Amara – Reunion - Chapter 420

Author’s note: This is from Seraphina’s point of view

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Ten years old Duke didn’t move as the darkness around us was replaced with hazy images.

They moved rapidly, reflecting Duke’s state of mind as he tried to remember, and then we found ourselves on an open grass field.

Duke was wearing a white t-shirt and knee-length gray shorts while standing with a baseball bat in his hand. In front of him was a tall man that I recognized as Damiano. He patted Duke on his shoulder.

“I am proud of you, son. You did a good job.”, he said in a husky voice that projected safety even though his expression was stern, and Duke’s lips stretched into a smile that reflected in his eyes.

The earthy scent and the breeze reminded me of the moments when I was reliving my memories. All my senses were fired up and experiencing it like I was actually there, and it confirmed that somehow I tapped into Duke’s memories, together with him.

The surroundings changed in a flash, and we found ourselves in a room that reminded me of Duke’s old house, but this room was well lit with pristine white walls that had intricate golden details along its edges.

The burning scent mixed with cinnamon got my attention to the fireplace where fire danced, and I could feel its warmth caressing my skin.

In the middle of the room was a woman playing the grand piano. The tune was enchanting; I never heard it before.

Her light brown hair cascaded down her back, and her facial features were soft and elegant. Somehow, I could see traces of my Duke in her.

The woman glanced my way and her smile widened. Can she see me? Not possible.

I turned to look behind me, to see where Duke’s mother was looking, and I saw ten years old Duke sitting on the floor and completing a jigsaw puzzle. It had numerous pieces, at least one thousand, and he was about one-third done. It was a map of the world.

Duke’s expression was relaxed, and his eyes shone with excitement as he inspected each loose piece and found its right spot.

I could watch him work on that puzzle forever, but the scene changed again, and Duke was chasing a soccer ball with a bunch of other kids. They were shouting and teasing each other, definitely energetic.

It was a soccer field behind a big building and based on bleachers and the track field around the soccer field, I guessed that this was a school, probably in the town that is close to Duke’s home. Now that’s a ghost town, but Duke’s memory showed vibrantly colored buildings and I could hear the noise from afar which spoke how lively that town was.

The scene turned into evening, and we were outside. I could see the back of the mansion that was Duke’s home, and we were in a clearing beyond the garden. There was a bonfire and numerous humanoid shadows around it.

“Do I need to go to sleep?”, Duke whined.

“You are not old enough to stay longer.”, Damiano said sternly. “Go with your mother and don’t act like a baby.”

Duke dragged his feet through the garden on his way into the mansion, and he met his mother’s smiling face.

“Come here, Teo. Let’s get you ready for bed.”

Her voice was silky smooth and full of love and my heart ached at the thought that it won’t be long before Duke loses her.

“I can get myself ready.”, Duke grumbled while making his way up the stairs.

She followed after him silently, probably to make sure he doesn’t go back and see things he shouldn’t.

I wanted to stay outside and continue watching because I knew that this is the part where werewolves shift into their wolf form and dash into the forest. The scene of Damiano and ranked members of the Bluemoon pack in their wolf forms must be impressive and I really-really wanted to see it, but alas… these were Duke’s memories and if he didn’t see them, neither could I.

The next scene made me open my eyes wide. Wasn’t this my high school classroom?

“Sanya?”

My head snapped toward the voice, and I was now looking at Duke who was a teenager. He was standing next to me, and we were the only two people in the classroom.

“Is that you?”, he asked.

“Yes, Duke. It’s me.”

“You look different. Why are you here?”

I was not sure how to respond. Should I tell him that he is unconscious, and unintentionally, I intruded into his memories? This is not something a teenage Duke should know.

“Do you know where this is?”, I asked in return.

“Our classroom.”, he responded right away, like nothing is out of place.

Well, nothing was out of place except for a massive black wolf who was sleeping on the floor.

“Do you know who that is?”

Duke looked at the wolf and he thought for a moment before responding, “I think he belongs here.”

Well, it made sense. If that was Duke’s wolf, he belonged wherever Duke was.

“Serina!”, a deep voice called and a moment later, I found myself engulfed into a solid embrace that came with a healthy dose of the scent of pine trees mixed with the ocean.

I knew that Duke came out of the past.

“I miss you, Duke…”, I spoke into his chest. “I need you to wake up. Can you do that for me?”

“I will do anything for you, my love.”, his breath caressed my ear and I smiled.

My Duke was back.

“OK. We need to get out of here…”, I said. “I will leave first. Can you follow me?”

“I will be right after you.”

My eyes fluttered open, and the steady sound of the heart rate monitor told me that I’m back in the guest bedroom.

I looked at Duke’s sleepy face and held my breath.

He said that he will be right after me, but what if his perception of time is different? After all, in his mind, he could jump back and forth and there was no concept of minutes or hours.

My breath hitched when Duke’s fingers tightened around mine.

The hand that was limp and allowed me to put my fingers there, now responded in a familiar way and our fingers laced firmly.

“Hey…”, he called in a whisper before opening his eyes.

“Hey…”, I called back. “How long do you plan to sleep?”

Duke’s eyes opened slowly, and his brows furrowed as he took in his surroundings.

I watched him in silence and let him settle into reality.

Eventually, his endlessly blue eyes found mine and he smiled.

“Are we at your house?”, he asked.

“Yes. How are you feeling?”

He lifted his left arm where the IV needle was. “I think I was better.”

I hugged him and settled my head on his chest. After taking a few deep breaths, I said, “You got me worried, Duke. Don’t do that again.”

“What did I do?”

“You left me, Duke. You left me…” I didn’t want to cry. I really didn’t. But him waking up came with an immense relief that released the dam which held my emotions and I sobbed relentlessly.

Duke didn’t say anything.

He held me in his embrace and ran his hand through my hair and waited for me to cry it out.

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