Chapter 29: True Self

It was all so dark and freezing cold, but I knew I was still in Seattle and there wasn’t snow outside at all. I looked around the unfamiliar room. Without the lights switched on, I could barely see a thing. But there’s one thing for sure. I didn’t feel like myself. I tried to stretch out my arms, but they didn’t move at my command at all. How did I get here? Wasn’t I outside the infirmary? That’s when I realized that I was in my own vision. No wonder I couldn’t control my arms. I wasn’t supposed to control them yet, I think.

As I could make out from my body language and the dim surroundings, I found out that I was sitting on the ground, leaning against the wall of a bedroom. My vision slightly refocused, and I realized that it was a dorm room. How? Well I kind of recognize the plasma screen television and the walk-in wardrobe that every dorm room should have. Through my ‘future’ eyes, I think I was crouched down at a sharp corner of the room right beside the study table. I was hugging my knees close to my face and could feel so many feelings crossing through my heart. Disappointment, sad and full of regret.

However, the crack of the main door opening tore me from my thoughts and there, entering the dark room was… Me!

Red hair, black sleeveless leather coat with Levis jeans were donned on my ‘future’ self. That girl, ‘Kiara’, was me in the future. So this means that I’m in the vision of someone else! But the question is, who?

My slim silhouette figure graced into the room with a confused expression plastered on my/her face. My future self then kneeled down in front of me and kept on looking through my long fringe in search of my eyes. But the body that I was in, refused to even let her see me like this and I felt my hands tighten the clench on my knees, sinking my ‘vision’ head deeper in between my knees. My/her soft hand stroked my hair and tried to bring my face up to hers, but then again, the body just rejected my/her company. And when she didn’t go away, I felt it.

The pain of a thousand volts of electricity shot through every single vein in my body. I was in agony, and I felt this person’s pain. My body, I could sense, was burning up, like as if this is the feeling of the deepest ring of hell fire. My mind couldn’t take it no more! I needed to get out of there! But the body that I was in didn’t fidget or react to the pain. Yes, whoever this was, felt the pain as much as I had. Then without warning, my hand gripped around my neck and squeezed it so very tightly that I couldn’t breathe! Let go! I demanded this ‘future’ person.

I think my ‘future’ had sensed something, because then she kept on calling a name, but my stupid ears didn’t hear anything that she had said. Maybe it was because I was concentrating too much on the pain that I didn’t care what she was saying. Then my breathing grew heavier and I started to pant. Everything felt so alien. It’s like I could feel my organs suddenly changing, molding even my internal organs, evolving into something! A new pain which was of equal quality to the previous, aroused, and this time, my heart was literally pierced by a sharp object inside of me!

I’m dying! I knew I was. If I was whoever, I would just die of the pain, and the failure of my heart would be the second stage of my horrid death. And as if in a split moment, without any last words to my ‘future’ self, the heart of the body I was in, completely… stops beating.

★

"No!" Kiara bolted up from her seat, screaming with her brown eyes soaked with tears. Jason caught her in time, trying to grip her still as she fidgeting uncontrollably. Her movements became more violent as she kicked Jason's knee. David and Cornelia also rushed to secure Kiara at her seat while Jason quickly rubbed his knee-cap. Luckily the nurse had already left and Ulrich's still unconscious behind the infirmary's closed doors, Jason thought as he stole a glance behind him before resuming. Tiadora walked up closer to Kiara and held up her right hand to Kiara's forehead, but Kiara broke loose from David's grip on her left arm and slapped Tiadora's hand away. "Stop! It's okay. I'm alright. I want to feel it," Kiara instantly calmed down but gripped onto David's hand and squeezed, "I... I want to feel the pain of death."

The other guardians exchanged glances while Tiadora's face grew serious. Kiara hesitated, staggering back straight to her seat before continuing, "Is it possible to be in someone's shoe while in a vision? And am I able to feel the feelings of that person?"

Tiadora nodded to both questions as Kiara sunk in her chair sighing. She stared at Jason, David and Cornelia who were standing beside her from her vicious struggle just now and then her eyes drew back to Tiadora, as she stammered to explain, "I wasn't in my body. It was someone's body. I knew that because I saw my future self right in front of me and no, I wasn't staring at a mirror. It happened in a dorm room. I was crouching down at a corner while suddenly the future Kiara came into the room. And when she came closer, my body felt like it was strucked by this unbearable pain. It was so painful! I wanted to scream my lungs out but that body just stayed silent, keeping the pain within him or her. I could literally feel my soul pulled out, my heart stop beating! It was so scary! Man, this sucks!"

After hearing what Kiara had to say, Tiadora slouched from her straight posture, analyzing the possibility of who that could have been the victim in Kiara's vision. Tiadora turned her gaze to both Jason and David and muttered, "Normally and most of the times, Sir Arthur's visions shows most of us guardians' future because of the connection that we have. Having a non-guardian vision rarely happens, maybe only once in a while. And if this applies to your visions, Kiara, then this is a very serious matter. Right now, I'm extremely worried. Kiara's first two visions involved close encounters with death, and that's not a very good sign. Cornelia and Kiara have already discovered their special abilities, but both David and Jason do not. However, I feel that it's more than necessary now, just in case."

"Jason, you have the ability to teleport from place to place. Your special ability enables you to travel very far distances and once you have mastered such lengths, you will be able to even teleport other people as well. All you have to do is to concentrate real hard on that particular destination, and you'll get there. With this you don't have to worry much about flying," Tiadora smiled as she recalled Jason's disability to fly just now, "And David, you have the ability to turn intangible. This allows you to walk through walls or anything, and that sometimes includes power beams. Just like Jason, you just have to concentrate and think yourself as blending in with the object. Any other questions?"

Both boys shooked their heads at her question. Tiadora glanced at the watch that Kiara had given to her. It was already seven o'clock. "I think its best if we all head for dinner. It's been a long day, and I feel that all of you would need your rest," Tiadora suggested to everyone.

"I think I'll stay and wait for Ulrich to wake up," Cornelia gave a little hopeful smile to Tiadora.

"I have to get over to the principal's office first," David said monotonously, "Then I'll meet you guys for dinner later."

"I need to see Coach Dean," Jason slapped his forehead, "I've totally forgot about him! Kiry, can you have me tell Jim that I can't see him for detention. Please and thank you!" And off Jason and David went. Leaving the three girls behind. "Why does my brother have detention?" Cornelia looked down at Kiara.

"Jason had accidentally dropped his bar of soap on the floor," Kiara described what happened, "And it so happens that at that time, Jim was patroling the school grounds and tripped on the soap. End of story. Come, Tiadora. After all this craziness today, I'm starved. Bye, Cornelia!"

"Goodbye, Cornelia," Tiadora also waved as the two girls made their way out of the infirmary and strolled along the boys' dormitory which was nearer to the cafeteria. Cornelia gave a little wave and entered the ward that Ulrich was in. During the girls' walk, neither spoke at first but then when they passed by the principal's office, Kiara sighed, "Sometimes I wonder what David's doing in there."

"Want to peak?" Tiadora smiled cunningly.

"It's okay. I respect his privacy," Kiara said with sadness in her voice.

"Kiara, I want to say thank you for everything," Tiadora suddenly spoke of her gratitude. Kiara wanted to deny whatever deed that she had done but Tiadora halted her, "I want to thank you for bearing the responsibility of foreseeing the future and the guardian of Water. And also for taking the lead in bringing Vitani to the Fudox barrier. How did you find the barrier?"

"I crashed into it, " Kiara flatly recalled yesterday, "Strangely, the barrier didn't allow me in. So I made the wave disappear. On the ground, I told Vitani to go in without me. She smiled sincerely and hugged me. For a small girl, she's got quite a grip, you know. Then before I know it she walked through the invisible barrier and vanished. But she told me something strange before that."

Tiadora brows narrowed and she stared at her for her to continue, "What did she say?"

"Vitani told me to be careful and to always stay by David's side no matter what," Kiara too sounded puzzled by the words that Vitani had warned her about, "What does that mean?"

"It means that she has sense something from the future," Tiadora's expression slightly calm, "By what she told you, I think that she means that something is going to happen to David, and he might need you by his side to overcome it. You should take this seriously."

"Initially, I thought she meant stay by his side in marriage," Kiara giggled at her thought, and looked back at Tiadora's innocent face, "You and Jason aren't doing so badly either."

"What do you mean?" Tiadora asked, confused of the 21st Century slang.

"Oh nothing," Kiara teased and nudged Tiadora’s shoulder, “I heard from Jason about you and Sir Lancelot. Are you really engaged?”

“Yes,” Tiadora answered back, but Kiara noticed that Tiadora wasn’t smiling at all at that so-called news. “You didn’t like him?” Kiara asked her again.

“I mean he’s great, strong, muscular and well-known.”

“But not romantic, I guess,” Kiara guessed as Tiadora nodded in agreement. She sighed and poked Tiadora’s waist, making Tiadora yelped. Kiara laughed and did some more until both started to poke one another. But they stopped till both couldn’t take it anymore and they practically dragged their feet towards the cafeteria. “I get it. You’re a princess, he’s a knight and you hafta marry him for some royal purposes but you don’t really love him,” Kiara smiled to herself once they entered the cafeteria, “So care to pick a boy from Kadic?”

“Well, I’m not exactly looking for love here. I’m here because Veex is holding me back, remember?” Tiadora explained, “Plus, the boys here are quite different than the boys that I’ve seen. Some are so mysterious and quiet like David and some are just so active, just like Jason.”

“So is that what you like about Jason?” Kiara said as she and Tiadora took their seats at the ‘popular’ table where the rest of them had not arrived yet, “Or is it because every girl in Kadic, except for me and Cornelia, is secretly having a huge crush over him?”

“How do you have a crush on somebody?” Tiadora asked puzzledly, “Won’t that be painful?”

“Whatever. Painful or not, love will always find a way.”

♫

"Where are ya heading off to, Vincent?" David heard the irritating voice of Austin from behind him, but he kept on walking. David knew that he should have gone the shortcut way, that was through the boys' dormitory to get to the principal's office, but he wasn't that keen on meeting the principal too soon. He quicken his pace, hoping that Austin would just leave him alone. However, David could still hear the footsteps coming closer to him. "Hold it!" Austin grabbed David's right shoulder and forced him around to face Austin.

"I'm not taking any orders from you," David slapped the huge hand away from his shoulder and turned back. But Austin wasn't letting him go easily. He fished out his penknife and opened the knife out, closing in on David once more. As silently as possible, Austin tip-toed towards David and when he was near enough, he held up the knife high above David's back. And in seconds, Austin launched his silent attack.

But within those nanoseconds, David's sixth sense triggered a reaction and he was able to dodge Austin's attack by sliding to his right. Austin didn't seem to have expected that and lost his footing in his missed attempt. But before he fell to the ground, David knee-kicked Austin square in the tummy and punched Austin's back with his elbow, sending him to the ground with such force. The knife slipped out of Austin's hands, cutting the tip his index finger. David just stared down at Austin's frail state, waiting for any kind of attack. And it came. Austin grew foolish, letting his rage get to him.

Without hesitation, he rolled on the ground, reached his knife and threw it in David's direction. Everything went in slow motion for those few seconds for David. It came flying straight to his face, but David was able to evade the impact by falling to his right. However, he didn't leave unscathered. The knife managed to slice through the surface of David's arm, about a few inches right above his shoulders. Stunned by the blood that trickled down, David had to squeeze the opening as the blood kept spilling out profusely. It didn't stop. Everything was overflowing non-stop as he staggered to his feet. Then he pushed his index finger into the wound and realised that a blood vessel had been cut as he could feel the torn edges of the tube. Ignoring the pain, David dropped his hand from his neck letting the blood just flown out freely. He wanted to tackle Austin. Get rid of him for good now! David had a thought but before he was able to execute it, there was a scream.

And immediately without warning, Edward and Ian came in between David and Austin, trying to stop the fidget. Edward held David back and willingly, he didn't resist. He knew that he didn't want this in the first place. That talk of attack was wrong. Ian held Austin back and brought both his hands together, handcuffing them. Isabella, David realised was the one who had screamed, rushed to David and rummaged through her purse for something. She pulled out two things; her iPhone and a big plaster, asking David, "Do you want the hospital or the plaster? 'Cause that looks real bad, and it may have been a vein that connected to your heart."

David realised that she was talking about his wound that was starting to stain his, actually it's Jason's, lucky light blue t-shirt. He shooked his head and held out his hand, "I'll take the plaster."

"Alright," Isabella, which David have heard from Jason that was Edward's girlfriend, said as she walked around him to his injured side and sealed the wound with the big-sized plaster. Once she was done, Isabella glared at Ian and shouted, "Get him to the principal's office." Obediently, Ian pushed Austin forward, acting like a real-life cop.
David wasn't used to it but he looked towards the couple and muttered, "Thank you."

"My pleasure! It's my job anyway as a perfect to maintain discipline in the academy," Isabella pointed out, noticingly comfortable with the fact that she's talking to a Goth and that she's one of Jason's pals. In addition, she's a cheerleader and he's a soccer player. Why are they being nice to me? David wondered. It was not often that someone had actually offered their help to him, well except for the guardians. "Well," Edward spoke after a brief silence, "I think we better eat. I'm starving. Wanna come with us?"

"I can't," David sighed and remembered what he was supposed to do, "I need to see the principal for something."

"Alright, David," Isabella smiled warmly as she and Edward began walking out of the corridors, "See you around!" But by the time she said that, David had already ran to a sharp corner and made his way to the principal's office.

♂

As lucky as always, Jason glided to the gymnasium with grace and was in coach's office in no time. But the coach wasn't there. Jason sighed at his tiredness and slump in one of coach's guest chairs, tapping his foot. He then caught a glimpse of a mirror and saw his reflection, smiling to himself. His blond hair was in a mess. The fireball that he made to 'fly' had ruined his hair-do. Luckily no girls saw me, Jason thought as he began ruffling his hair with the gel all dried up. The spell wasn't that difficult though, he said to himself recalling how he had conjured up the fire energy that he had used with Oberon's sword just now, but he had needed Tiadora's help. And I can teleport! Jason gave a cheer in his heart, it was an amazing feeling. All the power.

Now I can't wait for my dragon, he smiled at that thought. But his trains of thoughts were broken by shoutings outside. Jason ducked and closed his eyes to concentrate on the words that were being hurled. "No!" hey that's Coach Dean's voice, "Jason may be a slack-ass captain, but he's still captain, leader of the soccer team and you have to follow his orders in the game."

"But coach," an unfamiliar voice replied coach's reply. Jason couldn't think of anyone with that voice, "He's been missing practice! Three to be exact! Coach, you know that today, Jason was supposed to form a strategy during soccer practice. Plus, I bet he won't even come tomorrow. I don't think he's sense the urgency of the big game being this Friday! Even his friend, who's that girl... Kiara was there today for her cheerleading practice. Then why not him? His inability has forced me to come out to you, to change to a new captain for our team's sake. For Kadic's sake!"

No one spoke after that. Jason waited for the answer of his coach. This was getting too out of hand. True, Jason had been missing practices but he was saving the world. Well, part of it. And they didn't know. This part of the superhero thing sucks, Jason muttered under his breath. He crawled out of coach's office and managed to catch a glimpse of who coach was talking to. Jason couldn't see his face because Coach Dean's bulky body was blocking the way, but the guy, he saw, had red hair. The same shade of red that Kiara's hair is. I don't recall anyone on the team with red hair. Whoever he was, Jason didn't get to see him as he slid his way out of the gymnasium, not wanting to hear more.

♥

“Always look on the bright side of life,” and a whistle followed next as the tune echoed through the walls of the Heritage. Cyrus grew irritated of it and glared at her husband furiously. “What’s wrong, my dear? Tired of your work?” Azric cooed her.

“I’m tired of you having to sing that song!” she hissed, “It frustrating blending in with all those humans. I could just sense their veins breathing within them. All look so vulnerable. Too bad we have to be mindful.”

Azric shooked his head at her response, “I thought that guy was supposed to be your everyday meal. At least he’s willing to give it to you.”

“That’s because he’s forced to give it to me!” she seethed once more, “I’m his master! And very soon, he’ll be our first victim! It is because of those irritating obstacles that he has control over the bloodlust temptation around humans! And thus, prolongs his death date!! Xana needs that human vampire to be ripe fast!! Or he’ll be furious!!”

“You worry too much, my love,” Azric stroked Cyrus’ blond hair smoothly and noticed a weird band at the top of her head, “What’s this, darling?”

“I heard the humans call it a hairband,” Cyrus plainly spoke, “I like what it does to my hair.”

He bellowed in laughter as he found no difference to his beautiful wife’s hair. But of course, he couldn’t say anything of that sort. Instead, he decided to go back to the previous topic, “When do you think that he’ll be ripe, then?”

“My guess is this Friday,” Cyrus suddenly began to smile at her fantastic plan that began to arise in her wicked mind, “And when he is ripe, nothing can stop us! We have the power within our grasp!!”