So.... got my computer charged up and I'm posting this part that I had typed already. Enjoy :) Please do not forget to vote. 

Chapter 44 – Furari Magicae (Danny Conrad POV) Pt. 2

Then. "How can she not know that he is not whom he says he is," I griped as Cynthia and I watched a movie. How on Earth could this woman be married to this man, and not know that he is lying about everything? "Love makes some people stupid Danny... plus this guy is slick-" I had laughed.

"But he's not. This woman is just incredibly unobservant! He handles everything, where they go, when they go, where they shop, and how much money they spend. She's just walking around as his side puppet. The man has a whole other family."

Cynthia shrugged. "Some people just rather remain oblivious Danny. Facing the truth, even if it's right in your face always comes with a price. For her, ignoring the gut feeling she had went on until she couldn't. Why? Because for her, the truth was going to cost her their marriage and their son his father."

Now. "I want to know more Cynthia, tell me," I panted out; aware of the growing pulsing I was experiencing in my mind. We had finished half of the water supply my brother left us with, and I still hadn't gotten much out of Cynthia, nor that Ansel or anyone come down to the cellars.

Without windows, I had no way of telling how long we had been in the dungeon, but I was going to say it was one or maybe even two days.

"I was supposed to have a royal baby. That was the deal was. It wasn't even a deal, more like a prophecy. In Zedwood, two of the colonies had merged long before I had been born. The greatest Seer in Zedwood came to me and said that I would have a child that was special, powerful. He said that she would be great and do wonderful things," I listen carefully, wondering if this was the truth.

"I asked if she would be great enough to run her own Colony and he said that she would. That it was a waiting game. The pregnancy had to be kept top secret, and that..." she swallows. "I would have to give her up for a while, he would train her, and when the time came, my family could reap the benefits that came with having a child like her."

"My family came from one of the poorest colonies in Zedwood, so hearing that all I had to do was carry a child, and give her away to be raised to be royal was-"

"I felt as though it was everything my family would need."

I force to open an eye, peering at Cynthia. Observing her. Back against the wall, her head tilted back, she continues. "Right away, I knew something was different. I had a friend that had given birth right before I was hidden to carry that monster. I was showing much sooner than I remembered my friend showing, and by the second month I looked about six months pregnant. At first I tried to ignore the feelings, but I had heard of the supernaturals here in this realm."

"So when by the third month, I knew what I had been tricked into doing, and before anyone could find out, I stabbed myself." I immediately think of the two scars on her abdomen. "From Alpha Monet," she had said in the darkness as we explored one anothers' body.

"I argued endlessly with the person that had told me how special of a child I was going to have. I knew that there would be no money if they found out, all that would happen was I'd be sent here. So I wanted to end the pregnancy."

My empty stomach turns. The urge to be sick, whether from my head or Cynthia recounting her experience, I have no idea, grows.

I have to admit I actually trust her words now, when I shouldn't.

"When it was born, Wyatt, the man that hid me away, he said that she died. I know it will sound cold, but Danny," she stops, leaving such a long pause between us that I'm forced to open my eyes and meet her gaze. "I love our children. I wouldn't want a single thing to happen to them, but then... I was relieved that I had been successful in killing her."

"I left Wyatts' and returned home, with a few excuses of what I was doing, and he had given me some money – so I said that I had just been helping his family with chores."

"When I finally found someone in Zedwood, I had Andy and I had put that horrible experience behind me. But, then she was found and everything came out and Andy's father, my entire family treated me like a pariah-"

Cynthia stops mid-sentence as the iron doors are pushed aside and light streaks through. The sun behind the large figure blinds me. Squinting, I make out Ansel's face when he steps to the side and my older daughters, Leslie, Lydia and Lia all come rushing in, crying.

"Daddy."

Wincing from their extreme volume, I still move to the doors to get my hands on them. "Oh god," Lia cries, "what's going on you guys? Uncle Ansel said that – that mom you had to stay in here?" Leslie jumps in.

Ansel moves to stand behind my daughters as Cynthia holds onto Lydia's hand. His eyes focus on me, "Are you ill?" he asks frowning.

"Like you even care uncle Ansel!" Leslie whips around barking at my brother. "Tell them why you're in here Danny," Ansel says dryly.

Swallowing, I focus on my oldest child. "Your mom was going to call the Elders, I couldn't let her do that to the family sweetheart," she gazes at me in disbelief. Slowly pulling away from my eyes, throwing a glance at Cynthia.

"That girl – the one that hit me – cannot be trusted," I frown.

"Cynthia!" I snap before I even really think of why I would be upset with her. We are in here because of her hatred for the girl, and now she wants to instill that hate in our children? Why? Did she want them in the cell right next to ours?

"I will not lie to anyone, any longer Danny. The girls should know how to protect themselves from her."

"Enough!" Ansel roars, causing me drop my head forward groaning at the throbbing at my temples. The pain traveling down my spine. "I bring your children to see you and this is what you have to say to them Cynthia?"

"You'd rather I lie?" my wife spits back.

Ansel shakes his head scoffing, "Danny, are you sick?" he doesn't respond to Cynthia.

"I'm willing to let you out-" I shake my head, regretting the movement. "I'm not leaving here until you let Cynthia out," I grit though. After everything she's done, I still protect her? I ask myself not understanding, but somewhat aware.

Cynthia did bad things but when I did admit that to myself, a small part of me thinks of the good she has done for me. To Faith she is the villain, but to my older children, she's the woman that brought us all back to life.

She the stay at home mom that plays with the kids, drives they around to their activities, makes dinner, cleans their room, does their laundry. Cynthia is the best mom, in their eyes.

"Danny," Ansel says almost tiredly, "You know why I cannot let Cynthia out of here, but think of your children, Stella, Danny Junior and Genesis, you cannot desert your children for a grown woman."

"He won't let us bring them here," Lydia whispers sadly to Cynthia, her big blue eyes filled to the brim. I should go. I know I should go but I still want answers from Cynthia. Leaving wouldn't get that.

"Leslie, help your grandmother with the kids okay?"

"Danny," Ansel calls me, frowning. His eyes wide. I just shake my head. "Andy is saying that you drugged him," Lia says to Cynthia, as though it's the most absurd thing.

Gazing at our girls, Cynthia purses her lips, glancing at Leslie and Lia before looking directly at Lydia. "I was thinking of the family," she says slowly. "I just wanted to get us out of Bend, because I was going to call the Elders so they could come and get her. Give us a reward for turning her in," she almost begs Lydia to understand.

Frowning, I glance at Ansel briefly. Was it just me? Was I the only one that was hearing just how manipulative that was coming out?

"What about the explosion at the hotel you were staying at Cynthia? Was that you just thinking of turning Faith in? How about I turn you in for your part in what happened?"

My girls frown deeper, whipping their heads from Ansel to Cynthia.

"There is no proof that I did anything Ansel," Cynthia responds coolly.

Shaking his head, Ansel smirks. Glancing down at his feet for a minute before gazing back at us.

"Well – Danny, if this is where you want to stay, fine by me," he shrugs, "but girls, visiting time is over." All humor, the smirk, everything pleasant about Ansel is gone. In it's place is the coldness of a leader.

"Lydia, Lia and Leslie, out!" he roars, pointing at the door, startling the girls. The three of them never had the opportunity of meeting this Ansel. Like little frightened animals, they drop our hands, scurrying out of the cellar, as he instructed.

"If you want to stay in here with her Danny, abandoning your children that need you... what would Tina think of what you're doing right now?" he spits the words. And like my daughters, I've never had the fortune of meeting this Ansel either. His words hit me hard; turn me cold from the outside, in.

A slap in the face.

"Just go Ansel," I do not have the strength to argue with him. Before he can take a step towards me or out the door, I turn my back on him, sinking to my knees and crawling to the corner of the cell dropping on a mat.

I hear him go, and even then I don't turn back to Cynthia. I cannot face her either. Ansel meant to hurt me. I knew that. He knew that I questioned everyday, whether Tina would be pleased with how our daughters turned out. On the type of man - father - I had become because of Cynthia.

I fall asleep, the throbbing only worsening to a prickly sensation growing on my upper back. Reaching up to my neck, I try to massage the pain away.

Time passes again, and though I hear Cynthia, I feel paralyzed unable to do much more than open and close my eyes. Going in and out, I know it hasn't been much time when I roll my head and glance at the corner where Ansel and Kalenah had placed our food.

"Danny what's wrong?" Cynthia asks but I can do no more than just grunt, fog taking over my mind again.

"I snuck in," I hear a voice.

One I know well.

"You can help dad and I get out Lydi," the second voice whispers softly.

There is silence.

"How?"

"I tried using magic here but I can't... but you can out there."

"How will that help you and daddy?"

"The girl-"

"Faith?"

"Yes. She has power Lydi," Cynthia says even softer than before. My back turned to them; I listen, as the fog in my mind doesn't let up.

I cannot make out the next few spoken words, despite how hard I try. Is Cynthia asking our daughter to use magic? Since when can she even do magic?

The confusion and fog double in my head.

"Okay I cannot do the spell from in here, but I'll write it down," Cynthia murmurs. "You remember how I told you to start them?"

You told her to use magic? I scream frustrated in my head.

"Yes, yes," Lydia responds, "Divine Earth Goddess, from South to North. To the East and West. Give me strength."

"Good, good girl."

No! "Okay I'm going to write the spell in the dirt," Cynthia warns, her chains clinking against one another from the movement I suspect.

And soon, I hear Lydia start to mumble.

"Divine Earth Goddess: From South to North, To the East and West.Give me strength. From the rising of the sun On the west side, north and south, I have the power. I have the power. I have the power."

When she's done, Cynthia praises her, "Good, now do the whole thing in Latin. The way I have it written here."

The chains clink and soon my Lydia starts speaking.

"Divinum terrae deam:

Ab austro usque ad aquilonem,

Ad orientem et occidentem.

Da mihi virtutem."

"Ab ortu solis

ad occidentalem plagam,

septentrionem et meridiem,

Ego potentiam.

Ego potentiam.

Ego potentiam."

"Good Lydi."

"What do I have to do? Do I just say it?"

"No, if you get close to her, you take both of her hands in yours and recite the spell. She might pull away, but you're stronger Lydi."

"Once you've gotten her power, you'll be able to break the spell your grandmother put on the kids. Look for the key not to the main door down here, but for the actual cell okay?"

"You just need stronger magic to undo the spells your grandmother set out. You remember how to do that right?" Why would she?

Instead of the resounding 'no' I expected, "Yeah, yes. I remember." Lydia confirms her voice as serious and low as Cynthia. 

"What if she tells?" Lydia asks with a bit of worry I can catch on to. I fight the fog desperately to hear more of their conversation, only to fail, as blackness fills my aching head. 

.

.

.

__________

© 2016 roxann_season All Rights Reserved

so... we know that the preventive measures doesn't work with Cynthia writing the spell for someone else to say it... she's a devious one.