Chapter 4
1013 Words
There was no mistaking that this was her. But also, not her.
Was that why everyone was acting so peculiar around her? Was that why Isabel said what she said?
Dane definitely knew too, she concluded in her heart.
She was in shock, but was also wondering who this woman was. And why she found herself drawn to her. To this room. Was she connected to her somehow?
Kaia's eyes remained on the portrait as her mind reeled with questions.
She tentatively took steps close to the dresser, where more photographs lay scattered inside.
Each one showed a different version of herself, a different life, but with the same face.
It was all too creepy.
But she was just too curious.
As she flipped through the photos, Kaia's fingers slightly trembled. Who was this person? Why was she drawn to this room?
She had all these questions, but didn't have any intentions to leave.
She briefly thought about her parents. Did they know?
Her wandering eyes moved to settle on a book that was by the nightstand. It was big, the cover looked worn, and the pages were yellow with age, but she wanted to see its contents.
She began to read.
The language the words were written in was unfamiliar- even appeared to be ancient, but somehow, she could understand them clearly.
It wasn't some sort of biography, but it was something very much related to her. A book of magical history, dynamics, and spells.
Kaia read the words calmly and with interest. It was like she'd read these words before, but also, not. She knew where everything was located without thinking too much.
So familiar.
She dropped it and went to a drawer that seemed to be calling her. It was locked, but the moment she touched it, it was open.
Another book. This one is much bigger. But it was different.
It felt very personal.
As she turned the pages of the unfamiliar book, unfamiliar memories began to surface in her head. She saw a familiar face, but didn't know who it was. It was a woman. She was so beautiful, and she had really dark eyes. A welcoming smile.
And then a scent of lavender suddenly blew around her, awakening something inside.
“Guardian.”
That was an interesting word she saw.
From the book, she learned that it was a surname. Only those from the Guardian's bloodline can wield certain powers, making Guardians one of the few and the first bloodlines not of direct witch ancestry to have magic.
"Magic,” she whispered in awe, glancing at the portrait. "Is that who you are? A witch? A werewolf with magic?”
Despite how odd the room appeared, the books she read, she was invested. She was fascinated by everything around her. She never knew werewolves had magic. Her parents never taught her anything but werewolf history.
She knew about other supernatural beings, but having never met any but witches, which were a rarity in these lands, they said there was no need to learn.
But she wanted to now. And she had the information in her hands, too.
She flipped more pages, not paying attention to the lights that were flickering suspiciously. A werewolf's eyesight was powerful, especially at night.
There seemed to be a sort of family genealogy. From the first recorded person to have the unique abilities as a werewolf to the present.
For some reason, the further she read, the more irregular the characters became. It bothered her.
She felt a headache coming as she rubbed her temple, a frown forming on her face. The headache worsened, and her head started to hurt more. Her vision was blurring. She saw glimpses of unfamiliar faces, places… she felt like she knew them but just couldn't remember.
They were her memories in some way.
There was love, loss, pain… and they all flashed through her mind with the speed that she couldn't see.
The pain and the loss seemed more than the others, and she was tormented by memories she couldn't recount, sometimes not even seeing people.
But she could smell blood… she could see the darkness clouding her mind… her heart constricted more the moment she heard a scream. She knew who that was, but… she didn't know who that was!
Kaia felt so frustrated.
Kaia's fingers loosened, and the book fell to the floor with a soft thud. She stumbled backward, her eyes fixed on the portrait on the wall. The face in the painting stared back at her, familiar and yet utterly foreign.
She had another vision. So many words are being said by so many people.
“Don't worry, Maia."
“I want you to know how special you are."
“Either alive or dead, I'll always be there.”
"You need to work hard to find the other piece and put them together.”
“I love you, Maia."
“Best friends!"
It felt like her head was being split open, but she couldn't do anything to defend herself. So many memories were coming in, but she couldn't control them. They were too much. There was so much that she couldn't separate them from themselves. It was like they were the same.
Kaia heaved a couple of breaths as her throat suddenly felt constricted. She couldn't scream from the pain. But she could say one word.
“Maia," she mumbled into the space as her vision blurred again.
Her lips and fingers shook as she was in so much pain. Her frame was unsteady, but she didn't seem like she was about to fall. It was almost like she was being held up by some invisible force.
Her world was turned upside down. Her breathing became ragged as she remembered. Still in so much mental chaos, she didn't notice the door being pushed closed. Nor did she notice that each mirror that was covered by a cloth wasn't covered anymore, the cloths were down on the floor.
There was a reflection in each of those mirrors. And none of them were Kaia's.
- Writer
