I gulped awkwardly. My mother had said it so gently. Even splendidly, perhaps. It was the first time I asked my mom directly about dad. She would spill out some details when I was younger. But to ask her directly was a whole different story. I was curious. And I needed the answers.
"Can I meet him?" I suddenly asked. Her eyes were filled with anxiety. Its depths were revealed. And I knew that it was not a good idea to poke around that topic this early. But I needed to push her buttons. Things were at stake.
"You can't." Mom said as gently as she possibly could. Her gray eyes seemed to shimmer. Tears welled up in them. "It's much more complicated than that. I promise I will tell you when you're older. But for now, you won't be able to understand how it works. It's a bit painful even for me that you are already starting to ask questions."
But I was unamused. "Until when do I have to wait?"
"I don't know." She admitted. Her lips quivered, and almost pouted. Something was up. I knew it. "That's a dangerous thing to ask, Nikki."
And I was impatient, too. I wanted answers as soon as I could. And the quickest way is for me to help the woman in dark robes. She was simply waiting deeper in Death. There was some sort of conflict within myself that I could not fathom. My train of thought was not welcoming.
"Dangerous, how?" I asked again.
"In many ways more than one." Mom simply stated. And I didn't like the fact that she was being very cryptic. Not one bit. "I don't want you to meet him. Not yet. Only when the right time comes. It's just too early for you."
"But can you at least tell me how you met him?" I persisted. Clues would be useful. I'll somehow find connections. But if I don't. Then that would be a big problem. "Please don't hold that away from me, at least. I am sorry if I just had to peek my nose in such things."
She sighed and sat on a chair opposite me. "I was in Italy back then."
If my ears could twitch like cats when they hear something, it would've. My curiosity was starting to get answers. And I wouldn't want to miss any details. Not this time. "Why were you in Italy?"
"It's a really long story, Nikki." Mom sighed. "I don't want you to know the kind of work I was exposed to before. You're too young for that. But I will tell you when you are older. When you are someone who can make his own decisions."
"But that's gonna be a really long time from now!" I protested. I frowned at her. But at the same time, I knew she won't give what I wanted. "You just kept giving me cliffhangers!"
"I'm sorry. But patience is a virtue." She simply smiled. It was so warm and bright for me that her gray eyes sparkled. But only to my eyes. A dead end. "So anyway, we met at a dinner party. It was a really wild night for both of us. And his eyes, they were so blue. Shining, shimmering, and splendid."
Just like how my own eyes were when I am in Death. It was another piece of the puzzle. At least I have something that came from my father. Whoever he is. My otherworldly powers were also proof of that. It could mean that he knows more." How could you fall in love with one meeting?"
"You'll see it when you're older. I keep imagining you when you fall in love." Mom giggled. I scratched my head with a blush was on my face. I knew because my cheeks felt warm. And I learned about love. But for me to be under its spell is a different story. "When you stare love in the eye, you will simply know that person is the one for you."
"Yeah. Sure. Then he left you. He's definitely the one for you." I grumbled.
"Now, don't disrespect your father." She just smiled again. "He was kind. But his line of work wasn't. Too bad he had been doing that job since like forever! No wonder he couldn't keep me company for more than one night."
"Then?" I leaned in closer.
"One thing led to another. Then we made love. And that love is you." She flashed a warm smile as usual, and I made a disgusted face. "And that's how I knew that he still loves me."
"That sounds gross." I muttered. "So was he tall? Handsome? Muscular? Fat? Hairy?"
She just giggled at my emotional outburst of vague imagination. "Stan was rather dashing when I saw him. Your father wore a black coat that night. His hair was wavy like yours, and he had the bluest of eyes. There's no way you wouldn't look at him again."
"Mom, please." I groaned. "Could you please skip the cheesy parts? I am not comfortable."
"Then how will you know more about your dad?" She asked. One of her brows were raised. It was a check. If she pulled off a better move, then it would have been checkmate." It's what you wanted."
"I don't think dad is always this cheesy, is he?" I scrunched my nose. Sure, there were clues. But there were also unhelpful details. I was starting to regret that I asked. "And those aren't the details I'm after."
"I'm really sorry, Nikki." She apologized. "But you have to understand that you're too young."
"I know, mom." I quipped back. "But I really want to know more about dad."
"What sparked your curiosity anyway?" My mother defended. "You barely asked anything about your dad before, and yet there is this sudden passion regarding his existence."
I gulped. I can't tell anything supernatural to my mother. She would definitely freak out if she knew. I felt the Nyxian Blade was about to appear anytime. At the worst possible moment. I tried to calm down because it quickly responds to threat.
"Nothing." Nikki said with almost a whisper.
"See? There is no solid reason behind it. You'll understand those one day, Nikki." She replied. It was with a dismissive tone. If I pushed further, then it would end in a fight. Her tone was a challenge. And if I took her on, it was a checkmate. "Anyway, why don't you go back to your room. I still have some things to do around here."
"Okay. But promise me you'll tell me more of those one day. I want to know more about dad. I need to." I gently glared at her. "
"Sure. Just remember that there is the proper timing for everything. Don't rush things. Or else you would just end up hurting yourself or others." She calmly stated. I grumbled, but I had to obey her. Otherwise, means punishment. I went to my room and closed the door a little bit too loudly. It was to show her I wasn't amused.
The next day, I got ready for school quicker than usual. It was time for me to confront Mr. Evans regarding the death of Miss Schwartz. It would be better if I confronted him alone. There was no way I would involve my friends. Especially Otis and Phineas. I could feel the danger in Mr. Evan's eyes. He was more than being just a teacher.
As expected, the two of them met me on the bus. A usual morning our trio. Otis' smile was shining brighter than it used to. It actually annoyed me a little bit. But I rebuked the feeling and focused more on how to confront their teacher. Phineas noticed this. The intensity in my eyes was far darker. And I knew because his face wasn't amused.
"Hey, Nikki." Otis started. "What's with that look on your face?"
"Nothing." I muttered. "Just a bad morning."
"Did you and your mom argued this morning?" But I was silent. It was those moments I hated. When both of them pry into my personal affairs. I just shook his head and still said nothing. "So, what's your problem?
"It's no use." Phineas butted in. "He won't tell us anything."
"Yeah." Otis nodded. "You're being secretive lately. That's not like you at all."
"It's nothing, guys." I sighed. "No biggie. No big deal."
"If you say so." Otis did a hands up. "We'll be here for you if you need us."
When the bus stopped at our school, the three of us stepped down. Then I faced them. I made sure I glared at them. It was as if I was preparing for a fight. "I'll see you later."
I went straight for the faculty room near one of the science laboratories at the west wing of our building. A teacher just went out of the room, so I talked to her and asked where Mr. Evans was. She just pointed at the door and told me to feel free to get inside. So I saw the opportunity and went in.
There were no teachers nearby. Only desks and papers were passed by the students. There were markings on some of the movable blackboards and would probably be used in their lessons. It would remind me of the time when I was sent to the faculty to retrieve some papers.
But I wasn't in the faculty room anymore. The room became darker. The walls went colder. And there was a sinister aura all around me. There was this heavy feeling in my chest. Almost enough to make me heave for air. With a simple flick of my hand, the Nyxian Blade was quickly summoned in my grip.
I turned around to see Mr. Evans behind me. His hair had turned silvery white. The faintest hue of blonde in it was gone entirely. He seemed to get paler as well. The dark stare in his eyes was grimmer and scarier.
"I knew it." I gripped my blade tighter. "You are no normal person."
"Ah, yes. The Nyxian Blade. Always willing to protect its wielder." Mr. Evans said stiffly. "I still am wondering who could've given you such gift. Frankly, I say to you, I am quite jealous.
"It can't be." I gasped. "You're the man I saw in Death."
"Don't sound too surprised." He said. "Deep in your head, you knew. But you didn't listen to your instincts. There are a lot of things that will naturally come to your realization."
"I don't think I felt that." I admitted. Then I glared at him. Like before, a dark aura was being evident on his skin. "But, I could've seen through your disguise if you faced me that night."
"You're supposed to be clever, Nicholas Ellison." The man snapped his fingers. Then I was surrounded by black flames. I was in the middle of a circle of it. My teacher was still on the other side. There was no heat coming from the fire. It was even cold and had a chilling effect on my skin. What's more, is that it was similar to the flames of the woman in robes. "If I was an enemy, then you would've dropped dead on your knees. Like you, I can at least travel back and forth in your realm and in Death."
"Just who are you?" I roared. Then with a bit of an effort, I raised my blade. Ready to strike. Both of my hands gripped tightly. But he was unfazed. Not a single movement. He was as still as a calm sea. There were no signs of agitation on his face. His onyx eyes were piercing through me.
"I'm an ally of Death." He declared.
"No." I said calmly. "You don't belong here."