The Rise of Nix
Chapter 13

Theories crashed her mind all at once as she stalked through the woods, not caring where she was going, just knowing she had to get away. Away from the images that flashed across her vision as she walked through her village. Hearing Mary call her name from behind shocked her, the picture of her burned friend taking over the living image. Without acknowledgement, she ran, dodging through shocked people, followed by the unheard shouts after her. The tree line came to view, and she dashed for it, eager to find solitude to figure this out. Deimos’s words were messy and seemed untrue, but her usual voice of reason agreed with him. There is more to this world than meets the eye, but how does she fit into it?

As the trees began to clear and more light washed the space, Nix stopped, noticing her mindless wander took her to the bathing pool, the same place she met Deimos, and now her life has changed. Dropping down, Nix flung her legs over the side and into the water, ignoring the sting from the icy temperatures. As she twirled her feet through the pond, she watched the water cascade over the side of the cliff as it dropped into the pool below, breaking the serene surface.

The soft sound of nature began behind her as she zoned back to reality, back to the crazy words Deimos had told her. Birds cheerfully chirped behind her while faint cracks of dead leaves and twigs came from all around, animals and insects going about their daily lives, unbothered by the demands of humanity. As her eyes drifted close to relax with the sounds she loved, Nix couldn’t help but be pulled back to her hut, not the moment with Deimos that she needed to ponder over, but rather the second she had stepped out to see the slaughter of her village. Some of them are cruel to her, treating her like discarded animal innings, but the pain she saw on their corpses is not what she wants for them. No one deserves a horrible fate like that. As she replayed the scene, it changed as their blood turned brighter, almost shining—torn limbs consumed by the ruby essence until they disappeared, taken over by a river of blood.

Dirt squished between her fingers as she fisted the ground while standing frozen in her dream, unable to move as she watched the blood river flow closer to her, desperate to escape but fear holding her back. As sweat breached her bow and her chest heaved faster, Nix silently screamed for her eyes to open and reveal the pool she was next to, not the slaughter of her village.

This is a dream, spoke Nix to herself, but it was useless as she watched the red flow closer, crashing into her feet, the force sending drops of blood to spatter on her bare legs, the warmth trailing down.

Wake up, yelled Nix again, gathering all her mental strength. As her body physically reacted to the dream, the ground broke away as she yanked her fists while her kicking legs splashed cold water on her lap. The icy liquid brought reality back as her eyes shot open, just in time to see a wall of water higher than the cliff drop, the impact with the pool soaking her thoroughly as waves crashed over the side.

“What the hell...” murmured Nix as she shot up, her body drenched from head to toe. She began to shiver as she tried to shake off the excess wetness, her eyes glued to the pond, unable to accept what she had just seen. Maybe Deiomos’ words were taken too fast; for now, she is experiencing acts not possible in her world but rather the one he had described.

“It was just the waterfall. That is the only logical explanation.” speaking out loud made her calm as she elaborated her words, trying to make them stick instead of magic being the reason.

“It was not,” Deimos spoke from behind her. “That was a display of the magic inside of you. A magnificent display if I say so myself.”

Nix spurted around to face him, the man who was changing her life. “I told you to leave me alone.” she spat at him while noticing his stance. Standing just by the tree line, he took small steps towards her, hands in the air as a sign of surrender.

“I know, but you are going through something no one has ever experienced, and I don’t think that you should be alone right now,” Deimos said calmly, scared that any sign of aggression would trigger her.

When he had come upon her, he was forced to stop in his tracks, bewildered by the giant water wall forming in front of a sitting Nix, her body looking tense, but before he could act, she had jerked back to life, the sign of her magic dropped back to its natural form, wetting Nix thoroughly. He could not imagine what she must be going through. All he knows is that he can try to help her adjust to her new life, a life he forced onto her, one he had planned on gently lowering her in before giving her the vial, a choice she should have made willingly.

“Please, what is happening to me?” anger dropped from her features, replaced by confusion and sadness.

Knowing she was back to being herself, Deimos moved closer as he reached out a hand to her, her eyes jumping from it and to his gaze. “I am sorry that this is happening to you, but you can trust me. I am here to help you.”

A single tear suddenly rolled from her eye and down her cheek before the floodgates opened. As more tears followed, Deimos reached out, Nix falling into his grasp, their bodies intertwining. Pressing her face into his chest, Nix let it all go as she cried, her body shaking from her sobs. One arm wrapped around her waist as Deimos’ other hand rested on the nape of her neck, gently soothing her.

“It is going to be alright.” he consoled her.

In between the whimpering, Nix said, “How are you going to stop the pain?”

Deimos froze from her confession as he gently pushed her away. Wiping away her tears before stroking her cheek, Deimos slightly tilted her face to look up at him. Even with blotchy eyes and unruly hair, she is still the most beautiful creature he has ever seen, one that is hurting deeply.

“What do you mean pain? Are you hurt?”

Nix shook NO as she rubbed her nose, all while looking up at him. “I can feel their pain, even if they are dead. It is consuming me like a river of dread.”

Brushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear, Deimos leaned closer as Nix tightened her hold on his middle. “Who?” whispered Deimos, the air getting thicker the closer he moved to Nix.

“The villagers,” replied Nix, fighting to keep her eyes open as Deimos caressed her face, the contact sending tiny sparks of heat down her neck and the rest of her body. For some unknown reason, his touch calmed her, but it also held the flashes of death and surges of pain away. “Before I awoke, I had a dream. One that is still following me into the living.”

“You can tell me more later as we figure out what is happening, but now I think we need to get back so that you can get out of those wet clothes to heat up.” said Deimos as he stepped back, running his hands up and down her bare arms to try and warm her up.”

Nix choked on her words as he brushed her skin, a shock of pure pleasure blasting through her. How could she tell him that being near him warmed her enough? That his touch is driving away from the bad while exciting her simultaneously? She couldn’t, for he would think she was mad, but in all her life, she had never wanted a man so severely, and to shy away from this would mean she was turning away from herself. In this world, if she wanted something, she always went for it, no matter how challenging the task was. Her hut, her clothes, her food. They are all examples of her willpower, and this stranger claiming magic is actual is another thing she wanted. No, it is what she needed.

Leaning in, Nix returned her arms to his waist, lacing her fingers at his back to hold him near her as she slowly tilted her head up, their gazes clashing. ” I am already warm enough, thanks to you.”

Deimos blinked a couple of times, unsure if what he saw was happening. The woman he had loved for years willingly wrapped her arms around him as she held him in place, her face softening as her mouth dropped slightly open, her plump lips begging for a kiss. What brought on this sudden shift? He does not know, but to fight this attraction between them is useless.

“Glad to be of service.” his voice husky as desire clung to him.

While intensely staring into his eyes, Nix fought her instinct but lost. “All to hell,” she murmured before standing on her toes to reach him. Before he could reply, Nix crashed her lips into his. The warm lips beneath her froze for a second before they acted.

Deimos returned his hold to her nape, holding her tight as they kissed, the movement eliciting a soft moan from her, pushing his excitement over the edge.

“You taste divine,” murmured Deimos in between breaks for air, eager to recapture her soft lips. His hunger increased as Nix took control, her tongue licking his bottom lip before gently nipping at the tender flesh. His fingers glide into her hair, grabbing a fist full to pull her back slightly. “What are you doing to me?”

Nix smiled at his words before recapturing him, her tongue crashing into his mouth to brush over his. This time Deimos moaned, and he felt her mouth twist up. She enjoys torturing him but forgets he is not scared of a challenge. So game on.

A few feet away from her is the man who tempted her like no other, a man who made her body burn and changed her life forever. Light snoring came from his sleeping form as Nix lay on her back, watching the roof while replaying their moment by the pool. Minutes or hours passed as they stayed intertwined, hands roaming over each other’s bodies as their mouths clung desperately to each other, both taking as much as they gave. Just thinking about it sends waves of pleasure through her body, thus making it hard to sleep. Their earlier exploits did nothing to him while she still burns from it. After finally breaking for air, they both breathed in the refreshing air, their eyes glued to each other.

“That was...” Nix had begun, but Deimos finished the sentence.

“Amazing.”

Smiling up at him, heat bored onto her face, making her blush. Averting her gaze, Nix had stepped back, releasing his body as Deimos allowed her to go, their intimate moment over.

“So, uh, what is next?” asked Nix while scanning the area around her, trying to find something to focus on instead of the man before her whose smouldering gaze she spotted in between her search.

Deimos had noticed her trying to ignore him as he sneaked at the blush appearing on her cheeks, secretly loving her reaction to him as it made him crave more. More of her.

“We need to head back. The sun is about to set, which will bring a breeze. And in your wet clothes, it cannot be a good thing.” replied Deimos.

Finally looking up, Nix smiled. “Then let’s go.”

On their walk back, they had remained silent as Deimos trailed behind Nix, her knowledge of the area getting them back safely. As they ignored the lively village, Nix kept her gaze on the ground, trying to ignore the people. Looking them in the eyes would have forced the images of them back, replacing the happiness she had currently felt. As her small hut came to view, another question popped up. Where would Deimos stay?

Reaching the entrance, Nix spun around, almost bumping into his solid chest. Being so near him made her shy and unable to speak, especially after their little display earlier. “Sorry,” mumbled Nix under her breath.

“No problem,” replied Deimos as he smirked at her, lavishing his effect on her.

Silence filled the air as Nix played with her fingers, her attention on them. “So, do you have a place to stay?”

“Anywhere I choose.”

Nix’s head shot up as she finally dared look at him. “You mean in the woods.”

Deimos smiled, “The woods, the pond, the roaring fire in the middle of the camp.”

Her mouth dropped open at his wild statement, forgetting that they had just met a couple of days ago, leaving him no time to build a shelter. An idea came, but would she be able to sleep near the man making her feel young and shy again?

Mustering courage, she took a deep breath and asked, “Would you like to stay here until you find a permanent solution?”

Deimos tilted his head as he observed her, wondering what was going through her head. “I would love to.”

“Great. Choose any spot on the floor,” replied Nix as she turned to draw open the cloth and entered. Deimos followed her in, stopping just behind her.

The air had suddenly thickened as his form filled her small space, a new feeling after their kiss, one that did not exist the night before when he had slept here. Maybe this was a bad idea, and as she spun to tell him, she realized he was gone. A movement in the edge of her vision made her turn as she spotted Deimos on the ground, curled up next to her dark fire pit.

“Seems comfortable,” announced Deimos, a genuine and bright smile on his face, making her’s form as well.

“I am glad,” she replied. Shuffling around, Nix felt his stare on her as she straightened the small space. Grabbing an extra fur skin she kept for winter, Nix held it out to him, and he took it. Wrapping the blanket over himself, Deimos laid down, his tall frame sticking out from beneath the more petite fur skin.

Getting into her hay bed, Nix moved around to try and get comfortable but having him so close made it impossible.

“You alright?” asked Deimos from the darkness.

Nix silently prayed that he did not realize her actions, but she knew he did. He is intelligent and different, which attracts her powerfully. “Yes, my mind is just all over the place.”

“We can talk about it if you want,” began Deimos, “You probably have a ton of questions.”

“I do.”

“Then what do you want to know?”

A million questions swam in her mind, all requiring answers, but with the night dragging on and tiredness swamping her, she could only focus on a few now while leaving the rest for tomorrow. Picking one, she went with it, focusing on the earliest events before moving to the rest. “What did you give me? I still look like myself, but I am different. Something inside me is growing, and I don’t know if I should fear or embrace it.”

Deimos stayed quiet for a few moments before he answered. “As I said before. Magic surrounds everyone and everything. You might not believe in it, but it believes in you. The vial was filled with rare magic, and not only did it save your life, but it gifted you with its essence.”

“The more you speak of it, the more I want to know, but right now, I need to know. Why me?”

Deimos almost blurted out that he had watched her for years from afar, but he doubted she could handle that secret, so he lied, hoping she would believe him. “Because you are kind and generous. Always helping others before yourself.”

“And you know all of this after only meeting me a couple of days ago?”

He knew she was smart, so dodging her question could be lethal. “Yes. You opened your house to me; that alone is a great kindness, but also the stories I heard from the other villagers.”

Nix snorted, “You mean Khan. The man hates me.”

“No, he is a blind fool who lets his emotions cloud his judgment. From what your friends say, you look after them without expecting anything. That is why I chose you for the magic. You won’t let the darkness take hold.”

“And where did you get this vial?”

Deimos feared this question, for he could not reveal himself as a God or that another God gave him the vial. “I, uh, I don’t actually remember to be honest. All I know is that I had to find and give it to you.”

Nix lifted her upper body by resting on her elbows, her head turning to where she assumed Deimos lay. “So you gave me something you know nothing about? How not dangerous.”

“That sounds so bad, I know. But I trusted my instinct, and so should you.” Deimos explained before a yawn interrupted his speech.

Nix giggled as she relaxed, laying back down, “As much as I would love more answers, I think we need to sleep. But know that tomorrow you answer all my questions and explain more about this hidden world.”

“Then goodnight.”

“Goodnight,” replied Nix, but sleep took a while to take hold, leaving her to replay their moment over and over. But at the same time, she feared what was to come for her future was heading into the unknown with the sleeping man next to her in control, something she had dreaded since childhood. Maybe magic is her way to freedom, as long as Deimos allows her to do it her way. Finally, the darkness consumed her as she fell asleep, silently gratefully that her dreams stayed as dark as the room and not filled with death and blood.

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