Dreamer

21.

No.

It can't be!

It shouldn't be!

"I don't understand... How is this possible?" My gaze blood shot on Articus, who is also staring at me as the past vanishes off around us.

"You are a doppelganger of my daughter, Farah." Articus tells me while his words sounds foreign to me.

"Doppelganger? How is that possible, why do I, of all people look like your daughter? I thought you said you found me after learning of the prophecy and wanted revenge through that?" I ask Articus, as my own words ring in my ears and I question myself, just what it is I find stopping me from resisting Articus anymore.

"And that is the truth. Yes, all I wanted from the start was revenge Atheena, and I would be a liar if I dare sugarcoat it, because its the truth. But then, I learned about you, your past, your parents and even if I came for revenge, it sifted into curiosity. 

I watched you, I saw of what heart you had beating inside you, a familiar one that I knew just too well, one which was taken untimely from me. So, even if I did come for you for revenge, it no longer stays in my heart because it is now so much more than you know." Articus tells me, as I fight not to accept his words easily.

"So much more of what!" My voice raising. "First I couldn't believe there was a world filled with magic and supernaturals, and now that I did, it gets deeper to say I am some sort of reincarnation of somebody, how does that work Articus?" I ask him clearly defeated.

With the sound of his name draping from my lips, Articus stares at me sternly. "The only way you are going to learn of this world Atheena, is when you let it all go and let the power consume you, which I have been trying to teach you." Articus tells me. 

At his words, my lips open up, but stays that way, as with his words, I can't help but feel challenged knowing the fact that I do want to understand how this world works.

"Fine then, I'm ready." I tell Articus while he his gaze averts from me.

"No you're not Atheena." He tells me taking some distance away.

"I am ready, who are you to say I'm not? You want me to be ready and I want to understand how it came to be that I'm a look alike to no one else, but your daughter, and your words when you say there is so much more, which everyone keeps telling me and do not give me a proper explanation." I speak not faltering or stopping, as the words erupt uncontrolled.

"If you say you're ready, fine." Articus turns back to me. "Then you should be ready for this." And before I can muster a thing, Articus sends an army of weapons kept in the environment, flying my direction unexpectedly.

"Ah!" Out of fear, I cower in my own embrace and wait for the impact, but it never comes making me open my eyes which became closed in the process. 

Whatever it is that Articus sent my direction all lay in a pause, while my gaze drifts to him only to view the disappointment he has in his eyes.

"All I ever want is to protect you, even if I couldn't before, but with that I'll need you to be strong on your own, yet, it seems you are not ready to see what it is I see." Articus voice low, revealing the level of his trials and disappointment knowing, I'm the only cause.

Yes, it shouldn't matter to me what he actually thinks, but it does. So, I do care and hate the disappointment I see in his eyes knowing I can offer better that what I'm giving. 

I'm trying to be ready, and still yet even after the death of my grandmother the only thing that is was able to wake in my body is the surge of power to be able to move a few things, which just even comes on reflex.

Articus stares at me one last time before turning his back and wanting to walk away and I know, I know I can't let him see me with disappointment. I may not understand what it feels like to loose a child, because I have never had one, but I do know what it feels like to loose a person, so when you're given another opportunity of seeing the person in front of you, even if its just a reincarnation of that person, you would tend to make things right.

Just like the way it is with Articus.

From the looks of how he was with his daughter, I can't begin to fathom the amount of affection he had towards her, and since she was killed, I may be able to understand his reasons.

Though, for some unexplained thought, I do believe there is much more to which he is telling me.

"Wait." I stop him.

"Don't push yourself more than you can take, we'll continue tomorrow. Have a good night Atheena." Articus tells me not even even stopping.

No!

He gets far from me, almost leaving my presence, when I run towards him since he isn't ready to listen to my words. 

"Wait. I want to Lea...." My words gets thrown back after stopping Articus, as my fingers come in contact with his arm, and at the instant my body is thrown unexpectedly somewhere into the memory world unknown to me, and out of Articus doing.

The sky bright, with the sun shinning beautifully, that I do not know when a smile creeps on my lips, seeing the sun in a while.

I close my eyes, inhaling the feeling of rays passing through me, until I hear the words of people talking. My ears perk up as my eyes open, turning to the left to see Articus in his usual dark outfit, with a man I barely recognize.

I take in my environment seeing the familiar grounds and buildings, as it comes to my attention that I am indeed in the demon world, and the only difference being that, the sun shines brightly here, while in present, it is replaced by dark clouds.

"If you continue with that, you do know you can not protect her forever, they will come for her." The man whom I try to recognize by going closer speaks, when I do place him to be Articus next in command.

Malcolm.

"Then I would burn and kill them all, if they do touch a hair on her head." Articus speaks, and I feel the gravity of his words.

"And that would only cause war between your people. Doing that would make them believe you are choosing her upon them." Malcolm, his second in command adds.

Who are they speaking of?

I move closer, wanting to hear it all before Articus speaks. "And if they do not give me a choice. I will. They need to understand that Atheena is much more powerful than what she portrays and the day she wakes, I want to be there to see her through it." Articus says and my eyebrows furrow together hearing their words about me.

"And yet, you make it sound like you are choosing her above us, which you are, just because she has the face of Farah? You of all people should not be deceived by that, because you know she isn't, so Articus do not betray your people for this." Malcolm says.

"Betray?" Articus stares at Malcolm in disbelief. "Watch your words Malcolm and know where you stand." Articus glares at Malcolm. "I would never betray my people, because I know they look up to me, but do not neglect that by thinking I would condone any form of disrespect or betrayal from them, because no matter what, I am still their king." Articus voice with power and authority.

"My loyalty stands with my people and they know that, yet, why do I receive the feeling you have mixed thoughts about them, Malcolm." Articus speaks more like a question, but a statement.

"Not at all Articus." Malcolm says, but even I do not agree with his words and so does Articus, yet, he doesn't speak too much about it.

"But, if you do feel such a way, I would listen to you of course and find a solution to that, which I already have, after all who can I listen to if I don't listen to my next in command." Articus speaks, whereas I stay perplexed and Malcolm does.

One thing with Articus is, do not ever underestimate his power.

"I do not understand what is is you mean by that, Articus." Malcolm speaks, whereas I only listen and watch the two.

"You will." At the final words of Articus, he gaze remains on Malcolm, as his orbs turn red and the sky begin to tremble, while fear builds in Malcolm's eyes.

Lightening begins to strike, as my own heart races at the intensity of them like though, I would be striked any moment from then, but that doesn't faze Articus, yet, Malcolm on the other hand stares in fear and perplexity. 

Articus raises his hands emerging thunders coerce with lightening, and before I know it, the sky begins to turn dark and sun cowering inside. At the point when the whole sky turn dark with lightening beaming through it, Articus drops his hands, before his orbs goes back to normal.

"Articus." Malcolm calls his name in fear and perplexity. “You have just changed the sky," Malcolm adds, wanting to know reason for that, and so do I.

"Yes I have, that way I won't have to kill anyone who trespass or want to harm Atheena, because before any passes through, I would feel each and every of them. That way, Atheena is safe and my people are to." Articus speaks and I find myself taken aback by his words.

So, that is indeed the reason for the clouds.

So, this is all to protect me?

Why?

"What about your people, what would they think?" Malcolm speaks, as I do notice the shakiness in his voice.

"Let me worry about that." Articus tells Malcolm with a look I can't quite comprehend. The instant Articus utters his words, I feel the memory begin to fade around me, before I'm brought back to reality, of staring at Articus deep in his eyes.

"Now you see, its not just the Bellator luminis whom finds you as a threat. Now you see my reasons for wanting to teach you all I know before its too late." Articus says to me.

"Late for what?" My voice comes low, still trying to reason it all.

I

"Late for the war to come." Articus explains as shudders covers my entire body.

"Then teach me, teach me all it is I have to know." I respond to Articus, with my voice certain this time around