Chapter 5 - Tumblr Posts - Page 2

Chapter 5 of Sour Droplets!

[Chapter 5 - Unamed Melody X]

An wasn’t sure if she could classify her dream as a “dream”, or an unpleasant nightmare. She was awake enough to remember part of it, and even though it wasn’t Kanade’s song, her was still as emotion-stirring as the heart-gripping melody that made her cry. For An had dreamt of being hugged by Nagi in her sleep, something she really missed her doing.

And when An woke up she felt more rested than before, but her heart was throbbing with pain that seemed to be vying for her attention. However she ignored it, instead pulling out her phone to text her dad that she was alright, while the faint clicking of a mouse could be heard in the background. 

Yet as she glanced at the screen in her hand, she could see that it was riddled with cracks, making her inwardly curse at herself. It had probably gotten damaged when she fell, meaning that not only could she not text anyone, but that her dad would have to buy her a new phone. She felt her frustration boil inside of her. Why did she have to continue causing trouble for other people? 

An exhaled a deep breath out of her nose, her anger feeling like it was gripping her heart. 

However, this attracted Kanade’s attention, which was evident when she turned her head to look at An.

“Oh you’re awake again? How do you feel?” Kanade asked, the ends of her hair resting in the seat of her chair.

“Mmgh.. how long have I slept?” An asked, putting her phone away and rubbing her eyes.

“Well its August 27 2024…” Kanade started, her hands in her lap now.

“…!” An sucked in a breath. 

She had visited Aunt Nagis grave on the 25th before passing out, which likely means when she woke up again that it was the 26th. Then, she fell asleep again and woke up on the 27th, which meant she had been away from home for three days!

An opened her mouth, about to apologize and head home when her stomach spoke for her, letting out a growl that demanded sustenance. 

“I apologize An. I was so concerned about how you felt I didn’t get an opportunity to grab something for you to eat.” Kanade apologized, her gaze softening. “I don’t have much, but would you like to eat some minute ramen? I apologize I don’t have something else to offer you, but that’s all I have.”

An didn’t have ramen a lot, but the idea of eating something warm was too tempting to resist, even though she’d been sleeping on a warm bed for all this time.

“Yes please…” Was all An could manage and Kanade just grabbed one of her many unopened cups of ramen around the room and left, closing the door behind her as she went to heat up the ramen.

As bad as An felt for making Kanade do all of this, her heart warmed at the girls kindness. She knew that after this, she was definitely indebted to Kanade now, especially since An had cried infront of her. She new she had been a bother it Kanade, but she couldn’t help but find a part of her wanting to be friends with the introverted girl. She didn’t just want to leave someone who had done this much for her behind and forget about her, she wanted to keep in touch and somehow repay Kanade with the same generosity she showed her.

It didn’t take long for Kanade to come back in with the ramen, containing a shiny silver fork. She handed it to An who accepted it with a grateful smile before she sat down at her desk chair again, continuing to work on her song.

An was surprised that Kanade hadn’t asked about her mental breakdown, or why she seemed so mopey. But at the same time she was glad that Kanade hadn’t pushed it, as that would likely only have made things worse. Still, a part of An felt compelled to tell her. Even though she was basically a complete stranger An met barely three days ago. 

An wrapped her hands around the cup and stared into the murky water as it warmed her hands. Finally, after a moment, she had gained enough courage and broke the silence.

“Hey Kanade… can I tell you something?”

“Hm?”

And that was all it took for An to start confessing. She was surprised that a part of her had stirred her onwards to this moment. After all she had Kohane and everyone to support her right? So why did she feel so… so… so hopeless and alone?

But Kanade listened to her story quietly, managing eye contact with An the whole time to show that she was listening. 

“I think I understand the pain you’re going through.” Kanade said after An finished, surprising her.

*10 minutes later*

*Knock Knock*

“Umm...come in?” Aisha says confused

“Hi. How you feeling” Qetsiyah asks coming into the light-up hut, “ Good. You?”

“Good. Where’s your husband Magnus?” Qetsiyah says looking around for the werewolf, ” He went out to found food for me and the little one” Qetsiyah nodded her head.

”So on the scale 1-10 how mad is Silas,” Aisha says looking at Qetsiyah, “ um I would say a solid 5,” she says looking weary at Aisha who had a grin on her face.

“Hmmm” was all Aisha said going back to writing in her grimoire, “ Wow is that a grimoire I never saw one before. Is that one yours?” Qetsiyah says looking in wonder.

“You never saw a grimoire before I thought you were a witch?”Aisha says jokingly well Qetsiyah giggled, “ I mean where I come from we only have a book that teaches us about spells and charms,” she says sitting down on the makeshift bed next to Aisha.

“Hmmm. To your question this belongs to my mother” Aisha says holding up her grimoire and looking at it fondly, “What happened to her?”

“It was just me and her when I was young me and my mother was forced to leave our home in Nigeria. On our way to Egypt, a storm came and separated us. “

“Oh, I’m so sorry Aisha I didn’t mean to open up old wounds.” Qetsiyah says looking at her sadly feeling stupid for being it up, “ It’s okay. It’s in the past and I shouldn’t let it affect me in the present.”

“Do you miss her?”

“Every damn day,” Aisha says with teary eyes, she sniffs and wipes her face of her tears, “ On a lighter tonight. How much do you know about your witch lineage?” She said changing the subject.

“Not much just that there was an eclipse that gifted five people supernatural abilities and was put on earth to control mankind and have them do our bidding,” She says shrugging her shoulders.

“Urg at least they got the eclipse thing right. “ she whispered under breath.

“Witches weren’t put on the earth to control humans. We are children of the universe we were given this power to protect the innocents and nature from people who want to destroy it.“

“So we're like guardians angels. ” Qetsiyah says with her head tilted to the side a little. Such an innocent child Aisha thought.

“That’s one way to put it.” She says smiling.

“So how did you know you had powers”

“One night I was sleeping and a women came to me in a dream at the time I was just 11 and she told me that she and others were gifted with power just like me and my mom. “ she says holding her book to her chest, “She went on to say that if I will it to be she will unlock my powers so my mother would teach me how to control it.“

“Who was she? Did you know her.”

“No, but I had an inkling who she might be. we only saw each other in my dreams where she talks to me and others about what we are and what we were born to do..”

“Who did you think it was?” She asks leaning in eager to know.

“In my dreams, I saw her as Nana Buruku the goddess of creation in Benin. Well, others saw her as there own version of their religion. “

“Wow I wish I could have met her”

“You already have.”

“I did?” She asks confused

“Yes, every time you walk through the woods or use your magic she is there with you. “Aisha says looking at Qetsiyah as the young girl nods her head at the information.

“Well it’s getting late and Silas probably wondering where I am. I leave you to your spells” she says getting up and making her way toward the door, “ Wait...” Qetsiyah stopped near the door, “ Yes?”

“Who is Amara?” Qetsiyah looked taken back at the name of her handmaiden, “ She’s....she’s my handmaiden and my very close friend. How do you know about it?” She asks confused

“One of my special abilities is to see through the minds of others. May I give you some advice” Qetsiyah nodded her head.

“You're too good for him. He doesn’t deserve your love or your heart, you deserve better than Silas” Aisha says looking into her brown eyes. The young girl was shocked once again by the powerful witch.

No one never told her that she deserves better. Everyone told her that Silas was as good as she can get and she believes them.

Qetsiyah looks at Aisha with her misty brown eyes. She knew what Silas and Amara were doing, she just hopes maybe if they had alone time he can rekindle his love for her. She was wrong.

“Thank you,” she says with a teary smile and left.

Not a minute later Magnus came back with berries and water for Aisha.

“What’s wrong with Qetsiyah?”

“I gave her some advice and it’s up to her to choose what to do with it.” She says popping a couple of berries in her mouth.

“Huh” was all he said before laying down next to her and putting his arm around her stomach to his hand was on her bump.

“Goodnight” he yawned

“Goodnight my love” she turns and kissed his lips.

*Next Morning*

Aisha woke up with a start getting up and making her way outside where she find Silas walking toward her.

“Silas”

“Aisha”

They stared at each other for a bit before Silas open his mouth again.

“I know what you try to do last tonight. I have to tell you it didn’t work Qetsiyah is never gonna leave me your plan have failed” he said looking at her with a smirk.

“I have no idea what you talking about. I gave her advice and what she did with is her business only. “

Silas walked up close to Aisha. She can feel his breath on her.

“You know I’m actually impressed. Your more powerful than I thought. “ he says moving around Aisha like a predator to his prey, “ You know I kinda like this side of you it’s kinda a turn on.” He said close to her ear.

Silas moves around Aisha so he can be in front of her. She gave him a stern look and he started to feel like his head of on fire.

“Aaaahhhhhhh what the hell are you doing to me!!” Silas fell to the ground holding his head.

“A little contradiction that cooked up a well back...” she says bending down in front of him, “ I called pain infliction what your experiencing right is your blood vessel going pop,” she says popping the p with a smile.

“S-stop I-i-it no-o-ow!”He groans in pain his eyes and ears start bleeding.

“You wanna know the cool thing about it is

you heal fast so that gives me the pleasure of doing it over and over again” she says getting up and walking around.

“S-s-stop”

“Oh, what’s wrong Silas I thought you were tough guy, a badass who can take it. ”

“P-please” he screams in agony.

“Oh I stop under one condition ...” she says looking down at him having a seizure, “ I want you to beg,” she told him. He looked at her for a moment, “ G-go too he-ell”

She smirks at him, “ I see you there” she looks kept looking until she heard footsteps behind her.

“Aisha! What are you doing?!?!” She heard Qetsiyah say from behind her, “ I’m teaching your boyfriend a lesson” she says again well another wave of pain went through Silas's brain.

“Q-Q p-p-please m-m-ake h-her s-s-stop,” he says tears of blood running down his face.

“Okay, Aisha that’s enough,” Qetsiyah says putting her hand on her should, “ that’s enough” she squeezes her shoulder gently and smiles at her.

Aisha looked at Qetsiyah with misty eyes she hated the fact that this man causes this girl she considered a friend so much pain. She looks down at Silas and wave her hand over him and stop the pain stop.

Silas gasps breathing hard, “ Lets this be a reminder Silas if you hurt her...” she says pointing at Qetsiyah and looking back down at him, “ in any way I would find you and believe me when I say this I will find you and I will make you and that whore wish that you never were born”

She makes her way back to the house where her husband is leaning against the doorway watching the whole phenomenon, ”Feel better?” he looks at you with a glint in his eye, ” Hell yeah. Let's get this thing over with so I don't have to see his fugly face again” she says walking past her husband to get her grimoire.

*2 hours later*

After eating and having her husband cuddle her and their unborn child. She made her way to Qetsiyah and Silas's house. She knocks on the door of their house, waiting for someone to answer.

“Here to torture me some more,” Silas says opening them to Aisha.

“Oh no for once this isn’t about you. I need Qetsiyah. “ she says batting her eyes and looking over his shoulder.

“Why? So you can convince her to turn against me” He asks suspiciously looking her up and down, “ No actually I need her help with the spell.” she says looking at him with a smile.

“Finally. You don’t need Q I can help you with it. “ he says stepping outside ready to go, “ No you can’t...” she says putting her hands up stopping him.

“Yes I can my powers are stronger than hers,” he says crossing his arms and giving her a stern look, “ Okay I’m gonna let you in on a little secret...” she says leaning toward him and whispering, “ just because you say your power doesn’t mean you are,” she says smirking

Scoffing Silas about opens his mouth, when Qetsiyah emerges from the house to Silas and Aisha talking.

“What’s going on?”

“Oh Q there you are I need your help with the spell,” Aisha says walking around Silas.

“ m-me why,” she says confused, “ yeah why her,” he says getting angry and walking next to Qetsiyah.

“Well it’s because your powerful, like really really powerful like on my level type powerful,” she says looking at her

“What?!?! You got to be kidding me right?” Silas says chuckling and turning around to face the woods. Aisha looked at Silas annoyed and went back to Q.

Qetsiyah was conflicted, she didn’t know what to do, “ Is it that hard to believe that I may be more powerful than you Silas?” she says looking toward the man she once loved.

Silas looked at her taken back by her words. Never in years, they know each other did she question his motives, “ Of course not I mean we don’t even know if it may work or how much it would affect you I’m just trying to look at for you my love”

He says going toward her and grabbing her hands,” I love you Q I don’t want to see you hurt” he says looking deep in her eyes.

She looked at him for a well and pull her hand away from his grasp, “ There was a time that I would have believed those words. But now...” she shakes her head and walks towards Aisha.

Feeling tears in her eyes she turns toward Silas who was still in the same spot staring at her previous place in front of him, “ You are free. When the spell is finished you will return back home to Greece with it.”

“What about you?....” he says stepping out of his trance, “ Where will you go.”

“Does it matter-“

“Of course it matters. What-*sigh* What am I suppose to say to your family” he says looking at her.

“Tell them whatever you want, I’m done being push around by you and by my family. “ she says

Qetsiyah looked at Aisha, “Tell me what I have to do” she says determine Aisha shakes her head at Q.

Aisha waves her hand to follow to another empty house where she kept her grimoire and the ingredients.

“Wait before we do this I need to know something”

“What is it?”

“ Is it possible to make a cure for the elixir.”

“ Uh yes why do you ask”

Q looked away from Aisha, “ No reason” she says with a smile that’s didn’t reach her eyes. Aisha nodded her head and the got started immediately.

After 5 hours on working on the elixir and the cure. Aisha looks at Q, “ So what are you planning to do.”

“I don’t know maybe travel around the world go to Italy or France maybe London.” she says smiling, “ Maybe if am lucky I can find my soulmate along the way.”

Aisha looked at Q and smiled, “ You and I know that not what I meant.” Q looked at her and tilt her head backward, “ I know and to be honest I really don’t know what am going to do.” she says

“ I so badly want to destroy everything he ever loves. I’m so angry at him for what he put me through,” she says putting her hand on her face.

“Then do it,” Aisha says looking at her, “What” Q sniffles and looks at Aisha confuse.

“I said then do it. You made that cure for a reason put it to good use.” Aisha says getting up from her seat at the table and making her way in front of Qetsiyah.

“ I thought you say we were supposed to protect humans”

“I did but...” Aisha says having a sour look on her face, “ Silas and that Amara girl deserves bad juju for what they put you through.”

“I don’t know Aisha. Amara....she could be innocent in all this, she could have been just someone to keep his bed warm or his way to get out of the marriage. “ she says rubbing her fingers through her hair.

“But he's not and we both know that. “ she says looking at Q with pity.

Aisha grabbed both of Q hands, “ You remember when I said one of my many powers was that I can see through people's minds....”

“Uhh yes”

“Another one of my power is to see the future I never told anyone this before, well except Magnus but anyway I can see little bits and pieces of everyone future.” She says, “sometimes they're like riddles, other time they just plain simple.”

Aisha gently squeezes Q hands, “ When we first meet I looked into your eyes and I saw your future.” Q looked at Aisha curiously.

“What did you see?”

“I saw you. You had gray hairs but you still look fine as wine...” they laughed, “ and there was a man sitting next to you, holding your hand and kissing your cheek. Then suddenly this young girl she looked about 12 or 13 years old ran towards you and gave you a hug. She had your smile.”

Q had tears coming down her face, “and she had your eyes. They all did, your lineage will carry on for a generation and after generation. You will be well respected by the witch community and by other supernatural beings. No one will even know the name Silas or Amara because you gonna do great things so will your descendants. “

“So...What do you think I should do?” She sniffles.

Aisha looked at Qetsiyah. “It depends entirely on you Q, either way, you still get your happy ending.”

*SunRising*

Aisha and Q walked out of the house and made their way toward Silas and Magnus sitting on the porch of Aisha and Magnus's temporary house.

“So how did it go?” Silas asks looking at Qetsiyah worrisome.

“Good but I have to go back to Greece and finish off the other half of the spell so it will work,” Q said looking down at her feet.

“Okay,” Silas says nodding, “ Um Q what will happen when we get back home.” He says stepping closer to her.

“When the elixir is finished I will tell my parents I got cold feet and travel the world like I always wanted.” She says looking at him through her eyelashes.

Silas nodded his head, “ okay I go pack our bags” he left.

Q turn to Aisha and smiled, “ Well this where we say goodbye I guess” she went to hug Aisha, “ I really don’t like goodbyes how about I catch up with you later.” Aisha says wiping her face.

“Yeah, I like that better too.” She says pulling away and looking at Magnus. “Well, Magnus you are a man of few words. But I’m gonna miss you nonetheless. “ she says holding out her hands to shake, he smile and caught by surprise with a hug.

“It was nice meeting you as well Qetsiyah,” he says stepping away.

“Now the only thing left to do now is to say goodbye to the little fella” Q bend down to Aisha's stomach, “Hello there little one I wish I got to meet you up close and personally but maybe I will someday,” she says straighten up and putting a hand on Aisha bellying.

“Woah,” Q says snatching her hand from Aisha’s stomach, “Did she/he just kick me,” she says surprised

“Yep they did,” Aisha says smiling looking toward Q with her hand rubbing her belly, “ I’m gonna miss you Q”

“I’m gonna miss you too Ash” Q was about to leave when Aisha spoke up, “ Before you go. How did you and Silas find us” Aisha ask curious

“ To be honest I had this odd dream when I was in Greece about a woman who told me to look in the mountain of Romania to find what I seek. Then on I trusted my guts” she says

“ Hmmm, I guess you could say our meeting was fate.” Aisha says looking at Q, “ Yeah I guess that’s one way of saying it.” Q smiled at her.

“Q everything’s packed” Qetsiyah looked behind and saw Silas with there two horses, “ Well that’s my ride”

“Hold on a damn minute...” Aisha says looking at the horse, “You two bastards had horses this entire time and didn’t think to bring one with you when we had to walk a mile to get to this place” Q looked sheepishly at her well Magnus has his hand one his mouth so he wouldn’t laugh.

“Um.... sorry?” Aisha shook her head and hugged Q one last time, “Have safe trip kiddo”

“ You too Aisha” Q walked toward Silas and the horses and got on one of them.

“Hey Ash” Q shouted across the village

“Yes?” Aisha shouted back putting her hand in front of her so the sun won’t hit her eyes.

“I catch up with you later. Okay,” she says smiling on top of her horses.

“Okay,” Aisha says smiling well waving, Q and Silas rode off leaving Magnus and Aisha behind in the abandoned villages.

“I gonna miss her”

“ I know”

They stood in silence for a well. Before Magnus spoke, “ So do you remember how to get back to camp” he turns to her.

Aisha sighs “ I go get grimoire,” she says waddling away

“Oh don’t think that I forgot about turning the boys”

“Yeah yeah”

Magnus chuckled and went to fellow his wife.

Yours Truly - Chapter 5: Questions, Questions, Questions

・❥・Pairing: Elvis Presley x original female character

・❥・Genre: slow burn, mystery, angst, fluff.

・❥・Word Count: 1.8k

・❥・Summary: In which a 21-year-old girl suddenly finds herself having consecutive dreams of a particular rock ‘n’ roll star whom she has never met and who died 45 years ago.

・❥・ Ratings & Warnings: SFW. speeding lol, minor character injury, quite angsty.

|chapter index| prev | chapter 6

--

NOVA

A sharp gust of wind blew past me, its never-ending force meeting my skin. It was difficult to adjust to my surroundings, for all I saw is the landscapes flying by past me. Then it occurs to me - I am on a moving vehicle. And I am most certain the person operating the said vehicle - is him. 

"What the hell?!" I exclaimed. 

"Hold on, honey!" With his response, I circle my arms around his waist tightly. 

I have heard of Elvis' love for vehicles. His iconic Pink Cadillac was only one example, but I have heard of his collection of hundreds of cars and evidently-so, his love for motorcycles it seems. 

"Since when did you have a motorcycle?" I inquired, trying my best to level my voice to a volume that he will hear me, despite the encompassing wind. 

"What?" He countered back, briefly turning his head to me before refocusing back on the road. I attempt to repeat my question, but know that he could not hear me - so I focus on stabilising myself on the speeding vehicle and frantically try to distract myself on the fact that this is happening. 

I feel my heart beating loudly against my chest, like it's a beat away from truly escaping out of it. I have steered clear away from motorcycles in my life so far. They are the epicentre of everything that symbolised danger and higher chances of the safety line being crossed. I enjoy my peace and my safety, thus I never saw the appeal of riding a motorcycle. 

Elvis' howling laughter shakes me out of my thoughts. 

"Woohoo! Ain't it fun?" He doesn't turn his head around, but I can sense that he is grinning from the pure sound of glee in his voice. 

I shake my head and then realise that he can't see me. 

"You are crazy!"

He increases the speed which I did not think was possible from the rate that he was going, but it was. My eyes shut with the veins of fear gripping onto me, like it always did. At least maybe with my eyes closed now, it wouldn't be as frightening and we will get to where we are heading soon. I feel my hands tighten around his waist, in desperation that I do not fall off this motorcycle. 

The universe must've heard my prayers as before I knew it, the pace slowed down and the gust of the wind slowed. The motorcycle stopped. I hesitatingly open my eyes to confirm that we have in fact stopped. 

Elvis put the brakes on and swung his legs off the motorcycle, standing up. This is when I briefly realise what he is wearing. A classic black leather jacket, with a black turtleneck underneath and black pants to match. He swiftly took off his helmet, shaking his head as he ran his fingers through his hair briefly. 

How is he so good-looking? 

It really is unbelievable. 

"You need help, doll?" He smirks, that annoying smirk of his. 

"Huh?"

"When you are done checking me out, I can give you hand off the motorcycle. If you'd like." He chuckles at me. 

 I feel immense heat rush up my cheeks. I am horrified.  Was I really staring at him for that long? Nova, get yourself together. 

"I - I wasn't, " I stammered in which he rose an eyebrow at me, "Oh, shut it. I can get off this fine."  I said before he approaches me. 

Frankly speaking, it does suck that I am shorter than him. Tall people really do have the advantage of a lot of things. For instance, getting off a motorcycle does not require taking multitudes of time trying to get your feet to reach the ground. A problem that I am encountering as of now. 

"Are you sur-" 

I cut him off with my hands up at him, "Yeah, I got th-"

My sentence is cut off by the imbalance of my body, as I feel my body met the ground. That f.ucking hurts. Ouch. 

I hear Elvis rush to me, "Nova? Are you okay?!" 

I feel him take the helmet off me as he places my head onto his lap. His hands gently cup my face, and its contact does not go unnoticed. His hands are cold, but nevertheless, the fact that his skin is in contact with mine - it leaves me breathless for a brief second. 

Wincing at the pain, I try to open my eyes and see his blue ones meet mine. His once carefree smirk is gone, and is replaced by a frown and concern swimming in his eyes. 

"You are so f.ucking lucky that I landed on grass and not concrete!" I scold at him, hitting his arm with my hand lightly. 

He is confused at first, but then releases a sigh of relief. He shakes his head at me, "Hey lady! Here I am checking if you are hurt and you. . ." He trails off, but a smile is slowly creeping up on his lips. 

"I'm real glad I found you, Nova." 

I squint my eyes at him, "Elvis, you keep saying that. But you won't tel-"

"We are going to need a band-aid for your knee." He confirms, as he rolls my jeans up slightly to check my leg.

--

Pastel colors of orange, pink and purple adorned the canvas of the sky. The gentle sound of the water harmonised perfectly with the breeze of the trees. I sighed in the tranquility, and leaned back on the wooden bench. 

"This is nice."

"Yeah, it is. It's the quiet that I think every person needs once in a while." Elvis says, his gaze thoughtful as he looked at the glistening sun's reflection on the lake. 

"Very true. Especially after falling off a motorcycle," I emphasised jokingly. 

He turns to me and puts his hand up in mock-surrender, "Honey, I offered to help and you declined." 

I rolled my eyes at this, "Fine. I'll give you that. But you better explain to me why were we on a motorcycle in the first place?" I crossed my arms, raising an eyebrow at him. 

"Didn't you say that you wanted to be a little more reckless, live a little?" 

"No, I didn't." 

But I did. Yes I definitely did. But I didn't verbalise it out loud. I said it in my mind when I blew out the candles at my birthday party. 

"Yeah, you did."

I don't argue with him any further and instead move on to a different question. 

"I have a question."

"Okay," He smiled, biting his bottom lip, "I'll answer it only on one condition." 

"What?"

"Trust me." 

"But-"

He moves closer to me, and holds my hands, "You and I both know that you wished to live more spontaneously. To be more open to new experiences and just live. I can help with that, and I promise you with all my heart that I won't let you get hurt, Nova. I know that there's that band-aid on your knee, but that is because of your own stubbornness."

My lips fail to stop the smile on my lips. 

"Okay, Elvis." 

He releases a sigh in relief, and he releases my hands. 

"I want to ask my first question now." 

"Go ahead." He smiles, although he is no longer holding onto my hands - he is still very much sat right next to me on this bench. There is literally no space between us. 

"How is this happening? I mean, how are you here again? I thought dreams are one-off. They don't continue like this." 

He shrugs, "I don't know, honey. I guess the boss up there owes me a favour." He points to the sky and chuckles. 

"Elvis!" I groaned, slightly annoyed. 

"Nova!" He grins. 

"Answer me seriously." I say. 

"I am, I swear."

I thought for a second. 

"Okay. How about this; I ask a question and you can only answer with one word." I say seriously, trying to decipher if he will agree to this. 

After a little back and forth, he finally agrees to this. It will give me a peace of mind. It has to. Because at the moment, this is not making any sense. Weren't dreams supposed to be different each time we dream? We don't continue of the last dream, don't we?

"Am I dreaming right now?" I take a deep breath, awaiting his answer. Although he kinda answered this before on our initial meeting, I want to ask him again. 

"Maybe."

He's playing safe. 

"Why are you in my dreams again?"

"Promise." 

I furrow my eyebrows at this. Promise? 

"What do you mean?"

"Uh-uh. Only one word, honey. remember?" He smirks. 

I sigh frustratedly and continue on, "Was your song playing on my way to lectures this morning. . . was that a coincidence?" 

"Nope." He shakes his head, more amused than ever at my confused features.

"Did you like the song by the way? It's not as known as my other songs. But it was a fun song from my movie called 'Live a little, love a little'." 

I freeze. He really-

"Are you real?" 

For the first time in this line of questions, Elvis simply nods and does not verbalise a response. 

"How do you know me?" I ask, and sense his body stiffen. There is that tension in his shoulders. 

"Let me rephrase that. . . who am I to you, Elvis?" I ask nervously. His features are etched with seriousness, and for a second I see a glimpse of an internal battle with himself. He opens his mouth to respond, but closes it once again. He looks away for a second and closes his eyes, exhaling. When he meets my eyes again, his eyes are red with the evidence of tears trying to break out.

I have never seen him cry in this short time I have known him so far, and I suddenly feel guilty for asking this. 

"Elvis. . ." 

I feel a tightness in my chest. 

"Nova. Please, please. . ." He bits his lip, holding back tears, "Please ask me something else." I notice that his hands are back in holding mine. But the hold is not gentle like before, this time it's like he is clutching my hands. Like when you are holding onto something to give you strength. 

I feel my throat dry. Suddenly, my mind is empty of any questions.

"Do you know how to swim?" I smile at him. 

He breathes a deep sigh of relief and chuckles, and I feel my chest become lighter to hear him chuckle. 

"Yeah."

"Good because I don't." I laugh. 

next chapter

Hello! I’m rereading The Changeling and I can’t remember for the life of me what Ginny meant by ‘more like power is the weakling’s ambition’, Antonia’s pride and her own conclusions after that. Could you elaborate please?

She forces herself to tune back in to what Antonia is saying about a letter she just received from her parents. Apparently some wizards came by their bookshop to get her family to pay a “protection fee” in these unsettled times. Common enough in Diagon and Knockturn Alleys these days apparently.

Antonia scoffs. “They didn’t count on my Auntie Victoria.”

Ginny huffs. “Probably were just hoping your family would be too scared to do anything,” she says scathingly.

“Fear is the weakling’s power,” Antonia says, sash drawn dramatically across her chest.

“More like power is the weakling’s ambition,” she counters.

Antonia looks at her in surprise, delicately penciled eyebrow crawling up under her fringe.

“What?” Ginny demands, shifting uncomfortably under her gaze.

Antonia smiles then, a dazzling spread of red lips over perfectly white teeth. “So you’re learning at last.”

Ginny scowls at her, not liking to be spoken to as if an unruly child, even as she knows Antonia has a valid point. Ginny hadn’t understood when she first met Antonia, mistaking ambition for maliciousness, unconventional thought for something as simple as evil. There is no easy corollary to be found between ordinary –normal?—and good. An entire world of nuance and subtlety and extraordinary exists in the spaces between.

She can see that. She just wishes other people could too.

I assume this scene from chapter five is what you are referencing.

Ah, the great foible of Slytherin. Assuming that to be ambitious means to lusting after power. Ginny is at once acknowledging that ambition is much more complex than merely wanting to have power over other people, and also beginning to see how that thirst for power more than anything else is perhaps a sign, ultimately, of weakness. The weak hoping to not be weak, but also a weakness of ambition to see so narrowly.

Remember, this conversation around power started in the previous year in the context of Umbridge and her actions, as ultimately being about trying to have power over all decisions, over Dumbledore and his supposed 'army', and over the whole school--and what that mean and how it landed on the students in really disturbing ways. And in the scene you are talking about above, it's in the context of Harry and his narrow of view of Slytherin and her, and her anger over it. They've just had their big fight over Draco Malfoy that is really more about Ginny thinking Harry isn't capable of seeing nuance when it comes to Slytherin. That maybe all he can see is that they are all after power and therefore are all evil. That there is no difference between ambition and evil. When she knows very well that there is far more grey than that, that the grey is the entire point. Ginny, at this point, does not crave power over people. She never really does. When she does wield power over people, it is merely as a tool, not an end in and of itself. Controlling people itself is never the point. Her ambition is ultimately about being true to herself, to the knowing and accepting of her own strengths and weaknesses both. She just wishes she could be seen for them by others (Harry) too.

Craving power as an end in and of itself is both a weakness in understanding and in a weakness in ambition. True ambition would reach far beyond it.

Nueva portada!

Nuevo capítulo,próximamente…

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New cover!

New chapter coming soon…

((HOLY FUCKING SHIT THE AUDIO IN THIS ONE– i wont spoil it but aAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH))

This whole fandom is a fucking train wreck