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Naery came late that night, carrying some unnecessary “baggage” with her. Tai let her in; his politeness overpowered his hatred, it seemed. I still was not speaking to him.
The moment Naery’s “baggage” saw me, his eyes grew bright and narrow. He struggled in her mental grasp and snarled at me. I was startled, but hid it well. Tai attempted to guide me away by placing his hand on my shoulder, and when I flung him back into the wall, I saw a look of pure pleasure on Naery’s face. I then released Naery’s grasp on Spike and calmly stood as he ran at me. Each swing he took at me when straight through me (a new trick I had learned). Tai slowly got up, his eyes never leaving me. He was doing a terrible job of keeping his emotions hidden-he along with Naery. Their bewilderment was obvious, and Spike-well, he had an excuse for his emotions and thoughts to be so clearly communicated.
At that time, I was unaware of the extraordinarity of my powers, skills and strength.
Spike’s anger, hatred and frustration pierces through the “wall of worlds” I had created. I was in a different world, but I could see him, and he, I, but we could not make physical contact with one another.
“Damn it, Mysiri!” he shouted. I shook from the exasperation in his voice. He was glaring at me. “I hate you. This damned vampiress forced me here... I wanted to never see you again. I love you-...” he paused. “Love, hate, what’s the difference? They all lead to destruction.”
I broke down the wall I had put up. “Spike,” I said softly. It was the first thing I had said since Tai and I had argued. “Spike, go ahead and hate me. It hurts me immensely for you to be doing so, but if it helps you, you keep doing it.” And with that, I turned away and retreated to my room to be alone. I was not surprised to find it occupied by none other than Euraefy.
“So you’ve finally come here, mother,” I sighed. “Okay, maybe you can tell me who my real father is.”
“It should have been Taimo... I didn’t mean to-...” Euraefy’s eyes clouded over to conceal her emotions. She actually succeeded. “You know your father. You like your father-maybe even more than Taimo... but I...” she paused. “It was Taimo I loved... it is Taimo I love.”
“Go talk to him. Tell him. Let me be in here alone.” Euraefy left slowly and I held my door closed with my mind.
A knock was soon heard. I refused to answer. After a minute or so, I heard Spike’s voice.
“Mysiri, I’ve forgiven you- are you gonna forgive me?” he asked patiently. I released the hold on my door. Spike came in and I held the door closed again.
It felt like forever since I had spoken with Spike without arguing. He stood relatively near to my bed, upon which I was sitting. He looked so calm and sane, much unlike how he had looked only moments before. His eyes were full of love and concern for me-that was the Spike that I had fallen in love with.
“Mysiri, I was so stupid-...”
“Let’s... just forget that. The past has passed. We can just begin anew,” I offered. A smile passed over Spike’s face.
“Okay. Hello; my name’s Spike. What’s yours?” he grinned, holding his hand out. I took it.
“Mysiri,” I replied, a soft smile playing on my lips.
“Pleased to meet you, Mysiri. By golly, have you ever been told how beautiful you are when you smile?” I blushed and looked down.
“Spike-...”
“I never told you that. I meant to. Now that we started over, I figured I should tell you that.”
“Well... thank you, Spike,” I murmured. He seemed to be contemplating something, so I patiently waited for him to speak again.
“I missed you, Mysiri.”
“And I, you. I found myself getting angry at myself because whenever I started thinking of what I could have done to prevent our argument, I found so many solutions. I would have done anything to have avoided being away from you for so long-...”
“It was not your fault, anyway, Mysiri. I got upset over something stupid. I’m lucky you forgave me.” Spike glanced out a window. The sun was just starting to set. “Mysiri... I... love you.”
I felt a few tears of relief trickle down my cheeks. “I love you, too, Spike,” I whispered. He looked at me and when he saw the tears dripping off of my chin, he came to me and hugged me at once.
“Why’re you crying, Mysiri?” he asked gently.
“Because I am happy and relieved. I was afraid all this time that you did not feel the same way and-...” I shrugged, “and you... do.”
“Is that all?” Spike chuckled, “I was afraid I’d forced a lie out of you so I wouldn’t get upset.” I looked up at Spike with a look that meant, “what the hell?” Then he and I both laughed and I patted the bed beside me. He sat and we talked for hours, catching up on all the lost time. Eventually, we just sat in silence, looking at one another and smiling, just glad to be together again; glad to feel as if we were whole again.
“Mysiri?” someone’s voice interrupted out silent contentment. I shook my head.
“Yeah? Door’s loose.” The door opened and Syti stood in the doorway.
“Spike! It’s been awhile-my, you’ve grown!” Syti came over and hugged Spike and Spike mumbled something like, “good to see you.” I sat and stared off as Syti caught up with her “once adopted son.” Spike didn’t talk much; most of the talking was Syti explaining what she had been doing over the past year. She glanced warily at me. “You set Naery free, I saw,” she said, her voice seemingly nonchalant, but I saw in her eyes the hatred for Naery-and the disapproval for me. I shrugged carelessly.
“She won’t be able to do anything-not without my cooperation,” I muttered. Syti’s eyes were bright with anger; she let my superiority complex get to her too much. I started to leave my room.
“Wait,” Syti held her hand up; as if that gesture meant anything to me... but I turned back and looked at her. “Taimo is really upset. You know... the only reason he led you to believe he was your father is because he wishes he was. He’s proud of you and loves you like any father should-...” Syti sighed. “It’s really hurting him something awful-..”
“Hmm.” I acted as if what Syti said still left me indifferent, but it actually caused me to think. I suppose Tai could not help it if what he thought was best was not good at all, seeing as how he had never had any children, so he therefore had no other experience...
“Mysiri, he’s a far better father figure than whoever your real father is, I bet. Your real father probably doesn’t even know you exist, and if he did-...”
“Syti, you’re wrong,” I said simply as I suddenly realized who my father was. I ran out of my room and followed the familiar twisting corridors to Antonio’s room. I shoved the door open and was momentarily appalled when I found it empty-or, so it seemed at first, but with further examination, I could sense Antonio in it. “Antonio?” I called into the room. “Reveal yourself, Antonio!!” I sighed when after a few minutes he had still not shown himself. “Antonio, let me see you! It’s been so long since I last saw you-...”
“And whose fault is that, Mysiri?” his voice returned.
I sighed in exasperation. “You, of all people, should understand why I left. I was searching for the truth. I thought that in finding Euraefy, the truth would also be found.” I paused. “Why did you let Tai lie to me? Why didn’t you enter in and say, ‘I am her father’?”
“Because he did not know it was me, and still does not know, and I intend to keep it that way.”
“Why? Are you ashamed of me?”
“No. I’m ashamed of myself.” I almost felt pity for Antonio at that moment. “I don’t need your pity, Mysiri. I am no father. I’ve not even raised you at all. I’ve not influenced your life as a father should.”
“But you have, Antonio! You have!” I cried desperately. He did not reply. “Then again,” I shrugged, “it seems I am not wanted here. I guess you didn’t want a daughter... or maybe just not me.” I turned back towards the door and started to leave. When Antonio still did not appear, I shook my head and stormed back to my room. I tried to hold in my fury, but I could not. I mentally threw everything in my room around, causing a lot of damage. I threw everything that Antonio had given me out of the window. In the middle of all of this, Spike returned and stood aside so he would not get hurt. He knew by now that when I was in a rampage the best thing to do is let it run its course.
“Mysiri?” he murmured gently as I slumped down to the floor, breathing heavily. I glanced up at him and sighed shakily. “Something wrong?” Spike also knew that he should never ask “what’s wrong,” because I would never say and it would be more likely I would rip him in half for thinking I needed him to cry when I was upset.
I shook my head in reply. He hesitated.
“Naery wanted to talk to you. She’s in the-...”
“Tell her to shove it.”
“If I did that, “ Spike chuckled, “I’d end up one mangled mass and I don’t want that right now.” I looked up at him and saw the grin on his face. He was trying to cheer me up and I couldn’t help but smile sadly at him. He sighed. “Mysiri... are you sure there’s nothing wrong?”
“No,” I muttered, “something’s wrong-or, maybe it’s all completely right. It just feels so terrible.” I glanced around the room, just realizing how torn apart I had made it. “Hell, I’m just overreacting. I don’t see why I cared. It’s not like I actually need him as a father figure.”
“Huh? Who?”
“Nevermind. He doesn’t want anyone knowing so I’m gonna respect that.”
“Okay...” Spike glanced out a window and I saw his eyes grow wild.
“Spike, what’s-...” just as I began to ask Spike, someone familiar came through the window, sending glass everywhere. I stayed in my position in the corner and just stared at the intruder. He looked immediately to me and a smile spread over his entire face.
“Mysiri! Do you remember me?”
I nodded dismissively. “Yes, Quiro... grandfather... whatever. That doesn’t matter. I’ve discarded Euraefy as a mother, anyway.” I stared at the broken window and a new one took the place of the broken one.
“Euraefy-she’s here?” Quiro asked excitedly. “I haven’t seen her since I-... well, you know.”
“Yes, since you made her the damned creature that she is now. Go see her. I don’t guarantee a pleasant reunion, but you never know.” Quiro attempted to hug me, but I teleported him to the doorway before he could. Confused, he left. Spike chuckled.
“Traditions are reversing. It must be scary for all the old vampires. the younger ones are taking control. It’s never been like this before,” Spike murmured. I nodded.
“Time passes, tradition changes. It’s the circle of things. Strong vampires are falling in love with stronger vampires, as opposed to strong vampires controlling weak ones, and this causes the offspring to be stronger than the parents. Yeah, must be pretty scary for the old ones.”
I wandered to the window and peered out of it. Syti was in the courtyard battling some of her old friends. I admired her bravery at first for taking on three people of whom all had either equal or greater strength. It got quite boring seeing them throw all of the same stuff at one another, so I pulled the curtains closed and glanced at Spike. He was sitting cross-legged on the floor with his eyes closed. The moment I sensed who he was consulting with, I broke his concentration. He looked up at me.
“Why-...”
“You know damn well why,” I snapped.
“So it is Antonio that-...”
“Yes, yes, get over it. He doesn’t want it thrown in his face. Hell, he doesn’t want to think of me as his daughter, even. I say let him. If he’s ashamed of me, so be it.”
“Mysiri-...”
“No, Spike. Just... don’t worry about it. Naery wanted to see me?”
“Yeah-if she hasn’t lost her patience.”
“She’s pretty patient... usually.” I walked past Spike and out of my room. At the top of the stairs Antonio awaited me.
“Mysiri-...” I ignored and walked right through Antonio. I hurried down the steps and went to the library, where I sensed Naery was. She sat in the chair that I often had sat in while I was growing up. She stood as I entered.
“Mysiri,” she said warmly. I only coldly nodded to her. “What is wrong, child?” she asked, fake lines of worry creasing her face. “Mysiri?”
“You called for me. What did you want?” I said, completely ignoring her question.
“Your help. Once, the world was a place of complete good. Then, gradually, it grew more and more evil until the corrupt creators destroyed all beings and started over. The creators were soon overpowered and the world was returned to how it was just before everyone was killed. It was as though we were never killed. The creators were only trying to return that perfect world, but it only grew more corrupt. Mysiri, I have discovered a plan to return utter happiness and perfection unto the world. With your help and the correct execution of the plan, I believe it will work.”
“It depends on if I agree with your plan and it’s effectivity. Please, bore me with the details.”
“I’ve come to the conclusion that corruption came with the introduction of humans. To rid of the corruption-...”
“We must rid of the humans. I see. Well, that’s all well and good, except we would meet with quite a lot of resistance. People would not agree with this opinion.”
“Only a few-and we could kill them, too.”
“So you want to kill your son, your brother, some of your former lovers-...”
“Key word; former. I couldn’t give a damn about them. And, as far as I’m concerned, I have no brother and no son.”
“Humph! Well, I, on the other hand, have a problem with the thought of killing my father and my father figure. I cannot agree to this plan. Terribly sorry, Naery. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I think I’ll run screaming into the night.”
I did just that-minus the screaming. I ran out of the house and off of the property. I was completely disgusted with everyone there, with the exception of Spike... and even having too much time with him got burdensome. I decided to leave my location open to him alone.
What would I do? I was not quite sure, but I knew I would take on any obstacle and come out on top.