Dual Heritage Ch. 05

I received the news a couple of days ago. She's gone. My dear beloved, Eurydice. The one person who offered me light in the midst of my darkness. The one who made me feel like a human again. And now she's gone, forever.

I finally understand that actions have consequences. I deserve what happened to me after everything that I've done. And yet, the pain is unbearable.

The only solace I can find now is in the hope that my research can help prevent such tragedies in the future. But it's a small comfort, in the face of the immense pain that I feel every day.

I fear what my colleagues would do if I retaliated. But most of all, I fear that I will never be able to forgive myself for what I've done. Eurydice, my love, wherever you are, I hope you can forgive me.

As Mark turned the pages of the old journal, he came across the final entry from the young arcanist-

I woke up today, feeling the same dread that's been gnawing at me for days now. The nightmares have been constant, and I can barely sleep without waking up in a cold sweat. Every time I close my eyes, all I see is suffering and agony.

The weight of my mistakes, the pain and suffering I had caused, had become too much to bear. I had lost all will to live.

But then I thought of my sister. She was in danger, and I knew that I had to do everything in my power to save her. It was the least I could do, one good thing that I could accomplish in my miserable life. Maybe it would bring me some peace, some absolution for all the wrongs I had committed.

And so, with a heavy heart, I made my decision. I would put an end to my suffering, but not before I did everything in my power to save her. I didn't know what the future held for me, but I knew that I couldn't let her down.

To anyone reading this, I hope that my words will serve as a warning. Be careful what you wish for, and be careful what you are willing to sacrifice to achieve it. For in the end, it may cost you more than you can bear.

Mark closed the book, feeling a mix of emotions swirling inside him. The story of the young arcanist had left him feeling conflicted. On one hand, he felt sympathy for the man and the moral dilemma he faced. On the other hand, he couldn't ignore the atrocities committed.

He sat there on the stairs outside the library, lost in thought, his mind a jumbled mess. The images of the experiments on fetuses and the plague-ridden village were burned into his mind, haunting him.

As he sat there, he couldn't help but wonder what he would have done in the arcanist's shoes. Would he have made the same choices, or would he have chosen a different path?

What had happened to the young arcanist. Had he gone through with his plan to end his life? Or had he found some other way to cope with his pain and suffering? The answers were lost to time.

Mark's phone buzzed, interrupting his thoughts:

Ria: Hey Baby. Can you meet me in the auditorium? I want to show you something.

Putting the book back into his backpack, he promptly replied:

Mark: Sure, I'll be there in a few minutes.

He felt a blend of relief and disappointment. The book had stirred intense emotions, and part of him was reluctant to set it aside.

He stood up from the stairs, feeling the weight of the book in his backpack when he received another message.

Ria: Great!!!Can't wait to see you ❤️.

A smile slowly spread across his face as he made his way to the auditorium.

As Mark entered the auditorium, his eyes scanned the room for Ria. He found her in the front row, engrossed in conversation with a group of friends. The moment she saw him, her face lit up. She sprang to her feet and rushed over, sealing their reunion with a passionate kiss.

Their lips met in a fervent dance, tongues intertwining as if trying to capture the essence of each other. For a moment, Mark forgot about the haunting book and his moral dilemmas. All that mattered was the warmth of Ria's body against his, the intoxicating taste of her lips, and the electric desire coursing through him.

In that moment, he forgot about the book and all of his worries. All he could think about was the way Ria's body felt pressed up against his, the taste of her lips, and the desire that surged through him. It was a moment of pure bliss, a reminder of why he adored her so much.

Finally, they pulled apart, both of them breathless. Ria looked up at him with shining eyes, "I'm so glad you're here."

"Me too but why did you call me here?

"I wanted you to meet my friends," Ria replied, taking his hand and leading him to the group.

There were five people in total: Sarah, Tom, Jack, Emily, and Jane.

"Mark, this is Sarah. You've already met her, right?" Ria said, smiling.

Mark nodded and greeted Sarah with a friendly wave. "Hey, good to see you again," he said.

Sarah grinned back. "Likewise!"

"Finally, we get to meet the infamous Mark," Emily said with a playful smile.

Jack chimed in, "Yeah, we're sick of hearing about you all the time. It's about time we put a face to the name."

"I am sorry" Mark said embarrassingly.

"I don't know, Mark. I feel like I have some competition now that you're here," Sarah said teasingly, winking at Ria. "We already used to fight for her time."

Ria replied with a smirk, "You know, Sarah, you're not really in competition anymore. Mark's already won."

Sarah rolled her eyes and playfully punched Ria on the arm. "Shut up, Ria.

The group laughed, and Tom added, "It's true. Ria's practically a ghost around us these days."

Ria squeezed Mark's hand. "What can I say? He's a hard guy to resist."

Jack quipped, "Ria, you're bordering on a Mark addiction."

Ria hugged his hand and rested her head on his shoulder. "Don't listen to them, Mark. They're just jealous because you're the best thing that's ever happened to me."

"And you're the best thing that's ever happened to me, too."

They all cooed at the display of affection, and Mark felt a little embarrassed.

As they settled into a comfortable conversation, Mark felt his initial nerves begin to ease.

Sarah's bubbly and talkative nature made it easy to chat with her, and Tom's dry sense of humor had everyone laughing. Jack was a bit more reserved, but still friendly, while Emily was outgoing and confident. Jane was the quietest of the group, but had a kind smile and seemed to be a good listener.

As they were talking Mark noticed a group of people walking towards them. Sarah quickly introduces them to Mark.

"Mark, This is Anna, Peter, and Alex," Sarah said, gesturing towards each person in turn.

"Hey, nice to meet you all," Mark greeted, offering a warm smile. Ria remained nestled against his shoulder, seemingly indifferent to the newcomers.

As the group continued their conversation, Mark couldn't help but notice Alex's disapproving gaze towards him and Ria.

"So Mark, how do you know Ria?" Anna asked.

Mark's face flushed as he thought about their first encounter, which had been quite intense and later he fucked her in her parents bed.

He stammered for a moment, unsure of how to answer, when Ria interjected with a laugh.

"We actually met in the college library," she said, smiling at Mark. "We were both studying for mid term and struck up a conversation. It was an instant connection."

Mark breathed a sigh of relief and smiled, "Yeah, that's right," he said, nodding. "We hit it off right away."

Sarah couldn't resist adding, "Clicked so well that Ria's already moved in with him!"

Everyone turned to look at Ria and Mark, surprised. Ria grinned and blushed a little, while Mark looked a little uncomfortable.

"What? Ria, you moved in with him?" Alex exclaimed, clearly not happy about the news.

"Yeah, I did. What's the big deal?"

Mark watched as Alex's expression shifted from surprise to disapproval. He could tell that the other man wasn't happy about their living situation.

"The big deal is that you barely know the guy. You're moving in with someone you just met a few weeks ago. What if he turns out to be a creep or something?"

Ria's expression turned from one of happiness to irritation. She sat up straight and fixed Alex with a steely gaze.

"Excuse me, Alex, but it's none of your business who I choose to live with."

"What were you thinking, Ria? You barely even know this guy."

Ria rolled her eyes and responded sarcastically, "I thought I would save on rent by mooching off him instead."

Mark tried to diffuse the tension by chuckling and saying, "Yeah, it's been great having her around. We make a good team."

But Alex wasn't done yet. "Really? And did her parents approve of her moving in with her boyfriend?"

Ria shot Alex a withering look. "No he was too busy doin me." she retorted, crossing her arms.

As soon as Ria's words left her mouth, the whole group fell silent, and Mark could feel his situation escalate. But Ria didn't seem fazed, and instead held Alex's gaze with an air of defiance.

After a few awkward moments, Sarah cleared her throat and attempted to change the subject. "So, how are midterms going for everyone?"

Mark was grateful for the change of topic and jumped at the chance to steer the conversation away from his sex life. "They're going okay for me so far," he said with a relieved smile.

Anna shrugged. "I feel like I'm drowning in work. I haven't had much time to do anything else."

Peter nodded in agreement. "Yeah, same here. It's been a pretty stressful couple of weeks."

Sarah nodded sympathetically. "I know how you feel. Exams are always a crazy time.

As the conversation continued, Mark couldn't help but notice that Alex and his group had grown increasingly quiet. Without a word, they got up and left the room, leaving behind an awkward silence.

Mark felt a sense of relief as the tension dissipated with their departure.

Sarah chimed in, "Yeah, don't worry about Alex. He's always been a bit of a stick in the mud."

As the group slowly dissipated, Mark and Ria decided to head back to their house. They walked in silence for a while until Ria broke the quiet.

"I'm sorry about Alex," she said, looking up at Mark. "He can be a bit overbearing sometimes."

"It's okay. But what's up with him? He seems to have a problem with me."

Ria let out a sigh. "Alex is also part of my coven, and our parents are old friends. He's been interested in me for a while, but I've made it clear that I'm not interested."

"Ah, I see. That must be tough for him to see you with someone else."

"Maybe. But it's not my fault that he can't take a hint. He needs to learn to move on."

"Why haven't you accepted his offer?"

She shrugged. "I don't know. I guess I just don't feel that way about him. Plus, I don't want to date someone from my own coven. It could make things awkward if things don't work out."

He nodded in understanding. "I get it. Well, for what it's worth, I'm glad you didn't date him. I like having you all to myself."

Ria grinned back, "Of course. You're the one who captured my heart."

Mark smiled and wrapped his arm around Ria's waist, pulling her closer to him as they walked. "I'm happy to have captured it," he said with a chuckle. "But seriously, I don't want you to feel like you have to apologize for his behavior."

Ria leaned her head on Mark's shoulder, her voice softening. "I know, but I still feel bad."

Mark kissed the top of her head, "Don't worry about it. He's entitled to his opinions."

She let out a small laugh. "Yeah, but he's not entitled to be rude to my boyfriend."

"I can handle it. Besides, I'm just glad you're not interested in him."

She raised an eyebrow. "Interested in him? Why would I be interested in Alex?"

"I don't know. He seemed pretty into you."

"Believe me, that ship sailed a long time ago.As I have said he's been trying for years, but I've always declined. But it's not like it matters now. I'm with you, and that's all that matters."

As they entered the house, Mark noticed that Aunt Lida was in the kitchen, cooking up a storm. The aroma of fresh herbs and spices filled the air, and his stomach grumbled in response.

"Welcome home, you two."

As they stepped into the house, the inviting aroma of herbs and spices wafted from the kitchen. Mark's stomach growled in anticipation.

"Welcome home," Lida greeted, stirring a pot on the stove.

"What's cooking?" Mark inquired, peeking over her shoulder.

"Pasta with meatballs."

Mark grinned at Ria. "Ah, your favorite dish again."

"Hey, pasta is delicious and versatile. What's not to love?"

"You're obsessed with pasta. Are you ever going to get sick of it?"

Ria laughed and playfully nudged Mark in the side. "Never. Pasta is life. You should know that by now."

"I guess I should start expanding my pasta repertoire."

Ria grinned up at him. "Oh, don't worry. I'll teach you all my favorite recipes. You'll be a pasta expert in no time."

Lida chuckled at the exchange. "Well, I know you both love it, so I thought it would be a good meal for tonight."

Mark and Ria smiled back at Aunt Lida before heading to the dining room to set the table for dinner.

As they sat down to eat, Lida asked, "So how was everyone's day?"

Mark spoke first, "It was pretty good, We had a guest speaker come in to talk about start-ups and it was really interesting."

Ria nodded, "That sounds cool. What did the he say?"

Mark launched into a detailed account of the guest speaker's talk, discussing the main points and how they applied to his own business ideas. "How about you, Aunt?"

"Oh, just keeping busy with my herbal remedies. I've been working on a new batch of healing salve."

"That sounds interesting."

"Yeah, I've been studying a lot about natural remedies and healing methods. It's amazing what the earth can provide. What about you?"

Ria nodded in agreement, "I've been working on my computer graphics project all day. It's coming along well, but I still have a lot of work to do."

Mark interjected, "That sounds cool. What are you working on?"

"It's a project for my design class. We have to create a digital animation of a fictional character. I'm really excited about it."

Ria took a bite of the pasta and closed her eyes, savoring the flavors. "Wow, Lida, this is divine."

Lida smiled warmly. "Thank you, dear. It's always been one of Mark's favorites, and now it seems like it's yours too."

Ria nodded, taking another bite. "Definitely. I don't think I'll ever get tired of this," she said, her words punctuated by a sigh of contentment. "This is without a doubt some of the best pasta I've ever had. You're a wizard in the kitchen."

Lida chuckled. "I'm glad you both enjoy it."

Ria added, "You should start a cooking blog or something. Your recipes are too good to keep to yourself."

"Oh, it's just a family recipe. Nothing special."

Ria took another bite and let out a satisfied sigh. "This is seriously so good. I could eat it every day."

Lida smiled, "Well, you're always welcome to come back for more."

As they finished their meal, Lida cleared the table and Ria and Mark helped with the dishes.

"You know, Lida," Ria said as she dried a plate. "I've been meaning to ask you for some cooking lessons."

"Of course, dear. I'd be happy to teach you. Just let me know when you want to start."

Mark teased Ria as she heaped more pasta onto her plate. "You're really going to eat all of that? I think you're going to turn into a meatball at this rate."

"Hey, I had a long day, and this pasta is just too good to resist."

Lida shook her head and scolded him in a stern voice, "Now, Mark, you be nice. She can eat as much as she wants."

Ria playfully stuck her tongue out at him. "You heard her."

"Alright, alright. I'll stop teasing you, pasta queen."

"That's right, you better." Ria replied as she kept on eating.

As they ate, Ria couldn't help but think how lucky she was to have found such a welcoming and warm family in Mark and Aunt Lida. It was a stark contrast to the cold and distant relationships she in her coven.

As they finished dinner and were cleaning up, Ria noticed Mark had a habit of tapping his foot incessantly.

"Hey, why do you keep tapping your foot like that?" Ria asked

Mark looked down at his foot and grinned sheepishly. "I don't know, I guess it's just a nervous habit. Sometimes I don't even realize I'm doing it."

"Well, it's cute in a weird way. Maybe we should start a band and you can be the percussionist."

"Yeah, maybe. But I don't think I'm good enough for that."

After finishing the cleaning, they both went to the living room and cuddled on the couch while watching a movie. The warmth of each other's company made them feel content and safe.

As the credits rolled, Ria yawned.

"Time for bed?"

"Definitely," she agreed, taking his offered hand.

In the quiet of their bedroom, Ria snuggled close. "Goodnight, baby."

"Goodnight, Ria," Mark whispered, flicking off the light. Together, they drifted into peaceful slumber.