chronicles of eden - act I (107 page)

"I owe my life to you, Daniel, something I wouldn't want anyone else to have. You really are my soul mate, I know it for a fact," Specca assured softly.

Daniel stared at them in silence, stunned by their words that he had overheard walking towards them. The girls all watched him with hopeful eyes, waiting to hear what his reaction would be to their confessions. After a while of uneasy silence he slowly looked down with wonder.

"I… don't know what to say," he said softly. The girls continued watching him, all of them showing worried expressions as he slowly shook his head.

"I'm not… prepared for this. Trying to find monsters to talk to, to reason with about peaceful coexistence, that's all I was ready for, and even with that I don't have all the answers with me. But… I don't know what to say to you all about…" he trailed off, looking back up to them with worried eyes. He took a moment to think about his options, about what he could say. With a sigh he looked down with closed eyes.

"The truth is I do care about you all. Human or monster, it doesn't matter, you all have good souls in you. I know you wanted me to consider you all, to be fair with choosing any girl as my mate in life, but I wasn't aware you all felt so… strongly about me," he admitted softly. The girls watched him with gentle gazes as he looked back up to them.

"You all mean the world to me too, you really do. Triska, you and I have been through so much together, and I honestly couldn't imagine being out here without you and your sword by my side. You would have been one of the best fighters in our village had you stayed at home, yet you chose to follow me out here, to believe in me. I don't know what I'd do without you," he said gently, with Triska smiling hopefully at him. He then looked to Alyssa as she was watching him with worried eyes.

"And you, Alyssa, I want you by my side as well. I know that in your past you've done things, things you couldn't help but do because of your nature telling you to, but I never once held that against who you are. If I were to pick a witch in life as my mate, you would be my first and only choice," he assured gently. Alyssa smiled brightly with a few tears dropping from her face. Daniel smiled gently at her then looked to Squeak.

"Squeak, I have absolutely no idea what you are saying whenever you try speaking to us. But, I do see how you feel, clear as day. Although the words you're trying to convey are lost, I feel like I can understand you. I'm glad I picked you out of all the ant girls in your nest, you're one of a kind, Squeak, one that I’m fortunate to have found," he said kindly. Squeak smiled with teary eyes as she wiggled her abdomen slightly, gently squeaking a few times. Daniel then looked to Specca who was watching him curiously.

"And you, Specca, I was lucky to have found you hiding in that library. I do appreciate everything you've done to help with my journey, from offering to be our guide and even updating my monster book out of memory alone. And I'm also glad that you can be yourself out here, and not hide who and what you are. I can see the kind of girl you are clear as day, Specca, and that's one that I wouldn't want taken out of my life ever," he assured gently. Specca held a hand over her mouth as she sniffled, watching Daniel with teary eyes through her glasses. Daniel smiled gently at her then looked around at all four of them.

"I mean it, you're all important to me, irreplaceable, special. I do care for you all; I want you all to know that without any doubt. But, I just don't know if I can say those three words back, if I can say them and have them hold their true meaning. I honestly don't know if I feel that way about you like you do with me, such a feeling is… new to me," he confessed remorsefully. The other girls watched him with gentle expressions as he looked down with closed eyes.

"I'm sorry, I don't want to hurt any of you, I never have. I just… I just don't have an answer for you right now, not one that I can be sure about," he said softly. The girls looked at him for a moment then to each other. Luna kept watching them with a curious expression while Falla was struggling to free herself from the vines holding her down, not really paying attention to anything that was being said.

"Then I'll wait," Triska said turning back to him. Daniel looked to her as she showed a small smile.

"I'll wait until you do have your answer, until you can be sure. I don't want to be anywhere else but with you, Daniel, I mean it," she said gently. Daniel watched with wonder as she brushed her hair back around her ear.

"I finally told you what I've been dying to tell you for so long, I'm not leaving your side until I get an answer," she said assuredly. Daniel watched her stand there, looking at him with hopeful eyes, then over to Alyssa as she wiped her tears away and smiled gently at him.

"Same here, I'm not giving up on you that easily, nope nope. If staying by your side and being a good little witch is what it takes to win your heart, then I'll be the best guardian witch ever for you. I promise," she said softly. Daniel smiled slightly at her then over to see Squeak smiling at him, squeaking a few times as she nodded eagerly. Specca smiled and walked over towards Daniel along with the other three girls, with Daniel looking at them with wonder as they stood in front of him. Specca slowly reached out and rested her hand on his shoulder.

"I could never find another like you, Daniel, nowhere in all of Eden. Take all the time you need to decide on what your heart wants, but just know that my heart has already made its choice. It's you, it will always be you," she said softly. Triska slowly reached out and placed her hand on his other shoulder while Squeak and Alyssa rested a hand each on his chest. Daniel looked around at the girls with wonder, all of them watching him with loving smiles.

"This is all your fault, Daniel," Triska said softly. He looked to her curiously as she shook her head with a gentle smile.

"You're just too desirable," she confessed. Daniel looked at her with wonder then to the other girls, all of them nodding slowly in agreement. He then smiled weakly and looked down.

"I'm really not all that special," he said with a shrug.

"Yes you are," Triska, Alyssa, and Specca insisted, along with a squeak from Squeak. He looked around at them with a warm smile as they held their hands to him, all watching him with loving eyes.

"That is so beautiful," Luna sobbed, holding her hands to her mouth as she cried softly while sitting down. The group looked to her as she pulled off a few leaves from the vine around her waist and blew her nose in them, sniffling as she wiped her tears away. Falla glanced to her with disbelief as she was still struggling to free herself.

"Oh yeah, it’s so sickenly sweet I just might throw up! Would you get a grip and help me already?" she barked out. Luna sniffled and looked over to her, then back to the group as Daniel shook his head slowly at Falla.

"Anyway," Triska said flatly, turning back to Daniel along with the other girls. She smiled and looked at him curiously.

"We should probably get going, don't you think? We've got a long way ahead of us still if we're going to reach the elven forest," she pointed out. Daniel looked at her curiously as she glanced to the other girls.

"We're going to need more than just three monster girls with us to show the world after all," she reasoned with a shrug. Alyssa, Squeak, and Specca looked at her as the girls all lowered their hands from Daniel.

"Wait, are you saying that you're still ok with us coming with you?" Specca asked curiously.

"Even after we admitted we love Daniel, you're fine with us traveling with you?" Alyssa asked. Triska glanced to her then looked down.

"I'm not at all fine that you love Daniel," she said shaking her head. After a pause she glanced up to Daniel with a small smile.

"But I suppose I can't blame you for being drawn to him, I know what that's like," she reasoned softly. Daniel smiled at her before Triska looked over to Alyssa.

"Besides, you three are proof of his beliefs, we need you," she said looking around at the three girls. Specca and Squeak watched her curiously while Alyssa raised an eyebrow in question. After a moment Triska glanced to Alyssa.

"That… and I'm not sure if my sword alone is enough to protect him out here," Triska added with a small smirk. Alyssa stared at her with a blank expression then nodded.

"I could have told you that," she said flatly. Triska twitched slightly then narrowed her eyes at Alyssa, but before she could shout at the witch Alyssa smiled playfully at her.

"But don't worry, I'll protect you, Triska. After all, you're just as much proof for his cause as I am," she said kindly. Triska showed a dull expression for a moment then smiled slightly. Alyssa giggled then looked over to Daniel.

"It's my job as your guardian, right?" she asked with an adorable smile. He smiled at her and nodded as the girls all looked over to him. Triska crossed her arms and smiled at Daniel, feeling warmer inside after having confessed her true feelings to him at long last. Squeak smiled at him and squeaked a few times, although what she was saying was anybody's guess. Specca smiled at Daniel before looking around curiously, then back to him.

"Um, I believe we're forgetting something," she pointed out.

"Yeah, no shit! Let me go already, I saved your lives, I'm a goddamned hero!" Falla shouted out. The group looked to her as she continued to struggle in her binds then over to Specca. She glanced around then back to Daniel.

"Where's Lucky? We need him to pull our caravan," she asked with a shrug.

"Hey, yeah, where did he run off to?" Triska asked looking around.

"Oh no, I hope that nightmare didn't hurt him. I don't even remember walking him out there to find some grass to eat," Daniel said, holding a hand to his head as he looked around worriedly. Alyssa walked out onto the dirt road and looked around.

"Lucky! Here boy!" she called out. Nothing was heard but the gentle rustling of leaves, the swaying grass nearby, and Falla's colorful language as she struggled to free herself still.

"Doesn't he always stay close to Alyssa? He should be around here somewhere," Triska reasoned with a shrug.

"Good thinking. Triska, Squeak, Specca, you three search the woods around the area. Daniel and I will wait in the caravan in case he comes back," Alyssa said with a nod. After a pause she looked over to see Daniel showing a weak smile while the three girls were giving her dull stares.

"What?" she asked innocently. The group just looked at her for a moment before a horse's cry was heard nearby. Everybody looked over to seeing a white horse trotting through the woods towards them.

"Lucky? Is that him?" Daniel asked.

"Wait, what if it's another nightmare?" Specca asked nervously. Triska got in front of Daniel and held a hand back while the other reached up for her sword. Squeak watched the horse carefully as Luna and Falla looked over to it as well, both cautious about seeing the white horse again. Alyssa slowly brought up her staff to the ready as she watched the horse closely, quickly glancing back to the group then forward again.

"Lucky! Bandits!" she shouted out.

Lucky neighed loudly as he bucked back, crying out loudly as skeletal wings extended out behind him. His hair shifted into a dark black as smoke came from his mouth, his eyes turning crimson while his tail lit on fire. The demonic horse bucked about while screeching loudly, looking around for any sign of the bandits while the group stared him it with awe. Alyssa smiled at seeing her faithful horse then looked over to Daniel with a shrug.

"It's him," she said casually. Triska lowered her stance and nodded with a small smile as Daniel and Specca smiled with relief at seeing the real lucky. Daniel then jumped and looked over to Squeak urgently.

"Oh no, Squeak!" he called out. He paused then looked at the ant girl puzzled along with the others, noticing that Squeak was just watching Lucky curiously. She blinked then looked over to Daniel, squeaking once as she tilted her head in wonder.

"Squeak? Are you… ok?" Triska asked carefully. Squeak looked back to Lucky, seeing the monstrous horse screeching and kicking around while in its demon form. Slowly Squeak smiled and nodded, no longer fearing the horse that she had taken down in her nightmare with her bare hands. The group looked at her curiously as she smiled amusedly at the demonic horse, this being the first time she didn't freeze up in fear from seeing him.

"Um… good, glad you're ok now," Daniel said curiously. Triska smiled at her friend then looked over behind them.

"Um, Daniel?" she said simply. The group looked over to see Falla and Luna staring with absolute horror at the horse, with Falla having halted in her efforts to break free from her binds while Luna was pointing to the horse while sitting back on her rear with a quivering mouth.

"What the hell is that thing?" Falla cried out. Luna shrieked as she saw the horse kicking around, her eyes wide and unblinking. After she let out a frightful cry she promptly collapsed back onto the ground, unconscious while her antennae twitched slightly.

"Luna! Wake up, get me out of here, hurry!" Falla screamed as she franticly struggled to free herself.

"Oh… whoops," Triska said with a shrug.

"Sorry, Luna," Alyssa said with a weak smile.

"Oh dear, I hope we didn't kill her," Specca said worriedly. Daniel chuckled slightly then glanced to Alyssa.

"Alyssa, could you…" he asked kindly. Alyssa nodded then skipped playfully over towards Lucky, gently calling out his name to calm him down while Daniel and Triska walked over towards where Luna was unconscious next to her sister. Falla continued to scream as she thrashed around.

"That thing's your horse? What the hell is wrong with you people?" Falla screamed out in terror. Triska and Daniel glanced to each other then looked back down to Luna, the butterfly girl motionless on the grass. Triska raised an eyebrow then smiled weakly.

"Well… at least she didn't-"

"Yeah she did," Daniel said as he and Triska backed up a step, both seeing a small puddle of urine forming below Luna.

*****

After Alyssa had calmed down Lucky and hitched him back up to the caravan, the group prepared to once again set off on their journey. Daniel was sitting at the driver's seat holding Lucky's reins, the white horse now quiet and peaceful while Daniel was looking back inside the caravan with a curious eye.