"I am sorry. I know all of this is so sudden." He said, and for the first time I noticed he was actually genuinely upset about this. "It's true."
He came closer, and rested his hand below my neck, on the chest. My eyes sparkled as I felt my outfit change into something new, comfortable and warm. This was magic. He was magic. I always thought we lived in such a dryness of a world, such drought everywhere. But he proved to be the impossible. The water and the sunshine, somehow both at once. And there, he told me to follow him inside the perfect little cottage, also giving me yet another reason to thank him. It was annoying, the things he was doing but, at the same time, it felt good. And maybe, that's why it was annoying. I was not used to this.
I lied down on the single bed the cottage had in my room. Tiny little flowers and leaves were creeping up on the window beside my bed. Everything was clean and tidy unlike my room back at the house.
I closed my eyes, but I couldn't sleep. Of course, I kept wondering if whatever he was saying was true, because a human with pearl white shiny wings had no reason to lie. And as overwhelming as all of this was, it could be true. Until, I was hallucinating which I was pretty sure I was not, this all was true, that magic is real, supernatural powers are real, and that I had powers. Incredible. And that world was in danger. Unbelievable.
And this house, this place, where was I even? How could I trust this man? I knew nothing about this new world I just stepped in, out of no fucking where. I wouldn't be if this bed turned into a plane right now
Unreal. That's how it felt. I lived in a small trashed place, barely paying it's rent and my college's second year fee. I wanted to major in music. But the universe hated me from start and it fucked me up over and over.
I took major in music. Got what? It all got messed up, and the next thing I knew I was studying business which I had no fucking interest in. Well, that's what I got for dreaming, I dreamt, and it all crumbled down to ashes, all the pictures I had painted in my mind for future, crashed down, my heart burned with tears.
Now, I didn't even know what the hell was happening? What lay ahead? Would I be okay? Would I just die tomorrow? What if he killed me in my sleep? I mean, I did punch him. And my punch must've had hurt. I nodded, thinking.
God, I couldn't sleep. I got up from the bed, jumped to my feet, and tiptoed until I was outside because he could use magic, what if he heard me?
"You're not trying to escape, are you?"
My body jolted, as I immediately turned around, hearing his honey-like voice. He tilted his head, his expression serious, his eyebrows slightly downward.
"No," I said, averting my gaze. "I couldn't...sleep."
"Why?"
I scoffed, raising my eyebrows, "Because, Mr. Guardian, you have dropped a bomb on me. If I thought one more second, my mind would've blasted."
He walked to me, his gaze boring into mine, "Do you have any questions? You can ask, since I also can't sleep." He sat down on the ground, his movement smooth like butter.
"I have. But I don't know where to start." I said, my voice just above a whisper. I looked at his moonlit face, and he looked at mine. Well, this felt familiar.
"I'll start, then. You, Selene, have powers."
"Why?" I furrowed my eyebrows. "How?"
"Because you were born here, at a place few miles away from here, Granzy tower, we are from a special species of human."
"Do I have wings too?" My eyes sparkled at the thought of it.
He chuckled.
"What's so funny, idiot?"
"You have a very weird choice of questions." He stared above at the stars.
"Just answer the damn question, asshole." My eyes squinted on him.
"Stop swearing, and I'll answer question, dumbass."
I pouted slightly, "I'll try my best. But it doesn't help when you are at your best behaviour at being an asshole." I replied sassily.
His eyebrows came down, and he glared at me, "Well, you better get used to this, then. Or I can shut you up any time I want."
I gasped, "No!"
He grinned mischievously.
"No, no, no, no, no." I shook my head, "You are using your powers for wrong! Isn't there a book of magic law which stated that you should use magic for good?! I'll report you there!"
He laughed, "I wish there was. It'd be fun to watch who would go against me."
I scoffed at his self-obsessed form, rolling my eyes. "Of course, the all-powerful guardian thinks he's invincible."
He shrugged nonchalantly. "I never claimed to be invincible, just powerful."
I couldn't resist the opportunity to engage in a playful banter with him. "Powerful, huh? Well, we'll see about that,"
What was I doing? I wasn't even like this. But this was...fun.
He raised an eyebrow in response, a challenge glinting in his eyes. "Oh, really? Care to put that theory to the test?"
"Okay!" I said, "How about rock-paper-scissors?"
He looked at me for a second, and when he noticed I was serious, he burst into a fit of laughter. My lips curved up slightly, seeing him. Laughter looked so happy, beautiful on him. His eyes turned into little crescents, and his smile was full and wide.
"You choose rock paper scissors to see who has more power?"
"Well, I don't know how to use my non-existent powers, dickhead."
He chuckled, his laughter contagious. "Fair enough. Rock, paper, scissors it is." He extended his hand, "and by the way, your powers are not non-existent. You just don't know the spark to start the journey of your powers."
"And you know?" I questioned, my short black hair hitting my face from the wind.
"No," Our eyes locked, "But I'll help you find it. Now." He eyed my hand, and raised his brow with a smile, "Cowering out?"
"You wish!" I replied, squinting my eyes at him.
I mirrored his gesture, intertwining my fingers with his. The touch sent a tingle down my spine, but I pushed aside the distraction, focusing on the challenge at hand.
"On the count of three," I declared, a mischievous glint in my eyes. "One... two... three!"
We swiftly moved our hands, revealing our choices. I had chosen paper, while he had chosen scissors.
"Scissors beats paper," he declared with a triumphant grin.
"You must've used your mind reading power to defeat me." I said. Nobody beat me in rock-paper-scissors in the first round. No one.
"I don't have that power." He said with a smug smile.
As the rounds went on, our competitive banter escalated into a full-fledged argument, and we found ourselves engaged in a passionate debate about the intricacies of rock-paper-scissors.
He won every single time. He obviously had some kind of power. He was just denying it.
"You cheated!" I accused, pointing an accusatory finger at him. "There's no way you could have known what I was going to choose every single time."
He crossed his arms defiantly, a smirk playing on his lips. "It's not my fault you're so predictable, and I know you so well."
"We've just met!" I exclaimed, glaring at me. "You don't know me!"
I saw what looked like hurt flicker across his face before he smirked, cockily, "Well you what the say, losers don't accept losing."
My frustration boiled over, and I couldn't contain my anger any longer. "You think you're so clever, don't you? Well, let me tell you something, Mr. Guardian. Your smugness is unbearable, and I'm tired of your condescending attitude."
He scoffed, "And I'm tired of your stubbornness and refusal to acknowledge my skills. You think you're the only one who can play this game?"
"Well, maybe if you didn't rely on your powers and actually had some real luck, we wouldn't be having this argument," I shot back, my voice laced with venom.
"I didn't use me powers. I do everything but cheat!" He glared at me, "I told I know you. I am your guardian."
"Stop using your guardian card! You know nothing about me!" I yelled at him, "No one knows! They all think they know so much about me!" I didn't know when my eyes turned glassy. I quickly blinked a few times, looking away from him.
After a pause he spoke, "And you clearly don't know or remember anything about me."
"What are you talking about?!" I gritted my teeth, "No, you know what, don't answer that."
"Wasn't going to anyway!"
"Fine!"
"Fine!"
We sat there in silence for a long while before my eyes closed automatically.
Azriel
I felt something gently hit my shoulder, and saw Selene passed out, soft snores leaving her mouth. She must've been so tired.
I sighed.
I knew everything about her there was to know.
She knew nothing, because she didn't remember anything. I didn't blame her. However, whenever she said, I knew nothing about her and her life. It hurt like a bitch.
I picked her up, set her in my arms, knowing she wouldn't wake up. She slept like a fucking sloth.
As I carried Selene back to the cottage, my frustration and annoyance slowly dissipated, replaced by a sense of protectiveness and concern. Seeing her vulnerable and exhausted, it was difficult to hold onto the argument that had consumed us moments ago.
She was fiery, like before.
Gently laying her down on the bed, I tucked her in, ensuring she was comfortable. The softness of her features, the gentle rise and fall of her chest as she slept, softened my heart. Despite our differences and clashes, there was a connection between us, a bond that I couldn't deny.
Quietly, I whispered to the slumbering Fiery, "You may not remember anything now, and I wish you don't remember anything later."