https://youtu.be/jev6a7ZgoLM

"So she traveled the lands. She slept under trees with pink leaves that fell and floated in the air. She meandered through villages, collecting information from the locals. It was dangerous, but she did what she must to get revenge," I declared ominously, stabbing my fork into a sliced piece of strawberry.

I stood a distance from the kitchen counter, close enough to feast on my fruity snack but far enough to wander around the space I was provided as I told my story. Though, to be honest, it wasn't my story. I was only describing a movie Levi had taken me to see awhile back.

Oliver sat at the counter, occasionally stealing a piece of my food contently. He watched me with amusement as I raised and lowered my arms, took my steps, and reimagined the scenes as if I were a character in the story.

Nearby, Jax was seated as well. His dark eyes were observing me with great concentration, as if the things I was saying actually mattered rather than being some silly nonsense. Other than listening to me, it appeared he wasn't there to do anything else. He didn't indulge himself by feeding on human food, nor did he seem to have any message to deliver. He had merely appeared as an audience and I quite enjoyed the attention.

"Then she finally found him," I announced dramatically, biting the strawberry from my fork. I liked fruit. It was sweet, like candy, but filling. I pulled my arm up, pointing the fork at an imaginary character with determination. "'Lou Sinung', she said with her sword raised in front of her. He had stolen those she loved from her and for this, he would die. Her final words were thus: 'Jigou Jitoku'. And they fought."

I abruptly stepped forward, slicing my fork through the air. My imaginary foe blocked easily, so I continued my attack with determination. My body twisted like a dancer's, my feet scaling in position as I swung my invisible sword dangerously.

For a moment, I thought I could see an actual sword in my hand. It was like a sudden memory of a past I couldn't recall having, but it was too familiar for it not to be real. The feeling itself was familiar, after having so much information being provided without reason throughout my existence. I sliced my sword downward with a loud cry, striking my imaginary opponent and then crouched before striking the fatal blow that would end the battle.

I paused for a moment, remembering I was still in the kitchen with Oliver and Jax as my audience. I straightened promptly, smiling shyly before saying, "And vengeance was hers, of course. After that, she was finally able to live her life in peace." Then I posed again, pretending to balance my fork as my sword.

"Your form is quite well," Jax replied to my finale. "Either you're a good actor or perhaps you've practiced with a sword before?" I twirled my fork around before facing Jax, pointing at him menacingly with my weapon.

"Maybe. Maybe not. But you'll do well to remember this," I answered dangerously, still in character. "Mess with me and you just might find yourself run through by the point of my sword, Sir Jax." I jabbed my fork in his direction threateningly. A sly smile slowly rose on Jax's features as he watched me intensely, the smile itself surprising on such a serious man.

"Before making such threats, I think you should be aware of just who in this room has a sword and who is more likely to be... run through," He said, his tone suddenly low and suggestive. A feverish heat hit me in record speed, sending a blush over my skin just as quickly as I could take my next breath.

"Jax cracking jokes. I never thought I'd live to see this day," Oliver laughed loudly, before addressing me, "I do have a question, though. What was that you said? Her final words?" I paused, thinking back just a moment before pointing my fork-sword at Oliver.

"Jigou Jitoku," I responded sharply before frowning at the whisper of information in my mind, "It's a Japanese saying; it means something along the lines of 'you reap what you sow' or 'what goes around, comes around'."

"I thought you said the movie was in English, though," Oliver continued curiously.

"It was."

"So you made that up, then?" He asked. Jax was watching me for my response intensely, the subject obviously something that interested him as well.

"I... well, if it was in Japanese, that's what she would have said," I answered, momentarily flustered.

"So you speak Japanese?" Oliver tilted his head, his features relaxed despite his prodding inquiry. He was trying to figure out more about the information in my head; those facts that spoke to me and those memories that weren't mine.

"I suppose I do," I finally admitted, looking away to continue my sword stances.

"What else do you know?" He continued curiously. I paused, straightening myself to look at my fork as if it had the answers. What did I know? Honestly, I felt as if I knew new things every day. Information was being provided to me as I came across them and some things I felt were there in my mind all along; pure instinct.

"All kinds of things, I guess," I answered uncertainly, "I know the piano."

"Can you play other instruments?" Jax intervened.

I thought of Theo. I recalled the violin he propped against his neck and I mimicked his technique with an imaginary violin of my own for my current audience. As I pretended to hold a violin, information flooded my mind of the strings and where to position my fingers versus my grip on the bow. I knew then, I could play it if I wanted. Maybe not skillfully, but the information was there.

"I can," I finally answered Jax, "The violin."

"But you've never actually played it before, correct?" He inquired.

"No... maybe... I don't think so," I was becoming confused. My hands were someone else's. Or perhaps they were my hands and I just couldn't recognize it as so. Or maybe they were mine and also someone else's. Either way, those hands had played the violin and they had swung a sword.

"Explain it to us," Jax requested patiently as I fumbled with my thoughts. I looked to the distant wall absently, trying to understand my thoughts enough to put into words.

"I think... they're memories," I explained carefully, frowning at the incorrect statement. Even so, I couldn't think of a better way to describe the images. "They're mine... maybe. Or maybe not. I just know things without being taught, like someone placed the information in my head on whim. And I can see images of things I've never actually seen before."

I closed my eyes then, allowing the images to surface. It was like Polaroid pictures flashing across my vision in quick progress, nearly breathtaking.

"Oceans," I continued, seeing large waves crashing onto beaches. "Sand." I lifted my hand partially, feeling the warm brush of dry sand through my fingers. "The desert..."

I was suddenly looking up, my eyes still closed as something else took my attention in the images. It was beaming, the light so bright and warm that it soaked into my skin with warmth that could turn into crimson pain if exposed for too long. I lifted my hand further, my palm facing the sky above with great intrigue, momentarily forgetting the kitchen I was truly in.

"The sun," I breathed with wonder.

I opened my eyes slowly, but the sun was not truly there. Instead, a figure stood in front of me, only inches away from my raised hand. Theo watched me with guarded eyes, his head tilted and his hands stowed in his pockets.

"You'll never see the sun as long as you're with us," He told me emotionlessly.

"I will," I answered, refusing to be moved by his words. "I see it every time I see you. I feel its rays every time you touch me."

"You're mistaken. My touch does nothing for you. I'm not like the others," Theo stated, a dark tone of envy coating his tongue. "You do nothing for me, either. I won't ever be able to taste human food or feel human emotion. Of everyone, this is what I deserve." His words hurt me quite sharply; pained by the idea that he saw me as something useless to him.

I dropped my fork and took a step forward, lifting my arms to wrap around his neck in a warm hug. I pulled him to me, lifting my face to rest my cheek against his affectionately. He stood unmoving, his hands never leaving his pockets, but he hadn't stepped away as I feared he might. I raised my lips to his ear carefully.

"You're a liar," I hissed with frustration.

"Ah, fuck me, that was a terrible assignment," Miles' voice suddenly exploded within the room. I released Theo reluctantly, turning my gaze on Miles who stood in utter shambles. His suit was torn at, as if he had been so uncomfortable that he tried to rip it apart with it still on him. He pointedly ignored me, addressing Oliver instead. "Where the hell is Seb? I'm submitting a resume for a new position because if I have to spend another night with this ugly mug, I will honest to God throw myself into a wood chipper."

I laughed, despite his rudeness, drawing his attention to me momentarily.

"I see you're still alive. That's unfortunate," Miles mused cruelly, narrowing his eyes before looking away. I frowned. It was as if each time I saw him, he only became colder towards me. He's fighting the imprint, Levi had told me.

"You sure you don't want to just go ahead with the wood chipper idea?" Levi stepped in behind Miles. My mood instantly brightened and I couldn't resist stepping towards him. I walked past Miles, avoiding the urge to brush against him as I passed, and instead buried myself in Levi's warm arms.

"You look well, Katia," Levi observed with relief, pulling me away enough to look at my face. "Let me see." He hooked a finger on the neck of my shirt, pulling it away from my shoulder and chest enough to peer at the scar left behind. He frowned, brushing a finger over the mark and sending a heated chill over my skin. His features became further displeased when he looked at my shoulder, closer to my neck, where fang marks were still fading away. Over time, they would be completely invisible, but for now they were still there.

"You bit her," Levi addressed Oliver, looking at him accusingly. "She wasn't yours to feed off of."

"Look, I warned you and you all but hammer threw her at me," He answered with his hands raised in surrender.

"I'm okay," I interrupted Levi before he could come up with a snappy retort, drawing his eyes back to me. I took a step back and twirled back and forth to show that nothing was in pain. Then I smiled at him adoringly, watching the tension ease from his form slowly.

"Where's Seb?" Miles asked again.

"He's looking into the location of another artifact," Jax answered, his features once again steeled behind a guarded wall. The presence of so many of his brothers made him careful, as if he couldn't allow himself to relax completely around them. I watched him for a moment, giving him a brief smile when he caught me in the act.

"So he's skipping the gathering?" Levi inquired, "I guess that isn't too unusual... Who's all going, by the way?"

"No," Theo refused before anyone else could ask him directly.

"I was going to swing by," Oliver answered Levi easily, "Of course."

"I'll go with you," Miles moved to sit next to Oliver, stealing my leftover fruit.

"I'd rather not," Jax said, his voice quiet.

"I'm going," I chimed in happily. There was a sudden deafening silence.

"I'm afraid you can't," Levi countered my answer. I frowned.

"I can and I will," I told him firmly, crossing my arms. "Why not?"

"Because Seb would rip our heads off, you dunce," Miles replied for his twin, "You're the entire reason why we had to rent out a club for it in the first place." I threw him a disgruntled look, irritation biting at me.

"But I want to go," I said, my frown deepening. I looked up at Levi again, widening my eyes innocently. "Please?" For a moment, he only stayed caught in my gaze without responding. Then he sighed morosely.

"Don't you ev-" Miles began before Levi interrupted.

"Fine, you can come."

I resisted the urge to do a victory dance and instead chose to smile, completely pleased.

"This is a bad idea..." Oliver said uncertainly, probably recalling the last time he snuck me out to a party. This reminded me of Desmond and I tensed for a moment at the thought that he might appear again.

"It should be fine with us there to watch her," Levi responded easily. "Miles, Oliver, and I should be enough."

"I'm going," Theo announced sharply.

"I'll go as well," Jax added.

"Look at that," Oliver hit Miles on the arm, indicating to the situation with amusement. "Almost everyone at a gathering. That's a first."

"Yes, how touching," Miles looked at me intensely, taking a rough bite of a remaining strawberry. I'd never seen anyone make eating a fruit look so threatening before. He smiled sarcastically, rolling his eyes to Oliver, "I intend to drink. And I mean a lot. Assuming we can taste alcohol now."

I felt the energy of excitement beginning to build within me. I was going out and I was going with everyone, with the exception of Sebastian. A part of me was waiting expectedly for Sebastian to appear as well, but I knew he wasn't nearby. It was wishful thinking, but I still could find a great deal of happiness with what I had.

And if I happened to see Delilah, maybe a fire would mysteriously appear in her drink again.

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Music: When It Comes To Us by Frances ft RITUAL