《Fate Candelions: Divine Saga》 Chapter I. Taken on the Road No. 6 Before the beginning They say that the Goddess of War Scaliya appeared imposing from the heavens when a simple prayer reached her ears. She was a woman clad in gold; she had with her two glittering swords in her hands; a spear with two sharp points on her back; a crown of seven rings under her head; and wings that beat a thousand winds in the air. She looked at the subjugated humans and wept. The slavery before her eyes ached in her heart and demanded that evil personified rise before her. Daraj-Vzan, the demon king known for absorbing 100 curses and dooming the humans of that precite land, rose from the shadows with his infinite army. Goddess Scaliya questioned the demon king: "Wicked creature... Why do you persecute these poor souls?" The demon king waved one of his many wrinkled arms in mockery. "Nonsense from you, Goddess of War. There are no poor souls here. Only sins being atoned for. Go back to the heavens, insolent one. This land already belongs to me." The Goddess of War, however, did not return a single word to the demon king. The sword in her left hand glittered like the color of the sun, just as the sword in her right hand glittered like the color of the sea. Scaliya shone in the trembling sky reaching with her sumptuous light every corner of that cursed land. The infinite army attacked her, but they could not touch her. The demon king used his ferocious blade against the Goddess and the two of them engaged in a fight ad aeternum in the eyes of the humans present. Finally, Scaliya banished all the demons underground with her singular strength, and restrained Daraj-Vzan, keeping him bound to her bare feet. Arming herself with her blazing spear, she thrust the weapon into Daraj-Vzan''s face. The rough skin was quickly lashed, as if repelling such nobility. "Why?" Daraj whispered amidst his own blood. "Why do you fight for these humans?" The Goddess then searched the crowd in amazement for the author of the prayer. She smiled as she recognized from afar a slender, weak, young man with bruised skin. The smile caused the demon king to be repulsed. "I can''t ignore an obstinate heart." she replied with her serene eyes. The demon king cried out in fury, as he saw the Goddess Scalyia being further enveloped in her due glow. Chapter I. Taken on the Road No. 6 Behind the moon, where the light rises and the darkness fades. That afternoon should have been like any other for Damian Montgomery. In front of the airport, the young man was waiting for someone. His pose was carefree. A cap covered his head, sunglasses protected his eyes from the afternoon sun. The digital watch on his wrist showed the exact time of his brother''s arrival. He didn''t want to go inside and face the exaggerated amount of people at the airport, he preferred to wait outside. Even though he thought his presence there was unfounded, he remained quiet in the corner, even more so when he saw a familiar head. He was a man with a bright face and golden hair. In part, he looked a lot like Damian, but he was a bit older and out of season. Dressed in a faded, old jeans jacket, his older brother, Elio, was walking calmly out of the airport, carrying a single handbag with him. Does he really have everything he needs in there? An ironic thought occurred to him. When Elio got close enough, he hugged his younger brother who accepted the act with a grimace on his face. "Did you miss me that much? People are watching." Damian complained, walking away. The other smiled broadly. "You''re so tall, Dante." He called him by his affectionate nickname, checking his brother''s body from top to bottom. "I can even see some muscles, is that right?" "Let''s get going." he said, after ignoring his brother''s comment, "Let''s get a cab." The two walked a bit. Elio raised his arm to a vehicle at the curb. "I''m hungry. Why don''t we stop and have a cup of coffee? You must know the best coffee shops around here. "Damian had his cell phone in his hand when he heard him. About to deny it, he was interrupted before he even started. "Dante, your brother is hungry, let''s stop real quick, huh?" Damian sighed. "Elio, I can''t stay long. I have an appointment. And there is a plenty of food in my house." "Ah, that''s fine." the brother pondered watching the cab park. "You prepare something for me, then?" Damian blinked in dissatisfaction, watching his brother get into the cab. Then he gave the taxi driver the address of a well-known caf¨¦ nearby. The image of Elio fervently devouring a simple egg sandwich intrigued him. He even wanted to ask if there was anything like this in England, but he chose not to. He didn''t want to enter into a new conversation. "Why didn''t you ask for anything?" He heard his brother speak with his mouth full. "I''m not hungry." Damian said, running his finger across the screen of his cell phone. He was talking to someone. The older brother wiped his mouth with a napkin and then said: "How is your work on the Internet?" "Everything is fine" he replied without enthusiasm. "How do you think I support myself?" He smiled as he listened to Damian. "You are a well-made adult. Our grandparents did a great job. " Damian frowned upon hearing those words. "Why did you mention them all of a sudden?" "And why not? We''ll visit them, for sure. I miss them." "It''s a whole day''s drive to them. They''re fine, I always send them money. " said Damian without looking at his older brother. "Are you done yet? I really need to go." "Oh, yes, of course. " Elio took the rest of his drink in one gulp and then stood up. "I''ll pay." Damian thought about standing by the bill, but saw that he was already far away. He shook his head, concentrating on the contents of the cell phone in his hand. A satisfied smile opened as he read the message. It hadn''t been long since his brother had left, yet the dissatisfaction appearing on his face was clear. Damian really needed to meet someone. He even let his eyes wander around the establishment. It was late afternoon, the coffee shop was quiet, and ambient music broke up the people''s voices. He preferred to remain immersed in his cell phone again, not wanting to notice anything around him. He hoped that his date wouldn''t be delayed because he had stopped in that coffee shop. It was only when his brother touched him on the shoulder that the boy was pulled out of his own world. "What''s so great about that cell phone anyway?" The older brother asked, putting his wallet away in his pants pocket. Elio had sweet eyes when directed at his younger brother, the joking tone was evident. "Even if I told you, you wouldn''t understand. I''m talking about relationships, have you ever been in one?" Damian tilted his torso keeping his cell phone in his pocket, not wanting to give openings for jokes. "What are you getting at? Know that I am quite popular with women." He let out as he grabbed the strap of his suitcase. "Aren''t you being too mean to your brother who just arrived?" "I already picked you up at the airport, I was kind enough for a year" he pronounced standing up. "Have you paid?" "Yes, I have." he replied. "But tell me, when did it turn bitter?" The two began walking side by side toward the cafeteria exit. Damian rolled his eyes under his glasses. "After being away for so long, wouldn''t it be presumptuous to say that I have become a bitter person?" "Dante!" Elio tried to warn. "Urgh!" Damian tumbled backwards in fright. "Damn it!" The cotton jacket worn by Damian was struck. In front of him was a waitress holding an empty tray in her hand. The drink she was carrying had been spilled on Damian as she bumped into him. It was a purple drink that exuded a strong smell. With her other empty hand, the waitress was holding the arm of a child. "Are you okay?" Elio asked. "Of course not, look at my jacket!" Damian showed angrily. "I wasn''t talking to you." The older brother corrected. Damian crossed his frown, forcing himself to look at the waitress. She was stooped over, talking to the child. Not long after, a woman appeared apologizing for her son''s carelessness. When they left, the waitress stared at the brothers. "Now I can apologize properly. I ended up holding the child for a moment to avoid an accident and faltered with the tray. I apologize for what happened. May I offer something?" she explained with her head down, a sign of apology. "No problem..." Elio began, but was interrupted. "Do you have any idea how much that jacket costs?" Damian inquired dismissively. The waitress blinked. "How?" The boy pointed to the, by then, high-cost clothing. "No, I don''t." "What if it was a hot drink? What if you had hit my face, how would you take responsibility?! You think offering me a sandwich will pay for that?" "Dante, what are you doing?" Elio grabbed his shoulder, but his brother ignored him. "If you''re not capable of carrying a glass on a tray, do you think that''s the right job for you?! Just consider yourself lucky that I''m out of time to talk to your manager." The waitress listened to everything with a placid countenance. "I apologize again, I really didn''t mean to. " she said once again, lifting her face and quickly meeting Elio''s gaze. The waitress blinked a few times. "Let''s go away. I''m never coming back here again. And you can be sure I won''t give this establishment five stars." Damian turned away, leaving the waitress and her brother behind. Elio didn''t know how to act. He just shook his head in bewilderment. "Forgive my younger brother''s rudeness, he''s not usually like this. I guess." However, the waitress didn''t answer. She just stared at him in a way that not even Elio could understand. The older brother left the cafeteria still under her gaze. In the cab, the two brothers followed quietly in the back seat. Damian grimaced as the smell of the drink wafted on the wind. He had to open the car window. Elio gave the boy a disapproving look, which didn''t seem to have any effect. The boy didn''t seem to be shaken by it at all. The older brother evaluated the younger boy''s profile and fought with himself thinking: Is it my fault? Damian had sharp eyes, a thick facade that Elio might not be able to break. He remembered when they were children, the younger one used to act with affection and innocence. He always envied this loving side of him. In the most difficult moments he tried to remember Damian''s friendly face. It brought him peace, it was the only thing that made him want to come home. What exactly had happened? Did he have the right to complain? He couldn''t say. "Why did you act like that?" he asked. "Dante, I''m talking to you." "Which way?" the boy replied without taking his eyes off the cell phone screen. "What are you talking about?" "What was the reason for that rudeness? Didn''t you see that the girl held the child so that something more serious wouldn''t happen?" "Oh, you mean the waitress?" Damian did not change his features. "She should be fired for her lack of competence." Elio raised his eyebrows, indulging in the moment. "Excuse me?!" "You know, don''t you?" Damian turned his body toward his brother, "I work on the Internet, I need my face intact. What if something serious had really happened? These people need to get a reality shock."Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. "These people? How different do you think you are from them? Why are you acting this way?" His words made Damian let out a laugh laden with irony. "Why do I behave that way? Don''t you think you''re a few years too late?" The brother loosened the jaw that had previously been clenched. "You''ve been wandering the world for years, and suddenly you come back wanting to talk about the way I act, as if there''s some right to it?" Elio stopped for a moment to take a breath. He put his hands together, lowering his head. He stared at the shoes he was wearing, trying to distance himself from his brother even though they were side by side. Damian muttered a curse, removing his sunglasses and then putting them away in his coat pocket. He covered his eyes with one hand, speaking: "Let''s not dwell on that subject, why are you taking the pains of someone you don''t know? I''m going on a date, but we can have dinner together later." Elio, however, acted as if he had not listened. "It''s my fault," he spoke suddenly. "I thought I had made the right choice, I thought it would be better.... I shouldn''t have left you behind. I shouldn''t have left you here." Damian closed his fists, becoming almost enraged. "What on earth are you talking about?! I have never, at any time, felt abandoned. " he replied. His countenance was irritated. Sadness created itself on the other''s face. The cab reduced speed as it turned a corner. The silence remained and the sound of the radio playing eased the tension inside the car. The mood outside changed abruptly. The afternoon sun departed leaving heavy black clouds. A somewhat unusual fog rolled in and took over the road. The driver, an elderly man, was wiping the lenses of the glasses he was wearing when he noticed cars honking their horns and swerving ahead. "What is that?" he spoke to himself with an eye on Road 6. Damian was still fiddling with his cell phone when he noticed that the signal had dropped. A quick thought that nothing was going right that day crossed his mind. He huffed, wanting to get out of the vehicle. Elio was not saying anything beside him, it was driving him crazy. He also didn''t want to be the first to start a conversation. He wasn''t going to give in. And in fact, he didn''t have to. "Dante, we need to talk." As he concluded his sentence, Damian didn''t have a chance to respond, as the driver shouted startled: "There''s something on the road!" The brothers heard him, but there was no time to react. The windshield shattered in shock as a weight destroyed the front of the car. The tires screeched against the asphalt, horns sounded everywhere, the vehicle ran into another joining in a collision. Finally, it rolled over and ended up on the curb. Getting out of an overturned car would not be easy. This is what he thought when he opened his eyes, realizing what had happened and that he was also alive. He was able to catch his older brother, pulling the taxi driver out of the front seat with difficulty. Elio was on the outside, until then bruised, he could see a trail of blood running down his neck. Damn, me too? he thought, feeling his head throbbing hard. Why didn''t he take me out first? "Dante! Are you okay? Dante!" Elio''s head appeared in the window. "Stop yelling, I can hear you just fine" Damian was trying to turn around in the back seat. His long body was not adapted for those situations. He was not wearing his belt, he eventually found out what it felt like to be inside a blender. "Do you think you can get out?" asked the visibly distressed brother. "It''s not like I want to stay here any longer. It''s pretty uncomfortable." "Come! Give me your hand and I''ll pull you" Damian obeyed his brother, being brought out of the vehicle. All he had to be thankful for was that the windows were open. The boy managed to stand up with the help of his brother. When he saw the driver passed out on the ground and the chaos that was formed, he was exhausted. His ears were ringing, it was torture inside his head. "What happened here?!" he spoke loudly, rubbing his eyes. "I''m pretty sure something hit the hood of the car before we turned." Suddenly, the people around him began to disperse. Damian had been surprised at how quiet his brother was, but he soon forgot this, and focused on the confusion that was occurring. The boy tried in vain to understand. Not only those who had been involved in the accident, but also others had dropped their cars as if they were running away from something. Most were running scared. Some tried to use their cell phones to record, but quickly gave up. What was coming in the distance? Ignoring the pain in his head, the boy took a step forward. "Damian! Elio''s voice calling him erupted in his ears like a screech. His older brother stood in front and held his shoulders. "You need to pay attention to what I''m going to say now!" "Elio, I think there''s something going on over there. Aren''t you feeling that vibration coming from the ground?!" "Dante, listen!" The older brother shouted once again, shaking the boy''s body with exaggerated force. Damian stared at him. The ground beneath them shook and an impact filled the air, the younger man felt as if a small earthquake passed through his body. Elio now squeezed his shoulders harder, but he had fallen silent. Damian soon discovered the reason. First, he thought that afternoon was supposed to be like any other. Second, he wanted to make sure that he was awake or that maybe, just maybe, the accident a few minutes ago had not broken his head for good. His eyes betrayed him, because what he saw was not possible. "What''s that? What...?" It was a being that caused repulsion. And so close to them it was. A creature that could not be included in the human species, even though it looked like it. It was tall; its skin resembled that of a snake, it had large muscles and a frightening face. It was barefoot, large and dirty fingernails were present both on its feet and on its hands. His eyes were yellow, much of his green hair was missing, as if he suffered from baldness. His appearance was beaten from head to toe. If Damian could say anything, he would praise the characterization of this cosplay. After all, it was just cosplay, right? The monstrous gun in his hand was fake, right? Every shapeless atmosphere he felt at the moment was a lie, right? "Elio, are you seeing what I''m seeing? ARE YOU?!" Surprised to hear his own voice, he shouted to his older brother. "Did you like the surprise?" A voice they had never heard before, clownish and cynical. The being had spoken to them, and was getting closer. The boy wanted to say something more, but his throat would not allow it. He couldn''t. Elio didn''t say a word to the boy. Damian couldn''t imagine that his brother was that strong, as he was pushed meters away from him. By the craziness of the moment, he could swear that his brother had put something in his jacket pocket. The boy was thrown hard, and only stopped rolling when he stepped off the asphalt and onto the grass. He opened the eyes that had gathered without realizing it. The world was still spinning, but the scene in the distance was more important. His older brother was still facing it. His heart was beating hurriedly inside his chest, Damian felt scared like a little puppy. What is happening? Is it a nightmare? I am inside a dream, is that it?! The boy''s eyes widened at what came next. The enigmatic being fiddled with his belt, causing a long silver chain to fall to the ground. And as if it had a life of its own, the chain flew directly around Elio''s neck, wrapping around him several times. A strong light emanated and the older brother glowed along with the adoba. Before it evaporated and disappeared completely, he extended his arm toward Dante. Run, Elio said. In response, the boy shouted. Even if he wanted to, he could not. His legs had no life left in them. "What just happened?" he muttered, mesmerized. "That thing... Did it evaporate my brother? Elio?! Where are you?" Damian didn''t know why his brother had disappeared before his eyes. Nothing was real, he wanted to tell himself that it didn''t happen. It was part of some joke, it was being recorded, it was going to be on television. Elio would soon be back, laughing and saying: I caught you, you should have seen your face! However, the chaotic situation surrounding him was too palpable for it all to really be a tasteless invention. The chain that had been used to evaporate Damian''s brother obediently returned to the being''s belt. The weapon that the boy had consequently come to fear was about to be used. A rather large and heavy axe with a fertile blade in the shape of a half-moon. The wood that supported it was outlined with sharp spines. The creature''s eyes met Dante''s and he could feel his body temperature drop. Don''t come, he thought, don''t come, please. All he could do was wait. He already understood that the being was now walking towards him. All roads in that instant would lead to death. What a beautiful way to die. I always thought I would be run over. He thought about his older brother, almost not wanting to believe that Elio was in fact dead. His eyes burned. "Stop right there!" Damian moved his head hearing a voice. The creature acted the same way. Two policemen were pointing their guns at the unknown being. Of course, there was no disputing that he was the threat there. However, Damian felt an agonizing chill run up his spine. "Drop the object on the ground and put your hands on your head!" spoke the first cop. The creature said nothing, but did as given the order. It crouched slowly, leaving its weapon on the ground. Damian was numb from the pain, but he could see that this was not going to go any other way. There was nothing the cop could do. That''s when the boy gathered his strength: "RUN! GET OUT OF HERE, HE''S GOING TO..." He didn''t finish speaking. Without deviation, the axe guided itself through the air to the first cop. The boy shrugged his shoulders, watching the man''s head hang back. Blood gushed from the terrible cut, and the policeman lay dead on the ground. Shots were fired, coming from the second policeman. The man, also overcome with horror, didn''t notice when the axe floated up from behind, hitting him in the back. Damian''s tearful gaze captured everything. He felt his stomach wrack and his mind turn several times. It felt like he was going to faint. Merciless, the disgusting being soon called the axe back to himself. He smelled the fresh blood of the men on his weapon, enjoying it in delight. "Ah, the smell of this filthy earth is not as bad as I thought. It''s a shame that I have to stay for such a short time. I''d love to smell more of it. " he spoke more to himself, laughing triumphantly. "Of course, I hate to do these things unnecessarily, but I need to take the lives of all those who stand in my way. You think I''m wrong, huh?" Damian swallowed the saliva stored in his mouth, daring himself to say: "What have you done with my brother?!" The voice came crashing in. "What are you?! Why are you doing such things?!" The creature smiled sadistically and jumped where it stood. "Ah, what a delightful, delightful, delightful moment! In front of me, right in front of me, I have Elio''s brother! Elio, the hero! Elio, savior! He, who was supposed to save everyone, won''t be able to save his own brother!" he laughed cheekily, happiness leaping in the veins of his face. "And even better, little brother doesn''t know anything. I wonder if I deserved a present like that, huh?! Damian threw everything he heard away, going back to the beginning: "What have you done with my brother?!" "You''ll never know," he said, still content. The wind played with Damian''s hair, the cap that once protected him was gone at some point, as was his cell phone. In the bushes behind him, he could hear crickets singing. There were no more police to appear, no more people passing by. It was a nightmare he could never imagine having or experiencing. He was alone. He would miss the meeting he had promised to show up for. Would she forgive him? If she knew what had happened? Would she believe him? The axe in the creature''s hand was still dripping blood like decoration. The being was too close this time, there was nowhere to go. Should I start praying now? Isn''t it too late for that? "You are going to die!" the creature declared, raising the axe above the boy''s head. "You are going to die without knowing anything!" The boy, mortified by the moment, closed his eyes and prayed. When he felt nothing, he thought the pain was so great that it had the opposite effect. He was wrong. "What?!" It was not Damian who had said that, but the creature. As he lifted his head, he understood the surprise explicit in the being''s shapeless face. Someone had come between them. The axe didn''t cut his head off, and now he could see why. A gleaming two-edged spear received every blow. The boy opened his mouth slightly when he recognized who was wielding the gun to defend him. "Who are..." The avowed enemy tried to say something, but the mistress of the spear wouldn''t let him. She propelled her weapon against the axe and kicked her newest opponent. The thud made itself present in the air, causing a commotion in the room. The being was thrown away from both of them. The girl then turned her body toward Damian, still sitting on the grass. She held the spear vehemently. "Are you okay?" she asked, getting down on her knees. The boy didn''t answer. "Are you hurt? Can you stand up?" "It''s you... The waitress... I''m going crazy..." She wrinkled her face, watching his confusion. Damian still stared at her in amazement. The girl was wearing the cafeteria uniform, her hair was tied back behind her head, and the spear in her hand did not match her at all. "You don''t seem to be badly hurt. " she said, analyzing him. "Where''s your brother?" His pupils wobbled. "Elio... My brother, he..." "He died?" "No! We were attacked by that thing and it caught him in a shiny chain that made my brother disappear! He can''t be dead!" The waitress pondered for a few seconds. "That thing I just kicked, is out to kill you. And it doesn''t look like it''s going to quit until it''s done that." "Why?! Why?! Why does he want to kill me and what did he do to my brother?!" She made a puzzled face. "You don''t know?" Damian replied with a clear face of one who didn''t know. The waitress rethought what to say. "From the yellow eyes, I believe that guy is a hybrid. An ancient race called Halvina... But what the hell is he doing here?" "A hybrid? What does that mean? Where did he come from? What''s going on and you... Why did you..." he was saying a little giddy. The waitress''s face changed, her black eyes became cabalistic. "He is nothing more than a murderer. What was human about him is long gone. They are hard to kill." The boy''s lung filled with air. "Why is this happening?!" They could not continue. Like a furious bull, her opponent was running back at her in full flight. The girl braced herself for the impact, but the shock was still great. Axe against spear, the rabid being made her go backwards, while growling like an animal. "How dare you! Who do you think you are to get in my way? No one takes away my pleasure!" She didn''t answer him. Taking advantage of his inconsistency, she tipped him forward, taking the weight of the axe off of him. He came back quickly to try to attack her once more, but the waitress was light on her feet. She defended herself by dragging one of the sharp edges to his face. A cut was made, releasing a thick, greenish blood. Her opponent, discredited, ran his finger across her cheek. She stepped back in a defensive position. "How about I talk a little bit now?" She released to him. "Who are you and what do you want here?" She is fast, agile. She knows what to do, Damian thought aloofly, with great surprise. Who is she? "I don''t understand, I don''t understand, I don''t understand!" the enemy was saying insanely. The waitress clenched her eyes at him. "There shouldn''t be anyone else here, there shouldn''t be any of them here! No one should stop me. Did you follow me?" he vociferated. "Don''t you think you''re giving yourself too much importance? Why would I follow a murderer like you?!" Damian heard her and wanted to ask her not to say any provocations. He feared it even more at the moment. Could any agreement come out of that conversation? "You''re not one of them, are you? No, you can''t be one of them. You''re not wearing anything. BUT WHAT ARE YOU, HUH? Why are you carrying that gun?!" The being clutched the axe hard as it screamed. "My gun? It was a gift. Why? You never got one?" she teased again, moving the spear deftly in the air. "Damn. I''m going to... cut you..." His eyes pulsed as if they were going to jump. The sense of urgency grew. "You need to get out of here!" She directed her words to a still paralyzed Damian. "Run and hide somewhere!" He stood hesitantly. "I will kill... Cut off all your limbs... I will..." The being called a hybrid raved taking its own time. "Now! You have to go now!" shouted the girl. "But what about you?" he shouted in response as well. The enemy''s horizon cleared. The first drops of rain began to fall. The boy hadn''t moved a foot yet. "I... I already know where I''m going first. " The being moved hungrily, searching for Damian. The waitress, anticipating her opponent, joined the hybrid at the same instant he reached the boy. She pulled the boy by the coat, preventing the enemy''s sharp blow. The boy staggered dazedly, having no reaction to such a situation. The other two - waitress and hybrid - faced each other. Damian remained between them. The horrid being constantly tried to hurt him, while the waitress defended him, according to the enemy''s attacks. The opponent continued until it grabbed the boy''s torso, as if grabbing a rabbit by the ears. Damian struggled against the touch, hindering the being''s action. The waitress released him, reaching with her sharp blade for the disgusting arm of the enemy. She grabbed the boy to herself, pulling away as far as she could. Without a gap, the hybrid turned red. Anger surging in its yellow eyes. "Enough!" The powerful shout was not a mere cry of anger but a hidden blow. A thin crack in the floor opened and the waitress was struck by a vile blast, being thrown away close to the boy. The two of them were launched into a scramble, disappearing among the trees, leaving behind a trail of soil stirred. Chapter II. Axe versus Spear The waitress was the first to stand. There were scratches all over her body and twig marks on her skin. Her hair was now swinging free, just as her work uniform was quite unrecognizable. She ran the back of her hand over the corner of her mouth, tasting the strange taste of blood. Then she found the boy still on the ground. ¡°Are you all right?¡± she asked in a genuine voice. Damian was on his knees, his appearance crumpled. He was also breathing with difficulty. ¡°No, I''m not all right. I¡­¡± He stopped to swallow. ¡°What is all this? Why is this happening to me? Why is that thing trying to kill me? There''s my brother too, and you¡­¡± The waitress looked him over completely, blinking a frown. Again, she approached him, crouching down. ¡°First, you need to control your emotions and realize the situation. Why don''t you just deal with what is happening at the moment? For example, he''s marked you.¡± ¡°Damian turned his chin to where the girl pointed, noticing a mark on his neck. It was shaped like a hand. ¡°What the hell?!¡± ¡°It means you can''t run away from him anymore. He will find you wherever you go. Now he needs to be killed.¡± she let out, simplistically. Damian heard her paralyzed. ¡°Of course this wouldn''t have happened if you had run away when I spoke.¡± ¡°What did you expect? I can''t think straight!¡± ¡°You''d better start thinking straight and feel the weight of your life! Whining while you should have run away didn''t help!¡± she raised her voice, but softened her expression soon after. ¡°For now, don''t be so desperate. He won''t kill you. I won''t let him.¡± Damian looked straight into her eyes. ¡°Are you thinking of facing him alone? That thing killed two men just now! An axe flew out and hit them full in the face! They died without even¡­¡± ¡°Yeah, I saw it.¡± Her face contorted in sorrow. ¡°I can take him on. I''m only at a disadvantage, but it''s something I can reverse in a short time.¡± ¡°Waitress, can you hear yourself?¡± Damian asked incredulously. The girl finally stood up hopefully. The two of them heard the hybrid''s voice approaching from where they were standing. The rain that had been hinting at his appearance, came with everything this time. ¡°There is one thing I know about the Halvinas, the hybrid beings. They need time to regenerate; it is laborious to kill, but not impossible. Stay behind me, okay? Try to stay out of his sight.¡± ¡°That won''t work, we''ll die.¡± Damian moved his mouth in despair. The hybrid came humming through the trees. The waitress removed the vest from her uniform and threw it away. ¡°Is this your way of rooting for me?¡± ¡°Is there anything I can do?¡± ¡°Just wait. See the moment and find an opening. I need to catch him off guard.¡± Damian stepped away, using the dimness as a hiding place. He couldn''t tell if the rainwater was helping or hindering. He watched as the girl turned her single spear into a two-handed weapon. Did she break it in half? ¡°It''s no use trying to hide it from me! I know very well where he is!¡± The voice that would be in Damian''s ears for a long time was heard. ¡°I''m not trying to hide him, I just want him to avoid looking at you. Your appearance is frightening.¡± The waitress let out a cheeky voice. ¡°Who do you think you are?!¡± The girl managed to irritate him, causing him to emerge from the shadows in a direct attack. ¡°You don''t want to know.¡± she replied, watching the creature come toward her. The sound of the two blades meeting irritated Damian''s eardrums. The hybrid now attacked angrily, without direction. The girl was more accepting of the blows than receiving them. The spear, broken in two, was now much more effective against the axe than before. The boy hiding behind the trees was impressed with her movements. She could take all the pressure from the hybrid, who appeared to be stronger all the time. However, it was as if the waitress was different. Something about her was out of the ordinary, the way she acted, the confidence she carried, everything leaned towards the girl''s side. Still, the other carried a murderous and evil instinct, willing to use any trick to win. This was worrying, Damian feared more for the girl than for himself. After all, she was defending him, wasn''t she? What would become of him if something happened to the waitress? Damian barely blinked and his thoughts were brought back to reality. The axe cut her, the skin on her belly showed. The bruise disturbed her to the point that she was picked up again by the hybrid. The waitress used one of the spears to receive the blow, but still her opponent hit her with a kick to the already bruised stomach. Damian clutched the bark of the tree moved by the scene. Damn, now what? The hybrid continued, as the girl fell to her knees on the wet ground. But it wasn''t enough to stop her. Even on the ground, beneath the rain, she still held his axes, crossing the blades over each other. The waitress gasped, Damian figured that if she had a plan, she should introduce it at that very moment or all would be lost. Just wait. He remembered her words as he watched her on the floor. See the moment. What exactly should I do?? He would surely die if he tried to fight. Nothing could assure him. However, he had only the girl to help him. As he watched her being pushed against the ground, he realized the danger. If something happened, and it was about to, there would be no way out. Damian came out of the darkness, roaring against the wind. ¡°It''s me you want, isn''t it! WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?¡± The waitress''s eyes widened, and the Hybrid seemed to like that. ¡°Just a second, I''ll be right with you.¡± ¡°Wait¡­¡± the girl on the floor lost consciousness as she faltered. The hybrid didn''t use the axe, but his closed fist. This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. Damian lost even more the sparkle in his eyes when he saw the creature that had ruined his afternoon walking towards him. ¡°I wonder¡­" it said sadistically as it grabbed Damian by the neck with one arm. The boy jerked his feet in the air. ¡°What will be his reaction when he finds out that I ripped his little brother''s head off? Damian''s eyes glowed vividly, bathed in water from the sky. ¡°My brother?! Is he alive?¡± the boy spoke between small breaths. ¡°What a magnificent night it will be tonight!¡± he exasperated, full of thirst, using the axe with the other hand. He took aim at the boy''s throat. Damian closed his eyes, without praying this time, and then dropped to the ground. When he opened his eyes again, he found a broken forearm. His stomach wracked as he saw that a puddle of green blood was forming on the ground. The hybrid faced the right side of his armless body, ungodly. ¡°Go!¡± Damian''s heart relaxed as he heard the girl''s voice. He promptly obeyed her. The creature also reacted. It screamed, seized with rage. The boy ran away, fearing that the hybrid would use the axe again. However, the creature didn''t say what it thought. The chain on the enemy''s belt, acting on its own, flew straight into Damian''s leg. The boy was caught feeling a weight on his ankle and went to the ground. The chain coiled around his shin like a long snake. The hybrid sent his own axe flying toward the girl meters away from him. Still on the ground, she dodged it, almost losing something important, her head. The insane creature, acting smart, looked for the half of the spear still fallen, the half responsible for tearing off her right arm. As he tried to pick it up from the ground, he felt an unexpected pressure. The spear half repulsed him, setting his hand on fire. He let it go, disappointed, turning his head back to the girl: ¡°A blood oath?!¡± ¡°I have my tricks too," she said, listening to the boy struggle against the living current. Damian could see his leg beginning to fade. Not that one, he thought desperately. The waitress called back the other half of the spear, bringing them together again. The axe couldn''t return in time, for she stuck her powerful weapon into the wet earth, and created a stealthy barrier that prevented the weapon from returning to its owner. ¡°No, you damn girl!¡± The hybrid advanced armless, she spun her body next to the spear in a sharp dance, encompassing the creature. She didn''t hesitate for seconds, giving him no chance for defense. She made him topple over and fall on his belly, gasping for air. ¡°Let him go! Call the chain!¡± he shouted at the hybrid, with the pointed spear at his neck. ¡°Do you really think you can do anything?¡± The hybrid shouted. ¡°I''m disappearing!¡± Damian''s voice came out in agony. Acting without much conscience, he split his weapon again. ¡°Take it!¡± she ordered the boy, throwing half the spear into the air. The weapon went over the barrier with ease, falling close to the boy. Damian crawled to the weapon, taking it in his hand. Feeling the different weight of it, he struck the chain without much else to do. There were sparks, and the support rings beat a retreat, like fleeing rats. The hybrid, from where he stood, wanted to act enraged, but was stopped by the girl, who shot him. The enemy then gave her his full attention. ¡°Why is a Halvina like you here? What do you want with him?¡± ¡°You''ll pay for this! I''ll tear you apart, damn you!¡± he promised in between, causing her to press the jagged edge even tighter against his chest. ¡°What do you want here?!¡± ¡°Don''t think this is the end of it. You can''t kill me! You''re nobody, you''re not one of them!¡± As he finished speaking, the hybrid bit his tongue. His body gradually began to rot from the inside out. The waitress blinked several times, observing the scene. She saw him disappear before her eyes, the rest of his body dissolved into dust and washed away by the rainwater. The tip of the spear touched the ground, without a target. ¡°Yeah, I''m not¡­¡± he murmured softly, answering the vanished enemy. Damian, who had watched the whole thing lying on the ground, limped up. ¡°What happened? Did you kill him?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°No?! Where did he go then?¡± He approached stunned. ¡°He sacrificed his own body in order to save himself. He must be regenerating, hiding in a corner somewhere.¡± Damian''s face returned to the way it was before. Concerned. ¡°It was my fault, I faltered. I let his arm slip.¡± ¡°What? His arm? Where is it? It was here a while ago¡­¡± The boy searched for the missing limb, turning his head in various directions. ¡°I told you, didn''t I? Hybrids are hard to kill, precisely because they can regenerate themselves from any part of the body.¡± ¡°Why did you cut off his arm?¡± She stared at him. ¡°Why did you let yourself be strangled?¡± Damian blinked. ¡°What does that mean? And now what? What''s going to happen now?¡± The girl straightened, taking the other half of the spear from Damian and putting them back together. She leaned on the weapon and the two looked at each other. ¡°That means we still have a few hours of peace before he comes after you. Maybe even tomorrow.¡± He squeezed his eyes shut. ¡°You''ve got to be kidding me!¡± he exasperated. ¡°But what if you''re wrong? Maybe he could be dying in a corner somewhere.¡± The waitress sighed, shifting her body weight. ¡°I wish I could agree with you, but you still have the mark of his hand on your neck. The mark will only disappear when he''s dead.¡± Damian''s face gradually lost its color, seeing that there was still the shape of a hand on his neck. ¡°How do you know all this?¡± the boy asked, but she didn''t answer. ¡°And what do we do in the meantime?¡± ¡°Well, you can try to understand why this is happening to you.¡± she said, as she started to walk. Damian followed her and the sirens were heard by both of them. ¡°I really need some time to get back into the fight with him.¡± ¡°Are you going to fight him again?¡± he asked, lacing his fingers together. The waitress turned to the boy. ¡°There''s no one else who can do this, is there?¡± she said as if hiding something. Damian wondered at the girl''s dark eyes. ¡°You better not want to know why I''m helping you. Don''t make me see that I''m not getting anything out of this, that I''m only risking my life for a boy I don''t know and who was even very rude when he met me.¡± The boy swallowed hard. ¡°I''m sorry about that.¡± he said. ¡°Your brother had already apologized for you anyway.¡± she concluded. The two walked back, one beside the other. The boy thought quickly about Elio. ¡°By the way, who exactly is your brother? He was full of Refulgent Energy in his head.¡± ¡°Refulgent Energy? What is it?¡± Damian asked interested and she gave him a puzzled look in response. ¡°Your question only proves that you really don''t know anything about his life, don''t you?¡± Damian stomped hard to the ground, running a hand over the back of his head, half lost. What did he have to know about his brother? What was Elio hiding? Was he all right? There''s something else I want to know, but it''s about you, he thought. ¡°I don''t know your name.¡± The boy said. That made her think for a moment. ¡°It''s Autumn.¡± ¡°Just Autumn?¡± ¡°Yes, just Autumn.¡± ¡°Well, my name is¡­¡± ¡°Dante, I know. I heard it from your brother.¡± ¡°Actually, it''s Damian. Damian Montgomery. Only my brother calls me Dante.¡± She blinked at what she heard, raising her eyebrows. ¡°Okay.¡± she said, walking back. ¡°Aren''t you coming, Dante?¡± He blinked, walking away. ¡°Just Damian, please.¡± he corrected her. ¡°Where are we going again?¡± ¡°To my house.¡± ¡°Why to your house?¡± ¡°Because that''s where I''m going now, and if you want me to protect you, you''ll come after me.¡± Damian shook his head, unable to deny it. ¡°Is it far?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I don''t have money for a cab.¡± ¡°Neither do I, Dante.¡± Chapter III. Short Waiting The two of them walked a lot. This helped to dry out of their rain-soaked clothes. The girl limped now and then, which made Damian wonder how badly she was hurt. There were visible bruises, but Autumn didn''t seem to mind. The spear was gone too. With a simple flick of the hand, the weapon was gone - into an invisible crevice, almost imperceptible to the eye. The young man decided not to question it, even though several doubts took up space in his mind. Autumn lived in a ten-story building. The only elevator was closed, so they had to use their legs. It was the sixth flight of stairs they had climbed; for her it didn''t seem to be tiring at all, but Damian had an exhausted look on his face. He saw himself as a street dog by the way he followed her, without any intimacy to break the silence. When they stopped in front of a door, he couldn''t help but ask: ¡°Do you really live here?¡± Glancing around, the boy concluded that the place had not been renovated for years. It needed basic care, like plastering and painting. The lighting was dim, which made the atmosphere strange. ¡°Yes, I do live here.¡± Autumn rummaged under the rug and pulled out a loose key. ¡°Will you leave your key there?¡± he asked. She opened the door and let him through: ¡°Come right in.¡± When he entered the apartment, Damian noticed that it was as small as he had imagined, but clean and organized. ¡°You can rest on the couch.¡± she said, walking around the place. Damian just nodded, walking slowly to the corner of a window, without using the sofa. Leaning against the wall, he slid down to sit on the floor. He put his hands on his head, covering his face. Yes, of course you would start hurting now, he thought to himself, feeling pain in his head. What a mess. The boy felt the wind breeze through the window into the pores of his skin. The night was cold and dark. He heard meowing and barking. He began to reflect and came to the conclusion that he needed to make a phone call. He had lost his cell phone, his wallet with his documents, as well as his sunglasses and cap. He had only the clothes he was wearing, as well as his stained jacket. ¡°Can I borrow your cell phone?¡± he asked as he watched her walk by. ¡°I don''t have one, but you can use the phone next to the television.¡± She pointed, as she walked toward the door. ¡°Are you going somewhere?¡± she asked after standing up and walking over to the corded phone. Damian judged her quickly for this. At the door, Autumn answered: ¡°I''m going to ask my neighbor for some bandages. I don''t have anything here, I think we need it. You need to clean yourself up, there''s dried blood on your face.¡± As he watched her leave, Damian concluded that he should have asked how the girl was doing. Her own appearance didn''t matter much now. Had she been hurt badly? If so, Autumn did not show it. Maybe the girl was really strong, even stronger than he had witnessed. Pressing the buttons on the small phone, he had to wait only two rings for the person on the other end to answer. ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°Hi, it''s me,¡± he said dryly. ¡°Damian? Why are you calling me from a different number?¡± The female voice rang strangely from the other end of the line. ¡°Do you know how many times I''ve called and texted?¡± ¡°I wonder.¡± ¡°Did something happen? I was really worried.¡± ¡°Aren''t you angry because I didn''t show up?¡± ¡°I''m not someone who feels anger easily, but yes, I was upset. Will you tell me what happened?¡± ¡°I... I had an accident.¡± ¡°Really?! You''re not making this up, are you?¡± ¡°No, I''m not.¡± ¡°Oh my God, are you okay? Are you hurt?¡± ¡°I''m fine, you don''t have to worry. The cab I was in got into a traffic jam on Route 6.¡± ¡°What? It was on the news. I can''t believe you were in that accident. There are some strange videos on the internet, I can''t explain it very well. But you''re really okay, aren''t you? Where are you? I''ll come over.¡± ¡°No!¡± ¡°No?¡± The voice changed with the denial heard, Damian sighed listening to the door open and close. Inhibited, he decided to put an end to the conversation. ¡°Mia, I''m sorry. But I''ll need to leave town for a few days. I''ll probably be unable to communicate.¡± ¡°What does that mean?¡± He paused, casting discreet glances at the girl standing there with him. ¡°We won''t see each other for a while. Until I can sort everything out.¡± ¡°That''s the worst excuse you''ve ever given me, you know.¡± He remained silent. ¡°Damian?¡± ¡°Bye, Mia.¡± He put the phone on the hook, letting his gaze meet Autumn''s. The girl squeezed her eyes shut, her eyes tightening. The girl squeezed her eyes shut in pity. ¡°Your girlfriend?¡± ¡°No.¡± she shook her head, almost sad at the possibility. ¡°She was just a friend. A friend who... It was for the best.¡± Autumn nodded, holding a small box in her hand. ¡°My neighbor didn''t have much, I''ll see what I can do. Do you need anything?¡± He said no. ¡°Okay, then. I''m going to change, so feel free to wash your face at the kitchen sink. You don''t have to sit on the floor either. I just advise not to turn on the TV, the media is trying to figure that thing out.¡± ¡°Was it recorded?¡± Nothing very clear. From what I saw in my neighbor''s, the cab driver you were in gave an interview. ¡°So, is he okay?¡± Damian''s face lit up. ¡°Yes, very well. So well that he clearly spoke of a hideous creature landing on the windshield of the car. I think that''s how the accident started. He even mentioned two young men who were with him and disappeared after the car overturned.¡± Damian brought his hand to his mouth, thoughtfully. ¡°This is already out of our control, try not to lose your temper.¡± She disappeared into the hallway, into the bathroom. Damian was angry for a second, realizing that there was no way he couldn''t lose his temper. The boy didn''t go to the sofa as she suggested, he went back to the corner where he was, on the floor. He even washed his face in the kitchen sink, but he still didn''t feel comfortable. The way she was helping him was bothering him. She had acted rudely earlier that day, unmercifully. Now, stuck in this situation, that discomfort was to be expected. The girl was making him feel worse and worse. Was it guilt, the uncomfortable feeling inside him? He couldn''t tell.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. Putting his head between his knees, Damian wished for that day to be over. Elio came to mind, then. A mixture of concern and indignation disturbed him. What was his brother hiding? Why did everything come out this way? Damian wanted to see him, to put him up against the wall, maybe to hug him. After a while, he felt something fluffy on top of him. He lifted his head, seeing a scented blanket and Autumn without the destroyed uniform from before. ¡°I told you not to mope.¡± The girl was wearing light clothes, pants and sweatshirt. Her black hair was loose around her shoulders. She had small eyes, like a blueberry fruit. She was not that tall, but she had an impressive physique. The bruises on her face were now covered with bandages. Autumn walked to the small kitchen, opening the refrigerator and tapping her fingers frantically on the stainless steel. ¡°I''m not whining.¡±Damian replied, using the blanket to cover himself. It smelled good. ¡°I''m trying to figure out what to do now.¡± ¡°Let''s wait.¡± she nodded, crossing her arms across her chest, not liking what she saw inside the refrigerator. ¡°Do you want water, iced tea?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Yes what?¡± ¡°I want iced tea.¡± With two cans of iced tea and packets of snacks, the girl sat down on the sofa, throwing her things on a simple coffee table. Damian just poured himself some iced tea. ¡°You know, the hybrid. He''s going to come on stronger and angrier," she commented softly as she opened the can. ¡°Aren''t you worried?¡± ¡°I should be, but my gun is resting for this.¡± ¡°I''m not talking about your spear, I''m talking about you. Can you do all that again?¡± Damian had an apprehensive look on his face. This was the kind of question I needed to ask. ¡°I hope so, because I still don''t have a plan B for you. I have to fight you to the end of the line.¡± The way she spoke made him uneasy. ¡°You don''t seem to have much faith in me, even after I saved you.¡± ¡°It''s not that. It''s that you''re still a girl and there''s nothing I can do to help.¡± ¡°Well, that''s true. But if it helps to know¡± she gathered her feet on the couch and hugged her knees. She didn''t seem sure of what she was about to say. ¡°I wasn''t exactly raised like other girls were.¡± Damian held his gaze on her for a few seconds, watching her enjoy her iced tea. Her voice and the words she used made him feel safe. However, the boy didn''t think he had the right to feel safe. Not for her. He didn''t even understand what the girl was saying. ¡°Why did you help me?¡± Damian wanted to know. ¡°I told you not to ask this question.¡± ¡°Then tell me what to say. Everything is upside down, I''m not in my own house, I''m not sure if my brother is alive or dead, I can''t talk to any of my friends, I can''t even tell them what''s happening to me because they wouldn''t believe me! Besides having a stamp of death on my body! I just¡­¡± When he paused for breath, Autumn directed her gaze to the night outside the window. Stars were struggling to appear. ¡°Well, I don''t know. I saved you because¡­¡± she took a deep breath. ¡°It was the right thing to do. People should always be saved.¡± ¡°What does that mean? Who exactly are you?¡± She listened attentively, then shrugged. ¡°Honestly speaking, I feel that nothing I say will answer your questions.¡± ¡°Just say something. Something that makes sense. Something that explains why you use a spear like a pencil.¡± ¡°Ninx.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°My spear. Her name is Ninx.¡± ¡°Ah, it has a name... Wait, why at that time I was able to take it and that creature wasn''t?¡± ¡°It''s because I allowed it. Ninx only obeys me. She can also know when someone is malicious.¡± ¡°Oh, so she is magic?¡± ¡°Is she magical? Ah, that''s a good question.¡± He moved his head, searching for what to say. ¡°When we first met, your brother drew a lot of attention to me. I could see hovering over his head a kind of energy called Refulgent. This energy means that he came from another place. It is the energy of a distant land. I only noticed it because his arrival was still recent; after a few more days, the energy would fade.¡± Damian''s eyes became dark and his face was like a question mark. He wanted to understand how the girl knew these things, but he opted for another question: ¡°What would this other place be?¡± ¡°After you left¡± she ignored his question. ¡°I saw the news on TV about the crashes. People made recordings, bad recordings, but I could still see it. The hybrid, the Halvina breed. I recognized it right away.¡± Autumn spoke more to herself. ¡°This hybrid also carried an intense Refulgent Energy with him, that was the only reason I could come to you. I used my Ninx to locate the nearest energy and take me there. It requires a lot of power and I hadn''t done that in a long time. Believe me, I was also surprised to see that you were his target.¡± ¡°How exactly did you get there?¡± he asked, but she only blinked in response. Damian sighed. ¡°And why did you want to help me?¡± Autumn frowned. ¡°What''s with your fuss about this question? Why do you want to know that so badly?¡± ¡°Just answer.¡± ¡°I don''t know,¡± she shrugged. ¡°Seeing you being subdued, unable to defend yourself, I thought I should do something. I also saw the two policemen on the ground, dead. I mean, at that time I knew I would regret helping you, but would it be greater than the regret that I left you there to die? I don''t think so.¡± Damian swallowed hard. She lowered her eyelids, pondering to herself. ¡°Maybe, I couldn''t come home, sleep in peace, knowing I could have done something. Come to think of it, I did more for me than for you. I did it so that I wouldn''t feel bad about myself.¡± The boy raised one knee, propping his elbow on it. ¡°Still, I was rude to you.¡± ¡°At least you have a conscience.¡± ¡°Yes, I had one when I said I wouldn''t let that creature kill me.¡± ¡°You''re not the first person to be a jerk to me, don''t think you''re so special.¡± he spoke firmly. Damian took it as irony. ¡°I wasn''t going to let you die just because you were rude. What kind of people do you know?¡± The boy didn''t know what to say. Silence filled the place. ¡°Do you have anything else to say? Because it seems like there is.¡± she said, noticing Damian''s prying eyes. ¡°This "other" place¡± the boy said again. ¡°By any chance, did you used to live there?¡± Autumn remained unblinking, staring at him. Damian was about to call it a day: ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°And why are you here?¡± Your curiosity is uncomfortable. ¡°I just want to know, it''s not like we have anything else to do.¡± ¡°Go to sleep.¡± Autumn lay fully down on the couch, using another blanket she had brought to curl up on. She turned her back to Damian. The boy then lay down on the floor and did the same as her, first taking off his jacket to use as a head support. ¡°It''s not like I can sleep.¡± he murmured, closing his eyes. ¡°It''s not my problem.¡± she let out acidly from under the blanket. After a few seconds, he unwound impatiently, staring at the ceiling. ¡°Every day, I wake up early, run around the block, come back, and prepare my breakfast. I watch a cooking program and then I''m ready to go to work. On the way, I feed an orange street cat that lives on a street corner nearby. When I arrive at the cafeteria, I am welcomed by my co-workers. At the end of my shift, I can have a hot drink and listen to the gossip of others. And when I finally come home, bringing back pieces of fried chicken that usually feed two people, I go to sleep with a full belly and satisfied with my day.¡± He paused. Damian was also staring at the ceiling. ¡°I just hope the next day comes, so I can do it all over again. That''s it. This is my life now and I like it. No other life is worth living anywhere else.¡± When Autumn finished speaking, Damian had the impression that the whole speech was more about convincing her of something. And that from her mouth, he would hear no explanation that would answer his questions. He didn''t know her at all, he couldn''t make assumptions about the life of a stranger. Earlier, the girl was just the waitress who had carelessly soiled her coat. Yet I could sense hurt in her voice. It was as if talking about a certain subject from the past irritated her. The boy deduced a little more about her involvement. It must have been complicated, indeed. She saved him, even though she knew about the memories from the past. What could it be? This thought popped into the boy''s head. What was he running away from so ardently? ¡°What are you thinking so much about?¡± she asked as she turned and watched him silently. ¡°Nothing.¡± ¡°Are you thinking about your brother?¡± Suddenly, Damian had no choice but to think about Elio. ¡°How could you never realize that there was something wrong with him?¡± ¡°I thought we were supposed to sleep.¡± he replied distantly, a little hurt by her obvious question. ¡°It''s just that your brother makes me curious. Who is he exactly?¡± Damian closed and opened his eyes. ¡°I don''t think I know either.¡± ¡°How can you not know? Aren''t you two brothers?¡± ¡°That''s not it.¡± He turned his back to her, like a tantruming child. ¡°You wouldn''t understand. We both spend more time apart than together. We were raised by our grandparents. But then one day, he just left. There were very few times we were a family.¡± Autumn listened to him seriously. ¡°I understand, really ¡­¡± Autumn murmured, Damian was unable to hear her. ¡°Elio is a normal person. At least, he should be. I have pictures of him all over the world, the last place he was in England. I had just picked him up at the airport when everything happened.¡± ¡°Did you meet again today?¡± she questioned, analyzing. ¡°Yes, that''s right.¡± ¡°Maybe the hybrid followed him here. It waited for the right moment to attack you, the most vulnerable moment. But why? Why kill you and not take you as a hostage? And how did they know about you, since you are apparently ignorant?¡± Damian blinked, looking back at her. ¡°I feel like you''re having a conversation with yourself and leaving me out.¡± ¡°There are a lot of loose ends.¡± ¡°You didn''t have to say it.¡± The girl took a deep breath, nestling into the sofa. ¡°Let''s forget all that for a moment...¡± ¡°It seems so.¡± ¡°... and try to rest. You do that. I dare say things will only get worse for you. You''d better consider this idea once and for all.¡± Damian bit his lips and shut up for good. They entered their own worlds, quietly.