The shimmering sunlight blessed my half-naked frame as my eyes and mind adjusted to the environment. "Where am...I?" I rubbed a vanilla-smelling hand over my eyes. "What the?"
"Child."
My hands quickly came up to my bare chest in embarrassment. Who even is that? I stood up, dashing behind the cream wooden door.
The footsteps I recalled hearing suddenly stopped. "There are clothes in the drawer, Angelo. Make haste, there are people here to see you."
The events from last night came rushing back at the sound of her voice, as I picked up the heavenly-feeling piece of cloth from the drawer, making the dream I had had, much more confusing.
The material caressed my now-covered skin, leaving a v-shaped open space below my neck in front, which bothered me.
Not a sound could be heard as I peeked out of the room, my hair partly obscuring my vision. The boots on my feet felt as though I had nothing on, making not even the slightest of sounds as I walked down the hallway.
The walls were a mixture of green and cream, potted plants lined the stairway, and the floorboards were as quiet as a graveyard. What is this place?
"There you are."
My heart left my chest, as I jumped back a couple stairs in fright. "You...where'd you come from?" I whispered for a reason not known to even myself.
I took in the woman's beautiful appearance. "Galadriel,"
She nodded slightly, her floor-length golden brown hair bobbing. "You passed out the moment you walked passed these doors." She gestured to the large double doors a few paces behind her. "You've been asleep for three days."
"What?!" My eyes widened in confusion. Is that even possible?
"Come,"
I hesitated, eyeing her worriedly.
"Angelo if I wanted to harm you, do you think you'd be alive after three days here?" she whirled around and I followed begrudgingly.
Galadriel walked into another room, with only an archway dividing it from the rest of the house. Her figure fled my vision, and my eyes fell on the people who sat at the edge of their seats.
My brows creased in irritation as I stopped underneath the archway, fists clenching. "I will not step into this room until they are no longer here." I stated.
Galadriel drew in a calm breath, her fingers tapping the mahogany table full of scrolls and books before her lightly. "Do you not want your answers, Angelo? These two have done nothing wrong to you."
"Nothing wrong?! She tried to kiss me! He attacked me! And they have this misconception that I am someone they know."
"Angelo, what do you remember from your slumber?" the elf quirked a flawless eyebrow at me. "In your dreams, what name were you called?"
My tongue became heavy as I struggled to put together my thoughts.
"Sit, child," she repeated, as she took her eyes off me, scribbling something on a crisp-looking scroll.
I dragged my feet, crossed the center table, and sat stiffly on the opposite side of the siblings.
"Your dream was a memory of Rafal's past. Don't you wonder what that memory is doing in your head, Angelo?" Galadriel asked, her eyes moving to Kiera briefly. "You were born on earth, that is correct but that is not all there is to it. Earth is a strange realm to the rest of us, you see Rafal loved it there. He loved how different they were from us. I'm sure you would agree?" she dropped the quil, her green eyes settling on mine.
Her gaze was imposing and commanding, as I let out a slow breath, sifting through the unfamiliar memories that plagued my mind. "He was supposed to bring a necklace back to..." My eyes found Khione's, her yellow eyes sad as she held my gaze. "Khione. He was bringing it back for Khione, but he needed to save...someone."
"Did he save her?" Galadriel intertwined her slender fingers, her eyes digging deep into my mind. "Rafal?"
"N...no. He...he..." I looked down at my shivering palms, as a sweat broke at my temple, the shivering traveling around my body. "He killed her."
Khione held a hand to her chest, hurt painting her beautiful face as she looked at her brother, unspoken words drifting to and fro between them.
"What happened next?" Galadriel asked.
"He went back to his realm, but he couldn't face them." I blinked rapidly, the memories becoming clear as day, as if I was there, living through it. "Crossing a veil and going to earth was forbidden in…Vanardon." The name fell off my tongue, eliciting even more memories. "He knelt there, drenched in human blood. The blood of someone so dear to him as he offered a prayer. Something he never did. He wanted another life, away from the responsibilities of a Vanrei. A carefree life where he had a complete family."
My eyes watered as I looked at Galadriel. "He wanted to be human."
"And so he did." Galadriel sat back, smiling to herself. "The Trides. Creators of the races that roam the realms. They do not so often meddle in the affairs below them, but one. The Tride of the Vanrei is infamous for answering to every whim of his creations."
She glanced at me. "Rafal was one of the most powerful of the Vanrei. He saved so many lives, without breaking a sweat. He was so loved by his Tride, but it wasn't mutual. So loved that at the moment when he prayed for the first time in his life, his request was granted on the spot. What do you feel, Angelo?" Galadriel stood, taking slow steps toward me.
"What do I feel?" A gnawing feeling sat at the back of my head, and I began to sweat.
"Why are you so insistent on rejecting and denying the obvious, child?" She questioned.
"Because it's not fair!" I stood abruptly, feeling the glimmering silver in my eyes, the power in my veins. "If I had this stupid power all along then why couldn't I save my brother!? Why did he die in front of me!?" I could sense the palpable anger rising in me. "Why can't I be with the woman I love?! I am not and will never accept that sorry excuse for an alter-ego! I will never be Rafal!"
Energy mingled with pure rage dotted my vision as I zipped forward, the walls of the mansion shattering behind me.
~~~
Galadriel shook her head from side to side, her eyes meeting the dumbfounded siblings. "Have you been silenced without my knowledge?" She cocked a brow at the lot.
"Guardian we apologize for burdening you with such. It won't happen again." Khione knelt at the elf's unseeable feet, eyeing her nonchalant brother who stayed glued, lounging on the comfortable-looking chair.
"You caused nothing. Stand up." As Khione rose, Galadriel turned, walking back, beyond her desk. "You must go home before it is too late."
"What?" Kiera finally spoke, fixing his eyes on Galadriel.
"This realm is the source of all veils across our world and I am here to keep it from going out of hand." Galadriel spoke, reaching a tall, single wardrobe.
"I thought you were the guardian of the taiacan?" Khione reasoned as she watched the elf unsheathe a transparent orb from the wardrobe, the sunlight reflecting against its beauty.
Galadriel glanced at her, as she delicately placed the orb on a golden holder of sorts. "I am."
"Is that?" Kiera stood, his eyes glued to the orb as if under some spell.
"Helenir the seer." Khione whispered in pure awe of the historical artifact.
"It is real." Kiera stepped closer, tilting his head slightly as he admired it.
"Indeed it is. As the guardian and overseer of this realm, I was given this by my land to further my sight." She placed a hand on Helenir, eliciting a low hum as the orb began to glow. "Maraja's outburst shook this realm, unfortunately tipping the scales of the veil. I fear for what realms might be aware and scratching against their prison seals."
Khione's head snapped toward the hole in the wall where Angelo had charged through, a look of fear festering in her eyes.
"That rampant Angelo will not help in any way." The guardian looked up from the orb, her green eyes shimmering with power. "You may go after him, approach calmly. Do not call him Rafal, that will worsen things. He is very powerful so you cannot beat him, the goal is to calm his lashing out. The veil cannot take much more."
"Galadriel I will not leave you." Kiera's brows creased with worry as he pleaded wordlessly with her.
"Go." The elf returned her gaze to Helenir, a stoic look of resolve covering her features, as Khione pulled an unwilling Kiera out, through the gaping hole and after Angelo.
Galadriel focused on the orb as it glowed and hummed, responding to her mere will, shuffling through every forest and corner of the realm.
Suddenly, she stopped, her mouth settling into a grim line as she watched a particular part of the veil. "No."