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Whumptober Day Two: You try and backstab me?! (I'll just have to stab you first)
Varian had had all sorts of crazy dreams over the years.
From fever dreams to crazy nightmares- oh, and that one time where the creepy ghost girl (that just so happened to be a crazy demon of Zahn Tiri) snuck into his dreams and told him the secret for the final incantation and gave him slight phasmophobia.
But none of these could compare to the dream he’d had last night.
The room seemed to go on forever in all directions, bookshelves that looked like they were reaching for the heavens and tables covered in beakers, open books and papers with scribbled notes scattered around the room.
“Where am I?”
“Varian!” He turned around and saw a woman standing in the center of the room, (or…maybe he was in a library?) Her fiery red hair was barely contained to the top of her head in a messy bun, her teal dress rumpled like she hadn’t changed in a hot minute… she looked familiar, but from where?
She cupped his cheeks in her hands “Oh my son, you're as beautiful as the day I lost you…”
Wait, son?!
“I wish I had the time to tell you everything sweetie, but this spell isn’t going to last much longer and I have to warn you of this” she started pacing around the room, snatching books and papers in a frenzy.
“Wait M-mom, if you could have talked to me- talked to Dad all this time… why did you wait ‘till just now?!”
He followed her, thinking she would stop and look at him for a second (Y’know, considering this was their first time meeting in 18 fucking years!) but she just kept grabbing and tossing random books and papers frantically.
“I’ve only just harnessed enough power for this, the Library is really doing everything it can to keep me- all of me- trapped in this hell… but that doesn't matter right now”
“S-so what did you mean, a warning? What are you warning me about?!” She turned to face him, eyes wild and frantic with the jumble of papers slipping from her arms and to the ground “
Hugo isn’t who you think he is. You can’t trust him Varian, don’t let yourself get hurt again”
He woke up in cold sweat, fear and shock trembling through his bones.
What the hell was that… Did… did he just meet his mother? Like, for the first time, and was the only thing she bothered to say was “Hi child I haven't seen in almost 20 years, your best friend/ kinda crush isn't who you think he is!”
Isn’t who you think he is…
Isn’t who you think he is…
Isn’t who you think he is…
The words kept ringing in his ear, embedding themselves into his mind. Did this mean… was Hugo going to betray him?
No no, that would never happen! Hugo was his friend- his best friend, he wouldn't…
You’ve been betrayed by friends before… who’s to say it couldn’t happen again…
No. This was what happened with Cass, she let herself be manipulated without any actual proof and it all went to shit. His friend wouldn’t do that to him, Hugo wouldn’t do that to him.
Besides, how could he know that was actually a vision of his mom? The weird dream was probably just a side effect of the new sleep tonic he’d taken earlier.
He was a scientist, and scientists couldn’t make any conclusions without having solid evidence. He was just gonna go back to sleep (AKA go work in the lab until dawn) and move on with his life in the morning, he just needed to ignore it.
Just ignore it.
Turns out “just ignoring it” wouldn’t work. The weird dreams, well they weren't just a one time thing. They came almost every night, changing a bit each time with what he and his mom would talk about but always ending with the same terrible terrible sentence “Hugo isn’t who you think he is… he will betray you!”
And yes, he tried just not sleeping to avoid the dream but he’d either crash and burn the next night from exhaustion (and drain his coffee supply during the day) or Nuru would make sure he went to bed.
Hugo had also started acting more and more secretive after each trial, he knew he was hiding something. And he didn’t want to believe what it was…
With each new dream and the day they would finally enter the Library creeping closer, it was growing painfully obvious that his mom might be telling the truth.
He sighed, pushing the thought aside as his head hit the pillow. He had to get some rest for when they opened the gates tomorrow… and after all, why loom over the thought when his dreams would just do it for him.
The room was messy and slightly dark- like usual- and his mother was sitting his her favorite chair on the far side of the room, next to one of the many crowded bookshelves and a fireplace.
She was looming over a book, reading furiously and constantly pushing back strands of her red hair that had escaped her bun.
She didn’t seem to notice Varian was here and was just mumbling some gibberish under her breath and she scribbled down notes so he went and gave her a light tap on the shoulder, she flinched but soon smiled when she saw his face.
“Oh Varian! How are you pumpkin?” After many times of doing the spell that let her into his dream, Ulla sometimes couldn’t tell the difference between this and the real world.
“Hi mom, we finally completed the trails and are opening the gates to the Library tomorrow” Her face lit up and she slammed the book she was writing in closed.
“That’s wonderful!” she held his face in her hand, an action Varian had grown very fond of over their visits. “I can’t wait to finally see you- really, see you- again… and, Hugo?”
“How many times do I have to tell you Mom! He’s not going to betray me!”
He couldn’t decide whether he was saying that for her to believe it… or for himself…
For her… definitely for her…
She sighed sadly and her eyes said she was pondering what to say next “I really hoped I wouldn't have to show you this… but you’ve left me no choice”
Before he could ask what his mind started flowing with visions
A young Hugo…stealing for Donella and saluting for her…
Hugo taking the fire totem and handing it over to Donella…
Hugo joined their team once Donella ordered him to…
Hugo, copying each and every one of his notes and hanging them over to Donella
Hugo sneaking away from camp to report to Donella
Hugo…
Hugo…
Hugo…
He awoke in cold sweat… but this time instead of fear, he felt only anger.
How could Hugo do this! This must be why Donella always seemed to know their next move, why she was always to step ahead no matter what Varian did! All because of Hugo…
I told you…
“What do I do now Mom?”
Get him first!
A dagger that he didn’t remember leaving on his windowsill gleamed in the moonlight and without thinking, he grabbed it and ran.
Hugo’s room was empty, nothing there but the small sleeping figure of Olivia.
The woods, go to the woods!
Running through the dark woods he felt an evil and strange sence of anger surge through him, it didn’t even seem human, he’d never felt anger like this- not even when his father got trapped in the amber.
But it didn’t matter, all that mattered was revenge…
He found Hugo leaning on a tree, and his blonde friend traitor jumped when he saw Varian, clearly not expecting anyone else to be there at two in the morning.
No one but your boss, you lying rat!
“Goggles, what the hell are you doing out here so late- well more like so early I guess”
“I could ask you the same thing Beanpole” A nervous look flashed across Hugo’s face but it was quickly masked by his usual casual demeanor.
“Well I-”
“Don’t even try and hide it, he- I know everything”
“He- what are you talking about Var? And what is going on with your eyes?” Varian’s leg flew towards Hugo’s stomach, knocking him to his knees with several choughs.
“What the fuck!”
“You’re working for Donella, you were going to betray him!”
Hugo’s face went white, how did he know… and what was going on with his voice, and his eyes. His eyes seemed to be glowing.
“My son has been hurt by people like you for far too long… I won’t let Donnie win again”
Donnie? As far as he knew only one person had ever had the guts to call his boss by that name…Varian, who wasn’t acting like Varian, pulled out a dagger and used it to point Hugo’s chin up to face him.
His eyes were definitely glowing with an evil electric blue that were not the eyes Hugo had grown to love…
“It’s a shame though… my pumpkin did really love you, but after this it won’t matter. We’ll be together again, I’ll finally be there to protect him from traitors like you”
He felt the knife pierce through his scream and a sharp cry ripped through his street. Blood was staining his clothes and pain was radiating through his body.
He crumpled to the ground begging for Varian to snap out of it, to help him! But his love only grinned evilly and wiped the dagger with his cloth.
“Oh and if my Donnie finds you still alive, say hi for me, won’t you…”
THANKS SO MUCH EVERYONE FOR YOUR SUPPORT! 8c8
I really appreciate you guys, I could never stress this enough! Anyway I should get started on commissions,
WITH ONE LAST THANK YOU, I BID YOU ADIEU! ywy