The morning air clung to me as I trudged toward the
university, my mind spiraling in endless loops around
yesterday's revelation. A demon queen, a supposed
guardian, claiming me as her son—Nasira. It should've been
laughable, but there was no humor in the chill that
accompanied her presence. I kept replaying our
conversation, wondering if I was losing my grip on reality.
As I crossed the street, her voice cut through the quiet hum
of the city. "Going somewhere?" I sighed, already weary.
"Just to my lecture. Why are you here again? And stop
following me." Nasira chuckled, her tone a mix of
amusement and exasperation. "Oh, Adam, only you can see
me. So unless you want people to think you're insane, I'd
suggest acting normal." I frowned. "What do you mean?" I
asked, my eyes scanning the faces of the passersby. Her
expression shifted, her fiery gaze sweeping over the crowd.
Then, in a voice laced with venom, she hissed, "Yes, you
bastards. Mind your own business." I stopped in my tracks,
startled. "What are you talking about?" I whispered, my
eyes darting around. Everyone looked… normal. Busy
students, harried professionals, and the occasional tourist.
Nothing out of the ordinary. Nasira leaned closer, her voice
low and insistent. "They're watching, Adam. You didn't feel
that constant gaze all these years for no reason. But not
now. Later, I'll explain everything."
I shook my head. "I don't have time for this. I'll be late for
my lecture." She smirked, stepping back. "Suit yourself." I
hurried to the lecture hall, Nasira trailing beside me like an
invisible shadow. The oddity of the situation struck me
harder as we entered the crowded room. She stood by my
side, her otherworldly presence completely unnoticed. How
could no one see her? Was she truly invisible, or had the
world lost its ability to see what lurked beyond the veil? The
professor entered, a tall, imposing figure with an air of quiet
authority. Her voice silenced the room as she began, "Today,
we'll discuss an ancient riddle, The Bird of Hermes is My
Name, Eating My Wings to Make Me Tame." The phrase
piqued my interest immediately, pulling my focus away
from Nasira. The professor strode across the room, her voice
rich with intrigue. "This enigmatic line, originating from
alchemical texts, speaks of a paradoxical creature—a bird
that weakens itself willingly. Why? Because by consuming its
own wings, it tames its inherent power. But consider this:
the bird is not destroyed. Its strength remains, albeit
subdued." She paused, letting the weight of the words settle
before continuing. "The Bird of Hermes represents a force
that could outmatch its master, restrained only by choice. It
serves, but not out of weakness, it serves because it desires
purpose. But what happens when the bird decides to stop
eating its wings? When it embraces its full power?" The
room was silent, the question hanging in the air like a dark
cloud.
"The answer, my friends," she said, "is chaos. For the
master cannot control what refuses to be tamed. The bird's
loyalty is not born of fear but of a deeper bond. A dangerous
symbiosis. One misstep, and the dynamic shifts irreparably."
The analysis was mesmerizing, pulling me into its depths.
For a moment, I forgot about Nasira, forgot about the
unrelenting weight of being watched. I was lost in the idea of
a power so immense, so bound by choice and yet so
perilously close to rebellion. The lecture concluded, the
professor's words still echoing in my mind. As I gathered my
things, Nasira's voice broke the silence. "That was cool," she
said, leaning casually against the wall. "Hope you were
paying attention." I shot her a glare. "And you still think I'm
your son?" She grinned, her fangs glinting. "Yep." I groaned,
stuffing my notebook into my bag. "You're impossible." "Hey,
Adam," she said, her tone suddenly serious. "Look outside." I
frowned. "What? Why?" Nasira's eyes flicked toward the
window, her expression unreadable. "Just do it. Go, go! You
should meet her." "Meet who?" I asked, but she merely
gestured impatiently toward the door. I hesitated, but her
urgency unsettled me. Reluctantly, I slung my bag over my
shoulder and made my way outside. The sunlight was
blinding, the air thick with the chatter of students. My eyes
scanned the courtyard, searching for someone. "Nasira, what
am I supposed to...." And then I saw her...again. The sunlight
poured over the courtyard like molten gold, warming the
cool breeze that swirled between the buildings.
I stood there, frozen, watching her. Sarah. It was her,
unmistakably. But how? She hadn't aged a day since we
were fifteen. If anything, time had enhanced her beauty—
her jet-black hair now cascaded down her back in soft
waves, her stormy gray eyes as striking as ever. Her
presence was surreal, an otherworldly calm radiating from
her. "Recognize her?" Nasira's voice cut through my daze,
dripping with sly amusement. I swallowed hard, my throat
dry. "That's… that's Sarah," I muttered, more to myself
than her. Sarah's gaze met mine, and she smiled—a soft,
knowing smile that made my heart lurch. She waved.
Reflexively, I waved back, my face heating up. She
approached, her movements graceful and deliberate, and
when she spoke, her voice was quieter, softer than I
remembered. "Adam? It's really you," she said, a gentle
warmth in her tone. I nodded, struggling to find my words.
"Yeah… it's been a while." She gestured to a nearby bench.
"Do you have time? Let's catch up." We sat down, and for a
moment, silence settled between us. I could feel Nasira's
unseen presence, lurking just out of sight, but I forced
myself to focus on Sarah. "So… why did you disappear?"
she asked, her voice tinged with curiosity. I sighed,
running a hand through my hair. "It wasn't my choice. My
mom… she wanted a fresh start. A new house, a new job. I
didn't even get the chance to tell you before we left."
Sarah listened intently, her eyes soft and understanding. I
hesitated, the next words heavy on my tongue. "She… she
passed away. Car accident. It's just me now. I've been
working as a janitor, trying to pay the bills and keep up
with my studies." Her expression shifted, a mixture of
empathy and sorrow. "Adam… I'm so sorry." I shrugged,
forcing a hollow smile. "It's life, right? You keep moving
forward, no matter how much it sucks." "You're stronger
than you think. And you're not alone, Adam. You've got
goals, dreams. You can achieve them. And if you ever need
someone… I'm here." Her words were a balm to my
battered spirit, and for the first time in what felt like years,
I felt a flicker of hope. "Thanks, Sarah. That… means a lot."
She smiled. "So, tell me about your studies. Still into
history?" I nodded. "Yeah, I've always been fascinated by
how the world used to work, the gods people worshipped.
It feels… grounding." She leaned back, her eyes thoughtful.
"I'm studying to be a medic. I want to help people, you
know? My parents always said I had a healing touch." There
was something enigmatic about the way she spoke of her
parents, as if they were shrouded in mystery. I didn't press,
sensing it wasn't the time. Before she left, I hesitated, then
said, "I'm sorry I didn't say goodbye back then." She
turned, her smile as serene as ever. "You don't need to
apologize. Life happens. What matters is that we found
each other again." As she walked away, Nasira's voice broke
my reverie. "Ask her out, you idiot." I nearly jumped.
"What? No, she just left."
Nasira rolled her eyes, her voice heavy with exasperation.
"Come on, crap-head. Ask her." I muttered under my
breath, "Shut up." Sarah turned back, her brow furrowed.
"Who are you talking to?" I froze. "No one," I said quickly.
She tilted her head, her gray eyes narrowing slightly. For a
moment, her gaze flickered just for an instant to where
Nasira stood. My pulse quickened. Could she see her?
"Hey," Sarah said softly, breaking the tension. "Want to go
out sometime?" My brain stuttered to a halt. "Wait… a
date?" She nodded, her smile playful. "Yeah. A date." I
barely managed a coherent response. "I..uh..yeah!
Definitely." As she left, my heart pounded in my chest. On
the way home, Nasira muttered to herself, her voice low
and pensive. "She looks a lot like him." I frowned. "What are
you mumbling about?" Nasira snapped out of her thoughts.
"Nothing." I narrowed my eyes. "No, seriously. Who's him?"
"Later," she said, waving me off. "You're always in such a
rush." "Yeah, yeah," I muttered. "Everything's always
'later.'" When we finally got home, Nasira clapped her
hands together. "Alright, three days until your date. We've
got work to do." I groaned. "No thanks. I don't need you
setting your Halloween mood for this." Her grip on her
trident tightened, her eyes narrowing. "Could you at least
give me a freaking chance to help, butt-head?" I sighed,
raising my hands in surrender. "Fine. After I get back from
work, we'll plan." Nasira smirked, her fiery gaze burning
with determination. "Deal."