Chapter 18: Rita's Story

Selene and Alice went downstairs and went straight to the kitchen.

"Hello, girls." Elisabeth gave each of them a kiss on the cheek as a greeting.

"It's so nice to see you again." Alice grinned at her. Selene, too, gave her a radiant smile.

"Are you going to the garden today?" Meredith asked, putting their plates on the table.

"Yes, as always." Selene replied, sipping her orange juice.

"What about the rest? Are they going to have breakfast?" Alice looked questioningly at Elisabeth and Meredith.

"Everyone's already after breakfast." said Mrs. Spelling. "As far as we know, Johnathan and Isabelle went home, Teresa went to her sister, Maria is at her room, and Rita too, I think." she added.

"Oh, okay, got it." Alice assured, smiling slightly.

After breakfast, Selene had another lesson, this time with her aunt, Rita, and Elisabeth. Now was the turn of the exercise in combining the power of the Elements. It was a little reluctant to Selene, but she wasn't about to break down, and Meredith had warned that it was very hard to master. Elisabeth added, however, that she is doing very well for such a complex task.

"Do not worry, we have a lot of time, you will definitely learn it." Rita reassured her. "I think that's enough for today." she added with a smile.

Selene breathed out. She missed Damon, and wanted to see him again. Selene literally flew out of the living room and walked with Alice through the kitchen and into the garden. Then Meredith looked pointedly at Rita.

"Are you sure I should?" she almost whispered.

"You have to." Meredith answered. "We can't risk Selene's life. Caution won't hurt, don't you think?" she added.

Without further discussion, Rita made her way to the kitchen and from there to the garden.

~~~~~~

Johann found Damon on Los Angeles High Street. This time he followed him without hesitation, ignoring the crowds he passed, focusing entirely on Damon's silhouette and followed his every move so as not to lose him. Johann followed Damon across the park to a small estate and saw his target creep into some house's garden. The name Monroe was written on the mailbox.

"No wonder. After all, he is to liquidate his chosen one, and she lives here..." Johann thought and was about to go when something touched him. His sixth sense located some strong feeling emanating from the garden of this house. Such a sign could not be ignored, for the gift never failed him, as long as he used it, of course. Johann climbed the wall and hid between the trees. The feeling in the air intensified immediately, and when he focused completely on it, had no more doubts—it was love. Therefore, Johann looked out and saw Damon sitting with a girl on a fallen tree limb lying on the lawn. His companion was certainly the "chosen one", he could sense it, for she had been using the powers of the Elements recently. The feeling between those two almost burst his head. This love was certainly mutual as it emanated from both her and Damon.

"I've got you!" thought Johann, very glad. That was what he looked for. Damon was in love with a sorceress, which was strictly forbidden by demon law, and on top of that, in love with the "chosen one" that he was supposed to kill. Previously, he had not expected to find anything, or at least nothing significant, so did not expect such a huge surprise. Damon in love with a sorceress? It was a bomb that would have eliminated him immediately because in light of such allegations, confirmed by Johann's gift, Alistair could not defend his pupil and would have to punish him. And the punishment for such treason was death, and Damon could not be an exception, no matter how much Alistair was attached to him. If he will treat Damon more gently, Alistair would have exposed himself to the wrath of an entire community of demons, which he certainly did not want. Even without it, Alistair had many enemies in the Underworld, because Chris was not the only one who wanted to dethrone him. Therefore, this love must have marked the end of Damon.

Now Johann could safely go back to the Underworld, for he was sure that this news would fully satisfy his older brother. It was still hard for him to believe that they were so lucky, and Damon voluntarily exposed himself to the severest punishment possible.

~~~~~~

Alice read Damon's mind carefully and she was so focused on them that didn't hear Rita approaching.

"Where's Selene?" she asked, facing the stunned girl.

"Well...I can't say because I promised," Alice replied evasively.

"I won't reveal it to anyone, I promise. Tell me what's going on, please," Rita said, placing hand on her heart.

Alice took a deep breath, reading her thoughts just to be sure.

"For sure? Aunt would have locked Selene in a room forever if she found out about it..." Alice stammered uncertainly.

"I won't tell her or anyone else." Rita confirmed.

"Because she... she meets the demon who saved her back then. He loves Selene, and won't hurt her, I can swear on this, because I read his mind. I've already learned it. Selene loves him too and can't imagine parting with him." Alice finally replied, a bit proud of herself that she had deciphered the demon's thoughts.

"Really? But that's nothing wrong, on the contrary, it's wonderful. I will not reveal it to Meredith no matter what." Rita assured her.

"What is going on? What is she doing here?" Selene asked, frightened, stepping out in front of them. Her lover was standing nearby.

"Don't worry, she won't tell your aunt anything." Alice spoke up first.

"Yes, I promise. You can be sure of that," Rita also assured and looked at her companion. "And this is probably the lucky one? What's your name?" she asked him.

"Damon." the man replied, stepping back slightly.

"Don't be afraid, I really don't intend to turn you over to anyone." Rita said, smiling heartily at him.

"That's not the point. I have to go anyway." Damon stepped back. "We'll meet here tomorrow." he turned to Selene, seeing the sadness in her dark blue eyes. He kissed her cheek briefly, brushed his hand over those long black hair and soon disappeared into the trees.

"We should go home too." Alice remarked after a short moment of silence.

"You go. I would like to talk to Selene alone." Rita replied stoically. "And I warn you, do not even try to eavesdrop. I will interfere with my and Selene's thoughts with a spell just to be sure." she looked at her.

"Okay, okay. I won't use my gift," Alice agreed and, resigned, disappeared into the bushes.

After a long silence, Selene looked at Rita.

"All right, I'm listening, what are you trying to tell me?" she asked, trying not to panic.

"A story that neither Meredith nor even Elisabeth knows. My demon love story," Rita replied.

"Have you really loved a demon? And I'm the only one to whom you're telling that story?" Selene was in total shock.

"Yes, I did, and I still love. I have not told anyone but my brother about it, because I would like to forget about it. This story did not have a happy ending." Rita began. "It happened a long time ago, in year 1500, I was young then, only 784 years old. One day my mother had a vision that an important mortal was in danger. She was going to become a spirit of light, and I couldn't let a demon take her soul and make a spirit of darkness. So I set off to the place where she was about to be attacked. It was there that I met Alistair, the one who is now Lord of the Underworld." she confessed.

"You mean the one I'm supposed to beat?" Selene interjected.

"Yes exactly." Rita confirmed. "Back then his father, Sariel, was the ruler. Alistair was tasked with bringing the innocent soul that I was supposed to defend. Fortunately, I was able to save her. The girl ran away, but I fell into his trap and thought I was dead, but then he looked at me like that..." she sighed. "Alistair couldn't kill me, just disappeared after setting me free from the trap, but found me a few days later and confessed his love. I also loved him. I knew Alistair had fallen under my spell because I'm from the old Spencer family. That is why I insisted he not return to the Underworld, that he stay with me, but Alistair absolutely wanted to say goodbye to his father. He went there and never came back. I was sure other demons had submerged him in the Lake of Darkness. Its waters wash away the charm of a sorceress, you know." she pointed out.

"I know, Alice mentioned something to me about this." Selene said.

"Good." Rita smiled. "Coming back to the story... Alistair washed of my charm must have forgotten about me. Now he rules the kingdom of the Underworld, and my charm is gone..." she began again.

"Because when a sorceress falls in love, the charm disappears." Selene finished for her.

"Exactly. You can see now that you can trust me. I will not reveal your secret, because I have one myself... Also, I believe that your love will survive, or at least I will do everything to make it happen." Rita replied.

Selene said nothing, just hugged her tightly. Then they both walked slowly back home.