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Spotify🎵 Mel | Mary | Bastet | Lusje | Lynette 🎵
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T H E ☆ M A G I C I A N
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Act 68
Mel
I’m glad you came to your senses. I feel like sometimes, y’know, you’re your own worst demon. She deserves ya, and honestly, you deserve her, too.
Even though the demon really was in Mel’s bad books right now, it might be right with this; Mel really was standing in their own way, at least right now.
But there really wasn’t a solution to this puzzle. Only a lesser evil. And for the time being, Mel wasn’t able to tell the difference between the two.
In any case, Mel sternly pushed themself to not succumb to those thoughts for now, but to attend to Mary and her feelings instead. The girl had been through a lot, both due to the events of the past week and Mel’s poor decision on how to end things; therefore, by choosing to stay with her for now, Mel felt it was their responsibility to take care of her.
They observed the gentle, doll-like little human, who in turn looked back at Mel with big, exhausted eyes. Her hair was unbrushed and tangled, with deep dark circles carved under her eyes, her lips pale, her clothes crinkled and unwashed, her skin seemed almost translucent, and even her freckles looked different; as if they had been dipped into a milky swamp. Though despite everything, her gentle passion, unique strength, and undivided attentiveness still shone through her brightly, making her one of the most beautiful beings Mel has ever had the pleasure to come across.
No matter what the outcome of this whole mess would be, Mel was grateful that Mary had confronted and shown them her raw, profound feelings and put Mel in their place. For some strange reason, this made her even more beautiful on top of everything.
“I’m sorry for what I put you through,” Mel said, and added in their mind: both intentionally and unintentionally.
“It’s okay. It was the only solution you could think of, I guess…” the cherished girl said while laying her head on Mel’s knees, closing her eyes. She looked so exhausted. “I’m just so, so happy I could reach you. That you listened. And most of all, that you’re alive.”
The last words rustled from her lips like leaves in a breeze. It was evident that she was half asleep when she uttered the final word, because it was immediately followed by deep, rhythmic breathing.
She must’ve been exhausted beyond belief. That poor girl, Mel thought. Or Lusje. Probably both. It was hard to distinguish, because Mel could sense the demon’s fondness of her quite clearly. And they hated it.
Sorry, kiddo. But yar stuck with me for now, your body still needs me, the snake commented in their mind. There seemed to be honest regret in its tone, but Mel couldn’t care less.
I know ye refuse to believe it, but I have feelings, too. We both made mistakes now, right? We used to be so close… and I thought things were getting better again.
“We talk about this later,” Mel whispered impassively, when they made sure Mary was fast asleep. They were too exhausted and frustrated to answer in their head. It wasn’t easy to think of sentences in actual chronological words, and on top of that it seemed too kind to answer in Lusje’s main form of communication. “Can we get her up and into bed?”
Thankfully, the demon didn’t argue or make fun of Mel for asking.
You’re still too weak. Lend me half of your body, I will do it.
Mel hated the idea but ultimately agreed. Contrary to what it would seem like, allowing Lusje part of their body felt significantly closer than giving it whole, but there was no chance that Mel would hand over all control again. As it was, enough damage had been done.
They could feel the demon slip into their legs and arms like a jumpsuit, without forcing Mel back, which always made Mel feel like their body was uncomfortably crowded. Once settled, Mel carefully slid her hands under Mary’s body, then felt the demon lift her up with ease and position her safe and sound within their arms. This shift caused the girl to open her eyes dozily.
“It’s all good. I’m just getting you into bed. Sleep, duifje.” Mel whispered gently in the most sleep-soothing voice they could come up with.
The girl cuddled her face on their shoulder, closed her eyes, and answered with a weak and begging tone, “Don’t go.” Then, she fell asleep again.
Mel took a deep breath, letting go of everything they had planned to do for now, then answered, “I promise.”
Maybe Mary heard them in her sleep, because the faintest smile adorned her face.
Lusje carried her over to the bed, while Mel tucked her in, then sat in the same chair Mary had sat in when watching over her.
Gosh… what, in God’s name, was Mel supposed to do from here on? There was no easy solution to this. No clear path. Only dangerous uncertainty, other life-threatening demons Mel actually knew nothing about until today, and… and this splendid, formidable, overwhelming feeling when looking at Rosemary, or even thinking of her. Happiness.
Thankfully, the demon didn’t comment this time.
It seemed, in fact, to have retreated for now. Mel could only feel a faint shadow of it in the back of their mind. So they took the opportunity to contemplate and reevaluate. A task that seemed impossible to master for now, but the work would have to be done. Mary deserved it.
---
Mel had just opened another can of soup and had barely managed to think decisively about the problem when Mary sat up in bed, her eyes wide with panic.
Immediately, Mel put down the can and moved over to her, holding her hand, and said, “Don’t worry, I’m here.”
Mary looked at them, at first confused, then with renewed urgency, she said, “No, Lynette! And Tomas!”
“I --- what? Excuse me?”
“They are worried! You have to tell them that you’re okay!”
Mel looked at her, abstracted.
And here ya thought she was worried that you’re gone, Narcissus, hahaha
“I’m sure they are okay—”
Mary grabbed both of Mel’s hands and looked them in the eyes. “No. They are worried. I know it. Please, please call them!”
Mary’s genuine worry right after meeting those people briefly (when did she even come close to Tomas?) was so heartwarming that it pushed away Mel’s hurt pride. They gently stroke her little hands and answered: “I will, Mary, but first—”
“No!” the girl exclaimed. “Now, please!”
Mel looked at her.
“Alright. I understand. Though my phone’s most likely empty. How about I give you their number, and you write to them that I am with you, and that I am ok? Nothing more please, though. Does that sound fair?”
The gentle girl visibly relaxed. “Yes. Thank you. Sorry for pressuring you. I just… I know they like you,” she commented while she pulled out her phone from her pocket and gave it to Melodie.
Mel took it and added the numbers they still knew by heart, to Mary’s contacts. “It’s quite alright, my dear. I cherish you for your empathy.”
“Thank you. Sorry. That was harsh of me. You… you sound, like… burdened.”
Mel chuckled. They tried to make it sound charming. “I must admit, my ego has to adjust to the fact that you were looking out for them, not for me.”
Huh. That was unusually honest from Mel to admit. Why did they say that?
“That’s because I knew you were here.” Mary gently answered while taking the phone again and starting to type a message.
“You did?”
She nodded. “Of course. You promised.”
Mel looked at Mary perplexed, while their heart ached in endearment for her. They caught themself aching to place cherishing kisses all over Mary’s face, this pure little human being, who showed so much strength by trusting Mel undoubtedly even after everything that had happened.
But they held back.
They still haven’t decided how to proceed, and they would rather not complicate things any further.
---
After Mary had finished sending those messages, Mel made sure to know Mary in somewhat acceptable health, then they bid their goodbye. As much as they wanted to stay, they needed to finally figure out what had happened. And then there was Morris, too. And two or three missed shows. And just overall the task of handling all those feelings and damage that had been done.
They didn’t exchange any more words of importance, both careful to leave the other person room to handle the situation, but Mary eventually hugged Mel when they tried to walk out the door.
“Sorry. I… I really just am happy that you’re ok. Ok-ish, I mean.”
Mel gulped down a big lump of feelings. They wanted to hug her back. To tell her that everything will be okay. To thank her. To feel her soft skin and hair while holding her up. To beg her for forgiveness, but also for an answer they could actually work with. To tell her that there was nothing more she wished for than to be with her. To tell her… the truth. About everything.
But they didn’t.
Instead, they gently brushed over her head and said, “I promise we will see each other soon. Then we will talk and figure out how to proceed. Together.”
“Thank you,” Mary answered in the faintest voice, and it was clear that she tried her best to hold back tears. Then she shoved Mel out the door.
🐍🎩▶️ NEXT CHAPTER
Hey guys! Rose here! I thought this might interest you - this is the first chapter I wrote after pausing the story for (almost?) two years! I always wanted to continue, but the people whom I mainly wrote for had stopped reading, and with the lack of mutual hyping and feedback, + depression, I couldn't find the motivation to continue.
I'm so glad I found the inspiration and strength to continue again a couple of months ago. I have written about 20 chapters/80 pages since then, and I hope I can continue like that so that there will always be weekly posts until the end. (By the way... there finally will be true nsfw content. Very steamy one. Somewhere in those chapters)
In any case - after not writing for 2 years, starting this again was a bit hard. So if this chapter feels a little off or at least not as polished, you now know why!
I also wanted to thank you again for all of your feedback and hyping - it helps me so much to stay on track and give me that little push to write it down for you guys! Often why I post a new chapter I check the post more frequently, and having happy giggles when I see a new comment. Thank you!!
I hope you'll enjoy the story from here on out, it might take an interesting turn!
Rose