The ritual was at it again and Perfida was like a living corpse on a chair, they didn't have to hold her down this time and the leader just cut what was left on her head then took some remaining blood in body but Perfida doesn't seem to really care, she learned to get used to these routine and carried her back to her room. As she got to her room, Dorothy was covering her arm with a bandaid then she looked at Perfida with that blank stare, "don't sleep first, my dear because we will be celebrating later", she said, Perfida was gulping inside, "let's wait for Lady Erza to finish".
"Okay", Perfida replied with her voice getting weaker, she was still wearing that lace antique dress that were covered with more of her own blood like she was a massacre then she dropped like a frail scarecrow and she felt like she doesn't have anymore time to stay alive at this hell of a cult, something tells her that she doesn't have much time left and that this is how her life was going to end and it will end bad then she started sobbing as she suddenly remembered her family, she then found a nail at the corner of the room just across her bed so she stood up slowly from her bed and took three steps like a zombie then took the nail and got back to the bed moved to the foot of the bed to get to the window, she looked at the sill then used the pointy end of the nail and started scratching the wood but actually she was writing her name on it but not only that she added 'is here'. After that, Perfida looked out the window and saw the two men was making another pentagram behind the abandoned house, Perfida can tell that that she will be included in to whatever the heck that was going to happen but that wasn't the worst part she saw, there was a also a hole but to be exact, a shallow grave near the pentagram, now she knew that was her unhappy ending, it would be a sheer miracle if there'll be a hero nearby this woods.
In Ares City, known for having a Space Agency called Ares Space Administration outside the area, everyone were crazy busy preparing for the conference at their function room because it was about to start, a boy named Holden Steen with the same age as Perfida, around a couple of months older that her, with dark latino skin, and black hair wearing a red shirt, cargo shorts and rubber shoes was just looking outside the window, there was a rocketship and he imagined himself being in one then someone came, standing behind him and put his hand on Holden's shoulder then he jolted and looked behind, it was his father, Capt. Hector Steen, a dashing man in his late thirties with a with black eyes, tan skin, light brown hair buzzcut hairstyle like any military man, he was tall, kinda well built wearing an airforce formal military suit, smiling at his son and he smiled back at him, "dad, can I go inside there?", Holden asked his dad pointing at the rocketship.
"Maybe, next time", Hector said to him.
"Come on, dad", Holden pleaded.
"It's not a car", Hector answered, "but you will, if you keep studying", Holden's face turned sour just hearing the word 'study'.
"Okay", Holden sighed.
"Come on", Hector chuckled, "let's go and get Ophelia so she and I can get ready for the conference", then they started walking away.
There was a laboratory, astronomers were busy working, some where on the computers and the others were observing at the big telescope that can help see whats in outer space and taking notes at what they saw, one of them was Dr. Ophelia, she was the twins mother and an ex-husband to their father, also in her late thirties with brown hair, golden eyes and light skin wearing a white lab coat like most scientist have over a blouse and pencil skirt with heels, she was with a young sixteen-year-old intern stood beside her with a clipboard in her hands named Morgan Mane, blonde long braided hair wearing glasses and white coat over what she was wearing, she seem to be living her dream to be an astronomer.
"Hmmm...Nothing seem out of the ordinary", Ophelia said, looking at the telescope then wrote it down in her clipboard
"Really?", Morgan quipped.
"Maybe except spaceships are on their way here for the conference party", Ophelia giggled.
"It must be exciting", Morgan said.
"It is, especially if they share their knowledge about their home planet", Ophelia replied as she turned to her.
"I wish I can be in that party", Morgan sighed.
"Believe me, you are not missing anything and also they will settle here, so you have more time to get acquainted with them", Ophelia reminded.
"Oh..right", Morgan remembered then Ophelia's phone buzzed.
"That must be my fiance", Ophelia said, "let's continue this on Monday".
"Oh! okay, no problem", Morgan said then she took her stuff from a desk, "see you next week, Dr. Spyro".
"Bye Morgan!", Ophelia said back to her, Morgan left the lab then another astronomer, Dr. Andy Lim, asian woman also in her late thirties, wearing a labcoat just walked in smiling at Ophelia.
"Dr. Spyro now, Dr. Steen later", Andy teased then sat at a desk with a computer then started typing.
"I'm still going to be Dr. Spyro even after I will marry Hector", Ophelia reminded.
"I know, I'm just excited that you are getting married in six month", Andy giggled.
"Me too", Ophelia giggled too.
"So does your daughters know that you're getting married again?", Andy asked.
"Of course, they're the flower girls", Ophelia answered.
"So how did they feel about having a step-dad?", Andy asked.
"They just accepted but Perdita doesn't seem to like the idea of having a blended family", Ophelia explained, "and they haven't met Holden yet".
"What? does Holden knows that he'll be having twin step-sisters?", Andy reacted.
"They are aware about one another", Ophelia answered.
"So what? they'll just meet at the day of the wedding", Andy joked.
"Of course not", Ophelia said, " besides, my daughters will meet me here on their semester break, it's great because we haven't spent a lot of time since the divorce".
"Will the ex-husband be there?", Andy asked looking rather worried.
"He'll just drop them off until the end of their break", Ophelia replied.
"Alright", Andy sarcatically said, then Ophelia's phone rang.
"That must be Hector", Ophelia said to Andy, "Hi! honey, I'll be right there. I just need to clean my stuff".
"No problem, I'm just gonna park", Hector said to her, Ophelia then was about to put down her phone then she saw she had a missed call from Apollo, she felt something was not right so she called his number, it was ringing but then it stopped, she was weirded out at this but then she took her stuff.
"I'll see you later at the party", Ophelia told to Andy.
"Yes, I'll be there", Andy assured her.
Ophelia, Hector and Holden arrived home just two miles away from the the ASA, Holden was in the living room watching some cartoons and his father and Ophelia were in the room getting ready. Ophelia was wearing a robe and just finished her make-up, she felt something was up, Hector just got out from the bathroom already wearing his best military style suit, "how do I look?", he asked her while fixing his blazer in front of a mirror at the other side of the room, Ophelia was too distracted to respond so he turned around to her, "honey?", she heard him and looked at him.
"Oh...I'm sorry, sweetie...", Ophelia apologized then got back to her room, Hector noticed her looking worried.
"Are you okay? what's wrong?", Hector asked her.
"It's Apollo", she answered, "he missed call me".
"Why?", he quipped.
"That's what I'm trying to figure out", she sighed, "he has my daughters, you know..".
"Calm down, I'm sure they're okay", he said, as he patted her back to comfort her, "did you try to call him?".
"Yeah but he's not answering, the call was actually about four days ago", Ophelia answered then it got her thinking, "that was when I was guest speaking in Brown University".
"He's probably just busy, I mean being a P.I and all", Hector thought, but Ophelia doesn't seem convinced then he looked into her eyes, "listen, if there is something serious, you know that he'll tell you".
"You're right, you're right.. he will", Ophelia nodded at him, "Maybe, it's nothing, I'll just go change".
"Okay", Hector nodded back, Ophelia stood and went to their walk-in closet. Hector was already downstairs putting on his black leather shoes while Holdon was still watching television and their housekeeper was preparing dinner then Ophelia came downstairs looking so radiant with her beige long pants romper with matching heels with pearl earrings and necklace and bangle and her hair was blow dried beautifully and a small clutch in her hand even Holden noticed that she look great, Hector was in awe just looking at her. Ophelia got down and Hector stood up then walked to her.
"How do I look?", Ophelia asked him, though she felt great.
"Beautiful", Hector said to her, his heart was beating so fast just standing in front of her, "can we move the date of our wedding day maybe after the party?".
"No...", Ophelia giggled and teasingly wagging her finger at him, "we have to wait".
"You look great, Ophelia", Holden interjected.
"Thank you, sweetie", she said to Holden
"You really look great", Hector admitted.
"Thank you", Ophelia said to him, "and you look very handsome, Captain".
"Thank you, my lady", Hector said imitating a prince charming, "Well, let's get going".
"Oh! right", Ophelia said, "we still have to still have to tests some equipment".
"Yeah... Holden, remember, bedtime at ten", Hector reminded his son.
"Yes, dad", Holden grunted.
"Alright, call us incase of emergency", Ophelia told the housekeeper also babysitting Holden while their gone, "bye, Holden".
"Bye, dad! bye, Ophelia!", Holden said to them. Ophelia and Hector were at ASA function room, going through some last minute detail for the conference party, "Okay, this is great, everyone. Good job", he said to them, "there'll be coming in tonight so get ready to change and fix yourselves up", everyone looked excited then left to get themselves ready, Hector looked at his watch then quickly walked out of the function room.
The conference party was about to start, four of different spacecrafts were landing on earth and reporters and photographers from around the world were crowding around behind the gaurds of ASA then they began rolling to be aired on television, there was the Ghax, humanoid aliens with blue skin, white hair with a tail and they wore mustard color long tunic then the Reqro another humanoid alien with purple skin, bald and big forearms, they wore a tight onesie that show their body figure after that, were the Phorzud they were one of those aliens with thin features but strong cheek bones, their skin was like thin rubber, and they have a parachute-like membrane that was connected from their wrist to their hips, they wore a white cloak with gold tassels by the hem and lastly the Livo, they are the hairiest among the other four, their fur was like bears, they are like orangutans that has long arms and short legs and a bear face and they don't need clothes, "We are live now here in ASA, Leaders from the planet Phorzud, Reqro, Ghax and Livo was greeted by world leaders around the world along with the Ares Space Generals right outside the Ares Space Administration to welcome them", the newscaster said, "this is really the start of a new era, this is finally the future".
Hector and Ophelia were standing just outside the administration by the entrance with the other members of the ASA, "Look at this, who would've thought that we will live peacefully with these aliens", Ophelia whispered with glee to Andi beside.
"Yeah, I couldn't believe it myself", Andi whispered back, four different spaceships just landed one by one.
"Wow! look at the size of that spacecraft", Ophelia expressed, "I can't wait for them to share their knowledge of advance technology with us".
"It is very impressive", Andi admitted, the four leaders were walking to them with two bodygaurds by their side.
"Here they come", Ophelia said to the members of the ASA. They aliens had a different way to say their hellos, The Rex were just a simple neck bow, The Phorzud put their right arm to their left chest then say their hellos, the Ghax waved their hand up like a beauty queen and lastly the Livians they do shake hands but with a light grip trying not to hurt the human hands. In the function room, everyone was in their seats and the ASA officials and that include, Hector were sitting by the platform facing the world leaders and they were having a live conference with the press starting to asking questions.
"As you all know, beings from four different planets are living among us, rest assured that they will be with us peacefully as they offer us their advance technology and powers to help us and live a new and better life", Hector said, "we have the Phorion from Phorzud, Rex from Reqros, The Ghax and the Liviens from Livo".
"So why do they want to settle in earth?", a reporter began asking.
"Earth is like a planet for the free, anyone can call earth their home", Ophelia answered, everyone nodded with understanding.
"Earth is a perfect place to stay, we Liviens can live in such temperature", the leader of Liviens said with a low voice.
"The planet's thin air can still give us the flight and breathing grounds that we needed", the leader of the Phorzud said.
"Ghax is too overpopulated so we Ghax needed to spread out and settle to other different planets", the leader of the Ghax explained.
"Our planet, Reqros is not a safe place anymore to stay", The leader of the Reqros stated, they spoke with a posh accent.
"What are these changes that we should expect?" a reporter asked.
"I wouldn't say that there'll be changes but improvements, such us infrastructures, transportations, medications and many more", Hector answered, "and our new friends can help us in return for letting them stay in Earth but as of know, they will stay in Ares City until we can iron out some details so that they can freely go to any parts of the world as they will".
"What can kind of help?", a reporter questioned.
"Well, we learned that some Ghax can heal, The Rex are very highly intellectuals so that means they can help advance our technology, Phorions are known for having bat-like wings and the Liviens are known for their super strengths, they'll be more than happy to help however they can to make the world a better place", Ophelia explained, everyone seemed to be impressed, Morgan was watching this in her television in her bedroom like it was the VMAs for her.
"How are they going to live among us humans and let alone to our children?", another reporter worried.
"We understand the concern and like what Capt. Steen said, they will be staying in the Ares City area only ", Commander Mills, also wearing an airforce military formal suit, he has light-skin, black eyes with a moustache and a dark brown hair said to the interviewer, "We will take this one thing at a time but we assure you they are not here to cause any problem but to live their lives like you and me", he then turned to the alien leaders and smiled at each other to show that they are very well acquainted.
"We are aware that this is all new to everyone of us especially to our children and he's right, this will all take time to get used to, I am saying this not only as an astronomer but as a mother, I have kids too, eight-years-old twin girls to be exact so if I can accept them here and all of you can too" Ophelia said.
"We are also building new hospitals, housings that we already built for our new friends that are suited for their needs just five miles from the south side of the administration so they can at least make themselves at home here on Earth", Hector mentioned, "that being said we are also working on building a school", everyone looked surprise and was whispering amongst each other. "We the Ares Space Administration want to present you the Ares Interplanetary Institution", Hector introduced then a life size hologram of this school appeared and the architecture looked circular with clear glass covering the building, the design does looked futuristic for a school.
"So this school? is it only for the aliens?", a journalist asked.
"Not only for young aliens but also to our children", Ophelia clarified, everyone got a lot more shock, "yes, they will go together with our children in their class".
"So what kind of education will this school offer?", another reporter asked.
"Ares Interplanetary Institution offers education for the K - 12, it still offers the usual subjects such as mathematics, sciences, history, english but we will introduce new curriculum such as interplanetary language and it will also be taught in grade school on how to read, write and speak basic alien language. AII will have also be thought by exceptional educators from earth and also by extraterrestial beings and that will make our young ones learn to be with aliens. Don't worry, we'll be having an Open House to tour you to have a better look at this new center of learning", Hector explained, everyone was amazed by this school.
"Since you have kids yourselves, would you enroll them with such institute?", a very poise journalist asked the everyone was looking at them with this 'are you sure?' stare, Ophelia seem to be hessitant speaking as mother yet as an astronomer, she still put her head up high in front of the crowd.
"Yes, of course, I am confident that they can provide my children with their teachings", Ophelia reassured her statement to the crowd and they were starting to trust her words.
"We are willing to share our knowledge to the children, I have them myself too and they will attend this place of education", the Rex said, "give us a chance to teach and we Rex can guarantee you that our teachings will help your children grow and have a promising future, we don't ask anything in return, teaching is more than enough to be an award", and the crowd seem really convinced.
"There we have it, this is exciting, a new school to educate the young minds in this new era, we are surely looking forward for this Open House in Ares Interplanetary Institution", the reporter.
Later the question and answers were at an end and everyone were just enjoying the party, aliens and humans were just formally getting to know each other and talking about the places that they live, Hector, Ophelia and Commander Mills were having conversations with the leader of Reqros and Phorzud, "thank you again for arranging such an event", said the Rex.
"Yes, thank you", said the Phorions.
"You are most welcome", Hector replied, "we are more that glad to show the world to get to know you and your people".
"Do you think humans will be alright to coexist with us?", the Rex asked.
"They will, they just need time", Ophelia assured them.
"I understand, doctor", the Rex said.
"Besides by this time, humans are a lot more open-minded now than we were about a hundred years ago", Ophelia said, "I mean back then they think science and medicine were all evil witchcraft methods".
"I see", The Phorion said back, "that is true, I suppose it is better to be in this time".
"We all have different beliefs and we just learn to respect that", Ophelia added.
"By the way, is it true that there are unseen beings living among us?", the Phorion asked, Ophelia, Hector and Comander Mills had no clue what he was talking about.
"I'm sorry, unseen beings?", Hector quipped
"I think what he meant was you human call it 'ghost'", The Rex clarified.
"Yes, that's it", the Phorion confirmed, The three of them finally understood what they meant.
"Oh no, those are not true", Hector assured them, the Rex and the Phorion gave a strange look.
"Is that so?", The Rex questioned.
"Yes, they are just made up things that are just seen in the TV shows and movies for entertainment", Ophelia added.
"Some humans still openly believe that there is but really, that's just nothing to go about", Hector said.
"I personally don't think those things really exists", Commander Mills said.
"That is good to know", The Rex relieved, "such beliefs are at times a nuisance".
"But I look forward to such entertainment", the Phorion said with excitment.
"Of course, of course", Hector answered and they laugh seeing the Phorion being so excited.
The conference party was over, janitors were starting to clean up the function room but some of the press are still interviewing an alien with a human with and photographers were taking pictures but not a lot of people are there. Hector and Ophelia were still in there, "that went great, don't you think?", she asked.
"Yeah, it did", Hector said, "to be honest I got nervous, good thing nothing went wrong.
"You were great, honey, especially, when you defended them", Ophelia said to him with a smile.
"I have to, the people should know that the aliens are not to be feared", Hector said.
"You did the right thing", Ophelia replied.
"We all did", Hector clarified to her then kissed her forehead then Andy and Commander Mills with a glass of an alcohol drink approached them looking happy.
"Good job!", Andy gleefully said to the couple, "I think you really gained their trust there, guys".
"We have to so that our new friends here can live in peace, it maybe the twenty ninth century but we still need to let the people know that they really mean no harm", Hector replied to her.
"Oh! please, after thinking that there's still such thing as ghosts, they sure to believe on what we just did tonight", Commander Mills scoffed and took a sip of of his drink, Hector and Ophelia chuckled and shook their heads.
"Ghost? what are you talking about?", Andy asked looking confuse.
"It's nothing, the Phorion was just asking about ghost if they really do exist", Hector explained.
"Ridiculous, right?", Commander Mills scoffed it again.
"They were just wondering, Mills", Ophelia defended.
"Yeah, and who knows, right?", Andy said.
"Don't tell me you, an astronomer, believe that there are ghosts", Commander Mills teased.
"Well, growing up my parents would talk about them and told us to respect them with prayers so maybe there are", Andy explained, "but hey... that was my life".
"It's still a bunch of nonsense", Commander Mills argued but Andy doesn't seem to mind.
"Mills... Ophelia is right everyone of us has different beliefs even if they sound a bit off", Hector defended, Commander Mills just rolled his eyes and took a sip of his drink. Later, the aliens just left and everyone just said their fairwell and climbed back to their spaceship then started to set off to the stars while their new home were still ongoing. Ophelia and Andy were sitting together at the seats that weren't picked up yet and were drinking champange while Hector and Commander Mills were still enjoying themselves with the other male members of the ASA.
"Don't take what Mills said to heart, he just had too much to drink", Ophelia advised to Andy.
"It's okay, those things don't bother me especially if what we're talking about was ghost", Andy laughed it off, Ophelia laughed it off too then Andy looked at Ophelia a bit seriously, "so is it true?".
"What? Ghosts?", Ophelia jokingly asked.
"No, the one that you're going make your daughter go to the school that we're opening?", Andy asked, Ophelia was taken aback at what she just asked.
"I would, I really would do that", Ophelia answered Andy directly.
"Did you just say that to prove the world that the school with extraterrestial being is a safe place?", Andy wondered.
"No, I didn't say that to prove anything to them in expense of my daughters", Ophelia said, "the second that it's done, I'm not gonna just pulled them out of their schools and dropped them off to AII just like that, I want them around but not like that unless they want to then why not? Apollo and I can talk about it".
"I have to admit, the co-parenting seem to be doing well", Andy impressed.
"So far he's doing more of the parenting, and I'm over here being an astronomer that I wanted to be, this is why I look forward to spend time with my daughters everytime they have their school holidays", Ophelia said, but there might not be time ever because what she doesn't know was her daughters were in a cruel twist of fate.