“Magic has a price, are you willing to pay it? Luca?”

That is what his great-grandmother had said when he had showed an interest in magic.

Oh how luca loved his ‘price’…

_ _Luca, a man with black ebony hair and sapphire like eyes, came from a family of mages. Spellcasters. Healers. Poisoners. Herbalists, and a few necromaners. No one in the Mori family ever had a patron or a deity. Making Luca the first warlock in memento city.

To Luca, the deal seemed beneficial. Selling your soul via a marriage contract? Killing two birds with one stone.

There were rules however, made by the creature.

_Ruled one: the marriage contract would not be fulfilled until Luca was of age. _

Rule two: Luca would not see this beings face until he was freed from his prison and when the contract was fulfilled.

Rule three: no suitors. As the creature would be watching over Luca, so no harm comes to him.

Three rules. Three simple easy rules. ‘Seems easy enough’ thought the six year old Luca.

Fourteen years later….

Luca carefully stepped down onto the old mossy stone stairs. His hands gracing the dirt walls of the cave as he ventured further. It had rained the previous week, the stairs slick and wet and the walls muddy. Luca could only hiss as he dug his pale boney fingers into the dirt as he slipped, catching himself before he fell. The long skirts of his black robes soaked with dirt, water and bits of moss.

“Blasted creature…” he uttered, his posh sophisticated thick with annoyance “Didn’t bloody warn me how much trouble this be..”

He took a deep heavy breath through his nose, ‘this is for the contract..’ he began his decent once more, his fingers now darkened with dirt.

He ventured down, stone step after stone step, huffing in annoyance after every near slip, the dirt walls slowly turning into stone. He came across a large opening in the single passage. The cavern was large, full of lush thriving greenery. Water droplets falling to the stone ground creating an echo.

Sat in the cavern stood a small mausoleum. Vines from the lush greenery wrapping around the stone like fingers wrapping around a neck. Luca’s feet took him forward without much of a fight. His black flats wet, crushing any plants in his way. Through the gates was a cracked mossy tomb, showing its age. The gate opens with a rusty loud creak.

Luca felt lighters when he touched the tomb. Like a weight taken off his shoulders.

The room grew cold, despite the warm day. Goosebumps formed on Lucas skin as a voice filled his head..

“Hello darling”

Pink eyes bore into his blue ones. He was indescribable. The creatures form twitched and slithered as it spoke once again.

_ “How you’ve grown. I remember you could barely reach my knee when we first met..” _it chartled. “You remember our deal, don’t you?”

Luca could only nod, he was left speechless. His tounge felt swollen in his mouth.

“The marriage contract…” Luca mumbled, finally finding his voice 

_“Yes, what a good memory you have.” It chuckled “you must give me at least one heir now that you are of age. I promissse to treat you well, little husband.” _

Luca said nothing, silent as a mouse.

_“Call me Markus.” _

“_…_Luca”

_“Well Luca, let’s head home to get this deal underway” _it responded, giving a sharp toothed grin. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

With that dear readers, is how the infamous Markus and Luca Mori met and married.

I stared at the red liquid as it swished around my glass impatiently; the food grew cold as the minutes ticked on. I huffed before taking a sip of the wine. I sighed, my worries and anxiety making the red wine tasting like a thick sour and tart syrup, I grimaced at the taste before setting down my glass. The silence was starting to get to me; ‘Where is she? She said she’d be home after dinner.’ I huffed, starting to become worried. I bit my lip as I took another sip of wine, trying to drown my worries. It’s been two hours since dinner ended. My ears perked up as my wife walked through the door. I stood up immediately, worrying clear on my face. "Are you okay, my love?" I asked, watching as she took off her heels; Her hair was messy and dishes, her dress slightly wrinkled, her makeup was slightly smudged. She rolled her eyes but gave me her sweet honeyed smile. Gods, how her smile makes me weak... "I'm fine darling, I just went out for a few drinks with Mark." she replied, gently caressing my cheek. I sighed in relief, leaning into her hand, knowing she was safe with my brother, "thank the gods.. I was worried," i had mumbled, "You worry too much." She remarked, abruptly taking her hand off my cheek. "I only worry because I care." "Yes, but you care too much, darling." She plucked a cold biscuit from the table as I stood there, gazing at her. She made a displeased face at the scold biscuit before she santured off to the bedroom to turn in for the night. I couldn't help but sigh, feeling a terrible feeling in my chest and gut. 'What did I do wrong?' I thought before I downed the rest of the thick red wine, following in my wife's footsteps to turn in for the night. Unable to stop feeling like something was a miss...

I look down in fear of the water below. I struggled to hold on to the grassy cliff, I held my breath trying not to be seen. I froze when I heard grass crunch as if it was being walked on; the footsteps got closer and closer. I bit my lip trying not to cry. I looked up terrified at the silhouetted figure stood above me. It looked side to side, it almost looked down when police sirens rang through the air making the figure scurry away. I let out a sigh of relief as it left, I pulled myself up with little strength I had; police and Emts surrounded me as they hauled me onto a stretcher. The world slowly faded to black as I glanced at the ashes remains of my house; I woke up in a hospital hooked up to machines with bandages covering my burned body. After that everything is a blur.

Two girls laugh as they run in a field, their hair whipping in the winds. They danced recklessly in the fields without a car in the world; both held much love in their eyes and their hearts. The girls ran and danced paying no mind as the ground shifted beneath them; the ground became soft, almost fragile in a sense, almost like a butterfly wing. The ground cracked and snapped as it widened; almost as big as a river. Water rushed forward, it’s strong waves taking both of the girls. As if they were merely toys to the waves as their bodies were flung around in the waters; the girls cried for help but no one came; not even the people in the near by village heard their screams. Soon enough the waters wrath came to an end, but not with out a price; there the girls laid, only a few feet apart; their pinky’s barley touching as they lay there; no movement, not a single breath uttered from the girls. There the lovers lay together in their last moments on this mortal plane; hopefully meeting in the after life; maybe even meeting in another life.

I don’t see what others see. People say I have an amazing gift; That my tears are sent from the heavens. When I look in the mirror, I see a young royal with a curse. A curse that makes me valuable to others. I could only stare as golden tears run down my cheeks, leaving small stars in its wake. This is my curse. It’s something that makes me “Valuable” to others; they want to use me. To sell me. My tears hot, still a starry, shimmery gold. I don’t see what others see. When I look in this mirror I see a royal that was fooled by love; used by others. I won’t let that happen again. When I look in the mirror I see a ruler; a ruthless ruler that won’t let ANYONE use them again. When people look in the mirror all they will see is me.