Behind the Mask

1. No more dreams

Mel 

I woke up from my dream and looked out of the window, it was raining slightly. I was in my bedroom, the unfamiliar scenario faded away, and came/went back to the depths of my subconscious. I was alone, with them, my babies. My hand reached down to my stomach and I sighed. 

I knew that dream well, I used to dream about it after I first met him and while I was expecting Liv. It was a vivid memory of everything I couldn’t have. 

Now, even though I could see his face, the real him was still away from my grasp, covered by the invisible mask of secrets.

He was still faceless, and sometimes I felt like he was also heartless. Else, why would he do that to me? 

I wondered once again what I should do. I wanted to give a family to my twins, in the same way, I wanted to give that to my girls, but never truly could. 

I couldn’t go through it all once again, I refused to. But I knew that the only way to change this situation would be to change myself, change my behaviour towards it, instead of hoping that any change came from Maximus.

I was tired of waiting and hoping. 

I was tired of looking for answers from him. 

I wasn’t alone anymore, I had my girls, and their mates were mostly of great support, especially Laius, Avalon, and Valentin. 

I didn’t need Maximus nor did my babies need an absent father. 

I had to wake up from this dream and bury him in my forgetfulness, didn’t matter how hard it would be. 

I wiped the tears that I had just noticed falling down my cheeks and went back to sleep. No more dreams for me. 

~ * ~

Maximus

After learning that Melinda was expecting, Elric called me to his office. 

He was worried about her, he felt guilty. 

I was twice more worried, and feeling infinite times guiltier. 

“You should tell her everything, Maximus. It’s the only way for you to earn her forgiveness,” he told me roaming around the room. He was atypically restless. 

“Have you told Liv everything?” I questioned Elric. My voice was a bit louder than normal. 

He looked at me a bit startled for a second before he lowered down his glance and sighed in guilt and frustration.

“No, I haven’t. But I will. She also has the right to know the truth. It’s a heavy burden to keep secrets from my Love. I’ll tell her everything soon, she is too stressed now with the three babies and still recovering from her very exhausting pregnancy. Helena’s powers took a great toll on my mate, but as soon as she is feeling better, I’ll tell her the whole story. I also can help you to talk to Mel, tell her that it was my idea to start with.”

I exhaled sharply. I was being defensive and Elric only wanted to help. He was a great friend.

Moreover, he was right, I could only have a chance with her if I told her the whole truth. Although it could also make everything even worse. 

“Thank you, Elric. I would appreciate that.” 

Having Elric talking to Melinda could work well, he was much calmer and articulate than me, it would surely soothe her.

“It will work, she will forgive you. Mel is a very kind female, and she loves you.”

“She is the kindest. I’m just afraid that I’ve hurt her too much, broken her and our relationship to such an extent that there is no going back,” I replied with a deep exhale.

“Maximus, there is never going back. But it might be going further for both of you, a new beginning.” Elric said with a tight smile. 

“I will talk to her, after the Olympic games and the mating ball are over,” I agreed, looking at the distance. 

Elric sighed, attracting my attention. 

“I don’t think you should wait any further, the longer you wait, the longer she will be alone with her thoughts and devoured by sadness, and even despair and anger,” he commented, seemingly thoughtful. 

“Now, I’ve to go and spend some time with Liv and my baby, it’s almost Helena’s nap time,” He added. I nodded and gave him a small smile before he left in a flash. 

I was very glad for Elric. He was absolutely happy with Liv and his child, with her children in general. Elric was living his dream. Even though little Helena was still having some issues due to her too strong psychic powers. 

She was too young to be able to control and even cope with such extensive powers. Thus, she still suffered from the constant and very strong headaches and cried a lot. Poor baby. 

Lea was working on some balms and elixirs to calm her down and help her sleep better.

I looked out of the window, the pouring rain was washing over our Realm. The sky was falling slowly like a revengeful God. 

Elric was right, waiting would only make it worse, it would make her even less inclined to listen to me, to forgive me. 

Besides, the longer I waited, the longer I would be without her, and this was unbearable. I needed my mate and she needed me too, especially now. The mate withdrawal symptoms would be much stronger now that she was carrying our children. I couldn’t let her suffer even more.

I had to face it. Face my deeper fear of losing her for good, once the truth would come to light. 

Would Melinda ever be able to forgive me? Or this would mean the end of the little connection that still remained between us?  

I didn’t know! But I was sure that it had to work out between my female and me. I couldn’t lose my Melinda and miss the opportunity to be a good father for the children she was carrying, give them a real family. Something that my girls couldn’t have.

Having a family, an actual family with my mate. Raising our children together, this was all I wanted. 

My Melinda.

I remember the first time I saw her, it was a bit more than 30 years ago. 

~ * ~

PAST 

Elric and I went to the multispecies bar, an initiative of Elven and Fae people to bring the species closer during a short truce we had during our almost infinite war. We went there at least once a week, more to celebrate peace and as a sign of goodwill than to drink Fairy Wine. Although, they served great wine there. 

Individuals from other species rarely came here, but Elric still had hope. He expected that we could advance at least a tad in his peace strategy if we had a common space for all species. 

The bar was a very comfortable and special place, colorful lights burning in the core of giant flowers illuminated the two wide rooms. In the main room, a couple of Fae bartenders served different kinds of drinks, from Fairy Wine to Hell Whiskey. Tiny stairs lightened by elven magic floated above all of us and the gentle breeze brought a feeling of the outdoors, even though we were in a closed space. 

A dance floor was placed in the other room, and a fountain of ginger beer stood on the left side beside the ample sofas and velvet-blue accent chairs. 

I was talking to Elric and Lysander, his third in command when I suddenly inhaled the most intoxicating scent, warm honey, and tulips. 

The best smell that had ever entered my nostrils, pure bliss, my mate. She was close, she was among this crowd. I ran my eyes through all the female Elves and Fae in the bar. Since Fae and Elves pairs were not rare. Those were the only two species to mate and produce; their offspring were not hybrids, a child from an elven-fae union was born either totally Fae or entirely Elven. 

My search was in vain, none of the Fae or Elven ladies here was my fated one. Then my eyes traveled to her face. Her long wavy black hair cascading down her pale naked shoulders and perfectly designed cleavage. Her sweet smile across red plump lips, deep blue eyes, and a curvy but slender body. She was small, around 5,5, and absolutely pretty. Beautiful, she was beautiful. 

But there was something different about her. It couldn’t be.

“Elric... that enchantress...that one over there,” I mumbled, motioning to Elric the direction she was standing. 

I was still dumbfounded. She was perfect. But she wasn’t an Elf or Fae, how was it even possible?

“What about her?” Elric asked, his silver gaze studying my shocked expression. 

“She’s my mate,” I answered. 

“What? Are you certain?”

“A hundred percent. She’s mine.” 

I was more certain of that than anything else in my long life. She was mine. 

“You have to leave, flash away. Now,”  he stated hurriedly. 

“What?... but...?” I was even more confused. 

“Now, Maximus,” My king commanded, his voice radiating power. I couldn’t deny his order. 

Even though he was a very mighty King he was normally serene and didn't use such a command with his close advisers like Lysander and me. It must be something very important.

Flashing away was all I didn’t want to do, but I didn’t have a choice. I looked in her direction once again, she didn't look at me, but she was looking around as if she was looking for something. She knew it. She was looking for me. 

As much as I wanted to still, as much as my body, my heart, and my soul urged for her, I flashed away.

It was the first of the many times I flashed away from her. 

It was only the start of a succession of future moments of bitter regret. 

At that moment, even before properly finding her, I started losing my mate. My Melinda.  

 ***

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