#lol not elaila getting neglected

[im-too-emotionally-involved]

And Then It Went Dark

It wasn’t the first time he’s done this. Erebos Ormskirk had been absorbing light for years now. And it’s slowly been making him sick. 

The first time it happened was a year ago during an ordinary performance. Nothing out of the usual, Lightstealing for the tourists, his wife weaving light into the mix of shadow and shimmer. And then pain. Searing, burning pain that started in his hands and spread to his chest so fast he had little time to brace himself. 

He didn’t fall, didn’t falter, but that was the day Erebos experienced true fear. 

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The second time it happened was worse. Erebos was working with Kieran on Lightstealing techniques just hours before, and he was sitting down and reading a book on  Oppakin history when the pain happened again. This time was different. This time he did falter. Blinding light blurring his vision, he tried to stand but he couldn't move. Pain drowning out all reason, he tried to yell, he tried to scream, but no noise escaped his lips. He was stuck in crippling pain and there was no one there to help him. 

It lasted little more than an hour, and he passed out five minutes in, but unlike the first time, this wasn’t something he could dismiss as stress and fatigue. 

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“I don’t know what this is Mr. Ormskirk. You probably just need to rest,” When Erebos brought himself to ask for a doctor, he didn't expect a ‘You just need to rest’, “This sounds like an over intake of light. Have you maybe been taking in more light than the Lightrocks can hold?”

Color drained from his face as realization sunk in. Every time he absorbed light, he had been killing himself. “Oh yes. That must be it. Good day Dr. Marrow. Thank you for everything.” Erebos stood up, signaling that it was time for the doctor to go. 

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Months later, and it had only gotten worse. Blinding blackouts had become a weekly occurrence, and he’d lost control of his power more than once. He’d sit down in a room, and it would go dark or he would try to Lightsteal and it would blow out of proportion. 

He was becoming dangerous.

He hadn’t told anyone about his loss of control, and the doctor was the only one who knew about the searing light running through his body. He did not want the public to know. He did not want his family to know.

He had stopped leaving his house in fear that people would see. He had started neglecting work and family. He had stopped using his power because every time he had, it made things worse. 

Fear and pain were growing together, and helplessness was joining the pair.

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“Erebos, you haven’t been present, and rumors are beginning to spread. I don’t know why you’ve been locking yourself in your room like an adolescent, but I do not appreciate it.” Nerezah was upset and he couldn’t reassure her. The truth wouldn’t make things better and neither could a lie. He just had to endure her wrath. 

“Nere, I have no explanation I wish to share with you at this moment.” The look on her face was enough to bring him to his knees and beg for forgiveness. But they were not in that kind of relationship, and he had a reputation to uphold. She turned away fuming and shut his office door harder than necessary. 

He sighed. He did not sign up for this today and his headache was bad enough already. And then it got worse. Pain seized him by the throat and panic rushed in. His whole body screamed give up, give up, give up. And he did. 

Darkness rushed into the room. He didn’t know how because he didn't absorb the light, darkness just formed. 

And then everything started shaking. Thing after thing came crashing to the floor and he didn’t know what because there was no light. 

He was trying to find the door to get to his family when the floor collapsed, and he fell through.

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Okay so this is a little backstory for the book I'm writing, and it was actually so fun to write.