Serenity
A sweet and warm tingling sensation roused me from my sleep. I smiled at the delicious feeling but froze as my eyes met a pair of round amber ones. Dime sat on the bed as he stared at me, lying on the carpet surrounded by cushions. A warm and overwhelming force swirled around us, encasing us. Forgetting my protesting and aching body, I sat up and saw his lips parted slightly as if taking in a sharp breath. A strong sense of longing filled me, as if I've been waiting for this moment, but it wasn't enough. There was something else, something more I yearned.
I saw the same feeling written all over Dime's face. Our eyes never left the other, even as he moved and stood from the bed. His head and chest wrapped in a gauze, though the fabric to dress the wounds did little to hide his muscles and abs. My mouth went dry when the black loose pants he wore slipped from his waist and clung to his hipbone.
Dime knelt on one knee in front of me and I gasped at the strong current that flowed from his skin when he cupped my cheek. His eyes were soft as it searched mine. "Dime..." I didn't recognize my own voice as it sounded so needy and too soft to be mine. His lips quivered at the sound of his name and I saw him swallowed hard before lowering his head closer to mine. The current of force became even more intense and I was drawn to him, as if hypnotized, as if spellbound.
"What the fuck is going on?" I didn't know when Kota came but Dime and I just stared at one another as if deafened by the force that surrounded us.
"No!" I stood on my feet when Dime was pulled away from me.
"Yuki, hold Serenity down! I'll take care of Dime." I struggled away from Yuki when she started to drag me down.
"Let me go you son of a bitch! Don't you dare touch her! I will kill you, I swear." He said then pushed Kota away.
"Calm down! We're not going to hurt her or you. Just calm down! Please. You'll both put us all in danger." But neither Dime nor I calmed down. I fought my way towards him and he did the same.
"Nee-san! Serenity, please calm down." I pushed her away and she landed on the ground butt-first. I took quick strides towards the two men fighting but even before I could get any closer, Yukino pulled and tackled me down on the ground. Wow, she's a lot stronger than I thought.
"Let me go, Yukino!"
"I can't, I'm sorry. Not until you've calmed down." I tried to push her away but she put all her weight down to keep me from standing up.
"There's no way I'm going to let you have Micah again!" I stilled as soon as I heard that. Realization felt like freezing water splashed over my face, and dismay came afterwards. I shut my eyes tight and mentally cursed. What the hell was I thinking?
"It's okay Yukino, I'm fine." Slowly and hesitantly she let me go. I stood up and saw just in time as Dime punched Kota straight in the face. Kota landed on the ground and Dime came running towards me, like a knight in shining armor—or the knight in bare chest. He imprisoned me in a tight embrace and I felt his fear and grief.
"Micah, are you hurt? Did they touch you?" his voice trembled as he run his hands run up and down my back and waist as if trying to assure himself that I'm really here—that Micah's here. But she's not. I am.
"Dime." I said caressing his bare back to calm him down. But the feeling of his skin on mine did otherwise for me.
"Yes, I-I'm here Micah. No one will hurt you, I won't let them." Gently, Dime departed himself from me and I saw his torn face that said he hated to let me go. I sighed inwardly, Micah whoever you are, you're one lucky girl.
Our eyes met once again. "Serenity, please. Enough of this, you'll give our location away." Kota said as he stood up and though confused I nodded.
"What the hell is this man talking about? Who is he? Where are we Micah? And why is he calling you Serenity?" I averted my eyes from his and though I didn't see, I heard the familiar sound of confusion in Dime's voice. He tucked soft curls behind my ear and I caught his hand in mine.
Twice I opened my mouth to speak and on the third time I took in a deep breath. "I-I'm not Micah." I looked up at Dime and saw his thick brows drawn together. "We met yesterday, do you remember?" He nodded. "And I told you my name was Serenity. Not Micah."
He blanched as realization dawned on him. His voice croaked as he spoke. "N-no! How can that be? You are Micah. You're her! I can't be wrong. Please, don't do this to me. I know I made a mistake but don't do this, please." Dime pulled his hand away from my mild grip and raked his crimson hair.
"I'm sorry but I'm not her." I said almost in a whisper. I wish though that I am her.
"Dime, please just calm down. Sensei will be here in a moment, she'd help you." Yukino said and helped her brother to stand up.
"Help? What help?" Dime spat on the words as he looked scornfully at Yukino and Kota. He couldn't seem to accept the fact that whoever Micah is, is already dead or is she? Dime grabbed my shoulders, desperation etched on his face. "Micah, please. Who are these people? Why are we with them? Let's just go. I-I promise, I-I'd keep you safe. I won't let them hurt you again."
I looked at Kota and Yukino to ask for their help but they apologetically avoided my gaze. Well, so much for being friends. Guess it's just me then. I swallowed hard and met Dime's eyes. He looked hopefully—too hopefully at me. "My name is Serenity. I—I was the one you spoke with through your mind yesterday and the other day. I was from Babylon. I've dreamt about you but yesterday was the first time we, um, actually met." For a few seconds, Dime just stared blankly at me, though I know a battle is going on inside him. Just like me.
But why did he keep on saying that I am Micah? Do we really look the same? I can't remember having a twin sister—oh my God! Maybe I had one but could it be possible that my parents sold her too like they did to me?
Well, I don't think I could ever get an answer to that. My parents are already dead.
A sudden gush of enlivening force made me realize that Dime had kissed me. He stilled for a moment and I knew he felt that too. Just when I thought he'd release me, his kiss deepened and his hands pressed and caressed my waist. No, it's not like how he did earlier. It's not as if he's trying to convince himself that I'm here—or Micah—well, whatever. It's something more, something dangerous but for some odd reason, I liked it. And I wanted more. A spherical force encased us, just us. Kota and Yukino has already been forgotten.
I feel the same feeling of taking the Guardians' lives and though it scared me, I didn't stop. My hands found thick soft tresses and Dime groaned as I tilted my head to give his tongue a deeper access to explore my mouth. An intense hunger filled me and though inexperienced, I kissed him back. His kisses changed, uncertainty filled him and as expected he stopped. Slowly and gently he departed himself from me. Dime swallowed hard and I caught a glimpse of devastation in his face before he shut everything that would give away all that he felt.
The world spun around me and my knees buckled. Dime caught me before I hit the ground. "I-I'm sorry. Are you okay?" I looked up at him and saw nothing in his blank amber eyes. What was he sorry for? For kissing me? For mistaking me with someone else? Probably both.
"Y-yes, I'm fine." I wasn't, but I said otherwise so he'd take his hands off me or else, I might just do something I'd regret later. Dime didn't believe me, though. "I-I said I'm fine."
As if taking a cue, Yukino came to take me from Dime. Just then did I notice Rosario holding on Kota's arm. He looked pissed and worried at the same time. "When did you get here?" I asked as soon as Yukino had me settled on the carpet. Dime kept his back on us.
"Couple of hours ago while you two were busy devouring each other's mouth." I ignored the sarcasm in Kota's voice but seriously, did we really kiss for hours? Was that even possible? I didn't even run out of breath.
"You silly boy." Rosario chuckled. "I only just got here."
I rolled my eyes at Kota and soon they settled in front of the fire. "We came running home because both your energies were surging through the entire woods—maybe even further. We can just hope that the Brotherhood won't come for us soon." Kota said, still pissed. I looked up at Dime who stood behind us and saw murder in his eyes. His entire body tensed with rage and fury.
"Dime." He shut his eyes tight and took in a deep breath as I called his name. "What are you, people? And why—"he clenched his teeth as his eyes found me. "Why does she look like Micah? And if she's from Babylon, then what is she doing in the woods with all those corpses?"
"Is that all? I bet you have more questions running in your mind than that." Kota chimed in.
"Nii-san!" Yukino cast Dime an apologetic look and glared at his brother.
"Just tell me what I want to know and I'd leave you all alone." Dime strode in front of the fire and settled himself there, his back on us.
"Well, where do I start?" Rosario said and smiled as if remembering something.
"Well, um, since you asked then I'd go first." I waited for someone to object but continued when no one did. "All Ethan and I knew was that I can hear thoughts and he—" I swallowed hard as I thought about him and felt guilty about kissing Dime back. Though he made me "remember" that he was my brother and that nothing romantic went on between us, I still feel like I betrayed him.
"He can control memories." Yukino finished off for me and I nodded.
"We were gifted. That was what we knew. But we—I never knew I could have this—this thing to inflict pain to people." I said and recalled how those men from Babylon screamed and writhed in pain.
"Well if that's what you're asking first then we'd better get to the history." Rosario said but I shook my head as if she could see me.
"No. You don't seem to understand. I just want to know how I managed to do that. How can I be capable of such thing?" I thought for a moment, and remembered my encounter with the Risen. "And how come the Risen can't harm us? Last night I was swarmed by them but I didn't even get any scratch."
Rosario sighed and stared in the air. "You see, dear no matter what you ask, it will always lead to what happened fifty or so years ago."
My eyes widened at that. "Fi-fifty—fifty years ago?" Dime straightened his back and I knew that caught his attention too. "You mean even before all of this started?" I said waving my hand. Rosario nodded and I stared at the three of them with skepticism. "And how did you even know about what happened back then?"
"Because I lived during those years." My jaw dropped at that. How I've always wondered about living back then! Now, I actually met someone who survived the "doomsday"—a survivor who wasn't a Babylonian. They never speak of anything. "No more side comments?" she asked grinning. Damn! She knew this would make me shut my mouth.
"Well, where was I?" She paused for a second, "Oh yes. Fifty years—but l want to tell you first the history of people like us. It was thousands of years ago...
There was once a huge family who can feel and control the forces around us and use it however they desired. And each one of them specialized in certain areas, like controlling memories, healing, seeing the future, hearing people's thoughts, creating illusions, seeing what others could see and many other things that were never listed on the record.
They lived even long before the prophesied birth of the Messiah. They were Wielders of Spirit. They control and connect with everything that possess energy.
The family of Wielders were gods back then, and people turn to them for help and were treated with utmost respect. It has been like that for generations. But as time went by, self-righteous people, one after another came and pointed their dirty fingers at those who had special bond with the nature. Seeing at how people turn to that family than turn to a God the religious spoke about, they felt threatened. Losing followers meant losing funds for their temples, so they made a way to make people despise them.
"They are witches! The evil ones who wields the power of demons."
"They are abomination in the eyes of God!"
It hurt the entire family that the people they helped turned against them, called them evil and even helped the the self-righteous to persecute them. Soon the family found themselves living in secluded places, away from the civilization. Never did they try to hurt anyone but people continued to hunt for them.
"We must drive out the demons that reside in their bodies." Said the man, bearing the strongest air of righteousness. He was the most glorious looking among them. He wore a white robe with lilac sash draped over his shoulders. But none of them understood. None of the powers those energy wielders held came from the devil.
That man named Leon, performed an exorcism but because no demon existed he failed. Perplexed by the fact that shook his faith, he became eager to learn more about this family, and to know more about their power. Leon's hunger for knowledge made him this family's valued friend. He even had a relationship with Gwenevere, the shy homebody seer. But as they got closer and more "intimate" Leon realized that he had adapted some of the powers Gwenevere has.
He started to feel the forces of everything around him. It amazed him so much that he yearned for more. But Leon's yearning for power turned into something ugly and hideous. He questioned everything he believed before and asked how God could have not given him that kind of power in the entire time that he served Him and gave it to those who never knew Him.
As soon as Cassandra, the fiery and brave one who can hear thoughts, heard Leon's evil thoughts and desires, she confronted the entire family.
"Gwenevere, how dare you keep this from us?! You knew all along and yet you let us trust this man?" Arthur said to his daughter while everyone sat around shaking their heads in dismay.
"Father, you must understand! I love Leon and I know he loves me back."
"Loves you?" Gwenevere's mother, Celseste spat on the words as she stared at her with disbelief. "Is this what you call love? That man would bring death to our entire family!"
"This is why I never told anyone. I knew you'd be like this—I knew you'd judge him just as how other people judge us!" The entire room grew silent, except for Cassandra who slapped her older sister.
"You fool! I know what I heard and I know it won't lead to a happily ever after for everyone. He's going to use you for his selfish desires. You put everyone in danger Gwen. And now he's got a piece of your soul, he'd be a greater threat to us. You knew this would happen and yet you let yourself be defiled by that greedy man!"
An immense wielding of energy reverberated in the entire room as the sisters stared hard at the other. Everyone was shocked when shy sweet Gwenevere spoke with such vehemence and conviction. "Yes, I knew this would happen but what use is my gift if I can't do anything to change what is about to take place?"
"Gwen, my dear. You could've changed it if you told us but it's too late now." Arthur took Celeste in his arms as she burst into tears.
"How is it too late, Mother? Leon loves me and I know his love for me will prevail."
Cassandra scoffed. "It seems like reading love stories has turned you into a hopeless love-sick fool. Open your eyes Gwen! I know deep down, you knew that we're right."
"No. I will prove you wrong, Cassie and you'd well remember to respect me. I am older than you!"
"Enough both of you!" Arthur's voice echoed in the room and the two girls fell silent and bowed their heads. "We don't know what kind of gift Leon would have but we have to take care of him soon."
"Father!" Gwenevere gasped. "Please, no. Don't kill him. I love Leon, Father. Give me some time and I'm sure—I'm sure he'd snap out of it. Trust me, please." Everyone in the room looked up to Arthur to make the right decision but his sympathy for his begging daughter got the better of him—or the worse of him.
No one knew what kind of power Leon possessed but as soon as he developed it, none of their gifts worked on him anymore. He led hundreds of people to persecute the entire family and soon they were all wiped out.
"Hold on, how does this story connect to the gift that we have right now? My parents clearly didn't have this thing. They sold me to the Brotherhood for it so—"
"They sold you to the Brotherhood? I thought you were from Babylon?" Disgust filled Dime's voice as he turned around to face us.
I nodded and avoided his gaze even before our eyes met, "Long story but Rosario's story seemed longer so, um Rosario?"
Rosario nodded but spoke first to Yukino. "I think you'd better prepare something to eat now, I'm starving."
Yukino pouted. "But Sensei, I want to hear the story!"
Kota pinched her cheek. "You've heard it a hundred times, Yuki. Come on, I'll help you." He said and literally dragged his sister to one of the curtained doors.
I caught myself smiling at them. "Silly kids." Even Rosario was laughing silently and Dime just stared blankly to who knows where. "Where was I?"
"Oh, I was asking you, how did the story connect with the gift that we have right now? Does this mean that we're all related here by blood?" I gulped at the thought. That would make Ethan my real brother and so is Dime.
Rosario laughed ludicrously at me, "Dear heavens no—" Dime cut her off with an anger filled remark.
"Well, can't you just tell us what we need to know? Get to the point and besides where do I fit in this? I'm not a freak like you."
Wow, freak. That's not the first time that word was thrown at me. I don't know why but I was engulfed in an overwhelming anger. "Oh, you're welcome mister high and mighty. We, lowly freaks are overwhelmed by your thanksgiving for saving your life back there."
"No one asked you to save my life!" He seethed and I felt something intense burned inside me.
"Serenity, no." Rosario's gentle hands felt for mine but she flinched as soon as her skin touched mine.
I shrugged and held my gaze to Dime's. "Then go up ahead and get yourself killed. Ingrate son of a bitch." Ethan wouldn't want to hear me cursing like this. Ethan. I miss him.
"Stop fighting you two!" Both of us chose not to hear Rosario.
Dime stood up and looked blankly at me. "Yeah, you should've just let me die there in the first place."
"Really, is death what you really wanted, Dime?" I said asking him the same question I've been asking myself.
"Don't call my name!" I arched a brow as his voice raised an octave. Kota and Yukino came out in an instant but kept silent when Rosario hushed them.
"I'd call your name whenever I want to, Dime." He tensed, his jaws clenched. I stood up and strode towards him. "Now what? Are you going to hit me? Go ahead, Dime."
"Don't push me." His chest rose and fell as he spoke through clenched teeth. It's as if he's restraining something, something frightening but I didn't care.
"Push you, Dime? Don't worry, I won't lay a hand on you." I gasped when Dime grabbed my shoulders and shook me.
"What do you want from me?! You're not Micah but you have her face, her body—everything! How much more torture do you want me to go through? I sit my ass there staring at my girl's face, aching to hold you—her but I knew deep down that she's dead, that you're not her and that nothing can ever bring her back!"
I pushed him away from me and slapped his face hard. Ow, my right hand.
"Wake up, you stupid jerk. You're not the only one who lost someone here. Each and everyone of us has their painful memories so stop being so cocky and try to get along with others! Or at least show a little gratitude."
Dime's lips curled in a smirk. "What does a Babylonian girl know about losing someone? Yeah, given that you may have lost someone too up there but it's different here. Deaths are gruesome here unlike in your ideal fantasy life in Babylon. We try to survive here each day. You know I think maybe it is better that you ended up here so you'd learn how real things work in real life. You look like you've been pampered for long."
I opened my mouth to speak but no words came. The bitter tang of hate prevented me from speaking. To think that I worried so much about this guy? I even threw myself in the middle of the woods, surrounded by both the Brotherhood and Risen. And how dare he say those kinds of things to me? He knew nothing about what I went through and I certainly knew nothing about his, but never did I look down on people who seem to have experienced lesser pain. Besides who are we to measure other people's heartaches?
I saw Yukino cupped her mouth, a horrified expression painted all over her face. Kota and Rosario showed nothing though. "Maybe you're right." I said as soon as I found my voice. "Well, I did live a luxurious life in Babylon where our table is always overflowing with food and maybe this is my punishment for taking all those for granted. Yeah, I wasted them away and now I'm sent here to meet the smug Dime to rub it in my face." He stared blankly at me. "Happy?"
I walked past him when he didn't say anything and headed towards the stone entrance. "How do you open this thing, Yukino?"
"Nee-san. It's dangerous out there, you can't lea—"
"You went out and came back safely, didn't you?" Just let me out of here before I burst into tears and embarrass myself infront of the King of Pain. Screw him. He has no idea what happened to me, to Ethan—to my Ethan. How dare he tell me that I deserve to lose Ethan? That I deserve all these?
"Yes, but—"
"Then I'll come back safe. I expect our story-telling to continue when I'm back, I just need to have fresh air you know? I can't stand the musty smell." I said trying to sound over-exasperated. "You see, we never lived underground in Babylon."
"Don't do this Serenity." Kota pleaded and I sighed as I searched a switch or anything that would open up the doorway.
"Let her go Kota, she'll come back." I heard a loud sigh from him as he headed the same room he and Yukino came from. The huge stone slid and I squeezed my way out.