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 Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2010 7:49 pm
It had been just over a week since Sera had last taken the train from to Nuen. The five hours could be killer on someone but no one really complained. Who would want to walk from one place to another, through woods and a desert? It would just be a death wish. Now, since she would be coming a going a good deal until this man was done with her, Sera was even more grateful for it.
The train ride was behind her. What lay in front of her was a shop she couldn't believe she was at. Amerald's was a place the young woman wished to avoid and yet, there she was, on the otherside of the street looking into the windows.
It was two days past the time he had asked her to come but she was not going to spend an extra ten hours traveling when she was coming today. Besides, its not like a potion made only for me couldn't wait. What else would it do? Explode? Giving a small chuckle, Sera crossed the road.
The moment the door shut behind her, Sera knew something was all. Call it a gut feeling but nothing seemed right.
"Mr. Lanaan?"
Calling out as she looked around, the architect took in the store again. Nothing seemed too different but something was making her skin rise. What the heck did he do with my DNA?
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Posted: Fri Aug 13, 2010 1:12 pm
Amerald heard the door open to the shop, the bell ringing was always a sign that he had a customer. He rushed in from the living room and looking through the peephole. 'So...the fierce woman returns...it's about time.' he said. He rushed down the hallway and looked back into the kitchen where Annabelle was creating a dinner of sorts and Amelia was sitting with a little red-headed girl, reading a book on the couch. Amerald smiled at the scene and then rushed to the door.
"Welcome to Amerald's Alchem-oh...it's you. Well it's about time you returned. I've been awaiting your arrival. Please, come this way." he said, first bursting through the door and then opening it for her to come through. He smiled. "Your present is in the living room, just down this hallway." he said, continuing to hold the door open for the woman.
He was prepared for the worst, since this woman obviously had a temper about her, or at least some sort of anger issue in the least. Amerald smiled kindly, watching the woman closely. What was she going to do? She was so surprising to him, he never knew what he would get himself into with her around.
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Posted: Fri Aug 13, 2010 4:44 pm
The shop was quiet with only Sera inside its walls. That wasn't too surprising with how late it already was. She was honestly surprised that the door had even been open. Letting a small sigh out, Sera began to kill a bit of time as she looked around. A set of small stones caught her attention.
Just as she was about to reach out to them, the sound of a door rushing open stopped her. The voice screamed Amerald and one glance over her shoulder confirmed it. The sight of him made the architect nearly want to drop kick him.
"It's good to see you again." Lying almost through her teeth, Sera turned fulling around before she took in what the older man was saying. Living room? Why in the world couldn't he just bring the bottle to her? That was unless he was trying something again. Mentally groaning, Sera worked hard to keep her cool. "Up to the same old tricks?"
For once Sera decided it was better to go with what he said than fight it. She had done that before and learned that when Amerald puts his mind to something, he goes after it.
Lifting her head up to catch his eye as she walked past him, Sera gave him a single warning glance. I'm castrating him if he tries anything.
The thought quickly left her mind as she took in the change of the place. A beautiful painting was at the end of the long hall and the red walls made it feel smaller, warmer even. Still, one could tell he never spent too much money on useless items.
To her right, Sera could see lightly coming from a side room. Assuming that was the living room, she walked quickly towards it and turned her head around the corner.
As quickly as she looked, Sera was up against the opposite wall and white as a sheet. Her jaw had dropped and she looked as if she was about to scream with what she had just seen. The entire form of such a woman was trembling. Yet her eyes never left the room. There, before her was a woman and a girl. But not just any two females. These...these had wings? And talons? And...
A thump followed soon after.
Sera had fainted....
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Posted: Fri Aug 13, 2010 8:13 pm
"Oh my..." the voice stated as he followed the woman into the room. As soon as she had fainted, he instantly went to her side.
Amelia's eyes widened, instantly jumping up at the woman's reaction. This definitely wasn't going to go well, she had that feeling the moment she saw.
Annabelle instantly heard the thump and stopped the fire under the burner and flew around the counter to view the woman now on the floor.
"L-lets get her to the empty couch." Amerald stated as he began to pick the woman up slowly. She was out alright, that wasn't a good sign at all. He hoped that she would keep his secret...otherwise he may have had to keep quiet for good. Amerald, being an alchemist also allowed his mind to flow into the poisons category. Though, he didn't fiddle with them nearly as much.
"H-how do we wake her?" the shorter of the two girls asked, patting the woman's face lightly. Maybe it was best that they just leave her be until she awoke on her own? That was her initial reaction. At least she was on the couch now though, not the floor. If she kept doing that, none of them knew what would happen.
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Posted: Fri Aug 13, 2010 8:36 pm
A small moan escaped the woman's throat as something patted her face. Nothing was making sense in her head. Images of women with wings kept flying before her eyes and worst of all, there was Amerald Lanaan standing over her, smiling and wanting something else from her. It was as if he was stalking her for DNA all over again but that smile...those eyes behind the glasses. It was worse than before. He wasn't leaving her alone...
"Get away from me..."
Sera had not realized that her mind had forced her scream as well. That scream was enough to wake her.
As blue eyes focused above, what she saw made her wish she hadn't ever awoken again. Two larger females stood over her, both looked a bit worried but that didn't stop Sera from turning white and then green. One woman had horns coming from her head, the other was whiter than even a bed sheet. Sera thought she would be sick.
Sadly for Amerald's carpet, she was.
Leaning over the side of the couch she was on, Sera emptied what little she had gotten to eat that day onto the floor.
"What the heck are you?" Her voice was shaking and weak as she picked her head up and glanced around. Slowly working her way back on the couch so she was as far away as she could be, Sera caught sight of Amerald. "And what the heck are you? You aren't an alchemist! You are a mad-man!"
Nothing added up in her head. It was hard enough to focus, let alone believe what her eyes were seeing. And then again, something chimed into her head.
"You..." Shooting the fastest glance she could manage up at Amerald. "You made these, didn't you?"
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Posted: Fri Aug 13, 2010 9:04 pm
Both women backed up considerably after that scene, giving the woman as much room as she needed. Annabelle decided to pipe up and answer the woman's question for them all. "W-we...we are known as hraapea. Yes, our father, Amerald, created us. Please, calm down. No need to over work yourself too much." she said, looking down at the mess she knew she would have to clean later.
Amerald turned around completely as to not sicken himself with the sight of the woman's sickness. "And to answer your other question...I am an alchemist. Though, I wouldn't consider myself to be completely mad haha." he said, a chuckle leaving his mouth. He then turned back, motioning for the girls to move out of the way of the woman's sight.
"This...is your daughter, Sera." he said, pointing to the red-haired girl sitting upon the other couch. Poor girl, this was her mother and she was not taking this news well. Would it have been better if he hadn't done any of this? Probably...but it was far too late now. The worst would be that he would have another 'daughter' of his own to care for...and this woman wouldn't be able to be trusted...hmmm...Amerald definitely had a tough time headed his way.
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Posted: Fri Aug 13, 2010 9:24 pm
"And they talk?" Sera spoke as she turned her attention back to the one who looked partly like a ram. No amount of tea would ever stop her from having a nightmare with a ram creature in it after this.
Allowing her hand came up into her signature 'this is giving me a headache' position on the the brim of her nose, Sera gave out a sigh in attempt to stop the racing heart. Rubbing softly, the woman tried to take everything in. Amerald had created these two and now they were talking to her? The man was crazy. Why did I ever agree to come back... Her head shook slowly before opening her eyes again.
"So I wasn't too wrong when I said you had to create women..."
It was the last thing Sera said before his words caught her attention. Dropping her hand onto the couch, the flaming woman's head slowly turned to where the elder two had once stood. There, sitting peacefully on the smaller couch was a small child. Ruby red hair, deep green eyes, and wings..."My WHAT?!" It was a scream loud enough to wake anyone in the house.
"That's it! I'm out of here!" Throwing herself off the couch, just missing the contents of her stomach, Sera attempted to march towards the door. "I do not know what kind of stunt you are pulling here, Amerald Lanaan, but I no longer find it funny! I humored you with my DNA so you can stop trying to pull pranks on me." Her voice was snapping cold as she reached the hallway door. "You are a twisted man to play with people like that."
Turning back to look at the little girl, Sera threw out one arm. "She doesn't even look like me! Or anyone I once considered family for that matter! How do you expect me to believe that is my daughter? It had feathers!"
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Posted: Sat Aug 14, 2010 11:12 am
Amerald stood there, now completely and utterly amazed. This was definitely different than he had expected. He didn't want the woman to leave, but as she made her way to the door, Amelia flopped onto the other couch and soft sobs could be heard. Annabelle just went to the little girl and sat next to her, wrapping her arm around her.
Amerald ignored the previous comments and focused much of his attention on the one that mattered, the one that could possibly cause this woman to stay or leave. It was up to him to actually make this woman realize that this little girl was hers. "If you'd just take time to see it, I bet you can find some resemblance. It just takes time. I know that if you just took the time to listen to your heart, you'd believe that this little girl is your own. No matter the looks. She is still young, she has time to grow and mature. But if you walk away now, you will never get to know your only daughter." he said, slowly walking towards the woman at the door.
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Posted: Sat Aug 14, 2010 11:51 am
Through all of what was going on behind him, Sera was somehow able to solely focus on the man standing there. Anger was boiling over inside of her as he stepped closer. Every moment that went past, Sera felt something else snap. Sanity, life, understanding, clarity. Nothing added up anymore but one thing was for sure. It was all because of him...
Closing the distance between themselves, Sera felt her hand go firm. Within the next moment, a crack rung out as her hand made contact with Amerald's face.
"I never asked for a daughter..." The woman's voice was so low and hard that one couldn't believe it was the same person. She looked like a demon had suddenly possessed her and she was ready to lash out. Shoulders where held high and tight, eyes narrow and only a fine line where her mouth should have been. Even her hands were starting to form fist. Almost every muscle in her body was rigid. "Go to hell."
It was at that moment something else caught Sera's ears. A soft crying noise unlike that of the other two women. Memories began to stir the more she listened from deep inside her being. A child, locked away, unwanted by anyone around her. Growing up unloved and shunned just because of who she was. Sera could see herself in those tears and for the first time, she knew Amerald was telling the truth.
Giving out a large sigh as the demon seemed to leave her, Sera stepped around the alchemist and back into his living room. Walking directly over towards the young red head, the human dropped down to her knees. Ignoring the other female, she reached out a hand and placed it on the little one's cheek. Blue eyes meet green and in that moment, it was confirmed.
"Mr. Lanaan, explain yourself."
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Posted: Sun Aug 15, 2010 9:24 pm
The next thing Amerald knew, he was on the floor. What had this woman done? Become so angry as to hit him? No, this wasn't going to stand any longer. He thought that she would love a child. It would be as though her child could calm her down when nothing else would. Someone to look forward to coming home to. It was quite a new experience that the woman would deject his offers and gifts so quickly before even getting to know the girl. He had definitely had enough of this woman. Yelling and screaming was his last straw. If she didn't want the child, fine, than he would just raise her as his own.
As he was punched to the floor, Annabelle immediately went to his side, helping him up. "You witch." she said, helping Amerald back to his feet. "How could you ever see her as a fit mother!? She does not deserve a child, nor does she deserve happiness. What you did, you witch...just cost you a lot more than you realize." the tall, darker woman said, her wings rather ruffled with anger.
"Anna! Please! You don't know what you're saying!" the other girl interjected, tears still running down her face.
"I may be saying this out of anger, true. But one fact I know for certain...is this woman is a menace and would never be able to take on the responsibility of a child. Her temper flares too high. Get your hands off of her!" Annabelle yelled as she made her way closer to the little red head, about to grab the woman's hand before another hand grabbed hers.
"Anna...take a step back and breathe. Go upstairs. Let daddy work this out on his own. Please..." the soft voice said. It seemed to sooth the taller woman who did as it had asked. She stepped back, took a deep breath and said, "Fine." Walking upstairs was the last thing to be heard, then a slam of the door. "I'll go calm her. Please talk with the woman dad. Don't hold that against her. She just hasn't seen the light quite yet." she said, smiling, wiping the tears from her soft blue eyes, kissing her father on the cheek where the other woman had punched, which was now beginning to bruise and swell considerably.
"Thank you dear." he said, patting his daughter's shoulder as she took her leave.
"No, you didn't ask for a daughter. But I gave you one. I am an inventor, as I've stated before. I invented this new way of creating humans. One that gives those which have no luck in child bearing a chance at a happy family. You were fierce, unpredictable. That is what I saw in you to make me think of giving you this creation." he said, going to the icebox to retrieve a frozen slab of meat for his eye and cheek.
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Posted: Mon Aug 16, 2010 1:59 pm
Most of went on behind Sera's back went unnoticed by those deep blue eyes. Of course she had heard every word for how could one miss being called a 'witch'? Something told her that had this child not been there, she would have been called a good deal worse too. At least one of them knew how to behave in front of someone so young. The same could not be said for the sole human woman in the room. What she had done was unforgivable in the eyes of many but what she wanted to know was how the little girl reacted.
With her hand still resting on the small red head's face, she slowly began to move it in a soften touched. The little one's reaction broke her heart.
All too quickly, the child's body tightened and pulled away. With one big sob, two little green wings wrapped around her form as she pulled herself to the otherside of the couch. When those eyes looked back at Sera, there was nothing but fear in them. It was enough to break something side of the woman. Way to go you idiot. Not only have you angered everyone in the room but you lost your temper in front of a child. "Let alone my own..." The words came out in a whisper as she watched the girl. With a sigh Sera made up her mind.
"Little one, please forgive me for what you saw." Sera's voice was shaking as she spoke, her eyes locked on that innocent face. "I will not hurt you, not now, not ever. But I will give you a choice. This is one that most children dream of..."
Taking a deep breath and letting it out in a whisper, Sera felt her eyes close. "As sad as it might be, I am your mother." With those words coming out of her mouth, Sera opened her eyes again. The green orbs were locked on her face as she continued, still shaking. "And I will take you home with me if you wish. Yet I cannot promise you anything more than I will try my best to make you happy. Or..." Picking her head up, Sera looked over at the man she had just decked. Even though seeing him with meat on his face was rather amusing, she couldn't crack a smile. "Or you can stay here with Mr. Lanaan and his two girls. He knows how to raise you and can give you everything I cannot..."
A moment passed with nothing was said between the two females. Then, the winged girl unfolded herself from the ball and pushed her way onto the floor. Running over towards Amerald she grabbed onto his pant leg. Sera felt her heart break...
As the elder woman looked away, she missed seeing what happened next.
Standing there, tugging on Amerald's pants, the child looked up at him with wide eyed wonder. "Daddy, is that my Mommy? Does Mommy not want me? Why do you have dinner on your face?"
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Posted: Mon Aug 16, 2010 7:19 pm
Amerald listened to the woman's voice. It definitely made him feel like she was sincere. His heart was broken for her and even though she had made a scene, he wasn't going to give up on giving this girl a home. He knew that maybe this little girl would allow this woman to take a break from life, live more for someone other than herself. He definitely felt that it was the only thing to do. Give her a home.
He squatted down to her level, taking her into a hug. "Little one, yes, this is your mother and she does love you. You just need to give her a second chance." he said, smiling, removing the meat from his face. "The reason I have this on is because, feel it, it's cold and will make daddy's face feel better." he said, smiling. He looked at Sera and then at the little girl. "Go spend time with your mommy. She is really sorry for what she did, I know that. Go give her a hug and get to know her a bit. I'll be back and we can talk a bit after, alright?" he said, patting her shoulder and pointing at the mother.
He took the meat and slapped it upon the kitchen counter, walking towards the basement. He opened and shut the door, leaving the two girls to talk and know one another. He made his way down the steps, he grabbed the basket of crystals from under it and smiled, beginning to make his way back to the staircase.
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Posted: Mon Aug 16, 2010 7:54 pm
Like it or not, Sera felt tears forming in her eyes. So this was what it was like when a mother found the will to love something? While she had only gotten nine seconds instead of nine months, there was no doubt who the wing girl was. She is your daughter. Her tears are just like yours at that age. Full of hope that will never be answered. She will be happier here. Amerald will see to...
Two small arms suddenly wrapped as far around Sera's chest as they could. Blinking back to reality, her tear filled eyes looked over at the owner of them.
"Mommy..." The little girl's voice was music to her ears as she attempted to hug the woman. She still looked scared but now there was hope back in those green orbs. "Daddy says you need a hug."
A smile appeared on the grown woman's face as an emotion she had never felt before flooded her every cell. Words could not describe it so she just decided to act up on. Wrapping her own arms around the child, Sera laid her head in that mess of red hair. "Daddy's right. And you give the best hugs..." Sera cried out trying not to use her daughter's hair as a napkin.
"Really?" A child-like pride beamed in as she pulled back and smiled happily at her mother. That made all the world better to hear her mother happy. "Then I hug again!"
How long the two women sat like that was unknown but it was Sera who suddenly realized something. Leaning back on her heels, she put two fingers under the girl's chin and lifted her eyes upward. "Did Amerald give you a name?" She couldn't just go around calling her 'little one' or bird girl or something like that. Every being had a name. That was what made them who they were. Even Sera had kept her own.
The mass of red hair shook quickly as a new expression shone over her young feathers. "Nope. Daddy said you would. What's my name?" Leaning her head to the side, the girl looked full of wonder as she waited. Sera was left stunned. Here she had believed Amerald would do it all and yet, he left one of the most beloved gifts to her. A name...
Only a second passed before Sera gave a smile. "How do you feel about Lorena? A beautiful name for my little queen."
The playful smile was the perfect answer. "Lore...Lorena!" Yet the smile faded a moment later. "Mommy, what a queen?"
Laughter. Pure laughter escaped Sera's throat as someone climbed the stairs behind. Anyone who saw her wouldn't believe this was the same woman who had just punched Amerald to the ground.
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Posted: Tue Aug 17, 2010 12:21 am
Amerald popped around the corner to hear the laughter of the woman across the room. Laughter was better than yelling or screaming, that was a fact. He smiled as the basket and the items within fidgeted around one another, clanking together. "So, I see that you guys have become acquainted. That's great to see. I believe you two will make a great team one day." he said, smiling as he sat upon the couch.
He placed the basket on the floor and smiled up at Sera. She seemed to have made a three hundred and sixty degree turn from her previous acts just moments ago. That girl had already softened her and it was easy to tell that she already had a mound of love waiting to give away. Amerald's heart melted with that thought.
"Now, I do have a request of you both. We're alone, so I must ask...would you two like to become stronger? See all these pretty rocks here? These have powers inside of them, and if I put one of these rocks inside of you, little one, than you will have that power too." he said, smiling down at what was called 'his daughter'. He considered all of the hraapea his children, but not many of them actually called him 'dad', 'daddy', or 'father'. Most called him Amerald when they grew. That just went to show that Amerald had made some type of impact upon this little girl's mind. He was happy, the happiest he had been all day.
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Posted: Sat Aug 21, 2010 3:51 pm
Both women perked up at the sound of Amerald's voice. Sera had a look of tearful joy and Lorena's was a bit more confused. It was easy to see she didn't have a clue as to why her mother was laughing at such a simple question. Was a Queen someone who made you laugh? Maybe that was a good thing. Laughter seemed to make her mother hug her closer and that was such a nice feeling.
Sera on the other hand was eyeing Amerald with pure distrust and annoyance. So she had accepted the little girl as her own. That didn't mean she planned to suddenly start liking the man. Heck, she wasn't even sorry for punching him square in the face. The bruise suited him.
As the basket came into view, both women turned their attention to it. Sera's eyes glowed as she took in the gems. Some were so rare that she had never even seen them on client's necks. Two caught her eyes: the sapphire and the diamond. Almost without thinking, Sera pulled one hand from around her daughter and reached towards the basket. It was only the vision of Amerald sitting there that made her hand recoil. "Power? What kind of power are you talking about?"
But before anyone could say another thing, Lorena had knocked over the basket and was slowly picking up the stones. "Daddy, what did you bring?' Picking up the diamond, she held the big stone in her hand, looking from man to woman. "Lorena, Daddy." A small chuckle escaped her thought as she smiled at her father.
Sera's eyes widened as Lorena held the stone. Amerald had said something about putting it inside of her daughter. A quickl movement of the hand pulled the stone from small fingers. "If you explain what you mean, I think Lorena would like this one."
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