12: Phantasia’s Power
“I was thinking,” he began, “About our relationship. During my years in the Outerworld, I learned a great deal about how humans relate to one another. I still do not understand the terms exactly, and find the concept intriguing. We faeries are not born as humans are. We do not have a family, nor are we born of another.”
Phantasia turned and a smile began to sneak across her face. Dionysus always cheered her up when he admitted that there were things in the world even he didn’t understand. The sight of his furrowed brow and thoughtful eyes helped her relax. So long as she had Dionysus, she would be safe, she thought. He looked down at her and she caught a brief glimpse of embankment is his features. He winced at the human corruption flowing through him.
“I believe I regard you as what humans would call a ‘sister’,”
***
Phantasia didn’t want to believe it. She knew it was just the leansídhe reading her fears, that deep down she knew Dionysus would never have embraced the darkness, but still she found herself backing down. She couldn’t even meet the fake-Dionysus’s eyes and clutched her shoulder for comfort. Maybe, just maybe, the real Dionysus could protect her.
“How pathetic,” said the fake, “Still clinging to that dead memento, still wishing I could come along and save you? I can’t believe it led you here. I thought you were bright enough to figure it all out, but it looks like I was wrong. After all I did for you, I find you trying to fit into the human world? Did the truth escape you that quickly?” He took a step towards her, darkness dancing around his body like fire, “Princess, you’re a demon. Deny it all you want, but it’s the obvious truth.”
“I…”
“What’s the matter? What happened to that rebellious faerie I knew? The one who was determined to prove herself to everyone? Has she finally been defeated? Has she finally given up, knowing that she is a freak of nature? Has she fallen so far as to associate with mundane humans in the hopes of carving out an identity? Is this all that remains of Phantasia Celeste, the girl I called ‘sister’?”
“I…”
“Look at you, so pitiful and helpless. There’s nothing you can do now, is there? You have no special powers that can save you. Remember all those teachers who tried so hard to educate you? Do you remember what they said when you couldn’t do simple tasks? About how pathetic and useless you were? That you would never amount to anything?”
Phantasia remembered. She remembered all the things they had told her. She remembered all the times she would stand around while her peers worked their natural powers. All these years she asked herself what her element was, or whether she even had one. Even demons like the leansídhe had elemental affinity, so what was she if she had nothing?
The fake-Dionysus placed his hand atop hers, sending pain searing across her shoulder and down her arm. She screamed out as the darkness began to devour her and he lent in close, enough so she could feel his cold cheek brushing against hers.
“Accept me,” he whispered, “With this power those humans won’t stand a chance. We’ll pull out their deepest thoughts and fears and finally you’ll be able to understand them. Their sacrifice will awaken your true self,”
“I…”
