Compassion Or Infatuation?

Diane placed her hand against the barrier, while staring at the slowly passing planet. "So Beautiful." She muttered, while the memories that were held within the planet flashed quickly, too fast for the naked eye. "Huh? That is.." She began, as she leaned In even closer. What she did expect was to suddenly fall through the barrier. Her mind too slow to react, she saw herself continue to draw closer and closer to the planet, until a portal suddenly opened up, which she fell through. Soon enough, she saw herself falling from the sky, plunging downwards at a quick momentum.

"Oof!" She grunted as she landed on the ground spitting put some leaves which ended up in her mouth. Fortunately, the grass cushioned her fall."Where am I?" She wondered, as she turned her head this way and that. "Kyle? Arianne? Eon?" She called out. "Huh?" She exclaimed in surprise, as when she finally laid eyes on the house which was adjacent to her; it turned out to look identically similar to Diego's, it looked newer too. "Right, this is Diego's memory afterall." Diane said, as she face palmed herself. "So, this planet drew me into it, but why?" Diane asked herself, as she paced around on the spot. She heard voices, and found out that some guards were heading her way. "Ah.." Diane panicked, as she looked for a place where she could hide herself, but she could find none. As the guards drew nearer to her, she Became more agitated, and crouched down, placing her hands on her head, her eyes tightly shut. But the guards who were discussing amongst themselves, walked right passed her without noticing. "Huh?" Diane opened her eyes, when she didn't feel a hand roughly grabbing her, and a menacing voice inquiring the reason for her trespass. She opened her eyes, standing straight, only to see the guards walking further down the path. "Maybe they were absent minded?" She pondered. She looked up into the house, and was trying to plan her infiltration. She walked stealthily into the house, while silently hoping that she wouldn't stumble into any one in her way. She managed to get into the house without much hassle, quickly concealing herself behind the pillars. She just got to the top of the stairs when two maids suddenly appeared before her, much to her surprise. "I can explain! We can talk this out, please don't call your lord.." She began, as she raised both of her hands in the air, her eyes closed. It was when she felt a chilling sensation that she opened her eyes, only to find out that the maids had proceeded down the stairs. "What?" She called out in confusion, as she stared at them in disbelief. "Something doesn't feel right." She said, as she deliberately tried to intercept a maid, who was coming up the stairs with a basket of plums. "Hello!" She said, waving her hands, but something strange occurred. The maid simply.. passed through her, as if she were transparent. Moreover, Diane felt that same chill. "So they can't see or hear me?" She wondered, as she trailed behind that maid. As they passed through the hallways, Diane saw a familiar room, She and Diego's room back at the present day, but the door was shut. She stared at it longingly, wondering who the current occupant might be. She was so pre-occupied in staring that the maid, whose lead she was under, ended up walking a few paces ahead. She walked fast, trying to catch up. Servants of various calibers walked past them, But Diane was not bothered, they could neither see nor hear her, she was almost like a ghost. The maid finally came to a halt, knocking on a door. "My lady." Diane began to crane her neck even before the door was opened, wondering who the lady might be. "Come in." A lovely voice said. Diane swiftly went in as soon as the door was opened. The room was quite luxurious, much more larger and beautiful than the one she shared with Diego. "You can place them there. Good job." Diane's head immediately darted to the source of the voice. Sitting in front of a dressing mirror, was a woman with bright blonde hair and red eyes. "This is.." The woman was most definitely Diego's mother, there was no error about it. Diane gasped, she never thought that fate would give her a chance to actually see her mother-in-law in person. She was even more beautiful than she imagined. Not too long after, a little boy with blue hair walked straight into the room, falling into his mother's embrace. "What is the matter Diego." His mother asked him with a smile, as she placed him on her lap. Diane felt her heart throb, how come her handsome husband was this adorable when he was little? He didn't look older than four years, in this memory. "When is daddy coming back?" Diego whined, not bothering to respond to his mother's question. "Daddy will be back soon" Euphemia said with a smile. "You remember what daddy told you before he left?" She asked him. "To be a good boy while he is gone." Diego said, as he looked up at his mother. "Yes, and you have been a very good boy lately. Go, get ready for your play date, Thaniel and his mother will be here soon." Euphemia said, as she placed him down from her lap. "I don't like Thaniel. Do I really have to play with him?" He asked his mother, with a slight frown on his face. "Why don't you like Thaniel? He is a good boy, just like you." Euphemia stated. "He Is too annoying." Diego said frankly. Euphemia laughed, her laugh was quite clear and pleasant. "Silly child." Euphemia began, as she gave him a little pull on his nose. "What am I going to do with you?" She said, but they were briefly interrupted by a knock on the door. "Excuse me, my lady." A maid called out, from behind the door. "But the house of Galatio is already here." The maid added. "Oh. Tell them we will be down in a minute." Euphemia responded.

 Both mother and son went down the staircase, hand in hand. "Now, be a good boy, okay. And no fighting, please." Euphemia told her son. "Okay." Diego replied, albeit gloomily.

They eventually arrived outside, to see Thaniel and his mother standing Next to each other. Thaniel's mother looked just like him, just that she had purple eyes while that of Thaniel was hazel. "Good morning, Ivora. It has been a while." Euphemia said, as she embraced Thaniel's mother. "Indeed. It has been quite some time since we met like this." Ivora stated. "Thaniel, why don't you say hello to your friend?" Ivora said, while turning to her son. "He is not my friend." The little Thaniel said, while giving Diego a nasty glare. "Son, say hello." Ivora emphasized, while smiling at her child in a particular manner. Thaniel sighed, knowing what the implication of that smile was. "It is nice to see you again, Diego." Thaniel said, as he extended his hand. "Same here." Diego said, as he accepted his hand, gripping it hard. "Aww, they miss each other so much." Ivora began. Euphemia on the other hand, noticed the countenance of the two boys. "I don't think that is the case.." She began, but Ivora interrupted her by grabbing her hand. "Come on, we have a lot of catching up to do." She said, dragging her into the house. "But.." "Boys, we will be in the living room if you need us, okay?" She added, as she stepped into the house. Euphemia sighed. "I can only hope that those two will behave themselves." Euphemia said in her mind. "So, did you miss me?" Thaniel asked, with a smug look on his face. "As if I will ever miss you, though." Diego said, as he stepped out of the house. "Hey, where are you going, wait for me!" Thaniel Called out, as he went after him. Diego looked behind, and frowned when he saw A young man accompanying Thaniel. "Who is that?" Diego said, as he paused his tracks. "Oh, this is Ortel, my personal butler." Thaniel declared proudly. "You are always changing butlers." Diego said, as he continued on his destination. "What is that supposed to mean?" Thaniel asked, as he matched Diego's pace. "Maybe your ears are blocked, let me spell it out for you. My per-son-al butler. Which means, I am stuck with him from now on." Thaniel explained. "I am not an idiot, I know what a personal butler is." Diego stated. They had already gotten to the garden by now, and Diego sat in the shade of a tree. Diane looked at them with interest- it was almost like watching a play. Just that, this was based off on actual life experience, and not some crazy fiction written on a script. "You sure like to relax." Thaniel observed, as he sat by his side. "What is It to you?" Diego asked him. Thaniel just raised his brow. Soon enough, they saw Natasha passing by the garden, a maid following her, holding a bouquet of flowers. "Oy! Sasha!" Thaniel called out, waving his hands frantically. "Would you quiet down?" Diego called after him, his mood somewhat ruined. Natasha instructed her maid to wait behind, while she walked over to them. Diane nearly squealed In delight. Was this chubby, adorable girl really the Natasha she knew? She really felt the urge to pinch her cheeks!

 "Why did you call me?" Natasha said, as she placed her hands on her hips, as she looked down at them both. "I just wanted to say hello." Thaniel stated, as he looked at her with a smile. "Don't tell me that you weren't aware that I was visiting you today?" Thaniel asked, looking up at her with a peculiar gaze. "I was, what is the matter?" Natasha required, getting a little impatient. "I am quite hurt, little Sasha." Thaniel said, as he put up a dramatic face. "You knew I was coming, and yet, you didn't even look for me." He said, as he looked her dead in the eye. "I like you a Lot, Sasha." Thaniel said. "I find you much more admirable than this cousin of yours." He added, while giving Diego a side glance. Diane was fortunate that no one could hear her, for she suddenly screamed out loud. "What are you thinking!" She asked herself, as she placed both of her hands to her burning cheeks. "Calm down Diane, they are just children. Just a bunch of toddlers..." She muttered, as she tried to regain her composure. "Young Master, that Is quite inappropriate." Thaniel's butler, Ortel said. "Just mind your business." Thaniel snapped. "What If I like Sasha and want her to be my wife someday? What is wrong with that?" Thaniel inquired, while turning to him. "What a spoilt young master." Diane quietly observed. "I have no interest in becoming your wife, and you are wasting my time." Natasha said, as she turned around to leave. "Wait, Sasha." Thaniel said, as he stretched out his arm. A thick wall of darkness soon blocked her path. "What now?" Natasha said, as she turned around irritatedly. "I am not Done talking to you yet." He said, not acting like a five year old In the Slighest. "Little Miss." Her maid worriedly called out. "I am fine, Philomel. Just place the flowers in my room." She said. "Alright, little miss." Philomel responded. "Hey, why are you lying down like this doesn't concern you? Get up and do something." Diane said, as she approached the younger version of her husband. But as expected, her fingers went right through him, giving her that same chilling sensation. "I really hate this." She mumbled to herself. When she looked up, the wall had disappeared, and Natasha walked back towards both boys. "Young Master, what you did was wrong, apologize." Ortel strictly said. "You are not my parent, stop telling me what to do." Thaniel stated, giving the older man a glare. Diego just laid under the tree with his eyes closed, acting as though he were from a different planet. Natasha sighed, as she sat next to her cousin. "What are you doing over there? Come sit next to me." Thaniel called out from where he was. "Leave me alone! I will sit wherever I want." Natasha stated. "Wake up." She said, shaking her cousin roughly. "I was never asleep, so stop shaking me." Diego said, as soon as he opened his eyes. "He is here for you right? So why is he troubling me, I have to go to the library." Natasha complained. "Who knows." Digeo began. "I know If I talk to him, we will get into a fight, so there." Diego explained. "What are you two whispering about?" Thaniel asked them. "Thaniel, I really have to go to the library. I have to check out something." Natasha said impatiently, as she stood up, wanting to leave. "Wait." Thaniel said. "Let's hold hands." Before Natasha could reply, Thaniel had already taken a hold of her. "There is no need for you to come with us, you know." Thaniel said, as he turned to Diego, who was trailing behind them. "It's not like I want to." Diego said, shrugging his shoulders. "But I don't want to answer mom's questions, so what can I do?" He added.

 Diane trailed behind the three children, her mind a typhoon at the moment. Was Thaniel still fond of Natasha as he was as a child? What was their relationship status now? Or was this all some childish infatuation? And Thaniel's power, what was it exactly?

 They soon arrived at the library. Diane took the location to heart, so she could come here whenever she felt like it. The library was huge and magnificent, much larger than the one she had back at home. Stacks and stacks of books were elegantly and neatly arranged on the shelf on rows, and three children quietly sat, books before them. "Urgh, this is boring." Thaniel said, as he closed his book with much irritation. "What do you guys see in these things anyway?" He asked then both. "Nothing much. I read them to gain knowledge." Diego stated. "I do so to improve my spelling and vocabulary." Natasha also explained. Diane was sitted by the window sill, quietly observing them all. "So you guys can sit here reading from dawn till dusk? No wonder you guys are still so short." He said. "No wonder you still talk like an idiot." Diego retorted, while Natasha stiffled her laughter. "You.." Thaniel began, as he walked over to where Diego was seated, slamming the book he was reading to the ground. Diego sighed. "It Is not good to disrespect books." Diego calmly said, as he picked it back up. "Thaniel, if you can't stay quiet, I am afraid we will have to turn you out." Natasha quipped In. "Fine." Thaniel want back to his seat. There was silence, and only the sound of Diego tapping his foot from Time to time could be heard. Bothered about him, Diane gazed in his direction, only to see a shadow like claw grabbing his leg from Time to time. She turned to Thaniel's direction, and although he was pretending to be focused on the book which laid In front of him, his facial expressions alone demonstrated that he w was trying exceedingly hard to stifle a laugh. "Thaniel, stop." Diego, sufficiently disturbed said, closing his book with a slam. "What is the matter?" Natasha said, as she looked up from her book. "Thaniel Is performing something... very sinister with his magic." Digeo explained to her. "I didn't do anything." Thaniel said, as he put on an innocent facade. "You must be mistaken." He said, as he turned to Diego. "I hope that is the case." Diego said, as he opened his book once more. But it did not take quite long for him to feel something similar to a tap at the back of his head. He quickly looked behind, only to see something like an outline of a shadowy Hand quickly dissipating into the sunlight. "I knew you were the one!" Diego said, as he went up to Thaniel. "What did I do?" Thaniel asked, as he looked at him. "Stop pretending, you were the one that was disturbing me this entire time!" Diego said. Thaniel briefly glanced at Natasha, and saw the incredulous looking in her eyes. "Now, now, young masters calm down..." Ortel began, but he was coldly ignored. "I told you that it wasn't me!" Thaniel exclaimed, as he stood up from his chair. "You liar!" Diego retorted. "It really wasn't!" Thaniel persisted. This time Diego did not respond with words, he directly jumped into Thaniel. The both of them fell, rolling on the ground. "Young masters.." Ortel began, not knowing where to start. But the boys did continued to roll on the ground. Diego was currently on the ground, holding tightly onto the cuff of Thaniel's shirt. The latter, who was finding It hard to Breathe, instinctively bent down, biting Diego in his ear, drawing blood. His eyes widened momentarily when the blood came in contact with his tongue. But Diego was resilient, and they continued to roll, knocking away anything in their path. "I will go get aunt." Natasha began, but due to her scurrying, she ended up Tripping and Falling over a heavy book, which laid in her path. "A-ah!" She cried out. "Natasha?" The two boys finally stopped their scruffle, heading towards her. "Little miss, Are you okay?" Ortel asked, trying to get her to stand. "I think I sprained my ankle ah!" She yelped, even when Ortel touched it lightly. "I want my mom." She sobbed. Thaniel bent before her. "Climb, I will take you to your aunt." Thaniel said. "Young Lord, I can do that.." Ortel began. "Don't even think of touching her." Thaniel said, making both Ortel and spectator Diane, flinch. Who knew a five year old could glare like that?

 They both walked down the corridors, all the way to the living room, where the ladies were seated. "What happened?" Euphemia called out, as they approached her. Thaniel carefully placed Natasha on thechair, although she still yelped anyway. "What happened Thaniel?" Ivora said, looking at her son, who just gazed at the ground. "Diego your ear.." Euphemia said, as she noticed the already bloodied ear, stained with dry blood clots. "Well.. my ladies." Ortel began to explain.

 "Are you a dog? Just look at how badly you bit his ear!" Ivora said, as she yanked at the ear of her son, who was kneeling beside her. "Poor Sasha is hurt because of you! Her parents aren't around, and she was entrusted In Euphemia's care, and yet you.." She began. "Look at your clothes! They are so filthy, and your hair! Honestly." Ivora continued to rant. Natasha's maid had already taken her upstairs. "And you." She said, turning to Ortel. "You might be competent in some ways, but do remind me not to ask you to look after little ones again." She said. "I am sorry, miss." Ortel said, as he bowed. "Honestly I don't know what to do with you." Ivora finally released her son's ear, which had turned red from all the yanking. "Don't you think that you are overreacting a little?" Euphemia, who was currently tending to her Son's ear asked. "Over reacting? What if Natasha became crippled, what if he bit Diego's ear off?" Ivora queried. "But he did neither of those things." Euphemia said. "If your father finds out, yes, your father will know what to do with you." At the mention of his father, Thaniel flinched. "Get up, we are going home." Ivora said, as she impatiently pulled her son to his feet. "You are heading home already?" Euphemia inquired. "Yes, we will talk some other time." Ivora said, as she walked briskly. Diane subconsciously looked at her hands, only to find out she was becoming more and more translucent, until she couldn't even see the hand she laid out before her.

 In the real world, Diane's body jerked.