The Return of the Hades

Lavinia

3

As the rejuvenating essence of the Dragon Blood Bodhi tree coursed through Darien's veins, he felt a resurgence of vitality he hadn't experienced in what felt like lifetimes. The once crippling poison that had threatened to consume him was now merely an annoyance, its potency fading against the newfound strength the Bodhi extract provided.

 His gaze met Lavinia's, her vigilant eyes betraying the fatigue from a night spent guarding his recovery.

"How do you feel, sir?" Lavinia asked, her voice laced with concern.

"Rejuvenated," Darien responded, his voice carrying a timbre of renewed vigor. "The Bodhi's essence... it's remarkable. The toxins are receding, but the battle isn't over. I still need to find the remaining herbs."

Lavinia's eyes lit up, a reflection of her relief. "We'll find them, sir. We've overcome worse odds."

Darien nodded, a determined set to his jaw. Yet, as he observed Lavinia, a faint shimmer in her aura caught his attention. His prophetic abilities, dulled by the poison, now offered him a glimmer of insight—enough to sense the turbulent paths that lay before them, though the visions were clouded and incomplete. He could see the future of others through his eyes, but he can only vaguely observe the general direction of the distant future.

For example, if a war was about to break out, He could predict who will win. But the specific method of victory and how many soldiers were sacrificed were unpredictable. But what would happen in the next three days could be clearly predicted.

But now he seems unable to fully see Lavinia's fate, possibly because the toxin has not been completely eradicated. So he couldn't see that Lavinia was very tired because she had been highly concentrated all night, and she was too happy because he had regained her sight.

Suddenly, Lavinia swayed on her feet, her exhaustion catching up to her. In a moment of weakness, her knees buckled, and she stumbled forward. 

Without hesitation, Darien reached out, catching her in his arms. "Lavinia!" he exclaimed, startled yet steady.

"I'm... I'm all right," she murmured, her voice a whisper. "Just a momentary dizziness."

Darien guided her to a nearby room, his concern evident. "Rest now, you've earned it."

As he left the room, closing the door behind him, Lavinia's eyes fluttered open. She hadn't been entirely truthful. The dizziness was an act, a ruse to test Darien's reflexes, to see the care he'd offer her as more than just a subordinate.

Lavinia lay there, a faint smile on her lips despite her feigned complaint. "Sir French, always the soldier... but lacking finesse in nurturing the wounded," she whispered to herself, her voice tinged with both fondness and frustration. "You've saved nations, yet you're oblivious to the care needed for one heart."

After a few minutes, Darien walked into the room, and his gaze fell upon Lavinia, who appeared to be in a faint. "Lavinia, there's no need to pretend," he stated calmly, his voice betraying a hint of amusement.

Lavinia's eyes flew open, and a blush colored her cheeks. "Sir French, you... you are teasing me!" she sputtered, a mixture of embarrassment and playfulness in her voice.

Darien chuckled, his eyes sparkling with warmth. "I assure you, your acting skills need refinement, my dear Lavinia." Infact, Darien did not use his abilities.

As Darien prepared to embark on the search for the remaining medicinal materials, he stepped outside and was taken aback by the unexpected presence of Cersei Smith, his ex-wife. Her arrival had eluded his visions, a stark reminder of his inability to perceive his own destiny.

Cersei approached him with an air of coldness, her eyes filled with accusation. "Darien, why did you strike my brother, Bennett?" she demanded, her tone cutting through the air.

Darien met her gaze with a steady look. "Cersei, you know as well as I do that your brother's actions were unwarranted. I acted to protect what is mine."

Cersei's facade wavered, a flicker of uncertainty crossing her features. "You always have a reason, don't you? Always the hero, the savior," she retorted, her voice tinged with bitterness.

Darien's expression softened, a glimmer of sadness in his eyes. "Cersei, I never sought to hurt anyone. I only wish to set things right, to protect what matters."

 Cersei lingered, she couldn't suppress the turmoil within. "Darien, you can't fool me with your righteous facade," Cersei spat, her accusatory tone deepening.

Darien sighed, "Cersei you didn't even understand the reason why I did it, but you came here to accuse me. How great of you." 

In fact, Cersei had the answer in her heart and wanted to confirm that Darien's previous gentleness was just a disguise. "I was sure that, this whole time, he was just pretending, this guy is vicious!" She thought bitterly.

Her composure cracked, her anger seeping through. "Stop pretending, Darien. You can't keep harassing my family to get my attention. I won't remarry you," she declared, her words laced with finality. At this moment, Lavinia Luciano walked out of Darien's room.

As Lavinia walked out of Darien's room, Cersei Smith watched with a mixture of surprise and disdain. She had never expected Darien to be with a woman, and she certainly hadn't anticipated that woman to be as stunning as Lavinia. Cersei had always listened to what her mother and brother said about Darien's lack of charm, and yet here he was, seemingly captivating Lavinia's attention.

"How could he possibly charm a woman? Is this some sort of joke?" Cersei muttered to herself, her disbelief evident in her voice. And when she laid eyes on Lavinia's beauty again, a pang of jealousy shot through her.

"A woman like her, with someone like Darien? Unbelievable," Cersei scoffed, her thoughts filled with incredulity and envy.

Lavinia's sudden appearance and stunning beauty stirred a feeling of intense jealousy within Cersei. It was a rare sensation for her, given her own striking appearance, but the fact that Lavinia seemed to compete with her only fueled her jealousy even more.

"She can't possibly be interested in him. What's the catch?" Cersei muttered, unable to shake off the unsettling emotions swirling within her.

Before she could voice her thoughts, Lavinia marched toward her and delivered a resounding slap across Cersei's cheek, shocking her into stunned silence.