17 Special Chapter: Lark POV (part 1)

As I sat on one of the chars that we had pulled beside the bed Sirius was on, my mind kept drifting to the day after the ball, everything seemed to picture everything over and over again.

The debutante ball was finally over, everyone seemed a little tired- from the staff to the Royal Family themselves. I woke up Sirius like usual and he had his breakfast, everything seemed almost like normal, emphasis on 'almost'. Sirius was a bit restless… I assume because he was still tired from the party and wanted to finish his work as fast as possible so he could rest peacefully.

I tried serving him some of his favorite lavender tea to help relax and calm down but he hardly took a sip, actually after the first I don't think I saw him touch his cup again. I was getting worried so I kept a closer eye on him.

"Lark?"

He called out to me suddenly, I turned to face him he had my full attention. "Can you get me something to eat?" Eat now? He usually never eats anything at this time, especially when it's so close to lunch time… so I asked, "It's nearly time for lunch, are you sure you want to eat something now?"

He seemed… surprised, it seems that he didn't notice the time "Just something small and light." He answered. I simply nodded and made my way to the kitchens. A minute or two later a servant was passing by so I asked him to get something for Sirius while I went back to his study.

When I reached there, I knocked and opened the door only to find an empty room. Sirius was no where in sight. Now this was confusing, I walked out the room again trying to think where he'd go. Usually he doesn't just disappear like this, he would at least leave a note saying he was going out for a bit or something but this time nothing. I increased my pace as I stalked, he hallways in the opposite direction I'd previously taken. Something seemed wrong with this whole situation but I couldn't quite think what. I was just about to walk past a pair of maids before I thought of asking them, "Excuse me, have you seen His Highness Sirius anywhere this morning?"

Roxy, the more excitable of the two exclaimed, "Yes! We did!!"

"Really?! Where exactly and how long back?"

"We saw His Highness walking towards the stables." Replied the other- Kim.

"Yes, that's right! He did seem in a bit of a hurry, though didn't he? You should hurry up if you want to catch His Highness though." Roxy added. I nodded my thanks and started to run. I can't understand why Sirius would go to the stables at this time. Due to the distance from the castle to the stables it took me a while even when I ran most of the way. By the time I made though, June was gone and so was Sirius along with the mare. I heard a neigh and turned to my girl Ginger- she stomped his foot and called me to her. So I did as she wanted and gave her a peppermint, never give her a sugar cube Ginger absolutely hates them. I got her out and ready, once I was atop of her, I said, "Alright Ginger search June."

It took us a while to find them, the forest was not Sirius' usual spot to go so I'm getting a bit worried. When we did finally find them, I was relieved he was not harmed and safe.

"I want to be alone, go away Lark." He groaned, alright, he definitely did not want me here. But, even so I knew I had to be there, this was probably the best time to get him to talk to me about everything. So I sat down beside him and let Ginger go as I asked, "Why won't you tell me?" Silence. "I want to help you but, I can't if I don't know how."

"Just leave me alone." Impossible, I thought to myself silently. Seeing that he wasn't going to continue I heaved a heavy sigh, "What are you so afraid of Si?" I asked, hoping that dropping the nickname would soften him a little. Sirius stayed silent, and I was silent along with him hoping he'd give in or that he just needed the time to tell me everything but the silence continued until finally I broke it first, "How about a trade? A secret for a secret."

And I was glad, I made the right choice. Sirius was interested, I saw the slight difference in his expression. He was at the edge all I had to do was push him over, "I bet my secret is more unbelievable than yours." And I gave a teasing grin hoping he won't notice that I'm not all that enthusiastic about my secret either.

"You don't even want to tell anyone this secret of yours, so shut up and get lost!" he scoffed angrily. He knew me just as well as I did him but I was shocked by the way he spoke; Sirius usually never shouts like that at anyone no matter how bad the mistake was and no matter who they are.

""Oh God, Lark… I'm sorry, I didn't mean that. I mean I want you to go away, no wait that's not what I meant exac- shit ugh… anyway I'm sorry- fuck no I don't know what to say or what I'm saying."

I was surprised yes, and his words tumbled over each other, words I didn't understand, words that I did. I noticed him get up to stand but before he was out of reach, I caught his wrist, pulling him back down beside me, "Calm down, Sirius." I started calmly, "It's alright." He silently nodded; we fell silent again a more relaxed one than more though.

I wanted him to calm down a little first, him being all agitated wouldn't any one of us any good. We sat in silence, just staring at things around us until I forced myself to talk or we never would, "I used to hear a voice."

He glanced at me, worry filled his eyes as he heard my voice shake but, I told myself to continue, I could trust Sirius with my secret knew that. "Before I met you at the orphanage, I would hear a voice, no one else could, just me." It was at this moment that Sirius properly turned and looked at me, I continued, "At first, I ignored her. But whenever I did anything like that I'd end up in trouble, hurt or punished. Slowly I started to believe her words, the voice never harmed me, maybe that's why I believed her. Out of all her words, one thing she said always seemed mysterious at the same time incredibly important, 'You have to save them' and 'I don't want to see them in pain again'. She always said these but never said who or from what. Despite everything happening there she told me I'd be out of her soon, I'd just have to wait it out. I wanted to run away, somewhere far and safe." I chuckled as the memories flooded through. "It's a funny thing; I hated her, feared her voice, I imagined her telling me to harm myself one day but, it never happened. And then one day she just disappeared. I never heard her again."

I saw Sirius raise an eyebrow in question at the sudden and odd situation, I left out a bit, it may be important but I don't think he needs to hear that part of this story… "Sometimes I miss her, other times I'm glad. I imagine she's finally found peace, or perhaps taken me to the starting point." I concluded. I waited, letting him silently process the entire unbelievable story I just told him. I wouldn't be surprised if he had to not believe me at all, I know I wouldn't believe anyone with a story as absurd as this.

"Who are you? Where are you from?"

I smiled softly as I answered, "Lark Fell, born and raised in an orphanage until the day I met you. An unknown voice in my head raised me and I believe you were my starting point."

"No, no you're wrong. You're so wrong. I'm not your starting point, I never was. Ares, it's always been him. I shouldn't have done that; Ares should have been the one right from the start. I should have stayed quiet; Ares should have been the one to save you from there. Even if you would be in trouble, I should have waited…"

To say I was shocked would be an understatement, why would Ares be the one when it was him, I needed to right this, "What?! NO!! Siri-"

"NO!! You don't understand, it wasn't supposed to be me!! IT WAS NEVER ME!!"

"Sirius, ca-"

"NO! I AM NOT SIRIUS!!"

…what? Did I hear that wrong? That was the only thing running through my mind as I tried to understand what Sirius just said. Who would he be if not Sirius… I've grown up with him, I think I would know if the person in front of me wasn't him. Was his secret worth a lie like this? A lie this… wrong and insulting?

Before my thoughts went anywhere else Sirius' voice broke through, "My name is Alec, Alec Simmons. I am at the same time I am not Sirius." What? What does he mean when he says that he s and that he isn't Sirius all at the same time…?

"I remember a life before this where I was known as Alec." He began again, "I used to play a game there… it was about this world." A game? On an entire world? How is that even possible? How would they even play such a game? "I know it sounds crazy, but I'm not making this up. The Kingdom of Alius, ruled by Gerald and Floren, in this kingdom are two princes- Sirius and Ares and one princess- Raven. Ares was engaged to Duke Luminosa's only daughter Celeste who then fell in love with him. One day Ares saves a boy from an orphanage- Lark, the orphanage was connected to some slave traders that was how he not only solved a crime but saved a boy who was one of the most capable supporters to have been on his side. Then comes along Helen, the female lead and Ares' future love interest. This not only brings about the annulment of his engagement with Celeste but also begins a series of events that end with deaths. Celeste for bullying Helen who she considered a rival for Ares' love. Sirius who leads a war against Ares because Ares takes the throne just to have the power to be with Helen and to destroy Celeste. And Raven due to depression upon losing a close friend and brother. These are the main characters but, other than that a lot of other characters lost their lives."

Another heavy silence settled upon us, this time it was for me to process everything Sirius just said. It was confusing, frustrating and it should have been unbelievable but for some reason I knew… I just knew it was the truth and this was what weighed on Sirius all this time, ever since he remembered this past life of his. Just trying to imagine the pressure of knowledge that shows not only your own death but also those of your loved ones was enough to make me shudder in fear and despair all at once. And Sirius did it alone all this time. Knowing this all his escapades, fears and any other odd behaviors made sense, his previous life probably influenced most decisions, maybe consciously or not.

A blessing and a curse all at once.

I wasn't even sure what I should say anymore, this is definitely not what I was expecting, I didn't know what to expect but this was something I couldn't even imagine in my wildest dreams.

"Lark-"

Just as Sirius started, he was interrupted, we heard twigs snap. At first, I thought that it was the horses but I instinctively felt it- danger. We both turned our heads around, seems like Sirius knew something wasn't right either. Other than the trees and bushes at our back and this lake on the front I couldn't see anything or anyone who could have stepped on a twig. I was about to tell Sirius that we should go somewhere else for now when I was about to speak suddenly, I was pushed away hard, I blinked trying to understand what happened, one moment I was turning to speak to Sirius and the next I was pushed over and Sirius was over me, hands on either side.

When my eyes fell on his tight face and lips twisted into a scowl, I looked to the side to find an arrow piercing his shoulder. My eyes widened in shock, I raised my hand to touch the wound unconsciously but instead I found another hand grabbing mine and pulling me along with it. As soon as we were both standing Sirius pushed me towards the trees on the side, and I obeyed. I wasn't sure what happened after that other than that the two of us were hiding behind a thick tree, panting- I guess we ran deeper in the forest, my mind kept bringing back the image of when I saw the arrow in his shoulder.

"I'm fine, make sure they aren't closing in on us." Once again, I barely managed to process, I was told, I just stood and slowly made I way deeper in the forest, as I walked deeper, I slowly became more and more conscious of my action what just happened and the situation we are in. We need to get out before anyone is hurt again. I had walked far enough with no one in sight.