Seraphina's POV
"Lucca?" I blurted out, and just as I called his name, he passed out on the floor. I immediately stood up to help him, but he was too heavy for me. I tried to carry him again, but my strength wasn't enough. I stopped and looked at him.
That dream I had seemed so real. I saw Lucca as Xavier Knight and myself as Monica Blake. I don't know how that scene flashed in my mind. But that dream wasn't even finished when I heard Lucca struggling with something.
I went upstairs to ask for help. But when I went to Damian and Dominic's bedroom, they were asleep. I was sure they couldn't be woken up since they had drunk a lot earlier. I looked at Lucca again and decided to just give him a pillow and blanket and let him sleep on the floor. Surely, he would catch a cold, but I had no other choice.
The sleepiness I felt earlier was completely gone. I stayed there, guarding Lucca, hoping he would wake up so he could transfer to his room. But he was sleeping soundly, and it was impossible to wake him up.
I just let it be.
I went back to the sofa and lay down. I was on my side while watching Lucca sleep. It was the first time I had looked at him so closely without being conscious. He looked so innocent yet handsome. He really had a perfect face and body.
I kept watching him until I found myself getting sleepy again. Then, I fell asleep once more, just like I did earlier.
Lucca's POV
"Lucca? Seraphina?" I frowned when I heard an annoying voice calling our names. It was too annoying because it disturbed my sleep.
"What the fuck?" I blurted out and opened my eyes. But to my surprise, I wasn't sleeping in my room. I was sleeping on the floor! I looked at the woman who was sleeping soundly on the sofa just near where I was lying.
Now it made sense. Dominic was calling our names because we were in the living room sleeping. Seraphina was already awake, blinking and scratching her eyes.
Then, right there and then, I remembered the scenes that popped into my mind. I saw Seraphina as Monica, and I saw myself as Xavier. I don't know why or how it appeared in my mind. I don't even know why I saw Seraphina and myself in that picture.
"1940…" I blurted out without even minding the people around me. I saw Seraphina's face frowning, not because she was mad, but because she might have been thinking about something.
"Lucca, why are you sleeping on the floor? And Sera, didn't you sleep in your room?" Dominic was worried, not for Lucca, but for Seraphina.
"I… I didn't know I slept here," Seraphina said while stuttering. I looked at her; I knew she was lying just by looking at her expression.
I suddenly felt pain in my back. I felt cold as well. I made a face because I could barely even stand. Dominic saw it and went to help me stand.
"Are you that drunk last night that you weren't able to make it to your room?" Dominic reprimanded me. If only Dominic knew what happened last night, he would be furious. I almost got the ring! But that ring didn't let me take it. What I got was a scene I didn't understand and pain all over my body.
I looked at the black ring Seraphina was wearing. Now, if it was impossible to get it while Seraphina was unconscious, then how could I get it? Should I wait for her to give it to me willingly?
Seraphina noticed that I was looking at the ring, so I immediately looked away.
"I'll go to my room," I said, then went upstairs. I immediately went to the bathroom to take a cold shower. Last night kept bothering me, and I couldn't understand it. Was that just a dream? Or a connection to the past between me and Seraphina? But that was impossible since I didn't know her before. I had just met her, and the fact that I was not living on Earth yet in the year 1940…
I went out after showering, then went straight to the cabinet to get some clothes. I wore them and decided to go to bed. My body felt weak, and I didn't have the energy to do anything.
Then I heard a knock on my door. I was too tired to get up, so I just let that person open it themselves. The door opened and Dominic entered.
"Dude, what happened?" Dominic asked, then sat on the bed where I was lying. I frowned and tried to shoo him away, but he wasn't even bothered.
"What?"
"I actually need your help. My car's tire is flat, and I just noticed it this morning. I'm going to change it before heading home later," Dominic said.
"Couldn't you and Damian do it? You both have the strength too," I said.
"But not as strong as you," Dominic exclaimed. The fact that they could do it but still needed my help annoyed me.
"And Damian is still sleeping, and I need to change the tire, so who would help me? I couldn't tell Seraphina to help me just because you don't want to. I don't want to scare them," Dominic explained.
"Why is your car so old and ugly?" I mocked.
"Hey! It's not old and ugly," he defended. Lucky for him, he had a spare tire.
Even though I was tired and not in the mood to use my strength, Dominic wouldn't stop talking. I followed him downstairs and then outside the house. As I saw his car, the tire was really flat.
"Wouldn't they see me doing this?" I asked.
"No. Sera and Mira are still in their room," he said.
I nodded and positioned myself to lift Dominic's car. Just as I was about to lift it, there was something strange I felt. It was too heavy, and I couldn't lift it even for a second.
"Lucca, lift it now," Dominic said, confused as to why I was in position but the car wasn't moving.
I tried lifting it again, maybe I just wasn't ready yet. But it was still the same as before. I couldn't lift it.
"Lucca?"
To my frustration, I stood up and confronted Dominic.
"I couldn't lift it," I said, and it actually annoyed me. How could I not lift something that was so easy for me to lift before?
Dominic looked slightly surprised at what I had said. I don't know why my strength suddenly disappeared. Was this the day Master had told me my strength would be gone? But just like that, in one snap?
"Lucca, I'm sorry, but since when?" Dominic looked worried.
I sighed and answered, "I don't know," I said bitterly.
Dominic pulled my hand, and we entered the house and went upstairs. We barged into Damian's room, and Dominic forced him to wake up.
"Damian! Damian! Wake up!" Dominic shouted like a nagging woman.
"What? Your voice is so annoying," Damian shouted, trying to cover his ears with a pillow. But Dominic was too eager to wake him up until Damian finally gave up to this annoying creature. I was sitting on the sofa, watching them fight.
"Why did you wake me up?" Damian shouted in anger. Who wouldn't get angry when someone suddenly barges into your room and disturbs your peaceful sleep?
"It's about Lucca, you idiot," Dominic answered, making Damian stop complaining.
Damian looked at me, then shifted his gaze back to Dominic. "What about him?"
"He just lost his strength!" Dominic exclaimed.
Damian was still processing what Dominic had said, and when he finally realized it, his eyes widened. "Lucca, what?"
"Lost his strength," Dominic repeated.
Damian immediately got up from his bed and went over to me. "Dude, is that true?" He sat beside me on the sofa.
"I told him to lift the car because I needed to change the tire, but he couldn't even lift it," Dominic explained.
Damian's face looked worried. His sleepy expression was gone.
"Dude, how did it happen?" Damian asked.
"I don't know how it happened," I said. Should I tell them what I did last night? Maybe they deserved to know. If Dominic reprimands me, then I'll just accept it.
"But when I was about to take the ring from Seraphina's hand, I felt the heat coming from it. I actually passed out, which is why you saw me lying on the floor asleep." I looked at Dominic as I said it.
"Dude! You planned to steal the ring from Seraphina? Didn't Master tell you not to do that to innocent people?" Dominic said.
"I didn't hurt her," I defended myself.
"Not physically, but emotionally. What do you expect her to feel when she finds out the ring on her finger is missing? Knowing it was a gift from her grandma!" Dominic was already reprimanding me.
I didn't respond. I was still puzzled as to why my strength suddenly vanished just because I touched the ring.
"You should tell Master when we get home," Damian said.
"What for? Just to be reprimanded by him?" I asked.
"Then you'll just accept that your strength is gone just like that?" Dominic added.
I didn't respond again. Just because of my intention, it happened. Not only was my strength gone, but the scenes that flashed in my mind kept disturbing my peace.
"Dude, you are so doomed," Damian said, though he still looked worried.
I remained expressionless so they wouldn't see that I was actually worried. I just let it be because, in the first place, I didn't listen to my Master.
"What are you feeling now?" Damian asked after I went silent.
"Weak," I honestly answered. I don't usually tell them the truth, but today is an exception. They already knew what more do I have to hide?
Dominic and Damian both made a face. I knew they weren't used to seeing me weak. I had been strong since we were kids. They always admired me for being stronger than they were. But seeing their reactions made me feel even weaker.
Our conversation was interrupted when someone knocked on the door. It suddenly opened, and Mira was there, waving her hand.
"Ah, boys, sorry to disturb you, but Sera and I will be preparing breakfast. What do you want to eat?" Mira asked while smiling.
I didn't know if I should thank Mira for interrupting this drama or be annoyed at her for it. But that was enough for me to stand up and go downstairs.
"Let's help them cook," I said.
"No! Sera and I will cook. I'm sorry if I disturbed you," Mira said, but that didn't stop me from leaving the room.
Mira looked a bit scared when she saw me. I gave her a half smile to ease her fear. That only made her more shocked. Of course, who wouldn't be? I rarely smiled.
Damian and Dominic couldn't stop me. I knew they still had a lot of questions to ask.
I went inside the kitchen and noticed Sera wearing an apron while beating eggs in a white bowl.
"Xavier, I love you…"
That suddenly flashed in my mind as I looked at Seraphina. It also made me dizzy and lose my balance.
"Hey, Lucca, are you okay?" Mira was there, holding my arm to help me.
"I'm fine. I was just a little dizzy."
"Just stay in the living room. You don't need to help us," Mira said.
Seraphina went near me and stopped what she was doing.
"Monica…"
Why did scenes and dialogues keep popping into my head? What did it even mean?
"Lucca, here is the water," Seraphina offered. I was still looking at her with a confused expression. I couldn't understand why Monica kept appearing in my mind.
I didn't accept the water and immediately left the kitchen. I didn't go to the living room or my room either, because I knew Dominic and Damian were there. I went outside to get some fresh air and clear my mind.
I walked away from the house. I had no destination; I just kept walking to stay away from the scenes that kept flashing in my mind. My head was already aching, and I could barely breathe.
My knees were trembling. I knelt on the grass, and my body eventually fell onto it. My eyes were still open, but I couldn't hear anything anymore.
Then I woke up in an unfamiliar place.
The place looked ancient. I walked around and looked at the paintings hanging on the walls. The room was huge, the decorations antique and expensive-looking. The bed was so large it could fit five people.
Then I heard the door open. Xavier Knight entered.
"You can't do this to me, Xavier! You just can't. You love me, right? You can't live without me."
They couldn't see me. They were having a discussion, and Mandy Moore was already crying while delivering her lines.
"You know the truth, Mandy. You just manipulated us," Xavier exclaimed.
"Manipulated? Xavier, what are you talking about?" Mandy was already hysterical.
"You made me believe that Monica was the evil one. But you are the evil one. I hated Monica since we were kids because you fed me your hatred toward her. You made me see her as the enemy!" Xavier shouted.
"Xavier, I don't understand what you're saying," Mandy said as tears continued to fall from her eyes.
"End this manipulation, Mandy. Enough of hurting people, especially Monica," Xavier said.
Mandy chuckled, but it was filled with pain.
"So now you're telling me you're defending Monica? Do you like her?" Mandy's voice was already cracking.
"Why are you doing this to her? Can't you see that she genuinely cares for you? But what you did to her is not justifiable!"
"Because I love you, Xavier! All my life, I was threatened by her presence! I love you, and I was afraid you might like her because everyone likes her so much. But what about me? I was alone. I only had you, and you can't just leave me like that!" Mandy was now looking like a desperate woman.
"Let me go. Let Monica go too. I will marry her no matter what."
"No… no, Xavier, please don't leave me. I can't…" Mandy knelt, begging her lover.
But Xavier only smirked.
"You didn't love me, Mandy. You just needed me because you wanted to marry me for money. That way, you could say that as Mrs. Knight, you and Monica are on the same level."
Mandy's mouth hung open.
Xavier removed Mandy's hand from his pants. "Leave my house now. I never want to see you again," Xavier said.
Mandy's expression darkened. She looked at Xavier with rage.
"You can't do this to me, Xavier. I won't let you be happy. Why do you keep hurting me since then?"
"I didn't hurt you, Mandy. You hurt yourself," Xavier said.
Mandy grinned wickedly.
"Oh, really? You hurt me for generations. Every life I've had, every time I met you, you always hurt me! Do you think I deserved this? No! I don't deserve this at all! I don't want you to be happy, especially Monica. If you try to be together, you will die!" Mandy shouted as she cursed them.
That didn't sound right. She was cursing them as if Xavier and Monica had hurt her even before.
"Stop it, Mandy! If you don't want me to hate you even more!" Xavier shouted, making Mandy flinch.
But then she smiled again, twisted and evil.
"You will both die! You will never be happy until the last generation!"
Seraphina's POV
"Lucca was weird. It was the first time he smiled at me," Mira said when Lucca left the kitchen. I don't know why, but I felt strange about his actions. It seemed like he was not in his right mind.
"Mira, I think Lucca is not okay. I think I should follow him," I said.
"Now you're concerned about him," Mira noticed.
"I don't know, but I feel like something is off," I said, looking uneasy.
Mira looked at me, worried. Then Dominic entered the kitchen.
"Have you seen Lucca?" he asked, also looking worried.
Mira and I looked at each other, then told Dominic that Lucca had gone out.
"Why did he go out?" Dominic was puzzled. I went to the entrance where Dominic was standing.
"I have this strange feeling that Lucca is unwell," I said.
Dominic looked at me and nodded. "I'll find him."
"I'll come with you," I volunteered. Damian also went downstairs and looked at us.
"Damian, just help Mira prepare breakfast. Seraphina and I will look for Lucca," Dominic said.
"Find him? Where is he?" Damian's eyebrows furrowed.
Dominic shrugged, and we went out of the house.
"Dominic, what really happened? Why do I feel like Lucca is unwell?" I asked, sounding concerned.
"I don't know either. Maybe he has a fever?"
"If he had a fever, he should have stayed in his room," I said.
Dominic didn't respond and started calling Lucca's name.
"Lucca! Lucca! Where the hell are you?" Dominic shouted. But there was no sign of Lucca.
I bit my lower lip. Even though we're not close, I was still concerned about him. He had helped me in his own way.
I also started shouting his name, hoping we would find him. We were already far from the house, and we still hadn't found him.
"Lucca!" Dominic shouted again. I ran toward him, and then I saw a horrible sight.
Lucca was unconscious, lying on the grass with dirt on his face. Even in that condition, he still looked handsome and perfect, but seeing him like that made me pity him.
"Lucca, wake up!" Dominic touched his shoulder and tried to shake him. But there was no response.
"Dominic, we're far from the hospital, right?" I asked worriedly.
He nodded, his face tense. "I'm going to carry Lucca," he said.
"You can?" I asked. Looking at their physiques, Lucca was taller and leaner than Dominic. Both of them had perfect builds, but I knew Lucca was heavier and taller.
"Can you carry him? I can help," I said.
"I can, don't worry," he replied.
He lifted Lucca using both arms as if he were carrying sacks of rice.
"I can help, Dominic," I offered again.
"No, just walk ahead. I'll follow," Dominic said.
As much as I wanted to help, I had to listen to him. I shouldn't be a burden since he was already carrying Lucca. I walked quickly as instructed, but I kept glancing back to check if Dominic was okay. Surprisingly, he didn't seem like Lucca was heavy at all. He wasn't even sweating.
I ignored it and continued walking until we reached the house. Damian heard our footsteps and immediately helped Dominic. Dominic passed Lucca into Damian's arms, and Damian carried him upstairs.
"What happened, Sera? Why is Dominic carrying Lucca?" Mira asked.
"We saw him lying on the grass, unconscious," I said.
"He was? Oh no! Your feeling was right. There's something wrong with him. How could he even smile at me when we're not even friends? I've never even seen him smile at Dominic and Damian," Mira murmured.
"I'll go upstairs to ask Dominic if he needs anything for Lucca," I said. Mira just nodded, and I left her in the kitchen.
Lucca's door was open, not wide open, but I could catch a glimpse of what was inside.
"It's Seraphina's fault," Damian uttered.