Chapter 22
Chapter Twenty-Two
“You’ve had me like this since long before you could see me,” Alderian admitted with a vehemence that startled her. “And I believe it’s been the same for you. You have desired and yearned for me since before your current existence as Augustine.”
An electric shiver ran down her spine. An ancient, forbidden love—yes, that was exactly what it felt like.
Her feelings for Alderian were both agonizing and sweet, unlike anything she had ever known.
She had once believed herself in love with past partners, but those feelings seemed banal beside the fire Alderian ignited within her.
“Let’s stop chasing our tails, then, life after life. The time has come to stop this game of cat and mouse,” Augustine said. “If I have this anomaly, I don’t think it’s a coincidence or a simple error. I believe it has meaning and consequences, and I intend to use it in our favor.”
Alderian tilted his head. “I wonder which of us is the cat. Before, I would have thought it was me, but I believe I was mistaken. You are the most clever and seductive cat,” he said, smiling as his eyes shone with a new excitement.
“Prepare to be hunted, then. I can be very persistent,” Augustine said.
* * *
Elarión accompanied Ana to her medical check-up alongside Mimí, who was joined at her side by her own A’aruin, Om’n.
Ana’s Thread was completely silver, and it had been a long time since Elarión had seen it that way; however, his relief was mixed with feelings of guilt for the thoughts he had been harboring lately—thoughts so distant from her.
What was it about the Herald that unsettled him so much?
She wasn’t remarkably beautiful. Yes, he acknowledged she was attractive in her own right, but she definitely didn’t possess a beauty that invited one to admire her for something purely aesthetic and fleeting.
He could recognize a luc Lucid in her he found intriguing, but even that didn’t justify the obsession he had developed in recent days, especially after seeing her resist Oblivion by clinging to the memory of Alderian.
Yes, that had wounded him. Seeing her so devoted to Alderian felt like a poisonous knife in the heart. Elarión had always been an even-tempered, neutral, and balanced A’aruin, yet here he was, like a human boy, feeling... what? Jealousy? Or perhaps simply envy. It was ridiculous.
He vaguely recalled Augustine’s spiritual form.
Was Aldana her name? An A’aruin like so many others, nothing special.
And despite that, how many times in these days had he imagined supplanting Alderian?
Displacing him and taking his place beside Augustine?
Because yes, he wanted to belong to her; he wanted their Silver Threads to unite them irrevocably, even if that thought alone was a heresy against the design of Lethe.
He shook his head in annoyance, a gesture that Om’n immediately noticed.
“What’s wrong, Elarión? You’ve been fighting with yourself for days, and you always end up losing,” Om’n noted.
Elarión paused before responding. “Have you felt desire, Om’n?”
“To feel desire, you must have an expectation. I suppose it’s something I only experience when I incarnate as a human,” Om’n replied.
Elarión nodded. “Until now, incarnating as a human seemed like ‘descending’ to an inferior state. But now I think it’s the only time we are truly free.”
Om’n observed him thoughtfully. “What do you seek that freedom for? What is it you’re lacking now?”
Elarión didn’t really know the answer. He only knew that he wanted Augustine’s green eyes to look only at him.
* * *
Stepping from the shower toward her bedroom, barely covered by a towel, Augustine startled. Sitting on her bed was Elarión, with his wings on full display, as majestic as a king, looking like a figure wrought from a book of Greek gods.
“Who are you trying to impress?” Alderian complained, entering from the living room. “You look like a peacock exhibiting yourself like that.”
Elarión stood up and approached her. “Good morning, Herald.”
“Hi...” Augustine replied, feeling somewhat self-conscious in her semi-clothed state, though Elarión didn’t seem to notice his lack of etiquette.
“To what do we owe the honor of your visit?” Alderian asked.
“I came to see the Herald.”
“That’s exactly what I mean. Why?” Alderian pressed.
“I don’t need to give you explanations.”
“I beg to differ,” Alderian said.
“Enough!” Augustine interrupted them. “What is wrong with you two? You’re acting like children! Elarión, you are always welcome, though preferably at hours when I am presentable.”
“Don’t tell him that!” Alderian groaned.
Augustine fixed him with a searing look that left him speechless. She grabbed a dress from her closet and, heading to the bathroom, asked, “How has Ana been? She told me she’s much better; is that right?”
Elarión spoke of Ana’s progress and the frank improvement since she began her treatments, sounding genuinely hopeful.
“What a relief,” Augustine said, returning fully dressed as her wet hair fell down her back.
“Yes, Ana is coming out of this crisis.”
“And so are you,” she added, smiling sweetly at him.
Elarión held her gaze for a long time and continued to stare even when Augustine was busy looking for her hair dryer.
“Enough,” Alderian warned him when she briefly left the room, though Elarión didn’t hide his irritation.
“You are not the one to tell me when to stop.”
When she returned, Augustine noticed the frost in the air. She knew Alderian felt threatened by Elarión’s presence, but she found it adorable to see him so possessive. Both looked at her when she entered the room, but she only had eyes for Alderian, causing Elarión to frown slightly.
Augustine fumbled in her pocket, surprised, as her phone began to vibrate. “Hello? Amanda!” she chatted animatedly, while a silent war unfolded behind her. She covered her ear to avoid distraction.
“Isn’t it time for you to go?” Alderian whispered with ironic amusement.
“No, I’m quite fine, thank you,” Elarión said indifferently.
“What are you aiming for, Elarión? What bug bit you?” Alderian asked.
“The same bug that bit you, too,” he replied, looking pointedly at Augustine.
“Perhaps, but you should be immune to that particular bug,” Alderian countered. His smile remained, though impatience edged his voice.
“Apparently, I haven’t developed the immunity you speak of yet.”
Alderian sighed, resigned. “You will suffer,” he said finally, this time without a trace of irony. “Augustine and I share a connection you can never rival.”
Elarión looked at him. “I know, and yet I can’t stay away... doesn’t that tell you something?”
Alderian shook his head. “In any other matters, my friend, I could be tolerant. But not this. Leave. Now.”
“Yes, let’s meet later at the cafeteria. Let David know; I haven’t seen him since exams,” Augustine said, hanging up the phone.
When she turned around, Alderian was completely alone, looking at her with a look of triumphant satisfaction.