(Un)Pleasantview - Chapter 3 Part II: Shadows
Warnings: Blood, nudity and sexual themes.
She knew that it was impossible. Her magic could do nothing for Gunther. What she had done so many centuries before had been lost to her. And perhaps, was never her power to begin with.
But that did not stop her from trying to find the source of the dark magic and expelling it.
“You cannot save him, Starfish.”
“I know,” Lolita whispered in response. “I know, but why should that stop me?”
She could sense he had more to say, but he purposefully chose not to. She appreciated it, for she had a feeling she already knew what he wanted to say. And she knew what her response would be.
“There might be an elixir to relief his suffering and extend his days, even if for a short period,” Grim suddenly stated. Lolita looked up, surprised.
“Why are you telling me this, Thanatos?”
She could imagine the grimace on his non-existent face at her use of his real name.
“Can a man not assist his best friend and mother to his daughter in her time of need?”
Lolita blinked, then smiled. “Of course. But I have a feeling you have more to say.”
“Gunther Goth is not on my current list.”
“Are you suggesting his hourglass was tampered with?”
“That is exactly what I am suggesting. I am not meant to fetch his soul until the birth of his second grandchild. However, that recently changed. He has a few months, if not weeks.”
Lolita glanced at Gunther, the dread over his impending death and the source of this supposed elixir pooling dangerously in her stomach. “Where do I get the elixir you spoke of?”
His silence solidified Lolita's suspicion that she wouldn't like his answer. And when he did finally mutter the two words, her heart clenched. She had been right.
She didn't like his answer at all.
“Your father is upstairs.”
“Okay. We'll go see him.”
A voice, however, interrupted any progress made to the stairs. “He just fell asleep. It might be best to let him rest for a while.”
Lolita was the first to break the awkward silence. “Cornelia, you look exhausted.”
“Really? How astute of you to notice!”
Lolita did not let Cornelia's bitter tone affect her. “You deserve some rest too. Please, sit. I'll make you some tea.”
“No, thank you.”
“I insist.”
Cornelia was going to continue protesting, but she was too tired to continue. Lolita was, much to her dismay, right. She was exhausted. And tea sounded lovely.
“Go sit with your mother, Mortimer,” Dina piped in. “I'll help with the tea.”
Mortimer just nodded and followed after his mother.
“You don't need to help,” Lolita hummed once they were alone.
“Cornelia hates me too. Trust me, she doesn't want me in there. Besides, I know where everything in the kitchen is.”
Lolita conceded. The kitchen was a foreign land to her in this house.
Once the kettle was on the stove, Dina took time to properly look at the woman. The minute she had appeared from the staircase, Dina had just known who she was. It hadn't been the thick tension in the air, or Cornelia's clear hatred of the woman. No, it was the eyes. Old and wise. Dina knew immediately the redhead was no young woman, despite her appearance.
“You're Lolita, aren't you?”
The corners of Lolita's lips twitched. “I am.”
Dina nodded, silence falling over them.
“You are staring.”
“Forgive me!” Dina exclaimed. “It's just...when Gunther told me you were older I expected-”
“A little wrinkly old lady?” Lolita interrupted.
“Yes,” Dina laughed.
Lolita smiled sadly. “Unfortunately, I do not have the luxury of a finite existence. I may look young, but I assure you, I am not.”
“I don't doubt it.”
Lolita pulled out a leftover cake. “Should we serve this?”
Who was buried in Olive Thanasia’s garden? It was an age old question, one she never bothered to answer. And soon people would not ask: “Who was buried in Olive Thanasia’s garden?”
No, if things went her way, they would ask: “Who was buried in Olive Specter’s garden?”
She just had to catch the man first. Which she was confident she would be able to do.
After all, if she could tame Death, she could tame anyone.
“Hello Jack.”
“You just missed the kids.”
“I was not aware we had more than one. Did you magically pop out more while I was away? Do you have a male donor stashed in the basement?”
Olive laughed and shook her head. "We don't have a basement. And I meant Michael and his entourage.”
“Ah, the three you are convinced are in a threesome.”
“They so are.”
“If you say so, my love.”
“I know that tone. How is she?”
If Grim Reaper had eyes, he would have rolled them. “Lolita is fine.”
“No she's not.”
“No, she's not. The love of her life is dying, what do you expect?”
“Why does she not depart for the Eternal Realm? I never understood why she, of all the ancient fairies, remains here. I've seen the way she looks at the world - she hates it. She hates being immortal.”
Grim sighed. “It is not really my place to say, Olive. You’ll have to ask her for the full story, but the gist of it is that she cannot.”
Olive raised an eyebrow. “Cannot? Or does not want to?”
“She literally cannot. Ever. It is physically impossible for her to do so.”
“Why?”
Grim did not respond at first.
Then, finally, with a sigh he whispered: “Because of me.”
Olive stared at her lover, confused.
“I really wish you'd stop smoking that crap,” Grim suddenly changed the subject.
“Never gonna happen.”
Silence passed over them, a rarity since there was a toddler in the house. But the silence did not last long.
“Your daughters are here.”
“Ah, yes, I was going to check on something,” Grim hummed. “I’ll see you later.”
“What are you doing here?”
