Chapter Thirteen

It's Coming

"Interesting fact though, apparently, according to Damian, that Terror we fought last night, he's not even one of the six that were released upon that Falling," Nicole informed them, as she fell into Matthew's lap.

After Naya's return, the Hunters had to go to the Division and she spent the day with Luke and Kayla, who ended up skipping school. It actually turned out to be a very relaxing day, both girls were exhausted and craved some rest, so they stayed inside and Kayla took some time to teach Naya some of the basics of human life: she taught her how to cook some basic meals, taught her what every single bottle in the bathroom was (turns out Naya had been washing her hair with Matt's body gel) and even tried to teach her some basic reading skills. Time flew by, as Naya, though tired, was relentlessly interested and excited with what she was learning.

The Hunters were home by the end of the afternoon and, after a pleasant meal that Naya gleefully helped Kayla prepare, they all went to their back garden to enjoy the warm and peaceful night and clear dark sky.

Nicole rested against Matt's chest, both sitting on the grass. Kayla sat on the stone steps, back against the wall, and beneath one of the outside lamps (the light had been returned before nightfall), reading a book and Naya, lying on the grass, enjoying how it tickled her bare skin, looked at the infinite sky, trying to count the stars – a task that she found impossible, but very soothing and relaxing. Luke rested on top of her belly, purring as she absentmindedly petted him.

"And that bugs you?" Matt asked, as he played with his girlfriend's hair.

"I just... I don't know, something isn't right."

"What do you mean?"

"Don't you think it's weird? All these Terrors suddenly showing up... It's like something is calling them here."

"Probably their Vessels. They're probably here or have been around here."

"Yeah, but why?"

"I don't know, something about Aurora and other big cities seems to attract Vessels, it's always been like that, love."

"Not with the same frequency as it has been happening these last few months."

"Johnny contacted Division 9 and they haven't noticed any anomaly yet. You know Nasirah doesn't play around."

"I don't know, something doesn't feel right."

"I think you're paranoid and stressing about nothing," Matt told her, before kissing the back of her head.

"Something's going on..." Nicole insisted, speaking more to herself than her boyfriend, seemingly lost in thought. "I can feel it and I don't like it. Something weird is going on behind the scenes."

Matt sighed and closed his eyes, enjoying the warm breeze that played with his lover's hair. "Just try to relax, Nicole. Enjoy tonight."

"Something is going to happen," she whispered, relaxing against his chest.

"Or not. But we can totally just obsess endlessly about it if you want. Sounds like fun."

"The worst is yet to come."

"Shhhhh," Matt said and playfully covered her mouth with his hand. She laughed and struggled and they wrestled each other on the ground.

Naya looked at them and smiled. She was surprised to see that Nicole was actually winning, in spite of Matt being significantly bigger and stronger.

She turned her head to the opposite side, a much quieter, intimate one. Beneath the other lamp, also sitting on the grass, were Adam and Tatiana. She sat behind him, caring for and bandaging the back of his bare right shoulder. They were speaking low to each other and seemed to be immersed in their own private world.

Embarrassed and somewhat bothered, Naya returned her attention to the infinity above. She had a sudden flash of an image, an idea, a wish – she was the one caring for Adam, she was the one sharing that moment with him. She longed for more humanity, longed for that closeness, that deep connection with someone.

She gazed at the sky one last time and sighed, lost in fantasies and dreams of something magic. She was happy, she was free.

***

The young Keeper woke up abruptly in the middle of the deep night, not really sure why. Sitting up on her bed, she understood quite quickly.

Anwen was inside her room, looking at her with a huge smile, glorious in her darkness and bathed by soft moonlight. Her window was open, she had clearly entered through the backyard. Luke stared at her with all the quiet confidence in the world.

"Anwen? What are you doing here?" she asked in a whisper.

"I just got out of work and thought I should pay you a visit," her sister replied, also whispering. "Sorry if I scared you."

"You didn't. How did you know where to find me?" Naya asked, not able to suppress a yawn and lazily rubbing her eyes.

"I am Blessed, that comes with a few perks." She winked. "I can feel our brothers and sisters. Your presence is very unique, you know? It's a good thing, except if you want to hide."

Naya chose to leave out of her mind all the possible reasons and future scenarios that might lead her to wish to hide from her siblings.

"I wanted to make sure you're okay," Anwen continued, sitting at Naya's feet. "How was the return home?"

"It was great, actually," she replied with a genuine, although tired smile.

"Are you sure this is what you want to do?"

Naya was tired of thinking about it, she had made her decision that day and was determined to stick to it. She was confident when she nodded her reply.

"Well, if anything goes wrong, if you need anything, I'm here for you. My door is always open."

"Thank you, Anwen. That means a lot."

"Ah well, what are sisters for?" she waved Naya's gratitude away, as if it was unnecessary. "I also came to give you this." She handed a small black backpack to her younger sister. "I thought you might need it."

Naya accepted the gift, curious, and opened the backpack. Inside, there were what looked like crumpled black clothing. She eyed Anwen with questions drawn in her face.

"You are going to face your Sins out there," Anwen explained. "You might want to cover up and dress something that doesn't reveal your identity, especially since you are living with Hunters and they know you so well."

Naya smiled and crawled from beneath the blankets to reach her sister. She hugged her close.

"Thank you so much."

Anwen returned the gesture. "I've got your back, sis. Don't worry."

"I feel stronger knowing that you are here with me," she admitted, right before they parted.

Anwen gently stroked her cheek. "I am here for you."

Naya nodded again and Anwen got up. "Well, I have to go. Sariah hates it when I'm late. Makes her nervous." She walked to the window and, before leaving, shared more comfort, "Remember: you can do this!"

Both sisters shared one last smile and waved each other goodbye.

Despite being tired, now that Anwen had left, Naya couldn't go back to sleep. The night was still young and fresh, but she found herself restless, with the uncomfortable feeling that she was forgetting something important, like something inside of her fought with her body, not allowing her the mere idea of sleep.

Feeling upset and confused about it, she decided to go to the kitchen and drink some water, maybe splash her face with the cold liquid. She called Luke but he was looking at the window ever since Anwen left, his eyes never leaving the outside, looking completely awaken yet completely immobile.

She shrugged and left the room. Entering the living room, she witnessed a scene that melted her heart and hid away her illogical concerns for a few seconds.

Tatiana was there, sleeping in the couch. She didn't look uncomfortable, though there was no doubt the bed was infinitely better.

The Keeper smiled warmly at the scene and the meaning behind it. The human girl slept peacefully and she couldn't help but feel a surge of love towards her. Tatiana could've asked for her own bedroom, yet she didn't. She chose to sleep on the couch instead of asking Naya for the bed that was rightfully hers, just like they had agreed to. Naya hadn't even known Tatiana was going to stay for the night.

Forgetting about the water, she returned to her room and took the covers out of her bed. She returned to Tatiana and quietly covered the sleeping girl.

Still, once she returned to the peace and quiet of the empty room, Naya couldn't bury that horrible, nagging feeling that something was wrong. In fact, it only grew stronger.

She was nervous, anxious, her heart beating furiously against her ribs, her stomach turning. Her breathing was fast and shallow and she tried to soothe it by taking long, deep breaths. Yet, it wasn't enough. The unpleasant feeling of worry and dread remained there, stubborn, unmerciful.

Naya couldn't stay quiet, she walked in circles, back and forth, messing with her hair, playing with her hands, stretching and pulling her shirt.

Looking around, she found Luke quietly contemplating the skies, nose close to the window, eyes wide open, as if hypnotized. His weird behavior only stressed her more, so she decided to open the window and go outside for some fresh air.

The night was unnaturally warm and quiet, stiff and heavy, as if air was palpable, not a leaf moved. It felt like the beginning of a storm and it unnerved her. The silence and stillness were so absolute, she could hear the rustling of leaves caused by a frightened cat rows of houses to her right.

Luke immediately ran outside as soon as the window was open, like he had been patiently waiting for it. He climbed to the top of the house and Naya felt the compelling need to follow him. It was physical, unconscious, overwhelming.

Slowly, so as to not wake up anyone inside the house (and also because she was convinced something terrible would happen if she dared break the silence), she carefully climbed the wall, aided by the small fence and the neighbor's tree. Once she was up there, she graciously fell into place besides Luke, who sat at the edge of the roof and stubbornly contemplated the sky. Naya mimicked him and suddenly felt difficulty to breathe.

She allowed herself a moment of distraction to gaze at the sleeping city and couldn't help but feel tragedy was about to befall it.

She felt the carnal need to protect it.

Returning her eyes to the immense sky, she heard it, she felt it – primal, instinctive and utterly natural. She had never been through it before, yet she knew exactly what it was. In a moment, she just knew everything. And it terrified her to the core.

"I have to rise to the occasion."

Her arms were trembling, she couldn't tell if it was adrenaline or raw fear, and curled her hands into fists in a vain attempt to control it. Her heart was about to explode out of her chest, desperate.

"I'm sorry, Father," she whispered, almost lost in a strange, consuming trance. Far away, a frightening, cold voice called to her, an unending song of death and beauty permanently singing inside her mind.

"You were right."

The voice was louder and louder. It was coming. It called for her, longed for her. It was tormenting, defying, mocking and seducing, loving even.

"I wasn't ready."

The song abruptly stopped, her necklace burned against her skin, her body felt heavier. The voice challenged her one last time, gave out one last warning.

And immediately, unexplainably, she knew who it belonged to, she recognized the shape of the creature she had never met, but had been a part of her since her creation.

She turned to Luke and he mimicked her perfectly. He knew it too.

It was there. It had come.

Her first Sin.

"Anantha."