s alright, dear.” Norma stroked Gemini’s head and held her close again. “We aren’t angry at you.”

“But how long do you have to stay with him?” Cornelius briefly looked at her before returning his gaze back to Valentine.

Gemini stiffened. Panic rapidly rose up inside her and tried to blink back tears. No, no, no, no, no, no--how do I tell them this? How will I deal with the consequences of our bargain?

Thankfully, Valentine rose and walked towards them just as Orion opened his eyes.

“Time to go,” Valentine ordered. Gemini bit her lip and nodded but inwardly she felt so relieved, she could’ve kissed Valentine again. Instead, she gently pulled herself out of her mother’s arms and followed Valentine, who was walking away.

“No, wait! How long do you have to stay with him?” Cornelius exclaimed.

Gemini didn’t turn around and didn’t answer. She waited for Valentine to wave his hand.

But he didn’t. He stood there, waiting.

“My lord, please--”

“Tell them,” He commanded.

“I can’t,” Gemini sniffled, trying restrain her tears. She silently begged him to stop.

“You can and you will.”

Gemini stood there for a moment and Valentine crossed his arms, his gaze sharpening. “We are not leaving until you do.” With a sob, Gemini managed to slowly turn around. Weakly, she faced her parents.

“I--I have to stay for the rest of my life,” She cried, a few more sobs escaping her. Gemini glanced up at her parents. Both of them had gone white. Gemini sobbed again. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

True to his word, Valentine waved his hand and they vanished in the smoke.

Gemini felt like her world was giving way under her feet. She had cried so many tears since she had come here--

Valentine’s office tilted sideways. The next moment, she felt someone wrap their arms around her. She dimly recognized the scaly, black material of Valentine’s tunic. Through her blurred vision, she saw his arms around her. She felt his hand on her shoulder. But quite frankly, Gemini didn’t care. She let loose her tears and clung to his shirt, as if it was anchoring her in place. In the midst of her blubbering sobs, she was ridiculously relieved to have him holding her. After many nights of hugging her pillow and crying herself to sleep, a pair of comforting arms was more than welcome.

Several moments passed by and her sobs quieted. Gemini just realized something. Valentine is holding me… Valentine is holding me--! Fear tied her stomach up in knots. She didn’t dare to move. Why was she clinging to him? He was the one who had ruined her life! And yet… Gemini didn’t have the energy to muster any anger amidst the sadness. She didn’t want to be angry.

But why was he holding her? What would he do if she moved? She felt her heart pounding in her head. It took her less than a minute to realize that her limbs were shaking.

Valentine shifted and Gemini realized he was standing up, still holding her in his arms.

He carried her out of his office and down the hallway. Gemini was forced to put her arms around his neck so she didn’t feel like she was going to fall. Helplessly, she rested her face in his shoulder to avoid looking at him.

She heard a door creak open and she lifted her face just enough to see her room. Valentine set her down on her bed and grabbed her blankets, pulling them over her. Gemini instinctively curled up on her bed and another tear slipped from her eye to her cheek.

“Are you alright?” he murmured. She heard the unspoken plea and gentleness in his voice. Her fear started to melt away as he pulled her blankets over her.

“Yes,” She said. “Valentine--”

“Sleep. Do you want me to help you with that too?”

“Yes.” She knew she wouldn’t be able to fall asleep on her own.

Gemini felt like she was truly seeing him for the first time. Was this the other side to him? “But… before you do…”

Valentine raised an eyebrow but then it dropped as she grabbed his collar, pulling him down into a kiss. Gemini felt dangerously bold and a little loopy. She had no idea what she was doing or why she was doing it but it just seemed… right. Or perhaps it was flood of emotions in her. To her surprise, he didn’t pull away but fumbled to keep himself from falling on her.

Within another second, his mouth softened. And he kissed her back. Once. Twice.

Then all of a sudden, he pulled away.

She stared him, confused, both of them out of breath.

“Let’s not doing anything rash.” His voice was firm but she could still see the spark of desire in his eyes. Wait, what?

“We’re not.” Gemini blinked, a slow blush spreading across her face.

“No?” Valentine sat up, distancing himself. “This is the height of folly.”

“I don’t care,” Gemini whispered, trying to plead with her eyes.

Valentine stared at her for a moment. Then he stood. The sinking feeling Gemini had been afraid of filled her.

“Gemini. You melted into a puddle of tears on the floor. I think you’re under enough stress. This isn’t the time to do this.”

“I don’t care.” Gemini clenched her fists around her blankets. More tears filled her eyes. She couldn’t tell if Valentine’s eyes softened or hardened. A dark, sorrowful emotion filled his eyes.

“You will in the morning.”

“Valentine--” Gemini pleaded. Why did he have to go back to being cold?

“No. You might replace this hard to believe but both of us will regret it. Now sleep.”

Valentine waved his hand over her eyes and they abruptly felt very heavy as she drifted off.

Valentine felt like he was running away from a horrible monster or something.

Fear and panic coursed through him. She can’t be--she can’t… love me. Twice she had said she didn’t care. Didn’t care it was dangerous or the wrong time. Didn’t care it was the Mastermind of Magic and Evil she was loving and kissing. He shouldn’t have let her. Shouldn’t have… but he did anyway.

He realized right then that the greatest sorrow was to want something you shouldn’t have.

Do I even have the strength to stop myself anymore?

He probably didn’t. So many other questions swirled in his mind.

He needed to talk to Daniel-Kane. Perhaps he could help him sort this mess out.

“What is it now?”

Daniel-Kane had just opened the door to his office and immediately saw Valentine staring out a window. He quickly closed the door.

“I kissed her. And she kissed me.”

Well, it’s about time, Daniel-Kane thought. But why was he here?

“You usually come to me with bad things. Is that not a good thing?” Daniel-Kane asked.

“It is. For now. But what happens when morning comes?” Valentine glanced over at him. “What happens when she regains her senses?”

“What do you mean?” Daniel-Kane furrowed his eyebrows.

“In the morning, she will realize who and what I am… and she will fear me once again, as she should. She knows what I’ve done. She knows it better than everyone else. That’s what I don’t understand. How could she kiss me… with all I have done?”

“Because love endures despite the past. She does not love you because you have done right or wrong things.”

Daniel-Kane could visibly see the look of shock in his eyes. He guessed that Valentine hadn’t really thought about the fact that she loved him.

“Then why does she?” Valentine inquired, bitterly. Daniel-Kane smiled wryly.

“Why don’t you ask her?”

Valentine shook his head.

“She fears me.”

“No,” Daniel-Kane said, firmly. “She fears the mask you wear. Not the man behind it. If you wear your mask in morning, she will be afraid. But if you let it fall away, she has nothing to fear.”