"Hey, Ben..." Eli whispers.
They are arranging the books again before the library opens for afternoon visitors. Ben has his earphone in while playing 'July by Noah Cyrus.' Eli sighed and poked Ben to get his attention.
"What?" Ben mouthed as he takes his earphones off.
"I had the weirdest dream," Eli whispered. She wasn't able to get a nice sleep since it was bugging her that she seemed to have forgotten something that happened yesterday.
"About what? Ghosts? Vampires? Beasts? Come on, you're reading them 24/7."
Eli stared at Ben with a straight face. She knows how much he hates these stories, but she needs him to know.
"Alright, what?" Ben rolled his eyes and leaned by the bookshelf. Since he's the only friend Eli has in this city since they moved two years ago, he's been Eli's living journal. He knows everything that happened to Eli and he can't get out of his job as her best friend.
Eli excitedly took a deep breath before telling him what happened, at least Ben's here to listen to her.
"...but I can't remember anything!" she told what happened in the most detailed way possible.
Ben just stares at her for the whole time and decided to turn his back, "Boring. You must've been tired," he said before leaving, "Finish your work."
Eli looks puzzled, Ben would normally ask more questions about what happened to her, but he just concluded things and left.
"Ben," Trace called, "Can you run an errand for us?"
Ben pilled the borrowed books yesterday and looked at Trace, "Why not?" He sounded not pleased, but he's not saying anything against it.
Trace noticed something was off, Ben would normally decline if he was told to run an errand that was not related to working in the library. His stare bugged Ben and he stared back at him.
"Is it about a girl?" Trace asks with a teasing smile with his brows moving up and down.
Ben didn't say anything and just took the paper Trace was holding, "Where should I get these?" he asks.
"In the grocery in front of the movie theater," Trace answered as he watches Ben leave.
"Did something happen?" Trace asks Eli who appeared from arranging the books.
Eli raised her shoulders, "No idea."
Trace and Eli just watch him close the door. Ben is not the type to say anything unless he has or wants to. He's quite the introvert. His mouth only starts blabbering if it is about medical topics which none of them fancies.
Ben went out and stopped for a while. It's been bothering him. He also had weird dreams about Eli, but it was different. Everything was weird. It happened years ago with their fancy dresses and things.
He kept on dreaming about screaming Eli's name before passing out. He can feel a sharp pain in his stomach whenever he screams her name. She was crying in his dream. She was scared. Then, when he looks up, he can see a monstrous appearance that slowly takes his look. The creature slowly began looking like him. Exactly like him that Ben screams before waking up.
Whatever it is, he promised to keep Eli safe.
"Hey, Macky," Ben greeted when he saw Macky passing by him. The kid looks down but he beams a smile just like Eli would do.
"Ben!" Macky smiled, "Where are you going?" His voice sounded like he did not even looked down earlier.
"Grocery. Trace made me do his work again."
Macky was silent for a while, "Can I go with you? I came from the candy store but my favorite candy's still out of stock." He pouted and made puppy eyes.
Ben frowned, bringing a kid to a grocery store will cost more expenses but he slowly grinned, Trace will have to pay for it anyway.
"Why not? Let's go," Ben held Macky's hand and they went straight to the grocery store.
He took the things written on the list, while Macky bought chips and sweets. Ben even helped him picking the expensive ones.
While they were walking back to the library, Macky stopped while munching on his chocolate. He looks blank.
"What happened?" Ben asks.
Macky sighed, "Can we stay there for a while?" he pointed at the playground.
There are a few kids around since it is class hours. Ben stared at Macky and it's obvious that he's not feeling well. Macky's similar to Eli, he's cheerful and noisy, but now, he's silent.
'Why is everybody weird?' Ben asks himself as he walks back to Macky, "Alright."
Macky smiled and rode the swing. Ben sat next to Macky with the groceries on the ground. They were silent for a while. They watch people pass-by for a few minutes before Macky decided to talk. Eli's usually the one he consoles, but now his boss' younger brother's in his list for counselling.
"I have an important person. She's like my big sister," the kid began, "but lately, I..." his voice cracked as his tears suddenly gush out. He silently cries while wiping his tears with his sleeve.
Ben doesn't know how to comfort kid, and he just let Macky cry for a while. If this was a dude, he'll probably tap his back or invite him to drink.
"...and lately... I can't remember her name or her face." Macky said.
Ben let Macky take his time before speaking. Eli doesn't like being cut-off when she's being too emotional because she'll later forget what she's supposed to say.
"I think no one notices this, but Trace and the others seem to forget who she is. We only keep on calling her something, but no one, not even, uh, Taylan, her husband, said her name."
Ben wrinkled his brows, he can't catch up on what is happening. How can a husband forget his wife's name and appearance? He did not say anything but whatever Macky's saying is really weird.
"I know you're asking who's Taylan. He's like our big brother. He arrived yesterday."
Ben shook his head, "Taylan? I didn't notice anyone arriving." They were there early but he never saw anyone unfamiliar in the library during their duty.
"He's blond with gold eyes--" Macky immediately covered his mouth.
"Golden eyes?" Ben interrupted.
"I mean, his eyes are like gold. It shines but it's just light brown, you know..." Macky tries to get out of the mess he made but Ben shakes his head.
"That's not normal. He should get his eyes checked." Ben suggested before standing up. "Maybe something happened that made you forget your big sister. It's a coping mechanism, but if she returns, I'm sure you'll remember her again."
Macky nods, even though it is not a coping mechanism for her death, how come everyone seemed to forget who the Queen is? How she looks like, what's her name, how her voice sounds like and, how she smells like?
Ben took Macky's hand, "Let's go back. They're waiting."
Eli was about to leave when Ben and Macky went back to the library. Trace scolded Macky and Ben for buying more than what was needed. She was laughing but a familiar kid waves his hand outside the library.
"Kid?" Eli whispers and went out.
The kid was walking away from her, but he continues to look back at her. Eli ran to him and caught up with him in a street where no people are passing by.
"Why are you running away?" Eli stopped to catch her breath.
The kid smiled at her, "Because Momma wants to see you!" He said while jumping in excitement.
Eli frowned, "Momma?"
A familiar lady appeared before her. Her silver hair, pale skin and... gold eyes, made her lose her breath, making her pass out.
"Momma! You fainted!" The kid pointed at Eli, "What happened, Momma?" he ran to Eli while looking at the lady, "Momma, what did you do to yourself?"
The lady smiled, "Don't worry, my darling. I'm fine. She just absorbs some of my power when she saw my eyes."
"Didn't she see your eyes yesterday, Momma?"
"She didn't. It was the normal color like yours, my darling."
The kid nodded, "Then will Momma wake up?"
"Of course, I'll wake up."
The lady bends her knees and brushed Eli's black hair, "I miss this color."
"Momma, what is Daddy's hair color?"
"Hm... It's a similar color to your hair, my darling. He's blond as well."
"Will I be reborn when you meet Daddy?" The kid asks with a soft and weak voice.
The lady frowned. If she wasn't killed that night. Their son is playing with Macky right now. From what she can remember, she knows the murderer. She knows who killed her, but everything is still blurry.
It's been two years since she awaken along with their son, but it was just yesterday that her reincarnated self saw them. It only means Taylan's awake.
"You will be, my darling. Don't worry. Once I get my powers back-when the Eliora that is alive now- gets her power back, your Daddy and I will be sure to give birth to you, darling."
"Then, how will you get your powers back? Do you need to make your hair silver? Momma has black hair now, and your eyes are brown." The kid plays with Eli's hair while she frowns as she wakes up.
"No, your Daddy has to find Momma first."
"Will we help him?"
"Yes, why not?"
They still can't locate where Taylan is, nor can she remember who were her guards, it will be hard, but she has to find her King or else he'll die soon. They must've hidden their powers to avoid the enemy finding out where Taylan is, and it is sure that they are already looking for her.
Eli sits and saw the lady and the kid waiting for her to wake up. They look happy when she woke up.
"What is happening?"
"You slept!" The kid answered, "Are you sleepy?" His voice was so soft that Eli can't help but get her heart melted.
The lady was smiling at her softly as well, now that she notices, they look alike except for her hair color and skin.
"Wait... your eyes were gold!" Eli exclaimed.
The lady and the kid tilted their head, "Gold?" they both asks.
"Yeah. It was gold and it was beautiful."
The kid giggled, "Momma's eyes are brown like yours, and like mine!" he pointed at his eyes, the lady's eyes and Eli's eyes.
She still can't absorb her powers for now. Taylan has to drink her blood first in order to give her the strength to carry a Queen's blood, for a while she'll have to have human blood. It will be hard for Taylan to find her without the scent of Queen, but it's for her body. She'll die if she take up all the power with a human blood.
Eli frowned, she was sure that the lady's eyes are gold. Suddenly, the lady reached out her hand with a smile.
"Let me help you get up," she said.
Eli felt insecure, she looks like her but it seems like they are different. Her hair's longer, she's a hundred percent more beautiful and she's more lady-like.
"I should get my skin lightened and dye my hair," Eli whispered.
"Call me E," the lady said as Eli gets on her feet.
"I'm Tram! It's my Daddy's name but we cut it short!"
"It's nice to meet you two. I'm Eliora, call me Eli for short."
E smiled while Tram jumps up and down in hearing his Momma's name. Eli forced a laugh when she suddenly thought why she's talking with strangers in a secluded place. She might've been kidnapped or killed already if these two are murderers, but it is more weird talking to someone who looks exactly like her but is more beautiful.