Legion [Book II]

Runaway Pt 2

*Two months later*

Selene exhaled in partly in exhaustion, partly to fill the dead space that consumed the room. Everything in the castle seemed so bland, it's once vibrant red hues completely washed out and faded. She ran her hand down the curtain of Addeline's bedroom. She missed her, where had she gone? None of it made sense, the abrupt leaving, even for a wild spirit like hers, she knew her daughter would never leave her family behind worried stricken unless something happened. 

"Mom are you okay?" Ivan pubescent voice rang from behind her. She turned to face him, his young face seeming to have aged over the past few weeks. His eyes, lined with worry and clear indication that he hadn't been sleeping. She hated seeing him like this, but was worse, she knew there was something he wasn't telling her. Selene knew her children like the back of her hand, while her intuition may have a little help by the two other beings inside her, she had an innate gift of picking up on the moment their moods changed, and often managed to eventually get them to tell her the problem. This was not one of those times. Ivan's young eyes, held a guilt and a rage she'd never seen before in her usually calm child. 

"I'm fine honey...are you sure you're okay? I know your sisters disappearance a lot to take in." Selene couldn't mistake the clear storm of emotions that brewed in Ivan's eyes after her statement. 

He knows something

Her wolf whispered to her. She nodded slightly as to not draw attention. She was patient, but it had been two weeks, and he needed to come clean with her. "Ivan..I'm only going to ask you this once...what is it you're not telling me?' That sentence was all it took. All it took to release the pent up emotions he'd been carrying since his sister left. Tears flowed down Ivan's cheeks in such a heavy heap that it caused his whole body to convulse. 

"It was my fault mommy...she left because of ME!" Selene grabbed her son in her arms. Rubbing his hair, she waited until his body slowly went limp. After sometime, words replaced his tears as he told his mother what happened that day in the woods two months ago. Selene listened patiently, not once interrupting. 

"But why were they bullying you? I don't understand." Ivan had left out the most important part, the part about Jamie, the part about him. About the feelings that were stirring inside him, confusing him daily. He wasn't ready to share that with his mother, or anyone for that matter. Selene could read the expression on his face, she'd hit a brick wall. Still, she was happy. It took a lot of courage to finally tell what happened, the rest of the story could wait for another day. 

"Honey, I need you to listen to me..I need you to know it's not your fault. What does dad always say?" Ivan sniffled. "We are in control of our own destinies and actions." It was one of the few mantras that Miccoli kept in constant rotation with his family. After everything they'd been through, after all the mistakes he'd made, he wanted to always stress the importance of taking responsibility of your own actions, even if it hurts to see the outcome. Ivan snuggled in closely to his mother, taking in her scent. Though he didn't talk, it was clear he was comforted, the weight of the secret no longer weighing on his chest. 

"Selene, I need to speak to you for a second." He could hear his fathers deep voice at he doorway. Selene kissed the top of his head. "Go on and play." She said, giving him one more hug before he went to hug his father. "Just what I needed." Miccoli said planting a kiss on the top of his head as well. Once Ivan was gone, Miccoli face turned into a scowl. The worry lines etched deep into his face.

"I need to go to the Mortal Realm...Ramsey and the others...they haven't been heard from." Selene's eyes widened and Miccoli quickly put his hands up in an defensive motion. "Don't panic Little One, I'm sure it's nothing." The lie didn't reach his eyes. Miccoli was worried, in fact, he was terrified. His friends never just disappeared during their rounds to the different Realms. "I'm coming with you." Miccoli grabbed Selene's shoulders planting her to the ground. "No..Ivan needs you here...and I need you here in case Addy..." His pained voice trailed off. He couldn't bring himself to talk about his daughter, not knowing where she was, was destroying him on the inside. The truth was, he felt like he was walking into a trap, but he'd already lost his daughter, and he'd rather die than lose his wife or son.

"You better link me as soon as you get there." Miccoli nodded at her request, and headed to the door. "By the way, there is someone here to see you." From the corner of the doorway, Rumy stood staring at Selene. Her eyes were worn, and fear was written on her face. She entered slowly, her eyes locked to the ground in submission. "The way you enter the room, is like a lamb to slaughter, have I not treated you with more love than that?" Rumy eyes lifted slightly. 

"I have something to tell you about Addeline...I..I think I know someone who may know where she is."

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                                                                         --Luka POV--

"So I was thinking we could see the new romantic comedy that just came out?" Shelly droned on in my right ear. I looked at her, hardly able to hear what she was saying. The last two months have been a complete blur, with everything blending together so much so, I didn't even know what the date was. It was a confusing feeling, the monotony of the day never bothering me before, but now it felt like I couldn't breathe. I felt empty, hollow with the thought that something was missing.

"Are you even listening to me?" Shelly asked annoyed, her eyes cutting into me.

"Yeah, romantic comedy, sounds good." I didn't want to be here. Not with her, not outside of this theatre. This was my life though, and no matter how much it hurt, I had to accept it because there was no one to blame but myself. I rubbed my eyes to keep myself awake. I was exhausted. The months had not been kind to my sleeping for every time I closed my eyes the image of Addeline's pained expression haunted me. I look to the sky trying to think of something else. Could I just make it one day without thinking about her? 

Shelly unlocked from my arm and strutted over to the ticket booth, and I look towards the street. The cars passing through the black of the night, their lights illuminating the gravel. The hair on the back of my neck slowly begins to stand, a creepy feeling resonating within me causing my eyes to shoot across the street to the parallel curb. My breath stops in my throat as I lock eyes with a small framed woman, who golden eyes lit up the darkness with an exuberance that put the street lights to shame. Her body leaned against a street post, her full lips  twisted into a sinful smile. She pulled the white patch of hair deeper into the remaining raven black strands. 

It was Addeline-she was standing across the street. My legs felt like jello, as I watched her walk towards me. As she drew closer, I noticed something different. I'd locked the features of Addeline's face deep into my mind, afraid that to forget them. Where her features were soft, this woman's were slender, making her appear slightly older. Her smell was different. Not of cinnamon, but of strawberry. I was confused. The closer she got, the more I could tell she wasn't Addeline, but that didn't stop me from being extremely attracted to her. 

"It's the s****l energy from my Primus Vampire...only surpassed by Incubus, if my husband was here, you would have practically asked him to rip your clothes off."

"I wouldn't-" She raised her small finger to my lips.

"Yes you would. There's no shame in it." A small chuckle escaped her lips. I hated that she was right. "Don't worry..the intensity wears off in time...though I will say with Addeline being mixed with both, it's a wonder you're still so.." She inhales deeply. "Pure." I know my face is flushed. She smirks before inhaling once more. "Well, maybe not THAT pure." "Y-you know Pe-Addeline?" Her brow raises and I feel like an i***t. "Oh come on, you're way too adorable to lack common sense." She smirks at me, and it's like my brain finally turns on. "Y-you're her mother." She laughs a deep laugh. "My names Selene, and I'm assuming yours is Luka." Before I can respond, a shrill interrupts us. 

"Who the hell is this?!" Shelly practically screams at the side of my face, her eyes scanning Selene up and down. Addeline's mother doesn't  flinch, quite the opposite, her eyes glow brighter, but her lips still remain in a smirk. "Run along dear, I'm not someone you want to provoke." Her voice is deadly, and I shoot Shelly a quick glance that she ignores. 

"I don't know who the f**k you think-" 

"ENOUGH!" A deep roar penetrates from Selene causing Shelly to stop in her tracks. "I don't have time for this shit." A hiss even scarier than the roar follows, Her fangs gleaming in the moonlight. "SCRAM!" Shelly finally finds her footing and darts away from us. Selene, whose eyes are wild and bright gold with fury locks into me.

"You're coming with me" The street goers continue their pace, as if they don't hear or see Selene drag me into the darkness.