Chapter 12: Chapter 12

C11

CAELUM

My head felt like it is splitting in two.

I breathe out, trying to shield my face with my hand only to let it out, grinding my knuckles on my forehead as I groaned. I stared up at my reflection as the great circular mirror looms above me – My hair sticks out in every direction imaginable as though I have been electrocuted by lightning.

I sat up and blinked for a couple of times to get rid of the blurriness brought by a couple of hours of sleep, startled when certain visions flashed beneath my eyelids.

“Whoa! What was that?” I threaded my fingers on my hair and tried to pat them back into place, “What did I –?”

I saw myself holding out a hyacinth flower to Rubin, saying, “An act of responsibility for I have willingness to become better; humans call it an apology,”

I watched as the hyacinth flower floated around her, making me slap my forehead at the memory as the scene shifted.

She was looking down at me, her eyes worried. Where are we? I gaze at my surroundings to see the chandelier by the landing. I took the flower from her hands and threw it saying, “My fault.” I blinked my eyes and saw the field of forgotten. I was laughing – I can feel the elation masking the bitterness. I collapsed as I held out the golden liquor, the shattering glass echoed in my memory.

I fell back on the bed, my fleeting words from my memory making me cringe, “ I do regret it all.”

“What do I regret? Oh! What did I do?” I thread my fingers on my hair and huffed, flaying my legs and groaning in frustration, “What did I do?” I bit my lip only to be surprised as I hear Aeon speaked up, “Rise and shine, stupid Dieoubliè!”

“Ugh, you are being too loud.” I sat up and glared at him, “And who are you calling ‘stupid’?” Aeon smiled and rolling his purple eyes at me. He settled himself at the foot of the bed, inspecting his fingers before pointedly staring at me, “Oho! Let’s see – Floating flowers, levitating and not to mention, interrupting my wind waves by sudden transportation!” He rose from his seat and stalked towards me, eyes blazing. “Are you bloody out of your mind? Where else did you take her?”

“I did all that?”

“Yes, you bloody idiot! The cupid downstairs told me all about it as soon as you retired to your room. I tried opening your room myself and confront you, but I cannot bloody enter it last night considering the amount of enchantments you put on your door! Did you also know that I got a bloody hard time trying to reason out to her that you are not always acting like that by simply blaming your irresponsible actions for the reason that you are drunk? I mean, who else get drunk after only drinking a bottle of white wine that has only 5% alcohol content? That’s just, ridiculous!” Aeon shakes his head at me, standing up, “She even wanted me to take her back to Paris and I haven’t even done any research because of you – stupid – moron!” He takes my pillow and began hitting me with it.

“Stop it,” I pries the pillow off his hand and sighed, “I didn’t mean to do these things, okay? Something riled me up and made me explode – I guess it has something to do with her presence.” I massaged the bridge of my nose and closed my eyes, trying to recall my memory when I remembered, “The dome!”

“What?”

“Let’s go!” I stepped out of my bed and put on my cloak. “But, where?” Aeon protested, running his hands on his blond hair, “Caelum, I am so hungry. We have to go down for breakfast and Zeus knows what the cupid is up to – she insisted that I should allow her to help, so I taught her some things – and, I have to start my research today whether you like –” I threw a pillow at him to interrupt his speech, saying, “Come on. It will only take us about five minutes round trip so don’t be a pussy and stop complaining!” I flicked my hand and grab Aeon by his arm as he fumbled with his own robes, “Hey!”

The field welcomed us with its flowery scent; birds twittering about as they flew the distance while up on the hill, the dome rustled—a dark enormous ball of vines and leaves that occasionally shakes from the non existent wind.

“What are we doing here? Why did you take me here? Are you trying to convince me that you haven’t drunk enough last night ? Because I am not buying it!”

“No, I did not take you here for that. I just want to confirm something.”

“Something,” he snorted and I rolled my eyes at him, “Right!”

Aeon huffed and puffed as we climbed up the hill – the great dome looming at us as though it contains an entirely different world. “So, what are we going to do here, mate? ‘Cause I am famished and I have seen this a couple of times.”

“We go in.”

“How? There’s no door,” I rolled my eyes once again and explained, “Just push your hand in,” I showed him how to do it but he is already plunging his hand – his face contorted in concentration. “Like this –? Whooaa!” I watch as Aeon’s hands bounced off the vines as though he was shocked by lightning. Sighing, I take his hands on mine and tumbled inside only to be shocked when I remain alone, noticing that he is not with me.

The dome was as dark as it was before with little to no light and the carousels and rides unmoving—no signs of life or sound.

How did Rubin did it?

I put my hand on top of one of the carousels and sighed as it shuddered but did not move much. A tiny tinkling sound echoed from inside the dome before it cease, restoring silence.

The result doesn’t change.

No matter how many times I have tried to fix this broken amusement park and change the machines out of each rides –they never did work as they should. I frowned and kick edthe horse, sighing as I settled down on the earth. It’s a curious thing that Rubin was able to make it work.

Is it because of her title as a cupid? The same reason as to why she can follow me here as she wants and make these things work?

Frowning, I remembered Aeon who is still trapped outside. I plunge my hand and went out to see Aeon dusting off his robes, a murderous look in his face, “Hey, you!” He stands up, flinching as he holds his backside. “If this is a prank you wanted to try on me, well, let me tell you that you that it is not a good one!” I ignored his comment as I stand next to him, watching him as he kicked the base of the dome. “Zeus’ pants! Did you know that I bounced of that bloody vines of yours when you went in which is impossible considering how thick they are? Did you somewhat turn into a vapor like a ghost would?” I rolled my eyes at his words and frowned, muttering.

“She did something even the god of the wind can’t do…” I strut off, not waiting for him as I headed down the hill.

“What? I don’t understand? Who did what?” Aeon trudged down the hill, his hair in a tangle as the both of us flicked our hand at the same time.

The field dissolves back to the front doors of the Manor, the gloomy sky looming above us. I pushed open the door and quickly headed to the kitchen, my thoughts still in disarray as I snatched a bottle of water from the fridge.

“Oh! You’re here…I am about to finish.” Rubin stated as she stirred the pan and tossed the egg on a plate. I settled down on a seat and observed her as she makes her way to where I am sitting.

“Here!” I was surprised when she gave me a cloud shaped sunny side up.

“I taught her how to do that. I’m glad she easily caught up with everything. ” Aeon mused, nodding at his student who is smiling wide.

“Great to know you are being fond of her.” I stated at him before poking the egg with my fork, a little bit dubious. After deciding that the egg is not harmless, I gave it a little bite and take some toast from the centre of the table, spreading raspberry jam on it.

“Food here on earth is just brilliant! I haven’t tried all of these and I intend to taste more of it while I’m here.” She happily exclaimed, loosely tying her hair with a ribbon before she tucked in to her toast. The sight of her smiles irritates me that I gritted my teeth in frustration.

I caught her eyes and without any warning, another face flashes in front of my vision as I blinked, “What the—?”

“What?” Aeon purses his lips as he sat next to Rubin across from me. I blinked once again, frowning as I stared at Rubin’s face— only now did I notice that she greatly resembles the girl from my dreams with her hair framing the sides of her and her innocent green eyes shining as she gaze at me—she is definitely the one I’ve been seeing every night for the past millennia but for what reason, I still do not know.

This is the only reason why I felt vulnerable when she looks at me. She has a hold on my emotions and I have to know why she has that ability.

I rubbed my eyes before training them back to her, a bit enthralled. Is this the main reason why she felt very familiar to me? Why I have chosen to refuse her the first time we met? I feel guilty every time I see her, hatred when I am with her and sadness when she is not with me—now, I understand.

She has a great role in my past and I have to find out what it is. Aeon needs to know this for I am sure, she’ll be the key to my past. We just have to figure it all out before Hades finds out that she’s with me and until I find out what her purpose is, I have to keep her safe.

Rubin looks at me with a worried expression before she nudged Aeon who is so absorbed with reading his book. Aeon scowled at her, annoyed that he was interrupted. He rolled his eyes. “Well, my dear cupid, that’s the face of a man who finally had the chance to dine with a woman after a millennia.” I glared at him before directing my gaze back to Rubin, my hands tightening into a fist. I focused down on my food—the half eaten toast pathetically hanging on the side of my plate while the yolk of the egg, oozed, soaking it.

My chest tightened.

I collapse back on my chair as I felt the pain weakening me instantly, my knees buckling under me. “Caelum, are you okay?”

Aeon looks up from his toast, finally realizing that I am doubled over in pain, “Mate, what happened—?”

“I’m okay—this tends to happen sometimes,” I pushed my plate and straightened up, grimacing in pain. “Don’t worry about me and finish your food,” I snapped at Rubin who stood abruptly. I angrily snatched my hand away from her hold and slowly drag myself out of the kitchen and up to my room.

The dark corridor is occasionally lit with patches of sunlight, the heavy curtains barring them out. It is sweltering hot but I felt cold; the sweat is glistening on my skin, clinging to my brow as I noticed my reflection at the nearby window, my face ghostly white.

Reaching my room, I pushed open the door and staggered inside, stumbling on the carpet. I try to push myself up but I felt too weak, “Caelum?”

I heard her voice before I saw her shadow. Rubin gathered me in her arms and felt my forehead. “ You are burning! I don’t think you’re alright. I have to go and tell Aeon about this.”

“No,” I protested, hating how weak I sound. I pulled at her wrist as she was about to go and winced as I felt my chest constrict, “ Just stay here for a little while.”

I hated sounding so needy like a little child but as she caressed my forehead, I felt comforted, like I did once before, when I just arrived here on earth. She made me feel vulnerable and at this moment, it felt nice to be in her arms.

She helped me up the floor and led me to my bed, tucking me in after putting some pillows on my back to incline my position. We looked at each other, both occupied with our thoughts. I couldn’t get the image of the other girl off my head now that I found out how Rubin greatly resembles her. The uncanny resemblance caused something to twitch inside my chest and I cringe in revulsion.

Why am I being like this?

I put my arm over my eyes and spied as Rubin carefully stands up from the bed and made her way to the door. I whispered, “You look a lot like her.”

I have tried not to be heard but my attempt was futile. I peek underneath my arms to see that she was standing a few feet from the door, her back against me as she puts her hand on the door knob. “Who?” She whispered back before turning at me, repeating her question, “Who?”

“The girl in my dream – she keeps on asking for me – I do not know why she weeps – I do not know why she begs for me when I can’t save her.” I bit my lip and closed my eyes, the memory causing pain to course through my veins as though it was poinson. “ Sometimes, she just stares at me with sadness apparent in her eyes, drowning me.” I chuckled bitterly before pinching the bridge of my nose, “You and her have the same appearance, it’s quite shocking.”

“I looked like her?” Rubin’s face is full of doubt as she settled on a chair by the window. She pushed the heavy curtains to the side, letting a strip of sunlight penetrate the dark room. “Her ginger hair – I believe that yours do have the same color as hers. Pretty…”

Rubin snorted, “Stop speaking like this, Caelum, this is so not like you,” I huffed making her giggle. She pulls the chair closer and settled next to my bed, carefully taking my hand on her petite ones, that I was quite surprised of her tender action. “Please be rude. You acting like this makes me nervous – it makes you creepy and appear a little bit odd.” I raised my eyebrow at her words, saying, “It’s because of you – why I’m like this – why I’m hurting right now.”

“How so? What did I do?” She asked, her eyebrows raised in worry, “Is it because I touch those hoax horses that can’t even gallop even if they move? And those carriages, why do they even have faces? I’m sorry for being curious,” Rubin bowed her head and I shake in silent laughter, amused by her descriptions.

Who calls carousels, hoax horses?

“Right,” I successfully said after trying not to laugh, “It’s not hoax horses, they are actually called carousels – anyway – the reason why I am hurting is because I broke a promise.” I winced as my chest tighten.

“With whom? What promise?”

“Gaea. She made me promise a long time ago that I should refrain myself from being kind – from showing love. She warns me that if I did, Hades will come and end me,” I heard her gasp, pulling my hand close so that she can hold unto it tight. “When I was banished here on earth, I came here as a child. I was as clueless as you. I was taken by two kind Gaeans and was raised by them. Unfortunately, I am as foolish as a young child should be – my arrows turned gold,” I smiled bitterly at the memory and scoffed, “ I tried it out, of course, and I ended up injuring a Gaean. Unexpectedly, that Gaean did not suffer from the arrow, instead another Gaean came and the both ended up together. I am so happy I did not realize the consequences brought by my actions until I came home,” I shake my head at her, trying not to look at her face that reflects pity. “I found them murdered, you know, the Gaeans that have taken me in as a child. Hades have served them the punishment he was supposed to deliver to me. I buried them at a field where azaleas grew during spring and cried of my lost – asking the heavens, cursing, for nobody is granting my prayers so who would I make my prayers to? My life was tragic from the very start and it continues, sadly.“ I turned my head to the window, trying to hide my expression from her. I summoned the winds and let the clouds drift from outside, shielding the sun, the looming shadows helping me to conceal the sorrow I am carrying for a millennia.

I was taken by surprise when she held my hand, “It’s alright to cry sometimes, Caelum. If it really pains you to be kind because of me, then I would gladly take my leave,” She made a move to stand from the chair but I held her in place, groaning as I felt my chest tightened even more.

“No! Don’t go anywhere.”

“But Hades—”

“Will find me, yes, but not soon enough.”

“And Gaea?”

“I will try and make some arrangements. I will make her understand my situation. There’s no need for you to worry, no reason for you to leave.”

As I say these words, Rubin leans close and captured me in a tight hug. After a while, she pushed me, her face flushed with embarrassment. She cleared her throat, “I’ll leave you to sleep. Take a good rest while I go down and check what Aeon’s up to.”

She walks out of the room leaving me confused of the weird thudding inside my chest that suddenly warms up my whole being.

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