I was drinking some tea when a soft knock came to my bedroom door. I had woken not long ago and felt a whole lot better from the previous night. Memories were coming together and answers.
"Yes?" I ask loudly and the butler opens my door quietly.
"Lillian would like to see you. She is playing with Vladimir in the commons area," the butler informs me before closing the door. I stretch and slide out of bed. I put my cute little slippers on and grab the robe hanging off the side of my bed. I walk from my room all the way put into the commons area I share with Bats. I open my door and see them playing tag all around the room. Bats making it hard for the little girl to tag him because he keeps turning into bats and flying quickly away.
"Vlad!" Yelled the pouting seven year old girl with her arms crossed. I came into view and she smiled a huge grin. Bats noticed my arrival and smiled with her.
"Alexis!" Shrieked the little girl with happiness. I smiled at both of them.
"So who's winning tag?" I ask and she punches Bats in the arm. He pretends it hurts before laughing.
"Vladimir's a meany. He won't let me tag him. Keeps turning into bats and running away like a coward. Did you use to play tag with him?" Lillian asks with complete curiosity. The memories of us playing tag and other games a child go through my mind in a flash. I smile at the gorgeous little girl before me.
"Yes and he use to do the same thing to me until I figured out how to catch him. I figured out how to see which direction he would go before he turned into bats and lunge that way as he would and catch him as a bat. Think you wanna try that next time you guys play?" I asked and Bats starts laughing remembering all the times I would tag him, but fall on my face so he would tag me back quickly.
"Yes! I knew you would help me! Lillith wants us to talk for a bit too," Lillian states quickly as she sits in the floor criss-cross. I sit down with her and Vladimir sits next to me. I was curious why this little girl was suddenly fine with me when she started speaking again.
"Lilith told me I shouldn't be afraid of you. That you won't hurt me. When you were inside my head it scared me, but you were gentle about it. Lilith convinced me that you could have done a lot worse to me. Thank you for being so kind," Lillian says with a smile.
"I wanted you out of the room at the time not to hurt you. I was more concerned with Vivian and Daku. I knew it would get you out of harm's way. I don't ever want to hurt you sweetheart," I respond warmily to her and she smiles. Bats puts his hand on my shoulder with a small squeeze before taking his arm back.
"Lilith said to give you some of my blood and in return, you give me some of yours. Lilith says it will deepen our connection to you so I wouldn't have to speak for Lilith anymore. She'd be free to talk to you anytime. She knows a great deal more than me, but that can't be helped when my mommy and daddy won't let me learn all things, but Lilith can for she is in a different plane of existence and tells me about all kinds of stuff," Lillian spoke with a huge smile on her face, "So can we?" She seemed rather excited about it. I could feel the unease within Bats.
"Can you explain to me why?" I ask Lillian making her calm down slightly. She seemed a bit disappointed.
"Well ohkay. I guess you don't know then. Lilith can use blood to create these roads that connect two separate things. You see Lilith already feels a strong pull towards you and she won't tell me why so she asked me to do this so she can talk back and forth with you, but you don't have to be around me just to speak to her after it. You see this road becomes permanent between the two of you and I won't know. Unfortunately, you can't tell my parents. They don't know it's possible and she loves them very much but doesn't want to be that connected with them," Lillian explained as best she could. I could feel Lilith presence in the room and see her sitting next to Lillian whispering things to her. I trained my eyes to try and see what isn't there to the naked eye, but to the magical one. I could see the chains binding Lilith to Lillian and a small string connecting her to me that wasn't sturdy at all.
"You understand that that moment you give me your blood I will be able to see your memories and hers right? That this will hurt a little bit and make you question a lot of my memories as well." I asked seeing if this would shake her resolve any. I could see Lilith saying something to Lillian and her think for a few moments before answering.
"Yep. Lilith says I won't have your memories that only she will. Lilith would have the connection, but not me for she'll borrow my body as so I will be protected. We need to hurry though for my mommy will be looking for me in a minute and I don't want to get in trouble if she sees us exchange blood," Lillian said starting to get anxious. Suddenly her demeanor changes and her anxiety disappears. Her eyes change like before. She bites her finger so blood pools at the top and gestures towards me. I lean over with my finger as tap the blood getting it on my finger before putting it into my mouth and licking it away. Memories quickly start at my head from Lilith. I bite my finger causing it to bleed and hold it out to her. She copies my movements. My finger heals quickly. Lilith disappears and Lillian comes back with a childish smile.
I could feel a magical bridge slowly starting to form and knew it was Lilith doing it. I could feel the magical hooks and rope forming the bridge between our very souls as if we were to be connected forever. I could feel the ropes cemented into my very being. I felt them change to chains after a few moments knowing the connection was completed. Lillian starts playing with Bats again as I stay seated in the floor. I felt something climb through the chains and could feel another soul within my very body. It was a very werid feeling. This will take some getting use to.
"Finally, I can speak with you freely without my sister interrupting anything," Lilith spoke to me within my mind. I could see her sitting next to me on the floor as she spoke freely.
"Can your soul move between Lillian and me now?" I asked wondering if Lillian would be missing her sister or feeling the absence and grow scared.
"Not exactly. You see I can fragment my soul into small pieces so that I can attach myself to other people only if they agree to the bridge. Lillian still has my main soul within her body for I am attached to her soul forever. However, this one small fragment is now attached to your soul so that we can help each other and freely speak back and forth without anyone knowing. It's a gift and a curse honestly, but I must do this for later on you will need my abilities," Lilith spoke as if she was actually in the room with me. It was eerie to me. I could feel the magical binding of a small stone attaching and sewing itself to my soul. I also felt another seal erode within the same instant causing pain to my body. I was trying to fight it and make sure not to alarm Bats or Lillian with what was happening to me. I felt a soothing magic start to encase my body allowing the pain to become minimal. I realized it was coming from Lilith. This feeling seemingly familiar to me. Why was it familiar?
"Before Lillian was born I was able to move about freely in the other plane. I could go see who I pleased. Vladimir's mom asked me to keep an eye on you when you disappeared from the estate due to your granny. It was extremely hard to find you with all those seals," Lilith explains. I started remembering having an imaginary friend as a kid that turns out to be her later on in life. Flashes of memories come and go throughout my mind.
"I think it's only fair to tell you everything that is going on and how you fit into the story. I also know why you had all the seals placed upon you that are repressed in your memories and how to unlock everything," Lilith states matter-of-factly. I was caught by surprise with the few things that were constantly racing through my mind for her to only tell me she had all the answers. There has to be a catch somewhere. How could she possibly know everything?
"How do you know all of this?" I asked wanting to understand and couldn't help but ask questions at this point.
"I don't have a physical body therefore I can reach different planes of existence that you guys cannot. I can be in three different places at one time since nothing is stopping me. However, I am bound to Lillian's body and will have to return until I am set free from her body. I am always present with Lillian even when I am here with you. I have also been to the spirit plane of existence to seek guidance and answers. My powers are still developing as is Lillian's, but mine are stronger and maturing faster since I don't have a physical body. I cannot take over Lillian's body without her permitting me to do so. I am but a fragment attached to you so I can only speak to you. Anything else I must be permitted by you with verbal consent," Lilith begins explaining understanding I need to know way more information. I feel her magic slowly disappearing letting the pain slowly go away on its own as well.
"So why are you helping me?" I asked. Different planes of existence? My memories being locked away for what ungodly reason?
"I am helping you because you have always helped me. Before your seals, you and I would go explore. You would astral project to be able to travel with me to unknown origins. You were my best friend for a very long time. However, when you suddenly disappeared and Vladimir's Mom summoned me specifically I knew something had happened to you. I didn't know what until I found you were alive, but human. You couldn't see me. When Lillian was born, I couldn't look after you anymore, but Vladimir was watching over you at that point. I knew you would be ohkay. I knew you'd be back here at this castle eventually and I would be able to help you remember me." Lilith took a pause knowing I was seeing a lot of the memories as she spoke. The seal that eroded giving me all the memories of her back from when I was a kid.
"So that's how we know each other. This makes sense now. I missed you Lilith. Tell me about the seals," I press knowing she could feel my desire to know about them.
"I know that you started with two hundred seals on your soul that locked away pieces of you. Your very soul has locks on them. I also know you are down to about a hundred seals and still haven't unlocked everything. I know your granny was the one to seal you. Allowing me to attach a fragment to you also eroded one of those very seals. I use to always have a fragment of myself attached to you until your granny broke the connection. Each seal comes with a test to unlock it. I think I have figured out what each test is. Your granny sure did a number. Permit me to access your memories so I can piece them together so you have a better understanding of them in a chronological order instead of them just everywhere?" Lilith asked of me and I stopped myself to think about everything she just told me. My very memories pleading her case to the fullest of truths. I remember how I use to trust her and Vladimir with my very life. I looked at the mark on my arm and why they were bats verses anything else. Vladimir has also been protecting me when Lilith was unable to. Would each seal be as painful as the others? I noticed Ash was playing with Bats and Lillian as I chilled in the floor with Lilith.
"Have you gotten Ash to start speaking to you yet?" Lilith asked me changing the subject slightly.
"Ash can speak?" I quickly was dumbfounded and looked at the gorgeous pup.
"Yes she can. She's allowed her soul to completely bound herself to you. Can you not feel it?" Lilith asks me slightly confused. I looked into myself a bit more at that moment. I could feel Lilith. I could feel two other things attached to my soul. One I recognized as the tattoo seal that connected me to Bats and the other was a direct line to Ash. How have I not noticed this?
"I didn't know. What is she?" I question softly realizing there was so much I didn't know.
"I'll let her explain that to you, but you should try to talk to her now that you know. Vladimir did give her to you while you were human. It made me feel way better knowing you would be protected especially as a human. I don't understand why your granny went that far instead of explaining things to you, but we will help you as best as we can." Lillith spoke. A butler came into the room and cleared his throat softly.
"Madame Lillian, your mother has requested you to come for your nap," he spoke in a sweet tone. Lillian bounce over to the butler and waved at us before disappearing out the door with him. Vladimir laid on the floor for a moment catching his breath.
"Welp, I think I need a bath and a nap too. You taught her how to try and catch me. She definitely is figuring it out. You ohkay Lexi?" Bats breathed looking over to where I was sitting. Ash came running over and jumped into my lap causing me to laugh. I began petting her head and she settled quickly down in my lap.
"Yeah, just a lot of memories to sort and Lilith has be extremely helpful in answering a lot of my questions. She's even been granted permission to help me get my memories back in chronological order so I remember things correctly instead of everything just being a big ball of stuffs," I said with a laugh. Lilith disappears after the permission I just granted her. I could feel her starting to sort things out for me inside my very own brain.
"That's good to hear. Do you need or want anything before I go nap?" Bats asked with such care in his voice.
"No, go nap. I may go do the same to allow a lot of this to sink in a bit better," I explained and he got up. He walks over to me and kisses my forehead before disappearing into his room.
"Can you speak to me Ash?" I ask quietly looking down at her in her content space on my lap. I let myself fall back so I am looking up at the white ceiling.
"Took you long enough," came a female voice out of nowhere. It startled me slightly causing me to flinch, but I remand were I was and smiled.
"Y'know, all of you get scared when animals start talking like you guys. Our protectors can't speak unless asked by our masters to do so. I have been anticipating this moment and you impressed me. Most people scream, but you flinched." Ash continued causing me to laugh a bit as she laughed too. I petted her head without looking.
"Does that make me your master?" The curiosity heightened now.
"It does. I was scared of you at first when I got picked up by Vladimir and told he wanted me to be your protector from all dangers. I was pretty young then and didn't fully know what I was being asked to do until later on." Ash spoke quietly completely comfortable on my lap with her head pats.
"Why me?" I asked Ash as she snuggled into me more enjoying the closeness of us both.
"I was just a pup when I got given to you. Vladimir has a protector of his own whom happens to be my mom. My mom thought you could use someone to always trust and have your back as life whisked you away. He talked to mom about what was going on with you so I became a gift to you. My mom has trained me as best as she could." Ash states as if she was telling me something I should have already known. I felt her fall asleep on me and decided to move us to the room. I carefully moved out from under her and picked her up. I carried her into my room and placed her softly on my bed. I laid down with her so I could keep getting her awesome cuddles and closed my eyes.
I noticed something new in my mind as I settled into my subconscious. I could see filing cabinets placed in the center of the room. I could see folders thrown everywhere and a desk where Lilith was sitting going through folders. She was then placing them into filing cabinets after getting a big stack of them together. One in particular caught my eye. It had chains and locks all over it.
"What is that?" I asked Lilith concentrating on focusing on my subconscious mind and making a reflection of myself appear there. I could see Lilith for the first time and she was stunning. Her white hair fell to the floor as she stood and her bangs framed her face, but hide her eyes if she choose to. Her eyes were a glittering greenish gold color that memorized me as I looked into them. Her face was perfect and her caramel skin smooth and flawless. She looked to be about sixteen years old with a perfect athletic build to her. She wore a black strapless belly shirt with black leggings that hugged her frame faultlessly. Black boots sat upon her feet.
"So you can manifest yourself within your subconscious. I'm impressed. It takes years to master that and still be conscious in the real world. Makes you even more dangerous because you won't lose a mental battle. Can you see me?" Asked Lilith as she stepped closer to me.
"Yes. Can Lillian see you too? I thought you guys were eight?" I was confused and trying to piece together what I was seeing.
"Lillian isn't capable of seeing me yet. She needs more training and some growing before she can do that. Technically I would be the same age as my sister if not for the fact that I have journeyed through planes and forced my soul to give me the strongest version of myself if I had a physical body. It was the only way to ensure my sister would be safe and allow me to keep her protected. I also know my powers and can control them, unlike Lillian. I can teach her this way without interference from our parents," Lilith answered me avoiding the first question I asked. I took a closer look at the filing cabinet with all the locks. Each lock had a seal on it that I quickly understood referred to the seals on my soul. There were about a hundred or so locks on this cabinet.
"If you hadn't figured it out already these are the memories that are stolen from you with each insignia. Unlocking an insignia around your soul also unlocks an insignia around this allowing things to slip through. I know all about you Alexis. I can show you the day you were reincarnated by your curse. I can show you what your Granny did when she figured it out. I can show you the past to help you unlock your future. The royal families are terrified of you. They are all fighting to try and unify all of themselves, but several are fighting back. I can show you what you are and help you remember who you are. I can bring you to meet your real parents," Lilith stopped speaking realizing she has said way more than she should have in a few sentences.
"How do you know all of this about me?" I could see where she was flipping through my memories and see a notebook where she was writing things down.
"Alexis, let me show you how I know everything. Please take my hands," Lilith held hers out to me and reluctantly I took them into my own. As soon as I did I could feel the world spinning and being taken somewhere outside of myself. I had closed my eyes without realizing I had done so until I opened them to see a beautiful utopia surrounding us. We were outside a castle and Lilith didn't let go of one of my hands. She leads me into the castle and through several different passageways before opening the doors to the biggest library I have ever witnessed in my life.
"This place is the library of knowledge. Anything you want to know can be found here. The librarian can bring you all the answers. He is the keeper of this place and never leaves. He is timeless and knows past, present, and future. Everything is here. All the answers to your questions. This is how I know everything that I do. He wanted me to bring you here one day and I couldn't do that without you being able to manifest yourself into your subconscious. You are your soul traveling through planes with me as we speak right now," Lilith explained as a cloaked figure ten feet tall approached us. He held a staff in one hand and literally glided over the floor. His cloak the color of charcoal. Lilith bowed to the figure as I stood looking at him and feeling a sense of familiarity.
"Alexis, I've been waiting for you. It is about time you remember who you are and what you are. I have missed talking to you over the centuries. My, it's been so long," the cloaked figure whispered with an eerie quality to it all. His voice slow, but strong. He seemed far away yet directly next to me. I noticed the staff carried a time glass filled with a mysterious liquid. It shimmed the colors of the rainbow. I went to speak and he shushed me. He gestured for us to follow him and Lilith pulled me behind him until we went through another set of doors on the inside of this massive library. Inside this new room, Lilith pulled me to the mahogany table with weird chairs made out of vines that sat before a golden throne. The cloaked figure sat upon his golden throne with ancient symbols all around it. It looked like something out of a movie with ancient gods.
"We can speak freely here," came his voice again. You could only see his rainbow eyes the same shimmering color as the liquid.
"How do you know me?" I asked and the time god and keeper of secrets laughed a full nasal laugh. He did a small hand gesture that caused a book to appear onto the desk in front of us out of thin air. He pointed to the book and I noticed it had my name on it. The book was thin, but when I touched it instead of opening as to read the book it shined a bright light before sucking me into it.