(Our Realm)
Alethia's eyes fluttered open, only to find herself plummeting towards the floor. With a resounding thud, she landed on the ground between the couch and the coffee table. A groan escaped from the couch's occupant, catching Alethia's attention. Sitting up, she glanced over at Zepher, who sprawled across the entire couch in deep slumber. Alethia sighed and shook her head. "I suppose I should fetch some coffee before taking a shower," she murmured to herself.
Making her way to her room, Alethia grabbed a hairbrush and absentmindedly ran it through her tangled locks. A giggle escaped her lips as she spotted Galen and Phraan curled up together on her bed. She swiftly gathered some money and proceeded towards the front door, ensuring that no traffic approached before dashing across the street.
As Alethia stepped into the coffee shop, the delightful aroma of freshly brewed coffee and toasted bagels enveloped her senses. She approached the counter, offering a polite smile to the lady waiting to take her order.
"Good morning, dear. How may I assist you today?" the lady asked.
Alethia returned the smile. "Could I have two extra large French vanillas and two plain bagels toasted with plain cream cheese, please?" she requested.
The girl nodded, punching the order into the register. "That will be six dollars and seventy cents, please," she responded.
Alethia handed over a ten-dollar bill, patiently waiting for her change and the drinks. As she stood there, she observed a group of girls playfully bantering with each other as they prepared another order of donuts. The girl who had taken Alethia's order soon returned with the drinks on a tray and the bagels in a bag, along with her change.
With a grateful smile, Alethia took her order. "Thank you," she said, stepping back outside to cross the road. Although it was still early, the scorching heat of the sun was already making its presence felt. She hurriedly crossed the road, unlocked the door, and kicked off her shoes before stepping inside.
Entering the kitchen, Alethia set the drinks and bagels on the counter. Glancing over at Zepher, who was still sound asleep on the couch with his head hanging precariously over the edge, she couldn't help but chuckle. Grabbing a piece of paper, she quickly scribbled a note and placed it next to the drinks.
Morning, Zepher,
I hope you still enjoy the French Vanilla and Plain Bagels.
Alethia
She then made her way to her room, selecting a skirt and a light t-shirt before heading into the bathroom. Alethia hung her clothes on the back of the door and removed her shirt, casually dropping it to the floor. As she reached back to unclasp her bra, her gaze fell upon the dried blood staining her side.
Her mind raced as the events of the previous night flooded her thoughts.
"Mommy, look out!" a little girl's voice echoed through Alethia's mind. A dagger materialized out of thin air, grazing her side. Staring at her bloodied hand, she glanced up to find the little girl gone.
"Payton! Where are you?" Alethia's voice carried through the chaotic crowd.
Desperately, she scoured the remnants of the buildings, careful to avoid the fires that raged around her. She needed to stay hidden, evading the demons that lurked everywhere. There was an inexplicable connection between her and the little girl; she had to find her. Why, she didn't know. Running through a park, darting past a group of demons, Alethia caught sight of the little girl racing towards a man with short black hair. "Mommy's on her way," the child assured him.
Alethia propelled herself towards them, feeling the intensity of their connection grow stronger. Who were these people? The man noticed Alethia's approach, a smile playing on his lips as he scooped up the little girl, cradling her in his arms while awaiting Alethia's arrival. Alethia's eyes fixated on the sword at his side, noting how his hand remained ever-vigilant upon its hilt. Just a few more steps, and she would finally discover their identities.
Suddenly, a demon materialized out of nowhere, tackling Alethia to the ground. She heard the little girl's cry and the man's desperate yell.
"Alethia! No!" Her head spun as she fought to keep her eyes open. Darkness encroached upon her, tugging her down into the abyss.
Alethia staggered against the wall, gasping for breath. Her eyes darted down to the reopened wound on her side, blood trickling from it. She muttered a curse under her breath, carefully removing her pants. Testing the water's temperature, she stepped into the shower, allowing the cascading water to wash away the blood, the sting of the cut intensifying. With closed eyes, she began washing her hair.
Who were those strangers, that little girl and the enigmatic man? Why did she feel such a profound connection to them? Was this how the world would appear when the veil shattered?
Countless questions raced through her mind, mingling with the water as it rinsed her hair and cleansed her body. Under the comforting warmth, she sought solace, trying to dismiss her worries. She was nearing the end of her first year of high school; her concerns should revolve around boys and classes. Why must she be burdened with demons, visions, and the God of Chaos, who happened to be dating her best friend? While other normal teenagers fretted over their appearance, she found herself worrying about the impending apocalypse.
Glancing down at her side, she discovered the wound had already healed, leaving behind a scar. Sighing, she turned off the water, stepping out of the shower and reaching for her towel. She wrapped it around her hair, slipping into her skirt and fastening her bra before plugging in the hair dryer. Removing the towel from her head, she began brushing her hair, hanging the towel up afterward. Switching on the hair dryer, she dried her hair diligently.
After a few minutes, she silenced the dryer and stowed it away, continuing to brush her hair before grabbing her shirt. She pulled it over her head, then proceeded to brush her teeth.
Once finished, she gathered her soiled clothes, tossing them into the hamper and extinguishing the light as she made her way to her room. Taking a seat at her vanity table, she applied her eye shadow and retrieved a pair of earrings from her cherished jewelry box. These earrings had been a gift from her mother, a symbol of a quarter moon and a star. Slipping them on, she left the room and entered the living area, intending to wake Zepher. However, to her surprise, Zepher was nowhere to be found. As she stepped over the discarded pizza box, she bent down to pick up the pillow lying on the floor. Suddenly, strong arms wrapped around her waist, lifting her into the air. A startled yelp escaped her lips.
Zepher chuckled. "Good morning, beautiful."
Alethia giggled. "Put me down, this isn't fair."
Zepher smiled, releasing her and turning her around to face him. "So, what do you have in mind for today?"
Alethia playfully pushed him away, heading towards the counter to retrieve her French vanilla and bagel. She tossed a bagel to Zepher. "It's a gorgeous day outside. Why don't we all go swimming? Corie and Brolly can join us, along with Jen and David." Zepher caught the bagel. "Sounds like a fantastic idea."
Alethia smiled, taking a sip of her drink and picking up the phone. She dialed Jen's number, holding the phone to her ear.
"Ow, you just dialed right in my ear. Thanks a lot," came Corie's annoyed voice.
"Corie? I was going to call you after Jen. What's going on?" Alethia asked.
"I think we need to talk, Alethia. I just had an incredibly messed up dream, but I don't believe it was just a dream."
Alethia nearly dropped the phone, shooting a quick glance at Zepher. "Oh, we definitely need to talk. You and Brolly should come swimming with us today. The girls can have a chat while we send the guys off."
