№45|Symbols
◆ ━━━━❪✪❫━━━━ ◆

Chelia sat at the vanity desk in her room, gazing into the mirror. Jumping slightly when she felt Montego’s arms wrap around her, “you’re beautiful,” Montego purred, kissing along her neck, “elegant, regal, strong, independent… everything I ever wanted in a mate.”

“How’d you know I needed that?” Chelia chuckled, leaning into his kisses.

“You looked down at the party and I thought this might cheer you up,” Montego replied, his lips peppering her skin with kisses. “Did something happen?”

“I saw him…” Chelia muttered but Montego heard her.

“Who?” His tone grew serious, removing his lips from her neck to face Chelia.

“You know who.” Chelia stood up from her desk, crossing the room over to the edge of the bed, “Callihan…”

A yellow hue of anger swam in Montego’s hazel eyes, “what did he say?”

“That fairies like me, ones betray their kind, should have their wings torn off and burned in front of them…” Chelia’s voice began to break, “that happened to my mother… when she married my father, a fleshie, her wings were torn clean off and she was forced to watch as they burned them in front of her very own eyes.”

Montego quickly embraced his mate with a hug, “he won’t touch you,” he stroked the fairy’s hair, watching as her wings glistened in the moonlight, “I swear he won't touch you.”

“My mom warned me of the consequences of dating a wolf…” Chelia muttered into Montego’s shoulder. “She warned me that if I choose you… everyone beside mother and father would shun me… if we had children, they’d never be welcomed into the Fairy Realm… and I would be labeled as a skank, a whore…”

“Hey!” Montego gripped her shoulder, gazing deep into Chelia’s eyes. “Nobody here is gonna call you that, and if they do, tell me.”

“Why?”

“So I can rip them to shreds!” Montego growled slightly. “Nobody insults my mate like that. They shouldn’t be bashing you over someone you love.” He sighed, stroking her cheek, “my mother told me when I was little that love is love… no matter the race, gender, whatever! Love is love and Callihan or those fairies have no right to bash you about it.”

“You’re too optimistic, Montego.” Chelia shook her head.

“You’re optimistic too,” Montego lifted up her chin, “don't you worry, Chelia, I promise you Callihan will pay for what he did.”

“Montego,” Chelia kissed his cheek, pulling him down on the bed, “thank you… for everything.” 

“There’s no need for thanks,” Montego pulled her in close, “I’d do anything for you.”

Chelia smiled, raking her soft fingers through his hair, “I’d do anything for you too.”

◥✥◤

Medusa shifted in her bed, the symbols from the sidewalk flashing inside her mind. Sweat dripped down her face as she heaved heavily. Inside her mind, everywhere she looked was black. As her bare feet lightly stepped on the water that coated the floor, ripples appeared under her feet, glowing a bright emerald green.

With every step, a symbol from the sidewalk appeared. Medusa crouched down to examine it but it soon disappeared, reappearing a few feet in front of her. Getting up from her crouching position, Medusa ran towards the next symbol. 

This one, the ⳧ , floated up from the water and around Medusa before seeping into the skin on her collarbone. She examined her collarbone, the symbol glowing a light emerald green. The scientist traced her fingers over the symbol before looking up to see the another symbol, the ௹, appeared in front of her.

She reached out to grab it but the symbol floated away, tempting Medusa to chase it around the infinite mass space. Colorful waters rippling beneath her feet as she continued to chase the symbol. She glanced at her sides to see memories of loving times appeared.

She stopped in her tracks, gasping softly as all the memories began lighting up the dark space. She walked over to one of the closet memories, it showed her mother holding a baby Medusa in her lap as they flipped through their family photo book.

She chuckled softly, turning around to see the day she met Barron in the alley. Somedays, Medusa wondered what her life would be like if she didn’t find Barron in that alley. What it would be like if she turned in Barron to the authorities.

She sighed, smiling at the memories as they faded into colorful dust. The ௹ symbol appeared in front of Medusa, circling around before seeping into her collarbone next to the first symbol. “What’s going on…” she muttered, another glowing symbol caused her to glance up.

This symbol, the ₯, floated mere feet ahead of her. Something about it’s glowing green aura drew Medusa towards it, an unexplainable urge to run towards it flowed through.

“That’s it Medusa,” whispered a mysterious, yet soothing, voice, “feel that?” the voice questioned, a cold hand resting on Medusa’s shoulder as they whispered in her ear, “you feel that rush? That power… that energy... the raw adrenaline running through your veins.”

All Medusa could do was nod in response to her question. “You want it don’t you?” the voice giggled, her cold, transparent hand tracing the two symbols on her collarbone. “You want that power, Medusa?” once again, the researcher nodded. She leaned in to whisper, “then take it. It’s what we do.”

“We…?” Medusa turned to find the mysterious voice but nobody was there.

“Yes, we.” the voice replied, their hands stroking under Medusa’s chin. While Medusa couldn’t see who was talking, the voice sounded feminine. “You’re a special little researcher Medusa.”

“I-I am?” Medusa stuttered.

“Yes, now,” she moved out the way to turn Medusa towards the ₯ symbol, two more popping up, the  🝳 and 🜾 symbols, “what do you want?”

“I want the symbols… I want the power…” Medusa whispered, reaching out for the symbols but before she could grasp any she shot up from her resting position.

Gasping for air, Medusa heaved as she looked around to see she was back in her bedroom. Barron groaned, turning to face Medusa, “is everything alright?” he sat up, rubbing his eyes.

Medusa gulped, looking down at her collarbone to see the symbols fading away, “wait… don’t go!” Medusa whimpered, Barron glanced at her questionably.

“Medusa,” Barron kissed along her shoulder, “is everything okay?”

“The symbols. I need to find them!” Medusa quickly got out of bed, putting on her shoes before rushing outside.

◥✥◤

Rain poured down on the Storm Region, lighting striking sporadically. The alpha’s shoes clicked on the ground as he marched through the town, searching for Medusa. His brown eyes glowed a cobalt blue, becoming a flashlight as they scanned the streets of the Storm Region for Medusa.

“Medusa!” Barron called out as lightning struck down on the region. “Medusa! Where are you?!”

“I hope she’s okay…” Wolfie whimpered, pacing back and forth in the alpha’s mind.

“Don't worry, Wolfie, she’s fine,” Barron assured his wolf, “I hope.” he muttered.

Barron squinted, looking ahead to see a lone figure crouching beside the sidewalk. “Medusa?” Barron called out, knowing it was Medusa when the figure looked up at him. He rushed over to see, watching as the researcher crouched down in front of the sidewalk, examining the symbols.

“Medusa!” Barron exclaimed. “What are you doing?”

“Studying.” She replied, raising her voice so it could be heard over the loud rain. “Go back to bed, Barron.”

“No!” Barron stated, crouching beside Medusa. “Medusa, it’s,” he looked down at his watch, “...3am, it’s raining, you're soaking wet, let’s go back… the symbols will be here tomorrow.”

“I have to do this now.” Medusa shook her head. “You can go if you want.”

“It’s raining like crazy! I’m not leaving you.” Barron exclaimed, gesturing towards the weather.

“Well I’m not going back until I found out what these symbols are.” Medusa said, desperately trying to shield her pages from the rain.

Barron sighed, putting the umbrella over both of them as he wrapped his jacket over her. “You’re so stubborn…” Barron chuckled, resting his head on her shoulder.

“I know, but you still love me.” Medusa giggled, kissing his cheek.

◥✥◤

Hours later, Barron and Medusa returned to the house to see everyone was awake, glancing at the couple as they entered the house. “And where have you been?” Alistair smirked smugly.

“Me and Medusa were examining symbols.” Barron replied, closing the umbrella.

“All night?” Yvette questioned.

“Yes.” Medusa nodded. “Something about them… it’s unexplainable.”

Vanessa flipped through the pages of Medusa’s notebook, “um… Medusa,” Vanessa flipping to a page showing notes written in handwriting that weren’t Medusa’s.

Medusa furrowed her eyebrows, they were little smudges of notes written in pink in the margins of Medusa’s notes. “Which one of you took my notebook?” Medusa glared at the group as they all shook their heads.

Medusa flipped through every page to see the pink notes were all there, hiding in the margins of Medusa’s notes. “H-How…” Medusa’s flipping became frantic, “how is this possible?! This book never leaves my sight and this isn’t my handwriting!”

Just as she asked that, more new notes began showing up. Notes ranging from all different colors, handwritings, and note topics filled the pages along with Medusa’s notes. Medusa tossed the notebook onto the couch, watching as it glowed as the notes flooded the pages.

She inched closer towards it, poking it slightly as it sprouted open, flipping to a page labeled “Medusa’s Notes.” She sighed in relief knowing that all her notes were still there, as well as the addition of many new notes.

Medusa flipped to the section before hers, the pink notes, she couldn’t see the person’s name due to the smudge the notebook had. However, by the looks of it, this person studied mermaids just like how Medusa studied werewolves.

“Medusa,” Barron got the researcher’s attention, inching slowly towards her, “what was that?”

“I don’t know…” Medusa replied, flipping to the Mermaid researcher’s first entry. “Day one,” Medusa began to read, “just like fish, mermaids travel in ‘schools’ allowing there to be more protection from potential predators and hunters.” Medusa slowly sat down on the couch, continuing to read. “The mermaid tribe I traveled with, The Miracle Light Tribe, began their journey in the cold waters of Anchorage, my home town, and allowed me to join them on said journey.”

“So she was kind of like me…” Medusa muttered, continuing to read the Mermaid researcher’s notes and journal entries. Barron sat beside her, leaning in as he glanced down at the notes.

“Having fun?” He chuckled, watching as his mate poured herself into the new notes.

“Yeah! Did you know mermaids can swim faster than all aquatic animals? Also, some mermaids can see in places where the sun isn’t really available because their eyes glow!”

Barron nodded, “yeah, we studied mermaids a little bit in school when I was younger.”

“How did these notes even get in here?” Medusa questioned, flipping through countless new notes as well as her own.

“Who knows,” Barron rose from his seat, “but what I do know is that we have to meet with Irvam and Julius.”

“Did Julius not come back last night?” Ayame questioned.

“Nope, he stayed at the castle, apparently he’s on the dragon’s side now because they’re paying him more.” Barron rolled his eyes. “Greedy little bitch.”

“Why does Irvam want to meet with us?” Lawrence asked, raising his eyebrow in suspicion.

“He wants to discuss our deal.” Medusa replied, her eyes never leaving her notebook.

“Which means I want everyone on their best behavior,” he turned towards Montego, “yes, I’m looking at you Montego.”

“What?” Montego tilted his head in confusion. “Why mean?”

“Because, after what dragons did to your island…” Barron sighed, patting Montego’s shoulder. “I know you hate them but you can’t fly off the handle, got it?”

Montego nodded, “I’ll be nice…”

Barron ruffled his hair, “I’m sorry… for what happened to her.”

“I am too…” Montego muttered.

Barron smiled at the delta. “We’ll find her, I promise.”

Montego smiled up at the alpha, “thank you alpha.”

~A/N~

Yet another awkward Saturday update! Forgot to update last night so here's ur update!

Hope y'all enjoy! What do you think about the symbols Medusa's seeing?

See u on Monday!