• Chapter 5: Feelings

    “On other news: Officials believe that a large statue was being shipped towards St. Patrick’s Cathedral and was destroyed. They are still investigating the incident right now…” announced a reported on Fox News.
    Once again, Nocturn was perturbed by the ignorance of the humans. But it’s for the best. He looked over to Viola, who was still curled up on the sofa. That head injury must have been strong if she’s still sleeping. Sunday morning had arrived, which meant he was free. Frank was, without a doubt, attending church, so Nocturn did not expect the phone call he got.
    His cell phone vibrated until he picked it up and answered, “Hello?”
    “Nocturn.”
    “Dunkel.”
    “Are you guys okay?” inquired Dunkel from the other side of the line. “That gargoyle mission sounded like it ended in a catastrophe.”
    “I’m fine, but Viola… Viola got injured on the head. It’s nothing serious, but she’s still sleeping since yesterday.”
    Dunkel did not respond.
    “Hello? Dunkel?” The room rattled as a rumbling sound filled Nocturn’s ears. The noise made Nocturn kneel to the floor. He felt tears spill from his eyes as a bright light engulfed the room and Dunkel’s form appeared out of the light.
    “You’re not a doctor, Nocturn. How would you know if it was serious or not?” snapped Dunkel as he went for the couch Viola was on. The boy sniffed the air and grimaced, squinting his demonic eyes. They were all black except for the purple irises. “What’s that smell?”
    Nocturn sniffed the air as well. Nothing unusual. “You’re not used to this New Yorkan air,” he explained.
    “I’m going to have to get used to it.”
    “Why?”
    “It seems that I’m going to stay here.”
    “What?”
    “I called you not only to see if you were okay—which I’m satisfied to see that you are—, but to also inform you about the Usurpers.”
    “What about them?” inquired Nocturn, suddenly intrigued.
    “Aile Aphrodites is in the vicinity.”
    “The descendant of Aphrodite?”
    “That’s the one. And we fear that with a descendant of a goddess, they are planning something big.”
    “So what do I do?”
    Dunkel eyed Nocturn with confusion. “Nothing, really. I’m not supposed to anything either. All’s I’m going to do is stay in the area. This suite looks nice.”
    “I’m not housing anyone else,” said Nocturn quickly.
    “I have money. I can buy one for myself,” muttered Dunkel, smiling humorlessly. He got up from the side of the couch. “Well it looks like my sister’s fine. I’m going to buy a suite.”
    “Just like that?”
    “I would like to see you as soon as I get into my suite. Look for Suite 210 in about twenty minutes.”
    Nocturn nodded, knowing all too well about Dunkel’s abilities. Dunkel Chronos Easton uses the powers of time to his advantages against enemies and other ordeals. If he said to look for him in twenty minutes, than Dunkel was most likely right. But the paths of time could change, and he knew that as well.
    Nocturn turned back to the couch, hearing Viola murmur something. Did she just say ‘Nocturn’ again? He did not want to awake her, but he wanted to know why she kept mentioning his name.
    It was raining on that Sunday, the first rain in about a month. The sounds of dogs barking and birds chirping died as the rain drummed from the sky down on the earth. His claw gleamed with a ghostly white as the sunlight that went through the clouds reflected off of it.
    Twenty minutes have passed and Viola had not woken up. Sighing, Nocturn went for Suite 210, just like Dunkel said. He knocked the door with his claw, making a deep metallic sound like a filled glass bottle hitting the marble counter on a kitchen. Dunkel opened it, already changed from his HRS robes to a yellow turtle-neck short-sleeved shirt, black jeans, plaid Converse All-Stars, and glasses. He had earphones wrapped around his neck, connecting to an mp3 that Nocturn could clearly hear.
    “You change fast,” commented Nocturn.
    “I have to be like a human. And I told you to come in twenty minutes: ten minutes for the sign up and ten minutes to change into these clothes. Come in,” added Dunkel, opening the door. The suite was similar to Nocturn’s in almost every detail except the color of the furniture. The couches were auburn instead of black, the drawers a deeper shade of brown, and the counter-top was black granite. “I’m glad everything came with this suite because I’m not much of a lifter, hehe.”
    “So what did you want me here for?”
    Dunkel dropped his smile and sat down on a couch. “Sit down.”
    Nocturn obeyed his direction.
    With a humorless smile, Dunkel started: “Do you know why they did not promote you?”
    “Because I did not meet the standards,” answered Nocturn.
    Dunkel shook his head. “You’ve met the standards, alright. In fact, you could have been one of the elite, surpassing Julian Lorsten.”
    “Really?” questioned Nocturn, recalling the envious thoughts he had about Julian.
    The High Reaper nodded. “We—I—did not want you promoted,” Nocturn’s eyes widened with shock, “because we knew you had some history with Aeulusiò di Aria, a very high ranking member of the Usurpers.”
    “I do,” replied Nocturn with a hint of uncertainty.
    “If we moved you to the elite, you would have to move to a different city, most likely a different country. You see: you are probably one of the most powerful of our agents in New York City. Moving you would jeopardize our entire organization.”
    “Why not move me to the elite, but keep me here?”
    “For two good reasons, one personal and the other is civil. The laws of Paralleliux require all of those who go up every ten ranks to move to different areas that are not fully occupied by agents. We’re full in the United States—Africa, as well. Europe is already booked and Australia has no need. Antarctica—well, what for? Asia is vast enough to hold half of the agents of the Dieu de la Mort.”
    “So if I were an elite agent, I’d be in Asia?”
    Dunkel smiled and nodded. “That’s right. Now, here’s the personal reason: Viola will not rank up anymore in a long while. She’s perfect here, unlike in some other places. If you were to move, everything for her would fall apart.”
    Nocturn nodded in understanding. “I wouldn’t mind sacrificing something for a friend,” he said. By nature, Nocturn is a protective person.
    “Good. Now if you wouldn’t mind, I believe my sister should be awake by the time you get there.”
    “I hate it when you do that,” mumbled Nocturn, getting off from the couch. Dunkel chuckled quietly as Nocturn closed the suite’s door and went for his suite. When they first met, they were fierce rivals. It was his friendship with Viola and Dunkel’s relation with her that ended the rivalry.
    Viola was sitting up on her couch, looking out the window. She heard the door swing open and turned around. “Good day, Nocturn,” she greeted with a grin. “Where’ve you been?”
    “Your brother’s staying in New York,” replied Nocturn. “He’s in Suite 210. How are you feeling?”
    “Just fine,” said Viola dreamily. Nocturn eyed his friend weirdly.
    “Are you okay?”
    “What? Yeah, I’m fine. I guess I’m still kind of dizzy. So, Dunkel is here?”
    Nocturn nodded. “He thinks the Usurpers are planning something so he was assigned to stay here.”
    “I wonder why they chose him?” she pondered.
    “I guess it’s because we know him,” he said, fighting the need to mention their conversation.
    “It’s been a while since I’ve seen your arms.” Nocturn usually wore long-sleeves, since he would usually head out into the cold New Yorkan air. The summer-time had lessened until it was receded to one month because of global cooling.
    His arms were as pale as his face, and averagely muscular for a nineteen year old scholar’s body. That was the body he chose since he was born into existence. “Today’s a day off,” he explained.
    “It’s Sunday?”
    With a nod, Nocturn sat back down on the couch. “That was a big hit to your head.”
    Viola rubbed her head and yawned. “That gargoyle was strong,” she replied with an equal tone. “Are you okay? You look sick.”
    “I was just worried about you, that’s all.”
    Viola seemed to jump and looked at the TV, as if there was something amazing about it. “Don’t be silly, Nocturn. You know I always turn out fine.”
    “But this time you fell unconscious. If I hadn’t intervened, you could have died.”

    Viola once again found herself surprised at the affectionate man sitting right next to her. The half-wolf a lot of people found intimidating was actually one of the most lovable people in the entire planet, including Paralleliux. And we’re friends, she thought to herself both proudly and sadly. “Don’t say that, Nocturn.”
    “The same thing happened before yesterday. If Clauda and I hadn’t been there—”
    “I doubt Aeulus would want harm done to me,” assured Viola.
    “I don’t think that could have stopped Jack,” replied Nocturn in a sort of disagreeing tone.
    “And Ben?” she asked, trying to mask her tears. I’m sorry, Ben.
    “Ben might have tried to protect you, but he couldn’t do anything special unless he wanted to be branded a traitor.”
    She suddenly felt sick. Her body stopped supporting itself and she felt her head plop on Nocturn’s shoulder. “I feel sick,” she murmured.
    “You’re probably still tired. Here, let me put you somewhere more comfortable,” said Nocturn as he carried Viola to his room.
    “You’re pretty strong,” remarked Viola sleepily.
    “You’re pretty light,” replied Nocturn. She felt Nocturn place her on a cushioned surface. She heard him turn to leave.
    “Nocturn,” she called.
    “Yes?”
    “Thanks, for everything.” She did not hear a response, but, knowing Nocturn, he probably nodded, not knowing that her eyes were closed. What just happened? Why do I feel so tired? Viola’s eyes opened wide at a sudden notion.
    Viola has known Nocturn for most of her life. Yet, he does not share the same feelings. Is Jane Silinkiar the reason? she would ask herself. Or is it that he just does not feel anything around me? she pondered, holding back tears. But he kept talking about protecting me… She just wanted to hear Nocturn show a sign about his feelings, but he, just like his former friend Aeulus, seem unemotional in most aspects.
    Of course, as she had seen almost now, Nocturn is naturally protective, going as far to risk his life just to protect her. But was it duty, or obligation as a friend? Viola got up from the bed, feeling her strength renewed, but she felt it hard to stand. She loved Nocturn and he did not think the same way. No amount of hinting from Dunkel or little nudges from other close agents would make him look at her the way she looks at him. He has to make that choice. I can’t make him love me back!
    She felt the sting of tears. She felt sticky water trickle down her cheeks. She stifled herself from yelping and sniffling, but her efforts were in vain. Nocturn already opened the door. “What happened? Are you okay?” he asked.
    “I’m fine, Nocturn. Don’t worry,” she replied, trying to mask her anxiety.
    Nocturn helped her up gently. “I don’t like seeing you in pain, Viola. What happened?”
    Viola held him by the shoulders and tried to open her mouth, but she felt too weak to speak. Instead, she wrapped her arms around his neck and dug her face into his chest. Surprisingly, Nocturn wrapped his arms around her. “You’re shivering,” he murmured.
    “Nocturn, I…” Viola managed to mumble, but she felt her remaining strength dwindle.
    “You what?”
    “I—I—” Viola felt herself turn cold and saw everything turn black. She had fainted once again.

    Nocturn held the unconscious girl on his arms, his right hand under her legs and his left hand under her head. “Viola? Viola!” he called.
    She did not answer. He placed her back on the bed and wrapped the blanket around her. It was mostly unused by him, as he mostly spent his nights on his couch, where he would dose off while watching TV. He heard a slight knock on the door. “Nocturn, it’s Dunkel, open up,” called Dunkel’s voice from the other side. Nocturn opened the door, letting Dunkel come in.
    “I’m sure you already know about what happened to Viola?” pondered Nocturn.
    Dunkel half turned from Nocturn’s bedroom door. “Yes, I do. What happened to her?”
    “I’m not sure. She tried to tell me something, but fainted again. Could it be head trauma?”
    “I doubt that,” said Dunkel quickly and quietly, just like a doctor would. “Maybe she’s just exhausted. How much sleep did she get?”
    “Almost fourteen hours.”
    “Fourteen hours…” repeated Dunkel. “Did you check her temperature? She might be coming down with something.”
    “She was shivering,” answered Nocturn. What’s wrong with you, Viola? he pondered, already concerned.
    “Maybe it was just exposure to the cold air.”
    “It was probably that. What do you recommend to make her feel better?”
    “Let her sleep for the rest of the day. She’ll be fine tomorrow.”
    Nocturn fought the urge to ask: ‘How do you know?’ and nodded. With a nod, Dunkel left for the door, but stopped when it was half-open. “She’s lucky to have a friend like you,” he murmured.
    “What do you mean?” inquired Nocturn.
    “You’re always there for her.”
    “She’s one of my best friends,” admitted Nocturn. Dunkel nodded and left, leaving Nocturn in gloomy silence…

    Viola ran through a meadow, looking for someone…
    Something…
    Anything! The meadow became dark, the flowers and grasses withered and died. The sky became nothing but blackness, a darkness swallowing the ground under her. Soon, she was swallowed up.
    She woke up, breathing normally, feeling unaffected by her nightmare. She did not want to make a sound, for fear of calling Nocturn once again. She heard the TV on, but she could not tell what he was watching, or even cared. Her face felt dry from the tears she cried. Why do I have to cry? I’m not supposed to cry when I’m in love! I should be happy. But why do I cry? Why? Why, why, why! she pondered, her head starting to ache. Her crush became love during the United States-Iraq War. He fought valiantly in the war from its start down to his end. He ran through bombshells, gunfire, and even the mobs of civilians trying to pummel him as he continued, his gun clenched in his left hand, and his right hand—His right hand. It’s changed him. He was always the first one to laugh, to smile, before he lost his right hand. Since then, he became a totally different person. He became darker, more aggressive. But he is also more calculating and heroic.
    And me? What have I become? More of a burden. I became the damsel in distress, the one who always had to be taken out of a battle because of some injury. I am weak, Nocturn is strong. But what if he—or I—left? Then what? Will I still be okay? Will I still have to be dependent of others? “Not anymore,” she murmured to herself. She got off the bed, making no sound at all as her feet touched the floor. She tip-toed to the door and opened it slowly. If Nocturn noticed the sudden change in the atmosphere, smells, or sounds, he did not show it. “Nocturn,” she called firmly.
    Nocturn turned around. “Viola. Are you feeling well?”
    Viola nodded. Her strength was fully regained, her mind more stabilized. “I am feeling strong. Can I tell you something…important?”
    Nocturn tapped the seating space beside him. The sky already grew darker as she sat down on the couch. She looked straight into Nocturn’s eyes. They were weary and tired. “What is it?” he asked after a moment of silence.
    “I tried to hide this for…a while now,” said Viola carefully. “And I cannot any longer.”
    Nocturn’s eyes seemed unchanged. He nodded and let Viola continue:
    “Nocturn, I…I…,” she sneezed. “It must be dusty in here, no offense.”
    “None taken,” replied Nocturn with a wry smile. “What were you about to say?”
    Viola opened her mouth, but nothing came out. She suddenly ran out of breath. It took her a while to remember how to breathe. She saw how actors, and even real humans, acted when they tried to confess their love to others. They acted nervous, suddenly frail. She had that same feeling as she finally found her voice. “I love you, Nocturn. I have for twenty-four years now,” she was amazed at how long she could have kept it. “I was afraid of how you would react, but these past few days have shown me—,” she ran out of breath.
    “Twenty-four years,” murmured Nocturn.
    Viola looked at the man in front of her, one who always knew what to say. This time, he was totally speechless. She had no idea what to say. Twenty-four years of hiding what she wanted to say, and she finally said it in only three sentences. She only knew one thing to do. She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him for only a split second. He seemed unfazed, as if he had turned to stone. “Nocturn, I—I’m sorry…”
    “Sorry for what?” he finally said. “For being in love? For finally confessing your love? I never thought about it, but I think I love you back… No, I do love you back! It’s so clear to me now. There was always that void in my heart. I always wondered on what it was. And now I think I know what it was…”
    They stared at each other in awkward silence. Neither of them had felt so alive before. They’ve known each other for most of their lives, looked at each other as just friends. But now for the first time in her life, Viola felt herself feel light. She felt like she could fly, but instead she kissed Nocturn again, and he kissed her back, and they embraced each other for a whole five minutes until a knock of the door interrupted them. Viola reluctantly let Nocturn open the door. He opened it, letting a fully robed Dunkel come into view.

    “I knew this was going to happen,” snapped Dunkel Chronos Easton in full Reaper attire. “Well, for at least thirty seconds before it started.”
    “Dunkel, what’s wrong?” inquired Nocturn, his light-heartedness from his love for Viola suddenly fading away.
    “It’s High Reaper Chronos, Nocturn. You are not to call me by that name, at least not until I wipe your memory.”
    “Wipe my memory? Why?”
    “You are not to touch my sister!” roared Dunkel. He snapped his fingers. Violet pentacles suddenly formed in the wall behind him and gave way to three gargoyles. They were griffins, just like the ones at the Cathedral. Summoning!
    “You could summon?”
    Dunkel suddenly smiled, a dark look in his eyes suddenly forming. “It is a high leveled Oscuro trick, Nocturn. Griffins, take him to Paralleliux for mind wiping.”
    “What?” But before Nocturn could move, he found himself dragged into the portal to Paralleliux, his mind becoming a large blur. His mind had already been wiped.

    “Why did you do that?” cried Viola, watching in horror as Nocturn’s unconscious body was placed on his couch. “I finally have him, and you took him away from me? Why!”
    “This is a forbidden time, Viola!” snapped Dunkel. “If I hadn’t known of what the dangers are, I would have let this gone by.”
    “What dangers? It’s not like we were doing anything wrong.”
    “Viola, do you know what the Usurpers are after?” he asked, the world suddenly silent. Viola shook her head in response. Dunkel turned around and stepped out of the suite. Without turning his head, he muttered: “Nocturn will wake up in about thirty seconds without any memory of what happened for the past day. He will think he had been sleeping the whole time. If you tell him anything, I will have your memory wiped!” he added, his voice raised as if he were angry, as he left down the hall, the griffins returning to their pentacles.
    Viola was left sitting on the couch, pondering on why Dunkel had done what he had just done. But, not finding any logical answers, she felt more tears form around her eyes. Does it hurt this much to—? she thought as she heard Nocturn yawn. “Nocturn?”
    “Hey, Viola,” he yawned, stretching. “Damn. What time is it?”
    “6:30…” muttered Viola. ‘He won’t remember what had happened for the past day. He will think he had been sleeping the whole time.’
    “Yesterday must have worn me out,” murmured Nocturn. “Are you okay? How’s your head?”
    “I’m…fine, Nocturn,” she said, smiling as if nothing had happened.
    “Today is Sunday, right?”
    “Yes. You’ve slept the whole day.”