Reunion Pt. 2

"I would ask for a moment alone with Crescent," Quelurillian said curtly, snapping her jagged teeth. Each of Quelurillian's blackened green eyes glared at the humans around, causing Crescent's companions and several witches to take a step back.

"Y-Yeah," Kirian said uncharacteristically nervously. "Let's give Illy and Croissant a moment."

Also sensing the impending danger, Yara guided the other humans towards the tunnel the witches had established a camp in, leaving only Sivan behind.

"You were not an exception," Quelurillian hissed. "Join your sisters before I take your head again."

"Such a party pooper," the witch whined. She kicked out a leg and twirled letting her black hair dance through the air before fading away.

"What is she?" Crescent asked, squeezing Quelurillian's side. Her hands were trembling and clammy.

"A witch, nothing more. She just happens to be a little more powerful. Do not mind her."

"She's the one you met on New Year's Eve?"

"Indeed. She is also the cause of what transpired."

"What?!" Crescent's soft hand clenched into a tight fist and she looked up at Quelurillian with fierce, bloodthirsty eyes that made the spider princess's heart pound so hard she could feel the vibrations reverberating through her body. "And you let her live?"

"Believe me, little Sling, my first action upon our second encounter was to remove her head, but to no avail. Her magic protects her."

"Is she dangerous?"

"Hardly," Quelurillian snorted. "The sorceress is more concerned with playing games than causing any real harm. Though I will not say she is harmless. Were she to turn on us… I will ensure your safety."

"I'm sure that did little to reassure her. Perhaps if we returned to Ilsia Habia I would be able to kill her, but not on Earth. Without stronger magic and my full strength, I am nearly as helpless as Crescent."

"I've missed you, little one. Let us forget that gnat and enjoy what little time we have left together."

"Then you're going back…"

All eight of Quelurillian's eyes sank. She leaned over, taking Crescent's hand and pressed it against her soft cheek.

"I have no choice."

Crescent's eyes welled with tears and she sniffled. Her thumb pressed against the soft chitin of Quelurillian's cheek and she massaged it gently.

"Does it hurt?"

She shook her head. "It makes me uneasy. I am not accustomed to being so vulnerable.

"I'm sure. Though it's funny how human your skin feels now."

Quelurillian's lip ticked and she took a stuttered breath that did little to calm her. She wanted nothing more than to stay. There were even times during their separation Quelurillian pondered inquiring with the witches if it were possible for her to become human. Just the thought made her want to crush someone's skull underfoot, but she had considered regardless.

"Do you prefer it this way?"

Crescent shook her head. "No. I prefer my Illias sturdy as a boulder, strong as an ox, and more beautiful than a thousand fairies dancing on a summer wind."

"Have you dabbled in poetry in my absence? This is quite out of character."

"I don't need to. That's just how I see you. Dependable, considerate, doting — Even if no one in your world or mine agreed, that's who you are to me.

Quelurillian shifted on her feet nervously and tilted her head as she looked down at her mate. Though Crescent thought her manner of speech "fancy", she doubted she could say anything as charming in response. They gazed into one another's eyes, Quelurillian cognizant of Crescent's every subtle detail, from her stuttered breaths to her flushed round cheeks. Her body quivered, as if she were holding herself back, though Quelurillian couldn't fathom from what.

"Can I—"

"Would you cons—"

Both women laughed nervously at one another and Quelurillian closed her upper eyes and pressed her forehead to Crescent's. "I'm listening."

Crescent licked her lip and bit down on it, her lashes fluttering behind the lenses of her glasses. "Will you take me with you?"

Without a moment's hesitation, Quelurillian lifted Crescent's chin with her thumb and kissed her, ensuring not to harm the girl's tongue as they danced. It was a strange sensation as foreign as kissing was in general to Quelurillian, but her thundering heart assured her that she enjoyed it. The longer the kiss lingered, the more Crescent's sweet floral scent enveloped her, creating a heat in her that sent sparks from her ears to her toes.

"A poet and a clairvoyant? Perhaps my absence was a blessing."

Cress's eyes widened and a giddy squeak slipped out. "Then were you going to ask—"

"If you would accompany me. I worry about the logistics, but my selfish heart cannot bear to part from you."

"Mine either. All I could think about is how empty my life would be if you left me. Everything I am, everything I've become, and everything I will ever be is thanks to you."

"You give yourself too little credit. It was you who overcame your fears and you who had the courage to seek me out."

"I guess," Crescent said, smiling from ear to ear. "When do we leave?"

Picking Crescent up, Quelurillian hopped from the ledge into the water below, ensuring the splashing water missed Crescent, and carried her to the recessed stone door engraved with the lily symbol they had struggled so hard to find. In the center of the door was Quelurillian's sword, jammed through the stone to the hilt.

"Isn't that going to damage it?"

"No. It was forged by the same ancient people who constructed the portal lying beyond this door."

"Did you know?"

Quelurillian shook her head. "Though I loathe to admit it, it was the witches who informed me. I merely thought it an ancient heirloom made by my people. It was quite an ignorant assumption on my part."

"Hardly," Crescent laughed. She wrapped her arms around Quelurillian's neck and kissed her cheek. "You're the smartest… Well, second, smartest person I know."

"Am I to assume you are referring to Miss Vianna?"

Crescent grinned and peppered Quelurillian's neck with love. "It's close enough to be a tie."

"Even her lies send me aflutter. Could I ever have found such peace in the Sands? I know my desire to bring her with me is selfish, even if she's agreed. Who knows what chaos Quenn has wrought in my absence. How much danger will my greed put my darling Sling in?"

"Are you two lovebirds done having private time?" a mocking coquettish voice asked.

"Begone, trickster. You were already warned."

"Aw, don't be like that, Illy. I only came back because…"

Tons of ancient stone ground against itself as the sides of the disk shaped door separated. Quelurillian's sword fell as it opened and she kicked it off her foot and caught it with her free hand. Her arm holding Crescent wavered and to her cursed under her breath as the girl's feet slid into the water.

"Apologies," she said. Her sore shoulders slumped and she moved to pick Crescent up again, but the girl stopped her.

"It's fine, Illia. If anything, I'm sorry you had to hold me when you're sick." She grinned, giving a clumsy imitation of the wink Kirian often gave people. "Not that I'm complaining. It was nice to feel your naked body against me."

Choking on nothing, Quelurillian turned all over her eyes away. She wasn't sure why, but she felt she should always stay clothed in her humanoid form going forward.

Beyond the opening door, sat a stone arch adorned with barely legible runes. In its center was a mass of silently swirling white mana. It lacked the loud whooshing sound the portals in Crescent's animations had, but otherwise looked almost identical. Dozens of footsteps splashed in the water behind them and Yara walked in front of the portal. Her wrinkled bright eyes examined it and with a satisfied nod, she turned to everyone present.