Nightmares and Reality...

"Hey Sid, how are you doing?"

Sid was lying on the bed next to a snoring Adrian. His face all scrunched up.

"Apart from having a broken life and a deathly snoring friend, yeah, I am holding up."

"But you love him, anyway."

Ryan said in a duh tone.

We both sat on the couch with Ryan's protective arm wrapped around my shoulder. And guess what? I am loving it. It felt so natural.

"What? Him? Bro, how can you say that even after hearing him?"

Just then a high pitched snore escaped Adrian's lips, and I shook with silent laughter.

"He's just tired, Sid. Don't be dramatic."

I kept my silence, more interested in listening to their 'bro talk' rather than me blabbering.

"My life itself is a drama."

"Well, someone else has told me the same dialogue."

I commented, remembering Helena's words.

The room was quiet for a minute, then Sid got up.

"How's she doing?"

He asked, glancing at me.

"Bad time."

"She hates me, right?"

He looked so defeated.

Should I tell Sid that she loves him? No, it's not my place to say. Or I could give him some hints.

"Sid. You really should talk to Helena. Like a proper talk. Just be patient and hear what she has to say."

"But she won't listen to me."

"You can say that after you tried it once. Maybe it's for good."

I smiled at him hopefully.

"I don't know."

He went back to the bed and hid himself under the covers.

"He'll never learn."

I muttered under my breath.

"He will... one day."

Here comes the mysterious Ryan.

The door suddenly opened and in came James, still with a serious face.

Isn't he over my question yet?

"Ryan, we need to talk. It's urgent."

Ryan got up from the couch, following James outside.

"I'll be back soon."

He called out before leaving.

I nodded, leaning on the hand rest and closed my eyes, welcoming a little sleep.

Darkness surrounded me. I could hear Ryan calling me from a distance, but couldn't reach him.

Thankfully, a small light lit the whole place. It was more like a vast hall. But where did that light come from?

"Ryan, I am scared."

I saw a muscular shadow approaching me from afar, and it looked somewhat like Ryan.

"Ryan.... is that you?"

He nodded his head a little.

I happily ran to where he now stood with his head down.

As I moved closer, he appeared to be a little taller than normal.

I slowed my pace and watched the form in front of me carefully. It was clearly not Ryan.

This person was broader, with longer hair.

"Who are you?"

My voice started shaking. The unknown figure lifted his head and, for the first time, I saw the devil face to face.

He smirked, showing how cruel he was. Fear consumed me immediately.

I took a step back, and he reciprocated by taking one front.

"Tell me who you are?"

I tried to sound like I was not afraid, but in vain.

"How can you forget me?"

His voice sent a chill down my spine. It was so wicked.

"Who are you to be remembered?"

I shot back.

"Me? Oh, I am the one who killed your pathetic excuse for parents."

I stood frozen in my place.

"Asmodeus..." I trailed off.

He laughed evilly and his sound resonated the whole hall. It made my ears bleed.

"STOP" I yelled, covering my ears.

But he continued laughing.

"I SAID STOP..."

I was shaken by someone vigorously.

"Atty, get up, it's only a dream."

I refused to open my eyes, scared of whom I might see.

"Atarah, get back to your senses, please."

I did what he said and found a concerned looking Cole kneeling near my couch.

"Asmodeus.... I..... I saw him."

I stammered breathlessly. Cole's grip on me tightened.

"In your dreams?"

I nodded.

"This means he knows about you. He's trying to communicate."

Cole was more like thinking aloud.

"Communicate? And that too through dreams? Doesn't he have a phone?"

What kind of miser was he?

"Just know that it's a bad sign."

Cole looked really worried, and I bit my lips nervously.

"Is he going to come after me?"

My voice was just above a whisper, and the werewolf's eyes hardened.

"I will not let anything happen to you, okay?"

I don't know why, but I felt relaxed hearing that from him.

"Where's Ryan? And what time is it?"

I slowly sat straight, my heart beat coming back to normal.

"It's six in the evening. James, Ryan and Adrian went to meet someone who happened to know about Ignacia. Sid went for a walk and Helena is still in her room."

"Did she eat anything?"

"Yeah"

He was now staring at me so lovingly. I suddenly felt guilty for him. I know he has something for me, but my heart already belongs to someone else. To its true owner.

"Cole... you see..."

"You look just like your mother."

He blurted out. I stared at him questioningly.

"She was always like a big sister to me. My mother was a servant to her. When she died, Lillian brought me up as her own younger brother. In fact, she cared for me just like how my mother would have been. I knew about their relationship. At first I wanted her to stop dating Raphael, but then I saw how happy she was around him. I used to act as a messenger between them after that. I even helped her to get out of that palace when they eloped. I visited them often in the human dimension and once found out that she was carrying you.

She told me that I was soon going to be an uncle. But Raphael corrected her, saying that as I was too young to be an uncle, I would be a big brother to their child instead. She even made me promise to be with you whenever you are in need. She loved you so much, Atty."

A small tear rolled down my eye.

"I miss her. Though I haven't seen her, I do miss her a lot and I am still missing her."

"I miss her too."

Suddenly, I remembered what he had just said.

"Wait, so you don't love me?"

"Of course I love you. I love you like my own sister."

Now that's new information.

"But what about Alex? He told that..."

"Don't worry about that. Alex likes me a lot and thinks that I should marry you. That's it. Also, you are with your mate. No one can replace that bond, you know. It's not usual to have mates in this modern era, but you have one."

He ruffled my hair, and I chuckled in relief.

"I thought you liked me in another way."

Cole laughed and shrugged his shoulders.

"Of course, I made it sound like that so I could irritate Ryan. I don't know why, but I have always liked it."

I felt as if an immense weight had just shifted off my shoulder.

"You do not know how happy I am right now. I have a mate and a loving uncle."

I screeched.

He growled, to which I chuckled.

"I am not your uncle."

"Of course you are. That's what my mom told you, right?"

"That's not funny."

"Of course it is."

I pouted and then started to clap my hands.

"Cole is my uncle... Cole is my uncle...."

I danced around the room like a small kid.

At first, he was angry but later gave up and joined me.

I like reality more than my nightmare.

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