She tossed and turned in bed but the disturbing thought would not go away. Could it be that Eliot had possessed the boy? She wondered, but it had been two years since she heard from him. After that painful night at the blue lake, Tezznin had spent her days feeling shattered and utterly oblivious to how she could help him. For a whole year, her hope shone bright, but the passage of time that promised nothing extinguished the fire that burnt within her. Worriedly, she caressed the necklace around her neck. If it was not Eliot then what else, could it be? Her worry only increased by the second as she pondered hard on it. There was no clues to piece together. She felt drained and exhausted and forcefully shut her eyes to find sleep of which she had failed to see the glow from the necklace in the dark as the moonlight hit it from the window.
......
Somewhere in the middle of the night. "Tezznin. Tezznin." A voice whispered out to her. She stirred in her sleep, the lines on her forehead deepening.
"Tezznin." Her eyes opened to the shocking view of the face of the angel.
"Eliot." She called in disbelieve. "It's you and you're…you're really here." She said rising to take a closer look at him. Eliot inched closer to her. His angelic face beaming with an affectionate smile.
"Tezznin. You look beautiful than ever." He spoke softly. A glimmer of something, she saw flashed within his orbs as he beamed at her and it spread warmth and assurance. A blush crept its way to her cheeks.
"Wait." Realization dawned on her. "How is it that you are here? You haven't been freed yet." She frowned.
"Yes I haven't, but it doesn't matter anymore. All that matters is that we're back together."
"But how?"
"Never again Tezz. Never again." Silence reigned. This felt odd. She frowned at the man before her and switched the lamp on her bedside table on. His eyes, the gold in them was not there.
"Eliot. What happened to your eyes?" A strange grin spread over his lips. His eyes shining with something she could not comprehend. A look felt odd and promised something unknown. Tezznin suddenly felt a chill in the room and she slowly and steadily moved away from him.
"Why are you moving away Tezz?" Eliot questioned with a deep unpleasant frown on his face. She felt a sudden threat looming over her head and she inched back again.
"Who." She spoke. Her voice quivering. "Who are you?"
"You ask who I am." Eliot's voice sounded shocked and displeased.
"You are not Eliot."
"Oh yes I am."
"No." She shook her head. "Eliot's eyes have gold in them and he doesn't call me Tezz." She added. "Much less, he's gone."
A grin formed at the corners of his lips. "Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. I see why the boy needs you." He spoke and rose walking to the window. Tezznin's gaze followed him. "My name is Heracles."
.............
"I was sent here by the father of the moon family himself. Lord Asmodeus. I am but his noble servant." Heracles explained, letting his disguise fall and revealing the face of an aged man with raven hair.
On a closer inspection, a few strands of his hair were of gold and silver. His features, oddly breathtaking for his age.
'Where from all these beautiful creatures coming to my room at night?' Tezznin thought with a frown.
"Look, look. I really don't get what's going on and who you are with all your heavy names and kingdoms but you see, I don't want to be part of any silly adventure. The last time I entertained one, my heart was broken into fragments. So please leave and never return." Tezznin said with finality and moved closer to him. She pushed the window wide open, signalling him to take his leave. Her face gave off no emotion.
"I sensed from our conversation just now that you still yearn somewhere in your heart to have Eliot back." Heracles said in a deep yet low tone.
"Well that's my problem to deal with. After all, it's my heart not yours." The girl gestured towards the window . He really needed to leave.
"Don't you want to know what happened to your brother?"
"Let me guess, one of your little tricks to get me curious so you can have your way with me."
"Do not deny yourself the right to have what you want."
"And what is it that I want?" Tezznin asked with a blank look.
"Hmm. I think I should leave for now and come back some other time." The man said with a disappointed look. "I had information on how to save Eliot and here you are pushing me away even before I could say anything." He whispered, but loud enough for the girl's hearing.
A sudden eagerness and want fell over the girl but her weak heart felt too tired to endure anymore. What if she got her heart broken after this again? What on earth could he offer her that could help her? 🤷♀️
"Two years." She whispered. "It's been two years and you show up now to tell me this. "
"Well there's a logical explanation for that actually. We figured if we came to you immediately you'd be desperate and wouldn't reason to things. You seem more sane now." Heracles stated and neared the girl.
"We?"
"Yes. As I had earlier mentioned. I was sent by the lord Asmodeus, Eliot's father. "
Tezznin froze from shock at the revelation. "We believe there's hope for our boy but we need your help."
Tezznin blinked a few times, her mind slowly catching unto the new information. It was all a lot to take in.
"Go away. I don't need all of this now. I'm over and done with Eliot." She said with finality and walked off to the bed. Heracles stared long and hard at the girl and heaved a deep sigh .
"Fine. I'll come back some other time but whenever you need me, just call out to me." He said and suddenly disappeared from sight.
Tezznin's eyes zoomed in from shock with mouth left hanging open.