The Space In Between Chapter 10
Disclaimers: This is a work of fiction. Any similarities between the characters in this story and real people (appearances, names, etc.) are purely coincidental. This story may contain homosexual material, including love and sex, so if material like this is illegal in your region or if it discomforts you, please leave.
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The Space In Between - Chapter Ten
"Uly," Mark's voice greeted jovially.
Ulysses swiftly turned around and was met with the sight of his beautiful... with the sight of Mark. Mark was dressed head to toe in the familiar grey material with no trace of skin or hair in sight. Mark, though, touched the fingertips of his right hand on his face. The grey material floated away from Mark's head and slowly dissipated into nothing.
Mark began, "How are--" but was cut off by the flinging of a bolt of lightning. Mark drove his fist upward to the sky, deflecting the bolt. "It is delightful to see you, too, my love."
Ulysses performed a series of really quick and wild teleportations, firing a bolt of lightning each time he landed. Ulysses had flung a total of thirteen bolts at Mark from all sides. Mark, however, flung his arms out to in, deflecting each bolt to each of the officers aiding Ulysses.
"Ulysses," Mark said with a chuckle when Ulysses finally gave up his assault. "Can we not talk about this? Must we resort to violence?"
"Markus Jeffrey Lillico, you have been classified a mass murderer. I am here to arrest you. Please come quietly, with no resistance. And you will be unharmed."
"I have a better idea," Mark rebutted as he strutted toward Ulysses. "I will remove memories from your mind so you forget that we were involved, that you even met me, that I exist. And then, I will continue my endeavour to conquer the non-magical. I will continue my massacre and enslavement. I will continue to be ruthless, show no mercy."
Ulysses swiftly created a spark in the air and flung fire at Mark. The flames licked at Mark's skin before he could create protection and teleport the offending fire. Mark laughed at the horrible sight of his scorched arm and then shook that arm. Before long, his arm was healed and the grey material was repaired.
Mark smiled sweetly at Ulysses and asked, "Shall I show you how an assault is properly executed?"
Ulysses crouched into a defensive stance and the air around him shimmered with nearly invisible protection. Mark thrust his hands out before him, and within moments the tiniest of grey clouds formed in a semi circle around Ulysses. Crackling rang through the air but then a second later a dozen bolts of lightning struck the invisible shield around Ulysses. A second later, a dozen more bolts struck the shield, which made Ulysses grunt with effort. A second later, a dozen more, which dismantled Ulysses' shield. One of the bolts found purchase. Ulysses went careening, groaning in immense pain.
"Ulysses," Mark tsked as he crouched down beside the witch. "Son of Kiri. You underwhelm me. When I first learned of Kiri the Endless, I was intimidated, I found myself wondering how she would deter my plans for the witch community. And then I learned that you were her son. I knew I had to use you somehow. And, alas, here we are."
Angry, Ulysses fired a teleportation at Mark, who was unprepared. Mark disappeared and Ulysses flung a lightning bolt to his left. The bolt struck at the very moment that Mark reappeared there. Mark laughed as his body convulsed for a few moments. Ulysses sent over a particle that created a wave of numbness over Mark's mind, and the man became motionless.
Ulysses turned toward The Guard and announced, "Arrest them all!"
Chaos ensued as Ulysses telekinetically grabbed Mark and teleported the two of them to the palace. There, in the corridor leading to the prison cells, Ulysses requested a Queen's Guard officer unlock the main door. At that very moment, Mark's eyes flew open and he flung slashing curses at Ulysses and the Queen's Guard. For a fleeting moment, Ulysses writhed on the floor, groaning, to which Mark took advantage. Mark flung dozens and dozens of slashing curses at Ulysses. As Ulysses was in too much shock and pain to do anything else, Mark strutted down the corridor, firing spells and curses at any officer he saw.
Minutes later, with a hundred dead officers in the corridors, Mark walked into the queen's office.
"Queen Sofi," Mark greeted jovially with a bow. "How wonderful to see you again. And you, Kiri the Endless. How do you do?"
Queen Sofi telekinetically grasped an old wooden chair in the corner of the room and splintered it into a million pieces. She flung those splinters at Mark, which hit an invisible barrier. A millisecond passed before Kiri ignited a flame in the air and fired it at Mark. Mark swiped his arm side to side, deflecting the offending flame. Queen Sofi then multiplied hydrogen particles in the air a billion times until a stream of water surrounded Mark, which continued growing until he was engulfed in a giant sphere of water.
"Prevent him from teleporting!" Queen Sofi commanded with a fearful urgency.
Somehow, Mark was able to move himself in the spinning sphere of water until his head peaked out of the side. He smiled at the two witches, menacing and threatening.
"You really are formidable forces," Mark admitted with awe as his magic carried him out of the spinning sphere. "I will give you that. Now, are you ready for a real assault?"
Mark remained hovering midair as he held his right hand out. He created waves of ultrasound meant to deter Kiri and the queen, but Kiri fired a particle at Mark. This particle nearly hit its target but Mark created a shield. The particle exploded violently, which sent Mark flying through the air and crashing into a wall.
Laughing as he stood, Mark said, "You are quick."
Queen Sofi flung fireballs and lightning bolts at Mark, while at the same time Kiri fired slashing curses and explosive particles. Mark expertly blocked, deflected, and teleported every assault, essentially destroying the queen's office. Mark laughed maniacally as he continued to block every spell and curse. This angered the queen and Kiri, who doubled their efforts. This became too much for Mark for he was hit by a lightning bolt. Stunned, he fell to the floor. Kiri immediately bound Mark in grey rubber material from neck to toe. This material was magic-resistant for Mark tried cutting it with slashing curses, lightning bolts, flame, and particle separation.
"That was intense," Kiri stated with a dark laugh. "You, Mark, are a very, very gifted witch. How could I have not noticed this about you? But, alas, the queen and I have you bested.
"Markus Jeffrey Lillico, witch from area twenty-nine, you are hereby sentenced to spend the remainder of your days in suspended animation. Upon your death, you will be cremated with your ashes then forged into a single crystal. Should one hundred witches--"
Kiri's breath left her body out of fear and shock upon seeing Mark's head eerily turn to face her. His pupils dilated and retracted a dozen times. Queen Sofi's face went slack, her eyes distant. She trudged over to Mark's bound body, appearing lifeless.
"Queen?" Kiri said in confusion. "Sofi? Sofi Bauer!"
It was as if Queen Sofi had no consciousness. She crouched down beside Mark, pressed her fingertip to the top of the grey binding, and slide it down his body. The bindings sliced open and fell away.
As he stood, Mark said to Kiri, "It appears that you have not heard of the conscience control spell. Pity."
Queen Sofi's eyes blinked rapidly, she quickly realized that she had done something with no memory, and heated the air around Mark. Mark smirked at the queen, winked at Kiri, and teleported away.
A few moments later, Ulysses ran into the office and demanded, "Where is he? Are- are either of you hurt?"
Ten Months Later...
Ulysses teleported into his apartment and sent a wave to flick the lights on. He grabbed the front of his officer uniform jacket and pulled, which dissipated away from his body. He did the same to his uniform pants, and then fell onto his sofa. He closed his eyes and inhaled a deep, slow, meditating breath.
And then his phone rang. His eyes flew open. He slowly sat up and grabbed his pants. He fished the cellular device from the pocket and his eyes widened at the name that was displayed. Markus J. Lillico.
"Mark?" Ulysses said when he accepted the call. "S'that- s'that really you?"
"Hi, Uly," Mark's voice said back with tearful relief. "How are you- how are you doing?"
"I..." Ulysses began and he rubbed his tired eyes. "I'm fine. A little exhausted. Why have you called me?"
Ulysses heard Mark sigh before he answered, "I just wanted to hear your voice. Is that okay? You can ask me to never call you again. I promise I will understand."
"Mark," Ulysses said with clear exhaustion. "You don't... This is all so confusing. You are the most wanted witch on the planet. And I'm an officer of The Guard."
"And yet here we are, speaking as if we're still in love. I am, in case you were wondering. Still in love with you, to be clear."
"And I you," Ulysses stated easily. "But that will not deter me from arresting you, Markus. You are a ruthless, mass-murdering maniac. You must be stopped."
Mark sighed on the other end of the phone before he responded, "Now that you have made your feelings clear, let me say that I will forever regret that we are on opposing teams on this status issue. I love you with all of my heart. You have been amazing to me, showed me all the affection and adoration that you had in your entire being. I will, as long as I live, carry your flame in my heart."
A tear cascaded down Ulysses' cheek as he replied, "I love you, too, Markus."
Ulysses laid his cell phone down on his chest and wept. Tears fell from his eyes like waterfalls. His heart, which was already broken, now felt completely shattered. His emotions ran wild, rampant, which caused magical particles to shoot at random from his core. These particles caused irreparable damage to the objects that they landed on, shattering vases and photo frames. Books exploded into billions of paper shreds.
On a whim, led only by impulsiveness and longing, Ulysses teleported. He followed the familiar tingling in his heart, and was met with the sight of Mark standing before a giant window, gazing out a field of green. Mark immediately noticed his guest and took a defensive stance. Mark, however, relaxed when Ulysses could not fight his lip from trembling. Mark rushed over to the ageless witch and enveloped him a warm, tight embrace. Ulysses convulsed as he hugged Mark back, and buried his face in Mark's neck as he cried. Mark pressed his lips to Ulysses' neck and held them there.
Mark whispered, "I miss you."
Ulysses straightened his stance and looked down at Mark. He placed his hands on either side of Mark's neck and held his gaze, affectionate and caring. Mark stood on his toes to share a sweet kiss.
"You should go," Mark stated softly.
Ulysses stroked his thumbs on Mark's chin as he replied, "I still feel that I have to arrest you."
"I know," Mark said back, understanding, while holding Ulysses close. "I wouldn't expect that to change. And I will remain fending you off."
"Surrender," Ulysses begged. "Your defeat is inevitable."
"I love you, Uly. Always."
Before Ulysses could formulate a response, he felt the push and pull in his body's cells, and found himself back in his apartment. Despondent, he walked upstairs to his bedroom and climbed into bed. He did not remove his clothing, he simply draped the blanket over himself and closed his eyes.
I hope that you are enjoying this series so far. I have been working on this series for about two years, it is so new to me. Listed below are my other works of fiction if you are interested.
Car Radio
Connected
Do Not Go Gentle
Near Wild Heaven
The Other Half of Me Unknown
A Quick Fall
Some You Give Away
Somewhere a Clock is Ticking
Strawberry Wine
Tearing Me Apart
You Call It Madness
You Don't Mean to Hurt Me